Survival guides

The wonderful women of China: A foreigner's survival guide to China

It's not easy being a woman – especially in China. Despite the fact that Women's Day celebrations in China far outshine those in the West, being a woman, Chinese or foreign-born, in this country where communist doctrine strongly defines gender equality, is no picnic in the park.

10th February 2010 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Eat, drink, man, woman, Part II - A foreigner's survival guide to China

A significant part of the Chinese culture revolves around food and food-related customs. And why shouldn't the Chinese give so much thought to food, since they're spoiled for choice when it comes to succulent dishes and quality restaurants.

5th February 2010 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Buyer beware: a foreigner's survival guide to China

People going to China often adopt a shop-till-you-drop mindset. After all, it is still a relatively cheap place to shop. Plus, you'd think that with all the manufacturing that goes on in the country, you'd be able to score really good bargains. Well, that's not always the case.

29th January 2010 - Geni Raitisoja - Survival guides

Chinese cacophony: A foreigner's survival guide to China

A trip to China may provide the ultimate shock for sensitive ears, for as far as silence goes, there is no such thing in China.

18th September 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Taxi, taxi!! - A foreigner's survival guide to China

In Beijing, taxis and their drivers tend to pop up in conversation just about as often as the weather, at least if the interlocutors happen to be foreigners.

11th August 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

O tempora, o mores!: A foreigner's survival guide to China

In the capital of the Middle Kingdom people seem to live by the law of the jungle. In simple terms, this means that to make it there, you have to pick up on a few of the local customs.

24th June 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Dressing to fit in: A foreigner's survival guide to China

Spending long periods of time in Beijing often has the effect of changing a person's personality and tastes without them even noticing. No matter how much time you spend in the city's Western restaurants and shops, Beijing will get a hold of you before you know it, especially if you're making a conscious effort to fit into the surrounding culture.

6th May 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

May I?: A foreigner's survival guide to China

The first time that foreign tourists and immigrants to China come into contact with the local bureaucracy usually takes place during the process of getting a visa. But the real ordeal only commences when you make the decision to move to China.

14th April 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Friendship without borders: A foreigner's survival guide to China

While love and friendship are generally regarded as universal, they do take on some different characteristics in China, or at least people there have a different way of relating to them. Or, then we here in the West have a different way of relating to them, which ever way you want to look at it.

4th March 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

Ring around the circuit breaker: a foreigner's survival guide to China

This is a true story about what surprises daily life in China can hold in store for you, no matter how many guidebooks you read on China and on ways to deal with culture shock. This is also a story about what types of consequences these small surprises in the worst case may have, taking into account that Murphy's law seems to be working overtime in China...

16th February 2009 - Anniina Koivula - Survival guides

12next ›last »