Hi! I am Peruvian, seen this vid on Patricia's blog Planeta China... I live in the UK and I have showed this vid to a friend... she was laughing and she liked the vid... and at the end she said she missed Xmas in China... she also said the thing about the reindeer is true... it seems its like a 'herbal' medicine over there... nice vid!
You can see my own video, the air in Beijing is not bad everyday. Of course it can get pretty bad especially when hot humid air from the Bay of Bohai washes in. It's not fair that every ignorant westerner thinks that all of China has bad air all of the time, how are you doing anything but perpetuating this nonsense?
I always thought that westerners would learn more about China if they would bother to visit. Maybe you do know a bit more but you don't bother to show it whatsoever.
You've nailed it. The right balance of irony, absurdity, comedy, etc. to uplift my post-Christmas blues here in the West. There's always a funny side to when different cultures clash - not to mention the cashing in by all of the season. I hope you make more videos -- musical or otherwise. thx!
Chinese and Asians make all sorts of derogatory remarks about Westerners. I should know. I AM Asian 100% but live right now in the West and have my feet firmly in both cultures. That's why I'm not offended when I can tell the person making fun actually is doing it from a position of experience and knowledge - and yes, respect---, not from ignorance. To counter stereotypes and conflict of all kinds, one also needs a sense of humor.
Maybe Xiaobai's talking about the "Jinger Berrs" thing. That is a stereotype, but it's not making fun of Chinese people. It's making fun of the Beijing accent. Beijingers add an "rrr" sound （儿话音） to the end of many words.
Making fun of regional accents is the basis for a minimum of 30% of Chinese comedy on TV and cross talk （相声）. The current fad is to make fun of the accent from China's Northeast （东北）. Xiaobai might consider that "arrogant," but I think it's funny.
People have forgotten to laugh (I think) and just relax a little in this age of over-sensitivity and political correctness. I do not know Mr. Xia's personal situation -- perhaps he's had a recent bad experience. If he's feeling offended, I suppose that's his perogative, but hopefully, he will read these after-postings and can relax a little and be somewhat persuaded that this wasn't a dig at Chinese people - just some harmless and humorous observations/perspectives from a visitor/traveler.
And as far as "Jinger Berrs", etc. -- well, what can I say, as an Asian (born in Asia) but schooled here in the West (I don't have an accent) that's how many Asians say "jingle bells" -- the L sounds more like an R. After years and years of living in the West, my parents still can't quite pronounce GIRL right -- it comes out "GAURL" -- but who cares. ..what was really funny was the same Santa posters, the chemical drums, and the mystery meats -- I saw all that stuff myself ...
I've been in Beijing and Shanghai twice, visited HK many times...took the high speed train from Kowloon to Ghuangzhou and did the shopping thing in Shenzhen...and LOVED every minute of it. I would love to go back again and and again and cover more ground.
the stereotype about different accents is not what I'm referring to.
You have to realize that most westerners are ignorant about China and it doesn't help that the mainstream media perpetuates that stereotype, ow you are doig the same. How do you expect more westerners to become enlightened about the real China when fellow westerners are talking down China like this?
The whole thing about bad Beijing air, mystery chuanr meat, and the Santa Claus thing is BS.
I think I understand where you are coming from. But China is a big place as is the US. What is the real China? What is the real US? There are so many aspects and complexities. The travel companies try and portray all places as paradises, etc. to try and attract tourists, but I think people who truly want to discover the 'real' anything do not want to go to places that are painted over with "adverts". They want to -- like you say-- discover the real thing -- warts and all.
All the time I was in Beijing and Shanghai (both times) it was humid and very smoggy. I think cars ran on leaded gasoline which made it worse. The times I was in HK, some days were clear and others were smoggy. I went Oct 1 one year (China's national Day) to the Great Wall and it was a clear day. I was in Shanghai and saw Middle-eastern Chinese selling the barbecue meat on skewers I wanted to buy some but I didn't because I didn't want to possibily suffer the consequences.
Mr. Christmas's humor is the type that makes one laugh with him and not at China or Chinese because it takes someone who's seen this before to appreciate a shared or familiar experience. I really doubt there's any part of this that degrades China. But you are entitled to your feelings and your opinions of course. I accept that different people have different sensitivities for whatever reasons.
I agree that this song started out well enough but then it took an easy turn to the cheap stereotypical cliche type anti-China jokes. I'm sorry but I expected more from this guy who obviously looks like he's been there - probably another English teacher.
Look, we've all seen big city smog. It's prevalent in Beijing, Shanghai, HK, NYC, LA, Paris, Toronto, Chicago, London. I'm sick & tired of people pointing fingers at China for this type of crap when per capita, China is way ahead of the west.
@xiaobai88888 Tell you what Xiaobai, you rewrite the lyrics to the song, any way you like, and I'll re-record a special version of the song just for you. I'm not being sarcastic, really, give it your best shot. My version will blow yours away.
Back to the smog. Yes, LA has smog. And guess what. People complained about it during the '84 Olympics. I was there. I remember.
What you didn't have in LA, however, were guys like you criticizing people who complained.
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Hi! I am Peruvian, seen this vid on Patricia's blog Planeta China... I live in the UK and I have showed this vid to a friend... she was laughing and she liked the vid... and at the end she said she missed Xmas in China... she also said the thing about the reindeer is true... it seems its like a 'herbal' medicine over there... nice vid!
PRINCESAINKA22 2 years ago
Comment removed
PRINCESAINKA22 2 years ago
You can see my own video, the air in Beijing is not bad everyday. Of course it can get pretty bad especially when hot humid air from the Bay of Bohai washes in. It's not fair that every ignorant westerner thinks that all of China has bad air all of the time, how are you doing anything but perpetuating this nonsense?
I always thought that westerners would learn more about China if they would bother to visit. Maybe you do know a bit more but you don't bother to show it whatsoever.
xiaobai88888 2 years ago 3
Nice video! I miss Beijing!!
cosmiclight100 2 years ago
Dear Mr. Christmas,
You've nailed it. The right balance of irony, absurdity, comedy, etc. to uplift my post-Christmas blues here in the West. There's always a funny side to when different cultures clash - not to mention the cashing in by all of the season. I hope you make more videos -- musical or otherwise. thx!
snackingonutube 2 years ago
Just another arrogant westerner perpetuating stereotypes. You shouldn't be making fun of Chinese over Christmas, whether in jest or not.
If a Chinese were to make derogatory remarks about Americans then you guys would be all up in arms, uzi's & AK47's.
xiaobai88888 2 years ago
Chinese and Asians make all sorts of derogatory remarks about Westerners. I should know. I AM Asian 100% but live right now in the West and have my feet firmly in both cultures. That's why I'm not offended when I can tell the person making fun actually is doing it from a position of experience and knowledge - and yes, respect---, not from ignorance. To counter stereotypes and conflict of all kinds, one also needs a sense of humor.
snackingonutube 2 years ago 3
Which part is a stereotype?
christmasinbeijing 2 years ago
The only stereotype I can see is Mr. Xia's reference to Americans being up in arms...
snackingonutube 2 years ago
Maybe Xiaobai's talking about the "Jinger Berrs" thing. That is a stereotype, but it's not making fun of Chinese people. It's making fun of the Beijing accent. Beijingers add an "rrr" sound （儿话音） to the end of many words.
Making fun of regional accents is the basis for a minimum of 30% of Chinese comedy on TV and cross talk （相声）. The current fad is to make fun of the accent from China's Northeast （东北）. Xiaobai might consider that "arrogant," but I think it's funny.
christmasinbeijing 2 years ago
People have forgotten to laugh (I think) and just relax a little in this age of over-sensitivity and political correctness. I do not know Mr. Xia's personal situation -- perhaps he's had a recent bad experience. If he's feeling offended, I suppose that's his perogative, but hopefully, he will read these after-postings and can relax a little and be somewhat persuaded that this wasn't a dig at Chinese people - just some harmless and humorous observations/perspectives from a visitor/traveler.
snackingonutube 2 years ago
And as far as "Jinger Berrs", etc. -- well, what can I say, as an Asian (born in Asia) but schooled here in the West (I don't have an accent) that's how many Asians say "jingle bells" -- the L sounds more like an R. After years and years of living in the West, my parents still can't quite pronounce GIRL right -- it comes out "GAURL" -- but who cares. ..what was really funny was the same Santa posters, the chemical drums, and the mystery meats -- I saw all that stuff myself ...
snackingonutube 2 years ago
I've been in Beijing and Shanghai twice, visited HK many times...took the high speed train from Kowloon to Ghuangzhou and did the shopping thing in Shenzhen...and LOVED every minute of it. I would love to go back again and and again and cover more ground.
snackingonutube 2 years ago
the stereotype about different accents is not what I'm referring to.
You have to realize that most westerners are ignorant about China and it doesn't help that the mainstream media perpetuates that stereotype, ow you are doig the same. How do you expect more westerners to become enlightened about the real China when fellow westerners are talking down China like this?
The whole thing about bad Beijing air, mystery chuanr meat, and the Santa Claus thing is BS.
xiaobai88888 2 years ago 5
Dear Mr. Xia,
I think I understand where you are coming from. But China is a big place as is the US. What is the real China? What is the real US? There are so many aspects and complexities. The travel companies try and portray all places as paradises, etc. to try and attract tourists, but I think people who truly want to discover the 'real' anything do not want to go to places that are painted over with "adverts". They want to -- like you say-- discover the real thing -- warts and all.
snackingonutube 2 years ago
All the time I was in Beijing and Shanghai (both times) it was humid and very smoggy. I think cars ran on leaded gasoline which made it worse. The times I was in HK, some days were clear and others were smoggy. I went Oct 1 one year (China's national Day) to the Great Wall and it was a clear day. I was in Shanghai and saw Middle-eastern Chinese selling the barbecue meat on skewers I wanted to buy some but I didn't because I didn't want to possibily suffer the consequences.
snackingonutube 2 years ago
Mr. Christmas's humor is the type that makes one laugh with him and not at China or Chinese because it takes someone who's seen this before to appreciate a shared or familiar experience. I really doubt there's any part of this that degrades China. But you are entitled to your feelings and your opinions of course. I accept that different people have different sensitivities for whatever reasons.
snackingonutube 2 years ago
I agree that this song started out well enough but then it took an easy turn to the cheap stereotypical cliche type anti-China jokes. I'm sorry but I expected more from this guy who obviously looks like he's been there - probably another English teacher.
Look, we've all seen big city smog. It's prevalent in Beijing, Shanghai, HK, NYC, LA, Paris, Toronto, Chicago, London. I'm sick & tired of people pointing fingers at China for this type of crap when per capita, China is way ahead of the west.
xiaobai88888 2 years ago 4
@xiaobai88888 Tell you what Xiaobai, you rewrite the lyrics to the song, any way you like, and I'll re-record a special version of the song just for you. I'm not being sarcastic, really, give it your best shot. My version will blow yours away.
Back to the smog. Yes, LA has smog. And guess what. People complained about it during the '84 Olympics. I was there. I remember.
What you didn't have in LA, however, were guys like you criticizing people who complained.
christmasinbeijing 2 years ago
By the way, I know China very well. Been all over it and have plenty of experience, same can be said for western cities as well.
I appreciate western humour but this song doesn't cut it.
xiaobai88888 2 years ago 3