Life in China | Dominik Mayer – Products, Asia, Productivity

In 2008 and 2009 I spent 1.5 years studying Chinese at Tongji University in Shanghai. This is my way to China, these are my experiences in Shanghai.

I arrive in China on page 15.

Electric Chair

A friend is on the phone. She found a doctor with an “electric chair” that can “heal my sick”. She tried to sit on it and it is “very comfortable” and “a very good chair”. It can “clean our blood”. And it is free.

When you sit on the chair you have “no other feelings”. Today she saw “many, many people sit on the chair, they all say it is very comfortable.” The doctor is in a hospital but “this chair not in a hospital”, outside the hospital in something “like a store”.

“The doctor says it is good for our health and will heal your sick”. I’ll give it a try.

Wedding Pictures

Opposite to the International Students Building:

Tongji
Tongji

Pimp My Bike

Old Bike

A friend with his “new” bike. His language partner had bought it for 50 Yuan (about 4,50 Euro) and will lend it to him until he leaves.

Old Bike

Ouwen and I had pimped our bikes earlier. In our case it was only the missing air in the tires, this bike needed more care.

Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike

Luckily the man near the International Students Building has everything and can fix everything.

Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike

The chef of the two restaurants above the dining hall inside the International Students Building and a security guard. The chef has been living in Germany for several years and called the other one “Gestapo” in joke.

Old Bike

One hour and 80 Yuan later.

Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike
Old Bike

How to Become a Movie Star

Hi,

I think I forget something. Some of my friends are major in director (making films) and they need a foreign actor.I think you are the best for the role!Are you willing to come and help them with the short film?

 

A: One day a foreigner received a postcard from his friend and told him to find some treasure in the old cinemas

So he visited these cinemas and know many different stories but didn’t find any treasure, finally he found the really treasure was this trip

B: but you don’t tell me that I am that foreigner, right?

I just play someone who says “hello” or something and that’s it

A: of cours ure the foreigner

B: aaaaaah

but I am a very, very, very bad actor

A: They’ll tell you how to act, take it easy

[…]

A: actually it will be on the TV

B: whaaaat?

which tv?

tongji=

?

shanghai?

china?

aaaaaah

A: Shanghai Educational Channel

B: na halleluja

I’m B…

First Time KTV

Partyworld

KTV is very popular here and one of the things I wanted to try since I arrived. We finally decided to go but didn’t know where. After hours we chose Partyworld in Fuxing Park.

Partyworld
Partyworld
Partyworld
Partyworld
Partyworld

We paid 824 Yuan (about 75 Euro without food and drinks) for more than four hours.

Partyworld

The Asians seem to be naturals. The three Koreans were fabulous, the four Chinese also very good and we three Germans… Ah mei. In our defense: We couldn’t sing in our mother tongue but I doubt that German songs would have made any difference.

Partyworld

The terminal allowed to adjust the volume of the music and the two microphones, toggle the singer on the video on or off, call for the waiter, add songs to the queue and so on. There were also two smaller panels in the wall so it’s possible to jump to the next song without having to stand up.

(Thanks to Ouwen for pictures 4 and 7.)

Just Around the Corner

Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou

Old and new. The World Financial Center.

Hongkou
Hongkou

I think my house is the second one on the right. (Update: Ok, it’s not.)

Just a Little Bit

Chinese restaurant

My vegetarian food didn’t even comply with the Chinese definition as I could spot the meat easily. The waitress said it’s just “a little bit” but they finally cooked the dish again.

Chinese restaurant

Mifan. I could eat tons. And I begin to understand why Chinese like it that much.

Chinese restaurant

Waitresses standing around. As all Chinese restaurants this one also had personnel en masse.

The 3 Kingdom Restaurant

Korean restaurant

The upper thing was also yellow, I have no idea why it’s green on the pictures.

Korean restaurant

Every table has its own fume hood and barbecue grill.

Korean restaurant

So many people are running around in the restaurants but no one takes care of your clothes. You always have to put them over your chair. I did it and then someone came and put this thing over my coat to “protect” it. Weird.

Korean restaurant

Free appetizers.

Korean restaurant

Gou rou, dog meat. No one wanted to order it and I only eat dogs when I can kill them myself. :-P

Korean restaurant
Korean restaurant

A waitress cooked the vegetables at another table, away from the meat.

Korean restaurant

The barbecue was changed very often. The waitresses came with a new one, put the meat on it and took the used one away.

Korean restaurant

Korean cutting the meat.

Korean restaurant

You eat the things wrapped in a lettuce leaf.

Korean restaurant

No idea why our Koren friend poured her tea in her rice.

Korean restaurant

Dessert

Korean restaurant
Korean restaurant
Korean restaurant

Air conditioning with jet engine

Korean restaurant

Cleaning

Hongkou Night

Women Hospital

Women Hospital

Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou

My barber’s. We think the sign says they will reopen on April 30th.

Hongkou

As usual: We know many characters but have no clue about their meaning in combination.

Hongkou

My street.

Hongkou

The house on the other side.

For They Know Not What They Do

Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou
Hongkou

Ok, better than this.

Hongkou

Match your bedding to your dress. Or the other way round.

Hongkou

Better than living food.

Hongkou
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall

Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall

Wood and Food

Chinese restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Chinese restaurant
Chinese restaurant

We just said we want something without meat and something with. I always said yes when the man, seemed to be the owner, asked about tofu, corn, etc. as I eat all of them. I never intended to order all the things… A great deal too much food for two persons and not as cheap as it could have been. But very delicious.

Chinese restaurant

Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall

Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall

Watch the video here.

Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Rainbow City Lifestyle Mall
Lamp

The only thing I bought. Very useful. And only 32 Yuan (+ 2,90 Yuan for the bulb).