Surviving in Hangzhou with no Chinese language skills.

I found this interesting blog recently ,written by Michelle Chu in My Beijing Survival Diary   and it portrayed our stay here in Hangzhou so well I thought it worth reposting.

Surviving in China Without Speaking Chinese

Posted on June 20, 2011  in My  Beijing Survival Diary

 Some expats come to China to learn the culture and language. They take Mandarin courses in school, learn about China’s extensive history, and come ready to be immersed in a Chinese environment. And then there are other expats who think that the Chinese culture is intriguing, and take off on a plane to the land of the unknown, no preparation needed, so they think.

From my firsthand observation, it is, in fact, possible to survive Beijing without speaking a word of Mandarin. My roommate is the perfect example. She has been here ten months and barely speaks any Chinese. Yet she is able to get around, take taxis to different places around Beijing, order food, and get delivery from the nearby supermarket. Is it because China’s education has improved exponentially, so that suddenly every Chinese citizen knows how to speak fluent English? Or is it because my roommate has a tiny Chinese leprechaun living in her ear, translating everything for her everywhere she goes? The answer, as you may be surprised to find out, is none of the above. The reason why my English-speaking only roommate can survive in the Chinese world is the reason why so many of us get ahead in jobs we’re significantly unqualified for: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Tip #1: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And who you know is preferably a Chinese speaker.

I’ve found that a lot of meals with expats are spent in bars, lounges, cafes, pizza parlors, etc. You get the picture. Places that cater to English-speaking customers. Which means that at least one person in that restaurant will be able to speak decent, if not comprehensible, English. That solves the food problem. What if you want a midnight snack but don’t walk to walk to the nearby supermarket (which delivers for free)? For this situation, and others, I would suggest living with someone who speaks Chinese, ideally a local. Hopefully this person is laid back and doesn’t mind calling for you every once in a while.

Tip #2: For local food, picture menus are your best friend.

While hanging out with some American friends yesterday, one friend mentioned that when she first arrived in Beijing, she wouldn’t eat at a local Chinese restaurant unless it had pictures to accompany its menu. I totally understand. Even if the menu has English, but no pictures, who knows what you’re getting when you order the “Chicken Slaps the Random Flower Sop.” If you’re tired of eating all Western food in a country with so many varieties of Chinese food, eating like a local is definitely possible without speaking like a local. I would suggest learning basic Chinese (like, a Chinese kid starting to talk basic). 这个“zhe ge” means “This one.” So all you have to do is point at the dishes you want and say “zhe ge.” Over time, you’ll discover which dishes are your favorites, and if you learn how to say a few dishes in Chinese, you’ll always have something to fall back on whether or not the menu has pictures.

Tip #3: Save text messages of important locations in Chinese.

From what I’ve seen of the expat life, routine can tend to look something like this: work, Sanlitun, home, repeat (during weekdays), Wudaokou, home, Sanlitun, home, repeat (weekends). Not to say that it’s every expat’s routine. But places like Sanlitun and Wudaokou are definitely well-frequented by foreigners. So why not get your Chinese-literate friend to text 三里屯 “san li tun” and 五道口 “wu dao kou,” or other places you go quite often, in Chinese? Then, all you have to do is show it to the taxi driver! No language exchange needed. Another option is if you’re going to a specific restaurant, call the restaurant when you’re in the taxi and have them speak directly to the driver.

While I don’t condone finding a way to survive in China without learning any of the language at all, these are just a few tips for those who find themselves overwhelmed in a foreign country.

posted by Christine

Christine is not giving herslef enough credit because she actually knows many chinese words, for example

你好  nihao hello
浙江大学 zhejiang daxue  - uni
西溪路  xixi lu  玉古路  yugu lu  （ street names where we live）
小心  xiaoxin  take care
对  dui  yes
多少 duoshao   how much
没有 meiyou  dont have
不要 buyao  dont want
真的  zhende  really？
斤 jin  half kilo
牛奶 nuinai  milk
苹果 pingguo  apple
不喜欢  bu xihuan  dont like
五楼  wu lou  fifth floor （ the lift tells
her this every day）
一二三四五六七八九是 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
这个 zhe ge    this  one
两个 lian ge  two （ of these）
其肉  qirou  （ chicken meat）
牛肉  nuirou  （ beef）
红茶  hongcha （ tea  ）
后门 houmen  back gate of uni
谢谢你  xie xie ni  thank you
红色 hongse  red
蓝色 lanse     blue
黑色 heise    black


with these basic words and much laughter along with many hand gestures ( not those ones!! ) Christine is able to communicate very well