that's true, they certainly have a little different perspective on manners, which is fun to learn about. Getting right in your face when they talk is another charmer. On the other hand, a girl I know in Beijing said that her province had nearly 2000 a day dying to SARS (funny, you didn't see that in China Daily) and you wonder what effect hygene has (far and away the most common form of disease transfer is 'fecal to mouth'--my Bachelor's is actually in Phisical Anthropology). Most places don't have hot water so weeks without bathing in the winter is not uncommon. Few wash their hands (at all it seems). The kids here don't wear diapers, they have pants with a split in the crotch and they just squat anywhere at anytime. Just about every bathroom in the country has a trash can full of used toilet paper in every stall too.
Ahh...the Pearl of the Orient.
Watch your step,
Derek