When in Rome, for the love of Jeebus, when in Rome!!!!

up for anything · 08-10-2013 11:44AM

Interceptor wrote: »

fart like a dying Labrador

I can't stop laughing.

Nailz · 08-10-2013 11:46AM

Yeah, it's part of the culture over there, they generally don't find it rude at all compared to us. I hated it when I studied in Hong Kong, they'd even do it in the fecking library of all places!

Paramite Pie · 08-10-2013 12:20PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

Well, that's what I reckoned alright. I don't really know her well enough to broach the subject. I would much rather toodle off to boards for a good whinge about it on After Hours than confront her ;o)

So I suppose that another Irish thing I could add to the list - or maybe its just me - is the paralyzing fear of embarrassing/offending someone be it a stranger/friend/co-worker

In Asia it's perfectly acceptable to be direct about issues like this. Heck in some parts of Asia it's very common to suggest/recommend plastic surgery to someone without causing offense. *shrugs*

She will not be offended and will be thankful that you told her.;)

emmabrighton wrote: »

Work with a hoard of Spanish guys too and all they do is talk really loudly on the bus in the mornings... that is definitely a Spanish thing.

In Chinese culture it's rude to talk on the bus/train. Just ride the bus with her.:pac:

old hippy · 08-10-2013 12:30PM

mathie wrote: »

OP you're such a lacist.

Ah, now we're down to it, eh? Make fun of East Asians. That's about the desired level isn't it?

razorblunt · 08-10-2013 12:39PM

Next time she lets one rip, stand up and annouce "coming Eudora".

emmabrighton · 08-10-2013 12:44PM

razorblunt wrote: »

Next time she lets one rip, stand up and annouce "coming Eudora".

Actually I could go to war with her and every time she burps, I could do something that was equally disgusting in china but not even considered an issue here... don't want to annoy my irish co workers

But what is THAT think?

Answers on a postcard please

BraziliaNZ · 08-10-2013 12:46PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

I'm sure them Fe1cking Greeks get up to all sorts too...

They invented buggery

canadianwoman · 08-10-2013 12:48PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

So I am sitting at my desk in work and the girl on the other side of the partition from me keeps burping. She has been working in my office for 2 weeks and burps continuously from 9 til 5. It is so disgusting.

She is Chinese, so I am assuming its grand to belch at your desk in China.

But it's not in Ireland!!!!! Stop doing it!!!!!!

Next thing you know some Swedish dude is going to start working here and take to fapping at his desk.

I don't think this is being racist to expect her not to belch in a quiet office... I think its just good manners.

Am I the first to notice this clash of cultures on our fair Isle? Or have you ever been abroad and told to stop doing something that's fairly grand in Ireland and been shocked to hear that its just not acceptable - obviously there is binge drinking but that's their problem not ours :P

Does she drink a lot of fizzy drinks?

Paramite Pie · 08-10-2013 12:48PM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

They invented buggery

Nah that's been around since Adam and Steve...

razorblunt · 08-10-2013 12:49PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

Actually I could go to war with her and every time she burps, I could do something that was equally disgusting in china but not even considered an issue here... don't want to annoy my irish co workers

But what is THAT think?

Answers on a postcard please

Does it rhyme with Danny Dart?

bigblackmug · 08-10-2013 12:49PM

I had a Chinese Colleague called Kai who belched continually too.

Czarcasm · 08-10-2013 12:52PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

Actually I could go to war with her and every time she burps, I could do something that was equally disgusting in china but not even considered an issue here... don't want to annoy my irish co workers

But what is THAT think?

Answers on a postcard please

I'm struggling to come up with anything tbh, Chinese people really don't give a fiddlers for social graces :pac:

emmabrighton · 08-10-2013 12:53PM

razorblunt wrote: »

Does it rhyme with Danny Dart?

Jaysus, if I started that, I'd never stop and my office would have to become a bio hazard zone...

Something a little less lethal please

old hippy · 08-10-2013 12:58PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

Jaysus, if I started that, I'd never stop and my office would have to become a bio hazard zone...

Something a little less lethal please

Sit down and chat about your cultures. Compare and contrast and gently point out that the belching is annoying you. I'm sure she will be genuinely apologetic.

08-10-2013 12:59PM

canadianwoman wrote: »

Does she drink a lot of fizzy drinks?

She could be chugging down the Alka Selzter

castletownman · 08-10-2013 01:00PM

If you do decide to broach the subject and she ends up taking offence, be sure to host a Cultural Night in your local hall showcasing the great and good of China, through the medium of a slide-show that must contain at least one slide of you shaking hands with a Chinaman.

And free drink. There must be free drink

seamus · 08-10-2013 01:05PM

I've only just remembered that years back my wife used to complain that Chinese people always seemed to snuffle really loudly and clear their throat disgustingly (like proper hockers) on the bus. It's one of her pet hates.

All the travel writers say that if you visit China you have to be prepared to give up any preciousness you have around personal space. I guess along with that comes the notion of not giving a fnck about burping, farting, clearing your nose, etc, in public.

conorhal · 08-10-2013 01:06PM

Minature Tibetan flag for the win!

Femme_Fatale · 08-10-2013 01:36PM

old hippy wrote: »

Ah, now we're down to it, eh? Make fun of East Asians. That's about the desired level isn't it?

If someone made a good-natured joke about Irish people, it wouldn't offend me. Intention/context are key.

keeponhurling · 08-10-2013 01:37PM

Czarcasm wrote: »

I'm struggling to come up with anything tbh, Chinese people really don't give a fiddlers for social graces :pac:

Actually they are quite particular about using toothpicks.
You must cover up your mouth if you're using a toothpick. (Having your mouth open while eating is fine, spitting out food also fine)

So use a toothpick and have a good rummage around, making using to keep your other hand firmly down by your side.
You could even ask for her assistance, tell her you're sure there's a lump of food stuck there somewhere, can she see anything

budgie412 · 08-10-2013 01:38PM

emmabrighton wrote: »

So I am sitting at my desk in work and the girl on the other side of the partition from me keeps burping. She has been working in my office for 2 weeks and burps continuously from 9 til 5. It is so disgusting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSGWKsJCjzY

A bit like this OP?

old hippy · 08-10-2013 05:46PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

If someone made a good-natured joke about Irish people, it wouldn't offend me. Intention/context are key.

It's not a good natured joke. It's a piss poor racial stereotype that's been done to death.

Christ knows, I've had to endure similar stupid comments directed at my wife and friends from that region of the world and I'll be darned if I'm just going to shrug my shoulders anymore.

08-10-2013 06:04PM

old hippy wrote: »

It's not a good natured joke. It's a piss poor racial stereotype that's been done to death.

Christ knows, I've had to endure similar stupid comments directed at my wife and friends from that region of the world and I'll be darned if I'm just going to shrug my shoulders anymore.

Old hippy, you seem to be finding fault with every thread today.

Would be get so offended if I spoke to say one of your english friends in an east end accent, oi right guv? Would you say that was raisct offensive.?
Sometimes things are meant in a fun, good natured jokey way. Surely you must see that not everything people say is meant as racist offensive etc.

meemeemee · 08-10-2013 06:07PM

Time of the month

Czarcasm · 08-10-2013 06:09PM

old hippy wrote: »

It's not a good natured joke. It's a piss poor racial stereotype that's been done to death.

Christ knows, I've had to endure similar stupid comments directed at my wife and friends from that region of the world and I'll be darned if I'm just going to shrug my shoulders anymore.

You'll do better to shrug those almighty chips on your shoulders first.

Fox_In_Socks · 08-10-2013 07:13PM

"Wiv a little bit....wiv a little...wiv a little bit of bloom-in luck!"

strobe · 08-10-2013 07:54PM

H3llR4iser wrote: »

About Irish people's disgusting habits - yes, binge drinking counts; Try to be publicly pissed drunk anywhere in continental Europe and see how well that goes.

I've been publically pissed drunk in a lot of places in continental Europe, went... well... perfectly fine funnily enough. Seemed to go perfectly fine for the continental Eurpoeans too, come to think of it.

Femme_Fatale · 08-10-2013 08:49PM

old hippy wrote: »

It's not a good natured joke. It's a piss poor racial stereotype that's been done to death.

Christ knows, I've had to endure similar stupid comments directed at my wife and friends from that region of the world and I'll be darned if I'm just going to shrug my shoulders anymore.

Depends on intent/context. You really can't speak for every case. It does nobody any good to see offence at absolutely everything, and not everyone is going to thank you for it either. You can't speak for them all.

The irony is: you've no problem with people tearing the Irish to shreds.

Menas · 08-10-2013 08:56PM

OP, she is probably telling her mates back home about the gross irish man with the hairy hands who sits beside her.
Best advice is what was said earlier, sit her down and give her a good talking to.

Some other time I will tell you about the time I was trapped in a public loo in Beijing. Not for the faint hearted.

When in Rome, for the love of Jeebus, when in Rome!!!!

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