Decoding China
A Handbook for Traveling, Studying, and Working in Today's China
Published on 2. April 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-8048-4267-9 (ISBN)
Description
Embrace the culture and get the most out of your time in China.
Going to China for the first time can be an intimidating experience, even for those who have studied the language. In fact, traveling to China for the second, third, or fourth time can also be a challenging experience, especially if you intend to be fully immersed in daily life, get off the beaten path, and experience the "real" China.
This China etiquette and culture guide is about how to get things done in China. Decoding China gives you practical information on how to deal with everyday situations--like eating at a restaurant or shopping at an outdoor market--that present unique and unexpected challenges for foreign visitors.
Why being polite when you board a bus is a big mistake
Finding a toilet (and what to bring along!)
How to bargain for anything in a Chinese market
Which train ticket to buy--hard seat? Soft seat?
How the Chinese view privacy, and why it may make you seem suspicious
Working in a Chinese office, and the politics of lunch
As the Academic Director of the Chinese Flagship Center of Brigham Young University, Dr. Matthew B. Christensen has seen countless foreigners arrive in China...and fail to accomplish simple tasks like ordering food, boarding a bus, or making friends with a Chinese colleague. Why? Because they didn't understand China's basic cultural codes. This travel book will help you crack these codes. And with it, you'll soon be able to navigate your way in any situation.
Going to China for the first time can be an intimidating experience, even for those who have studied the language. In fact, traveling to China for the second, third, or fourth time can also be a challenging experience, especially if you intend to be fully immersed in daily life, get off the beaten path, and experience the "real" China.
This China etiquette and culture guide is about how to get things done in China. Decoding China gives you practical information on how to deal with everyday situations--like eating at a restaurant or shopping at an outdoor market--that present unique and unexpected challenges for foreign visitors.
Why being polite when you board a bus is a big mistake
Finding a toilet (and what to bring along!)
How to bargain for anything in a Chinese market
Which train ticket to buy--hard seat? Soft seat?
How the Chinese view privacy, and why it may make you seem suspicious
Working in a Chinese office, and the politics of lunch
As the Academic Director of the Chinese Flagship Center of Brigham Young University, Dr. Matthew B. Christensen has seen countless foreigners arrive in China...and fail to accomplish simple tasks like ordering food, boarding a bus, or making friends with a Chinese colleague. Why? Because they didn't understand China's basic cultural codes. This travel book will help you crack these codes. And with it, you'll soon be able to navigate your way in any situation.
Reviews / Votes
"This makes a change from all the big-picture studies that allegedly empower people who want to do business in Beijing. Instead of once-over-lightly explanations of China's eternal values, Christensen explains how to order dinner and get on with people you need to know. There is a mass of information on business etiquette and the routines of life..." -Stephen Matchett, The Australian "Based on his own experience of teaching and traveling in China in the past decades, Christensen's book Decoding China serves as a reminder to anyone who will be living, studying and working in China that understanding the culture codes that help develop and maintain relationships is more important than just mastering a bundle of linguistic skills." --Shanghai DailyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Boston
United States
Illustrations
b&w photos throughout
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 130 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8048-4267-9 (9780804842679)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Matthew B. Christensen
Decoding China
A Handbook for Traveling, Studying, and Working in Today's China
E-Book
02/2013
Tuttle Publishing
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Dr. Matthew B. Christensen holds degrees in Chinese, international relations, and Chinese linguistics. In addition to directing the Chinese Flagship Center, which is a partnership among the federal government, education, and business that works to help graduates attain superior-level Chinese language and cultural skills, he is also Professor of Chinese in the Department of Asian & Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University. He blogs about his adventures exploring the wide-flung corners of China at intothemiddlekingdom.com.