Originally Posted by dpmlicious:
@
Fiona in HKG, what is a 'roast beef' glance? Is that a saying translated into English? Sounds delicious but probably is more of a negative look? =D
It is definitely your choice to not be accommodating to other people. I wasn't suggesting that anyone needs to go out of their way to make someone feel more welcome or to try to talk to their neighbours. I was simply asking whether someone had tried and if they got a similar reaction.
While in Paris, my friend told me that the locals would be more friend if I spoke some French to them. I was wondering if maybe that was the case with her neighbours. I've also found that some people from other cultures seem fascinated and genuinely happy when you say a few words in their language. However, I realize it might be annoying to some, which might have been the case here.
I'm ethnically Chinese(Singaporean)-Korean. My first language is English and, unfortunately, I have limited Chinese and Korean communication skills. I also don't like any emphasis on nationalities and don't identify with either backgrounds. I dislike it when people find it important to ask me where I'm from and spew out random words in a language I don't really speak, after I already told them I don't use those languages. About the same feeling I get when people think they are complimenting me by telling me I'm great at communicating in my first language.
However, I know they are trying to be friendly. I wouldn't really like having a stranger say "ni hao" or "anyong" to me in the US.
I also wouldn't be surprised if anyone of any nationality, locals included, ended up just wanting to keep to themselves after living in Hong Kong for a while, especially if people poke fun of their nationality.