What Would You Say If Someone Spits on Your Ice Cream?

Olive always complains that Chinese people are so dirty. What he means is that Chinese People spit anytime and anywhere.

“People in Shanghai must be cleaner than those in Beijing, right?" he asked me.
“No. People all around China are almost the same. They spit all the time, even in Shanghai." I replied.
“But Shanghai is a metropolitan!"
“I know. But people in Shanghai just do it in the same way as people here in Beijing."

Then, he told me a true story happened on Josh when both of them were walking on the street some day. While Josh and he were walking on the street and licking their favorite ice creams, on the street a Chinese guy was splitting, unintentionally but precisely, to the ice cream hold by Josh. You can imagine how disgusting and shocking the scene could be, if this situation would happen on you. When the guy found out what he just had done to a Caucasian, he said sorry to Josh. What would you react at the moment if you were Josh?

Olive also told me that one of his Chinese friends was spitting on the road when he went mountain-climbing with some friends. He asked the friend who was spitting, “Don't you think spitting on the road is not a right thing to do?" His friend answered," This is one part of Chinese culture. You got to learn it."

Furthermore, there is another thing that Olive always felt annoyed. One of his colleagues, who is a senior attorney and has ever studied in Germany, farted in front of him quit often. Olive is irritated by his behavior but doesn't know how to express his unpleasant feelings.

Now, Beijing government eventually took action to curb these kinds of shameful behaviors. People spitting on the street will get fined for RMB50. The spokesperson said, in China, RMB 50 is enough to prevent people from keeping spitting everywhere. “The most important part is that once getting fined, the persons who spit will lose face, an effect that may contribute to correct this bad habit in China.

Beijing government enacts this regulation just because of the imminent Olympic Games. I am not sure whether, in 2008, people can see cleaner streets without some much disgusting fluid everywhere.

Reference: http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2007-02-07/195612256859.shtml