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There is no doubt that more and more foreigners are visiting or living in Shanghai in recent years. The city has become more popular with foreigners than it was during its heyday in the 1930s.
Many foreigners find it hard to understand some local habits, such as spitting.
Their puzzlement is understandable. Local manners have not progressed along with the city's economic development.
A few expats living in the city discussed some of the more common problems.
The staring (What are you looking at?)
Many foreigners who have just arrived in the city wonder why locals often stare at them.
When one looks at another in the street for more than five seconds, a greeting or smile is usually expected - but often foreigners say people gawk at them with no greeting or smile.
After living in Shanghai for eight months, American Jennifer Sajbel says she is getting used to the problem, not that she enjoys it.
"I get stares on the street because of my different ethnicity - that made me uncomfortable at first," said Sajbel. "It's like we are zoo animals."
Once in a downtown coffee shop, Sajbel noted a Chinese woman kept staring at her for more than 10 minutes. When Sajbel said hello, the woman turned around, pretending she never stared.
Sometimes it goes beyond staring.
Once Sajbel noticed a Chinese guy talking on his cell phone, but kept glancing in her direction.
Soon she found out he was using his cell phone to take pictures of her, while mumbling "Yes" and "OK" in Chinese.
"I paid attention to what he was saying, and it turned out that he was just faking the phone call," said Sajbel. "He thought I don't know Mandarin at all."
Driving style (Hey, hun! Did you see that truck running the red light?)
Defensive driving is a foreign concept in Shanghai.
Pedestrians are rarely given the right of way when crossing the street, which can make a simple walk down the road, a harrowing experience for foreigners who are new to the city.
Sue Ferry, an American moved to the city five years ago, said that she was almost run over by a taxi on Dongping Road last November.
"I got the little 'green man' sign and then started crossing, but the taxi was making a left turn regardless," said Ferry. "I thought he would stop for me."
In open roads far from the city center, red lights seem to have little meaning. Sajbel said once her husband saw a blue truck run through red light without even slowing down. The couple was heading to the Pudong International Airport.
"My husband asked if I saw what the truck did, and I just replied 'huh? What truck?"' said Sajbel. "I'm already too used to such things. It's just how traffic works here, I guess."
Over curiosity (Excuse me, but that's my stuff!)
Canadian Irene Scarfone says she doesn't understand why some locals like to peek into her shopping bags.
Once in a downtown shopping mall, she put her shopping bag down and was looking at another counter when a middle-aged woman walked up beside her and took a jacket Scarfone had bought out of her bag and asked how much it cost.
"I thought she was taking my bag away at first," said Scarfone. "I still have no clue why she did that, but at least she spoke English to me."
Dominic Venne from Montreal, said there is no need to get offended.
"They just want to know more about us - our lifestyle," said Venne. "Think about it, it's only two decades since the country opened itself to the world."
Culture integration takes time.
He said he wouldn't mind someone looking through his purchases, "as long as I didn't happen to buy condoms that day."
(Shanghai Daily February 27, 2006)
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