Racist tirade against Chinese

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Bad German guy

Even China Daily took up the story that circulated wildly on the Chinese Internet, about the Racist tirade against Chinese by a German guy. He did wrong but did anybody care to look for the reasons of his outburst? Maybe he was daily being faced with (unpleasant) parking problems? Was there a special reason he snapped? Who knows. And yes, I know some foreigners who really act as axxholes here and shame us. But that is not the point.

My view

Sorry but I have my personal view on all this, shared by several old timers in Beijing.

Street assaults and robberies are now more common, but also anti-foreign attitudes. Worse, if a foreigner is assaulted and beaten in a robbery, he is likely to be accused of “assault”. So, I guess you give all your money and stuff, let yourself be beaten up, to avoid even worse. For those naïve, I have some (bloody) pictures of such assaults (that I did not want to post here…). As for the “racist” stuff, see below.

The story

“Senior Daimler executive removed from post after racist tirade against Chinese people in Beijing parking row”
German expat Rainer Gaertner also allegedly pulled out pepper spray to disperse onlookers during quarrel over parking space
Dated 22 November 2016
Link: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2048191/german-executive-sacked-over-racist-tirade-china

My comment as posted on SCMP:

I have a different take on this story. Yes, the guy used improper language and attitude. Agreed. On the other hand we see in Beijing mounting anti-foreigner sentiment (without any immediate reason), racist insults and even physical aggression. If a foreigner defends himself physically he faces prison. Racist and xenophobic attacks seem to be “OK”. Will those (Chinese) attackers face any punishment? Like losing their job? It is a one-way “justice”. China has changed for the worst, in the past Chinese were overall very polite. Now some have become arrogant and blame foreigners for whatever, ranting and assaulting them. You won’t read this in the media because this is CENSORED. So, we have no rights? Contrary to what wumaos say, as foreigners we have no “favorable treatment”, on the contrary right now. Not to be surprised foreigners are leaving, so China is one of the countries with the lowest amount of foreigners IN THE WORLD. I have many local friends but they are the first to tell me “Be careful. Many bad people. Don’t try to argue”.

 

Dementia Awareness Silent Film

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

The Missing Ring

Our Rotaractors had made a Dementia Awareness Silent Film, “The Missing Ring”.
See here the explanation by Zhiyu Sebastian Yin, one of our Rotaractors who made it:
“I wrote and story and directed the film, and roles were played by many other famous young Oscar winners and Tony nominees. So sit back, enjoy this almost 17 minutes long film with your loved ones.”
Title:” Dementia Awareness Silent Film The Missing Ring”
You can watch it on YouTube here (you need a VPN in China): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6OeI4dK3bM

I think the movie is just great.

Now watch it here

It took me some time to figure out how to reduce the size of the movie and post it here.
So, finally:

The background

On Sunday 22 November, Rotaract volunteers braved the snow to visit the Skilled Nursing Home (Long Zhen Senior Care)  for retired seniors, in Laiguangying. See:

November 2015: a busy month for Rotaract Beijing

For the pictures:
Rotaractors putting a smile on seniors

Rotaractors putting a smile on seniors

Rotaract program for senior homes, see:

Rotaract Club Beijing, nursing homes and Lyrics Cafe

Surprise party at Beer Mania, the movie

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Surprise party at Beer Mania for Diane

Surprise party at Beer Mania for Diane: See the earlier post: https://www.beijing1980.com/2016/09/15/surprise-party-at-beer-mania-for-diane/

The movie

Rotaractors made a small clip about the event. I am finally happy to upload it here. I avoided Youtube as there might be an annoying “IPR” issue with the background music…

Back to two of my favorite hang-outs in Beijing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

My favored hang-outs

Yes I know, I actually have a number of “my favorite hang-outs” in Beijing. They are different in their own way.
Here only a few of them.
One is is Beer Mania, in Sanlitun Nan Lu. Great for beer and some snacks, and mostly a lively place with a series of bands playing. Or a disk jockey. Always great to chat with our Thierry (and I put money so he won’t cut his beard). Happy to see Alexandre has now joined the crew.
See previous post (among others):

Music and more at Beer Mania

Another place I go, especially for their gorgeous burger is Great Leap Brewery (close to Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Chunxiu Lu,). Mostly very packed, noisy but one of the best burgers in Beijing.

See:

Rotaract social evening at Great Leap Brewing

 

Am I too sensitive?

It happens to me from time to time. You start chatting with someone, lively conversation, the other person has no business card. I give my card.
Then never comes the promised email. That evening in Great Leap I had a long discussion with a guy, I think from Venezuela. He hoped sooo much to keep in touch, he said repeatedly. Never heard back.
And there are others. Maybe I am just to “educated”, that is, when I promise to send the mail I really do. Otherwise I take the card, say nothing and then end of story.
Oh well. Maybe they lost the card, or got run over by a truck or are in prison.

Discovering Arrow Factory Brewing

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Arrow Factory Brewing, sorry what?

Thanks to a ticket I won in the British Ball, I had a voucher for a (modest) discount at ” Arrow Factory Brewing”, a place I had no idea about.
It is a bit off the beaten track, along the Liangma River north of Canadian embassy and north of that big DRC compound.
Downstairs, the microbrewery. Second floor the main restaurant/bar, not too large and cozy. Looks like an old factory. Then upstairs what I call a “creative” terrace: overlooks the river but now in winter there is a tent with some heaters, making it a discreet place to have a meal and drink.

Drinks and food

We could say, Arrow Factory Brewing is known for its beers and its sausages. The “Dutch sausage” was very tasty. They make them somewhere in a hutong.
Beer I had was also good. Nice manager, from … Iceland!
I tried their “Brazilian Cachaça”. The bottle seemed genuine (marked “51” but not sure it is that brand I know). However disappointed as it had zero taste from the famous Brazilian alcohol made of sugar cane – I love that stuff. You can get the real one in some Beijing locations (e.g. Bar Revolution). I wonder if it is a (well done) fake. Next time I should tell the manager to drop that one for a real pinga. Otherwise the caipirinha will totally miss its true taste.
Nice place and reasonable prices, away from the Sanlitun crowds.