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A Compliment, Wrapped in an Insult (Wrapped in a Burrito)

Posted by on July 25, 2012

The other day I wrote about Weixin (english name Wechat) the app that lets you chat easily with people in your area. I could go on and on about weixin and how I think it has actually changed the course of my life, but for now I want to relay just one story.

I’m in Kunming now, studying chinese, and last night, after class and dinner were over I started chatting with some local Kunming people using Weixin.

I had been chatting (in Chinese) with one guy for about 20 minutes when he asked for my photo. I asked why? I told him my photo was already online (my profile picture).

Him: But your profile picture looks like a foreign devil. Send me a real picture.

Me: Foreign devil?! I AM a foreigner!

Him: You’re not Chinese? Really?

Me:  I’m American.

Him: But your Chinese is so good.

Me: So you think foreigners are foreign devils?!

Him: Your chinese is really good…

Best. Insult. Ever.

(And to my knowledge this is the only time I have been called a foreign devil by a chinese person. Although technically because he didn’t know I was a foreigner I guess it doesn’t count.)

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One Response to A Compliment, Wrapped in an Insult (Wrapped in a Burrito)

  1. erick

    I think you should change the name of your blog to: Writer. Traveler. Tea Drinker. Foreign Devil.

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