[angiebaby80]

yeah yeah, jayinhongkong..

i dont speak the lingo either but my local colleagues are friendly..maybe because i'm a chatty person and have a laugh with them every now and then in the office..i always ask them if they want me to bring them anything if i'm going out..now, they have started asking me if i need anything for lunch when they get take-aways or they just simply ask me in the morning on what i'm doing for lunch..when i first started work, i used to ask them what they do and where they go for lunch..and join them even i knew that i would be sitting there with my share and listen to them talking in canto..i told them that lunchtime would be so much better and fun for me if they could communicate in english and wahey!! they started having convo in english...not perfect but i still appreciate their effort.

bottom line - be approachable!!

[Mat]

u are the outisder..u have to make the effort. Afterall u are the "different" one..not them.
Having worked in Germany for a while. I can tell you that they also at first didn't make the effort...it is not only chinese culture. Other example, being french myself, try to go there (not speaking french) and try to make friend with local ppl, you will see how difficult it is.
Well language is a barrier for sure. But just keep on trying and at the end u will meet some friendly ppl that are ready to talk to you...

[Mina917]

TOOTS - the problem is not U. Local people are very shy and afraid to speak in English esp in office environment where the majority speak cantonese. They dont want to embarrass themselves & be laugh at!
I think you need to show interest within their group, be open to approach them and show u r willing to try to spk to them.
Im very lucky in my workplace,i can speak flunet cantonese but since everyone know i came back from the UK, they treat me like a 'Gwai mui' and always joke with me in english.
I am sure your situation with colleagues will get better once you make the first step.

[minack]

Muimui,

I don't think it's a Chinese culture. It's not a cultural thing at all...people, especially asian who dun speak english well, might feel shy towards foreigners. If you make it a point to go and talk to them, for sure they will be friendly...

[hongkish]

I’m a local hongkish (that’s what my western colleagues call me) and here is my suggestion: be more open to the local food.
you will get more easier to communicate with them if you like local food. of cos it is hard to make you guyz like chicken feet!

[HKFella]

Somehow I don't think that's what it is. Most foreigners living here are quite easy with local Chinese food and are generally quite into it. Unless you tell me the general perception among locals is otherwise.

[@dorable]

lol @ chicken feet...
I agree...think u have to make urself approachable...If your friendly, someone will be happy to accept you! If they don't talk to you, go talk to them!!!
(said by lil ms shy herself lol)

[Rosa_hk]

Hi everyone!

I'm:
-24 years old
-from the local (HK)
-university graduate
-looking for fRienDS from all over the world!!!

So...don't forget to drop me a message even though you are tired after work or you've already had many friends around you ^__^


Cheer,
Rosa

[hongkish]

Originally Posted by HKFella

Somehow I don't think that's what it is. Most foreigners living here are quite easy with local Chinese food and are generally quite into it. Unless you tell me the general perception among locals is otherwise.

hmm what is the local chinese food to you then?
in my eyes they are afraid of fish/beef/cuttlefish ball noodle (with soup!!!) wun tun noodle (with soup!!!) and my belgian colleague he said to me he will never try the noodle with soup!!!
and I asked one of my danish colleague if he likes local food

- yes! I like do lunch at cafe de coral!
- what? cafe de coral?? what about wun tun noodle?
- well, I'm not that local...
- ...ok

[Baron]

Rosa_hk, you need to come along to the get-togethers.