[VRM]

I spent 6 months, but I was all over the country.

The Chinese take things literally, and that can take some getting used to if you are not prepared for it:

We called down to the front desk to get messages (we were expecting our translator to call) and we were told that we had no messages. We were pretty sure that we did so we kept asking. We finally asked if they had any messages for us, and they said yes. After getting the messages we asked if they had any messages for us and they said no - we also asked if we had any messages and they said yes.

Learn how to say a couple of your favourite foods in the local lingo. Beer and shrimp are pei-chyu and see-yah. Sprite/7up is shep-pei.

There is a difference between seafood and riverfood.

Beijing duck is fantastic - we went to a place that was just around the corner from the Forbidden City that was one of the oldest restaurants in the country. Expect to eat some strange (to a Westerner) things. Try the duck brains cooked in garlic - outstanding. Mah-poh tofu is also fantastic especially when the pork is fresh, but I think it is a more southern dish.

Carry something that has the Chinese address of where you are staying. You will always be able to get a taxi

The Chinese also do not elevate the importance of the individual above the group like we do. Everything that is done is for the good of the state/whole. This is a very important difference to understand, as it is key to a lot of other principles that their society also works on. We use the term agreeing to disagree - sometimes something like this can be seen as a failure, and a personal failure affects the group. Saving and giving face is hugely important, as Fastrax said. They tend to be pretty honest.

Tianamen Square, Tibet, and Taiwan can be touchy subjects, and do not joke about Chairman Mao, or any current leaders.

If you or any members of your family are blond you will have a lot of people wanting to touch your hair.

Chinese tend to not be very fond of Japan - you may get some very pointed questions about why we fought Japan with China, but why we are friends with them now.

Bring lots of deoderant - it is tough to find in Beijing and almost impossible outside of Beijing. The Chinese don't really sweat, and they don't use the stuff. It can be very hot and muggy, especially during typhoon season. Clothes in American sizes can also be tough to find.

Don't worry so much about lines - people will cut in front of you and fight their way to the front. You will need to do the same unless you want to wait in 'line' forever.

I hope that helps - there is a LOT of change that you will be dealing with - and a lot of it will give you some really funny stories to tell when you get back.

Steve