Cities

NYC and Shanghai

NYC, USA and Shanghai, PRC like many major metropolitan areas and world class cities, they have some things in common. Huge populations, massive skyscrapers, affordable public transportation, fantastic food, terrific tourism attractions, etc.

Since I have just returned from yet another trip to Asia please allow me this opportunity to point out some differences and similarities, in order to expose the individuality of each. What no one can deny is the vibrancy and character each one of these massive cities.

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Laowai in a strange land

Submitted by ub on

Laowai means stranger, or an outsider in the Chinese, Mandarin language. The term is usually and generally used to refer to Westerners or whitey, Latinos, Arabs, Africans, or utilized interchangeably to denote all non-Asian foreigners.

As with the Spanish term Gringo, I'm told that being called a Laowai is not an offensive term. So as I travel throughout China, I have come to accept the fact that my round eyes and excess hair is an easy target to attract this label.

CITY ISLAND LIVE - OPEN JOURNALISM: GET INVOLVED

Submitted by ub on

Remember those days when newspapers came out once a month, except in few big cities in which they were weekly, and written communication was done by telegraph. Radio dominated the world of news, sports and entertainment, but only in big cities, until the time of shortwave radio arrived.

One day, television appeared, but to be seen only in the very large cities. On Saturday evenings, the furniture companies used to leave the television on inside their windows, while hundreds of people would come and surround the store to watch TV.

CITY ISLAND IMAGES - OPEN JOURNALISM: GET INVOLVED

Submitted by ub on

Remember those days when newspapers came out once a month, except in few big cities in which they were weekly, and written communication was done by telegraph. Radio dominated the world of news, sports and entertainment, but only in big cities, until the time of shortwave radio arrived.

One day, television appeared, but to be seen only in the very large cities. On Saturday evenings, the furniture companies used to leave the television on inside their windows, while hundreds of people would come and surround the store to watch TV.

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