I recently experienced my first total-stranger delivered joke that I entirely and immediately understood linguistically. It happened while I was buying some melon.
冷静－ 都是新鲜吗？
老板－ 是啊！除了老板都是新鲜
James - Are these melons fresh?
Boss - Of course! Aside from the boss everything is really fresh!
As always, translating from Chinese to English can be tricky. The meanings and conveyances of certain words are incongruent. I realize nobody's sides are splitting, I think it was just the euphoria of true comprehension that enhanced the situation for me.
I'm really thankful that I've been here long enough to shed the exchange-rate way of thinking. I think in RMB instead of conversion rates when I make a purchase. This pattern of thinking can be seen in many foreigners who come to China (or any country where their homeland's Rupee is a hundred to one Denarii). The initial 'go loco and buy trash because I can' attitude wanes, especially when you don't have an income. There are many other attitudinal problems foreigners have in China, especially the one's who come when they are older. If you are set in your ways, unadaptable, or crusty, don't bother. The Chinese culture is much too tolerant and accommodating of foreigners.
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