I have been told that a movie ticket in Shanghai costs around 80RMB. However, government policy states that tickets must be sold at 50% off every Tuesday. I almost went to go see "Avatar" this past Tuesday, but, due to a conflict, I did not. Not thinking much about this missed opportunity - as I knew I could just go the following week - I went about my weekly routine. However, the next day, my friend sent me a text which stated ticket prices have been rocketed to 200RMB! At this point, I tried to console myself by thinking: the only reason I want to see this movie is because everyone whom I have spoken to cannot stop raving about the movie's wonderful-ness...it doesn't matter that it's now at the top of the box office list (note the sarcasm).
Fast forward three days, I find myself in front of a street vendor selling "Avatar" - of course pirated - dvds. It was quite tempting at 5RMB, but I did not want to ruin my "Avatar"-watching experience by purchasing an extremely low-quality dvd...which someone probably made by filming the movie from a movie theater screen. Last weekend, I had a similarly interesting encounter with another street vendor selling pirated products; this time, American novels selling at ~25RMB each. I will now verbally reinact the scenario:
The vendor asked me, "小姐, 你是不是往那边走?" Young lady, are you walking in that direction?
To which I replied, "你想干什么?" Why do you want to know that?
Vendor: 过一点这边可能会有人来查, 我想把东西搬到那边. Someone may come inspect this area in a bit, I want to movie these books to another area.
Me: 你想搬就搬, 我就不买了. If you want to move, then move, I just won't buy anything. (I realize that I sound a bit harsh, but this attitude is relatively polite compared to what I have experienced in some areas.)
I did not end up buying anything from the vendor that day...and, in the meantime, I am still willing to wait for "Avatar" prices to go down.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Safety First...then Holiday Cheer
Today I came across a time.com article stressing the importance of contraceptive use during the holidays. As one can imagine, intoxicated individuals filled with holiday cheer and - obviously - glasses of red wine, festively-named cocktails, and whatever else these generous sippers fancy, may find themselves behaving in a more rash manner. In these cases, the aforementioned individuals may forget or become too lazy to utilize condoms. As a matter of fact, among the 18 to 34 year-olds who took part in the study, 27% had unprotected sex because of alcohol-induced "temporary memory loss."
I have been told that in China's three-star and above hotels, condoms must be placed in the hotel rooms. When I stayed at a Jiangsu four-star hotel, I did find a box of condoms near the toiletries. However, in tiny Chinese characters, I read (not verbatim): 打开盒子50块钱 or 50RMB for opening this box.
Although I see, on a relatively regular basis, couples in an intimate embrace and/or smooching (on a less regular basis), people still seem too embarrassed to approach a store's condom aisle. While walking through a hygiene product and herbal medicine store, I found a safe sex aisle straight across from the escalator. Although the store itself was filled with female customers, no one approached the safe sex aisle (excluding the saleswoman); there seemed to be an invisible boundary five feet out from the aisle entrance and even curious individuals only dared to glance in that direction for a few seconds. I wondered if I were to count the number of people who entered the aisle in a day, how many would I count?
I carry out my current research at a family planning clinic. The clinic provides FREE birth controls pills and condoms. However, I rarely see the female patients taking any. If they are interested in taking some, they may first shyly ask a doctor for permission. Since I wear a white coat, some women regard me as a staff member and hence ask me. When I hand them a few packets of condems, they thank me several times and say, "哎呀, 太多了" or Oh, my, this is too much!
Now, going back to the article and with regard to my observations, people in China need to be educated about condom use. Among many unmarried youth, there is the mentality that if you truly love and care for your significant other, then you will not use a condom in order express your commitment to the relationship. Oftentimes, it is the male refusing to use the condom and the woman "forces" herself to accept this refusal.
Simply put, condom use needs to be stressed not just during the holidays (but, of course, some need a stronger reminder on certain days).
I have been told that in China's three-star and above hotels, condoms must be placed in the hotel rooms. When I stayed at a Jiangsu four-star hotel, I did find a box of condoms near the toiletries. However, in tiny Chinese characters, I read (not verbatim): 打开盒子50块钱 or 50RMB for opening this box.
Although I see, on a relatively regular basis, couples in an intimate embrace and/or smooching (on a less regular basis), people still seem too embarrassed to approach a store's condom aisle. While walking through a hygiene product and herbal medicine store, I found a safe sex aisle straight across from the escalator. Although the store itself was filled with female customers, no one approached the safe sex aisle (excluding the saleswoman); there seemed to be an invisible boundary five feet out from the aisle entrance and even curious individuals only dared to glance in that direction for a few seconds. I wondered if I were to count the number of people who entered the aisle in a day, how many would I count?
I carry out my current research at a family planning clinic. The clinic provides FREE birth controls pills and condoms. However, I rarely see the female patients taking any. If they are interested in taking some, they may first shyly ask a doctor for permission. Since I wear a white coat, some women regard me as a staff member and hence ask me. When I hand them a few packets of condems, they thank me several times and say, "哎呀, 太多了" or Oh, my, this is too much!
Now, going back to the article and with regard to my observations, people in China need to be educated about condom use. Among many unmarried youth, there is the mentality that if you truly love and care for your significant other, then you will not use a condom in order express your commitment to the relationship. Oftentimes, it is the male refusing to use the condom and the woman "forces" herself to accept this refusal.
Simply put, condom use needs to be stressed not just during the holidays (but, of course, some need a stronger reminder on certain days).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
