Originally Posted by stimpy
Having an English as the "lingua franca" is certainly convenient, especially to native English speakers. However it is pretty rude to not even learn a few polite phrases in the local language. How would you like it if a rude demanding Chinese person visited your hometown and shouted at you in Chinese?
Come on Stimpy, this is Beijing we are talking about, not Urumqi or Wuhan! I would also expect staff at an airport hotel in a major international city to speak a minimum of English. I certainly don't know how to say "my toilet bowl is filthy", "please clean up the hair balls" and "Can I please have some toilet paper?" in all the languages of countries that I visit on business. Strangely enough, my little Berlitz pocket guide doesn't seem to be much help either....
