Expat life makes you intelligent

As a Chinese overseas returnee who lived in Australia for many years, I am often put into awkward situations where I have to decide if I am Australian or Chinese. For instance during the 2008 Olympics, I could never decide which team to support.

However last week I realized I am Chinese and patriotic in fact! When catching up with an old China hand, our Australian friend Ray commented on the fact that he was "becoming Chinese". I thought after staying here for over nine years, and being married to a Beijing lady, that was no surprise. And I was expecting to hear some glowing, at least somewhat positive observations.

To my disappointment, he said that the reasons that made him feel Chinese were - he has started loudly clearing his throat and nasal passages by spitting in the street, he now always jumps queues at shops, and is even capable of elbowing old ladies away to get in a taxi instead of waiting on a sub-zero snow-riddled street for a vacant taxi!