Walking the Grand Bazaar in Urumqi in Xinjiang with my host, I stopped to look more closely at an animal skin drinking pouch used on Silk Road camel treks. I asked a few casual and polite questions, and before I knew it, my host had purchased the item and presented it as a gift. It was not my intention, but it was impolite not to accept graciously.
In my first meeting with my wife-to-be’s parents, I politely complimented her mother’s cooking despite it not being very good or to my taste. To my horror, in every subsequent visit, I was served the same meal in the mistaken belief that it was my favourite dish.
A similar hazard exists when visiting China because the host is often very eager to ensure that your visit is successful. At times, that means observing and granting your every perceived wish.
