01-07-2020

 

Here are a couple things I saw at the store with my roommate that amused me.

Above are chips. What's funny about the ones with dogs on them is that they are marketed as "单身狗" chips. 单身 means 'single' (as opposed to married) and 狗 literally means 'dog' but in this phrase refers to someone/something that is dirty/unwanted, etc (think of a nasty, awful looking and smelling stray dog. I'm not saying you shouldn't help such a dog!! just as an illustration). It's kind of like how we use the animal 'pig' to describe someone who is a slob (I say that because I feel like it's not super common to refer to someone as a dog in English)

Anyways, 单身狗 is internet slang (memery?) that refers to someone who is single (not in a relationship), like a pitiful, lonely person. (My translation app also adds that this is a phrase used self-deprecatingly.) As far as an English counterpart...maybe something like 'forever alone'?

Get your pack of 3 tampons for ¥10!! (?????)

Ok I get that Chinese women very rarely use tampons and much strongly prefer diapers, I mean pads (#sorrynotsorry), and I think I understand the economics behind this, but it is just bizarre to me!

So I imagine most tampons, as you can see from the ones in this picture, are imported, making them a little expensive. And when you buy a huge pack, the high price is (obviously) even more apparent. And if you're someone who has never used a tampon in your life, who doesn't know if you will even like them, it might not be worth it to splurge on a large pack of tampons. So perhaps a smaller one would be more enticing to Chinese consumers. But it is weird to see pack of T H R E E tampons! Is there even such a thing in the US?? I think the smallest pack I recall comes with about 8-10?

But alas, we humans are creatures of habit, especially with these kind of private matters (definitely not a pun), so I don't anticipate the tampon market ever taking off in China. And with that...I'll keep bringing my own from the US 😁

And this might go without saying, but imma throw this out there......if you have extra feminine products (unopened, obviously!!) that you don't like or never use, DONATE THEM!!!!, don't throw them away! Women's shelters, organizations that work with homeless, there are many places that could benefit from these kinds of goods. I don't have any specific organization names, but I would say do a simple internet search for places near you that might have need, find a number to call, and ask if donations are accepted.