These lists of  “you know you’ve been in China too long if” pass around the internet frequently here. They reflect how easy it is to get accustomed to the differences of life here in China. The lists always come with different permutations.

If anyone spots the equivalent list of the things Chinese find curious about living in the U.S. or Canada, I’d love to see it. It probably includes trying to muffle sounds while eating, and using a car for short distances.

Here are parts of two lists that have been floating around the internet.

1- A few shots of baijiu (Chinese liquor) don't even give you a buzz.
2- You're at an expensive Western restaurant and don't even notice the guy at the next table yelling into his cell phone.
3- A June 2001 Great Wall Cabernet (mixed with Sprite) is your vintage of choice.
4- When someone says 'snack', you think: salted cuttlefish.
5- You only drink beer from one litre bottles.
6- You get your haircut on the sidewalk.
7- You leave the 'Garbano' designer label conspicuously on the jacket sleeve.
8- You enjoy karaoke.
9- You walk backwards in the park listening to a transistor radio.
10-The China Daily is your source for hard hitting, fast breaking, investigative journalism.
11- You have grown used to the picture quality of pirated VCDs.
12- Badminton and ping pong are your main forms of exercise.
13- You find yourself "getting back to nature" in a park that contains nothing but concrete and a giant revolutionary statue.
14- You smoke in crowded elevators.
15- You find state-employed retail staff helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
16- You no longer need tissues to blow your nose.
17- You find western toilets uncomfortable.
18- You throw your used toilet paper in the basket (as a courtesy to the next person).
19- Any discomfort causes you to think there might be something wrong with your 'Qi'.
20- You draw characters on your hand to make yourself understood.

Here’s another list:
1) The footprints on the toilet seat are your own.
2) You no longer wait in line, but go immediately to the head of the queue.
3) You stop at the top or bottom of an escalator to plan your day.
4) It becomes exciting to see if you can get on the lift before anyone can get off.
5) It is no longer surprising that the only decision made at a meeting is the time and venue for the next meeting.
6) You rank the decision making abilities of your staff by how long it takes them to reply "Up To You".
7) You no longer wonder how someone who earns US$ 400.00 per month can drive a Mercedes.
8) You accept the fact that you have to queue to get a number for the next queue.
9) You accept without question the mechanic's analysis that the car is "Broken" and that it will cost you a lot of money to get it "Fixed".
10) You find that it saves time to stand and retrieve your hand luggage while the plane is on final approach.