Softdrinks and Cultural Perceptions
Jinjin and I rarely drink softdrinks. This past week, however, we’ve had a spate of softdrinking (which means, of course, softdrink drinking).
Softdrinks aren’t very thirst quenching, in fact, but when you first open that carbonated can and hear that pleasing little implosion of air and drink that first cool tingly mouthful down they can be quite addicting.
I remember my first time in China, I must have drank more Coke than water. This wasn’t because I like Coke all that much, but rather because it was always offered to us at meals. Needless to say, I assumed that Chinese were crazy about Coke after that first short trip I took to China.
It wasn’t until coming back to live in China that I realized that most Chinese don’t drink softdrinks very often, though many Chinese, especially young Chinese, do drink softdrinks from time to time, especially if out to eat at McDonald’s/KFC (surpise, surprise).
Well, it didn’t take a PhD in astrophysics for me to realize that my Chinese hosts from that first trip must have thought that Americans drink Coca~Cola three meals a day.
Last summer I had the opportunity to briefly accompany a group of American college students who were on a one month trip to China. We were on our way to Wuzhen from Hangzhou and were stocking up on drinking water for the trip. Their Chinese host selected the Coca~Cola brand of spring water. Seeing this, I mentioned to her that many of the students had mentioned to me how much they liked the local Wahaha drinking water. She said to me, "Oh, I thought they would like this one better because it is from Coca~Cola. Thanks for letting me know."
Yep. We Americans love our Coke. We love it so much we even need Coke brand bottled water. Actually, sarcasm aside, many Americans I know do, in fact, drink way too many softdrinks. Still, I’m willing to bet most foreign tourists to China are willing to take the plunge and try something local, like Wahaha (which is actually owned by the French company Groupe Danone, of Evian fame).
