What if you could redesign your life, but every choice came with an unexpected catch?

From teleporting anywhere and swapping lives with celebrities to choosing the perfect home, we're making 12 impossible decisions in our usual mix of Mandarin and English.

Would you make the same choices? Learn Mandarin through real conversations, lessons, flashcards and more at MandarinMonkey.com!

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Visit our website: www.mandarinmonkey.com

Growing up in Taiwan and Britain was VERY different! From strict school punishments and childhood freedom to pocket money, video games and family expectations, we look back at our childhoods and ask whether our own kids could survive them today.

Join us for another relaxed Mandarin-English conversation filled with childhood memories, funny stories and surprising cultural differences. Want to practise your Mandarin through real conversations? Visit mandarinmonkey.com to explore our lessons, Hangouts and Mandarin learning community.

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Is it rude to walk through a door without saying thank you? Would you tell a stranger how much you earn? And is it acceptable to tell someone they've put on weight?

Apparently, the answers depend on whether you're British or Taiwanese.

In Mandarin Monkey Podcast Episode 484, British husband Tom and Taiwanese wife Ula put 12 everyday social situations to the test, deciding whether they're RUDE, POLITE or completely NORMAL in their respective cultures.

From Taiwanese hospitality and British manners to taking your shoes off indoors, arguing over restaurant bills, refusing invitations and dealing with interfering parents, we discover just how differently two cultures can interpret the same behaviour.

Along the way, we get into British politeness, Taiwanese family expectations, awkward social encounters and the little cultural misunderstandings that come with being in a British-Taiwanese marriage.

Expect plenty of disagreement, a bit of British sarcasm and natural Mandarin Chinese conversation throughout.

What's considered rude in your country that would be normal somewhere else?

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https://mandarinmonkey.com

Practise your Mandarin with our weekly challenges, explore our learning tools or book online Mandarin lessons with native Taiwanese teachers.

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About the podcast

Mandarin Monkey is a bilingual Mandarin-English conversation podcast hosted by Tom and Ula. We explore Taiwan, British culture, family life and language learning through relaxed conversations in Mandarin Chinese and English.

Perfect for Mandarin learners looking for natural Chinese listening practice and anyone interested in Taiwanese culture.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.