Chinesse culture (Food, individual behavior....)

[DJOSARO]

I live in Canada, and recently moved to a new apartment complex. I have as my new neighbors a Chinese family. I have no complaints about them but the fact that they use to much garlic, onions and fish sauces which caused a very pungent odor that inundates my apartment and the whole block (this is not an exaggeration). They seem to be newcomers, and I guess their English language will be a major obstacle if I want to engage in any meaningful conversation with them. The odor is so strong that I usually wake up in the middle of the night smelling myself like a piece of a very seasoned garlic meat. I have developed some sort of allergy that makes me so sick for days. My landlord has asked me to have some sensibility to them. However, my patience is running out, and I would like to talk to them but I don't know how to approach them. Lately, I have found that I am not alone with this issue. The majority of people up here dislike the garlic smell that comes in the form of personal odors, however, the politic correctness attitude does not afford us to have confrontation on cultural differences. How do I go about it? How do I resolve this issue without insulting my neighbors? Am I being realistic thinking that they are going to change their habits? Why they use so much garlic? I have been to thousands of Chinese restaurants and I have no recollection of smelling a restaurant with that smell.

Regards,

DJO:(

[Lu]

Chinese do like garlic in their food, and maybe this family just likes it a lot more.

I'd start by saying hi when you see them, or if you never see them, go over there to introduce yourself. You'll soon find out how easy or hard communication will be. Have a conversation, and after a while politely mention that the scent of garlic goes through the entire building. Perhaps that machine that sucks away smells in the kitchen (what's it called in English...) is broken, perhaps they didn't realize the smell goes through the entire building.

Anyway, start with establishing good neighbour relations. And good luck, I understand it would be as annoying as noise.

[yonglin]

Perhaps that machine that sucks away smells in the kitchen (what's it called in English...) is broken

As I've found out over the past few months, many (even more recently built) apartment buildings in Canada just lack a proper kitchen exhaust (we have a tiny little vent next to the ceiling that's supposed to take care of that). Most of the time, you're just expected to open the balcony door and let that -30C air into your home.

[anon6969]

A. Get an air freshener or

B. Move house.

[pandaxiongmao]

1. Buy an air purifier. Some of the newer ones can chemically break down odours. You'll probably pay a fair sum for a good one though. IQAir would be best, but that would likely be around $700CAN at minimum.

2. Direct the kitchen exhaust to actually go outside. This problem doesn't just occur in Canada.

[gato]

Wait until you get an Indian neighbor.

[flameproof]

I doubt they will change their cooking habits. Moving house seems a viable alternative.

An exhaust vent does not really solve the problem, it moves the problem only from A to B. Often the exhaust is right outside the kitchen window, then the stench may travel right along your window. Question would be were the stench comes from, outside, or via the corridors.

I would as a first step seal all doors and windows to make them as air tight as possible. You can buy those sponge tape in any builders shop.

It's certainly worth a complaint to the buildings management too.

[jbradfor]

At least according to these ChinesePod lessons, leaving them a note on their door is NOT a good idea.

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/argument-over-garbage-1/discussion

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/argument-over-garbage-2/discussion

If I understood the discussion correctly, it goes back to the Cultural Revolution, in which peoples' "crimes against the proletariat" was posted for all to see.

[Lu]

I don't know about other cultures, but personally I detest people posting notes when they can just knock on your door to tell you in person. It's just inpolite. (I once had a housemate who left a note on my unwashed dishes, while I was in my room next to the kitchen with the door not closed. I don't bite, really.)

[ABCinChina]

Perhaps that machine that sucks away smells in the kitchen (what's it called in English...)

I don't think they have an English name for this but it is called a 抽油烟機 (chōu yóu yān jī). Chinese cooking is always very oily so many Chinese families have this machine. I can suggest that you talk with the neighbors and get them to sign a petition or something. Then ask them that they use a "chōu yóu yān jī" to direct all the oily cooking fumes outside.

[imron]

I don't think they have an English name for this but it is called a 抽油烟機

Oven hood, or a range hood is the word you're looking for.

[Lu]

Yah, I was thinking there must be an English word for it. Range hoods aren't just for China, most Dutch kitchens these days have them too. Thanks for the word.

[ABCinChina]

Yes, thanks for the word. But the Chinese brands that I've seen in the US are much stronger than your average range hood. They can literally suck ALL the smoke and vapors out of the room and have little compartments which accumulate oils. Some I've seen are really weak and would be unsuitable for Chinese cooking.

[muyongshi]

I don't think they have an English name for this but it is called a 抽油烟機 (chōu yóu yān jī). Chinese cooking is always very oily so many Chinese families have this machine. I can suggest that you talk with the neighbors and get them to sign a petition or something. Then ask them that they use a "chōu yóu yān jī" to direct all the oily cooking fumes outside.

Oven hood, or a range hood is the word you're looking for.

Exhaust fan in my vernacular.

Actually proper ventilation may be the solution because when it pulls it outside it can be blown away. Scents in homes tend to travel on the inside because well we don't open our windows like most Chinese people do except when it's hot.