I learned something new from one of my students the other day. She was wearing Crocs shoes, and I asked her what they called those shoes in Chinese. She replied that they were called 布希鞋 (bùxīxié) or Bu Shi Shoes.
You see, ever since W. was caught wearing crocs, the Taiwanese decided to venerate him by naming the shoes after him. 布希 or “bùxī” just happens to be the closest Chinese pronunciation to Bush that they could come up with.
I don’t know whether they like Bush so much that they decided to name these shoes after him or whether they hate him so much they decided to use his name for what is probably the ugliest piece of footwear ever made.
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Considering Bush’s almost reflexive response to a question about Taiwan’s defense, “whatever it takes,” I think earned him respect among Taiwanese, whatever else they may think of him and his policies.
On a lighter note, in hindsight, shoes just seem to be a recurring theme in the Bush presidency!