Great to read your smart ass teenage repertoire! You come off as you really are!

That's really great that you are seem to get it - but does "smart ass..." not belong to teenage repertoire as well?

Probably, it will take some more time until you will really get it!

Remember: It's always better to be a "smart ass" and to get a life than being frustrated and not being able to really communicate!

In one respect, China has really changed - by more and more of those frustrated Western people coming in......