Chinglish
No Cameras Allowed: Part 2
Heading back from the National Palace Museum, I noticed a middle-aged Chinese woman with a tightly permed head of hair talking very animatedly with a younger couple on the bus. Now chatty old Chinese people usually means one thing: they are instructing the woefully ignorant younger generation how best to take care of themselves. The […]
When Lost, Dance
To celebrate our trip’s close, I left my wallet–credit cards, passport, and all–on the bus. Didn’t realize it until I was riding home. A few frantic calls later, our administrator–Kimi–told me she’d contacted the driver. She’d have an address soon where I could go to pick up my passport.
Chinese Pony Express
Today’s schedule: Train tickets to Shanghai and Suzhou. Mail long overdue wedding present to friend back in the States. Buy a bigger bag that’s not a suitcase for trip next week. Buy a birthday present for roommate.
Conversational Juggling
US-Americans tend to be on the left side, that is, to prefer linear, direct, detached, intellectually engaged, and concrete styles of communication. In contrast, many African, Asian, and Pacific groups prefer more circular, indirect, attached, relationally engaged styles. ~ Communication Styles These last three months I have been searching for Community here. Without much luck. […]
Year of the Dragon
The dragon enjoys a very high reputation in Chinese culture. It is the token of authority, dignity, honor, success, luck, and capacity. In ancient China, a dragon was thought to speed across the sky with divine power. Emperors entitled themselves exclusively as ‘dragon’; their thrones were called ‘dragon thrones’, their clothes ‘dragon gowns’. Travel China Guide ~ […]
Biscuits, Tea, and Chinese
Have I mentioned I’m addicted to milk tea here? It’s the closest thing to a safely consumable dairy product I can find here. By safely consumable I mean it probably won’t give me worms (due to lack of pasteurization). Sadly, I also suspect milk tea doesn’t really have any real milk in it. Probably soy […]
“Uh-Oh” on a Bus is Bad News
“Qĭngwèn, wŏ yào qù Yōnghui chāo shì. Yào zuò shén me chē?” (Excuse me, I want to go to the Yonghui supermarket. Which bus should I take?) ~ Buses are funny beasts here. The biggest vehicle rules the road, so buses win all around. Number one rule when you hit Fuzhou. Don’t step in front […]
Chinese Lessons
With Tom’s and Jenny’s help (Jenny is a TA at the Xihu school), I have contracted a Chinese tutor. My hope is that Rosetta Stone will give me a store of vocabulary and grammar, and the tutor will help me actively put this store into use. I heard some of the other teachers complain about […]
Labrats
Just forewarning, this is a PG-13 post. Acquiring a work visa is one of our major goals when we arrive in York. There are a number of steps that must be taken so that a new teacher will have the proper paperwork when they are finally sent to Hong Kong’s visa office. A medical check, […]
Come Again??
Today was the beginning of our weekend, so Rachael and I decided to tramp around the town. We wandered all over the place for hours, and there’s a surprising amount of signs and clothing with English on it. Well…sorta English. Here’s a few tasty tidbits I just couldn’t pass up. I’m sure we’ll find more […]
Happiness is a Golden Panda 