4.25.2009
4.24.2009
为了废话
I recently experienced my first total-stranger delivered joke that I entirely and immediately understood linguistically. It happened while I was buying some melon.
冷静－ 都是新鲜吗？
老板－ 是啊！除了老板都是新鲜
James - Are these melons fresh?
Boss - Of course! Aside from the boss everything is really fresh!
As always, translating from Chinese to English can be tricky. The meanings and conveyances of certain words are incongruent. I realize nobody's sides are splitting, I think it was just the euphoria of true comprehension that enhanced the situation for me.
I'm really thankful that I've been here long enough to shed the exchange-rate way of thinking. I think in RMB instead of conversion rates when I make a purchase. This pattern of thinking can be seen in many foreigners who come to China (or any country where their homeland's Rupee is a hundred to one Denarii). The initial 'go loco and buy trash because I can' attitude wanes, especially when you don't have an income. There are many other attitudinal problems foreigners have in China, especially the one's who come when they are older. If you are set in your ways, unadaptable, or crusty, don't bother. The Chinese culture is much too tolerant and accommodating of foreigners.
冷静－ 都是新鲜吗？
老板－ 是啊！除了老板都是新鲜
James - Are these melons fresh?
Boss - Of course! Aside from the boss everything is really fresh!
As always, translating from Chinese to English can be tricky. The meanings and conveyances of certain words are incongruent. I realize nobody's sides are splitting, I think it was just the euphoria of true comprehension that enhanced the situation for me.
I'm really thankful that I've been here long enough to shed the exchange-rate way of thinking. I think in RMB instead of conversion rates when I make a purchase. This pattern of thinking can be seen in many foreigners who come to China (or any country where their homeland's Rupee is a hundred to one Denarii). The initial 'go loco and buy trash because I can' attitude wanes, especially when you don't have an income. There are many other attitudinal problems foreigners have in China, especially the one's who come when they are older. If you are set in your ways, unadaptable, or crusty, don't bother. The Chinese culture is much too tolerant and accommodating of foreigners.
House Keys
Things that you may or may not know about China:
-Doors can't not lock when you close them.
-The toilets are squatty's, but still can be flushed.
-You are not permitted to put toilet paper in the toilet, rather in a nearby garbage can.
-Babies poo and pee at will in shrubs or garbage cans, no diapers needed, instead pants have giant slits from where all waste can be expelled directly.
-You are never ever more than one hundred paces from a: Bank, KTV, Cigarette/Alchohol shop, hairdresser, milk-tea shop.
-Lots of intersections do not have lights, everyone works on the trust system
-Every morning thousands upon thousands of woman street-sweepers sweep the streets.
-Giant water spraying trucks spray the streets and boulevards playing jingles that Western Ice-Cream trucks play, very deceiving.
-Children can buy beer
-The stereotype of everyone spitting doesn't exist (I think it was part of the 'straighten up for the Olympics movement' that put a halt to it)
-It is very common for males to leave one or two finger nails around half an inch long, for purposes I'm not entirely clear of.
-Everyone showers in the evening, not in the morning. People are very picky about the bed being a clean place.
-Going out for BBQ is a popular evening event, BBQ's are usually made up of tens and tens of tables, flamed food on skewers, and good times.
-Everyone bikes, walks, and drives SLOW, but they speak really fast. I wish it were the opposite.
-The majority of the male population smokes.
-In the warmer climates they have siestas
-An imaginary line drawn along the middle of China (roughly) determines which places get heating for the winter and which do not.
-Gifting someone with a clock is like wishing death upon them
-When giving money to someone it is best to hold the money with both hands.
-Living rooms are typically very empty and very simple. One or two chairs, a television, that's it. White walls and tile floors.
-Doors can't not lock when you close them.
-The toilets are squatty's, but still can be flushed.
-You are not permitted to put toilet paper in the toilet, rather in a nearby garbage can.
-Babies poo and pee at will in shrubs or garbage cans, no diapers needed, instead pants have giant slits from where all waste can be expelled directly.
-You are never ever more than one hundred paces from a: Bank, KTV, Cigarette/Alchohol shop, hairdresser, milk-tea shop.
-Lots of intersections do not have lights, everyone works on the trust system
-Every morning thousands upon thousands of woman street-sweepers sweep the streets.
-Giant water spraying trucks spray the streets and boulevards playing jingles that Western Ice-Cream trucks play, very deceiving.
-Children can buy beer
-The stereotype of everyone spitting doesn't exist (I think it was part of the 'straighten up for the Olympics movement' that put a halt to it)
-It is very common for males to leave one or two finger nails around half an inch long, for purposes I'm not entirely clear of.
-Everyone showers in the evening, not in the morning. People are very picky about the bed being a clean place.
-Going out for BBQ is a popular evening event, BBQ's are usually made up of tens and tens of tables, flamed food on skewers, and good times.
-Everyone bikes, walks, and drives SLOW, but they speak really fast. I wish it were the opposite.
-The majority of the male population smokes.
-In the warmer climates they have siestas
-An imaginary line drawn along the middle of China (roughly) determines which places get heating for the winter and which do not.
-Gifting someone with a clock is like wishing death upon them
-When giving money to someone it is best to hold the money with both hands.
-Living rooms are typically very empty and very simple. One or two chairs, a television, that's it. White walls and tile floors.
4.19.2009
Grind Date
-------
English is an undeniable craze here in China, among our circle of friends 'English-name' has become a verb. Here are some of the English names that I come into contact with regularly:
T-Rex
Yellow
Too Cool
Pirate
Levi's
Element
Duck
------
Just in case you thought I was slipping, I'm keeping it really real. I fully dominated a local game of s.k.a.t.e., it was my eleven years of experience against everyone else's three. The spoils of war? The booty? A new deck that anyone else would've given up a week's worth of rice for. I feel pretty good about myself, beating a bunch of kids, take that kids! This picture is proof that I'm officially Chinese.
Photo Cred: I don't know. I also didn't know there was prizes on the line, oops.
-----
"Cops on Rollerblades" - Jigger E. Pokery
----
Spinning De La, YeahYeahYeahs, Sufjan, Vangaalen,
---
I wrecked my ankle skating, it was probably karma for my earlier in the week display of accidental dickery. I hope I can comfortably walk in time for Chengdu next week. I'm going to go see the lady, and to go hang out with monkeys! I'm almost more excited to hang out with monkeys.
--
Working on ramp-plans for concrete mini-ramp in the house! Our landlord is shockingly tolerable of our requests.
-
English is an undeniable craze here in China, among our circle of friends 'English-name' has become a verb. Here are some of the English names that I come into contact with regularly:
T-Rex
Yellow
Too Cool
Pirate
Levi's
Element
Duck
------
Just in case you thought I was slipping, I'm keeping it really real. I fully dominated a local game of s.k.a.t.e., it was my eleven years of experience against everyone else's three. The spoils of war? The booty? A new deck that anyone else would've given up a week's worth of rice for. I feel pretty good about myself, beating a bunch of kids, take that kids! This picture is proof that I'm officially Chinese.
Photo Cred: I don't know. I also didn't know there was prizes on the line, oops.
-----
"Cops on Rollerblades" - Jigger E. Pokery
----
Spinning De La, YeahYeahYeahs, Sufjan, Vangaalen,
---
I wrecked my ankle skating, it was probably karma for my earlier in the week display of accidental dickery. I hope I can comfortably walk in time for Chengdu next week. I'm going to go see the lady, and to go hang out with monkeys! I'm almost more excited to hang out with monkeys.
--
Working on ramp-plans for concrete mini-ramp in the house! Our landlord is shockingly tolerable of our requests.
-
4.15.2009
我想念你
If you can, listen to the song "I Miss You" by "青春美少女". It epitomizes contemporary music and teenagedom in China, and it is seriously affecting my life. This song has a strange mystical power over me. Don't get the remix rap version if you can help it.
4.10.2009
生日快乐
-This blog is one year old, this boy is one year older.
-My head is always near bursting's brink on account of the Chinese vocabulary, grammar, sentences, that are inside. Thankfully when I do burst it comes out of my mouth and not the top of my skull.
- My roommate‘s brain bled two days ago as a result of blunt trauma, his shoulder also cracked in three places, but he's back at home on the fast track to recovery. As PVEMC would say PTL!
- I'm Chineser every day, the most recent Yellow Fever symptom is an open QQ account, numbered 2851089.
- In the course of the last 30 days I have eaten more than 300 饺子 （dumplings)
- The secret ingredient isn't 鱼, 米, or even 玉米, 。。it is 爱。
- Remember the bike I bought on TaoBao? They also just sent me an extra back wheel, flip flop hub complete with free-wheel and fixed 16t cogs, an extra chain, extra pedals with clips, helmet, and a top bar protector, for FREE!
- New Junior Boys, Old Karen Dalton
Today I found myself saying again, 'I can't believe I'm living in China'. It's been such a trip living here, one I've been doing my best not to let pass me by too quickly. Yesterday I spoke in front of a class about the differences between English and Chinese, using only Chinese to do so. Last week I started teaching a Korean Professor English, and an old-time friend is now my roommate (not the one who's brain was bleeding) half way across the globe. I never could have guessed. Party on!
-My head is always near bursting's brink on account of the Chinese vocabulary, grammar, sentences, that are inside. Thankfully when I do burst it comes out of my mouth and not the top of my skull.
- My roommate‘s brain bled two days ago as a result of blunt trauma, his shoulder also cracked in three places, but he's back at home on the fast track to recovery. As PVEMC would say PTL!
- I'm Chineser every day, the most recent Yellow Fever symptom is an open QQ account, numbered 2851089.
- In the course of the last 30 days I have eaten more than 300 饺子 （dumplings)
- The secret ingredient isn't 鱼, 米, or even 玉米, 。。it is 爱。
- Remember the bike I bought on TaoBao? They also just sent me an extra back wheel, flip flop hub complete with free-wheel and fixed 16t cogs, an extra chain, extra pedals with clips, helmet, and a top bar protector, for FREE!
- New Junior Boys, Old Karen Dalton
Today I found myself saying again, 'I can't believe I'm living in China'. It's been such a trip living here, one I've been doing my best not to let pass me by too quickly. Yesterday I spoke in front of a class about the differences between English and Chinese, using only Chinese to do so. Last week I started teaching a Korean Professor English, and an old-time friend is now my roommate (not the one who's brain was bleeding) half way across the globe. I never could have guessed. Party on!
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