My Chinese name is Libeisha, which is three words combined: li (丽pretty) bei (蓓 flower bud) sha (莎 no real meaning, just used for the sound). But the word 'sha' with the character 杀 means 'murder.' I sent an email to a student and was typing too fast and when I hit the keys for 'libeisha' the character string that came up first was the murder-sha 杀, not the sound-name-sha 莎. I chose the murder character, didn't notice, and sent off the email.
Hoo boy, did my student find that amusing! He wrote back immediately, "Are you okay? You have been murdered? Oh no!" And told me he had gathered up his classmates to his dorm room so they could see and laugh at my mistake, too. They love that I study Mandarin, but they got quite a kick out of their teacher calling herself "murdered." Oops. Sometimes, your language skills are only as good as your typing skills.
I use Google Mandarin for my keyboard conversion program, btw. Google owns so many pieces of my life.
My other favorite Mandarin mistake was my students saying, "I am [name]" when they texted or called me. I told them so many times, "Not 'I am [name].' In English we say 'This is [name].'" But this was hard for them to remember and they made this mistake often. Flash forward to my Mandarin class this past fall, when a student stood up to do a dialogue and said (in Mandarin) "This is [name]." My teacher immediately interrupted: "Not 'This is [name]', in Mandarin we say 'I am [name].'"
It made me smile.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Racial Profiling, Bad Manners, and Baffling Technology: A Day In The Life of a Returned American
1. Over the weekend I had to wait for something and there were very few places to sit, but two seats were open: one next to a Caucasian guy, and one next to an Asian guy. And it was really crowded, so I sat next to the Asian guy, because I thought he might be better with me being really close to him. This is awful, but true. Also, he didn't flinch at all when I sat right next to him.
Related: the first time someone here apologized after bumping into me, I almost laughed out loud. I hadn't even noticed they did it.
2. I had dinner with a friend of a friend at a Chinese restaurant, and we decided to order family style. This is how pretty much all my Chinese meals in China were eaten so I am very comfortable with this. But I guess to him, family style meant "sharing" not "eating out of the same plates of food." So I inadvertently grossed him out by sticking my own chopsticks in the plate of Kung Pao Chicken. I guess I'm not ready to be taken out in public yet.
Related: he said, "You can use chopsticks really well." I thought I had left this observation behind in China. I guess not. And yes, I do use chopsticks really well! I lived in China for two years! If I couldn't use chopsticks really well by now, I'd be an idiot! (I have wanted to say this soooo many times. Thank you.)
3. Most of my part of China still functions on a cash-only basis, and the electronic payment system, when there is one, is very uniform. Have you noticed that almost all gas stations, stores and gas pumps use a different setup for debit card payments? I have. It takes me a minute to figure out what I'm doing. And today I didn't have to enter a pin number, but I didn't realize that and just stood there waiting to be prompted until the guy said, "That's all. You can leave now." He said it in a nice way, but I still felt a little silly. It's a lot to remember!
Related: advice my friend J. told me when I explained I was having a hard time with reverse culture shock: "When you feel frustrated, just think about how nice the bathrooms there are." She's right: public bathrooms here are amazing. I could eat in there!
Good news: I enrolled in a Mandarin course at the local University and it's been nice to have a reason to speak Chinese again. It's very uplifting to have something to do while I endlessly job search.
Related: the first time someone here apologized after bumping into me, I almost laughed out loud. I hadn't even noticed they did it.
2. I had dinner with a friend of a friend at a Chinese restaurant, and we decided to order family style. This is how pretty much all my Chinese meals in China were eaten so I am very comfortable with this. But I guess to him, family style meant "sharing" not "eating out of the same plates of food." So I inadvertently grossed him out by sticking my own chopsticks in the plate of Kung Pao Chicken. I guess I'm not ready to be taken out in public yet.
Related: he said, "You can use chopsticks really well." I thought I had left this observation behind in China. I guess not. And yes, I do use chopsticks really well! I lived in China for two years! If I couldn't use chopsticks really well by now, I'd be an idiot! (I have wanted to say this soooo many times. Thank you.)
3. Most of my part of China still functions on a cash-only basis, and the electronic payment system, when there is one, is very uniform. Have you noticed that almost all gas stations, stores and gas pumps use a different setup for debit card payments? I have. It takes me a minute to figure out what I'm doing. And today I didn't have to enter a pin number, but I didn't realize that and just stood there waiting to be prompted until the guy said, "That's all. You can leave now." He said it in a nice way, but I still felt a little silly. It's a lot to remember!
Related: advice my friend J. told me when I explained I was having a hard time with reverse culture shock: "When you feel frustrated, just think about how nice the bathrooms there are." She's right: public bathrooms here are amazing. I could eat in there!
Good news: I enrolled in a Mandarin course at the local University and it's been nice to have a reason to speak Chinese again. It's very uplifting to have something to do while I endlessly job search.
Friday, May 7, 2010
How ‘Sexting’ Gets You In Trouble When You’re Not Even Doing It, Plus Joel McHale
I was asked to do a lecture this week on the English language for the Foreign Language students at my university. Part of my lecture focused on the ways in which new words are added to English. Two ways are*:
1. New meanings for existing words
2. Making up new words
For #1, I used the example of the word ‘text,’ which used to mean only written works and/or speeches, but now also means SMS messages. And from this new usage of the noun, we also made the verb ‘to text’ and added the words texting, texted, etc.
For #2, I gave the example of the words ‘sexting’ and ‘sext,’ which from what I read online are pretty popular words these days in American culture. I didn’t say much about the meaning of the words themselves, only that they were made up, derived from ‘texting,’ and meant that the text had a sexual topic. I explained that we went from ‘text’ to ‘texting’ to ‘sexting’ back to ‘sext’ in new word formation; that’s awesome from a linguistic etymological process point of view, and a good illustration of how flexible English is.
So now I’ve given my lecture to the 350+ English students in the lecture hall, and I’m doing the Q&A. There are a couple of great questions about accents, usage, etc. and then *this* kid stands up:
Random Male Student: “May I ask you a personal question?”
Me: “Yes.” (Thinking it would be how old I am, how much money I make, something common for China.)
Random Male Student: “Have you ever sent a sext?”
Me: !!!! *Um, are you kidding me with this? For real, you just asked me this in an auditorium full of people?* *Rapidly formulating an answer that doesn’t focus on me so I don’t give in to his crossing of the ‘personal’ line.*
Me: “I think many people in a close relationship have done such a thing.”
Random Male Student: “Oh.” *pause* “Can I have your cell phone number?”
Well, what could I do at that point but laugh? I mean, everyone else was. So that’s what I did, I laughed. And said yes, anyone can have my cell phone number. And sure enough, he came and got it after the Q&A was over**.
Lesson learned: sometimes students are more interested in the subject matter than the etymological process.
*These are not the only two ways, just two ways I talked about relevant to this post.
1. New meanings for existing words
2. Making up new words
For #1, I used the example of the word ‘text,’ which used to mean only written works and/or speeches, but now also means SMS messages. And from this new usage of the noun, we also made the verb ‘to text’ and added the words texting, texted, etc.
For #2, I gave the example of the words ‘sexting’ and ‘sext,’ which from what I read online are pretty popular words these days in American culture. I didn’t say much about the meaning of the words themselves, only that they were made up, derived from ‘texting,’ and meant that the text had a sexual topic. I explained that we went from ‘text’ to ‘texting’ to ‘sexting’ back to ‘sext’ in new word formation; that’s awesome from a linguistic etymological process point of view, and a good illustration of how flexible English is.
So now I’ve given my lecture to the 350+ English students in the lecture hall, and I’m doing the Q&A. There are a couple of great questions about accents, usage, etc. and then *this* kid stands up:
Random Male Student: “May I ask you a personal question?”
Me: “Yes.” (Thinking it would be how old I am, how much money I make, something common for China.)
Random Male Student: “Have you ever sent a sext?”
Me: !!!! *Um, are you kidding me with this? For real, you just asked me this in an auditorium full of people?* *Rapidly formulating an answer that doesn’t focus on me so I don’t give in to his crossing of the ‘personal’ line.*
Me: “I think many people in a close relationship have done such a thing.”
Random Male Student: “Oh.” *pause* “Can I have your cell phone number?”
Well, what could I do at that point but laugh? I mean, everyone else was. So that’s what I did, I laughed. And said yes, anyone can have my cell phone number. And sure enough, he came and got it after the Q&A was over**.
Lesson learned: sometimes students are more interested in the subject matter than the etymological process.
*These are not the only two ways, just two ways I talked about relevant to this post.
** Trust me when I say I will never hear from him, he just wanted a foreigner's # a la the taxi driver.
_________________________
On a related note, anyone see Community this week? Funniest tv episode I've maybe ever seen in my life. And what I said in my head when Joel McHale stripped down to the sleeveless tank: "DAMN, SKIPPY!" Yes, I speak in all caps in my head. JM has perfect muscles. I want to lick his biceps. I’m just saying is all.
UPDATE:
Picture. You're welcome.
_________________________
On a related note, anyone see Community this week? Funniest tv episode I've maybe ever seen in my life. And what I said in my head when Joel McHale stripped down to the sleeveless tank: "DAMN, SKIPPY!" Yes, I speak in all caps in my head. JM has perfect muscles. I want to lick his biceps. I’m just saying is all.
UPDATE:
Picture. You're welcome.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A Rant About Technology
This has nothing to with living in China.
So I'm a big fan of gchat, as I've mentioned here before. And I have a system. I use iGoogle as my homepage, sort of like my own personal dashboard for the sites I visit most, rss feeds, access to email, and what have you. Gchat is an option in iGoogle, but I disabled it because I actually don't want to be available every time I have a window open. I like you, my friends, but not that much. So I only enable gchat in my actual gmail account page, which I only access when I need to send attachments, search for old mail, actually chat with someone etc. BUT, yesterday these things flip-flopped, and I don't know why, and I can't figure out how to get it back. Google, are you messing with me? Or did I sleep-change all my applications? I can't get iGoogle chat to disable without also disabling it in my gmail window. BUT, chat doesn't show up in my gmail window, even though it is active. Like, none of my contacts load. ARGH!
If I had my way, people would still hand write me letters to communicate with me. Do you know how nice it must have been to have that lag time?? No immediate response required! One thing I love about China is that there is no voice mail. Texting is great, because you can ignore them until you're ready to answer, but then I always feel guilty that people know you're ignoring them. So yeah, letters, let's bring those back.
These are not real problems, I know. But technology should work the same today as it did yesterday. Is that too much to ask? I don't like waking up and things are different. Routines should just be what they are, and that's that. Also, I am apparently now 80 years old.
UPDATE: 36 hours later, and it's back to the way it was before. Google, stop it.
So I'm a big fan of gchat, as I've mentioned here before. And I have a system. I use iGoogle as my homepage, sort of like my own personal dashboard for the sites I visit most, rss feeds, access to email, and what have you. Gchat is an option in iGoogle, but I disabled it because I actually don't want to be available every time I have a window open. I like you, my friends, but not that much. So I only enable gchat in my actual gmail account page, which I only access when I need to send attachments, search for old mail, actually chat with someone etc. BUT, yesterday these things flip-flopped, and I don't know why, and I can't figure out how to get it back. Google, are you messing with me? Or did I sleep-change all my applications? I can't get iGoogle chat to disable without also disabling it in my gmail window. BUT, chat doesn't show up in my gmail window, even though it is active. Like, none of my contacts load. ARGH!
If I had my way, people would still hand write me letters to communicate with me. Do you know how nice it must have been to have that lag time?? No immediate response required! One thing I love about China is that there is no voice mail. Texting is great, because you can ignore them until you're ready to answer, but then I always feel guilty that people know you're ignoring them. So yeah, letters, let's bring those back.
These are not real problems, I know. But technology should work the same today as it did yesterday. Is that too much to ask? I don't like waking up and things are different. Routines should just be what they are, and that's that. Also, I am apparently now 80 years old.
UPDATE: 36 hours later, and it's back to the way it was before. Google, stop it.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Fit To Strip, And Other Things I Love Right Now
Those of you who read here before I left for China know it used to be called “Stuff I Love.” In memory of times gone by, here are a few things I love right now:
1. Fit To Strip, the workout DVD by Carmen Electra. I know, I know, it sounds lame, but disc 2 is a calisthenics routine that has nothing to do with stripping and everything to do with building strength in your core, legs and upper body. I used this DVD before I ran a half marathon a few years ago and was the most toned I’ve ever been. I let myself get chubby after my dad died, so I’m back on a strength training/toning regime, and this DVD is part of my new routine (along with running, weights and yoga). It kicks your butt in a really good way.
Amazon.com, $12.99
2. Community, the tv show on NBC. One of my friends in the U.S. prodded me to watch this show, and it takes the place in my heart that used to be occupied by The Office until The Office turned kinda lame. (Sorry, but you know it’s true.) Abed and Troy crack me up; long live their Donde Esta La Biblioteca rap! Also, Joel McHale naked is so much yummier than I never imagined. Thanks, ratings ploy! It totally worked.
Community recaps, nymag.com
3. My new panda wrist rest, advertised on the packaging as glow in the dark, but it’s only those little floaty thingies that glow and they’re hard to see inside the plastic. So, glow fail, but panda win! Sorry, I don’t know where to buy this outside of China. But if you’re in China, I got it at Sanfu.
4. WeiEast face cream. Katie at Scattered Starlight introduced this product to me, and it’s a new favorite. I’ve mentioned before how serious the Chinese take their skincare*, and I’ve gotten compliments from Chinese girls on how good my skin looks after using this. As an added bonus, it’s not actually made in China, so it’s free of skin whiteners and other ingredients you don’t want to know about.
WeiEast.com
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5. Tostitos Queso. This is junk food, and I love it. Judge me if you must, but a bowl of warm cheese and warmed tortilla chips is a little bit of heaven in my mouth. I brought some back with me to China in my suitcase.
I think you can buy this at pretty much any grocery store in America, you lucky dogs!
6. Undergear.com. Warning, this website is not suitable for the faint of heart, or maybe those at work. It’s men’s underwear and pajamas and workout gear, and my friend sent this link to me, and I sent it to a few friends here, and we all spent a good hour on gchat, sending each other links from the site and cracking up and drooling. I never knew there were male equivalents to push-up bras, but now I do! This guy’s pretty handsome. I’m not recommending the shorts, just the guy.
Undergear.com. I recommend the sleepwear, swimwear and underwear links. Oh, and can’t forget this. It's kinda strangely hot!
7. And while we’re at it, I love gchat. I stopped using msn because of all the spam, and because Vista didn’t seem to like it and kicked me off every few minutes. Skype is great but not everyone uses it, and it takes a lot of bandwidth to run. Yahoo Messenger seems sorta 1998. But gchat? So convenient! No need to add anyone, and if you miss a chat, they email it to your inbox. I think on MSN, you had to log back in again before you got offline chats. Gmail isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty great. I deleted my Facebook account, so happy I did that, but you can pry my gchat from my cold, dead hands.
Ok, that’s it for this edition. Next time, I’ll be back with more China stories.
*Recently a Chinese friend was asking me if I knew another teacher on campus,and she said, "She's in her early 30's and sometimes has bad skin." I've never heard skin used as a major descriptor before I came to China. They aren't kidding around about their skin.
Amazon.com, $12.99
2. Community, the tv show on NBC. One of my friends in the U.S. prodded me to watch this show, and it takes the place in my heart that used to be occupied by The Office until The Office turned kinda lame. (Sorry, but you know it’s true.) Abed and Troy crack me up; long live their Donde Esta La Biblioteca rap! Also, Joel McHale naked is so much yummier than I never imagined. Thanks, ratings ploy! It totally worked.
Community recaps, nymag.com
3. My new panda wrist rest, advertised on the packaging as glow in the dark, but it’s only those little floaty thingies that glow and they’re hard to see inside the plastic. So, glow fail, but panda win! Sorry, I don’t know where to buy this outside of China. But if you’re in China, I got it at Sanfu.
4. WeiEast face cream. Katie at Scattered Starlight introduced this product to me, and it’s a new favorite. I’ve mentioned before how serious the Chinese take their skincare*, and I’ve gotten compliments from Chinese girls on how good my skin looks after using this. As an added bonus, it’s not actually made in China, so it’s free of skin whiteners and other ingredients you don’t want to know about.
WeiEast.com
.png)
5. Tostitos Queso. This is junk food, and I love it. Judge me if you must, but a bowl of warm cheese and warmed tortilla chips is a little bit of heaven in my mouth. I brought some back with me to China in my suitcase.
I think you can buy this at pretty much any grocery store in America, you lucky dogs!
Undergear.com. I recommend the sleepwear, swimwear and underwear links. Oh, and can’t forget this. It's kinda strangely hot!
7. And while we’re at it, I love gchat. I stopped using msn because of all the spam, and because Vista didn’t seem to like it and kicked me off every few minutes. Skype is great but not everyone uses it, and it takes a lot of bandwidth to run. Yahoo Messenger seems sorta 1998. But gchat? So convenient! No need to add anyone, and if you miss a chat, they email it to your inbox. I think on MSN, you had to log back in again before you got offline chats. Gmail isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty great. I deleted my Facebook account, so happy I did that, but you can pry my gchat from my cold, dead hands.
Ok, that’s it for this edition. Next time, I’ll be back with more China stories.
*Recently a Chinese friend was asking me if I knew another teacher on campus,and she said, "She's in her early 30's and sometimes has bad skin." I've never heard skin used as a major descriptor before I came to China. They aren't kidding around about their skin.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Training, And The Sweetness Of Kleenex
(I found internet access so I can post by email, but sorry, I can't see anyone else's blogs or make comments. I will have a lot of catching up to do!)
My week of training is going very well so far. I spend half the day in Chinese class, and the other half listening to guest speakers and completing activities. So far we have had the NPR Beijing correspondent come speak to us (really interesting!) and now we have reps from the State Department who specialize in education here doing some training with us. It's like being back in grad school, and I am eating it up. And we are all here in a hotel together, so there are lots of fun times eating and playing together after the work is done. Overall, a great way to spend the week!
I complained before about Spiderman Syndrome, so I feel I should also share this small anecdote: V. and I were watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon earlier this week in his hotel room. Near the end of the movie, he got up and put a little travel pack of tissues in his pocket, then came back to his spot. Well, if you've seen this movie, you know the end is heart-wrenching! Sure enough, a few minutes later, I start with the sniffling and the watery eyes. V. silently pulled the pack out of his pocket and handed me a tissue. It was very sweet. I think we had talked before about how I cry every time I watch this movie, and he remembered. He is such a gentleman, and I really appreciate all the men out there like him who are caring and kind. Thanks, guys, you make life a little bit sweeter.
Hope you all are having a great week! Tomorrow my director's niece who lives in this city is coming to meet me for lunch. I'm excited to see her again and introduce her to my friends.
I'll be here for a few more days; the time is flying by!
My week of training is going very well so far. I spend half the day in Chinese class, and the other half listening to guest speakers and completing activities. So far we have had the NPR Beijing correspondent come speak to us (really interesting!) and now we have reps from the State Department who specialize in education here doing some training with us. It's like being back in grad school, and I am eating it up. And we are all here in a hotel together, so there are lots of fun times eating and playing together after the work is done. Overall, a great way to spend the week!
I complained before about Spiderman Syndrome, so I feel I should also share this small anecdote: V. and I were watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon earlier this week in his hotel room. Near the end of the movie, he got up and put a little travel pack of tissues in his pocket, then came back to his spot. Well, if you've seen this movie, you know the end is heart-wrenching! Sure enough, a few minutes later, I start with the sniffling and the watery eyes. V. silently pulled the pack out of his pocket and handed me a tissue. It was very sweet. I think we had talked before about how I cry every time I watch this movie, and he remembered. He is such a gentleman, and I really appreciate all the men out there like him who are caring and kind. Thanks, guys, you make life a little bit sweeter.
Hope you all are having a great week! Tomorrow my director's niece who lives in this city is coming to meet me for lunch. I'm excited to see her again and introduce her to my friends.
I'll be here for a few more days; the time is flying by!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A Few Random Pictures
The English says 'dogmeat', but the Chinese says 'ground meat.' Not sure if it's a euphemism or a mistranslation. (And I think we'd say 'black eyed peas' but that is perhaps a regional English thing.) In any case, I didn't buy it.
Random Transformers character outside a club chain called '88.' (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.) There was a sign next to him but all I could make out is that he was some kind of party monster from another planet who was coming here to throw the best party of all time. Might be a New Year's Eve thing. There were still too many characters I didn't know. (I hate that, but good study motivation!)
Chinese grandparents are the nation's babysitters. All day long, it is common to see babies and grandparents, shooting the breeze, feeding some pigeons, etc. This picture is a little bit blurry, I know, but check out those mouse ears and stocky legs. Chinese babies are delicious little butterballs in the winter, due to the layers and layers of clothing they wear.
Random Transformers character outside a club chain called '88.' (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture.) There was a sign next to him but all I could make out is that he was some kind of party monster from another planet who was coming here to throw the best party of all time. Might be a New Year's Eve thing. There were still too many characters I didn't know. (I hate that, but good study motivation!)
Chinese grandparents are the nation's babysitters. All day long, it is common to see babies and grandparents, shooting the breeze, feeding some pigeons, etc. This picture is a little bit blurry, I know, but check out those mouse ears and stocky legs. Chinese babies are delicious little butterballs in the winter, due to the layers and layers of clothing they wear.
This line of people stretched all the way around the square. I was shocked there was an orderly line. I walked to the end to see what they were waiting for: discounted light bulbs. I know I have not experienced the kind of hardship in life that makes standing in an hour long line for a discounted light bulb worth it.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Tragedy of the Video iPod: In One Act
So you know the Mac sad face? It really is... just so sad. My 80gb video iPod bit the dust a few weeks ago. It's only two years old, but in Apple's defense, I drop it all the time. Should I not be doing that? Anyway, I found out there's an authorized/certified/official Apple repair shop in Chongqing. HOORAY. A video iPod is not a necessity by a long shot, but so easy to love.Now the bad news: the repair guy at the shop informs me video iPods are not legally sold in China; only Touches, Nanos and the little baby ones can legally be sold here, so those are the only products they have replacement parts for. (The word of the day is 'legally.') Oh wait: first he tries telling me 80gb is too big, I should get an 8gb Touch, 8gb is much better than 80gb. Um, what, crazy man? No. 80gb is just fine. After we have this argument and I refuse his 90% sell down, he tells me, "Well, I can get a black market 80 gb video hard drive and just install it for you myself. But it won't have the warranty." Just to clarify: the OFFICIAL APPLE REPAIR SHOP is offering to sell and install black market goods?
Man, I love China.
UPDATE: iPhones were announced last month for the Mainland, but haven't been sold yet. No video iPods, though. Sad face.
UPDATE 2: Today I saw a 160gb video iPod at the Apple store. I'm going back to the repair shop to ask about it.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
"Excuse Me....You're An Idiot"
(Backstory: Chinese students won't leave the classroom without permission. I tell them at the beginning of the semester if they need to leave, just get up and leave, but this never works. It's too engrained in them to ask permission.)
I teach one of my classes in a lecture hall. I have a little mic, a big screen behind me for audio-visual stuff, and a platform I stand while teaching. It's fun! Yesterday we were reviewing some vocabulary for telling someone when things break/go missing, and I asked the class for suggestions. One girl raised her hand.
Girl: "Excuse me..."
Me: "Yes, that's a great way to start a sentence when you need to tell someone something is broken."
Same Girl: "I'm sorry..."
Me: "Yes, another great example, good job."
I turned to look at something on the screen while I kept talking, and when I turned back around, there was that girl, standing directly in front of me on the platform. It's definitely not normal for students to join me on the platform; I almost teetered backward, I was so startled. "Excuse me," she said," but I was trying to tell you I really need to go to the bathroom. May I leave?" Giggles from the class. Oops. TEACHER FAIL.
P.S. I wear my stilettos when teaching this class. Not only is it good foot yoga practice, but would you mess with a teacher who lectures in four inch stilettos? Exactly.
I teach one of my classes in a lecture hall. I have a little mic, a big screen behind me for audio-visual stuff, and a platform I stand while teaching. It's fun! Yesterday we were reviewing some vocabulary for telling someone when things break/go missing, and I asked the class for suggestions. One girl raised her hand.
Girl: "Excuse me..."
Me: "Yes, that's a great way to start a sentence when you need to tell someone something is broken."
Same Girl: "I'm sorry..."
Me: "Yes, another great example, good job."
I turned to look at something on the screen while I kept talking, and when I turned back around, there was that girl, standing directly in front of me on the platform. It's definitely not normal for students to join me on the platform; I almost teetered backward, I was so startled. "Excuse me," she said," but I was trying to tell you I really need to go to the bathroom. May I leave?" Giggles from the class. Oops. TEACHER FAIL.
P.S. I wear my stilettos when teaching this class. Not only is it good foot yoga practice, but would you mess with a teacher who lectures in four inch stilettos? Exactly.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Awkward Family Photos
Something I Love: www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com. If you haven't seen this site, you should go there as fast as your little fingers will type you there. (Bonus China points for scrolling through the site in your underwear, licking frosting off a knife, like I did last night.) This one is hands down my favorite one. That disembodied pacifier head! Runner up favorite: The Nativity.
And a special thanks to my mom and dad, who never subjected us to this kind of thing. We owe you one!
And a special thanks to my mom and dad, who never subjected us to this kind of thing. We owe you one!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Friend Text Crux Hypothesis
I have another friendship theory: the better the friend, the more words I use in texts that are not in my phone's dictionary. I hate adding words manually, but some people seem to bring out the non-dictionary words in me and it must be done. (This is the worst part of getting a new phone, adding back in all the words I need.) The boring people, or the ones I don't like as much? All the words are there. Hmmm.
I think this is kind of an awesome theory, I wonder if I could get a linguistics grant to study it further?
I think this is kind of an awesome theory, I wonder if I could get a linguistics grant to study it further?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
A Few Local Products I Love
So, the toe thongs reminded me of other new-to-me products I have used here and really liked. (And I forgot to explain something about the toe thongs: people here rarely go sockless, so the toe thongs are a way to wear socks even if you are wearing slingbacks/pumps, etc. I get comments from my Chinese tutor all the time about my habit of not wearing socks, she thinks it isn't healthy.)
Sweetened condensed milk in a tube, not a can. It's so convenient! Made by Nestle, and comes in flavors like strawberry and chocolate. The regular flavor is really good in hot drinks. A little goes a long way.
Plug-in insect repellent. It's made by Raid. It's like a Glade Plug-In, but instead of fragrance it releases unscented mosquito repellent. Most windows here don't seal shut, so mosquitoes get in quite easily. The little jar of liquid is replaceable; they cost about $1.00 and last about a month. If the voltage weren't wrong, I'd bring a supply back to the U.S. You can also buy repellent coils that burn like incense, but I don't like those as much because they have a strong smell. But the coils are used under tables at outdoor bars and patios to keep bugs away, and I really appreciate them there!
Dry, loose tea. The tea here is excellent. I drink mostly Jasmine and Oolong, and they taste so much better than the bagged tea I used to drink in the States. I will have to look for Chinese tea when I return. (And I'm sure I will experience sticker shock!)
My 1-minute electric tea kettle. I'm definitely buying one of these when I get back to the U.S. (That other machine is a water distiller. The Peace Corps provides them for drinking/cooking water. You can buy bottled water here that is germ free, but the metals aren't necessarily removed. The metals content in the water here is higher than what the PC considers to be safe, so they give us these distillers. I distill about 2 gallons of water a day. It takes about 4 hours for each gallon. Basically I am running a distillery in my house, but for water!)
Sweetened condensed milk in a tube, not a can. It's so convenient! Made by Nestle, and comes in flavors like strawberry and chocolate. The regular flavor is really good in hot drinks. A little goes a long way.
Plug-in insect repellent. It's made by Raid. It's like a Glade Plug-In, but instead of fragrance it releases unscented mosquito repellent. Most windows here don't seal shut, so mosquitoes get in quite easily. The little jar of liquid is replaceable; they cost about $1.00 and last about a month. If the voltage weren't wrong, I'd bring a supply back to the U.S. You can also buy repellent coils that burn like incense, but I don't like those as much because they have a strong smell. But the coils are used under tables at outdoor bars and patios to keep bugs away, and I really appreciate them there!
Dry, loose tea. The tea here is excellent. I drink mostly Jasmine and Oolong, and they taste so much better than the bagged tea I used to drink in the States. I will have to look for Chinese tea when I return. (And I'm sure I will experience sticker shock!)
My 1-minute electric tea kettle. I'm definitely buying one of these when I get back to the U.S. (That other machine is a water distiller. The Peace Corps provides them for drinking/cooking water. You can buy bottled water here that is germ free, but the metals aren't necessarily removed. The metals content in the water here is higher than what the PC considers to be safe, so they give us these distillers. I distill about 2 gallons of water a day. It takes about 4 hours for each gallon. Basically I am running a distillery in my house, but for water!)
Friday, May 22, 2009
A Few Random Thoughts
I like text messaging a lot more than sending emails because texts have no subject line. Subject lines are awkward. Do we walk up to someone and announce what we are going to talk about? No. Email fail.
"If you think he's a good guy, you might be wrong, but if you think he's a bad guy, you're definitely right." A quotation by Diane Farr. I now totally believe this. Instincts ftw!
I'm craving corn dogs with mustard. One thing I've learned about myself from living in China: I have very low food standards.
Forget laughter, a good kiss is the best medicine.
"If you think he's a good guy, you might be wrong, but if you think he's a bad guy, you're definitely right." A quotation by Diane Farr. I now totally believe this. Instincts ftw!
I'm craving corn dogs with mustard. One thing I've learned about myself from living in China: I have very low food standards.
Forget laughter, a good kiss is the best medicine.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
If You Think Your Cell Phone Company Is Ripping You Off, They Probably Are
Cell phone service in China is a dream come true. So easy! So cheap! I have a hard time believing cell phone service in America/Canada needs to be as expensive and complicated as it is.
Here you simply buy a cell phone (in Mandarin: 'hand machine'), any brand, any model. Then, visit a mobile company kiosk to buy a SIM card. (I use China Mobile.) The SIM card costs about $7.00 and includes your phone number and about 2 months worth of service. You pop it into your phone, and you're done. If you want a new phone, you just put your SIM card into your new phone. No hassle, no contracts, no going to the cell phone store to have it changed for you. I dread going back to America and dealing with locked phones.
My monthly cell phone charge is about $3.00. This week I added internet access to my cell phone; it costs 70 cents a month. 70 cents! Suck it, Verizon.
P.S., I did the shopping activity again today with a different class. One of the groups raised their hand and said they were out of money, could they have more? Ha! So I guess yesterday's class was maybe being modest?
Here you simply buy a cell phone (in Mandarin: 'hand machine'), any brand, any model. Then, visit a mobile company kiosk to buy a SIM card. (I use China Mobile.) The SIM card costs about $7.00 and includes your phone number and about 2 months worth of service. You pop it into your phone, and you're done. If you want a new phone, you just put your SIM card into your new phone. No hassle, no contracts, no going to the cell phone store to have it changed for you. I dread going back to America and dealing with locked phones.
My monthly cell phone charge is about $3.00. This week I added internet access to my cell phone; it costs 70 cents a month. 70 cents! Suck it, Verizon.
P.S., I did the shopping activity again today with a different class. One of the groups raised their hand and said they were out of money, could they have more? Ha! So I guess yesterday's class was maybe being modest?
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Great Escape
Today I scrounged up the $40 it costs to get a personal VPN account to circumvent The Great Firewall. I can see the world again! My neighbor Andrew uses a service he recommended and helped me out. (He is awesome. I would not have survived here if it weren't for him. This is truth.) It took ten minutes. I should have done it months ago.
I liken the internet here to what the printing press was like for the Western world back in the 1500's: a tool that made a lot of people scared of what might happen if the common people get too much information. Our history gives me hope.
Chinglish T-Shirt of the Day: "Bastard of Eminence."
I liken the internet here to what the printing press was like for the Western world back in the 1500's: a tool that made a lot of people scared of what might happen if the common people get too much information. Our history gives me hope.
Chinglish T-Shirt of the Day: "Bastard of Eminence."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Downloads and DVDs
These are the shows I download illegally every week:
The Office
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Gossip Girl
I have little crushes on Jim, DotCom, Nate (so pretty) and Chuck.
A quick buying-DVDs-in-China (or Chinatown) guide:
First: pirated, where sellers set up blankets or bins of DVDs on the street and sell them for about $.80. These DVDs are usually not high quality and have Chinese subtitles you can't turn off. Software and games are good quality, though. This is the most available way to buy them.
Second: a bootleg DVD store. High quality, licensed DVDs intended for sale to other audiences (Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, etc.) that have found their way here. They all have English tracks/subtitles. About $1.50
Third: bookstore or chain grocery store (in large cities only). Licensed for Mainland China, with English and Mandarin tracks/subtitles. About $3.50, and the selection is not as good as the bootleg stores, because they are subject to import censorship laws. (However, I have seen a box set of Sex and The City for sale, which shocked me. Someone did some good negotiating!)
So now if you ever travel to China, or Chinatown, you know about how much to pay for DVDs.
The Office
30 Rock
Big Bang Theory
Gossip Girl
I have little crushes on Jim, DotCom, Nate (so pretty) and Chuck.
A quick buying-DVDs-in-China (or Chinatown) guide:
First: pirated, where sellers set up blankets or bins of DVDs on the street and sell them for about $.80. These DVDs are usually not high quality and have Chinese subtitles you can't turn off. Software and games are good quality, though. This is the most available way to buy them.
Second: a bootleg DVD store. High quality, licensed DVDs intended for sale to other audiences (Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, etc.) that have found their way here. They all have English tracks/subtitles. About $1.50
Third: bookstore or chain grocery store (in large cities only). Licensed for Mainland China, with English and Mandarin tracks/subtitles. About $3.50, and the selection is not as good as the bootleg stores, because they are subject to import censorship laws. (However, I have seen a box set of Sex and The City for sale, which shocked me. Someone did some good negotiating!)
So now if you ever travel to China, or Chinatown, you know about how much to pay for DVDs.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Skype
I got a U.S. based telephone number through Skype and now anyone can call or text* me here in China by calling/texting a U.S. phone number. Magic! And I can make unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada. The only downside is that I have to be at my computer to talk and text, but still: calling and texting again! For only $5.00 a month! (I'm not going to post my number here for obvious reasons, but it's a regular telephone/cell number, you'd never know it goes to a computer.) Skype even let's you choose the area code you want your number to be in. I feel a bit like Kip in Napolean Dynamite: "I love technology...not as much as you, you see...but I still love technology..." Yeah, I do.
*Addendum: people can't text me, I can only text them. BOOO, improve this, skype!
www.skype.com
Monday, January 5, 2009
Random Things
I love that my laptop and iPod run on 100 - 240 voltage and I don't have to carry converters.
I love that I can take antibiotics when I get sick.
I love that I can download silly American tv shows and get a small respite from daily life here.
I love that I can get dimsum 24 hours a day on the street near my apartment.
I love that I have friends who know I am eccentric and have a hard time moving past my mistakes, and like me anyway.
I love that I can still shop on Amazon, Target and iTunes because my credit card address is still U.S. based.
I love cheese.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Most Polite Brush-Off Ever
I sent an email to a colleague at school and the attachment was too large. This is the error message I received from the school's email system:
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following address.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
This is more than some men will tell you. Go computer!
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following address.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
This is more than some men will tell you. Go computer!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Haunted Walks
I hate being scared, but I love historical ghost walks or "haunted walks". Several U.S. cities have them (Boston, New Orleans) and I went on a great haunted walk in Ottawa when I was there last year.
On a haunted walk, a guide takes a group on a walking tour of buildings and places that have haunted ghost stories. It's a great way to see the city you are visiting, as well as hear history about the buildings and people.
Next time you are traveling to a major city, check and see if they offer a haunted walk. Really fun!
Also, the Bowery Boys ( my favorite podcasters) have several podcasts about haunted and creepy places in NYC. Check them out on iTunes the next time you are there.
On a haunted walk, a guide takes a group on a walking tour of buildings and places that have haunted ghost stories. It's a great way to see the city you are visiting, as well as hear history about the buildings and people.
Next time you are traveling to a major city, check and see if they offer a haunted walk. Really fun!
Also, the Bowery Boys ( my favorite podcasters) have several podcasts about haunted and creepy places in NYC. Check them out on iTunes the next time you are there.
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