Last night it rained for real. And then, when the real rain stopped, they made it rain.
At about 9 o clock p.m. it started. The sound of the falling rain on the windows was nice as I sat inside, but far too often it's come and gone in a matter of minutes here on the edge of the Gobi Desert (plus, Beijing is in the midst of a draught) and then you forget about it. But last night it really started pouring. There was thunder and there was lightning and it was definitely the realest storm we've had in Beijing this spring. It kept coming down for a decent while, and then it petered out and eventually, it stopped.
A little while later, sometime after 11 p.m. (as I'm trying to go to bed) there is a loud BOOM outside that was assuredly not thunder. Just after said boom, the rain started up again. What was this boom, you ask? Somewhere, some member of the People's Liberation Army pointed a rocket launcher of some sort at a cloud and shot rain-producing chemicals into the night sky. Most likely from the back of a jeep, cruising the streets of Beijing. Picture that.
As I drifted off to sleep, the artificial rain kept falling, i.e. the Beijing sky spat out whatever they just shot in it.
May 25, 2006
May 24, 2006
"His name is Mr. Jon"
I've been teaching "introducing others" this week. We've been working on "his" and "her" and "he" and "she" specifically, as in Chinese, the female and the male pronouns sound the same: "ta," but look different when written. A lot of Chinese people have a tough time with this then, calling a guy "she" or a girl "he" for example. My kids have done a good job with it (better than I expected) and today they produced this gem of a moment...
Little Jane is a jokester. We were on a field trip a few weeks back and we were passing the mic around the bus to let the kids tell a story or a joke or whatever. Jane got the mic and immediately started into a joke. I could understand the basics of it, a classic joke set-up; there was a Chinese person, a Japanese person and an American person, perhaps in a bar, having a conversation, and at the end the Japanese person said something and then the Chinese person said something that made everyone die laughing.
Anyway, in class today, as we were saying each other's names and we came to a boy who said he didn't have an English name. It ended up he didn't like his English name and wanted a new one. Class was relaxed today so we were all talking about it, and I asked if anyone had an idea for his name. Jane spoke up: "Mr. Jon." Everyone laughed and said, his name is Mr. Jon! They had the sentence we'd been learning down.
I'm laughing (a lot) but I say, "he can't be Mr. Jon, I'm Mr. Jon." And Jane says, "You are Mr. Jon, and he is Mr. Jon." I tell them that he can be Jon, but he can't be Mr. Jon. She recognizes the comedic value in this (as did I) and she picks it up later. We continue with class and eventually we come to some point where Jane has the oppurtunity to say his name: so she does. "Mr. Jon." I laugh... no, he's not Mr. Jon. He's talking later... "Mr. Jon, be quiet," Jane says. She keeps looking for a chance to say it, and everytime the class loves it. I give in and call him "Mr. Jon" once. They go nuts.
I weighed the benefits and the costs of really giving this kid the English name "Mr. Jon" and decide it has to go. After class I talk to them all and we decide on plain-and-simple Jon. The now-named Jon's cool with it, Jane's cool with it, and so's the real Mr. Jon (me). Then I say to Jane, you're one funny girl. "Thanks, Mr. Jon."
Little Jane is a jokester. We were on a field trip a few weeks back and we were passing the mic around the bus to let the kids tell a story or a joke or whatever. Jane got the mic and immediately started into a joke. I could understand the basics of it, a classic joke set-up; there was a Chinese person, a Japanese person and an American person, perhaps in a bar, having a conversation, and at the end the Japanese person said something and then the Chinese person said something that made everyone die laughing.
Anyway, in class today, as we were saying each other's names and we came to a boy who said he didn't have an English name. It ended up he didn't like his English name and wanted a new one. Class was relaxed today so we were all talking about it, and I asked if anyone had an idea for his name. Jane spoke up: "Mr. Jon." Everyone laughed and said, his name is Mr. Jon! They had the sentence we'd been learning down.
I'm laughing (a lot) but I say, "he can't be Mr. Jon, I'm Mr. Jon." And Jane says, "You are Mr. Jon, and he is Mr. Jon." I tell them that he can be Jon, but he can't be Mr. Jon. She recognizes the comedic value in this (as did I) and she picks it up later. We continue with class and eventually we come to some point where Jane has the oppurtunity to say his name: so she does. "Mr. Jon." I laugh... no, he's not Mr. Jon. He's talking later... "Mr. Jon, be quiet," Jane says. She keeps looking for a chance to say it, and everytime the class loves it. I give in and call him "Mr. Jon" once. They go nuts.
I weighed the benefits and the costs of really giving this kid the English name "Mr. Jon" and decide it has to go. After class I talk to them all and we decide on plain-and-simple Jon. The now-named Jon's cool with it, Jane's cool with it, and so's the real Mr. Jon (me). Then I say to Jane, you're one funny girl. "Thanks, Mr. Jon."
May 23, 2006
Canadian David
He's Chinese, of course, but he lived in Canada for a few years. He's also one of my newest students (post-May holiday) and he speaks some pretty fine English, which is really awesome (especially because I hear that Canadian accent in his "yahs" for example). I've been wanting a student all year I could talk to a bit, and it's great to have David. He's not a native speaker as his parents speak to him in Chinese, but living overseas has made his English way better than the rest of my kiddos. It cracks me up the answers he gives to my questions--normal kid answers--but a riot compared to his classmate's words or two (which are sometimes hilarious too). I'll try to get a picture and post some funny stuff he says in Canadian.
Today after class David asked me if I'd see him tomorrow. I told him no, since we don't have class, but when he seemed pretty disappointed, I said I'd see him Thursday. He asked if I could meet him tomorrow outside his class to say hi tomorrow, and I told him I'd look for him. Warmed my heart, it did, to know I have a little friend I can talk with. And as I stood there, thinking about David, this other kid Jake ran up to me, licked his finger, put it on my arm, pulled it off real fast while making a sizzling sound, shook it and said, "ooh, hot."
They're all special in their own way, ya know? Be it Canadian David or Smooth Jake. (And yes, I am teaching my kids ridiculous pick-up moves.)
Today after class David asked me if I'd see him tomorrow. I told him no, since we don't have class, but when he seemed pretty disappointed, I said I'd see him Thursday. He asked if I could meet him tomorrow outside his class to say hi tomorrow, and I told him I'd look for him. Warmed my heart, it did, to know I have a little friend I can talk with. And as I stood there, thinking about David, this other kid Jake ran up to me, licked his finger, put it on my arm, pulled it off real fast while making a sizzling sound, shook it and said, "ooh, hot."
They're all special in their own way, ya know? Be it Canadian David or Smooth Jake. (And yes, I am teaching my kids ridiculous pick-up moves.)
May 19, 2006
Wo ai ni, Western food
My buddy just found a menu from Red Robin (an amazing burger place, if you somehow don't know), home of "Bottomless Steak Fries" and this great strawberry lemonade, and was reading off some of the burgers... my favorite is the one with egg and three strips of bacon... oh man.
We had neck of duck (and other various duck parts) in the cafeteria for lunch.
We had neck of duck (and other various duck parts) in the cafeteria for lunch.
May 14, 2006
"OK"
The globalization of the word/phrase "OK" is something really amazing to me. I was talking to my buddy Dave tonight about it (he's travelled Europe a lot, and he's just smart) and he says it's not just in China, that everyone knows "OK."
But, the meaning's often pretty unclear. I'll get frustrated sometimes with a taxi driver, for instance, who responds to all my questions (I'm speaking the best I can in Chinese, keep in mind) with "OK." Wait, I asked if you understood what I said... "OK"... do you understand? "OK." Do you know the place I just asked you to take me to? "OK." Can you take me there? "OK." Okay, I say. And we go... did he understand? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I might ask, are you from Beijing? "OK." Are you married? "OK." Got kids? "OK." You like robots? "OK." Do you understand anything I'm saying? "OK." Okay it is.
And then there are my students, who when I ask, "okay?" in class, they often respond with their classic negative reply: "nokay."
Okay? "Nokay." Okay...
"OK."
But, the meaning's often pretty unclear. I'll get frustrated sometimes with a taxi driver, for instance, who responds to all my questions (I'm speaking the best I can in Chinese, keep in mind) with "OK." Wait, I asked if you understood what I said... "OK"... do you understand? "OK." Do you know the place I just asked you to take me to? "OK." Can you take me there? "OK." Okay, I say. And we go... did he understand? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I might ask, are you from Beijing? "OK." Are you married? "OK." Got kids? "OK." You like robots? "OK." Do you understand anything I'm saying? "OK." Okay it is.
And then there are my students, who when I ask, "okay?" in class, they often respond with their classic negative reply: "nokay."
Okay? "Nokay." Okay...
"OK."
Bilingual eye exam
So tonight, my American buddy Ryan and my Chinese friend Michelle and I set out to buy some glasses. I've been enamored with Asian style since I set foot in China and Ryan and I'd been talking about getting some sweet specs of our own. We ended up all buying a pair for $50 each, but there's far more to the story than just the ending... my only regret is that none of us brought a camera.
Part 1: "Guanxi"
Doing anything in China is never as simple as it seems. For starters, there's this thing called "guanxi" which has to do with relationship, expectations, obligations and, in the end, cheap glasses. We asked Michelle to come along with us because she's hilarious, she too wanted glasses, and because we needed a translator since, for some reason, we haven't yet studied the chapter on "Purchasing prescription lenses" in our Chinese language book. We met up with her and the first thing she did was tell us that she knows a shop nearby where her cousin's boyfriend's sister works (actually she was the manager) and we should go there to get a good price. This goes way beyond shopping at your uncle's store or getting a discount because your friend works somewhere: this was all-out workin' the guanxi, and Michelle played her cards like a pro. Not only we were guaranteed a fair price, but most likely a better product and definitely better service.
Part 2: "Better?"
We arrived the glasses shop two busses and twenty minutes later and began perousing the selection of stylish Asian frames. Michelle's cousin's boyfriend's sister was working there, as well as another guy who spoke a little English. Very little. He started helping me and Ryan while Michelle talked with her cousin's boyfriend's sister. We'd brought along our contact prescription and our own glasses but decided we ought to do an eye exam just to be sure. As the shopboy led me into the eye exam room, this was definitely one of those moments when you forget you're in a foreign, non-English speaking country. I've done eye exams in the States tons of times before, but those examiners always spoke English.
There was the typical read from left to right (with E-looking objects that point left, right, up and down--is that what they have back home now?)... so that was no problem with my Chinese, his English and my ability to point my thumb in said direction. Next we moved on to looking through lenses which seemed a little extreme to me... it moved from "mei can" (I can't see) to "better?" awfully quick, and I was worried whether we were actually making progress. A couple times we had some confusion with 1 or 2, what was ok, what wasn't, and what was better and best, but we made it through the left eye, right eye, and finally, both. And I could see! The test lenses he made up worked like a charm and a "fei cheng hao" (very good!) was in order.
Part 3: The price
It seemed to me there's a different time allotment in a Chinese person's mind and an American person's mind as to how long it takes to pick out a pair of glasses. Michelle was ready in five minutes flat and many-a Chinese folk came and went while Ryan and I were still making our decision. "Do I go with the sweet black and red frames with the curvy edge, the black and tan frames, or the undeniably-exciting blue and yellow frames with the sharp, pointy corners?" These are important decisions to be made, as I'm guessing I'll only buy glasses in China once. (Although, the shopguy really enjoyed it when I pointed out that my American-bought glasses were of course, made in China.) I ended up going with the sweet black and red frames with the curvy edge and it was there that Michelle took over, working her guanxi to ensure we paid the lowest price for the best lenses. It's not like bargaining as there's no verbal exchange, it's instead more like a Jedi mind trick as suddle, indirect clues are dropped and the price with it.
Ryan and I each got a 200-kuai discount on our total (with the best lenses they had) bringing each of our prices to just over 400 kuai, or $50. This was our price as Michelle's friends. She's coming back next week for what will I'm sure be an even better deal and a pair of sunglasses thrown in to boot.
Part 1: "Guanxi"
Doing anything in China is never as simple as it seems. For starters, there's this thing called "guanxi" which has to do with relationship, expectations, obligations and, in the end, cheap glasses. We asked Michelle to come along with us because she's hilarious, she too wanted glasses, and because we needed a translator since, for some reason, we haven't yet studied the chapter on "Purchasing prescription lenses" in our Chinese language book. We met up with her and the first thing she did was tell us that she knows a shop nearby where her cousin's boyfriend's sister works (actually she was the manager) and we should go there to get a good price. This goes way beyond shopping at your uncle's store or getting a discount because your friend works somewhere: this was all-out workin' the guanxi, and Michelle played her cards like a pro. Not only we were guaranteed a fair price, but most likely a better product and definitely better service.
Part 2: "Better?"
We arrived the glasses shop two busses and twenty minutes later and began perousing the selection of stylish Asian frames. Michelle's cousin's boyfriend's sister was working there, as well as another guy who spoke a little English. Very little. He started helping me and Ryan while Michelle talked with her cousin's boyfriend's sister. We'd brought along our contact prescription and our own glasses but decided we ought to do an eye exam just to be sure. As the shopboy led me into the eye exam room, this was definitely one of those moments when you forget you're in a foreign, non-English speaking country. I've done eye exams in the States tons of times before, but those examiners always spoke English.
There was the typical read from left to right (with E-looking objects that point left, right, up and down--is that what they have back home now?)... so that was no problem with my Chinese, his English and my ability to point my thumb in said direction. Next we moved on to looking through lenses which seemed a little extreme to me... it moved from "mei can" (I can't see) to "better?" awfully quick, and I was worried whether we were actually making progress. A couple times we had some confusion with 1 or 2, what was ok, what wasn't, and what was better and best, but we made it through the left eye, right eye, and finally, both. And I could see! The test lenses he made up worked like a charm and a "fei cheng hao" (very good!) was in order.
Part 3: The price
It seemed to me there's a different time allotment in a Chinese person's mind and an American person's mind as to how long it takes to pick out a pair of glasses. Michelle was ready in five minutes flat and many-a Chinese folk came and went while Ryan and I were still making our decision. "Do I go with the sweet black and red frames with the curvy edge, the black and tan frames, or the undeniably-exciting blue and yellow frames with the sharp, pointy corners?" These are important decisions to be made, as I'm guessing I'll only buy glasses in China once. (Although, the shopguy really enjoyed it when I pointed out that my American-bought glasses were of course, made in China.) I ended up going with the sweet black and red frames with the curvy edge and it was there that Michelle took over, working her guanxi to ensure we paid the lowest price for the best lenses. It's not like bargaining as there's no verbal exchange, it's instead more like a Jedi mind trick as suddle, indirect clues are dropped and the price with it.
Ryan and I each got a 200-kuai discount on our total (with the best lenses they had) bringing each of our prices to just over 400 kuai, or $50. This was our price as Michelle's friends. She's coming back next week for what will I'm sure be an even better deal and a pair of sunglasses thrown in to boot.
May 12, 2006
Packing up
No, I'm not quite to the point of packing yet (though it was great to send a duffle bag-full home with Scott and Jaime), but that day does get closer every day. Another week of teaching's done and I'm sitting here talking to Matthew on IM about packing up for the end of his Junior year of college! Craziness.
He leaves for home tomorrow, and it's almost imcomprehensible to me that an entire year of college for him has past with me being away. I left Pittsburgh for Beijing before Matthew packed up to go to school, and here he is packing up to come home. The last eight months+ in China have felt like a long time, but not enough time to have consumed an entire quarter of my little bro's college career... I'm thinking I never saw his dorm room, didn't attend any of his Student Activities stuff, and never hung out with him and his buddies. I'm thankful we've kept in close enough contact so it feels like there's no way time could've flown this much, but I'm feeling more and more ready for my homecoming, and feeling more and more glad I'll be home for his Senior year so I won't miss his year in my old Arms apartment building, see him on Student Senate exec staff, or on his graduation day. It's tough to be a big brother, you know.
I imagine when I get home it'll feel like I've been gone for this long as I go back to now not-so-familiar places at Geneva and see my old profs and friends, but I'll face that day when it comes. For now my mind is boggled at how time flies and how Matthew is a Senior while Eddo, Nate and Chris are college grads. Congrats guys, and I guess I'll be home soon as it seems my time to pack is coming sooner than I think...
He leaves for home tomorrow, and it's almost imcomprehensible to me that an entire year of college for him has past with me being away. I left Pittsburgh for Beijing before Matthew packed up to go to school, and here he is packing up to come home. The last eight months+ in China have felt like a long time, but not enough time to have consumed an entire quarter of my little bro's college career... I'm thinking I never saw his dorm room, didn't attend any of his Student Activities stuff, and never hung out with him and his buddies. I'm thankful we've kept in close enough contact so it feels like there's no way time could've flown this much, but I'm feeling more and more ready for my homecoming, and feeling more and more glad I'll be home for his Senior year so I won't miss his year in my old Arms apartment building, see him on Student Senate exec staff, or on his graduation day. It's tough to be a big brother, you know.
I imagine when I get home it'll feel like I've been gone for this long as I go back to now not-so-familiar places at Geneva and see my old profs and friends, but I'll face that day when it comes. For now my mind is boggled at how time flies and how Matthew is a Senior while Eddo, Nate and Chris are college grads. Congrats guys, and I guess I'll be home soon as it seems my time to pack is coming sooner than I think...
May 7, 2006
Adventures with toothpaste
For the last few months (actually it's more like since October or November... I can't remember for sure), I've been brushing my teeth every day with Chinese toothpaste. This in and of itself is no biggie, as at this point nearly all of my America-stuff is long gone.
However, those months long ago when I first bought the new stuff I experienced quite a shock to my recently-awoken taste buds. It was Crest toothpaste so I wasn't expecting anything weird, and I went with the classic green box like I buy at home; I even got a two-pack as it was on sale. But, that next morning when I squeezed out the new tube onto my electric tooth brush, it wasn't "fresh mint" I tasted, but "green tea"!
It took some getting used to, for sure, but as I finally squeezed the last out of tube #2 this past week, it was strange to head back to the local supermarket to pick up what I hoped was the mint I was looking for those months ago. Just to be sure, I went with the one-pack this time around; I recognized what not to buy and landed "fresh mint" successfully. To be honest, though, I was a little disappointed...
There's just nothing like that taste of green tea toothpaste in the morning.
However, those months long ago when I first bought the new stuff I experienced quite a shock to my recently-awoken taste buds. It was Crest toothpaste so I wasn't expecting anything weird, and I went with the classic green box like I buy at home; I even got a two-pack as it was on sale. But, that next morning when I squeezed out the new tube onto my electric tooth brush, it wasn't "fresh mint" I tasted, but "green tea"!
It took some getting used to, for sure, but as I finally squeezed the last out of tube #2 this past week, it was strange to head back to the local supermarket to pick up what I hoped was the mint I was looking for those months ago. Just to be sure, I went with the one-pack this time around; I recognized what not to buy and landed "fresh mint" successfully. To be honest, though, I was a little disappointed...
There's just nothing like that taste of green tea toothpaste in the morning.
Scott & Jaime
I put the world travellers back on a plane today and said bye to my break as well. Classes are back in session tomorrow and I'm heading back to my 5-kuai noodle shop for dinner. Routines and familiarity can really be a great thing. But so can taking a week off to sightsee with your brother and his wife.
It was an awesome visit--we were all worn out by the end, but we saw a lot, did a lot and ate a lot, but after it's all said and done, we really didn't see much. All week they were overwhelmed by the size and scope of the city, of its buildings, and of the Chinese people and culture around us. Well, ok, Chinese people aren't big, but for sure we only scratched the surface of this place in 8 days' time. It was a full 8 days, don't get me wrong, and it's been a full 8 months for me, but like I said, it's all just the tip of the China iceberg.
I'm going to direct you towards Scott's web site once he has that up because it looks awesome so far, and it'll be a better documentation of our travels than I can do here. Here's a quick rundown:
Split pants and Chinese cheeks, the subway, common sense, super style, fun with beginners' Chinese, "xiao peng you"s, "er shi yi shi ji xue xiao", pizza bread, awesome food, food street, stinky dofu, taxi drivers, foot massages, Sweater Cuts, the Green Umbrella, the Five Friendlies, a fanny pack, fake pocketbooks, bargaining, sightseeing, eating, more eating... and of course, lots more. But like I said, that's a start.
It's 2 months til Stacy's wedding meaning less than that til I'm back in the Mei Guo. Woot.
It was an awesome visit--we were all worn out by the end, but we saw a lot, did a lot and ate a lot, but after it's all said and done, we really didn't see much. All week they were overwhelmed by the size and scope of the city, of its buildings, and of the Chinese people and culture around us. Well, ok, Chinese people aren't big, but for sure we only scratched the surface of this place in 8 days' time. It was a full 8 days, don't get me wrong, and it's been a full 8 months for me, but like I said, it's all just the tip of the China iceberg.
I'm going to direct you towards Scott's web site once he has that up because it looks awesome so far, and it'll be a better documentation of our travels than I can do here. Here's a quick rundown:
Split pants and Chinese cheeks, the subway, common sense, super style, fun with beginners' Chinese, "xiao peng you"s, "er shi yi shi ji xue xiao", pizza bread, awesome food, food street, stinky dofu, taxi drivers, foot massages, Sweater Cuts, the Green Umbrella, the Five Friendlies, a fanny pack, fake pocketbooks, bargaining, sightseeing, eating, more eating... and of course, lots more. But like I said, that's a start.
It's 2 months til Stacy's wedding meaning less than that til I'm back in the Mei Guo. Woot.
May 4, 2006
May holiday
Holiday's are a funny thing here in China. It's nice to get a week off (for sure), but, as usual, things work a little different...
It was a big deal, I guess, when a few years back May Holiday was extended from 3 to 7 days. What a great thing for the government to do, right? Let's take a look at this year's May holiday schedule to see:
May Holiday began Monday, May 1. Happy Workers Day: take seven days off. However, work didn't end Friday as usual, but continued into Saturday and Sunday, right to the end of April. Monday was literally day 1 of the holiday. I picked up Scott and Jaime Saturday afternoon after teaching that morning, for example. I taught today's classes actually, the following Thursdays--if that makes sense. (I had Sunday off; Chinese people didn't. It was tomorrow.) So, holiday began Monday and goes for the following seven days. People have off work, students have off school, and stores, shops, and markets remain open. The idea is to get people to spend money, basically. Chinese sociliasm at its finest: celebrate the workers by spending lots of kuai.
Classes and work and all normal activity will resume on Monday, which means over a course of 14 days, we'll have worked 7 and had 7 off. Over a course of a normal 14 days, you work 10 and have 4 off. Which means you really just get 3 days off. Which is exactly what May holiday always used to be. Hmm, very interesting... That's China for ya.
Here are some photos from Scott and Jaime's visit thus far:
That picture of me is at the Alpine Slide at the Great Wall: the coolest thing in China. Really. Awesome. I'm about to go for the ride of my life. The others are Scott and Jaime on top of the wall and in front of some colorful Chinese building. They're loving the food and Jaime's especially loving the cute Chinese kids (and their split plants). We've been to Sweater Cuts more than once and to hot pot, so you really can't go wrong there.
It was a big deal, I guess, when a few years back May Holiday was extended from 3 to 7 days. What a great thing for the government to do, right? Let's take a look at this year's May holiday schedule to see:
May Holiday began Monday, May 1. Happy Workers Day: take seven days off. However, work didn't end Friday as usual, but continued into Saturday and Sunday, right to the end of April. Monday was literally day 1 of the holiday. I picked up Scott and Jaime Saturday afternoon after teaching that morning, for example. I taught today's classes actually, the following Thursdays--if that makes sense. (I had Sunday off; Chinese people didn't. It was tomorrow.) So, holiday began Monday and goes for the following seven days. People have off work, students have off school, and stores, shops, and markets remain open. The idea is to get people to spend money, basically. Chinese sociliasm at its finest: celebrate the workers by spending lots of kuai.
Classes and work and all normal activity will resume on Monday, which means over a course of 14 days, we'll have worked 7 and had 7 off. Over a course of a normal 14 days, you work 10 and have 4 off. Which means you really just get 3 days off. Which is exactly what May holiday always used to be. Hmm, very interesting... That's China for ya.
Here are some photos from Scott and Jaime's visit thus far:
That picture of me is at the Alpine Slide at the Great Wall: the coolest thing in China. Really. Awesome. I'm about to go for the ride of my life. The others are Scott and Jaime on top of the wall and in front of some colorful Chinese building. They're loving the food and Jaime's especially loving the cute Chinese kids (and their split plants). We've been to Sweater Cuts more than once and to hot pot, so you really can't go wrong there.
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