At least, they’re honest!
In case you were wondering
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Category Archives: Life in China
Pocketcam
This is a perfect example of what we’ve dubbed “pocketcam moments”… after the thousandth time I called and told my husband I needed one. (Seriously, it was on my Christmas list the first December after we moved here.) This kind of thing happens every day. I really should start posting “Random Daily Photos” because I have hundreds that you wouldn’t believe!
Instead of a pocket-cam, I got an iPhone. And now I’m really good at stealth photos. (Or sometimes, I don’t even bother with stealth.) All my friends here know to watch out if I’ve got my phone out. Even if I look like I’m texting, or listening to music.
I’m probably videoing. Or snapping photos.
I purposely keep my sound off so you can’t hear the camera sound. (BTW, does anyone know how to turn that off without putting your phone on silent? That would be really helpful.)
But sometimes the phone camera is just too slow.
I’m telling you… we need a Pocket-Cam!
Naptime at Ikea in China
The following set of photos are what I used to call “pocketcam” moments. That was before I lived in China long enough to lose all shame about pulling out my camera and snapping a photo whenever and of whoever I feel like. It’s happened to me so many times at this point that I’ve lost all of the need to be discreet.
Actually, in the taxi on the way to Ikea this very day we had a group of Chinese men yelling at us from the car next to us at a redlight. Two had their phones out snapping photos. I waved. All you need is a white face and light colored hair to have paparazzi in China.
And so, I don’t feel bad at all anymore for walking right up and snapping a photo when I see things like this.
At first glance this just looks like a nice couple enjoying some time together, right?
But back it up a little… Continue reading
Things you see in China
And probably no where else in the world.
I’m assuming no where else in the world has these.
You don’t teach a kid to swim by strangling him where you’re from… do you?
China Text-e-marketing
As I’ve mentioned before, there are often times that I really wish I could read Chinese.
In China, the phone company sends out advertisements via text message. It’s a little annoying as I get several of these a day. And I can’t read them at all, obviously.
But recently I’ve made a game out of it…
What do you think a fortune telling doggie could be advertising?
Here is an example…
Sometimes I pop it into Google Translate app to see what it says. Usually it’s such Chinglish I still can’t understand.
Here’s another one:
This one makes a little more sense. A group playing a game of mahjong. A favorite pastime of many Chinese people.
But this one…
A matchbox car?
Or this…
A new kind of restaurant? I think I’ll pass, thank you very much.
What do you think it’s advertising?
If you can read Chinese and would like to enlighten us, I’d be very interested in what this is trying to illustrate.
One of my favorite China finds so far…
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, I wanted to share this awesomeness I stumbled upon in a bookstore in Shenyang a few months ago…
It’s Dr. Seuss! Continue reading
Trick to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit
Living overseas as an American has it’s great points but sometimes it has a lot of challenges that you don’t think about. For instance, most of the rest of the world uses the Metric system. Which makes a lot of sense as the Metric system is much simpler and easier to remember.
That said, if you grew up in America, you likely don’t have the foggiest idea how hot or cold it is when someone gives you a temperature in Celsius. Stay with me here and we’re going to have a quick math lesson so that you can do a basic conversion in your head. Then you won’t look silly having to ask if it is hot or cold the next time someone gives you a forecast.
Double the temperature in Celsius and add 30.
That’s all.
If someone says it was 30 degrees Celsius then you simply double it (to 60) and add another 30 to get 90. 30 degrees Celsius is pretty hot.
If it’s only 10 degrees Celsius then double it (to 20) and add another 30 to get 50. A bit chilly.
If you’re like us and live in the frigid North and someone tells you it’s going to be -30 degrees this weekend, double it (-60) and add 30 to find out it’s…really stinkin’ cold outside.
Incidentally the further you get from freezing the less accurate this is so don’t use this rule for cooking unless you want some unpleasant surprises.
Of course, the reverse is also true. To go from Fahrenheit to Celsius, simply subtract 30 and then double the remaining value.
For those wondering, the real formula is:
Degrees in Fahrenheit = 32 + Degrees in Celsius * ( 9 / 5 )
My tricks for hearing and speaking Madarin Tones
I had a hard time when I first started Chinese like most people in speaking and understanding tones. It’s such a different way than how we speak.
Or so I thought.
But then I realized… in English, we do speak in “tones”. We just use them in a different way.
Think about saying these two phrases. (Saying them out loud would probably make it clearer.)
I am going to the store.
I am going to the store?
Likely, when you asked the question, your voice raised a little at the end of the sentence. Anyone (native English speaker, that is) who heard you speak it knew you were asking a question, even though you said the exact same words as before. I’m sure you’ve never thought about it because it’s just built in to the way we speak. We do it without thinking. Just like a native Chinese can hear the nuances in tone without even thinking. But when they speak English, they sound very flat. With no “feeling” in their speech. That’s because Chinese doesn’t use intonation for “feeling”.
In Chinese, the tones are used to differentiate between words instead of punctuation. They have words that speak pronunciation. {ma} for example added to the end of the sentence says I just asked a question. Just like speaking the question mark. {ba} added to the end makes a suggestion. And the tones are used to make different words
Take shì (是) & shí（十）.
Make the statement “Shi.” And be very clear you are making a statement… You just said the word “is”.
Now ask “Shi?” Be sure it sounds like a question. You just said the word “ten”.
Same syllables. Different intonation. You just learned how to say the 2nd and 4th tones of Mandarin.
The first and third don’t translate quite as easily but most people find them the easiest to hear. They both sound a little like singing to me. The first tone sounds like you are singing a high flat note at the top of your range. Hard to explain but pretty to easy to hear.
Third tone is a low dip with your voice. Very low and deep.
And now you’ve learned my little trick for speaking tones in Chinese. Anytime, I need to say a word with 4th tone, I just make it a question. Second tone is a statement. The other tones you just have to hear someone say and learn to be a mockingbird.
Here is another site with more detail and some audio clips on Mandarin tones if you want to get more technical about it.
You might also like my post on the Top 12 words you should learn in Mandarin.
What is your best trick for learning and speaking Chinese?
Thoughts from our Chinese New Year 2012
1. Apparently a year is still not long enough to make me like fireworks again.
2. It is still amazing to me how EMPTY the city can get in 2 days. On a normal day I can see 20-30 people from my window at any point in the day. During Chun Jie, maybe 1-2. Sometimes none. It’s just weird. Continue reading
Get Ready… it’s almost here.
Aside
Just a quick reminder for those of you who are about to experience your first Chinese New Year in China… Make sure you stock up on all the food and TP you’ll need for the next week because most of the stores and restaurants will be closed! (Ask me how I know this.) Think “Christmas Day” in America. Get ready to settle in and make sure you have some dumplings!
Good luck, brace yourself, get out your ear plugs, and have a great Chun Jie!