Archive for May, 2012
Dumplings (饺子） Posted by Stephen on May 30, 2012
A fellow 老外 studying abroad with me in China once said that “A man can live off of dumplings and beer alone, and it ain’t a bad existence”. True words probably haven’t ever been spoken. For a mere 十快 (shí kuài)-that’s a little under two us dollars- you get everything you need. The holy trifecta…
Xian (西安) – City Wall (城墙) Posted by sasha on May 29, 2012
Xi’an is one of the oldest cities in China, dating back over 3,000 years. One of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, and also the east terminus of the Silk Road, this city is rich in Chinese history and culture. In this short video, stroll along the ancient City Wall, and go around the…
My Neighborhood (我的小区) Posted by sasha on May 27, 2012
Build your Chinese vocabulary and learn how to talk about your neighborhood with this easy to follow video. In Chinese with subtitles (characters, pinyin, and English). 这是我的小区 zhè shì wǒ de xiǎo qū This is my neighborhood. 我的小区里有 wǒ de xiǎo qū lǐ yǒu… In my neighborhood, there is… 小公园 xiǎo gōng yuán a small…
The Summer Palace (颐和园) Posted by Stephen on May 24, 2012
Summer approaches, and with it blows the stifling heat of the western desert winds. In Beijing, temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit daily, which coupled with humidity and miles upon miles of blacktop and concrete, gives you a pretty good idea what a steamed bun, or 包子 (bāo zi) feels like. Luckily, there are a few…
Eating Bitterness at Shaolin (吃苦) Posted by Stephen on May 20, 2012
Many people have asked about my experience studying kungfu at Shaolin first hand (体验生活－tǐ yàn shēng huó), so here’s a in-depth look at what the Shaolin hustle is all about. While prior to my stay, I had very little experience in Shaolin kung-fu styles and methods of training and was quickly thrown into a sink…
Interesting Chinese Words Posted by sasha on May 19, 2012
When you’re learning a language, it’s almost impossible to directly translate everything into your mother tongue. This is certainly true for native English speakers studying Chinese. Today, I’m going to introduce you to some interesting Chinese words that really require you to think in Chinese, as they cannot be translated directly into English. 东西 (dōng…
Letting it All Hang Out: Bang Ye or 膀爷 (Exposed Stomachs) Posted by Stephen on May 17, 2012
Everyone has their own way of coping with the heat. For most, it involves fleeing to the comfort of air conditioning and electric fans indoors. But what happens when you’re stuck outside in the stifling heat? Most parts of China are in the upper 90s during the July and August months, with debilitating humidity that…