Archive for 'Culture'
Macau Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 30, 2010
Yesterday I went with some friends to Macau, one of China’s 特别行政区te4bie2xing2zheng4qu1 (special administrative regions). There, we saw some of the 痕迹 hen2ji4 (traces) of Macau as a 殖民地 zhi2min2di4 (colony). Macau has become a supreme tourist attraction in East Asia, attracting more tourists last year than even Hong Kong! This may have to do…
The Good and the Bad About Bad Goods Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 28, 2010
It was this time last year that I was en route to give a talk at a university in Wuhan. During the drive from the airport, I began to chat with the driver. Our focus soon shifted to trade between the US and China. As we built rapport, he asked very frankly, “是不是美国公司就把这些垃圾食品卖给我们中国人吃?” (Are American…
The “Legend” of Iron Stomach Posted by Stephen on Mar 18, 2010
Dealing with sickness is always a large concern for travelers, and is the reason why we visit costly travel clinics, take series upon series of painful injections, and get the lectured over and over again about the dangers of local food and water. Often times, our fears and concerns of a new place grow…
What Do People Eat for Lunch? Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 17, 2010
When lunchtime in China rolls around, what do people go to eat? Up north, many choose to go out for 饺子 (dumplings) or 面条 (noodles) at a local 面馆 (noodle restaurant). Other people might go to a nearby street stall and grab some 饭 (rice) with different selections of 荤菜 (meat dishes) and 素菜 (vegetable…
Down on the Street (场外市场) Posted by Stephen on Mar 11, 2010
One of the most striking features of China and Chinese culture, when compared to the west, is the availability of goods on any given Chinese street. Sure, you could go to a Walmart 沃尔玛 wò ěr mǎ or a Carrefour 家乐福 Jiā lè fú, to find your daily sundries 事物 [shíwù], or even take the…
The PRD Michael Jackson Theory Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 9, 2010
Since moving to South China, I have developed a 理论 (theory) about the presence of 迈克尔杰克逊 (Michael Jackson) music. Namely- 不管在什么地方 (no matter the place), 不管怎么样 (no matter what), you will be no further than 一公里 (1 kilometer) from a place where you can 听见 (hear) a Michael Jackson song. This theory is based on…
Happy New Year! Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 13, 2010
Greetings from 老挝 (Laos) and 新年快乐 (Happy New Year) to everyone! This year is 虎年 (the year of the TIger), which marks the end of my own 本命年 (one’s own birth year), said to be the unluckiest/hardest year for people born in that year. For those of you born in the Year of the Tiger…