Where Does the Trash Go? Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 27, 2010
When I lived in Beijing, every day I would pass a trash compactor station where tricycle-bound trash collectors would empty the contents of the storage tank mounted on the back. I would reflect on how having a roving fleet of trash collectors could replace several garbage trucks and reduce congestion and air pollution on Beijing’s…
Mandarin Numbers 1-100 Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 24, 2010
If you’re interested in learning Chinese numbers 1-100, use the table below to help with your studies! Note that generally numbers are easy to construct. If you know the numbers 1-10 and 100, then you can express any number from 1-100! See below: *Note: Zero is 零 ling2.＊ 一 yi1 1 二 er4 2 三…
Google and The “Great Firewall” of China Posted by Stephen on Mar 23, 2010
With the recent (although a long time coming) announcement of Google shutting down its operations in mainland China, comes much debate about the reasons and justifications for doing so. While Google (谷歌）has made claims about invasion of privacy, blocking content, and security breaches (including email virus attacks to gain info on human rights advocates) as…
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…
Traffic Design Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 16, 2010
Every day, from my 公寓 (apartment) looking out at 窗外 （outside the window), I see an egregious violation of 城市规划 (urban planning), particularly in the 交通方面 (traffic area). There is an a place along the road where cars may 掉头 (u-turn), but the allowed turning radius restricts most vehicles’ ability to complete it smoothly, while…
What Do People Eat? Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 15, 2010
There are a variety of breakfast choices available on the streets in China. People up north might enjoy a nice 煎饼 (fried pancake). People looking for something nourishing if they’re feeling under the weather might 喝粥 (drink porridge). One favorite (albeit one not high in protein) is to grab a 油条 (dough-stick. lit. oil…