When I found out we were moving to China, I was interested in learning Chinese because I wanted to be able to talk to people here and learn more about them and their lives. What I learned is that learning Chinese is really hard, and I'm not very good at it.
Even though I'm usually an optimist, I'm also a realist. So, last month I quit taking Chinese lessons. I know enough Chinese to make it through day to day life. And I couldn't see that my Chinese would improve enough over the next year to really have a meaningful conversation with someone.
Just to give you a sense of how much Chinese I know,
here are some of the things I can say.
-correct (my favorite word)
-yes
-no
-I/you/she/he/it/mine/yours
-like, look, come, go, want
-numbers (but slowly)
-the time
-the days of the week
-How much?
-beer
-water
-school
-pain
-this
-there
-left/right
-hello/goodbye/thank you
-son/daughter
-friend
-teacher
So this means that I can make some very basic sentences. "We go America" "I like this" "Two water." I sound like a baby!
After I quit taking lessons, I started thinking about how many people I interact with during the week who don't speak English. This means essentially we do our business with little spoken communication. The weird part is that now this is not only easy, but normal.
Driving: Liu speaks a little English, but mostly one word or phrase at a time. He has an electronic translator and so do I, so a lot of our conversations are really just saying one word at a time or showing each other words! It works! (And, no, he doesn't use the translator while he's driving...)
Painting Class: Since September, I've been taking a class in Chinese painting. The teacher teaches us for 2 hours by showing us what to do and speaking only Chinese. So here is the conversation I had with her today (I'm trying to tell her I won't be back in class until August).
- I mime a little book (I know she carries a little calendar).
- She takes out her calendar.
- I point to the next 2 months and say bu bu bu (no) then I point to August 16 and say yes.
- She mimes an airplane and says mei guo (America)?
- I say dui (correct)
- I mime talking on the telephone and point to her and then the calendar for August 16.
- She says ok.
Yoga: Again, a teacher who doesn't speak English. She says things but I have no idea what they are! I just follow along and enjoy the relaxing music.
Shopping: When the checkout clerk asks me a question that I don't understand, I either show my membership card or show that I brought my own bags. If I need help finding something, I bring a picture or show the Chinese character on my translator. I did manage to order a custom made sweater with a lady who didn't speak English. It came out just like I wanted it :)
Ayi: When she comes (once a week), we say ni hao (hello) and if I need her to do something different, I just point.
Mr. Torture: He taught me the Chinese word for pain. I've been bringing my friend to translate :)
I really enjoyed getting to know more about my old driver's life (he spoke English), so I'm sure at some point I'll regret that I didn't try harder to learn Chinese. For now I'm taking the summer off and I'll consider it again in the fall.
Zai jian!
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Sunday, June 6, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Hello Liu, Part II / Farm
Liu has been our driver for about 6 weeks now and we still love him! We feel very safe in his hands. Through part English/part Chinese conversations and the help of my bilingual friend, I've been able to learn a bit more about him.
He is married and has a 6 year old daughter. He lives in a high-rise apartment not far from Mike's office. He grew up in Kaifaqu, so he knows the area very well. He was a truck driver (a medium size truck that makes deliveries around town) for 10 years and has NEVER been in an accident!!
On Monday, I had one of my best experiences so far in China. I told Liu that I wanted to buy strawberries (they are only available at the local outdoor markets, not at the supermarket). So he stopped at a place he knew near his house. No luck (it was Monday and they probably sold them all on the weekend). So he said he could take me to one other place nearby. OK...it's a little weird going somewhere you don't know, in a town you don't know, in China. I just have to give up control (easier now than before) and let him take me wherever!
After driving along a dirt road for a short while, we ended up at a farm where they were growing all types of produce!! Now I know where my local produce is grown, just 5 minutes from town. The farmer hand-picked about 3 kilograms of strawberries for me. These are the last of the season. Then they gave us a tour of the greenhouses. We saw green beans, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and green onions. We also went further up the hill to an outdoor growing area and bought fresh picked lettuce (the best salad I've had in a long time!), fresh picked cilantro (I made salsa) and fresh from the ground green onions.
It was one of the most beautiful places I've been in the Dalian area. The greenhouses were nestled in a small valley, it was a cool sunny day and the area smelled clean and earthy.
These farmers live a hard life, but they all looked content and happy. Attached to the greenhouse is a small concrete hut, heated by a stove with only cold running water. After spending a winter here, I can only imagine how cold they must be in the winter!
I took some pictures with my phone (not the best quality). However, they don't do justice to the peacefulness of the place. When I look at these pictures, I see the "China-ness" of the place - stuff stacked around and on top of the houses, the motorcycle truck, the primitiveness. I wish I had a picture that captured the beauty and peacefulness too!
The hills surrounding the valley. In the foreground, the hut attached to the greenhouse and the 3-wheel motorcycle truck that they use to take the produce to the market.
The outside of one of 50 greenhouses. In the winter they put thick straw mats on top to keep them from freezing.
Inside the greenhouse picking strawberries.
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He is married and has a 6 year old daughter. He lives in a high-rise apartment not far from Mike's office. He grew up in Kaifaqu, so he knows the area very well. He was a truck driver (a medium size truck that makes deliveries around town) for 10 years and has NEVER been in an accident!!
On Monday, I had one of my best experiences so far in China. I told Liu that I wanted to buy strawberries (they are only available at the local outdoor markets, not at the supermarket). So he stopped at a place he knew near his house. No luck (it was Monday and they probably sold them all on the weekend). So he said he could take me to one other place nearby. OK...it's a little weird going somewhere you don't know, in a town you don't know, in China. I just have to give up control (easier now than before) and let him take me wherever!
After driving along a dirt road for a short while, we ended up at a farm where they were growing all types of produce!! Now I know where my local produce is grown, just 5 minutes from town. The farmer hand-picked about 3 kilograms of strawberries for me. These are the last of the season. Then they gave us a tour of the greenhouses. We saw green beans, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and green onions. We also went further up the hill to an outdoor growing area and bought fresh picked lettuce (the best salad I've had in a long time!), fresh picked cilantro (I made salsa) and fresh from the ground green onions.
It was one of the most beautiful places I've been in the Dalian area. The greenhouses were nestled in a small valley, it was a cool sunny day and the area smelled clean and earthy.
These farmers live a hard life, but they all looked content and happy. Attached to the greenhouse is a small concrete hut, heated by a stove with only cold running water. After spending a winter here, I can only imagine how cold they must be in the winter!
I took some pictures with my phone (not the best quality). However, they don't do justice to the peacefulness of the place. When I look at these pictures, I see the "China-ness" of the place - stuff stacked around and on top of the houses, the motorcycle truck, the primitiveness. I wish I had a picture that captured the beauty and peacefulness too!
The hills surrounding the valley. In the foreground, the hut attached to the greenhouse and the 3-wheel motorcycle truck that they use to take the produce to the market.
The outside of one of 50 greenhouses. In the winter they put thick straw mats on top to keep them from freezing.
Inside the greenhouse picking strawberries.
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Friday, May 28, 2010
Voluntary Torture, Part II
I've had three treatments for my shoulder and I can tell it's working. I have better range of motion and less pain.
During the second treatment, he recommended the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice of cupping. I wasn't convinced that it would actually help my shoulder, but I thought....What the heck?...I'm in China....Let's give it a try...
So he takes these little glass bowls (that look like little goldfish bowls from the county fair) and puts a flame inside to heat them up, then sticks them to my skin. As the air inside the bowl cools, it creates a vacuum, which pulls my skin into the glass bowl. Yes, it hurts.
The result is the pretty bruised circles on my skin (can't wear tank tops for a few weeks).
TCM believes that it will bring heat and healing to my shoulder area. Hmmm.....
I'm still willing to try anything once....as long as it doesn't involve dirty needles, small enclosed spaces, raw meat, and, and, and...
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During the second treatment, he recommended the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice of cupping. I wasn't convinced that it would actually help my shoulder, but I thought....What the heck?...I'm in China....Let's give it a try...
So he takes these little glass bowls (that look like little goldfish bowls from the county fair) and puts a flame inside to heat them up, then sticks them to my skin. As the air inside the bowl cools, it creates a vacuum, which pulls my skin into the glass bowl. Yes, it hurts.
The result is the pretty bruised circles on my skin (can't wear tank tops for a few weeks).
TCM believes that it will bring heat and healing to my shoulder area. Hmmm.....
I'm still willing to try anything once....as long as it doesn't involve dirty needles, small enclosed spaces, raw meat, and, and, and...
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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Voluntary Torture
Voluntary Torture....otherwise know as Chinese acupressure....Yes, that's what I put myself through today.
Why? Well, I've had a nagging shoulder injury since fall. It hurts to reach above my head and behind my back. After hoping it would just go away on it's own (for 7 months), I finally decided to take action.
The first step was a visit to our local doctor and he prescribed Physical Therapy via video chat with a therapist in Beijing. Actually, I was quite impressed by the application of technology to help with my treatment, but my instinct was telling me that this therapy wasn't the right cure.
The second step was an amazing full-body massage by a Chinese masseuse. A massage that was the roughest and most physical I had ever experienced. After the massage I realized that I definitely had better range of motion in my arm...which got me thinking about other options.
Which was the third step - acupressure. I have a friend who is Chinese and she highly recommended going to a local "massage therapist". She had been earlier in the year for her shoulder and it is now better. I have always been a fan of alternative medicine, and I was hoping to get an opportunity to try some Chinese therapies while here, so I decided to give it a try.
So, my first visit was today. His office is in a small storefront at the base of a tall residential tower, in a densely populated neighborhood. The office is quite small - maybe 20 ft x 15 ft. We walk in and there is a small waiting area at the front of the room and three massage tables in the back. He is smoking a cigarette. My friend is along as an interpreter.
She explains the problem and then for the next 20 minutes I endure the torture. I've always pictured acupressure as someone gently pushing their thumb onto pressure points on your body. Not this guy...
Picture a small, strong Chinese man leaning his body weight onto his elbow which is jammed into the tender parts of my body. Now I know a pain worse than natural childbirth!
Of course, it didn't hurt that bad the whole time, and I used the breathing techniques I learned in Bradley classes to help me through it. My friend had warned me that most people scream because it hurts so bad, so I knew what to expect.
The funny part is that Mr. Jin said he wasn't pressing as hard because I was older and quiet! I guess being over 40 does have its rewards!
I now feel relaxed and my arm feels like my body feels after a good workout - relaxed and tired. I have a few bruises on my back and arm.
The whole thing cost $3 (US).
And, I'm going back on Monday. Yes, crazy...
.
.
.
Why? Well, I've had a nagging shoulder injury since fall. It hurts to reach above my head and behind my back. After hoping it would just go away on it's own (for 7 months), I finally decided to take action.
The first step was a visit to our local doctor and he prescribed Physical Therapy via video chat with a therapist in Beijing. Actually, I was quite impressed by the application of technology to help with my treatment, but my instinct was telling me that this therapy wasn't the right cure.
The second step was an amazing full-body massage by a Chinese masseuse. A massage that was the roughest and most physical I had ever experienced. After the massage I realized that I definitely had better range of motion in my arm...which got me thinking about other options.
Which was the third step - acupressure. I have a friend who is Chinese and she highly recommended going to a local "massage therapist". She had been earlier in the year for her shoulder and it is now better. I have always been a fan of alternative medicine, and I was hoping to get an opportunity to try some Chinese therapies while here, so I decided to give it a try.
So, my first visit was today. His office is in a small storefront at the base of a tall residential tower, in a densely populated neighborhood. The office is quite small - maybe 20 ft x 15 ft. We walk in and there is a small waiting area at the front of the room and three massage tables in the back. He is smoking a cigarette. My friend is along as an interpreter.
She explains the problem and then for the next 20 minutes I endure the torture. I've always pictured acupressure as someone gently pushing their thumb onto pressure points on your body. Not this guy...
Picture a small, strong Chinese man leaning his body weight onto his elbow which is jammed into the tender parts of my body. Now I know a pain worse than natural childbirth!
Of course, it didn't hurt that bad the whole time, and I used the breathing techniques I learned in Bradley classes to help me through it. My friend had warned me that most people scream because it hurts so bad, so I knew what to expect.
The funny part is that Mr. Jin said he wasn't pressing as hard because I was older and quiet! I guess being over 40 does have its rewards!
I now feel relaxed and my arm feels like my body feels after a good workout - relaxed and tired. I have a few bruises on my back and arm.
The whole thing cost $3 (US).
And, I'm going back on Monday. Yes, crazy...
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Saturday, May 15, 2010
What's In a Name?
Welcome, guest blogger Mike!
Chinese employees at my company have a choice to use their Chinese first name or an English first name on their employee badge and email address. I don’t know the career implications of choosing one or the other, and I really don’t have a preference. (But I will admit that it’s easier for my Western brain to remember English names).
About one-third of the Chinese employees choose to use an English name. I can’t imagine what it’s like to choose your own name as an adult, but I suppose there must a certain freedom to it. It’s a chance to redefine yourself within the English-speaking culture at work.
Some choose names that sound similar to their Chinese names...Liu could be Lou.
Some choose typical English names like.....Bill, David, Michael, Eileen, Jack, Ethan, Will, Ben, Jimmy, Helen, Eddie, Andy, etc.
Others choose an English name based to their interest or hobby. The most common English name among the hundred or so male college students I interviewed was Kobe (not the Japanese city or the beef, think NBA).
And others choose names just because they like the sound of it.
For the past year I’ve collected the English names I’ve come across at work that I find interesting or fun. All of the names below appear in official employee systems, either as their email or the nickname in their company profile, which shows up in various databases. I’ve sort them into themes.
Weather-related:
Storm
Sunny
Shady (reference to Eminem, she’s a fan)
Rainy
Cloud
Snow
Sky
July (this one caused some confusion in a conversation, until they figured out it was his name. Who’s on first? I’ve met an April, May, June, and Augusto, so why not July?).
Cute:
Dolphin
Puppy
Swallow
Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow’s child is named this, right?)
Cherry
Manly:
Axl
Fjord
Heaton
Sand
Grit
Stone
Rock (there’s also an American with this name)
Armstrong
Stronger
Whimsical:
Sprite
Arrow
Flight
Run
Ryder
Wise
Elves (not sure if it’s the king of rock & roll or Santa’s helper?)
We deliberately chose an unusual name for our daughter, partly because as a Michael, there is no real advantage in being confused with 3-4 other people in your class or workplace. So I applaud these folks for defining themselves as unique!
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Chinese employees at my company have a choice to use their Chinese first name or an English first name on their employee badge and email address. I don’t know the career implications of choosing one or the other, and I really don’t have a preference. (But I will admit that it’s easier for my Western brain to remember English names).
About one-third of the Chinese employees choose to use an English name. I can’t imagine what it’s like to choose your own name as an adult, but I suppose there must a certain freedom to it. It’s a chance to redefine yourself within the English-speaking culture at work.
Some choose names that sound similar to their Chinese names...Liu could be Lou.
Some choose typical English names like.....Bill, David, Michael, Eileen, Jack, Ethan, Will, Ben, Jimmy, Helen, Eddie, Andy, etc.
Others choose an English name based to their interest or hobby. The most common English name among the hundred or so male college students I interviewed was Kobe (not the Japanese city or the beef, think NBA).
And others choose names just because they like the sound of it.
For the past year I’ve collected the English names I’ve come across at work that I find interesting or fun. All of the names below appear in official employee systems, either as their email or the nickname in their company profile, which shows up in various databases. I’ve sort them into themes.
Weather-related:
Storm
Sunny
Shady (reference to Eminem, she’s a fan)
Rainy
Cloud
Snow
Sky
July (this one caused some confusion in a conversation, until they figured out it was his name. Who’s on first? I’ve met an April, May, June, and Augusto, so why not July?).
Cute:
Dolphin
Puppy
Swallow
Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow’s child is named this, right?)
Cherry
Manly:
Axl
Fjord
Heaton
Sand
Grit
Stone
Rock (there’s also an American with this name)
Armstrong
Stronger
Whimsical:
Sprite
Arrow
Flight
Run
Ryder
Wise
Elves (not sure if it’s the king of rock & roll or Santa’s helper?)
We deliberately chose an unusual name for our daughter, partly because as a Michael, there is no real advantage in being confused with 3-4 other people in your class or workplace. So I applaud these folks for defining themselves as unique!
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
World Citizens
One of the things that Mike and I have always agreed on is that it is important to be not just Americans but also citizens of the World. To us, this means making choices for the greater good of the planet, because we see all people and all nations as interconnected. If we are all looking out for each other, the World will be a better place to live.
This belief was a big part of our decision to live in another country with our kids. We believe that if we live in China, then what many people think of as "the Chinese" become real people to our kids, not just news blurbs and stereotypes. We wanted to make the other parts of the world real places with real people and not just blobs on a map.
After being here for 10 months, we now have the chance to see that it has had an effect and they can make personal connections to news stories.
Yesterday, the North Korean president came to China. He took a train from North Korea into Dandong on tracks we stood next to a few weekends ago. He then came to Dalian and stayed in the hotel downtown next door to where we stayed when we first arrived here. After visiting the Dalian port and a few of the many multi-national factories here, our hope that he’ll see the enormous economic progress that free market economics has brought to China and decide it’s time to change himself. The North Korean people we saw across the river in Dandong deserve to be part of this interconnected World too. I'm proud that my kids know why it is significant that the North Korean president came to China. They know this because we live here and visited Dandong.
We've had similar, but not as historically significant, experiences after traveling to other places as well....Google moving their China servers to Hong Kong while we were there, the potential tsunami approaching Hawaii the day after we left (with our hotel in the backdrop of the news coverage), and Thailand protests on the news knowing we will travel there later in the year.
As we continue to travel, I look forward to seeing their views of the World continue to grow.
This belief was a big part of our decision to live in another country with our kids. We believe that if we live in China, then what many people think of as "the Chinese" become real people to our kids, not just news blurbs and stereotypes. We wanted to make the other parts of the world real places with real people and not just blobs on a map.
After being here for 10 months, we now have the chance to see that it has had an effect and they can make personal connections to news stories.
Yesterday, the North Korean president came to China. He took a train from North Korea into Dandong on tracks we stood next to a few weekends ago. He then came to Dalian and stayed in the hotel downtown next door to where we stayed when we first arrived here. After visiting the Dalian port and a few of the many multi-national factories here, our hope that he’ll see the enormous economic progress that free market economics has brought to China and decide it’s time to change himself. The North Korean people we saw across the river in Dandong deserve to be part of this interconnected World too. I'm proud that my kids know why it is significant that the North Korean president came to China. They know this because we live here and visited Dandong.
We've had similar, but not as historically significant, experiences after traveling to other places as well....Google moving their China servers to Hong Kong while we were there, the potential tsunami approaching Hawaii the day after we left (with our hotel in the backdrop of the news coverage), and Thailand protests on the news knowing we will travel there later in the year.
As we continue to travel, I look forward to seeing their views of the World continue to grow.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Go Sea Dragons!
The school announced its new mascot this week during spirit week. They are now the Sea Dragons!! Friday was a celebration day at school, with a school-wide pep rally and soccer games out on the field. The entire school (K-11) wore blue and yellow to celebrate. The boys' soccer team played a game against a local Chinese High School and the girls' soccer team played against the moms (yes, I played).
The school administration and teachers have worked hard to have activities beyond academics available for the students (harder to do at a small school). And, the result has been fantastic! Friday was a lot of fun!
Kids in the stands(this is about 1/3 of the kids):
Kiana and friends:
The boys soccer game (our condo in the background):
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The school administration and teachers have worked hard to have activities beyond academics available for the students (harder to do at a small school). And, the result has been fantastic! Friday was a lot of fun!
Kids in the stands(this is about 1/3 of the kids):
Kiana and friends:
The boys soccer game (our condo in the background):
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