A Stare, but not a Star

Foreigners in greater China all know the stare, and, personally, I'll never get used to it. I cannot leave my apartment without passerbys pointing, staring, and even shouting the Chinese word "foreigner." In Germany, I fought my anonymity being no different from any man on the street (except a little shorter than average).

Ironically, here in Zhengzhou I simply want to be a 老百姓, a commoner. There are times being a foreigner has benefits; one may get preferential treatment, one can usually get out of any situation with a "ting bu dong" (I don't understand), and one is easily noticed so is actually safer in public/on roads. Yet, it all serves to a general feeling of discomfort. The paradox that I'm treated like a celebrity, yet truly a commoner. I live here, speak the language, and follow the culture, but every time I hear "Laowai" (old outsider) it emphasizes a feeling of isolation or distance.

I know someday when I'm deep into marriage, have wanna-be independent teenage children, and I'm sitting in an insurance office just waiting for some trivial service I'll look back and revere this time when always treated special. For now I'll continue to bear the stare.

Later days,
Rick

Literature Review: What's Fun in Intermediate Chinese

A friend's recent post about her monthly readings left me feeling that I should read more; personally I felt as if I'm neglecting my further education.

In the vein of "Monthly Readings"  here are mine.  None will ever make the New York Times Bestsellers, but my descriptions below are written as if a review! (Read with "satire tone")

 

新汉语水平考试模拟试题集：五级

New HSK Practice Test Questions: Level 5

A book of 10 practice tests structured exactly like the test for advanced Chinese.  While it has no narrative and no interesting characters, the time restriction does keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat!

 

HSK核心词汇天天学：中册

HSK Core Vocabulary for Daily Study: Volume 2

If you want to improve your vocabulary, you need to study every single day.  This book is geared towards just that reader.  With an aim of adding 3,000 words in one year, it provides riveting delineations between synonyms like 鼓励:encourage (a person as subject) 鼓舞:encourage (an event as subject), or 违反=violate/break 违法=violate/break 违犯=violate/break 违背=violate/break.

The author provides real insight into the mystical language of this Eastern land.

 

中级汉语阅读教程

Intermediate Chinese Reading Course

Released from Beijing University Press, this book is filled with tales as wonderfully informative as your dusty newspaper collection.  Read thrilling events of birds flying into a window because of a beautiful painting, learn about the life of those with high blood pressure, and practice all of your Chinese radicals to learn the logic of this cryptic character language.

 

 

小王子

The Little Prince

Rated one of the best books of France from the 20^th Century, this international classic is a delightful way to confuse everything you know about the language as you, the reader, follow the tale of the narrator who meets a boy in the Sahara Desert.  This boy comes from an alien asteroid where he lives alone and cares for a talking rose.  It's an adventure to read as the reader challenges his own comprehension, "Did that flower just talk and complain about vanity?" 

 

趣味汉语阅读

Interesting Chinese Reading

Do you know Chinese humor?  This book explores the joys of the language to keep you groaning with painful laughter.  Discover how saying the word for "two yuan" (liang kuai) can be misunderstood as "chilly" (liang kuai).  Why?  Well it's just a mix-up in the tones, that's all.  What a delight.

 

多彩汉语， 50个趣味故事

Chinese Made Fun

With 5,000 years of history, China presents abundant culture and customs.  Through 50 stories, each in Chinese (characters and pinyin) and English, learn about many aspects of this rising Eastern dragon.  The authors thrill and dazzle the reader by adding a language column in each story, which teaches words like "popular" and "sorghum beans."  How 丰富！

 

That concludes my October-April reading.  My cynical nature is in part due to the constant, overwhelming feeling of a need to study, a need to have one of these books in my lap at all times.  They're simply textbooks, and, as such, inherently dry. 

For a few positive notes: I may not know much about British or American classic or modern literature, but I know over 2,500 Chinese characters;  I speak 3 languages. Tiring, but it makes me proud.  Also, my test will finally be over in only 12 days!

 

Back to studying on this sunny day!

 

Later Days,
Rick

Who says piano isn't a sport?

I just finished 5 hours in front of a piano in a tiny little practice room. Who says piano isn't a sport? It requires daily practice, warm-ups, speed, concentration, and technique. Plus, if you do it right, a lot of sweating. It's truly exhausting. Take that you football players and marathon runners!

Today was a good day for piano as spring hid behind clouds, my teacher (with a masters in piano performance) asked for my opinion on her music, and I finished my Chopin Nocture (Op 9 Nr. 2) and the first movement of the Beethoven sonata (Sonata no. 10, Op 14 Nr. 2--see pg 3 of the music and you'll understand how this is a success. That page is a long passage of sixlets against left-hand sixteenth notes. It was many headaches of practice.)

Now for rest and a shower.

Later days,
Rick

Soon to join the ranks of the perfectly-tailored

See the picture? I'm about to make the next one. Today I ordered my first tailor-made suit! The company is the top store in town. I started by picking out a sleek, subtle pinstriped, 100% wool navy fabric, I then described all attributes I want on the suit (high lapel, medium width as a combination of traditional with a bit of the skinny style en vogue now, double side vented back, 1/2 pockets on coat for sleek look, and a two button coat for a professional yet modern look.)

In only 18 days, I myself will be the next one en vogue.

Ha, I enjoy how excited I am about a suit. Like me, this suit will be one of a kind.

Later days,
Rick

Glory be, Spring arrived

Spring arrived today and I am on cloud nine. (pollution joke: Literally cloud nine. Their's so much pollution that the government now labels city districts in cloud numbers. Mine's number 9.)

Having just taught my students the word "dramatic" I will admit both this week and I are dramatic. I'm so content in this moment on the new, chik patio that just opened only 2 blocks from my home. Admittedly, this is not the best place since the prices are so high. My real Chinese favorite are the crowded sidewalks filled with squatter chairs--stools about 8 in. tall. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lively, the prices are ridiculously cheap, and it's all in the open air. I think I'll go there next.

Enjoy your spring.

Later days,
Rick

Monotony, Depression, and a Departure. What a splendid day.

Although China is 10,000 Km from the life I grew up with, is foreign in food, culture, language, and mentality, it's surprising how dull it can become. I've settled so much into this lifestyle that every day is so similar. The content I teach, study, and practice may be different, but everyday is piano practice, coffee, teaching, and Chinese study. This country is so chaotic and unpredictable, but, ironically, I need some change.

This are likely the words of seasonal depression. Zhengzhou is painfully trudging through the cold rainy spell before spring is forecasted. This weekend should be upper-60's with sun, but right now it's mid-30's and rainy. Thanks to it being late March, the piano center where I practice turned off all their heating. After 45 min I gave up practicing as my hands were losing feeling and nothing was sounding as it should.

Next, my favorite student left the school today. He's transferring to a school in his hometown and is gone for good. He was the one ray of hope in my lower level class. His name, accurately, is Ray.

Right now, I need this venting forum. I can't complain to my coworker, Kellen, because he has it worse. His electric bike was stolen last night.

In such ridiculously unpleasant circumstances, I usually laugh inappropriately figuring it's better than frustration. Thanks to such, I had a fit of uncontrollable laughter in class when a student asked who would take Ray's place on their team now that he's gone. I suggested Donger, a student absent from more classes than his low math ability allows him to calculate, a student who has never brought a notebook or anything to class, a student who is so apathetic he refuses to do anything other than sleep instead of being bothered to learn 5 vocabulary words. The thought that my class is one polite, bright student less and instead is left with Donger, well my students wondered what was wrong with me as I laughed ridiculously for 5 minutes. Oh, China.

We need spring. Bad.

Later Days,
Rick

Truly the other side of the world

I’m increasingly convinced that China is another planet, not simply another country.  I’ll admit to being the opposite side of the globe.  From Minnesota, China is literally the other side of the globe (it’s not perfectly antipodal—crossing through the center of the earth—but is opposite. The exact opposite seems to lie on the border between Mongolia and Xinjiang province. 

 

I conclude this because I repeatedly encounter situations that would never happen to me in MN.  Back in Minnesota, most people can ice skate. Playing piano is a common hobby that parents encourage their children to learn.  In my region in China it is only for the wealthiest.  Therefore, doing these activities puts me in contact with incredibly rich people.

 

My usual piano practice on Monday led me to meet the wife and daughter of Henan Province #2 construction company’s chairman.  They then took me to dinner at a newly opened Novotel hotel where the General Manager personally introduced himself to me and urged that I call him the second I come back. 

After the General Manager left our table, I clarified to my new friend that the man is the General Manager.  In a comically passing comment, the 7-year-old girl said, “Oh, my dad is a general manager.”  I’m a lowly English teacher here, but apparently Blue eyes are the ticket.

 

 

 

In other, horrifying news, look what the Chinese copycat of Teletubbies looks likes.  Yikes!

 

Later Days,

Rick

A Chinese New Year Celebration, but a Different Day

Chinese new year is the most important holiday in the entire calendar.  With a full 15 days of celebration, it almost makes Christmas seem like as important as a coworkers farewell coffee and cake in the kitchen. 

Last year for the festival, I was on a train to Lijiang and watched a passing village’s fireworks out a train window.  This year I resolved it would be different.  The difficulty is that everyone returns to their hometowns for the holiday, meaning all my friends are gone.  We solved that by moving the date.  Yes, it’s like celebrating Christmas on December 29^th, but it’s still celebrating.

 

The first tradition is making dumplings by hand.  Kellen and I were nearly clueless, so we relied on our Chinese counterparts for everything.  This was the first time anyone had made dumplings without the guidance of an elder family member telling what he or she is doing wrong.  Don’t worry, there were many phone calls to family members to check how to do every step. 

 

Zheng Ting, Jason, Kellen, Della, and I all gathered at school to make hundreds of dumplings to welcome the new year.

 

As is tradition, a coin is placed in the filling;  the person who chooses the dumpling with the coin will be fortunate in the new year. 

Being it’s not my tradition, I had fun choosing the coin and selected one that said “Bathroom Token: Valid for one Visit.”  (Probably from some airport automated bathroom service in whatever country.  Don’t worry, they made us wash, scrub, and boil the coin first to sanitize it.)

 

Most importantly, there were fireworks.  The night always ends with fireworks.  As written previously, it’s a war-zone around this time.  We gladly contributed. 

Here, Kellen and I explore the storage area of a distant (somewhat rural) grocery store where the owner sells fireworks year-round.  This large circle of firecrackers totaled $19.  Next, you see Kellen’s excitement to light a firework usually illegal in any other country.  We bought it for 50 cents. 

 

Finally came time to light the fireworks.  We had things that glow, spin, pop, bang, and crack.  Everyone dives in and makes a ruckus.  That’s actually the goal; the fireworks scare away the “Nian” monster.  I conclude that he’s well terrified.  I was.

\

 

Happy spring festival, but on a different day!

 

Later Days,
Rick

I registered; Am I advanced?

I registered for the April 14 advanced test--only 43 days to go.
HSK--an abbreviation of the Chinese pronunciation for Chinese proficiency exam. Notice in the bottom right, this is level 5, advanced Chinese, an ability capable of reading a newspaper, discussing any topic, and giving a speech in Chinese. I hope with this proof and motivator my Chinese is at a level that can benefit my business career. At least in the immediate I'm finally able to communicate with my coworkers.
This is in part the explanation for recent blog silence--studying. What is there to report when most days are filled with homework, flashcards, and reading exercises?

Now for a practice test...

Later days,
Rick

Good Fortune has Arrived! So have the Fireworks of a Chinese New Year.

The Chinese new year (阴历的新年) arrives in approximately 2 hours and all around China one can expect to see the character for good luck "福" (fu2, as in the first picture), either upright or upside down.  When rotated, it is said to resemble "到" (dao4, meaning "arrived".)  Thus, it is a time to "receive good luck".  Common practice is to visit all relatives over the next 15 days (until lantern festival, the official end of spring festival) and wish each of them good luck.  As is common in Chinese culture, the wish is never as simple as one sentence.  Usually it involves multiple (easily 5 or more) wishes of good luck, happiness, success, riches, contentment, fortune, joy, peace, etc. Logically, with so many people wishing one recipient good luck, it's almost likely to come true! 

 

While there are good thoughts being sent all around China (usually in the form of text messages―something for which the Chinese cell phone companies must be incredibly thankful), there's also a perpetual thunder.  As it's my first year in a city for Chinese New Year, I've enjoyed/feared the constant drone of fireworks.  While jogging this afternoon, the firecrackers sounded like gunshots; being the ONLY person on the street I increased my pace home.  (Call it a gut reaction.) While walking to the grocery store, I was startled by the large fireworks across the road; this time I could enjoy, and not run from, the bright spectacle.

 

Now, as I watch the Chinese equivalent of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" (yet, here it's a 4-hour program of diverse acts from China's biggest celebrities) I enjoy the comedy, sights, and sounds from the television with a constant rumble, not unlike a city bombing, in the background.

In reality, I am thankful.  For all these people lighting fireworks, they benefit me by scaring off the human-eating "year" monster.  This is the origin of lighting fireworks and decorating with red.  Every year a monster by the name of 年 (nian2), awakes and pillages villages, destroying homes and eating humans.  This monster arrives only once a year, and thus the character for his name actually is the current word used for "year."  Further, one year an old man discovered that this monster despises the color red and is scared by the booming sound of fireworks/firecrackers.  Thus, at this time today, each home is adorned with red decorations, citizens wear red clothing, and each family celebrates the new year by setting off fireworks.  Chinese population density is so high that there's enough booming going on to scare anything away without me needing to do anything!

 

With that, I return to the television performance and prepare for a midnight excursion to marvel in the barrage of 12:00 a.m. fireworks.  Happy new year, everyone!  祝你们新年快乐，万事如意，恭喜发财，每天快乐，越来越开心，笑口常开，工作顺利，事业有成。。。

 

Later Days,

Rick

 

If interested, this performance is available here: http://www.iqiyi.com/zongyi/2012cctvzb.html (only 1/3 of the acts need Chinese; the rest are enjoyable without language comprehension.)