I’ve been using a set of language tapes in order to learn Mandarin while I’m living in China (ideally, I would have started these much earlier, but the final decision to live in China was kind of last minute). The tapes aren’t bad; each lesson is 30 minutes long, and paced to not overwhelm with vocabulary. However, the tapes are competely linear, so my learning has been at their mercy.
The tapes make some interesting choices in their teaching order. I learned how to ask someone if they are Chinese during the first week, many lessons before I learned the verbs “want” and “have.” I’ve had to go outside the lessons to learn words for common food items (meat, egg, water) in order to be quasi-functional at restaurants — but they taught me how to say “American Dollars,” and a few other completely useless words. Chinese Pod is a bit more helpful, since I can find targeted lessons — but the production can get on your nerves (you get what you pay for though).
The most useful phrases I’ve learned so far are:
- “I don’t understand”: You’d be amazed how many times I say this a day.
- “What?: People speak very quickly here — but usually I use this when I’m sick of saying “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
- “(I want to) Go <somewhere>”: Essential for taxis
- “Left,” “Right,” “Straight,” “Stop Here”: Also important for taxis
- “I want” / “I don’t want”: You can order simple things saying this and pointing
- “Where is <somewhere>?”: If you’re lucky, you’ll understand their response
- Numbers: Fortunately, these are very simple once you learn 1-10
My vocabulary continues to increase, but I’m competely lost if the conversation deviates at all from my feeble knowledge. Using foreign words never works, and my poor charades skills are rarely understood. Verbs are incredibly useful, since pointing or saying “this” or “that” can work in place of many nouns.
Top phrases I wish I knew how to say:
- “If you let me get out of the subway first, it will be easier for you to come inside”: Seriously
- Ordering Food: I eat very well when I’m with people who know the language — but it’s hit or miss when I choose myself (more on that process some other time).
- “Thank you for your offer, but I am not interested in the ‘Lady Massage.’”
- “I have the stomach of a little blond girl, please give me water that will not make me sick.”
Chuarrrrrrr
Chuan (pronounced “chuar” here in Beijing) are delicious meat skewers that are available all over Beijing. At 13 cents a piece (1 RMB), they’re a great cheap snack. The meat is typically fatty lamb (I’ve also had chicken); the seasoning is a nice mix of salt, pepper, and zi ran (a special Xinjiang seasoning, mostly chili powder and cumin). They’re roasted over charcoal grills, and served nice and hot. Delicious!
Those in New York can try some in Chinatown, although you’re paying 8 times their price here in Beijing (and 16 times the price in their native Xinjiang).
Man tou pian
This is the vegetarian’s chuan — same seasoning and preparation, but made with bread instead of meat. Kind of like garlic bread on a stick.
Da yao zi
Balls on a stick
Sheep testicles, cooked chuan style. You’re better off not thinking about what it is while you eat it. The consistency is fine, similar to liver or kidney — but I’ll stick to the regular chuan.
Update 8/21: It turns out that this was mistranslated — it’s actually sheep kidney. Sheep testicles are common on the menu though, but I have yet to try it
It’s been a while since the last release of the Post Levels plugin, I believe it is just about time for a new release.
I’m a selfish developer, so I’m prioritizing based on my needs. Here is what I need for the next version:
- Non HTTP-auth private RSS feeds: My web host runs PHP in CGI mode, which doesn’t support the HTTP authentication
- Flickr integration: This will depend on what I can implement with the Flickr API, but I’d like some tighter integration with their contact list and privacy
There are a few features that people have frequently requested as well, I’d like to get the following done:
- Tell users there are private posts: Frequently requested option, would allow non-logged in users to know there are hidden posts
- Category-based level: Set default levels for certain categories
- Level quick tag: Allow some kind of shortcut for setting the post level
Any other requests?
BTW, don’t expect me to have this all coded tomorrow :)
Megaphones are much more popular in China than they are in the US (or Europe). The most popular uses are crowd control (typically on subways) and street vendors.
Both make use of the most insidious feature ever added to a megaphone: automatic looping.
Imagine you’re a trying to tell a crowd to keep right, or perhaps advertise your cheap purses. With a normal megaphone, you’d have to repeat yourself continuously — you might even have to pause occasionally to clear your throat, or breathe. Luckily these sophisticated megaphones will pound your message into the masses, without pauses! You don’t even have to hold it, or be nearby. All the annoyance, none of the social embarrassment.
Technology!
The hutongs have these great little breakfast / snack shops where you can grab food on your way to work. I usually get an egg sandwich (Jiá jī dàn, the literal translation is something like “wrap egg”) for my walk to the subway station. You can also get these with chinese sausage, which I usually avoid (although I’ve had it once or twice due to miscommunication issues).
The shop has a lot more on the menu, I’m trying to branch out as my language skills (and digestive system) improve.
Better to collide with the known, then be run over by the unknown.
(The known is usually a pedestrian or bicycle. The unknown a taxi, bus, or angry panda)
When translating western names and places, the chinese frequently manage to match a meaning to a phonetic approximation for the name. A good example of this is with country names.
In Chinese, USA is translated as Mei guo — which roughly sounds like America, and translates to “Beautiful land.” England is referred to as Ying guo — “Heroic land”; France is Fa guo — “Lawful land”; Germany, De guo — virtuous.
Portugal? Pu tao ya — which roughly translates to “Grape tooth.” How appropriate.
This is a good, reliable fall back dish while you’re in Beijing — especially for vegetarians (nevermind — apparently, this frequently has meat in it). Stir-fried string beans made salty and spicy — not as spicy as it looks though. Wash it down with the local watered-down brew.
