Scenes from the Street

I'm going to try and start a new little series called "Scenes from the Street" where I show some pretty odd (according to American standards) things of some pretty common happenings here on the streets of Beijing.

The first scene I want to share is something that we all see everyday here in China:  people hauling some crazy stuff on three-wheeled bicycle carts.

Many times the people are carting around a massive collection of plastic bottles.  Other times it just looks like a cart full of trash.  It varies from day to day.

One thing that doesn't vary....I am always impressed.





   

Air Pollution

Ok, so unless you were living under a rock during the 2008 Summer Olympics, then you probably know that Beijing has a bad reputation for air pollution.

Wellllllllllllll, it's kind of true.....

These next two pictures were taken at the same time of day just a few days later....

And no, that is not fog.

My friend, Joe, who is working with FOC in Beijing doing the same thing I am, checks the internet quite often for Air Quality Index readings.  Apparently there are many times when Beijing is right around, and sometimes over, a reading of 300.  No U.S. city is, by law, allowed to be over 50.

There have been a few mornings when I have woken up knowing that it was going to be a "bad pollution day" because of the scratchiness and bad taste already in the back of my throat.

Heather and I joke that by coming to China we have probably lost about 3 years of our lives.  That's ok, though....we're just that much closer to heaven. :)







   

Chinglish of the Week #3

So, my last post could've been my Chinglish of the week, but I figured there's so much of it around Beijing that I could probably afford to do two separate posts.

This week's Chinglish has a bonus....another related picture!  The first one is from the Executive Lounge of a hotel (and I just kind of thought it was funny), and the second one is from the second floor of a restaurant.

Yes, please be very careful of Touch Head....it has already claimed the lives of so many.




   

Our First Wedding Present in China: Twin Lotus Bowls

Wow!  It's been a crazy few weeks since the wedding.  Now that things have settled down a bit, I can get back to posting....

Here is the first wedding present Heather and I received in China: "Twin Lotus Bowls" that we got from my school.

I could quickly describe the meaning behind these bowls for you, but why do that when the description card inside the box can do it so eloquently?


"   THE PAIRING BOWLS OF 'TWIN LOTUS FLOWERS ON ONE STALK'

   The twin lotus flowers on one stalk concealing analogy the meaning of"a harmonious marriage lasting a hundred years and ensure perpetual lovers' knot".It is said that Tang Taizhing Li shimin bestowed his youngest daughter Princess Gao Yang upon his favoured minister Fang Xuanling's son.  Had informed this, the ministers and officials of imperial court within and without bustled about that were preparing congratulation gifts for the marriage one after another among the numerous articles of tribute a pair of bowls of"lotus flowers petal", from Mingzhou was distinguish shining with dazzling brilliance, its jadeite-like jade greenness, fascinating with mild elegance the lotus flower petal represent the holiness and pureness the pairing bowls show the perfect elegance and Luxuriousness and Looked its illustration as the symbol of"auspiciousness and peacefulness"Happiness and perfectly satisfactory had looked.

......For the purpose of forever collection that has limited Distributing."


That's half of the description word-for-word (and space-for-space).  It also says that the bowls have since been a common gift for "marriage jubilation."

And so now Heather and I have some pretty awesome bowls.  And marriage jubilation.

(please note:  In no way is this meant to be an insult to the thoughtfulness of my school...Heather and I really love this gift!  I just wanted to share some funny Chinglish from the company that made these sweet bowls.  Thank you.)




   

The Teachers' Room

In my second ever post I mentioned that the school where I teach has a "Teachers' Room" hidden away up on the 5th floor of the main building.  This is where you will find me on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 11:45am and 1:15pm during my lunch break.

The room is set up so teachers can relax and take a little snooze in-between classes and at lunchtime.

The spot on the far side of the room is where you'll always find me sprawling out (and possibly snoring).  When your mind is fried from trying to teach Oral English to Chinese university seniors who graduate in one month and have already checked-out mentally, it is a great place to recharge the battery a little bit with a power nap.

Are you paying attention, teachers in America?....time to petition your schools for a Teachers' Room.





 

Chinglish of the Week #2

There are many many many places to get "your hair did" in China.  It seems like there's about 2 or 3 every block.

One such place is about 100 yards from the school where I teach.  But this one isn't like the others....

So go on in to Lotus Beauty Saloon and get your hair cut, dyed, and highlighted, all while snagging a shot of whiskey and playing a few rounds of 5-card stud.

Just make sure to keep your six-shooter ready.


(If you can think of any funny lines to go along with this Chinglish, let's hear them in the comments section.  If you can't, then you're admitting that I am funnier than you are.)