Came down with flu
June 19, 2009Even the best-laid plans are destroyed by a simple cold.
I’m just glad I’m certain that it is not the dreaded traveler’s disease, A (H1N1). I don’t want to magnet attention to our dear University, which, fortunately, does not have a victim yet.
My only symptom is a runny nose. None of these:
Of course, I went home as early as I can as soon as my runny nose became conspicuous.It is the hallmark of civility to keep your infection to yourself, and, as much as possible, recover quickly.
Click here for a rough way to know if you’re coming down with the swine flu.
Do not YM at work
It’s not nice fooling people. It’s not nice that you pretend to be this or that. There are things that you shouldn’t take or assume ownership of.
Like identity.
One day you’ll get what you deserve.
Whoever you are, I’m not talking to you ever again.
Commitment to a Dream
June 18, 2009
I have decided. I am going to attend the CERULEAN event tomorrow.
CERULEAN, based on their only bulletin post I have read, is a Filipino-Chinese organization here in the University. It’s such a pity that my possible contributions to the organization, if I ever join, will be limited by the fact that I would only stay in the University for this semester.
But I must take advantage of the opportunity, shouldn’t I? The organization might be my first stepping stone to the greater Chinese world. I might find new friends or acquaintances that can help me with my bad Mandarin Chinese. They might bring me closer to people or resources who can help me achieve my dreams. Of course, I must give something in return; to have a friend is to become one.
It’s going to be a tiring wait (my class ends 11:30 am and the event starts 5 in the afternoon) but I hope it’s going to be worth it.
***
Related to that, I am going to step up my Chinese self-study. It’s tough with two highly-toxic subjects and the fact that none of the subjects I am taking will find any China-related knowledge relevant. But then, life was much, much tougher the last two years, wasn’t it? I’m doing myself a favor, I’m adding something I enjoy (and hope to reap fruits from soon) and I’m doing them at my own pace.
Hardcore Study
It’s a given. I’m always reading a nonfiction book, and since January, I have added nonfiction, China-related books, to my to-read list.
Mandarin Chinese
It’s still a long way. Knowledge of 40 characters is not enough. I can only string a few basic sentences (and with much struggle at that). Because I get overly conscious with the tones, my sentences sound oratorical.
Mastery at the level I am aiming is to be able to present myself in Mandarin Chinese clearly and get to read the most basic Chinese texts. It’s not even fluency – maybe just enough to impress a Chinese acquaintance and convince her/him that formal instruction in the language will be fruitful (given the dedication and effort I gave in mastering the most basic).
The second level is literacy and, as much as possible, near-fluency in Mandarin Chinese. I’m sure I can’t attain this level with all the self-study in the world alone.
I’m not yet decided on which Chinese language school to attend. It’s expensive for a person like me. Plus, I want a recommendation from someone I know. It’s already hard for me to find the money; it’s much harder for me to part from it. For sure I’m going to attend one after I have graduated and have a stable, well-paying job.
Literature
There are several translated books on Chinese poetry, mythology and folklore, and classic novels available at the CAS Library (at the P area, along with books on Indian literature and works of Dostoevsky). The first book I borrowed is the first volume of the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en (1500-82; also Ruzhong and Mountain Man of Sheyang), published by the Foreign Languages Press of the Chinese Government in 1990. The novel has around 100 chapters and is divided into four volumes of 25 chapters each. It is a mythological novel based on traditional Chinese folktales. The novel relates the adventure of the priest Sanzang and his three disciples, Monkey, Pig and Friar Sand, as they travel west for the Buddhist Sutra.
It’s going to take long but I’m dedicating myself in finishing Journey to the West and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms before October. Also in line, but probably next year, are two more Chinese classics: The Dream of the Red Mansion and The Water Margin. All of them are going to be great undertakings on my part because all of them are quite lengthy.
Music
I’m not yet into really traditional music. For one thing, other than the Twelve Girls Band, I don’t know of any well-known expert on Chinese traditional instruments, much less Chinese traditional music.
For now it’s still all Wang Lee Hom, Jay Chou, Jolin Tsai, F.I.R., S.H.E. and JJ Lin. By the way, I found out (rather belatedly) that Wang Lee Hom and Jay Chou had both launched their new albums for 2009. Lee Hom’s is Xin Tiao or Heart Beat. Jay Chou is Capricorn. I have both copies (although, as always, taken the illegal way). Here are my favorites:
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 從新愛 (Cóng Xīn Ài; In A New Love)
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 東方之殿 (Dōngfāng Zhī Diàn; Palace of the Oriental)
- Jay Chou (Capricorn, 2009) - 魔杰座 (Mó Jié Zuò; Capricorn)
Films
I’m finished with Red Cliff 2! It’s a period film alright.
I also watched another recent Chinese film, Forever Enthralled, starring Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi. It has a lot to teach about Peking Opera. Honestly, I like Peking Opera, despite the convoluted notes, rapidly changing rhythms, and the high-pitched voices of the performers. But then it might be an acquired taste. I like Chinese culture so much to begin with.
I’m going Korean next week. My sister and I are craving for a Lee Dong Wook movie.
Something on chopsticks – and more!
June 16, 2009
I recently read something about chopsticks (and how you can differentiate them based on nationality). I thought I’d share:
- Chinese chopsticks are longer, have squared sides, and are made of bamboo, plastic or ivory.
- The Vietnamese use Chinese-style chopsticks.
- Japanese chopsticks are shorter and pointed at the end that goes into the mouth. Wooden chopsticks are lacquered.
- Korean chopsticks are usually made of metal like stainless steel. Although of the same length as the Japanese, Korean chopsticks are thin and flat.
My mother once bought several pairs of lacquered chopsticks for fun. Based on this classification, they are definitely Japanese chopsticks. I haven’t learned to use them, but then, if I were really into Chinese culture, I should learn to use it, right?
Here’s more!
Chopsticks etiquette
- Use the serving spoon or serving chopsticks when getting food from a communal bowl. If none is provided, it is acceptable to use the blunt end of the chopsticks.
- The chopsticks should not enter your mouth – they should be merely brought to your lips.
- Left-handed people have a problem using chopsticks because of the possibility that their left elbows would bump into the right elbows of their right-handed neighbors. Chinese parents force their left-handed children to learn to use the chopsticks with their right hands.
- Don’t use the chopsticks to point at anything.
- Don’t use the chopsticks to spear food.
- After eating, place the chopsticks in a parallel position atop the bowl or dish or on a chopstick rest (never seen one though); never place it on the table, crossed or upright. Sticking the chopsticks upright reminds Buddhists of the incense sticks used in funeral ceremonies, therefore, death.
- Do not rub wooden chopsticks to remove splinters.
- And of course, never reuse disposable chopsticks!
Chinese business banquets
- It is impolite to stop in the middle of a meal (it might be taken as an insult). Chinese business banquets can get as large as 8 to 15 courses – to accommodate such a gigantic meal, it is suggested that one eats slowly and take only small portions.
- If the host begins to heap food on your plate, eat it but leave some food to hint at the host that you are getting full.
- Beijing, Qingdao and Tianjin beers are all safe but one must be wary of bottles with something at the bottom – it might be an unfortunate animal.
- In a Chinese banquet, asking for knives might shock the restaurant staff; they would ask for the express approval of the host in acquiescing to such request.
- The Chinese generally like pork, beef, chicken, duck, fish and other seafood, but, apart from a despised minority in the north, they hate lamb or mutton. To many Asians mutton smells and tastes disgustingly.
- Lots of vegetables are likely to be well-received.
How about soups?
- The Japanese drink (or rather, slurp) soup by lifting the bowl to the mouth using both hands.
- Koreans and Chinese use soup spoons to drink soup.
- Koreans may use spoons to eat rice but the Chinese and Japanese do not.
- The Chinese consider not moving the bowl funny. Move the bowl, like bringing it closer to you, from time to time.
In Southeast Asia
- Whenever people eat using their fingers, only the right hand is used for touching food or drink; the left hand is considered unclean for it is associated with toilet practices.
- Some people dig their whole hands into the food but some consider it unclean and never allow food to go past the second joint of their fingers when eating using their fingers.
- Most Thais, Malays, Indonesians and Filipinos set their tables with spoons and forks except for those who are of Chinese descent.
- Cambodians and Lao do not use forks and rely solely on the spoon.
- Knives are rarely set on the table because, traditionally, knives were considered weapons and therefore unwelcome in a place where people ate together. Many Asian foods are also cut in small pieces making the use of knives on the eating table unnecessary.
Making sounds while eating
- In Japan, as well as Hong Kong, slurping is a sign of appreciation. For some Chinese and the Thais, however, making sounds while eating is ill-mannered.
- Some Filipinos encourage belching.
- The Japanese do not talk while eating because it is rude to show the inside of the mouth. The same applies to talking and laughing (they cover their mouths with their hands).
Cleaning your plate
- Do not put more rice than you can eat. Rice is considered a precious necessity in Asia. Leaving even a grain signifies waste and dismissal of the hardships involved in the growing and harvest of rice.
- For the Chinese and the Cambodians, finishing your plate means that you want more (or that the host was an inadequate provider). They quickly refill the plate, often in increasing quantities. Like Filipinos and Thais, leaving a little on the plate suggests that the host has provided well (more than what one needs) and signifies that the person is full.
- The Japanese and Indonesians value cleaning one’s plate: for the Japanese it means that the food is delicious, for the Indonesians, leaving some food is rude.
- Koreans will not refill a glass if there is still some liquid in it.
I’m not that sure how accurate these are. After all, I have only eaten in a Chinese restaurant once, and though we were given chopsticks, I used a spoon and fork. I am planning to eat in a Chinese restaurant next month; I have a lot of saving to do.
Now that you know, bon appétit! In Chinese, 慢慢吃, Màn màn chī! Kain na!
Rebyu umano
June 10, 2009Dahil sa flu scare naurong ang klase sa susunod na linggo, ika-15 ng Hunyo. Hindi ako natutuwa. Sabik na sabik na akong pumasok, kunin ang aking baon tuwing umaga, at magkaroon ng dahilan upang hindi matokahan ng maraming gawaing-bahay. Dahil sa trangkaso na yan nawawalan ng pasok. Tanong ko lang, bakit pag nagka-epidemya ng pagtatae o dengue sa isang lugar ay hindi nababahala ang mga tao (pwera na lang kung sila ang biktima)?
Para malibang ang sarili, pinanonood ko ang mga sine at mga teleserye na mayroon ako at hindi pa napapanood at natatapos. Kaunti lang naman sila:
Boys Over Flowers (seryeng pantelebisyon, Korea)
1 Liter of Tears (seryeng pantelebisyon, Hapon)
Boys Over Flowers
Nasawa na rin ako sa kakapanood ng mga Koreanovela. Hindi makatotohanan ang mga istorya. Paulit-ulit. Palaging may love triangle.
1 Liter of Tears
Nakakaiyak nga siya. Nakakaawa kasi yung bida e (lalo na nung hindi na siya makasalita). Nagandahan ako sa mga kanta. Oo, mamamatay yung bida, pero after 10 years pa mula ng magkasakit siya. Tagal din siyang nagtiiis. Napangitan lang ako sa wakas ng kwento. May mga bagay akong hindi maintindihan (baka mas makahulugan yun para sa mga Hapon).
Sana makabasa/makakilala ng kahit 500 karakter sa wikang Tsino bago matapos ang taon na ito. Sa ngayon, 40 pa lang ang alam ko at kayang isulat. May hinahanap kasi ako sa internet na malamang ay mga Tsino lang sa Taiwan at mangilan-ngilang dayuhan lang ang nakakaalam. Sa tingin ko, makikita ko lang yun kung gagamit ako ng mga karakter sa sulat ng mga Tsino sa pagse-search.
Hindi rin natupad ang nais kong iskedyul ng pasok. Kaysa sumugal sa Speech 11 nag-Comm. III na lang ako. Mas bagay sa iskedyul ang Nat. Sci. 5 kaysa Nat. Sci. 4. At mabilis naubos ang mga slot para sa Human Resource Development kaya nag-DS 123 na lang ako.
Masokista siguro ako. Naghahanap ako ng sama ng katawan at kalooban.
Kaya ko ito. 頑張って[ganbatte]! 不到黄河心不死 [Bù dào Huánghé xīn bù sǐ]. Persist and never give up. Wala namang akong iba pang choice di ba?
Mahirap mag-Filipino sa paggawa ng isang post sa blog.
