Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am password protecting some of these entries. Passwords are specific to each post. I will gladly give out the passwords to my friends, family, and even acquaintances. Just send me an email or a facebook message. Do not comment here asking for the passwords.
Thanks for your understanding.
Skype.com. Pretty good service, but I recently found out that I cannot use SkypeToGo to call China. I didn’t even know about SkypeToGo until recently. I was looking at other of the services that came with my subscription and I saw it. Basically, I can use my cellphone to call a US number. Then I am connected to my Skype account. From there I can choose one of 6 speed dial numbers (which I set online), or I can manually enter country-code and phone number.
But China is one of about 15 countries that SkypeToGo is not allowed to call (due to common fraud, abuse, or whatever). I can’t use my cellphone to call WeiLing when I’m on campus, or away from home, etc. But not that big of a deal. In general, I’m pleased with the Skype service and still use it as I did before I learned of SkypeToGo. Blah. 
In short: Skype works for me. SkypeToGo does not. Sorry if I wasn’t clear.
One of my favorite things in language are tongue twisters. I’m horrible at them, but they’re still fun to learn, to learn about, and to attempt! One of my QQ friends (Jennifer) recently asked me for some English tongue twisters, and then offered one in Chinese. The ones I gave her were “Woodchuck” (both question and answer), and then I told her about Dr. Seuss, and gave her the full text of “Fox in Socks”. The tongue twister she gave to me is actually a song, sung by “SHE” (a band of three girls) and entitled 中国话 (zhongguohua, or “Spoken Chinese” / “Chinese language”). I haven’t spent much time on the lyrics yet, but maybe I will come back and add pinyin (and translation if I’m really ambitious). Without further ado, the tongue-twister song lyrics: Read More »
While I was in Shanghai last January, I wrote the following note into my iPod Touch. I was at a bar with most of the people on the trip, including the sponsoring professor, her best friend, and her fiancee. I have a number of pictures and at least one video which I will upload when I have access to them again (I am in California, and they are in Texas). I was relaxed, happy, and reflective. So without further ado:
January 16 – Sitting in a bar. Staring at the traffic outside. Busy intersection. Many pedestrians. Conversations of friends nearby, monorail or train curves along the track.
Soft-sung music played loudly: Ba-bap-bap ba bah ba… I noticed, ??? true.
Businessman’s colleagues leave. One stays behind to watch businessman. Head on hands: nods, slips, catches, nods, … Last friend disappears, Businessman finally rests head in folded arms on table. Friends return and pull businessman away
Pedestrian looks into bar as he walks briskly by. Time now is 10:32pm
Guitar player takes over for CD. It was only CD this place has, I’ve heard it through about 3 times…
Snucker (sp?) on TV… Master’s championship.
I think of a certain girl. I am happy.
At about 11, I meet eyes with Roy. I’m alone at the corner of my end of the table. He motions questioningly. A bobble of the head, with a slight raise of the hand. I mock back in fun jest. He comes over and asks what’s up. I tell him what I’m observing. And we chat briefly. I point out the traffic and he agrees. He talks briefly of a credit card battle. Amelie and Emily Bull join us and begin speaking French. Roy returns to Anne Xu, his fiancee. I return to a nice beer and my thoughts. I am happy. 
And that’s that. The game is actually “Snooker”; I misspelled it. I still don’t know what song that is. The Cranberries – Dreams reminds me of it, but I don’t think it was sung by The Cranberries. It’s much more relaxed sounding.
Update: I found the song, but not the exact version. Spandau Ballet – True, but it was sung by a woman. (And I misheard the lyrics: “I know this love is true”). The only version I can find with a female singer is sung by Fergie, and that’s definitely not it…
It’s beginning to dawn on me. This will be the last time I will see California for over a year. This will be the last time I will get a chance to spend a significant amount of time with my brothers, friends, and parents for a long time. This will be the last time for many different things. Soon I’ll be in China. Soon my whole world will change…
And I’m really excited. Acknowledging every little thing (eg, last sight of CA’s mountains for at least a year) is allowing me to feel more like I’m saying my goodbyes. The relationship I have with “goodbye” is really bitter sweet. I don’t like the idea that I won’t return for a long time, but saying goodbye makes it easier. Also, I’m looking forward to the new experiences while abroad. I’m looking forward to building a new familiarity with a culture that I’ve read about and experienced only tidbits.
But at the same time, I have Skype, this journal, Central college, and other threads through which I can keep touch with my friends in the West and use English..
I just woke from a dream. I was in China, but I was renting an apartment the same size and layout as the one I currently rent in Texas. Strange, but it gets stranger. I went to the store and purchased some groceries, but was speaking Mandarin. It was pretty cool, but I went home (walked a few blocks) and spoke English again.
Lately, I’ve traveled a lot. From school to home, Nebraska to California, and in a week I’ll be heading back to Nebraska. While the acts of packing, driving, and flying aren’t my favorite (but I do like riding trains!), I enjoy seeing my friends and family. I also got a chance to tell both of my parents about 尉伶. Dad is a pretty excited, but Mom is worried and asked me if I’m serious. Both admitted that they knew beforehand, or at least thought it a possibility. I had hinted before, and even asked questions. We’ll see how their opinions develop.
