Translation Humor - Clothing

Sayings on clothes are often mis-translated in any country. I remember when I was young getting a shirt that had Asian characters all over it. One day someone in my class actually translated it -- quite embarassing for a 12-year girl to be walking around in a shirt that said "I am blooming".
In China we have been seeing some clothing with very amusing saying that could give more than one meaning. Since I love chocolate, I enjoyed the one I saw yesterday - I think it was meant to be "Hershey's". Had to buy the T-shirt even though I will NEVER wear it out of my apartment. Thought others may find it amusing as well ....

Traveling in China via Taxi Hawker

After being in China for a few weeks, I have been feeling stressed from too much structure -- not in my work but in the transportation/ability to move without a schedule! So on my recent return from a business trip to Taiwan, I did not request a scheduled airport pickup! Decided to just get a taxi on my own!!

Similar to Korea, there were "taxi hawkers" at the exit from the arrival hall. Rather than waiting in line (okay pushing in line), I took one of the offers from the hawker. The taxi that was offered was a legitimate taxi/green etc. And on the way we started for the one hour trip to Fuzhou city.

Approximately 10 minutes or so into the trip, the taxi pulls to the side of the road where the migrant workers were waiting for work. After a few minutes discussion, the driver asks me to move to the front and the three additional passengers put their luggage and food in the trunk before they pile into the backseat. At this point, I decided that just in case something happened along the way, I should at least send myself a text message with the guy's license plate. If I was missing maybe someone would think to search phone records??!!

The trip was actually uneventful: The three extras were polite and agreable not to smoke, the taxi driver made alot more money, I actually contributed to being "green", and I can now say that I have at least experienced a typical long-distance taxi ride in China.

Fujian Museum, Fuzhou China

One afternoon this weekend, C.W. and I visited the Fujian Museum located on the lake in front of the Lakeside Hotel. You can take a walkway bridge to the area or walk around the lake, sorry no lake name is mentioned in English, to access the museum area. The first building we enter was the National History Museum; dinosaurs and such. The second building was the true Fujian Museum. The museum documents the history of the Fujian Province and the large overviews are in English as well as Chinese. There were some very interesting exhibits; clay soldiers, funeral canoe, headstones of a man and his wife (in Arabic as well as Chinese - from hundreds of years ago), etc. We attracted alot of attention from the students that were going thru the museum. One group of girls even translated enough of the headstone for us to understand that hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago, people from Arabic speaking countries were part of the Chinese society.

In the area around the museums, there were petrified tree trunks placed in a garden and some statues which I could not tell if they were old or recreations.

It was a place that I will go back to if given the chance and after I see a few more things in Fuzhou. Couple of notes if you decide to go: Bring your passport if you do not have a Chinese ID card and even though it says no photos, everyone was taking pictures except of the textiles.

Official Lantern Festival Night

The official lantern festival night was Monday February 9th. Fireworks were everywhere. Sometimes firecrackers would pop right at your feet. Luckily no known injuries in our group. The fireworks did burn down one of the new hotels in Beijing; used for the Olympics but no "grand opening" yet. The photos do not do justice to the fantastic and continuous (at least 4 hours) show.

Reality of Economic Downturn

Like many companies in in the current year, my company has been letting people go - either thru early retirement or severance. Sometimes you are let go due to "wrong place wrong time". You may remain for just the same reason; "right place right time". For those in each "place", best of luck. Remember that friendship will remain; that work was just the conduit to the introduction!

Climbing Stairs in Bamboo Park

Bamboo Park in Fuzhou contains the the most variations of bamboo in one location anywhere in the world. There were white bamboo, green bamboo, blue-green, and what I thought was the most unique - gold bamboo! Every different type is label with the scientific name in Roman letters so it is quite easy to read for those of use who have no skill with characters!

The park also has a 1000 year old Banyan tree. It was so large that, in order to get it in one photo, I kept moving back more and more. Very spectacular. Along one of the paths are trees that have a squishy trunk. Very surprising to be able to push your finger into the trunk of a tree!! Forgot to write down the name of the tree so I am sure I will need to edit this post later.

There are three main trails that can be taken to reach the top of the mountain in the park. Left rim, right rim, and middle along the river. All connect so you can take a different path up and down. Be aware that the hike is almost solid stairs - more than 2000 steps I believe. If you take the middle trail, you will see the under-development water hole and cascading water pools -- bet they will be quite full of people come summer. It appears the river has been dug out, cleaned, then cemented swimming hole in the middle of the river!

If you want to visit, you may take bus #802 which has a stop in the parking lot of the Bamboo Park. The bus fee is 1 RMB each direction. Use the front to enter and drop your coin or note into the box by the driver.

Lantern Festival (Opening Night) Fuzhou China

February 5th was the opening night of a new revitalized neighborhood in Fuzhou; coinciding with the first day of the Lantern Festival marking the end of Chinese New Year. The new area is very beautiful; built to resemble an old town.

Sad when you think about the people who had lived there their entire lives; forced out to make way for a new upgraded neighborhood. Easy to see both sided - you want people to have running water, electricity, and inside toilets but you hate to see anyone forced out. It happens in the US also. We just call it "imminent domain"; for the better of the community etc. (I have even seen people forced out just to build a factory that was thought to offer more jobs and tax income for the state or city.)