User Comments - RJ
RJ
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 19, 2008 at 8:57 AMThanks Changye. Your english is fine. I always find the Chinese choppy and missing all the little connecting words we americans tend to lean on. Interesting stuff although I suspect even in China today the women will challenge the idea that "Even if a husband keeps a beautiful young mistress, it seems that his wife can still enjoy her stable position at home." I know we cant get away with it in the US. Not without a hughe legal bill. I suspect tolerance of this is waning, even in China? But your main point is well taken and I bet Chairman Mao was a great dinner companion and conversationalist. Its funny that he couldnt control his wife, as powerful as he was. There is a lesson in there somewhere. -RJ -RJ
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 17, 2008 at 9:17 AMThank you Jenny! Henning, you are so right. Actually love as a prerequisite for marriage is a rather recent development (last 100 years I think). You also got the ideal thing right. Americans do tend to base their values on ideals rather than reality. This has helped me a lot. Auntie68- thank you also. -RJ
Posted on: To Love or Be Loved
February 17, 2008 at 4:39 AMJenny, In Chinese culture, is it common to hold back on the expression of love to keep the upper hand in a relationship? This seems to be what the lesson is saying.
Posted on: Finding One's seat
February 11, 2008 at 2:19 AMWell Ken, since you brought it up - where is the grammar guide? Freudian slip?
Posted on: Chinese New Year!
February 8, 2008 at 8:54 AMwell I can testify to the fireworks. I am currently in Beijing (Beijing Library at the moment using the internet). At the hotel they hung 10 strings of 1000 1.5 inch firecrackers from a closeline like device and lit at once. Loud enough to require fingers in ears. Lion dance followed. Aerial displays are popular also. The street was covered with smoke, aerial displays, and noise for many hours. Firework stands are everywhere and they do a brisk business. I bought 1000 firecrackers for 20 rmb. Home tomorrow. Enjoyed the new year here. Good time to come but has been cold. RJ
Posted on: The Super Bowl
January 31, 2008 at 9:41 AMAlways take the underdog. The minute "everyone" is sure they know what will happen in any given situation (including who will win) , that is when it becomes nature's obligation to prove us wrong and keep us humble. "RJ's rule number one"
Posted on: The Second Tone
January 29, 2008 at 1:39 AMthis is great. I always have the most trouble with the second tone. Time will tell but I think this helped me a lot. It is amazing how well it came across in slow speed. Amazing how easy it comes to some people and others like myself struggle to hear it. Third and fouth tone come easy for me and hopefully now the second tone will too. Great approach.
Posted on: 一边...一边 ... (yībiān...yībiān...)
January 29, 2008 at 1:10 AMHmmm ok last try - 我每早上一边开车一边唱歌一边吃早饭一边白日做梦一边看女孩儿的屁股！真的。 我开车很远每天。
Posted on: 一边...一边 ... (yībiān...yībiān...)
January 28, 2008 at 8:33 PM我每早上一边开车一边听歌一边吃早饭一边白日做梦。
Posted on: Introducing the Grammar Guide
February 19, 2008 at 9:09 AM马上就好, Sorry John. Your life would be boring without all the swirl. Im sure the grammar guide will be a good one - thats why we are all in a hurry for it. -RJ