User Comments - RJ

Posted on: Getting Married in China

or maybe they have to eat the same peeled orange. Juicy.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

I think thats usually the case. (she has already said yes). If not, and you are really on the spot and dont want to say yes, just say yes, and change it to no when you get him alone. Let him explain what "happened". And I do believe Orangina, I was just being flip.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

People play games here too. I remember my wife and I stopped at her Aunt and Uncles house for one night on the way back from our honeymoon. Her Uncle we found, had tied a cow bell under our mattress. I got him back though. I left it there.

Posted on: Celebrating a Baby's First Month

http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa012303a.htm

in case you cant open this, I have pasted an excerpt:

In Chinese culture, a baby's first month birthday calls for a celebration. Proud parents introduce their latest addition to friends and relatives by holding a red egg and ginger party. Traditionally, the baby's name is also announced at this time.

Guests attending red egg and ginger parties bring gifts. Lysee or "lucky money" in red envelopes is often given to baby boys, while girls may receive expensive jewelry. The guests don't leave empty handed, either. The parents hand out red-dyed eggs, symbolizing happiness and the renewal of life.

Red egg and ginger parties have their origins in ancient Chinese culture. As in other countries, infant mortality rates in China were quite high prior to the medical advances of the twentieth century. A baby who reached one month of age was likely to survive, and so the event was celebrated.

Traditionally, this was also a time to reintroduce the mother to the world. The Chinese believe mothers are in a highly weakened state in the period immediately following birth. Just as English custom calls for new mothers to enjoy a brief period of confinement, Chinese mothers have traditionally been expected to rest indoors for one full month after giving birth. This helped ensure they didn't become overtired, or contract any germs or illnesses from the outside world that could prove dangerous in their weakened state. Besides resting, they drank a nutritious broth made with pig's feet, eggs, vinegar and ginger. Many new mothers still follow this ritual today.

In the past, due to the traditional importance of male children in Chinese culture, red egg and ginger parties were sometimes given for boys only, or the celebration for boys was more elaborate. Today, parties are given for babies of both sexes.

In recent years, some of the traditions surrounding red egg and ginger parties have been modified. Parents may choose to hold the celebration at a fancy restaurant, complete with costumed Chinese performers or even a children's magician. Also, the baby may be anywhere from one to three months old by the time the party is held. But the custom of passing out red-dyed eggs continues. Parents may also use the brightly colored eggs to announce the birth; an even number of eggs are sent out for a boy, and an odd number to announce a baby girl.

Posted on: By Myself, So Alone

yea, I was going to mention you as a reference, but I didnt want to open any old wounds. I have to wonder, why then do they continue to allow such close contact between the monkeys and humans?

Posted on: Getting Married in China

ok, next you're going to tell us "Sleepless in Seattle" is not your favorite movie?

Posted on: Getting Married in China

哈哈， there has to be a name for this affliction. Linguistic diminutivization syndrome or something. LDS ?

Posted on: Getting Married in China

When my wife and I were in China last year we were fortunate enough to get invited to a wedding. One of the female engineers I work with had a friend at the company that was getting married and she arranged for us to also get an invitation. I asked about the hong bao and she said 1 RMB would be enough and that she would supply the envelope. I felt really cheap, but she insisted that was fine. If I remember correctly, they came around to the tables and collected the hong bao. They did not have names on them. They actually announced our presence, since we were the only laowai there. I remember the poor groom had this huge bottle of champagne that they shake up and he is supposed to open, and of course it wil spray everywhere. He could not get the cork out and eventually broke all the edges off the cork so they had to move to bottle number two. Eventually he got it with some help from the hostess. Then they pour the first toast in one glass and it cascades down filling glasses below, which are used to toast the bride and groom by those closest to them. The wedding was also on a Wednesday night after work. Odd to me, but evidently the date was significant, as in good luck. Oh, and on each table were two packs of complementary cigarettes. A common practice in Southern China I guess.Food was delivered to each table rather than having a buffet. No band, no dancing. Everything carefully choreographed and controlled by the paid hostess. The wedding pictures were constantly on display on the big screen behind the bride and groom. Almost life size pics were cycled endlessly throughout the night. The bride and groom did come to each table for a toast. I was grateful for the experience but Im sure some are done quite differently.

Posted on: Getting Married in China

well, you asked. I have learned a new word though. Possie. Never heard that one before, but the meaning is obvious. Like Charlie Sheen said to the kid once, cant you glean the meaning from the context, and the kid says, whats glean?

Posted on: Getting Married in China

baba,

I believe you hold an orange under your chin and hand it off to your wife and she must grab hold also between her chin and chest. Symbolic as they said.