User Comments - waiguoren

Posted on: Cold Weather Is Coming

Not all lessons have 'magical synergies' for us users. Around the time the Computer Problems and Tech Support lesson came out, I spilled a whole bowl of Hundun all over my computer. That, combined with my travel plans and Chinese New Year meant that I've been without my computer (and ChinesePod) for over a month; I have been on 'the treadmill' ever since.

In addition, I have moved back to my native Australia, where I feel my Chinese will evaporate to the point of extinction.

Sigh.

Posted on: Introduction to Pinyin

No, I haven't. 'Red Star Over China' is the first Mao Ze Dong inspired book I have read...if I'm to read another I'll make sure it's 'Mao: The Unknown Story'.

Posted on: Introduction to Pinyin

Changye - it seems you are right.

I have recently read Edgar Snow's 'Red Star Over China' who is allegedly 'the first Westerner to meet Mao Ze Dong and the Chinese Communist Leaders in 1936'.

When Snow asked Mao 'Could you give me a breif statement concerning...illiteracy'? Mao allegedly said 'We believe Latinization is a good instrumentwith with which to overcome illiteracy. Chinese characters are so difficult to learn that even the best system of rudimentary characters, or simplified teaching, does not equip the the people with a really efficient and rich vocabulary. Sooner or later, we believe, we will have to abandon the Chinese character altogether if we are to create a new social culture in which the masses the fully participate. We are now widely using Latinization, and if we stay here for three years, the problem of illiteracy will have been largely overcome...

Interesting.

Posted on: Office Lunch Options

I'm quite partial to the 孜然土豆鸡丁盖浇饭 (zi1ran2tu3dou4ji1ding1gai4jiao1fan4) you can sometimes find in those Lanzhou hand pulled noodle places.

Posted on: Hot Pot Chitchat

You're locco!

Actually I've had Coconut milk (in a black can) and Almond milk (in a blue/white) can, but that peanut milk stuff comes in a bag, so I'm not in a screaming hurry to try it. 

For the record, 蒙牛巧克力奶 (in a bag) is the best!

Posted on: Hot Pot Chitchat

Hi JasonSch,

Thanks for the heads-up! Silly me, who would have thought that peanut sauce is called 花生酱？

I suspected as much all the 'all-you-can-eat' being synonymous with 自助餐 and 随便吃/随便喝 but wasn't 100% sure.

I've seen 花生奶 in the convenience store, but haven't been game enough to try it - yet.

Posted on: Hot Pot Chitchat

羊肉排, 粉条 and that peanut sauce stuff (that's soo good!). 真好吃！

There's an excellent all-you-can-eat hot pot near my place for just 38元。Which reminds me, is the word 'buffet' （自助餐）the same as 'all-you-can-eat' in the Chinese lexicon?

Posted on: I Want a Thick Blanket

Don't be a wet blanket!

Posted on: I Want a Thick Blanket

Yes, we use the word 'doonah' in Australia for a thick blanket! Also, recently there was a bit of conjecture over the term for 'air-conditioner' in one of the Ellie lessons. In Aus, we sometimes refer to these contraptions as 'reverse-cycle air conditioners' i.e. they are capable of blowing out hot air or cold air, and thus can function as both a heater and air conditioner.

Excellent lesson by the way.

Posted on: Saying Good-bye at a Tavern in Nanjing -- 金陵酒肆留别

What a great series! Full of history, culture and language.

But there's still one question that has piqued my mind: Is the shows signature close "catch you on the flipside" an allusion to the the film The Boondock Saints (1999)?

P.S. Like all great movies/works of literature/podcasts, there's a sequel to the aforementioned film...