ni hao beijing!
Ahh, finally here and finally blogging. It’s been about a week and I think I’m finally over the jet lag, finally over the culture shock (not really) and finally over the fact that I’m a fob here.
Me: “I want one of THAT. *point*”
Vendor: “This?”
Me: “No… THAT. *emphatic point*”
Vendor: “OK. How many?”
Me: “What? I want one of THAT. I don’t understand you.”
Vendor: “*sigh* 3 kuai.”
Me: “What?”
Vendor: “*bigger sigh* *3 fingers in the air* 3 kuai”
That about sums up my days here thus far. Finding basic sustenance is the most stressful part of my day, cause it just won’t cut it to avoid these situations. Fortunately, I’m learning quick, sort of. I’m now able to order somewhat competently. But, the moment they venture off script, I’m done for. A quick “wo ting bu dong” (I can’t understand you) and the awkwardness continues.
I’ve managed to see a little bit of Beijing already, but I’ll save that for another post. For now, my favourite chinglish sign of the week. Now, I can’t laugh TOO hard, because I’m pretty sure that’s what I sound like when I speak here. But, what the heck…
Filed under: China, Traveling | 1 Comment
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Pauline on happy national day, mothe… Eloise on happy national day, mothe… Eloise on wo de fangjian / my room ruirui on wo de fangjian / my room Keiana on ni hao beijing!
sounds about right….the other day i bought a plants for my room (no idea what type it is tho) and told the salesgirl “wo yao jai wo de fang jian”. apparently she understood me and went on about how to care for the plant – which left me with a bewildered look on my face!