I decided I'd try and post some of my poems on here, since I liked the first line poem thread so much. I would really like some advice on how to improve. Thanks!
My trip did not start out well. There were ticket malfunctions, seating problems, and the horror of realizing that there were no movies playing on the plane. The relief usually provided by watching four movies in a row was not there. 14 hours of half-sleep and attempted writing await. It really did not help that my dad decided to swear up a storm on the airplane or that my mom conked out asleep within ten minutes. I'm already feelng claustrophobic. I'll write more when I feel motivated enough to stop staring at the seat in front of me.
I survived the 14 hours and also managed to almost completely quell my jet lag by spending my night watching G. I. Joe and enjoying the violent fight scenes and CGI effects. After breakfast we headed to the airport where we are 2 hours early. The airport is sleek and modern, unlike the common perceptions most have of China. Glass windows stretch from the ceiling to the floor, and tidy shops dot the intersections between terminals, selling everything from Swarovski Jewels to candied fruit.
In China, the majority of people are brash and harsh. Some act sweet, but it is mainly just part of their job description. It is not necessarily rudeness; more of a way of life. In a nation filled with billions of people, to survive one has to be able to fight for a spot. Become to soft and you will get stolen from, pushed around, and generally taken advantage of.
My hometown in particular is famed for being loud and boisterous with few table manners or dainty dealings. My dad is obviously from Qingdao, as his voice alone can scare telemarketers into shocked silence. My uncles, aunts and cousins act the same way, though behind the loudness lies a good heart and kinship.
I learned the hard way about being harsh in this city after my potential taxi was stolen by an innocent looking woman who sneered at me for my obvious weakness before speeding away. I quickly developed a loud personality like the rest of my family.
*whispers* Chinese isn't a language. It's either Mandrin, Cantonese or some variation.
As for your motivation I cannot help. I suggest trying to sleep, though we both know that whoever said you can sleep on a plane was either insane, or had their back perfectly morphed to the seat. Airplanes SUCK. They should make them more comfortable.
The airport is sleek and modern, unlike the common perceptions most have of China.
A lot of people feel that way about Canada too!
In China, the majority of people are brash and harsh. Some act sweet, but it is mainly just part of their job description. It is not necessarily rudeness; more of a way of life. In a nation filled with billions of people, to survive one has to be able to fight for a spot. Become to soft and you will get stolen from, pushed around, and generally taken advantage of.
*takes note* I suppose visiting would be potentially hazardous to my health? I can be loud, but far too kind.
I quickly developed a loud personality like the rest of my family.
Aren't you really small though? I love when small people get loud, it's fun! You'll have to forgive me, I'm in a strange mood this morning (or whatever time it is over there). I hope you're enjoying your trip. Bring me back a panda!
*whispers* Chinese isn't a language. It's either Mandrin, Cantonese or some variation.
Oh well. :/ It's Mandarin.
*takes note* I suppose visiting would be potentially hazardous to my health? I can be loud, but far too kind.
They DO sometimes take advantage of foreigners.... :P It's still a nice place to visit.
Aren't you really small though? I love when small people get loud, it's fun! You'll have to forgive me, I'm in a strange mood this morning (or whatever time it is over there). I hope you're enjoying your trip. Bring me back a panda!
*glares* I am NOT really small. I'm almost as tall as you, sir. :P
They DO sometimes take advantage of foreigners.... :P
I remember my time in the Philippines. Plenty of scumbags tried to take advantage of anyone with the vague appearance of having money, i.e. English speakers.
I got ripped off by vendors, taxi drivers and even small children. I still feel like a moron for the last one.
---
Tourists have money, and everyone loves their money.
On another note, yeah I'm going to stay tuned because I have nothing better to do. I'm not going to stop idling though.
though we both know that whoever said you can sleep on a plane was either insane, or had their back perfectly morphed to the seat
I've managed to sleep on a plane before. Granted, I first spent sixteen hours staring at a screen.
I'm not from China, but my parents are. They call it our hometown so I insinctively say it too.
China Trip
Day 3-4
9:40 AM
After arriving at my grandmother's house, there was a cheery reunion as my aunts, uncles and cousins pressed in on all sides, remarking on how much I grew and how painfully thin I am. After the flood died down I decided to go out to play with the children that live in the apartment next door.
The kids are used to my yearly visits now, and ask me questions about America and plane rides. To my dismay they soon discovered that I could barely read Chinese, and they spent half an hour quizzing me on various unidentifiable characters.
One of the girls drew characters on the ground using chalk, and with great importance told me that I should, without a doubt, know what it said.
"I don't know it." I said sheepishly, crouching on the ground next to her and drawing idly with chalky hands.
She gave an exaggerated groan before falling into a fit of giggles at my incompetence.
"Oh, come on....I grew up in America...." I complained.
She frowned. "Then why can you speak Chinese?" I explained that my parents are from China, and she bent over to scrawl more letters on the ground. In perfectly neat cursive she wrote the word "helpful". "This is the hardest English word I know." She said proudly and I quickly applauded her smarts. Then I had to go in for dinner where my dad aked why I was playing with children not even half my age.
As of now I am taking a break from SAT studying.
12:15 PM
Reason #13 to learn more Mandarin: My dad will often tell false stories about me, and I can't deny them using bad Chinese.
If I had to choose something to hate about China it would have to be the mosquitos. In Qingdao there is a lot of stagnat water where mosquitos thrive and grow to monstrous size. Last year I got bitten on the hand and my aunt ended up calling me "loaf-hand" for the remainder of the month. This year I am determined to stay unbitten no matter what the cost.
6:26 PM
I went ice skating at the Mall, but quickly retired due to the fact that there were swarms of teens and parents staring through the glass at the skaters. Feeling self-conscious and sheepish, I skated my way back to the bleachers.
One of the places I frequent on a visit back to China is Jusco: a Mall/Supermarket. On the upper floors it has clothing stores and fast food restaurants as well as Ramen shops and Salons. On the lower floor is a sprawling Supermarket that contains both the familiar orderly aisles and stoves where foods like roast duck are being actively cooked and hung out to sell.
Another place is Hisense, which is closing, much to my disappointment. Ever since I was small I walked there to buy snacks and drinks, and it feels like a rooted landmark in my Childhood memories.
Oh come on, you have a thread with 17k views. Don't be deluded.
Interesting thus far. Eh, I was also mocked by random children because of my inability to understand Filipino. Though, I could read it fine because due to the Spanish colonization, the people there use the Latin alphabet. I didn't understand what the heck I was reading. Great when some people made me reading a bunch of foreign expletives.
Ah, this is my 11,000th post. Strange coincidence.
I'm not from China, but my parents are. They call it our hometown so I insinctively say it too.
Ahhhhh....... That makes sense.
On a different note, evidently my piano playing just made a baby pee. I don't even know.
You're just that good (or bad).
Ah, this is my 11,000th post. Strange coincidence.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
[insert several remarks revealing your apparent sheepishness]
I agree with wolf, stop being so conscientious. If you want, I can go over there and kick everybody's ***** for you. Hopefully, it won't end like it did in the new Karate Kid...........
