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!
>.< And that will be my only response to you all. :b Except to Mr. Plant who I will thank for his comment. I wish I was a professional. Sadly, that is not the case.
China Trip Day 5 4:37 PM
On my Father's side of the family, the power belongs to the women. They are the strength that hold our large family together. For example, my Father's oldest sister stands a regal 5'9'' and is the person everyone turns to for support either economically or emotionally. Even though her husband is the ex-general with the booming voice, his personality is akin to that of a teddy-bear whereas my Aunt is quite the opposite. My cousin's wife is another example, juggling both her job at the top of a high-end company and the care of her recently born baby girl. I'm not even sure what my cousin himself does for a living other than eat and sleep.
In other news, I just went out to eat at what was supposed to be a very fancy restaurant. In fancier restaurants in China there are no menus. Instead you are led downstairs to look at the dishes by the plateful, spread out on long tables. In some even larger dining areas they take you to see the animals themselves and have you choose which one you would like to see on your plate. Unfortunately for the waiters and waitresses, their service was not quick enough. We had warned them that my Grandmother is diabetic and needed her food quickly, but they still shuffled around slowly and inefficiently. Instead of waiting or approaching them quietly, my Father and Aunt decided to employ what the Qingdao people are famous for. After their tirade, the waiters all but ran to and from the kitchen, fear shining in their eyes.
>.< And that will be my only response to you all. :b
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbut.......?
In fancier restaurants in China there are no menus. Instead you are led downstairs to look at the dishes by the plateful, spread out on long tables. In some even larger dining areas they take you to see the animals themselves and have you choose which one you would like to see on your plate.
That sounds great. What poor little creature did you eat?
Instead of waiting or approaching them quietly, my Father and Aunt decided to employ what the Qingdao people are famous for. After their tirade, the waiters all but ran to and from the kitchen, fear shining in their eyes.
I went shopping at one of my town's largest malls this morning. Unlike American malls, which have large departments such as Macy's and Lord and Taylor that take up large expanses, Chinese malls are comprised of tiny little shops that line the halls. Evidently there are too many brands to give any single one too large of an area to sell in. In each individual space the stores creatively decorate in order to grab the customer's attention. One store (I forget which) organized their space as a sea theme, hanging plastic anchors from the ceilings and decorating the floor with blue tile. I ventured my way into a shop to look for dresses and was immediately tailed by an enthusiastic young salesman. He started speaking in rapid-fire Mandarin, and it took me a minute or so to process it all in my mind. I quickly answered with a "Er...I'm still looking." With every step I took he would quickly recommend different dresses and skirts with a cheery smile. "Do you want this dress? It's very pretty. It would suit you well." And yet again I answered with "...still looking." I spoke quickly with my Mother in English about the pricing and exchange rate of RMB to Dollars while the Salesman looked on. "Wow." He said, carrying a dress in each hand. "You speak English well." "I'm from America." I said, walking to the register. Realization dawned in his eyes and he immeditaly looked relieved. I could almost hear what he was thinking. So she's NOT mentally deficient. Chinese just isn't her first language. I quickly grabbed my new dress and ran out the door.
Realization dawned in his eyes and he immeditaly looked relieved. I could almost hear what he was thinking. So she's NOT mentally deficient. Chinese just isn't her first language
Miss Tacky? Once more I remind you, Chinese is not a language.
And no you're not mentally deficient, just a little crazy.
I'm not so sure about that...
The only reasonable thing to do now is to set ninjas on you.
I know....I haven't done anything really fun yet either....
Could you give a size comparison.
Seven or eight floors. Pretty large.
Miss Tacky? Once more I remind you, Chinese is not a language.
I knew you would say that. There are different words for Chinese and Mandarin though in Mandarin, and everyone here says "Chinese" and not "Mandarin". I know what I'm doing, darling.
I know....I haven't done anything really fun yet either....
I hope that you do soon.
Seven or eight floors. Pretty large.
0_0 The largest I have ever been to was two stories!
Miss Tacky? Once more I remind you, Chinese is not a language. [quote]I knew you would say that. There are different words for Chinese and Mandarin though in Mandarin, and everyone here says "Chinese" and not "Mandarin". I know what I'm doing, darling.
[/quote] Knight, I can smell the char from here.
The only reasonable thing to do now is to set ninjas on you.
This morning I went to visit my Grandfather's grave; the one on my Father's side. My other Grandfather rests in another city where his sisters and brothers were laid down as well. The graveyard is located on a lush mountain, shaded by trees and only reachable by a long set of stairs. As we neared the mountain, the fog that had been clouding the air disappated, and I could see the blue sky. We stopped by a flower shop to buy two bouquets, one for my Grandfather, and one for a distant relative I never knew. Then we started our ascent, carefully reading the rows of gravestones etched with names written in elegant calligraphy. The quality of the stones improved as we neared the top, and we finally stopped at a somber row of shiny black tombstones etched with red and gold with platforms of shiny black stone. I glanced at each tombstone but most of the words were foreign to me, and made my way down the aisle until I found my Grandfather's. Off to the side of his name were etched rows and rows of names of his offspring and their offspring and so on. I found my name near the bottom, under that of my Father. The five of us, my mother, my father, my aunt, her husband and I, stood in a row in front of it. My uncle carefully lit some insense and placed it in front of the tombstone. Then my Father spoke. "Hi Father. We're here to see you. Little Pig is here too." He referred to the pet name my Grandpa used to call me when he couldn't remember anything else. He continued talking, recalling recent events in our family; the birth of a new baby, the marriage of a young couple. He paused, and we knew we had to perform the age old ritual. Removing our hats and glasses, we bowed three times. Cracking a small grin, my Father reached inside his bag and pulled out a can of beer. "We brought your favorite beer, Father." He poured the contents on the ground and we watched it bubble into the cracks of the sidewalk. Then we placed the flowers beside the insense and said a last good-bye. I'm usually not too sentimental about those passed and gone, but a lump rose in my throat and I knew if I tried to speak I wouldn't be able to stop the tears. So I waved Good-bye instead of saying it and we walked our way back down the mountain.
0_0 The largest I have ever been to was two stories!
This is the largest I've ever been to. I used to frequent it back when I was living in the Philippines. By all indications, it is still amongst the largest in the world. I like how Wikipedia describes it as being 'huge'. I never did get to go to the Mall of Asia (an even larger mall) though. The traffic would be deathly.
What really saddens me is that New Zealand doesn't have such extravagantly large shopping malls. I mean, the largest one here is only two stories. Ones here are more of the sprawling kind, as opposed those I saw in Asia.
Knight, I can smell the char from here.
Dragonblaze, I can smell spaghetti from here.
I know....I haven't done anything really fun yet either....
The quality of the stones improved as we neared the top, and we finally stopped at a somber row of shiny black tombstones etched with red and gold with platforms of shiny black stone.
Tacky....... is your family rich? Those sound amazing.
Dragonblaze, I can smell spaghetti from here.
??? Also, you know to call me Dragon. Tacky herself said so!
