“Get me the fuck out of here.”
is what I’m currently, quietly screaming inside my head.
I wonder if this wanderlust will ever disappear.
I’m never happy in one place for too long. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever be happy in one place. I actually have a legitimate concern – that I can’t be happy in one place. You know how financial troubles, academic woes, and relationship drama can keep people up at nights? The fact that I can’t be happy in one place to me? Is what financial troubles, academic woes, and relationship dramas is to other people…. Analogies anyone? – No? Forget it.
This feeling of restlessness? Boredom?... Disgust? - at times. With any one place at any given time. Anxiety… that I’m at the wrong place, at the wrong time. What am I doing here? With my life? BREATHE. I should be somewhere else. Not here. Not there. Maybe, not anywhere. Life moves too quickly, too slowly -- why am I not home?
What is home? Define home. A convenient place to direct your mail? A convenient street number to write down on your financial aid forms, tax documents, and all things legitimate, official, centralized, stamped, sealed, tucked away in a dull grey file cabinet, bureaucratic, governmental, and entirely unnecessary. A necessity for a license and all things fun -- like that blue, sort of battered, matte-finished passport I own.
You can’t just exist. You need a number, you need a place. You need to belong. To somewhere. Anywhere.
As it turns out, we don’t own places, they own us. You’re strapped to that information. You live in the United States. You ARE a US citizen. Try to deny it. Just try it. You want to live somewhere else? What? You want to just pick up and live in Italy? Ireland? Where the hell is Maldives? Tonga cannot fucking exist. Timbucktoo for all I care. That’s not how you spell it? Oh, really. Well you can’t live there anyway. The middle of no where Mongolia? Good luck. Paperwork, red tape, embassies, visas, passports, interviews... God, help me. I can't just say I'm home when I feel like it?
You think you can just exist? Just wander? Just travel the world? Someone, somewhere, needs to know where you are. Well… what the fuck, I don’t feel like having a place today. Can’t I stand at any given place in this world, at any given time, and just declare “I belong here. THIS is home.” – without someone asking me for a document to prove it?
I don’t own a place. Why do I need to write my “permanent address”?
Lie. Yes, folks -- they’re telling me to lie. At this age, how the hell could I have a “permanent address”? What do I write down? My parent’s house. But, I’m hardly ever there. Maybe one out of four months of the year I live there. Not even. This year, I’ll be there for less than 50 days out of 365 days of the year (it’s not a leap year right?) My parent’s house. It’s not home. For me at least – it’s not home.
Home? You mean that room that is now my little brother’s?
Home? The couch that I sleep on in the living room when I get back to my four bedroom house?
Home? It sure as hell isn’t *insert town, state* -- because for the last three years, I’ve spent more time at my dormitory room in Delaware than I have at that address. I love my family, but the place we live, doesn’t feel like home. It’s not a part of us. I could take my family members to China with me, and not miss that small, cramped, and entirely too messy house.
Home? It used to be where my heart is. But now my heart feels like a ship at sea, without a lighthouse to guide it safely to shore. Yeah, you can sue me for that last bit. I agree, it warranted a bit of vomit.
Home? It can’t possibly be China. It can’t possibly be a country. I just want one place – to stay for an extended period of time. To decorate. To own. For my personality to permeate into the room. For others to walk into the room and think "This is definitely her place -- just look at it".
Home? It's a place where my things belong. So I don't have to move all my stuff every other month, lose favorite shirts in the process and re-alert my school where I will be staying for the year. It's a place where I belong.
I have feelings of longing. For a place that doesn’t exist. It exists in my mind as a fairytale. I want to put down roots. I want to come back to a space that’s my own. I want to know that it exists. That the little I own, when I come “home”, will be where I left it. Not stuffed away by my mother in the attic until I move into another dorm, another place, another temporary existence. I want picture frames to collect dust, music CDs to still be sprawled on the floor, the quilt as I left it on the couch, and the slight smell of flowers to fill the air when I bring white lilies home to freshen up the place.
Fuck. Someone tell me where home is.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy Holidays, New Years, Christmas, 等等
Sorry for the lack of blog posts/updates. With the holiday season, life, studying, etc -- I've just been too busy to update this blog. I will find time later to update you guys as to how life has been so far... but for now I'll just share with you my New Year's resolutions! ...... which actually turned into life resolutions before I realized it.
My Bucket List. 100 Things to do before I die list. Some things I'll never have the guts to do, some things I will challenge myself to complete. I actually wrote a list similar to this with Ariana Chiapella many years back (during our trip out West, remember that?)... but lost the Word Document after changing laptops. So in no particular order...
I want...
I hope...
I plan...
I know I'll find time...
1. To travel the world – first step: 25 Countries before I turn 25.
2. To finish a crossword puzzle in pen.
3. To completely work out my philosophy of life and my stance on the meaning of life.
4. To figure out my family tree and visit everyone still alive.
5. To hit 130 mph in a car, on the highway, in broad daylight – and hopefully not get caught?
6. To finish knitting a matching scarf, hat, and mitten set without giving up.
7. To take a vow of silence for a week. Online chatting is cheating, but pen and paper are allowed.
8. To kiss a girl and confirm to myself that I am in fact, more heterosexual than homosexual – or to discover otherwise.
9. To spend the entire day telling the truth and nothing but the truth.
10. To buy a new house for my parents and pay off their debt. Sincerely, tell them I love them.
11. To cut my hair – boy short. And rock it.
12. To watch a spectacular fireworks show/stargaze for an entire night with someone I love.
13. To meet an author, professor, or figure I really admire and shake his/her hand.
14. To backpack Southeast Asia, including Myanmar/Burma – bus, bike, and couch surfing.
15. To take a computer programming, aikido, and/or dance class.
16. To order the most expensive wine there is at a restaurant and not cringe at the price.
17. To invent my own recipe so I can pass it down to my daughter.
18. To find a book I’ll never grow tired of. Then set up a library in my house that has every edition.
19. To ride on the back of an elephant and/or dolphin.
20. To revisit my love for photography and set up a darkroom of my own.
21. To finish my bachelor’s degree, apply for graduate college, and find a fulfilling career.
22. To road trip from the top of Alaska to the tip of Argentina.
23. To interrogate my little brothers’ fiancées. Freak them out, then welcome them to the family.
24. To throw a three day bachelorette party for my best friend – male strippers included.
25. To try contacts for the first time and get rid of my glasses.
26. To live in a yurt and lead a nomadic life for a week or two – preferably in Mongolia but Inner Mongolia works.
27. To watch the sunrise on one side of the world, and the sunset on the other.
28. To spend an entire day blowing bubbles in the park, and see who’s willing to join me.
29. To spend a weekend with people 3 or 4 times my age in hopes that their wisdom will rub off.
30. To compete in a mud race or run a marathon.
31. To write a book and have it published.
32. To finish a game of monopoly or risk.
33. To declare my feelings truthfully to someone without a single clue to how they feel about me.
34. To pay every toll for the car behind me for a road trip – with a message on every dollar.
35. To make a lifelong promise to someone.
36. To live in another country for a few years before finally settling back in the states for good.
37. To fully experience every emotion there is -- to cry, laugh, and sometimes both at the same time.
38. To be a little kid’s hero.
39. To finish a video game. Yeah…
40. To master a badass card trick. Or magic trick. Or some sort of party trick.
41. To kiss someone under the mistletoe at Christmas time.
42. To dip my feet in every ocean and sea.
43. To find time to put a message in a bottle, and throw it into the ocean.
44. To learn how to play a new instrument, and become fairly good.
45. To be an eccentric professor that doesn’t believe in grades.
46. To learn five languages – and be able to converse semi fluently in those five languages.
47. To go on a month long hike, with a few friends and nothing but a backpack.
48. To travel by myself to another country with nothing but my wallet.
49. To test drive a car I could never afford, and then buy it one day during my midlife crisis.
50. To scream at the top of my lungs at the top of a mountain.
51. To get completely drunk at least once, and not remember parts of the night.
52. To stop wishing at 11:11, on shooting stars, and rainbows and make my own wishes come true.
53. To meditate for a few days. Fast. And cleanse.
54. To keep a journal for my daughter for when she turns 20.
55. To pay for a photoshoot so that I can remember that I was once young and not-that-bad looking when I’m old.
56. To kiss a completely drop-dead-gorgeous stranger – and then apologize.
57. To finally kiss someone and feel that immediate spark.
58. To allow a guy pay for an entire date and not feel guilty.
59. To help a homeless person, from start to finish – job, shelter, food.
60. To go bungee jumping, sky diving, and/or base jumping.
61. To scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef and take a ride on a gondola in Venice – all the places that will soon disappear.
62. To book the VIP room at a stupidly expensive hotel and squander money for a weekend.
63. To indulge in every sin, at least once, then repent.
64. To fall in love at first sight, have a fling, then say goodbye.
65. To really punch someone in the face with everything I have. Slaps aren’t that satisfying.
66. To plant a tree, and then be buried under it when I die.
67. To quit a job. In a bitter, heated, angry way. Make a scene.
68. To make an extremely important decision – with a coin flip.
69. To become good friends with a stranger I meet in a bookstore.
70. To finally ride a goddamn ferris wheel.
71. To learn how to ballroom dance --- like REALLY ballroom dance.
72. To recite a poem from memory – or memorize the lyrics to that Barenaked Ladies song.
73. To go ice climbing in Bolivia or Colorado.
74. To learn a few snowboard tricks and show off.
75. To send flowers to the man I love – and completely embarrass him at work.
76. To have my honeymoon in Hainan just because I recently saw a movie that was filmed there.
77. To have my own apartment, decorate it, and have my own space.
78. To be vegan for a year.
79. To have my own house, with a family, a dog, and maybe too many bills to pay.
80. To go fishing until I catch a fish, then learn how to clean and eat it.
81. To read every part of a newspaper – including the sports section – from cover to cover.
82. To be the perfect host, cook several courses, and have a fancy dinner with friends.
83. To explore a different religion thoroughly and ponder the actual possibility of converting.
84. To throw away a month’s paycheck on a pair of shoes or a pair of designer jeans.
85. To give every piece of clothing I own to a charity.
86. To take care of someone during their last days.
87. To try stinky tofu.
88. To skinny dip at midnight.
89. To go snow shoeing under a full moon after a fresh snow fall.
90. To lose 10 pounds? Eventually, when I need to.
91. To be a waitress once, hate it, and remind myself why I want a college degree.
92. To see my high school sweetheart after I’m married, with one and a half kids.
93. To forgive someone I said I would never forgive.
94. To spend a Halloween night by myself, watching scary movies, with the lights off.
95. To see Jamie Cullum in concert – and fall in love with his voice all over again.
96. To date a Republican, just to say I dated a Republican.
97. To date a guy whose name starts with A, because a fortune teller once told me I’d marry a guy with the letter A somehow associated with him.
98. To fall in love with my best friend and marry him.
99. Learn how to play “Comfortable” by John Mayer on the guitar – and rewrite the words a bit.
100. To finish this list, and add on a new goal every year.
My Bucket List. 100 Things to do before I die list. Some things I'll never have the guts to do, some things I will challenge myself to complete. I actually wrote a list similar to this with Ariana Chiapella many years back (during our trip out West, remember that?)... but lost the Word Document after changing laptops. So in no particular order...
I want...
I hope...
I plan...
I know I'll find time...
1. To travel the world – first step: 25 Countries before I turn 25.
2. To finish a crossword puzzle in pen.
3. To completely work out my philosophy of life and my stance on the meaning of life.
4. To figure out my family tree and visit everyone still alive.
5. To hit 130 mph in a car, on the highway, in broad daylight – and hopefully not get caught?
6. To finish knitting a matching scarf, hat, and mitten set without giving up.
7. To take a vow of silence for a week. Online chatting is cheating, but pen and paper are allowed.
8. To kiss a girl and confirm to myself that I am in fact, more heterosexual than homosexual – or to discover otherwise.
9. To spend the entire day telling the truth and nothing but the truth.
10. To buy a new house for my parents and pay off their debt. Sincerely, tell them I love them.
11. To cut my hair – boy short. And rock it.
12. To watch a spectacular fireworks show/stargaze for an entire night with someone I love.
13. To meet an author, professor, or figure I really admire and shake his/her hand.
14. To backpack Southeast Asia, including Myanmar/Burma – bus, bike, and couch surfing.
15. To take a computer programming, aikido, and/or dance class.
16. To order the most expensive wine there is at a restaurant and not cringe at the price.
17. To invent my own recipe so I can pass it down to my daughter.
18. To find a book I’ll never grow tired of. Then set up a library in my house that has every edition.
19. To ride on the back of an elephant and/or dolphin.
20. To revisit my love for photography and set up a darkroom of my own.
21. To finish my bachelor’s degree, apply for graduate college, and find a fulfilling career.
22. To road trip from the top of Alaska to the tip of Argentina.
23. To interrogate my little brothers’ fiancées. Freak them out, then welcome them to the family.
24. To throw a three day bachelorette party for my best friend – male strippers included.
25. To try contacts for the first time and get rid of my glasses.
26. To live in a yurt and lead a nomadic life for a week or two – preferably in Mongolia but Inner Mongolia works.
27. To watch the sunrise on one side of the world, and the sunset on the other.
28. To spend an entire day blowing bubbles in the park, and see who’s willing to join me.
29. To spend a weekend with people 3 or 4 times my age in hopes that their wisdom will rub off.
30. To compete in a mud race or run a marathon.
31. To write a book and have it published.
32. To finish a game of monopoly or risk.
33. To declare my feelings truthfully to someone without a single clue to how they feel about me.
34. To pay every toll for the car behind me for a road trip – with a message on every dollar.
35. To make a lifelong promise to someone.
36. To live in another country for a few years before finally settling back in the states for good.
37. To fully experience every emotion there is -- to cry, laugh, and sometimes both at the same time.
38. To be a little kid’s hero.
39. To finish a video game. Yeah…
40. To master a badass card trick. Or magic trick. Or some sort of party trick.
41. To kiss someone under the mistletoe at Christmas time.
42. To dip my feet in every ocean and sea.
43. To find time to put a message in a bottle, and throw it into the ocean.
44. To learn how to play a new instrument, and become fairly good.
45. To be an eccentric professor that doesn’t believe in grades.
46. To learn five languages – and be able to converse semi fluently in those five languages.
47. To go on a month long hike, with a few friends and nothing but a backpack.
48. To travel by myself to another country with nothing but my wallet.
49. To test drive a car I could never afford, and then buy it one day during my midlife crisis.
50. To scream at the top of my lungs at the top of a mountain.
51. To get completely drunk at least once, and not remember parts of the night.
52. To stop wishing at 11:11, on shooting stars, and rainbows and make my own wishes come true.
53. To meditate for a few days. Fast. And cleanse.
54. To keep a journal for my daughter for when she turns 20.
55. To pay for a photoshoot so that I can remember that I was once young and not-that-bad looking when I’m old.
56. To kiss a completely drop-dead-gorgeous stranger – and then apologize.
57. To finally kiss someone and feel that immediate spark.
58. To allow a guy pay for an entire date and not feel guilty.
59. To help a homeless person, from start to finish – job, shelter, food.
60. To go bungee jumping, sky diving, and/or base jumping.
61. To scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef and take a ride on a gondola in Venice – all the places that will soon disappear.
62. To book the VIP room at a stupidly expensive hotel and squander money for a weekend.
63. To indulge in every sin, at least once, then repent.
64. To fall in love at first sight, have a fling, then say goodbye.
65. To really punch someone in the face with everything I have. Slaps aren’t that satisfying.
66. To plant a tree, and then be buried under it when I die.
67. To quit a job. In a bitter, heated, angry way. Make a scene.
68. To make an extremely important decision – with a coin flip.
69. To become good friends with a stranger I meet in a bookstore.
70. To finally ride a goddamn ferris wheel.
71. To learn how to ballroom dance --- like REALLY ballroom dance.
72. To recite a poem from memory – or memorize the lyrics to that Barenaked Ladies song.
73. To go ice climbing in Bolivia or Colorado.
74. To learn a few snowboard tricks and show off.
75. To send flowers to the man I love – and completely embarrass him at work.
76. To have my honeymoon in Hainan just because I recently saw a movie that was filmed there.
77. To have my own apartment, decorate it, and have my own space.
78. To be vegan for a year.
79. To have my own house, with a family, a dog, and maybe too many bills to pay.
80. To go fishing until I catch a fish, then learn how to clean and eat it.
81. To read every part of a newspaper – including the sports section – from cover to cover.
82. To be the perfect host, cook several courses, and have a fancy dinner with friends.
83. To explore a different religion thoroughly and ponder the actual possibility of converting.
84. To throw away a month’s paycheck on a pair of shoes or a pair of designer jeans.
85. To give every piece of clothing I own to a charity.
86. To take care of someone during their last days.
87. To try stinky tofu.
88. To skinny dip at midnight.
89. To go snow shoeing under a full moon after a fresh snow fall.
90. To lose 10 pounds? Eventually, when I need to.
91. To be a waitress once, hate it, and remind myself why I want a college degree.
92. To see my high school sweetheart after I’m married, with one and a half kids.
93. To forgive someone I said I would never forgive.
94. To spend a Halloween night by myself, watching scary movies, with the lights off.
95. To see Jamie Cullum in concert – and fall in love with his voice all over again.
96. To date a Republican, just to say I dated a Republican.
97. To date a guy whose name starts with A, because a fortune teller once told me I’d marry a guy with the letter A somehow associated with him.
98. To fall in love with my best friend and marry him.
99. Learn how to play “Comfortable” by John Mayer on the guitar – and rewrite the words a bit.
100. To finish this list, and add on a new goal every year.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
英汉语音比较
This shortened version of my three page essay? ... Part of the reason why I've wanted to stab something for the last three weeks.
英语和汉语有不同的语音体系。对我来说，本族语是英语的留学生，学汉语很难。学汉语的时候遇到了不少困难。因为英汉不仅有不同的语法体系, 而且汉语的元音、辅音、舌位等跟英语有很大的区别，甚至有些音在英语里根本不存在。
英语中的元音有短元音和长元音，然而汉语中没有。在英语里面，音长有区别意义的作用.例如“full” 还有 “fool”, 这两个词元音不同，一个是长元音，一个是短元音，意思也不同。那么我们不难看出在英语里元音的长短对意义有影响. 再来看二合元音，例如：“now”或者“eye”。虽然英语里有复元音，但是汉语的复元音韵母更复杂。以前我说英语的时候一次也没有遇到，比如：“凶手”的“凶”,拼音是“xiong”。
在辅音上，英语和汉语中［p］,［b］,［t］,［d］,［k］,［g］的发音相似. 不过，汉语中，像 “x” 和 “q”的发音，在英语的语音体系中不存在。所以母语是英语的留学生在说“去”和“需”这种汉语词时，总是无意中用自己本族语的发音代替汉语中的发音。
中国学生在学习英语的辅音时也会遇到很多困难。英语中一般有很多的复辅音，比如说 “three”还有“spoked”。英语除了复辅音以外还有很多多音节词（英语的最多的音节词是？“Pnuemonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcano”，这个词有十九个音节）。而在汉语中以双音节词为主，多音节词一般也不会超过十个音节。
实际上，英语和汉语最大的区别在于汉语是一种带声调的语言。汉语中，不仅音素可以区别词的意义，声调的高低也可以区别词义。英语中没有声调，只有语调，而且语调对词的意义没有影响.
因为这个原因，大多数英语为母语的人听不出汉语声调的区别。
可是汉语里面，声调很重要，有区别意义的作用。汉语中有四个声调——平上去入。同一个音节，声调的不同会产生不同的意义。
除了语音方面的差别以外，英语和汉语的区别还有很多，学习起来也不见得英语比汉语难或者汉语比英语难。听起来，英语的发音跟汉语的发音没有关系。可是，只要弄清楚这两门语言的区别，无论是学习英语还是学习汉语，都肯定有好处。
英语和汉语有不同的语音体系。对我来说，本族语是英语的留学生，学汉语很难。学汉语的时候遇到了不少困难。因为英汉不仅有不同的语法体系, 而且汉语的元音、辅音、舌位等跟英语有很大的区别，甚至有些音在英语里根本不存在。
英语中的元音有短元音和长元音，然而汉语中没有。在英语里面，音长有区别意义的作用.例如“full” 还有 “fool”, 这两个词元音不同，一个是长元音，一个是短元音，意思也不同。那么我们不难看出在英语里元音的长短对意义有影响. 再来看二合元音，例如：“now”或者“eye”。虽然英语里有复元音，但是汉语的复元音韵母更复杂。以前我说英语的时候一次也没有遇到，比如：“凶手”的“凶”,拼音是“xiong”。
在辅音上，英语和汉语中［p］,［b］,［t］,［d］,［k］,［g］的发音相似. 不过，汉语中，像 “x” 和 “q”的发音，在英语的语音体系中不存在。所以母语是英语的留学生在说“去”和“需”这种汉语词时，总是无意中用自己本族语的发音代替汉语中的发音。
中国学生在学习英语的辅音时也会遇到很多困难。英语中一般有很多的复辅音，比如说 “three”还有“spoked”。英语除了复辅音以外还有很多多音节词（英语的最多的音节词是？“Pnuemonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcano”，这个词有十九个音节）。而在汉语中以双音节词为主，多音节词一般也不会超过十个音节。
实际上，英语和汉语最大的区别在于汉语是一种带声调的语言。汉语中，不仅音素可以区别词的意义，声调的高低也可以区别词义。英语中没有声调，只有语调，而且语调对词的意义没有影响.
因为这个原因，大多数英语为母语的人听不出汉语声调的区别。
可是汉语里面，声调很重要，有区别意义的作用。汉语中有四个声调——平上去入。同一个音节，声调的不同会产生不同的意义。
除了语音方面的差别以外，英语和汉语的区别还有很多，学习起来也不见得英语比汉语难或者汉语比英语难。听起来，英语的发音跟汉语的发音没有关系。可是，只要弄清楚这两门语言的区别，无论是学习英语还是学习汉语，都肯定有好处。
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Fell in love today...
with Anthony Neely.
Chinese Name: Ni An Dong (倪安東)
Birthday: May 20, 1986
Birthplace: USA
Height: 178cm - 5'10"
Weight: 78kg - 172 pounds
He's a wasian -- for those who are unaware, that's a "white asian". A halfie. A mixed blood. A one and a half ABC. Or what have you.
An American who is now a Taiwanese pop star. He sings in both flawless English and flawless Mandarin, and I'm THRILLED. (I think it's INCREDIBLY sexy if a guy can speak another language fluently). Plus, did I mention? I have a thing for Asian guys, go figure.
He also covered "Blower's Daughter" -- probably one of my top favorite songs by Damien Rice, who is probably one of my top favorite musicians. When I saw "Blower's Daughter" pop up after searching for his music videos, I decided we were soul mates.
His first album "Lesson One" is a combination of Chinese & English songs. Since I've been going through a phase with Chinese music (mainly because I can't listen to English music when I'm studying Chinese, unless I want a major headache afterwards) -- I'm really happy I stumbled upon his music. I'm even more happy that all of it is free and SO easy to download in China. I've been downloading music as if my life depended on it -- Let's talk about how much I love Baidu and lack of copyright laws later. First? Let's recap:
Good looking. Check. Check.
Good taste in music. Check.
Good at singing. Check.
Good with languages??!! SOLD.
YES, please.
Anthony Neely is delicious. Score ONE for CPOP!!!!
I legitimately haven't had a celebrity crush since maybe when I first saw Bi Rain in "Fullhouse" my junior year of high school... or maybe it was Joseph Gordon Levitt in "500 Days of Summer". So bear with me as I indulge my fangirl side for a bit. Legitimate obsession alert.
His own English songs are less than inspirational -- pure, simple, fluffy love songs. However, keeping in mind that most of his fans are Chinese, maybe simple English lyrics are the best. From what I've gathered -- the more simple the lyrics are in English, the more popular the song will be with not only Chinese people, but with the international community as a whole. I have a sneaking suspicion it's simply because it's just easier to sing along to... and god knows, Asians need their KTVs. Just ask the Chinese, Koreans, Thai, Mongolians, and Indonesians I've gone karaokeing with. They're all obsessed with Westlife. I've never even heard of Westlife.
WARNING: Please do not Google or try to find Westlife songs on Youtube after reading this post. They will hurt your ears and delete your brain cells. They're actually absolutely atrocious. I can't go over how dumb their songs are... or the fact that none of them are even remotely good looking to me. Ew. Vom.
But this one Chinese song -- I actually really loved. If only for the fact, that I know exactly how she feels...
Chinese Name: Ni An Dong (倪安東)
Birthday: May 20, 1986
Birthplace: USA
Height: 178cm - 5'10"
Weight: 78kg - 172 pounds
He's a wasian -- for those who are unaware, that's a "white asian". A halfie. A mixed blood. A one and a half ABC. Or what have you.
An American who is now a Taiwanese pop star. He sings in both flawless English and flawless Mandarin, and I'm THRILLED. (I think it's INCREDIBLY sexy if a guy can speak another language fluently). Plus, did I mention? I have a thing for Asian guys, go figure.
He also covered "Blower's Daughter" -- probably one of my top favorite songs by Damien Rice, who is probably one of my top favorite musicians. When I saw "Blower's Daughter" pop up after searching for his music videos, I decided we were soul mates.
His first album "Lesson One" is a combination of Chinese & English songs. Since I've been going through a phase with Chinese music (mainly because I can't listen to English music when I'm studying Chinese, unless I want a major headache afterwards) -- I'm really happy I stumbled upon his music. I'm even more happy that all of it is free and SO easy to download in China. I've been downloading music as if my life depended on it -- Let's talk about how much I love Baidu and lack of copyright laws later. First? Let's recap:
Good looking. Check. Check.
Good taste in music. Check.
Good at singing. Check.
Good with languages??!! SOLD.
YES, please.
Anthony Neely is delicious. Score ONE for CPOP!!!!
I legitimately haven't had a celebrity crush since maybe when I first saw Bi Rain in "Fullhouse" my junior year of high school... or maybe it was Joseph Gordon Levitt in "500 Days of Summer". So bear with me as I indulge my fangirl side for a bit. Legitimate obsession alert.
His own English songs are less than inspirational -- pure, simple, fluffy love songs. However, keeping in mind that most of his fans are Chinese, maybe simple English lyrics are the best. From what I've gathered -- the more simple the lyrics are in English, the more popular the song will be with not only Chinese people, but with the international community as a whole. I have a sneaking suspicion it's simply because it's just easier to sing along to... and god knows, Asians need their KTVs. Just ask the Chinese, Koreans, Thai, Mongolians, and Indonesians I've gone karaokeing with. They're all obsessed with Westlife. I've never even heard of Westlife.
WARNING: Please do not Google or try to find Westlife songs on Youtube after reading this post. They will hurt your ears and delete your brain cells. They're actually absolutely atrocious. I can't go over how dumb their songs are... or the fact that none of them are even remotely good looking to me. Ew. Vom.
But this one Chinese song -- I actually really loved. If only for the fact, that I know exactly how she feels...
Friday, December 17, 2010
Procrastination: A profession of my love for TED.com
So I already warned you guys -- working on my takehome final right now. No long posts, but I just had to share:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2010/09/08/134-the-ted-conference/
SO happy it made the list.
But why as a Vietnamese-American girl, in CHINA, am I reading a blog about "Stuff White People Like"? Stop. Think. And chuckle to yourself.
Fact, I sometimes forget I'm Asian.
Fact, it scares me that "Asian girls" almost makes it to the top ten list -- we're at number 11. But we'll leave the discussion of yellow fever for another post.
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2010/09/08/134-the-ted-conference/
SO happy it made the list.
But why as a Vietnamese-American girl, in CHINA, am I reading a blog about "Stuff White People Like"? Stop. Think. And chuckle to yourself.
Fact, I sometimes forget I'm Asian.
Fact, it scares me that "Asian girls" almost makes it to the top ten list -- we're at number 11. But we'll leave the discussion of yellow fever for another post.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Laundry...
When I was five…
I remember rolling around in the fresh laundry that my mom had just dumped onto the bed – much like a leaf pile in autumn, but a lot softer – deeply breathing in the scent of laundry detergent and scented fabric sheets – mainly enjoying how much I liked the warmth of the clothes, fresh out of the laundry machine.
When I was seven…
I remember, I obediently and diligently took to the chore my mother had assigned me -- matching socks. I remember thinking, "the biggest ones are daddy’s, the medium ones are mommy’s -- and the smallest ones are mine!" I’d always have to match socks in that order.
When I was ten…
We had finally moved to a REAL house, with a HUGE backyard, and we were no longer in the two bedroom apartment – so my mother hung clothes outside on the clothing line during the summer. I’d run in and out between the sheets playing tag with my friends… My mom would always get angry when I rearranged the clothing lines to box myself into a house, a fort, or a castle of sheets...
When I was fifteen…
Laundry became a chore. I knew how to sort colors, when I could use hot water, when to add bleach or woolite, and when I should hand wash delicates. I did the laundry for everyone in my house -- and with my OCD, I couldn’t bear it when my brother folded my clothes, so I had to do that too… but sometimes my mom would help me.
We’d watch an episode of “CSI” or “Law & Order", unfolded clothes spread out in front of us. We'd sit together, cross legged, slightly facing each other on her bed – chit chatting during the commercial breaks. We’d talk about this and that, about school, boys, how dad snores too loudly at night, how fast my brothers were growing up (in her opinion), why I really needed another winter coat, news, politics, about family feuds, and sometimes she’d complain about her boss… I still can’t fold my clothes as nicely as she can.
When I was eighteen…
I did my own laundry in college and it was one of those chores that made you feel like you were really growing up, you know what I mean? To have your own space and do chores for yourself – and not an entire family, including two brothers who both did sports and would peel off their dirty gym clothes, leaving a trail of grossness from their room to the bathroom. Doing laundry in college was a nice break from school, it was relaxing -- listening to music, watching a movie, or catching up on the latest "Colbert Report" episode -- as I sat on my bed, quietly folding my clothes.
Now I’m twenty…
And I’m in China, where I have to hand-wash my clothes – which is a lot more difficult than it seems. The process is tiring, an entire upper body workout. Give wringing out clothes a try. I dare you.
But, as I hang my clothes up on the clothing line to dry – music drifts out of my room onto the balcony. There are sounds of kids down below, people talking, sitting on the wall right outside. It’s peaceful. I hear bits of conversation in French and occasional conversations in Chinese. I wonder if one day if I have a family of my own, I’ll have the time in my summers to hang up a clothing line like my mother… I muse.
I softly sing along to the melody and I can’t help but smile -- I really do love doing laundry.
I remember rolling around in the fresh laundry that my mom had just dumped onto the bed – much like a leaf pile in autumn, but a lot softer – deeply breathing in the scent of laundry detergent and scented fabric sheets – mainly enjoying how much I liked the warmth of the clothes, fresh out of the laundry machine.
When I was seven…
I remember, I obediently and diligently took to the chore my mother had assigned me -- matching socks. I remember thinking, "the biggest ones are daddy’s, the medium ones are mommy’s -- and the smallest ones are mine!" I’d always have to match socks in that order.
When I was ten…
We had finally moved to a REAL house, with a HUGE backyard, and we were no longer in the two bedroom apartment – so my mother hung clothes outside on the clothing line during the summer. I’d run in and out between the sheets playing tag with my friends… My mom would always get angry when I rearranged the clothing lines to box myself into a house, a fort, or a castle of sheets...
When I was fifteen…
Laundry became a chore. I knew how to sort colors, when I could use hot water, when to add bleach or woolite, and when I should hand wash delicates. I did the laundry for everyone in my house -- and with my OCD, I couldn’t bear it when my brother folded my clothes, so I had to do that too… but sometimes my mom would help me.
We’d watch an episode of “CSI” or “Law & Order", unfolded clothes spread out in front of us. We'd sit together, cross legged, slightly facing each other on her bed – chit chatting during the commercial breaks. We’d talk about this and that, about school, boys, how dad snores too loudly at night, how fast my brothers were growing up (in her opinion), why I really needed another winter coat, news, politics, about family feuds, and sometimes she’d complain about her boss… I still can’t fold my clothes as nicely as she can.
When I was eighteen…
I did my own laundry in college and it was one of those chores that made you feel like you were really growing up, you know what I mean? To have your own space and do chores for yourself – and not an entire family, including two brothers who both did sports and would peel off their dirty gym clothes, leaving a trail of grossness from their room to the bathroom. Doing laundry in college was a nice break from school, it was relaxing -- listening to music, watching a movie, or catching up on the latest "Colbert Report" episode -- as I sat on my bed, quietly folding my clothes.
Now I’m twenty…
And I’m in China, where I have to hand-wash my clothes – which is a lot more difficult than it seems. The process is tiring, an entire upper body workout. Give wringing out clothes a try. I dare you.
But, as I hang my clothes up on the clothing line to dry – music drifts out of my room onto the balcony. There are sounds of kids down below, people talking, sitting on the wall right outside. It’s peaceful. I hear bits of conversation in French and occasional conversations in Chinese. I wonder if one day if I have a family of my own, I’ll have the time in my summers to hang up a clothing line like my mother… I muse.
I softly sing along to the melody and I can’t help but smile -- I really do love doing laundry.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Finals, Snow, and Hot Water Pads
F.I.N.A.L.S. = Fuck I'm Not Asian, Life Sucks
Or so I was told by Olivia Lucas. But let me tell you -- as an Asian, I'd like to inform you all that life sucks for us too. Good luck to all back in the states who have finals now! :) I know the pressure is on -- but you guys are almost there! Home stretch! You can do it! 加油! I have finals too so don't expect any lengthy posts any time soon... though I might surprise you all during my bouts of procrastination.
Speaking of which... procrastination today was made entirely made possible by Changsha's first snow fall. Changsha rarely experiences snow -- let alone snows that sticks -- but I had the pleasure of looking out my window this afternoon and seeing rooftops dusted in white. More importantly, I had the pleasure of seeing people's reaction to seeing snow for the first time. Their faces lifted up to face the sky, smiling from ear to ear, with their arms lifted welcoming the first snow -- completely ignoring the cold around them. Like kids on snow days... I was delighted to be there and share in some of the magic of their first snow experience. Growing up in Massachusetts, I forget that half the world has never seen snow in their life. But in an area that rarely snows, snow inevitably brings about not only amazement but also a period of panic. Hats, gloves, snow gear, snow boots, electric blankets, cold medicine, you name it -- are selling like hot cakes. And I guess the "cold" weather is a good excuse to go shopping though I put "cold" in quotes as it rarely ever dips below 0 degrees celsius (32 degrees fahrenheit), let alone below zero.
Yesterday, I helped my roommate buy a hot water pad. Do we use hot water pads in Massachusetts? I personally have never seen one before -- but they're all the rage here. You can find them in every convenient store -- in so many different colors and in too many designs. It's almost a little overwhelming how overboard the Chinese people can go in terms of decorating something as simple as a hot water pad. There are ones that range from 10 RMB (roughly $1.50) to 32 RMB (roughly $4.75). There are Hello Kitty ones and ones wrapped in Chinese silk. There are ones that fit comfortably in your hand and ones that are so heavy you could probably knock the wind out of someone if you threw it the right way. Round ones. Square ones. And ones that have lights -- I kid you not.
But I bought one for 15 RMB (roughly $2.25).
It's cute, right?
I feel "old school" as I'm lugging this 3-pound worth of weight around. It's a little awkward -- but I love that its almost too simple to use. You can heat it up by plugging it in to an outlet for maybe two minutes, and then unplug it and use for two hours. It's probably the nicest thing ever to just have a hot water pad sit in your lap as you're studying. I could get addicted. I might take to just putting it under my jacket during the winter despite how cumbersome it is at times.
So for those back home complaining about the cold, the roads that are now grey with slush, the snow banks that take up parking spots, and how spring seems just too far away. Stop, look, and remember to take in how beautiful snow can be at times. Then, of course, you can snap out of your reverie and resume your complaints.
Or so I was told by Olivia Lucas. But let me tell you -- as an Asian, I'd like to inform you all that life sucks for us too. Good luck to all back in the states who have finals now! :) I know the pressure is on -- but you guys are almost there! Home stretch! You can do it! 加油! I have finals too so don't expect any lengthy posts any time soon... though I might surprise you all during my bouts of procrastination.
Speaking of which... procrastination today was made entirely made possible by Changsha's first snow fall. Changsha rarely experiences snow -- let alone snows that sticks -- but I had the pleasure of looking out my window this afternoon and seeing rooftops dusted in white. More importantly, I had the pleasure of seeing people's reaction to seeing snow for the first time. Their faces lifted up to face the sky, smiling from ear to ear, with their arms lifted welcoming the first snow -- completely ignoring the cold around them. Like kids on snow days... I was delighted to be there and share in some of the magic of their first snow experience. Growing up in Massachusetts, I forget that half the world has never seen snow in their life. But in an area that rarely snows, snow inevitably brings about not only amazement but also a period of panic. Hats, gloves, snow gear, snow boots, electric blankets, cold medicine, you name it -- are selling like hot cakes. And I guess the "cold" weather is a good excuse to go shopping though I put "cold" in quotes as it rarely ever dips below 0 degrees celsius (32 degrees fahrenheit), let alone below zero.
Yesterday, I helped my roommate buy a hot water pad. Do we use hot water pads in Massachusetts? I personally have never seen one before -- but they're all the rage here. You can find them in every convenient store -- in so many different colors and in too many designs. It's almost a little overwhelming how overboard the Chinese people can go in terms of decorating something as simple as a hot water pad. There are ones that range from 10 RMB (roughly $1.50) to 32 RMB (roughly $4.75). There are Hello Kitty ones and ones wrapped in Chinese silk. There are ones that fit comfortably in your hand and ones that are so heavy you could probably knock the wind out of someone if you threw it the right way. Round ones. Square ones. And ones that have lights -- I kid you not.
But I bought one for 15 RMB (roughly $2.25).
It's cute, right?
I feel "old school" as I'm lugging this 3-pound worth of weight around. It's a little awkward -- but I love that its almost too simple to use. You can heat it up by plugging it in to an outlet for maybe two minutes, and then unplug it and use for two hours. It's probably the nicest thing ever to just have a hot water pad sit in your lap as you're studying. I could get addicted. I might take to just putting it under my jacket during the winter despite how cumbersome it is at times.
So for those back home complaining about the cold, the roads that are now grey with slush, the snow banks that take up parking spots, and how spring seems just too far away. Stop, look, and remember to take in how beautiful snow can be at times. Then, of course, you can snap out of your reverie and resume your complaints.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)