littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: January 2011
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Big World Little Fish. Monday, January 31, 2011. SIOL: Notes for Next Time. With just a little more than a week to go, my SIOL experience is coming to a slow close. I'd definitely do it again, and am considering making it a seasonal activity, just to keep me honest, and to keep my husband from having a heart attack whenever I go shopping. All that in mind, I wrote myself a few tips to make the next round go by a little smoother. A few words of wisdom, from a seasoned veteran (but not really):. I imagine ...
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: The Work of Someone Greater
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Big World Little Fish. Sunday, December 4, 2011. The Work of Someone Greater. When I happen upon difficult times in this place, when the winters are too cold, the summers are too sticky, and the food too oily. After I've long forgotten that skies are meant to be various shades of blue, and not fluctuate between white, tan, and gray. Long after the bags are packed, tickets bought, and miles traveled, I will know it was all worth it. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Six Items or Less. I LIKE TO READ.
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Big World Little Fish: Why?-- Chun Jie Edition
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Big World Little Fish. Thursday, January 26, 2012. Is a question that comes up often here in China. Why are all security guards in China either 12 year-old boys or 70 year-old retirees? Why are condoms always sold front and center, right next to chewing gum and Snickers bars at the check-out line? Why is it that one mooncake will be wrapped in fifteen different layers of packaging, when it's just the same nasty mooncake that's sold on the street? In the past. That seems commonplace enough, but what m...
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: April 2011
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Big World Little Fish. Sunday, April 24, 2011. American English and Old Beijing. The American accent is high in demand in China, where it's considered "standard" English. In China, there is "Standard Mandarin"- a pure, unaccented version of good ol' putonghua. The language Chairman Mao enforced to become the language of the nation, simply because it was what was spoken in the capital. I keep reminding my students that there's really no such thing as "Standard English," but years of watching Friends.
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: Lost in Translation
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Big World Little Fish. Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Being cross-cultural, though, often makes teaching and learning manners tricky. Not only do you have to translate cultures, but you also have to translate languages. Here's a sticky situation I found myself in with Xindy. Xindy leans back and rips a loud, long fart. Xindy, did you just eat lunch? Xindy: (learning back on the sofa with her arms tucked behind her head). Grace: Well, after you do that, you should say, “Excuse me.”. I should say what?
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: Chang Ping Adventure!
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Big World Little Fish. Sunday, February 5, 2012. The journey north begins on the special Chang Ping subway line, which conveniently connects to Beijing subway line 13. As soon as you board the Chang Ping line, the Chang Ping theme of everything being miniature begins. The special CP line cars are about the same size, but everything feels just slightly smaller, narrower, and just a little mini. When we finally reached Chang Ping, we boarded a minibus to get into town. The bus was tiny! After meeting up wi...
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: May 2011
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Big World Little Fish. Thursday, May 19, 2011. May 1st was China's May Day Holiday, otherwise known as Wu Yi Jie (which sounds like "Whoo-Wee! We were lucky this year because our buddy Lance came to visit us while he was in China on a month-long business trip in Shanghai. Beijing is just a quick two-hour plane ride or so, and it was such a blessing to see a familiar face and share our lives in China with him. We took public transportation a LOT. Iced fruit tea at Bellagio. Oh, the times. I'm not going to...
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: January 2012
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Big World Little Fish. Thursday, January 26, 2012. Is a question that comes up often here in China. Why are all security guards in China either 12 year-old boys or 70 year-old retirees? Why are condoms always sold front and center, right next to chewing gum and Snickers bars at the check-out line? Why is it that one mooncake will be wrapped in fifteen different layers of packaging, when it's just the same nasty mooncake that's sold on the street? In the past. That seems commonplace enough, but what m...
littlefish-grace.blogspot.com
Big World Little Fish: November 2011
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Big World Little Fish. Monday, November 7, 2011. Fifteen Minutes or Less. START TIME: 1:29 PM. Yes, that is how long I've given myself to do a post. We've all heard that old saying, "There are 24 useful hours in a day," and ain't it just about the most bittersweet thing you've ever heard? The fact that there are indeed 24 whole hours for you to have your way with, and yet knowing that only a fraction of that time gets used in worthwhile ways? In any case, here is my super-quick update. I know old habits ...
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Big World Little Fish: July 2011
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Big World Little Fish. Sunday, July 24, 2011. Sometimes, we get subtle, gentle reminders of bigger things that happen around us. Things like hunches, feelings, or "movement in the spirit" that lead us down one path or another. Other times, we get hit right over the head with something so direct and undeniable, it takes your breath away. From our weekly church bulletin. Sure, it's just the title of a sermon. But I'd rather not see it that way. Instead, I am dumbstruck, overwhelmed, and amazed. I've been a...
