很有意思啊，我写了英文张博客的时候是刚从青海省西宁市回香港的。我现在写这张，也在西宁了！太重合了！:)

对了，一年过了。我达一年了。也搬家到新的城市。一年里有很多发生。朋友去世了。久友谊继续成长，别的朋友没联系，也有新朋友们。等一下，看起来我在写一种俳句或什么。从小学没写过！

我想说得是我发生我常想到这个终点线，但现在用这短时间我常忘了，但也知道我应该享受的旅程。二月分是刚过了我开始这个博客的时一周年。这时候，我从美国搬家到北京。现在，过了一年，我也搬家了。搬到个有点儿熟悉的城市，但香港还是一个非常有意思的地方。 等不了后来怎么样！

三月份第一次来青海的时候是一个太独特的经验。我和一些朋友说了这样的经验我也相不了。我们去了一些农村的地方，环境和景观太没了。虽然是冬天，红和棕色的地没见过是这样的。不单是看风景和欣赏的景观，可以和农村的农民和游牧人打交互是一种机会。能看他们的家是用土和泥做的。也让我知道他们的生活是真正的有最小的生活。对了，对万死环境科技有限公司非常感谢，他们让我有太好的经验也可以帮他们一起合作做对我支持的项目，还可以旅游和做一些用户研究。

虽然，我呆了北京一年，我觉得我没有好象真正在北京住的人的机会，在北京学习当学生的时候一定是不一样的。虽然自是语言的学生海当学生有不一样的想法。觉得可能因为我在北京是个学生，我没做都可做的东西。到香港之前我很期待在北京当个真正的大人，但在写这张文章我也非常感兴趣在香港。我要说清楚在香港一定比在北京舒服。可能是我习惯的问题，还可能是我过这年的困难。我很想让自己过这写难受的问题，让我改善。在面上香港好象比较容易，所以我还需要继续面下的挖让我改善。 要对我朋友们和家庭非常感谢给我的支持和爱了！

Watch this 20 minute TEDtalk by Martin Jacques, which gives some wonderful insight into China and how Westerners can better understand China and its growth. Jacques identifies some key points of  Easterners being more knowledgable of the West because they have been forced to learn from these powerful, developed countries. In the time that I’ve been in China, I could not agree more. I’m often feeling ignorant about Chinese history. Whereas when talking to the Chinese, they are very aware and informed about the West. Here are some quick facts:

• The founding of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) was October 1, 1949
• The population of China is 1.3 Billion (The US is 300 Million)
• China has 55 ethnic minority groups, in addition to the ethnic majority, Han
• Shanghai (18 Million) and Beijing (20 Million) are 2 of the most populated cities in the world
• The Chinese language uses 4 tones for speaking has over 20,000 written characters

Jacques touches on many points, including cultural identity, where 90% of China’s population identifies themselves as the Han race. In addition, “China is shaped by its sense as a civilization-state not a nation-state” of Western countries. And as a result, citizens of China view their government as a guardian of their civilization with legitimacy and authority, as opposed to the challenged State power in the West. Of course we know about the Chinese government’s censorship of news and media, including websites, but it’s completely true that the average Chinese believe everything that the media reports and they just accept that certain websites are not accessible. Perhaps it has much to do with the Chinese’s resilience and adaptability. Or is it cultural ingrainment of avoiding problems? Where no one claims responsibility, therefore just avoids any situation all together. Or like many discussions about education lately, are many Chinese not taught to think for themselves and challenge ideas? Jacques points out that there are no serious rivals to the Chinese State power and that there is a different construction of power embedded in society resulting from the Patriarchal family structure.

As you can see, I’m personally struggling with understanding many of these issues as well, but I’m here to learn more!

We know that the Chinese invented a lot of things and that recently, this sense of innovation is more than encouraged. So really, the most important take away from this video is that ”China is going to change the world.” And “if you want to feel the future, if you want to taste the future–try China.”

What are your thoughts?

我鼓励你看看上面的TEDtalk。Martin Jacques让我们西方人了解中国和中国的发展。他提提东方人比西方人了解多知识因为东方人（中国人）需要从西方的国家强大也开发。是真的，我呆了中国快一年，我同意有多次我觉得对中国历史我什么也不知道但中国人对西方的历史有了解。

加上Jacques说说中国的人民民族，他也说中国是文明国家但西方是民族国家（？）。为了中国文明国家，中国人对中国政府有合法和权力，比西方的不一样。西方人常对政府反对。当然我们知道中国政府对新闻和媒体删减，但普通的中国人对新闻和媒体什么都相信。可能是因为中国人很有弹力和应变力。或是不是以种避免问题的文化？谁都不责任。或好象最近的教育话题，多中国人没学怎么想，问问题，和反对主意。Jacques说对中国权力没有别组反对，为了家长制中国人有不同的权力感觉文化。

你看到呢，我自己有挣扎但很想多了解。

我们知道中国人发明了很多东西，现在多鼓励这样的发明。但在着视频最重要的是“中国回改变设计”和“如果你想感到前途，如果你想尝尝前途－试试中国。”

你觉得呢？

It’s been a while since I posted! Apologies! And this one is going to be short… just a few photos that I’ve taken in the past couple months that I quite like

抱歉我最近没写。。这个post也很短，只让你看看我这几个月拍的几张照片儿。我相当喜欢！

Tianjin Snacks：天津小吃

Hutong Bikes near Lama Temple：胡同自行车在雍和宫附近

I previously wrote a small blurb on Beijing’s JianBing (煎饼), but there’s more to it! I’m happy to be working with VeggieWala, a great resource for you vegetarians out there, from recipes to restaurant reviews. With my love for food (although not always the vegetarian kind), I hope I can provide some useful and insightful information here from Beijing. Here’s a snip-it of my first post for VeggieWala, and head over there to read the whole post about “The Chinese Crepe”

One of Beijing’s famous street foods is the JianBing (煎饼). Jean who? No, no, JianBing. Many, myself included, consider it a Chinese crepe. In the dictionary it translates to a Chinese pancake and it literally translates into fried, round-flat cake. So, there can be many English interpretations, and don’t get the JianBing confused with the scallion pancake that you find at Dim Sum or other Chinese restaurants. Rest assured that all Beijingers will know what a JianBing is. And on your next visit to Beijing, you can find this wonderful, savory, vegetarian-friendly delight all over the city in street food stalls or grocery stores small and large. Originating in Tianjin, just 117km (72miles) southeast of Beijing, the JianBing is the perfect breakfast food, but it’s also an inexpensive snack and even perfect grub as you crawl out of the bar at 5am.

Where can you enjoy this vegetarian-friendly treat? You’ll most certainly find vendors next to Beijing subway stops, in permanent street stalls (like the one pictured) or moving vendors, as you would typically imagine. Often the local grocery store also sells them. I encourage you to explore the street vendors of Beijing (and China) to find who you think makes the perfect JianBing!

我以前写过比较短的post关于北京煎饼，但还有很多没说！我刚刚开始从北京帮VeggieWala，美国一个吃素的blog。它真有意思告诉这么做菜啊，在什么地方吃啊，也吃素的还可以吃什么啦。虽然我不是常吃素的，但我真很高兴兴奋我的食品爱好能从北京帮它写一点关于在北京吃素的能吃什么。看看我第一个post在VeggieWala吧！

To some Chinese huaqiao (华侨) and huaren (华人) have the same meaning and to some Chinese the two words have different meanings. I spoke with an older lady, the Ayi who helps clean our apartment. She understood that both huaqiao and huaren have the same meaning… a Chinese person who’s overseas. To those who understand two different meanings, one definition is “a person of Chinese decent who was born and raised overseas” (me) and the second definition being “a person of Chinese decent who was born in China and currently residing overseas” (my parents). I met someone else recently, who explained to me that every person of Chinese decent no matter which country they live or grow up is a “huaren”, but those who specifically claim a nationality other than Chinese are “huaqiao”.

Ok, so after all this discussion, I decided to  just look it up in the dictionary. It defines “huaren” as ethnically Chinese people. And “huaqiao” as a Chinese emigrant who still retains Chinese nationality. Now, to confuse things further, I recently heard one more term “HuaYi” (华裔), which refers to a person of Chinese decent with foreign citizenship. Phew. Glad to finally get that clarified. And now we all know. Huaren are all Chinese people versus Huaqiao who are Chinese emigrants with Chinese nationality and Huayi are foreign citizens of Chinese decent.

我刚来中国的时候，他们问“你是哪国人”？我就说“是美国的”。有的人不太明白，好像亚洲人怎么从美国来的呢？有时候他们问“华人啊”？他们问的时候用“华人”有时候他们用“华侨”。我没想过这两个词有不同的意思觉得是一样意思。

有的中国人觉得华侨和华人有一样的意思但有些中国人觉得这两个词有不同的意思。我问我的阿姨他说是一样意思，华人就是华侨是一个中国人住再外国。有些人觉得有两个意思：一个是好像我，一个中国人在外国出生江大，第二个意思好像我父母，是中国人再中国出生住在外国。我刚刚认识新朋友告诉我每个中国人不管住在什么地方都是‘华人’，但‘华侨’就是再中国出生的不过现在是别国家人。

后来我就看看词典。华人是每个中国人不管住在什么地方。华侨是中国人住在外国但也是中国国际人。然后我最近也听人用华裔，意思可能比较清楚是中国血统的蛙泳国人。我现在明白了！你们呢？明白了吗？你以前知道吗？

Design friend @ssshaona posted a link to information about the new “Happy Magic Water Park” in Beijing. The Water Cube of the Beijing Olympic park has undergone renovations to be transformed into an indoor water park. After reading the blurb, more than 1 friend here in Beijing has mentioned of hearing the same! Looks like it opened on August 8, just over a month ago. Can’t wait to see what this water park with slides, lazy river, and wave pool is like. Will it compare to Bostonians’ (or New Englander’s) childhood memory of WaterCountry? Has anyone already been to the Happy Magic Water Park? The renderings look absolutely delightful! And it’s perfect for this end of summer heat!

我设计师朋友在她的post介绍北京的新“Happy Magic Water Park”，他们装修北京奥运的水立方当这个‘水公园’。 让我记的我小的时候在水公园玩。北京的 “Happy Magic Water Park” 八月八号开门，你们去过吗？我很想去看看玩玩。最近的天气在水玩真会舒服。

ChinaTravel.net’s Water Cube Water Park information about admission, hours, and location:
Admission:Adults RMB 200, Children RMB 160. Lockers cost RMB 20, deposit RMB 100
Hours:10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily
How to get there: Located in the Water Cube, Olympic Park, No. 11 Tianchen Donglu, Chaoyang District
鏈濋槼濂ユ灄鍖瑰厠鍏洯澶╄景涓滆矾11鍙锋按绔嬫柟瀣夋按涔愬洯.
A taxi from central Beijing will set you back around RMB 30, alternatively, take metro line 8 to either the Olympic Park or Olympic Sports Center stops.

The second type of internet has an installation fee of RMB180 and costing RMB120/month. Sounds like a good deal right? I think it is, for the casual internet user. This is internet that is shared through the whole apartment community or complex; there’s a direct ethernet cable that comes out of the wall for you to plug into (after you have the installation, which is basically setting up an account and password with a China Unicom technician who comes to the apartment). This internet is shared among the complex, so if a lot of people have plugged in, then the internet will be slower than if fewer people are using it. I’m not sure what the connection speed is (because the service technician was being secretive… but I believe it’s 10MB). This is what I currently have due to logistics, that I hope to have worked out in the next few weeks. I’ll say right now, I’m not 100% satisfied. During peak usage (in the evenings), it’s difficult to use the VPN, if not impossible. And I experienced last night that Skype voice calls can be shaky as well.

If you’re interested in hearing more gripes and struggles read on; otherwise, that’s the gist of getting internet.

我已经回来北京差不多两个星期了，但这时间有非常多安排准备。第一时上网。真麻烦因为我不知道中国北京的中国联通有两个不同的上网方法。一个是这个ADSL好像美国的DSL，用电话线开上网的。这个有不同的快速最便宜的是每个月120RMB有512KB，还有1MB到10MB。ADSL的安装费是200RMB多。我听说这样的是最好但需要开电话线。
第二种比较便宜。180RMB安装费，每个月120RMB。如果你不需要很快的或者不常用的这样就可以。但这样的上网是小区用的，所以多人用的时候比较慢少人用的时候比较快。我不清楚小区用是多快，觉得是10MB。现在我在用这样的因为和房东要联系，但我不太满意因为昨天晚上用Skype不太好，因为晚上人比较多用。
这是北京最简单的上网，如果你还想听我还有什么问题再接续看看。对不起现在只用英语说故事。

We Americans are embracing the idea of locally owned and operated, but what about locally operated and nationally owned? Here begins my struggle two weeks ago, when trying to get Internet. My roommate (who’s Chinese, but not familiar with this process) and I went to the big company of China Unicom at a main office location not so far away. We decided we wanted to get the ADSL internet, but the desk workers told us that we couldn’t get Internet (regardless of what kind, above) because #1 there’s currently a phone line (that we dont’ have the number to), already installed. And #2 the pervious tenants had already paid 2 months in advance for the community use Internet and we don’t have their password, therefore we can’t use or access it. What?! No internet for 2 months?? Haha, who knew that my life was so dependent on Internet. I was prepared to go to cafes nearby for the next week or so until the installation was complete, but 2 months?

Well, they could try to have a service technician check it out and see if an additional phone line could be added. OK, sure. And 5 hours later, I got a phone call from the service technician explaining that we could NOT get an additional phone line. Oh, that sucks. Back to China Unicom to refund my money and see if there are any other options…

The current phone line installed in the apartment is owned by my landlord (who lives outside of Beijing). We were able to get the phone number from him and see what we could do. At the same China Unicom office, they had their hands tied and there’s nothing they could do. It turns out that our landlord (remember, doesn’t live in Beijing), must go to any Beijing office in person, to identify himself and the owner of that phone line in order to change any sort of service.. aka adding ADSL to the phone service. It can’t just be any China Unicom office?? It muuust be a local Beijing office! Well, the landlord could also go online to sign up for the service. Great! But, the landlord must show proof of identification during time of installation. What a hassle; we were stuck. No ADSL service, and no ethernet service.

Our housing agent, who has been super helpful through this whole process, found a small neighborhood, ‘local’ China Unicom office in our apartment complex. The one man who runs this small office, along with (apparently) a team of technicians, claimed (and has now successfully) installed the community ethernet connection for us. During the whole process, I was (and still am) very confused. How is it that this small, sparse, concrete room with only a desk, file cabinet, and 2 chairs not communicate with the larger office, where bills are paid and has an electronic ticket dispenser for queing. How could the large office have no information about what this one-man-show could do? It seems as if there is no communication among China Unicom, afterall it’s more than just brand name usage at each location…

Among other instances, I’ve learned that there’s little transparencey and clear communication in China. Or perhaps, is this just business as usual in the developing world? Regardless, make sure you ask all the questions possible because information is never (or rarely) volunteered. It must have to do with the way that people are brought up or how the country is run, or just the cultural ingrainment of the idea of “listen and don’t question”…another topic for another day.

In the mean time, I’m wired!
(I bought a wireless router, but have yet to be able to set it up…With minimal bargaining, I was charged under 100RMB at one of the electronics shops in Zhongguancun, 中关村. Be sure to specify a router (路由器：lu4 you2 qi4) that’s wireless (无线：wu2 xian4).)

With a specific topic and dialogue for each episode, there is also a break down and translation into english of the dialogue along with some cultural contexts and customs. Each episode highlights important phrases, vocabulary, and sentence structure for the particular subject being discussed. If you’re new to Mandarin, give it a try and start with Episode 1: Greetings. Quite beneficial if you ask me!

没个中国人当然听过‘大山’但我上个月只开始看他的电视剧。真有用：学语法和文化。