Only three people raised their hands in the audience of around 40. I was shocked with this response, Having passed around a stamped envelope mailed to myself from someone in North America, my question was, ＂How many ...Only three people raised their hands in the audience of around 40. I was shocked with this response, Having passed around a stamped envelope mailed to myself from someone in North America, my question was, ＂How many of you have ever received a personal letter, delivered by the post office？ A majority of the Chinese audience composed primarily of adults, plus a sprinkling of college students--replied in the negative. They were, however, intrigued by the colorful artistic stamps adorning the envelope, which evoked a slight sense of nostalgia. For many, the mailed envelope was indeed ＂foreign＂ and perhaps somewhat akin to an antique.展开更多
Ifyou hear a sound like that of an over-grown rat, gnawing between the walls or above you, stop! This distinct, irritating sound isprobably not animal-produced. In China, you will perhaps be heating the grating. raspi...Ifyou hear a sound like that of an over-grown rat, gnawing between the walls or above you, stop! This distinct, irritating sound isprobably not animal-produced. In China, you will perhaps be heating the grating. rasping sounds from human hands manipulating small objects for finger exercise. The use of objects demand- ing finger dexterity has long been associated with the development and maintenance of mental acuity. In fact, parents promoting the use of chopsticks as early as possible, when a child learns to feed him or herself,展开更多
A first-time visitor to Beijing could fall into a trap thinking the following 1. All people in Beijingare Chinese. 2. You reside in Beijing. 3. You must be Chinese. An expression like the one above would be called...A first-time visitor to Beijing could fall into a trap thinking the following 1. All people in Beijingare Chinese. 2. You reside in Beijing. 3. You must be Chinese. An expression like the one above would be called a syllogism, a way of arguing using two statements to prove that a third statement is true. These tools of Aristotelian logic are what Westerners have been trained to use in reasoning processes. We tend to simplify so-called ＂perceived reality＂ in this way.展开更多
The truth of the matter is that I was actually dodging the Beijing street vendor a few weeks after asking him if he had any more toy firearms： replicas of real guns like M-16＇s and AK-47s. I had not seen the dark, ...The truth of the matter is that I was actually dodging the Beijing street vendor a few weeks after asking him if he had any more toy firearms： replicas of real guns like M-16＇s and AK-47s. I had not seen the dark, wrinkled face of the Chinese man for a long time after happily purchasing two silver-toned realistic-looking toy rifles, thinking he had given me a bargain price. Now that he had reappeared stationed on the very street corner of my bus stop,展开更多
Everyone is probably familiar with stock cultural figures of the Tiger Morn, or the obnoxiously loud, pushy sports-obsessed dad. If you are a Westerner-and have partici- pated in Little League Baseball as player, fan,...Everyone is probably familiar with stock cultural figures of the Tiger Morn, or the obnoxiously loud, pushy sports-obsessed dad. If you are a Westerner-and have partici- pated in Little League Baseball as player, fan, or coach, you will know the scene only too well： a parent publicly berating his or her youngster for a lackluster performance. Sympathetic onlook- ers know better than to intervene, preferring to avoid the toxically unpleasant atmosphere generated.展开更多
can too much of anything good be dan- gerous to your health, like the legendary ＂Midas Touch＂ for example？ Today people often debate whether or not too much gold or money hurt people physically. How about too much ...can too much of anything good be dan- gerous to your health, like the legendary ＂Midas Touch＂ for example？ Today people often debate whether or not too much gold or money hurt people physically. How about too much beer？ Can one ever play too much badminton or tennis？ Take your pick, the facts of the matter are any one of the above mentioned can lead one into a strange realm of the outer limits of mental or physical pain,展开更多
Recently, I gave a class of postgraduate writing students the assignment to write an original essay on this topic: Moon Cake Mystery, Methods, and Magic. The
As two Chinese doctors proceeded to chip and carve the bone on the back of my wrist, I could feel pain growing. Finally the operation was over and I had survived, but I would not be playing tennis for a while. Before ...As two Chinese doctors proceeded to chip and carve the bone on the back of my wrist, I could feel pain growing. Finally the operation was over and I had survived, but I would not be playing tennis for a while. Before this operation, and my first year teaching in China, I had been told, "Chinese people do not play golf or tennis!" I found this and other展开更多
We’ve all heard the tales surrounding past legends of people motivated by special quests.King Arthur sought the holy grail,Christopher Columbus sought a magic way to India for riches,and Ponce de Leon searched for th...We’ve all heard the tales surrounding past legends of people motivated by special quests.King Arthur sought the holy grail,Christopher Columbus sought a magic way to India for riches,and Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth.Fables,展开更多
My television screen flicked on, and the crowd’s excitement with sports action seemed so familiar, yet momentarily strange. An announcer’s voice described the game with infectious enthusiasm. The crowd of over 70,00...My television screen flicked on, and the crowd’s excitement with sports action seemed so familiar, yet momentarily strange. An announcer’s voice described the game with infectious enthusiasm. The crowd of over 70,000 in the stands was going wild, and the players were moving with precision and speed. The pitching, the batting, runners racing around the bases, and acrobatic fielding. Yes, this was baseball,展开更多
"Please fasten your seatbelt,sir." "Would you like tea or coffee?" "Tell me your seat number and I’ll see if I can find a China Daily or Morning Post newspaper for you." On the
文摘Only three people raised their hands in the audience of around 40. I was shocked with this response, Having passed around a stamped envelope mailed to myself from someone in North America, my question was, ＂How many of you have ever received a personal letter, delivered by the post office？ A majority of the Chinese audience composed primarily of adults, plus a sprinkling of college students--replied in the negative. They were, however, intrigued by the colorful artistic stamps adorning the envelope, which evoked a slight sense of nostalgia. For many, the mailed envelope was indeed ＂foreign＂ and perhaps somewhat akin to an antique.
文摘Ifyou hear a sound like that of an over-grown rat, gnawing between the walls or above you, stop! This distinct, irritating sound isprobably not animal-produced. In China, you will perhaps be heating the grating. rasping sounds from human hands manipulating small objects for finger exercise. The use of objects demand- ing finger dexterity has long been associated with the development and maintenance of mental acuity. In fact, parents promoting the use of chopsticks as early as possible, when a child learns to feed him or herself,
文摘A first-time visitor to Beijing could fall into a trap thinking the following 1. All people in Beijingare Chinese. 2. You reside in Beijing. 3. You must be Chinese. An expression like the one above would be called a syllogism, a way of arguing using two statements to prove that a third statement is true. These tools of Aristotelian logic are what Westerners have been trained to use in reasoning processes. We tend to simplify so-called ＂perceived reality＂ in this way.
文摘The truth of the matter is that I was actually dodging the Beijing street vendor a few weeks after asking him if he had any more toy firearms： replicas of real guns like M-16＇s and AK-47s. I had not seen the dark, wrinkled face of the Chinese man for a long time after happily purchasing two silver-toned realistic-looking toy rifles, thinking he had given me a bargain price. Now that he had reappeared stationed on the very street corner of my bus stop,
文摘Everyone is probably familiar with stock cultural figures of the Tiger Morn, or the obnoxiously loud, pushy sports-obsessed dad. If you are a Westerner-and have partici- pated in Little League Baseball as player, fan, or coach, you will know the scene only too well： a parent publicly berating his or her youngster for a lackluster performance. Sympathetic onlook- ers know better than to intervene, preferring to avoid the toxically unpleasant atmosphere generated.
文摘can too much of anything good be dan- gerous to your health, like the legendary ＂Midas Touch＂ for example？ Today people often debate whether or not too much gold or money hurt people physically. How about too much beer？ Can one ever play too much badminton or tennis？ Take your pick, the facts of the matter are any one of the above mentioned can lead one into a strange realm of the outer limits of mental or physical pain,
文摘Recently, I gave a class of postgraduate writing students the assignment to write an original essay on this topic: Moon Cake Mystery, Methods, and Magic. The
文摘As two Chinese doctors proceeded to chip and carve the bone on the back of my wrist, I could feel pain growing. Finally the operation was over and I had survived, but I would not be playing tennis for a while. Before this operation, and my first year teaching in China, I had been told, "Chinese people do not play golf or tennis!" I found this and other
文摘We’ve all heard the tales surrounding past legends of people motivated by special quests.King Arthur sought the holy grail,Christopher Columbus sought a magic way to India for riches,and Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth.Fables,
文摘My television screen flicked on, and the crowd’s excitement with sports action seemed so familiar, yet momentarily strange. An announcer’s voice described the game with infectious enthusiasm. The crowd of over 70,000 in the stands was going wild, and the players were moving with precision and speed. The pitching, the batting, runners racing around the bases, and acrobatic fielding. Yes, this was baseball,
文摘"Please fasten your seatbelt,sir." "Would you like tea or coffee?" "Tell me your seat number and I’ll see if I can find a China Daily or Morning Post newspaper for you." On the
