除了我的大儿子，我们全家都去。因为他离不开魔兽世界。

Chúle wǒ de dà'érzi，wǒmen quánjiā dōu qù. Yīnwèi tā líbukāi Móshòu shìjiè.

Anyone can go and have a look ('cept the septic tanks), you just have to do 'the tour'. But even that is quite interesting; a couple of friends did it and I got the CD (movie of their tour, distributed to everyone.) Actually their tour is on Youtube (like everything); just search North Korea tour and you will no doubt find many tours.

I remember, John once described 海宝 (the Shanghai Expo mascot, the "blue" guy in the photo) as "a really cheap brand of toothpaste's mascot" in his blog "Sinosplice". I totally agree with him. Anyone wants to tip off the CCP about that? hehe

http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2008/09/17/this-mascot-hell-is-just-beginning

In the expansion section, could the 2 following sentences do without the 是 ? If yes, what is the difference with and without 是?

我是坐飞机来的。vs 我坐飞机来的。

我们是在网上认识的。vs 我们在网上认识的。

谢谢！

Hi Changye,

I have seen this annoying little blue fellow, with the "something about Mary" hairdo, in SH for several years now. Unfortunatley I have not seen him anywhere else in the world. The world's fair (now called expo) is so "yesterday". I think the US pavillion finally got funding last week. Nobody cares. If Im in SH, I will take a look (if I can get free tickets) but I wouldnt plan a travel campaign around it.

If the Japan pavilion had a plan to exhibit "the full-scale Gundam", I would visit Shanghai at any cost, hehe.

http://inadawords.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gundam3.jpg

RJ - I am surprised by the indifference to Expo voiced here. Makes me feel right at home. :-) Unfortunately I won't be going, I have another appointment. Actually, Shanghai looks like an Expo site without having an Expo.

Joking aside, if I were the head of the Japan pavilion, I would definitely lease the full-scale Gundam, which is the most famous super Robot in the world, and exhibit it at the pavilion. I'm sure the Japan pavilion would be able to attract tons of young people from all over the world, hehe.

actually I would like to see it, and maybe China will breathe life back into the worlds fair concept.

That Gundam does look impressive alright.It would definitely command a lot of attention.

ps changye, you should have been an Ambassador for Japan at the Expo...just think how many Poddies would want to come meet you :)

Yes, it's a wide gap, much greater for some reason than understanding different Spanish speakers. And yes, it does get easier with more exposure, but it should be continuous: don't let up, except for short breaks!

Ken

Yes, people in real life speak faster and don't always enunciate every word as I do in lower level lessons. It could be overwhelming to plunge into new content, while trying to figure out what the speakers are saying all at the same time. But I think it's really important to manage your studies. One way of doing it is to define the key patterns and vocabulary first and try to pick them up as you listen to the podcast. I've always found this approach to be quite useful. Like Siteng says, persistence and 加油!/jiāyóu!/Keep up the good work!

I have a number of Chinese speaking coworkers, and they speak at all different speeds. It is a small victory pickup on something if they are talking fast.

Keep at it. Repetition... Sometimes I like to listed to the dialogs and reads along. That can help when deciphering new or difficult dialogs.

...would it be fair to say that alongside HK,Shanghai has been the Chinese city most exposed to western influence? Anyway mate,would you care to expand on "China's parallel universe" ?

Shanghai is SO different (John Pasden referred to it recently as 'unique') to the rest of China that it feels like another country. You mentioned 'HK, Shanghai'; in some ways they are more alike than Shanghai with any other mainland city, and yes one reason is the level of foreign influence on culture.

My personal perspective though is not just about all of the foreigners. When I am in Shanghai I feel that I am living right inside a Jetsons catoon - I have friends who live surrounded by tall futuristic buildings and twisting freeways. I expect to see people fly by in personal jet powered scooters (can't be too far off.) I have visions of the Chinese takeaway in The Fifth Element that comes to you window of your 100th floor apartment. It gives new meaning to the word surreal. I get excited and entertained all at once.

As an ex Hangzhou-ite also I have a kind of prejudice. I have witnessed two grown people reduced to tears arguing about which of their hometowns, Shanghai or Hangzhou, is the best! No doubt similar arguments are had about Beijing and Shanghai (China's Melbourne and Sydney respectively.) In fact, perhaps Shanghai is China's 'Sydney' - brash, loud and fast - the City of Sin.

..ah,sorry 'bout that Chief..hehe.Still I'm glad I did 'cos it's elicited another excellent and insightful answer from you mate.I particularly like the surreal Jetson's like reference.Oh when oh when can I get there !!

Yes,it certainly strikes me that if one is to travel to China ,one has to see Shanghai as a priority [with the open invitation from the ever so friendly CPod offices being no small part of that attraction],and then the so called "real" China.

(wǒ zài àodàliyà guǎn huì gōng zuò wǒ shì dǎo yóu.)

Come along and say hi.