User Comments - brendaninaus

Posted on: The Hunan Accent

Sometimes I find the accent useful in finding out which part of China someone is from.

The other thing I noticed is while Shanghainese pronounce words different to what I have learnt, they tend to be much more strict on the correct tones, especially compared to nearby Nanjing, where the tones are often totally ignored. I think it may have something to do with the Shanghainese language having 6 tones, so you probably have to take note of them more.

Posted on: A Stroll through the Hutongs

I became worried with the one I hadwhen I noticed it was held together by sticky tape. And I became more worried when he started pulling into congested traffic, pushing in front of taxis with horns blazing.

Some of the old (original) hutongs are also a bit scary with bnarrow alleys (with the occassional car barely fitting in it), blind corners, sudden holes in the road, and brickwork lying around, but I think much of it has been gentrified, as I went before the Olympics.

Posted on: Wrong Way on the Subway

Some of the subway routes are circular, so you will eventually get to your stop in either direction. It just might be a bit longer.

Posted on: Going on a Picnic

You wouldn't need to picnic in China, there are that many delicious food stores everywhere.

I can remember I had to give cooking classes to an Indian friend on how to make sandwiches. It seemed obvious to me, but I guess what you don't know can seem hard.

Posted on: Ordering Pizza

I heard that when American fast food (KFC and MacDonald's) first came to parts of Asia, people would dress up to go eat at them. They were initially seen as exotic food restuarants for people.

Posted on: Buying Sandals

yes, I think it refers to all string like underwear or bikini bottoms. I have also heard another name for such clothing, but I am not sure wether it is acceptable to use on this forum as it is a bit rude, but very descriptive.

Posted on: Buying Sandals

I would still call the shoe in the picture a sandal.

Thongs usually means ones you slip on rather than strap in. Some types of shoes referred to as sandals by the manufacturer, are called thongs in everyday use, but usually they do not have high heels.

Thongs in Britain, and I think the US, refer to bikini bottoms, so there are many jokes about the potential mistranlations of Australianisms.

Another shoe term I have heard recently is "scuffs" which refers to thongs but without the bit between the big toe and the rest of the toes. They are useful if you are a "no shoes inside" household.

Posted on: An Unplanned Tan

Technically, you don't soak vitamin D from the sun, but produce it from the UV in the sun. You can ingest it (mainly frm dairy I believe), but it isn't as efficient.

I also have serious doubts about advice to sunbake, it would only be about 30 minutes in winter that you really need, unless you have some serious need for vitamin D, which in that case you would probably use supplements. Although if you live in China, where there are issues with sun strength especially with the pollution in some areas, there might be a greater need to sunbake.

The new issue with vitamin D defficiency is it's link to some cancers, and the more intermediate issue of rickets rarely if ever occurs in Australia.

Certain sunblocks can kill coral, some older types have even been linked with cancer, but they are being phased out.

As Australia gets more and more Asian immigrants and university students, you start to notice more of their cultural values they bring with them, and the avoidance of sun is one I have seen. You never saw people on the street with sun umbrellas until a few years ago, only the big ones at the beach or at a picnic. Now they are not that uncommon.

Posted on: World Cup Talk

So they don't have BYO (bring your own) in the US?

They arequite common in Australia so restuarants avoid having to have the complex and troublesome (extra inspections, paperwork etc.) alcohol licence.

The charge is usually called "corkage", even if there is no cork. And some places will charge you if you bring your own cake (as some people celebrating birthdays do) calling it "cakage".

Posted on: Changing a Plane Ticket

Trains might be an alternative to planes, but not if you're going to be late.

I found not only did they usually leave on time, but soemtimes they left 5-10 minutes early, and I almost missed several.