User Comments - cleaver

Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Hangzhou

These lessons always make me hungry.  There is a dish I've had several times called mei cai kou rou (美菜扣肉, I think, or "beatiful vegetables covered by meat").  The meat portion seems to be the same as the dongporou.

Once you get past the idea that you are eating what is essentially a braised slab of bacon, it is extremely delicious.  Or maybe comparing to bacon should help us westerners?

Posted on: Learning the Lei Feng Song

I think these relics of Maoism are no less culturally significant in studying modern China than classic Chinese poems.  The thing I like about Chinesepod is the insight into the culture rather than just learning words and grammar.

Bad things have happened in the time since 1949, as is true for all the other eras of China.  I don't think we should try to pretend the past 60 years didn't happen.

As an aside, I notice the tune bears a slight resemblance to the theme from "The A-Team".  Perhaps some hidden link from Maoist China to Reagan-era America?  The "great helmsman" and "the great communicator" togeter at last!

Posted on: The Surname Code

我姓潘

My friend usually introduces me with the "潘安" explanation (and usually with a little chuckle).