User Comments - johns
johns
Posted on: Valentine's Special
February 14, 2009 at 5:02 AMTonight I sang "The Moon Represents My Heart" by Teresa Teng to my sweetheart in my favorite Chinese restaurant (with April, the owner's accompaniment, of course) here in Houston, Texas. Thanks, Jenny and Ken for giving me this confidence. Here is a link to my favorite romantic song by Teresa. Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted on: Valentine's Special
February 13, 2009 at 1:51 PMHere, I always view this day as an opportunity to give small chocolates to people that make each day special, like secretaries and waitresses.
Posted on: Funny Business -- 搞笑， 好笑， 可笑
February 9, 2009 at 12:22 AMThis lesson, in my opinion, was one of the best Qing Wens to date. It was useful, understandable and well presented. Jenny, Connie and Pete are a great combination and each endearing in their own right.
Posted on: Illegal taxis
February 6, 2009 at 12:48 PMPete,
The one I took never offered anything other than a ride but the bill was five times higher than a taxi and there was no meter. These guys normally are nicely dressed in suits and always approach us to ride in their cab after first arriving at Shanghai or Beijing and before you have a chance to see the normal taxi drivers.
We do get hit up to go to bars or places with women constantly. There are plenty of stories from businessmen who tried this and were robbed or given a huge bill for a few drinks. I think the moral is to travel with someone and stick to the main paths. Any big city in the world has its dangers. Frankly, out of the 25 or so cities I have visited in China all appeared to be amazingly safe and easy to negotiate.
A group of men did try to rob me once in Beijing but I was alone and going down a dark path in a suit at night...my fault.
Posted on: Illegal taxis
February 6, 2009 at 4:03 AMI don't know if the guys that great you at the airport fall in this catagory but they are much more expensive and there is no meter. I know now just to go to the Taxi line but I fell for it during my first trip to Shanghai.
Posted on: Mexico City
February 5, 2009 at 4:08 AMIt is a little sureal hearing about Mexico here in Texas during my Chinese lessons. Here, we all speak some Spanish and Mexican restaurants seem to be on every corner.
Mexico City feels more crowded to me than any Chinese city that I have visited. Probably because of the population explosion there during the last 20 years. However the driving habits seem to be very similar!
I took a group of Chinese visitors I had in Houston to a Mexican restaurant recently. They would not eat the refried beans but the fajitas and tortillas were devoured. The big hit were Margaritas! I would imagine that the food and culture in both Mexico City and the coastal cities of Mexico would be pleasant surprises for the listeners here.
Posted on: 中国崛起
February 3, 2009 at 1:18 AMPete,
You really add a whole new dimension to this program.
Posted on: Negating Verbs: When to Use 没有 (méiyǒu), When to Use 不 (bù)
February 1, 2009 at 5:35 PMThis subject is great but I wish there were exercizes for us visual learners so I could really feel sure that I understood this subject thoroughly.
Posted on: Talking with Numbers
February 1, 2009 at 5:48 AMCute lesson. Where else would we learn this!
Today was the most popular day to celebrate Chinese New Year in Houston. Like everywhere, the kids in their new clothes stole the show! Thanks for some great lessons this week.
Posted on: Stopping at a Friend's Farm -- 过故人庄
March 3, 2009 at 3:59 AMPete, you are an incredible personality. I admire the originality of your work.