The topic of Chinglish has been pretty popular lately on two radio broadcasting services, more specifically RTI (Radio Taipei International) and RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong). Well what is Chinglish? Chinglish is not as simple as saying it is English mixed into Chinese. Chinglish is more particularly referring to the incorrect translations that are done from Chinese into English. I have seen some crazy translations in China/ Hong Kong during my travels and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for anymore random translations. I am posting the particular post I was reading on RTI’s blog today. I thought this translation was epic! Please refer to the link for the story. RTI Blog Post The other discussion about Chinglish that I was referring was on a show on Radio 3 RTHK called Teen Time. I will also link to that story/ radio broadcast! Radio 3 Broadcast- Teen Time
Chinglish
•April 2, 2012 • Leave a CommentChinese Lesson 1
•March 29, 2012 • 2 CommentsThis is the first installment of a new series I want to do here on the internet to help assist those who are learning Chinese. I eventually want to do videos on Korean and Japanese. These videos are to help others but I also think it will be a great help to encourage me to practice! But we are currently using the New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook Vol 1. You can search for it on Amazon. I’ve been using this textbook for a little while. But if you like what you see, please comment or subscribe. Thanks!
Cantonese Class 101
•March 29, 2012 • Leave a Comment
This is the second site/ service that I have found that assists individuals in learning Cantonese. The first podcast I found that did an amazing job of teaching Cantonese was Naked Cantonese, which is a broadcast provided by RTHK in Hong Kong. But Cantonese Class 101 is a division within a large online language learning business that teaches a broad range of languages. I have utilized them for ChineseClass101 (which helps with Mandarin) and Japanesepod101. If you decide to upgrade to the premium services make sure to use the coupon code VIP65 for a 65% discount.
This coming May, I will spend most of the month in Hong Kong, so I am trying to pick up as much Cantonese as I can before I spend part of my summer there. Cantonese is much more difficult than Mandarin, but I still enjoy listening to Cantonese much more than Mandarin. My Chinese minor was in Mandarin and luckily more Hong Kong youth are beginning to learn Mandarin. I still think speaking to a group of people in their native tongue is very important to interact with the locals. Especially since Cantonese is the most spoken dialect of Chinese after Mandarin.
The hosts of this podcast/ network are actually very informative and entertaining (well at least from the first several podcasts I have listened to). I really like the voice of both Nicole and Matthew (though I like Nicole’s voice more lol). Anyways I have found the site useful and I like that they provide notes for the lessons, especially since Naked Cantonese does not provides a transcribe of their lessons.The only disadvantage is that these notes are only available with paid subscriptions. But if you consider the prices of other language learning programs out there, this cost is minimal. So for those of you who are contemplating on traveling throughout southern China or Hong Kong, this may be a very good chance to brush up on your Cantonese!
GEM Doing the Weather?!
•March 26, 2012 • Leave a Comment
I logged into my YouTube account and noticed that GEM Tang was doing the Weather! Well I would have to say she is probably one of the more attractive Hong Kongers doing the weather 😛 But I do think the new haircut for GEM is not flattering. I actually miss her old hairstyle… Anyways I am excited about her new upcoming album! Maybe it will come out in May when I will be hanging out in Hong Kong. (^o^)v
United Nations Conference
•March 25, 2012 • Leave a Comment
United Nations Conference Second Committee at the NCCIIE 2012 Conference in Greensboro North Carolina. It was definitely a pleasure serving with them.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was the country I was assigned with and even though I have nothing against the people of North Korea, the government really is a difficult country to represent. Though the country was extremely difficult to obtain allies with, it was still fun pretending to be the DPRK. The main event that caused my proposal and resolution to be ignored is because of the recent attempt of the North in launching a “satellite”. I am not sure whether it is a rocket, a missile or a satellite, but I can honestly say now that I am not representing the DPRK, that I am extremely unease about the North’s blatant defiance against UN regulations. I plan on posting plenty of more photos from the conference, but right now I am running on close to 5 hours of sleep within a two day period. I will definitely be posting more photographs later though!
Global Awareness Day
•March 20, 2012 • 1 Comment
Today we had a very special event at my university (Fayetteville State University). The International Education Center, who I work for part time, hosted its annual Global Awareness Day for the 3rd year in a row. This year I was asked to host a table representing the country of Ireland. Now I really do not know a lot about Ireland compared to my knowledge of the United States, China, Japan or Korea. But since my ancestry on my mother’s side is from an Irish descent, Ms. Hoy asked me to represent Ireland. So in my preparation, I made this display in about an hour! I was really rushing, but I believe it worked out for the best. I thought that if I glued some actors/ actresses on the tri-fold of Irish descent, then that would attract students who may have not been otherwise interested.
This is my friend Peju, she is from Nigeria. Peju and I met through the International Education Center and she is teaching at FSU as a Fulbright Scholar. We have had many stimulating conversations and she has ministered to me probably more than she has realized.
The Martial Arts portion of the event was interesting. Some of the martial arts students came to perform, showing off the various different styles of kung fu, karate, etc.
This is Abdou who is a Fulbright Scholar from Morocco. Even though him and I are still acquaintances, he is still a really nice guy to speak with. I am currently taking a Ministry to Muslims class at Grace College of Divinity and Abduo has actually helped me understand bits of the Quran.
This booth is by my new friend Karen. I also met her through the International Education department and we may have the chance to hang out in Shanghai over the summer. I really loved her Qipao and I wish I was able to take a better picture of her beautiful dress. 我想她的旗袍很美！I wish more Chinese women wore those dresses.
This last picture is from my favorite event, the luncheon that featured various different international cuisines. There was food from Nigeria, India, Spain, Germany, the US and Jamaica. Needless to say free food, especially international food was definitely a good excuse to come to this event.
Lily Wong
•March 15, 2012 • Leave a Comment
Comics have always been a huge interest of mine, ever since I was little. I can remember my dad always telling me that I should stop spending all my time on cartoons and start watching something with some sustenance. Well even though I do not watch cartoons or read comics as much as I once did, I still really appreciate them. It amazes me at the detail that people can depict throughout their art. The most recent cartoon movie that I had enjoyed is Summer Wars and I occasionally watch The Regular Show and The Adventures of Gumball. But as I was surfing through the internet after purchasing a guidebook on Comics from Hong Kong, I stumbled across an archive of comics from Hong Kong called “Lily Wong”. These comics were intended for the expats living throughout China. The comics illustrate the biases the expats had toward the Chinese and the many stereotypes that foreigners have had about the Chinese. I am not advocating racism here, but in order for us to better understand Chinese society and how they view Westerners, I believe it is important for us to understand the mindsets of the past. Cartoons/ comics are a great source of history that show us how the concepts that we constructed affected the choices of the past and possibly how these ideas affect us in the present. So I would like to encourage you all to check out the World of Lily Wong.
Official Acceptance Email!
•March 13, 2012 • Leave a Comment
This morning I woke up to a pleasant surprise as I was rushing out the door to get to Northwood Temple Academy to substitute. Thankfully I checked my email before I left and I saw the official EMAIL from Fudan University in Shanghai China! The last post was an unofficial announcement of this opportunity, but thankfully now it is official.
This acceptance letter is for a summer Chinese language intensive course throughout the month of June. I have already finished my Chinese minor at Fayetteville State University, but unfortunately I have not really had a lot of exposure to speaking anymore Chinese since my last trip in 2010. My prayer is that this experience will enhance my language skills and refresh my memory for when I permanently move to Hong Kong/ China in 2013. Thank you for all of your prayers and I just want to encourage you all to try to study abroad at least once in your collegiate career. Not only will it give you a brand new perspective on your position in the world, but it will give you an advantage that many people do not take advantage of. As the world is becoming more flat, the more employees will look for distinguishing factors that differentiate yourself from the next person. The best way to study abroad is to get in contact with your university’s international education center/ study abroad and ask them for scholarships. You may be surprised at how few applications are actually submitted.
Preparing for God’s Calling
•March 9, 2012 • Leave a CommentThis has been something that has definitely been laying heavy on my heart lately. I actually gave this message to our youth group and I decided that it probably would be great to share it with more than just the Crosswalk Youth Group. So I am publishing my sermon notes for those who may be interested in learning more about the Identity we have in Christ.
Two Basic Kinds of Callings God Has For All of Us.
God’s Collective Calling for Mankind
God’s Individual Calling for You
God’s Collective Calling Consists of
First Collective Calling on Our Lives
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
A couple of verses before this one in Genesis says that God created man in His image! So what is God really saying when it says “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”? God is telling us to get married have children, but not just that, there is something even more important here. God said we are created in His image, He is commanding us to take His image throughout the earth! He is asking us to multiply His image throughout the earth!
Second Collective Calling on Our Lives
25Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”
26He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”
27He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”
28“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” MSG Luke 10:27
This foolish man eventually tries to trip Jesus up by asking who exactly is my neighbor? Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan. But this is not what I want you to focus on right now. The man did answer correctly in that we should love the Lord with all our soul, heart and might. God’s second collective calling on our lives is to worship and love Him with all our might.
Third and Last Collective Calling on All of Mankind
The Great Commission- some of the last words of Jesus- VERY IMPORTANT
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them int the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ESV Matt 28:19
This is the opportunity that God gave us to redeem ourselves for messing up the first collective calling He gave us. You see we broke a covenant with God in the garden and handed over our authority to satan. This is God saying that our relationship with Him is broken, but we need to take His image to the ends of the earth! Instead of it being an easy process, now we have to really work hard and trust deeper on the Spirit to work on those individuals God is calling us to minister with.
Individual Calling
1. Finding/Knowing God’s Calling
2. Preparing for God’s Calling
3. Fulfilling God’s Calling
God doesn’t do this out of order. He always begins with a passion and helps confirms that passion or goal. We cannot fulfill or prepare for God’s calling on our lives if we haven’t started on the first two steps. This is a continual process, they build on one another.
The other issue is that this calling is much more personalized and geared more to you as an individual. The Individual Calling on your life is much more difficult to define.
The world is trying to Influence you to be someone else who God doesn’t want you to be,
Example- Lady Gaga (I Was Born This Way), Katy Perry ( I Kissed A Girl), Pussycat Dolls (When I Grow Up), David Guetta (Sexy Chick)
Finding/ Knowing God’s Calling for You!
God already knows your calling, just like He knew you before your born.
In order for us to know what is our calling we need to trust in God, talk with Him about it and read His Word. God has told us that He will answer our cries.
So ASK Him!!!!
Matthew 7:7
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Talk about if these kids do not have the initiative to work at their dreams and trust In God, then they may not realize their dreams or God’s calling on their lives.
It’s okay if you don’t yet know your calling, just remember that you need to start asking God.
Preparing God’s Calling
Noah Ark
Preparing for God’s calling is not going to be an easier thing. It may take a while. Just like Noah and the ark. Once you know God’s calling on your life, you cannot simply fool around all the time because once that day comes, you will need to be ready.
So if God is calling you to be a doctor, STUDY! There is no way your going to be accepted into med school if your grades don’t reflect it. If God is calling you to be a missionary to Nigeria or Kenya and you cannot speak Yoruba or Swahili, then how are you going to properly reach the natives of those countries? We have to begin to prepare for God’s calling on our lives.
Fulfilling God’s Calling
C.S. Lewis
Rachel Scott
Billy Graham
Jacky Pullinger
So why did I list these four names? We need to constantly look over our lives to see if we are acting to fulfill God’s calling or what we think is our calling. We live in a busy world and it is easy to get sidetracked.
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:43
Jacky Pullinger began to doubt the reason God called her to Hong Kong. God’s calling on our life is not always going to be easy. Sometimes we are going to have to strive and work hard for it. God’s hand will definitely be in it, but we still have to have the initiative. Jacky Pullinger began to reevaluate her life and God’s Word. She came to the conclusion that she was not showing God’s example in a realistic way. Once she did this, her ministry began to flourish throughout the Walled City.
Pray for God to incorporate this simply plan more into your plan, including my own life.
God was definitely working throughout this message, because I referred to my notes twice. Most of the sermon is kind of a blur, but I could definitely feel God’s presence there with us. My prayer for those of you who are reading this is that God will reveal Himself and His plan to you. Remember to seek after His response diligently and He will answer you! God bless you all!!!
Substitute Teaching
•March 6, 2012 • 2 Comments
Some people go to Cancun for their Spring Break, I on the other hand substitute teach at my old high school! I really need to get out of Fayetteville! I am actually only joking, I have been having a blast here substitute teaching and today has been pretty fulfilling. I think at first it was a little difficult substitute teaching at my old high school because most of the students here still remember me back when I either graduate in 2007 or I spend time with in the youth group. I thought it was going to be easier because the students knew me, but I think it took them a little bit to see me other than a friend. The students are beginning to see me more as a teacher, while maintaining their friendship with me. The only difference is they are classifying our friendship differently I think now. This different classification is not terrible or anything, but I am sensing more respect. The kind of respect I remember showing my teachers back when I was here.
These past few weeks of substituting have definitely confirmed the calling I have on my life about teaching. I am excited to start my student teaching in the fall and once I finish this part in my collegiate studies, I will obtain my license to teach FULL TIME! After I graduate I probably will stay here until May of 2013 and work off some of the debt I have collected throughout my college years. Thankfully a couple of months with pulling the belt tighter will definitely pay off these debts. During the summer of 2013, I have plans to travel to either Hong Kong, South Korea or Japan. More than likely I will end up in Hong Kong because I feel a strong pull there, as well as a feeling of HK being my second home. Well I know this post is more serious, but I just wanted to say how much I have been enjoying this opportunity to work with my future profession, up and downs included.
branhow.com 