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Name: thesillypurpledog
Home: Singapore
About Me: There are so many things that I can write about myself but how true are they? Why not read my blog and judge for yourself =)
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| Wednesday, September 07, 2005 |
| Language problem! |
Today was the first time that I go somewhere in HK alone! I was trying to find the post office and decided to go there myself as don't need company for something so trival. Anyway, following the instructions of a very nice local student, I managed to find the post office at Fa Po Street. It was nice walking through the residential area, known as Yau Yat Tsuen, seeing the kids, maids, aunties doing their own thing is quite a saccharine feeling. However, I must admit that its not exactly very near school so thankfully the weather made it easy. But as I walked down the street of Fa Po Street, I realised the contrast living standards of the neighbourhoods surrounding CityU. One on hand, Yau Yat Tsuen is the supposedly a high-class residential area like Bt Timah, where the Filippino maids are busying sheltering the young kids from the sun, where Mercedees and Jaguars are a common sight. However, Nan Shan Tsuen on the other side is a public housing area where the blocks are generally older and un-glam. It the wet market is, where you'll find old uncles wearing singlets and chatting with their fellow neighbours and where most do not own a car, much less a Jaguar. What a stark difference! Wonder what the 2 contrasting group of people feels about the other group.
Anyway back to the post office, its soooo small that one can easily overlooked it! There is like only 2 men in the post office, 1 in the back office and 1 at the front desk. A very idllyic looking place, with the wooden-framed doors, high wooden counter that has a whitish marble top, clear glass-pane and certain slabs are stained green. The surrounding area is also pretty cool.. there is a 7-11, wellcome supermarket, few housing companies, a hair saloon, a clinic that is undergoing renovation and a beauty school whose signage is very obvious but the entrance is missing. Think I will take a walk there soon...
Okies.. in term so of my lessons for the day.. they r rather interesting. Firstly, its Japanese culture and the lecturer was absent as he has to go for an overseas conference so his research assistant came in place to explain the course syllabus and requirements. He did it all in Cantonese so I can only stared at him while my nice classmate, Po, translated for me. Irritating guy.. told him that I do not understand Cantonese yet so still went on! He said that he will get back to me but he didnt.. I had to approach him to clarify with him. Okies, him aside (didnt even catch his name), my lecturer is Dr Wang Xiaolin, a Mainlander who went to Japan to study since he was a kid. Initially, I thought that Dr Wang is a female but luckily my classmate told me that Dr Wang is actuallly a male! Luckily, I didnt send him any email yet as it will most likely goes "Dear Mdm...". According to the research asst, the lecturer prefers to conduct his classes in Putonghua and for our group report and presentation we must do it either in English or Chinese, preferably in Chinese. My jaw literally dropped to the table! I love to watch Chinese drama, sing Chinese songs and all.... listening to him teach in Chinese is no prob BUT doing a report in Chinese! My gosh.. the last time I really write anything in Chinese was for my A-level, 4 years ago.. n even then it sux big time! Guess Zi xuan (my JC chinese teacher) is laughing her head off now... as those who didnt pay attention then, like moi, only live to regret it now. Anyway, this Mainlander asked me if I want to do project with him, I told him frankly that my chinese is horrible and I will prefer to do my report in English, he said its okie, he will help me. I only smiled at him.. speechless! Guess the reason why he wanted to be in the same group as me is because we both learnt the simplifed Chinese, whereas the rest of the class are local thus learnt the other form of Chinese, so by being in the same group as me, he will get to submit a Chinese report. Was thinking of doing this course just for interest so will not drop it. I should just be glad that the lecturer isnt going to ramble off in Cantonese............. is anyone coming to HK soon? I need my Chinese dictionary!
Next class was Thai language I. The lecturer is nice and can speak quite a bit of Chinese and Cantonese but when lesson proper started, I almost slipped off my chair. There are 44 consonants, 21 vowels, 32 sounds and 5 tone in the Thai langauge... and they all sound the same! Furthermore, we are expected to learn to write the Thai language which are derieved from Sanskrit.... which means they look like Indian words... err.. don't make sense to me at all as unlike Chinese words where every character as some meaning.. Thai at a glance just seems like a very compliated drawing. Showed Daisy (my roomie) my book... she just went "WHAT!!!! how is one going to learn all this in 1 term!" A little regret not bringing my iriver to record what the lecturer is saying but do I regret taking that course.. not yet.. cos it will be good to effective bargain in Thailand! Muahahaha!!! Now going to start looking for some Thai friends, as I know I definitely need help.
Being a non-Cantonese speaking Singaporean in HK, I feel half-chinese and half-ang mo. Do not know why but the locals and Mainlander makes me feel less a Chinese than them because I am better in my English and I do not understand Cantonese very well. However, I am not as Ang Mos as those from Europe, Australia and USA because when I am with them, I feel very ching chong fan... was telling Sheena that and she felt the same where too.. we seem to be a halfway point where we are stuck between East and West.
Went up to Sheena's room to check out her havoc roomie but she wasnt around, kinda disappointed but she has many interesting things lying around.... so just peered through a little. mmm... taught Sheena how to sew a button... my mum should be proud of me man.. I did a pretty good job!
okies its late now.. time to go.. last class for the week tomorrow! |
posted by thesillypurpledog @ 11:53 PM  |
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