Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Quick Recap

4 comments
Something funny yet inspiring happened to me lately. My German teacher recommended me to some woman as a German tutor. I was totally flattered. Just for the record, I've only been learning German for 6 months. But she thought I was adequate to the job and referred to me as her best student for now. But it didn't pan out. Nevertheless, the whole thing's a nice little ego boost for me.

What also can make my day is reading comments or any other kinda of feedback about my blog. Just in case you don't know, Blogger is blocked in China mainland like forever. So to a large extent, readers of this blog are non-Chinese or Chinese who would like to read some English stuff and be capable of bypassing the GFW.

I'm not concerned too much about daily traffic driven here but I do pay quite a little attention to which of posts are most read. By far I know my most popular posts go to "I Don't Have A Dream", "Chinese people? Incomprehensible!" and "Sex and the Univercity". I'm not be swift to generalize anything I see. However, what I found out is gonna illustrate the point that foreigners are more interested in self-reflection - they're fond of reading unharmonized posts which criticize the CCP, Communism, centralization or even Chairman Mao BY CHINESE OURSELVES.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's understandable. It's like "hunting for novelty". I assume that I'd feel the same way if I hear British people judge themselves. But the pathetic part of my case is that I'm entitled to speak up only outside the GFW, only beyond the sight of the "Internet harmonizers".

For one moment, those new notions dawn on me and I'm going for somewhat a westernized girl. But the next moment, I feel tied up by those old-fashioned values I grew up with. I can't totally let myself go. I wanna balance it all out. But from time to time, I got a bit overwhelmed by living these two lives.

Say one thing and do another - it's ironic that I actually grow into a typical Chinese. hehe, I'm in need of a bear hug.



(Below is a cartoon paraphrasing how Swedish media looks at Google's withdrawal from China.)


 (这张图片咱们中国人看看就好,外国人看不懂,呵呵。)

Friday, April 2, 2010

mobile face - Chairman Maomao

6 comments
Since 1949, if you live in China, you have to put up with the over exposure of Chairman Mao because he does not only put in an appearance at Tian'anmen Square but also on the banknotes which you have to reach everyday.




He must bore you with the same complexion but it's not his fault because it's you that have been overlooking his potential facial expressions! I knew this little practical joke many years ago and should've post it yesterday(April Fools' Day). Later better than never. Now let me share it with you. Just take out any banknote with Mao and fold it as the following instruction tells you, then you'll find out.





Done? Now try to watch Mao from different positions...There you go! Mao is literally sentimental and has a mobile face!