Tuesday, February 14, 2006
BLACK SOCIETY & THE LITTLE NEW YEAR
I was out with my friends Ada and Myron (both Chinese) the other night when Myron decided to tease Ada.
"When she grows up Ada wants to be the leader of black society."
Well that stopped me dead in my tracks. "Wait, black society, like black people?"
"Yes, black people."
"There are no black people in China, and you guys hate the few that are here."
It took about 15 minutes to learn that the criminal aspect of society here is called "black society" because they are shady and do illegal things. Myron was saying Ada wants to lead the criminal society in China, not black people worldwide. It will be difficult for Ada to lead criminal society since the Army doesn't take women.
Ada just joined my English class. Of the 8ish people in my class, 2 are my friends and one is my stalker. John hasn't been so bad lately. He came to class with his boyfriend (I'm sorry, that's just speculation...his "special friend" who he's always touching in class) and brother and we went to lunch. Good food and his brother is my age, so it was cool and John was under wraps. I then went to John's house for dinner. The house was covered with pictures of teenage Chinese guys and boy bands. They tried to get me to sing Backstreet Boys. Vomit. Afterwards, his father cooked to celebrate Little Chinese New Years.
Xiao Xin Nian is the farmer's New Years. I don't know why it's 2 weeks later, but we ate New Year's food (sticky rice, spring rolls) and then watched some fireworks. They were minimal compared to Shanghai on the real New Years but I still heard them all night.
8 is the luckiest number in China. It is super auspicious and brings luck and riches. Businesses try to have phone numbers with as many eights as possible (888 8888.) It's something about 8 - ba sounding like fa meaning "to get rich." As such, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will begin at 8pm on 08/08/08. Despite the numbers in their favor, I still don't think they'll pull it off. That having been said another important number is 88. My grandmother had her 88th birthday yesterday. Double eight is even more lucky and it will be a super lucky year for her. Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le nai nai.
I was out with my friends Ada and Myron (both Chinese) the other night when Myron decided to tease Ada.
"When she grows up Ada wants to be the leader of black society."
Well that stopped me dead in my tracks. "Wait, black society, like black people?"
"Yes, black people."
"There are no black people in China, and you guys hate the few that are here."
It took about 15 minutes to learn that the criminal aspect of society here is called "black society" because they are shady and do illegal things. Myron was saying Ada wants to lead the criminal society in China, not black people worldwide. It will be difficult for Ada to lead criminal society since the Army doesn't take women.
Ada just joined my English class. Of the 8ish people in my class, 2 are my friends and one is my stalker. John hasn't been so bad lately. He came to class with his boyfriend (I'm sorry, that's just speculation...his "special friend" who he's always touching in class) and brother and we went to lunch. Good food and his brother is my age, so it was cool and John was under wraps. I then went to John's house for dinner. The house was covered with pictures of teenage Chinese guys and boy bands. They tried to get me to sing Backstreet Boys. Vomit. Afterwards, his father cooked to celebrate Little Chinese New Years.
Xiao Xin Nian is the farmer's New Years. I don't know why it's 2 weeks later, but we ate New Year's food (sticky rice, spring rolls) and then watched some fireworks. They were minimal compared to Shanghai on the real New Years but I still heard them all night.
8 is the luckiest number in China. It is super auspicious and brings luck and riches. Businesses try to have phone numbers with as many eights as possible (888 8888.) It's something about 8 - ba sounding like fa meaning "to get rich." As such, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will begin at 8pm on 08/08/08. Despite the numbers in their favor, I still don't think they'll pull it off. That having been said another important number is 88. My grandmother had her 88th birthday yesterday. Double eight is even more lucky and it will be a super lucky year for her. Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le nai nai.
