China Latin Diaries
Latin news and views on China.
Learn Chinese For Free: The “My-Chinese-Is-Better-Than-Yours” Laowai
Sep 3rd
"What?! You think my Chinese is bad? Well... what if I dress like this?"
Anyone who has ever been matriculated in the study of the Chinese language has absolutely gone through this experience. I don’t mean culture shock, infatuation with red bean pastries, engrossment with MandoPop, or a pathological obsession with Da Shan. I am talking about the encounter with the “my-Chinese- is-better-than-yours” laowai.
The backdrop is thus: You are minding your own business in a library, coffee shop, campus cafeteria, or university canteen. You receive a call from a compatriot which obliges you to use your native tongue, oblivious to More >
Ordering Chinese Food 101: When The (Pizza) Sky Is The Limit…
Sep 1st
"You got pizza?! Didn't we come to Pizza Hut for their famous seafood fruit salad?"
I remember China’s olden days, when pizza was served with plastic gloves to prevent the client’s disgust from having to eat the pizza by hand. The Chinese, see, don’t eat with their hands. That was only nine years ago. Last night, I was in Pizza Hut (once again I failed to find a sushi bar in Shanghai and wonder: is it just me or do sushi bars look different in Shanghai than they look in the rest of the world?), and was surprised by the changes that More >
Chinese Government Scholarships For Uruguayan Citizens In The Public Sector
Aug 31st
The Chinese government offers scholarships for courses and seminars to Uruguayan citizens in the public sector.
The scholarships include international travel, lodging, meals, local transportation, and pocket money.
The Uruguayan government, through its Office of Planning and Budgeting (OPP), is receiving applications through its page http://www.opp.gub.uy/becas_cursos.php with different application deadlines.
Please refer to OPP’s website for the latest information.
- Course on Urban Environment Management Course dates: 2010.11.19-2010.12.09 Application deadline: 2010.10.01
- Course on Radio and Television Technology for Spanish-Speaking Countries Course dates: 2010.10.13-2010.10.30 Application deadline: 2010.09.05
- Seminar on Local Government Administration for Latin American Countries Course dates: 2010.11.19-2010.12.09 Application deadline: 2010.10.05
- Seminar on Policy and Planning of Climate Change for More >
Ordering Chinese Food 101: Durian- When It’s A Matter Of Taste
Aug 30th
"Your ticket to popularity in crowded Chinese streets."
I divide people into one of two types: the ones that like durian and the ones that don’t. Of course, I belong to the “ones that like durian” type. Today, I was a little mischievous, bought a piece of durian at a food market, and walked down all of Nanjing Road, eating my delicious fruit.
I was, of course, laughing at all people coming my way, disgusted by the smell of my snack. But I didn’t care. I simply love this fruit.
For all those who have never visited Southeast Asia, durian (榴莲, liulian in Mandarin) More >
Learn Chinese For Free: Sí Se Puede Is Not Jiayou
Aug 29th
"Before we add some oil, though, let's discuss the conditions set for this match."
Last week I tried to comprehend the Chinese concept of meibanfa by analyzing a very similar Mexican phrase: ni modo. It would be fair, and most appropriate, if we now analyzed its ying-yang counterpart: sí se puede.
Sí se puede literally means “it is possible”, and can roughly be translated into “yes, we can.” It is both an optimistic situation assessment and mantra. Sí se puede is to be chanted during competition, be it the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Mexican-French War, WTO negotiations, the Miss Universe Pageant, lawsuits More >
Expat Finishing School: Only For The Elegant And Prosperous
Aug 27th
"Best enjoyed with $100 cups of grapefruit tea with aloe chunks."
Last night, I was walking down Huaihai Road in Shanghai, searching for a place to have sushi while I window shopped. I entered a Chinese-brand store targeted at ladies to take a look at the outfits and was totally surprised with the prices of the garments: an outfit of trousers, silk-and-cotton blouse, and shoes for only 3,600 RMB (around US$500)!!! A price, of course, that exceeds my budget; especially my taitai lookalike clothes budget. (太太, taitai is a Chinese or Hong Kongese wife or house maker. A real taitai has ample financial More >
The Manila Galleon: From English-Speaking Dogwalkers To Champagne Served In A Woman’s Slipper
Aug 26th
"Leave your umbrella at home. Let's enjoy the shower."
Enough has been said already about mistakes that aspiring exporters to China make. The loyal reader of this column may be excused for concluding that there are no opportunities in sight to profit from China’s insertion into the global economy. Or for speculating that Latin American institutions, society, and even national psyches have something in their DNA that impairs them from conducting business with Asia.
This can’t be farther from the truth. There are many opportunities available for companies interested in expanding sales to this market and for individuals looking for the next big More >
Ordering Chinese Food 101: The Real Kungfu!
Aug 25th
"Does not contain fat. If you wish fat, you must purchase it separately."
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been taught that fast food is unhealthy. However, this does not apply to all types of fast food, especially the Asian kind.
In 2002 I discovered Yoshinoya (吉野家, jiyejia), a Japanese fast food chain pioneer of gyudon (bowl of beef and rice), in Shanghai’s Nanjing Street. This was one of the first outlets in the city. The place was almost empty and I was happy to be able to order some tasty and not-so-fatty fast food for a decent price. Currently, Yoshinoya has More >
Chinese Government Scholarships For Mexican Citizens: Tongji University
Aug 24th
The Chinese government offers postgraduate scholarships for Mexican citizens in marine sciences at Tongji University.
The scholarships include tuition, pocket money, moving allowance, and insurance.
The Mexican government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) has opened the application process. The deadline is September 17, 2010.
Please refer to SRE’s website for the latest information and details on selection.
Learn Chinese For Free: Meibanfa, Ni Modo
Aug 23rd
"It's beyond my control - when the economy changes, I'll act."
Meibanfa is probably the most controversial of Chinese expressions. One needs but Google “meibanfa and China” to obtain a collection of blog posts, editorials, introspections, and laowai-orchestrated manifestos to abolish this concept from Chinese culture.
Meibanfa (没办法) literally means “there is no way”, or “there is nothing to do”. Even better, “there’s nothing I can do” or “it’s beyond my control”. The setup is thus: someone who apparently has power to take action that benefits or hinders someone else, can’t do anything about it, and has no intention to do anything except to utter More >
