Personally, I think there's nothing funnier than translating Chinese to English. (Ok, not exactly true. People falling down pretty much always makes me laugh). Today I looked crazy as I was mumbling to myself and chuckling quietly. Sometimes not quietly at all. I keep overhearing or reading these phrases my colleagues were saying and some of them were hilarious! One being on a card we signed for a guest's anniversary. First off, I wrote, "Happy Anniversary and best wishes from the iCafe! Enjoy your time here in Dalian!", and signed my name hoping other would follow suit. They did but just not quite as I expected. First everyone else copied what I wrote WORD FOR WORD all over the card, then signed their name. Also good spelling was optional. There was 'annivorsery's, anniversery's, and even an annvorisry. However, my favorite phrase was the "Happy Everyday" with the 'e' backwards.
I love my job here.
Speaking of Engrish, I went shopping at a mall here call Victory Plaza. I liken it to Harry Potter in a way, but less...dark. Oh and no wizards.
You descend down into a basement into a underground city, and suddenly all there is to life is shoes, clothes, gaudy jewelry and crushing amounts of people meandering around. It doesn't stop there though, oh no! Four stories down. Into the clutches of the earth. I felt like I would be swallowed alive surrounded by sandals and pink billowy skirts. Lets just say I wouldn't go alone...
Thankfully Mary, my new friend who incidentally is an amazing shopper took me there and we scoured the market, gleaned treasures and I strolled my way through my first clothes shopping experience in China. I think I got some good deals, and Mary is a genius at bargaining. I acted incredibly disinterested (Thanks for the advice, Rachel) and we got some ok discounts. There was one item in particular though, I just had to have. I spotted the white tee way up on the top rack, peeking out behind other un-ostentatious looking shirts, and found my first spelled check skipped purchase. A sheriff's badge with the word 'sheriee' proudly emblazoned on a blue star. I cracked up, and I pretty much haven't stopped smiling since I laid eyes on it.
Today I taught a service leader to say, "She be straight trippin' yo". He taught me a song in Chinese about being polite. Maaybe I should reconsider my curriculum plan...
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