Nobu’s Weblog

07/ 05 /2009

On last Thursday’s evening my friend K. and I have started our tip to Shanghai. While everyone was talking about the swine flu, all of us were thinking “Touch wood, no confirmed case in HKG.” But to be honest, this is just the matter of the time, we cannot run away and we also cannot avoid it. The only thing is to be good prepared.

During our wonderful stay, everyday the day has been covered by these news: H1N1 (but in Chinese).

On our flight back, we have been asked by the flight attendant to fill out the form where we have to mention our travel history of last 7 days as well as our recent health condition. This is the first time I have filled out the form and this was also the moment I have realized how serious the situation have been turned. Not only this. Even the temperature measurements has been stepped up. Really everyone needs to take off his hat. And we were not allowed to go through in bulk through the conrtrol. It seems that everyone needs to be seen clearly on the screen. Further on there are much more officer than usual – and all were wearing masks.

After I passed the passport control and picked up my luggage, an another officer with mask gave me an mask, another officer was distributing flyers with information about the swine flu.

Once I got into the departure terminal, I guess 90% of the people were wearing masks. This was a like a movie!!! I could not believe. But unfortunately this IS REALITY: The situation of swine flu IS INDEED VERY SERIOUS. It was a scaring view. I could not take a photo.

I am not used to it wearing a mask, so shortly after I was out of breathe and felt dizzy….

While my friend and I was in SH. SOMETHING has been happened. But what? We should know soon…

The next day my friend and me’s health condition turned worst. We got sick. We got a flu(?).

“On May 1, one case became the first confirmed case of swine flu in Hong Kong and also the first in Asia after being tested positive by the University of Hong Kong and the Department of Health of Hong Kong. The Mexican patient, who travelled with two companions from Mexico to Hong Kong with a stopover in Shanghai Pudong Airport, arrived in Hong Kong on April 30.” By Wikipedia, for more info, please refer to “The Standard”.

We got scared and decided to check with the doc, since we flew from HKG to SH Pudong Airport on April 30. Our doc mentioned that there is a low risk, that we get in contact with the mexican swine flu. But for precaution we need to stay at home and observe ourself.  My doc rang me up several times per day to see how I am. I packed my back pack, in case I need to go to hospital, I can go immediately…

I always see similar cases and situation on TV, as a movie e.g. Outbreak with Dustin Hoffmann. But this is reality. This is not controlled by a director planning a happy end…

So what can we do?  Please check the to do list by WHO.

UPDATE 2009-05-12
- Buttons of the elevator of our building will be disinfect every two hours
- Buttons of the ATM will be disinfected regularly.
- My friend and I am recovered

As I have mentioned I have been in Guangzhou during new year.  I was looking for CD in a CD-shop, but unfortunately I could not remember the singer’s name.  Well, in school I have learnt to describe things, if I do not know something. So I use this method to explain the shop assistant - she speaks only Putonghua - what I want. So I also do!

Can YOU guess, who I am looking for?

“我 找 一 张CD.
I am looking for a CD.
我忘了歌手的名字, 我忘了他的汉字.
I forgot the name of the singer, I forgot how to write his name.
但是我记得他是男人, 他是台湾人.
But I remember he is a man, he is Taiwanese.
他的歌是普通话.
His songs are in Putonghua.
他的名字有三个汉字. 一 个汉字是”绿”.
His name contains 3 Chinese Characters; one of them is “green”
我朋友说他的歌好听.
My Friend told me his songs are good.”

The shop assistant did know immediately who I am looking for and offered me following CDs.  (-^〇^-) If you also want to know, please click here.

现在我很高兴.
At the moment I am happy.

新年的时候我跟朋友一起广州(中国).
During New Year I went with my friend to Guangzhou (China).

她是一半中国人和一半德国人.
She is half Chinese and half German.

她说德文, 英文和粤语一点儿.
She speaks German, English and a little bit Cantonese.

我是一半日本人和一半德国人.
I am half Japanese and half German.

我说德文, 英文,日文和普通话一点儿
I speak German, English, Japanese and a little bit Mandarin.

在广州我说很多普通话
In Guangzhou I talked a lot in Mandarin.

服务员(中国人) 常常听的懂我说什么和我明白他们.
Sales assistant (Chinese) often understand me and I understand them.

所以我很高兴.
Therefore I am happy.

我听说别的服务员说我的普通话不错.
I have heard the sales assistant talked to the other one, that my Chinese is not bad.

所以我很高兴.
Therefore I am happy.

在香港我很少说普通话因为香港的语言是粤语.
In HKG I seldom talk Mandarin, because the national language here is Cantonese.

我希望有更多勇气说普通话, 我想说普通话更多, 我要学习普通话更多!
I wish I have more courage to talk Mandarin, I would like to speak more Mandarin and I will study more Mandarin!

谢谢我的姐姐和朋友常常跟我练习说普通话!
Thank you to my big sis and my friends, who always practice talking to me!

可以一天我想说普通话说得很好.
One day I would like to speak Mandarin fluently.

这是我的梦想. 可以一天成真 !
This is my dream! One day it comes true!

Some friends in Asia do not call me by my real name. They uses some nicknames, which I would like to introduce to you:
My friends in Shanghai often call me

• Sasa (”Sa” is one part of my real name)
• Cazai-Girl (I LOVE chinese preserved veggies!)
• Little princess
• Princess Sasa
• Cazai Princess (If I live in the Cazai-tale, that would be a great …)

=> Nice to meet you, I am THE little cazai princess Sasa

Here in HK I am called Sweet Candy.

After I was remembered by Chinese men that I am living in the best environment for learning and talking mandarin, I reviewed my lessons “Like/not like”, “colors” and “Shopping” in a real shop in China. Yeah, right, no time to be blue. I have to practice more, let’s go Nobu!

“How much is THIS blouse?”
“How much is THAT blouse?”
“Do you have this blouse in blue/red/brown/black/green?” (Actually I was not interested in these colours, but I was reviewing the colours. XD)
“I do not like this shirt, BUT I like this one.”
“How much is all together?”
“It is expensive, I only pay xxx RMB!”
“This is too small and I am too big. Do you have big size shirt?”
etc
Since the sales woman DID understand what I am talking, I was really interested in talking more and more, even I do not want to buy anything, perhaps only one shirt XD
In order not to bother her, I choose a shop with less guests.

Success No.1

Nearly every day I am remembered that my communication skills mandarine are not enough at all. Frankly speaking I know it, but how can I improve?
I have learned Chinese for 4 months now: I am able to write, read, listen and understand. I am able to talk, but only short and simple sentences. Simple communication can be done. I could not discuss, my pronounciation is still bad, I often do not know the vocabularies.

• Last time I was searching for the car parking place in Mainland China. Unfortunately I forgot the word “parking”. In school I learnt “if you do not know the word, describe it”.

So I tried, quite difficult due to my limited vocabularies:
“Excuse me, where are the cars sleeping?”
“Excuse me, where is the very big home for cars?”
“Excuse me, where are the cars stored in layers?”
Result: Nobody could understand me.-.-
In such case I ring up my friend Jean, who helps me immediately instead of laughing at me or teaching me wrong words.

• The same situation when I pick my phone at work. How often I have already explained the supplier in Chinese (!) “Sorry, I am German. I do not speak any Chinese.”

But his/her reaction is always a loud laugh. Perhaps s/he is thinking if I can say this sentence, I must talk Chinese very well. If I start talking English, s/he will hang up immediately. -.- In such case I have to ask Ego or Wendy for help.

• Another situation in China: I was screaming: “Help, help! My friend is missing!!!” Nobody helped me. Only one young man was coming and let me know that my Chinese pronounciation is wrong. -.-

I do not like these situations.
+ I feel helpless.
+ I would like to be independent.
———————————————————
= I am at the Chinese rock bottom.

Let’s do s.th. 4 our peace on the world!

Do you believe in? It might be a good idea, but I think it is not the correct way to make peace. Freud told that this kind of energy can be used for another positive doing. I am sure that people, who are fighting in the war, who are living scared, do not care about this day… Vielleicht ein Versuch wert?!

It’s lunch time and it has to be decided where K., A. and me can take a rest in order to enjoy lunch. The most important question is “Nobu, what do you like?” Since I do not point out a special dish, because they will try to find this dish and if they found, they will sometimes order a lot, I just answer “I like nearly everything. I prefer chinese food.” K. is thinking “Hm, that’s difficult. Just let me know, what kind of food u do not like.” Then I answer “Animals’ stomach, parts of the face, feet …” K. interrupts me ” Stop! Stop! I mean, do u like chicken? Pork? Beef?” XD

It’s breakfast time! I would like to drink a hot choclate. So I order a cup of it in my hotel. I got a piece of choclate, hot water and creamy milk….

ENTERRING FROM NOVEMBER 20th, 2006

On one hand some people are thinking that I am a Chinese, but on the other hand there are also some people, who have another opinion. These people looking at me very serious and thinking, thinking, thinking until they get finally a decision: “Lisa, you look British!” Ah~ really?! Thank u! Today I met a married Chinese man and he said: “You look very young. You are beatiful. You look like the British Queen!” The British Queen??? Which one? What do u think?

A.: “U looks British, because your style look british!”