Nobu's Weblog

29th May 2017

I love walking along the light rail in the New Territories. Firstly, I will not get lost. Secondly, I will walk along streets I usually would not walk. Thirdly I can discover the HKG’s local life! Along the light there are a lot of villages! The atmosphere is different than in the city. I can see the sky, the people hardly speak English, no sky scrapers and less people, which makes going for walk much comfortable.

This time I discovered: Sunbathing blankets!

Huge blankets in different colors and size  are hanging on the public rails or (probably self-installed) string between trees. Some of them are wet. Some of them are drying in the warm sunrays, some of them just do “sunbathing”.

I have been told by a friend that those people (hanging blankets in the public) do not have the space to hang the blankets in their own living area. Probably too small home, no balcony or no rooftop. So, they found their own way to dry or sunbath blankets. I was wondering whether they would not be afraid that someone would stole their blankets as I also could not spot someone who was guarding the blankets. Obviously, it is all based on TRUST! WOW!!!

I wish I could have a nap now one those by sunrays warmed blankets!

15th May 2017

Today I am very happy, because I had my first “kind of proper” CANTONESE conversation with my landlady when I was going to pay the rent at her home.

My landlady is a typical Hakka lady in her 80ies. I used to communicate with her with the help of her daughter, the property agent and/or my friends. Although I know she does not understand Mandarin, I kept speaking with her in Mandarin, in the big desperate hope, she would understand one or two words.

Her house’s door is always open, when she is at home. She does not have a bell, the only way to ask her come out, is shouting.

Me: Po po! Po po! Jou san! Jou san! chin lai a!
Me: Old woman! Old woman! Good morning! Good morning! Money arrived!

She ( somewhere from the house): bin ghoh x x x  ngo a?
She: Who x x x  me?

Me: ngo hai a! Ngo hai Nobu!
Me: It is me! It is Nobu!

She: dang dang! Ngo lai x x x
She: Wait for a while! I come x x x

[…]

She: lei x x x  hoi sum
She: You x x x  happy!

Me (to be humble): m hai! Po po, lei sik jor fan mei a?
Me (to be humble): Nooooo, I am not! Old woman, have you eaten?

She: sik jor la! Lei le?
She: I have eaten already! What about you?

Me: dai sik jor la!
Me: I have already eaten, too.

Frankly, speaking I have not understand each word, but I think I got the key words. I also did not know the word for “rent” or “pay”, I just used words I have learned in my Cantonese class during the last 4 weeks so far.

The conversation was simple and yet so fruitful and so happy!

Everyone, have a happy Monday!

I will definitely continue to practice and improve! See you at the next competition!

11th May 2017

The Cantonese teacher encourages the students to write the sounds in our own languages, additionally to the Yale-System (= Cantonese Pinyin).  I found it quite helpful to use another language to learn a new language (without getting confused!). I am using now Japanese and German to remember the Cantonese word.  Can you recognize them in the picture?

10th May 2017

I came across an interesting Cantonese word while I was reading a food magazine:

“掃街” (sou3 gaai1*)

What is that!?

Ok, let me breakdown this word first. It consists of two words

掃 (sou3*)  = to sweep, to broom  &  街 (gaai1*) = street

So, it literally means “sweep the street”.

But why  “掃街” is mentioned in a food magazine and what is the relationship between “sweeping the street” and food?

Well, “掃街” describes the action of walking along the street and eating different street food and snacks e.g. egg waffle, stinky tofu, curry fish balls, sweet-sour soup, chicken wings, deep fried veggies, . All kinds of food-to-go!

In fact, “掃街” is a popular activity in Hong Kong. I also did it a lot, especially when I have just arrived in Hong Kong. Mong Kok, Prince Edward, Hung Hom etc. –  without knowing that this activity has a Cantonese word!

What is your favorite district/area/street to “掃街”ing?

* Cantonese Pinyin is based on “Yale system”.

4th May 2017

With some delay, I would like to share with you my experience on the Wushu competition for Shatin District at the beginning of this year.

This competition is quite a big one in Hong Kong. In 2016 as well this year, it was held on 2 days from 9 am to 9pm!  It seems this competition is well known among Wushu and Chinese Martial Art Lovers. Last year and this year, a wide range of age groups – from 5 years to 80 years old – and various styles of Chinese martial artists gathered together to participate at this competition and to demonstrate their skills.

This year I attend the competition with 3 of my Kung Fu sisters. And other Kung Fu sisters came to support us! And our master also came!  We all are training in the Natural Energy Academy under master Joe Lok.

I performed “5 elements punching form”. And i broke my own record! I am so so happy! In the previous competition I have received only 7.xx points with almost the same form. This “5 elements punching form” was more powerful. But now I achieved 8.14 (out of 10) points!! What a progress!! Well done myself! So happy!

I am very proud of myself, that I decided to participate at this competition. I used to hate competitions. I had put down my fear to loose, to fail. Joining a competition means (for me) to set a target and practice and improve until the competition came and enjoying every little progress. What I have learned from this process was “Expect nothing and appreciate everything!”

The Shatin District Competition is usually held beginning of the year. And enrollment would start around 3 months before that. Participation costs are relatively low. It starts from 60 Hong Kong Dollar/per person/per form. It is reasonable. And even you do not do any martial art, watching the performance is pretty awesome! Some of the moves I have seen before just in one of those Jackie Chan movies. WOW! It is so exciting! So, maybe I see you there in 2018?