日韩精品久久一区二区三区_亚洲色图p_亚洲综合在线最大成人_国产中出在线观看_日韩免费_亚洲综合在线一区

您現在的位置: Language Tips> Columnist> Patrick Whiteley  
   
 





 
Christmas wraps up another year of surprises
[ 2008-12-15 14:05 ]

By Patrick Whiteley

Christmas wraps up another year of surprises

Can you believe how fast this year has flown? I know there are a few weeks before we all tear into another year, but when I start buying Christmas presents, and posting them back home (as we all must do now), I'm not only wrapping gifts for my loved ones, I'm also wrapping up another year.

The words of John Lennon come to mind: "So this is Christmas, and what have you done?"

I have done a lot and what a year it has been for an expat living in China.

We started 2008 with one of the worst snowstorms in history, followed by the tragedy of the Sichuan earthquake. The image of a crouching father holding the hand of his dead son still trapped in the rubble will haunt me forever.

Then we let the Games begin.

Fireworks, 5,000 years of history, and giant whales swimming around the stadium all set the tone before the Olympians dazzled us with world records and feats of the fantastic.

The world watched China host the biggest banquet in its history and we expats were lucky to be here to enjoy the experience.

The Beijing Games helped change a lot of stereotypes about China thanks to the reports of more than 30,000 members of the foreign media.

These short-stay visitors were important people because their television reports, feature articles, radio interviews and blogs reached the biggest worldwide audience in Olympic history.

Christmas wraps up another year of surprises

The world's view of China is already changing, according to a survey organized by the Communication University of China (CUC) in Beijing. The survey revealed that foreigners liked China better than before, because they knew more.

In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics, the world had been becoming more aware of China, but the average person just didn't have time to delve deeply into Sinology. The world watched, feasted on all things Chinese, and now better understands.

But despite my third year in the Middle Kingdom, I realize I still know only a little and more keeps being revealed.

I was recently asked why most Chinese people are indirect and tend to beat around the bush.

I was about to say it had to do with their desire to be polite and their aversion of conflict. I was also about to rattle off the other textbook reasons: "Saving face, harmonious society, Confucius teachings" and the rest.

But if the Chinese are not so direct, why is it OK for complete strangers to ask me: "How much money do you make, are you married and why not?"

I really don't know.

When I first arrived in mid 2006, I was like a sponge and after six months thought I had quickly grabbed a handle on this mysterious land.

I even successfully pitched a China book idea to a major publisher. My book was later knocked back because of the overload of China-themed books in the pipeline.

Today, my original book outline, drafted two years ago, makes me feel a little embarrassed. It was so superficial and just skimmed the surface. It was just like all the other books out there, repeating the same China clichs.

And how the hell could I write a China book when I couldn't even speak the language?

I know this hasn't stopped other authors penning their views, but how can anybody write about a nation when he or she cannot talk to the majority of people who live there?

They say a visitor to a new country can write a good feature article after a week, and bash out a book after six months but after a couple of years, things become fuzzier.

But maybe this is not such a bad thing.

Slowly understanding China's mysteries is just like opening a Christmas present.

It's often full of nice surprises.

我要看更多專欄文章

 
英語點津版權說明:凡注明來源為“英語點津:XXX(署名)”的原創作品,除與中國日報網簽署英語點津內容授權協議的網站外,其他任何網站或單位未經允許不得非法盜鏈、轉載和使用,違者必究。如需使用,請與010-84883631聯系;凡本網注明“來源:XXX(非英語點津)”的作品,均轉載自其它媒體,目的在于傳播更多信息,其他媒體如需轉載,請與稿件來源方聯系,如產生任何問題與本網無關;本網所發布的歌曲、電影片段,版權歸原作者所有,僅供學習與研究,如果侵權,請提供版權證明,以便盡快刪除。
相關文章 Related Story
 
 
 
本頻道最新推薦
 
新加坡開展促友善全民教育活動
小長假的前一天 virtual Friday
英語中的“植物”喻人
Burying loved ones deadly expensive
經濟危機時期入讀哈佛難上加難
翻吧推薦
 
論壇熱貼
 
“學會做人”如何翻譯
做作怎么翻譯
美國人電話留言精選
大話西游中英文對白
夜宵怎么翻譯比較地道

 

主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美a在线观看 | 人人狠狠综合久久亚洲 | 杏导航aⅴ福利网站 | 色网站在线免费观看 | 黄色三级视频网站 | 成人黄色一级视频 | 黑色丝袜美女自安慰视频 | 午夜精品一区二区三区免费视频 | 性XXXX18精品A片一区二区 | 日本一级大毛片a一 | 成人偷拍片视频在线观看 | 一本色道久久综合 | 欧美日韩高清不卡一区二区三区 | 精品一二区 | 久久中文字幕2021精品 | 成在线人免费视频 | 亚洲精品久久久久无码AV片软件 | 久草视频手机在线 | 国产一区二区精品在线观看 | 日韩中文字幕在线 | 国产最新网址 | 色妞色视频一区二区三区四区 | 亚洲va中文字幕 | 亚洲国产乱| 亚洲精品久久久久影院 | 欧美精品一区二区三区在线 | 精品视频在线免费看 | 欧美激情a∨在线视频播放 中文字幕亚洲图片 | 亚洲另类自拍 | 亚洲精品日韩精品一区 | 久草精彩视频 | www成人国产在线观看网站 | 国产视频99 | 欧美精品一区二区三区在线 | 国产精品成人自拍 | 国产一区二 | 欧美成人网在线综合视频 | 久久亚洲欧美日韩精品专区 | 久久亚洲精品中文字幕二区 | 亚洲一区二区在线播放 | 天天爽天天操 |