Never Forget 9/18...

Since we started to blog, on blogspot, on sina, or before that on wordpress, there are a few annual posts that are included every year and while this year circumstances prevented it from going up on the right day, it isn't because we forgot. The invasion of China and the brutality of the Japanese is something that is often overlooked overseas. Even with the release of movies like "Nanjing", it is still not an issue that gets enough play and too often foreigners don't understand why Chinese are so sensitive when it comes to issues of Japan, yet there are large swaths of the Japanese population that deny (or don't even know) the atrocities their nation committed during World War II. What makes it worse is that this policy is often one that has the support of the government. We must never forget the Holocaust, we must also never forget the slaughter that Japan perpetrated on China, that all began on 9/18/1931.

Learning Chinese Becoming Too Common? Try Manchu!

In my school days, I remember someone mentioning that a fellow clashttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifsmate was studying Manchu (along with a number of other languages) on his own. These kind of language freaks, for whom learning Chinese isn't enough and so they move on to Mongolian or Tibetan or some other minority languages, were not altogether uncommon at my university considering its relatively strong languages program. Despite being part Manchu, I've never studied (nor ever thought about studying) Manchu. According to wikipedia, out of the 10 million ethnic Manchus, less than 70 can speak Manchu.

For whatever reason, this week the New York Times decided to take notice of this fact and came out with not 1, but 2 articles on the Manchu language. I can see it now, when the writer http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifproposed the article, the editors thought a paid trip up to the middle of nowhere for one article wasn't enough, so the writer put together 2 stories. The stories are "Chinese Village Struggles to Save Dying Language" and "Manchu Language Lives Mostly in Archives." Hmm...What do these articles tell you? It seems that if you are fluent (or close to it) in Chinese and also have a solid grasp of the Manchu written language, you certainly have a longterm job prospect (though don't think the pay would be very good). Granite Studio does a good writeup on the articles (suprisingly one of the few in the China blogsphere who took note of them), but, possibly because I'm less of a romantic, I don't exactly feel sad about the disappearance of the language. Of course, there is a side of me that wants to go out (or at least go on amazon) and buy THE book to study Manchu, but amongst the other Manchu people I know (and in my own thinking), the idea that the language is eventually going to disappear is a foregone conclusion and doesn't make them any less proud in their own identity.

Guide Dogs in China?

The first of China's guide dogs was trained at Dalian Medical University and completed its training during the fall of 2006 (here is a Chinese article about it). Now Shanghai is getting into the act, launching a plan to train guide dogs.

I first discussed the idea of guide dogs in China with the late (and much missed) Xiao Cao, who thought a guide dog would offer optimum independence for getting around, especially in a city without a path for the blind (mang dao, the raised, tactile walkways found on the sidewalks in China). Then again, even in cities where there is a an extensive mang dao, these are often not very safe because of a variety of obsticles that get placed on them.

The reality is that while guide dogs may be extremely helpful for the blind in China, at this point I don't think its the best idea to introduce them. Guide dogs in the US and UK have become a common sight over the years and are allowed total access. There are the occassional stories about a restaurant owner or a cabbie who won't let a dog user in, but these problems are rare and typically get harshly punished.

This, of course, is the crux of the problem. First, to my knowledge, China has no laws to protect guide dog users. While it is great that a dog can give a blind person the confidence to go out and travel on their own, if there is no law protecting them and guaranteeing the dog will be allowed on a bus or in a mall, the dog doesn't really help. Also, even if laws existed, they would need to be fully and properly enforced. Beyond that, at most of the reputable guide dog schools in the US, they require students first to have good (or at least basic) white cane skills down, something that very few Chinese have.

Ahh....just one more law that needs to be changed (or in this case written) in China.

Saturday Photo Thread: Spring Festival Edition

Dumplings
Zhenyang Rd, Shenyang - August 2004

Chinese Beer Taking Over the US?

While many of you are out shopping for your Spring Festival feast, if it is to include alcohol, you may be surprised at the many new options. While my co-author, being a right, honorable Dongbei ren would declare the proper way to toast the new year is with glass after glass of baijiu, for those who dislike the white stuff but still want to drink, the main choice left is beer. See, for whatever reason, there is nothing better with a good Chinese meal than a nice, cold beer. While many we know will be gathering 'round the table and chowing down on hot pot and freshly made dumplings, they'll also be pounding down some beers. A city isn't a real city in China if it doesn't have its own local brew. While around the world the most famous Chinese beer is Qingdao (Tsingtao), its highly debatable what the favorite beer of China is. While I'm not the biggest fan of Qingdao, traveling to the city of Qingdao is an interesting experience that shouldn't be passed up. Beautiful beaches, lovely architecture, and good, fresh beer. One of the most interesting experiences in Qingdao is going down to the local shop where, instead of selling bottles of beer, you grab a plastic bag and fill it up from the factory fresh keg at the door.

Anyways, back on subject, those in the US (and it seems the UK) will be spoiled for choice this year when they go down to their local alcohol emporium. For the longest time, the only Chinese beer available was Qingdao, but recently a number of others have been popping up. Over the summer, I came across Qingdao Draft and SiWu (XiHu, from Hangzhou) in the stores. The fall brought with it the discovery of Beijing's famed Yanjing Beer (pictured below).But most importantly was this winter's discovery of Harbin Beer in the stores. Viewing the green 6 pack holder with HARBIN on the front almost stopped us in our tracks at the store, followed by us buying all the store sold. There are larger bottles available that have a fancy white wrapper around them with some cool circular logos on one side and a beautiful, cursive Harbin on the other side. My co-writer (did I mention he's from the Northeast?) would consider this the only acceptable alternative (or in addition) to paint thinner baijiu. Harbin is imported by Anheuser Busch (who took over the brewery a few years ago) through Harbin Beer Ltd Wuhan (WHAT???), but at least it keeps the Harbin name and the great logo Pictures of the glorious nectar can be found below:


Here's a picture of the Yanjing and Harbin bottles side by side:
Whatever you use to toast the new year, drink responsibly and have fun!

Walk Away From Me My Love...

I just came across these pictures of the demolition of Wulihe Stadium in Shenyang, which occured this afternoon. Many Chinese, especially soccer fans, will never forget the name "Wulihe," because it is where, in October 2001, China ended a 44 year drought and for the first (and so far only) time in history qualified for the World Cup. The play of "Milu's army" along with the excellent support of the Dongbei fans was truly something special.

I'd visited Wulihe a number of times and on the last visit, I was pretty shocked at how far it had detiorated. No ticket offices, no concession stands, and worst of all, NO LIGHTBULBS IN THE MEN'S BATHROOM!!! With Shenyang hoping to host some of the 2008 Olympic events, Wulihe was slated to be renovated, but the decision was ultimately made to destroy it and build a new stadium in its place. Much like when Chicago faced the destruction of Chicago Stadium and Old Comiskey, Wulihe was a total dump, but its a place that holds so many good memories and so its hard to part with...

Some personal pictures:

yes indeed, I Love You, Shenyang!

ＵPDATE: this from Li Tie's blog (one of the players who was on the pitch during those fateful Qualifying games in 2001) on Wulihe's demolition. A quick translation of what he said: I knew this day was coming for some time, but now that its here I still feel a bit uncomfortable. Wulihe is a place where I accomplished a dream of mine, it is a place that has offered me much happiness, one that I will never forget. I don't know what will become of this place in the future. If this lucky place could be turned into an apartment complex that would be great, I could buy an apartment and live here. Its interesting to think about.