Speaking of language barriers, finally got an answer to one of the more nagging questions. When trying to navigate somewhere, the maps and signs often have differing versions of Chinese translated into Pinying. On my map, am looking for ZhongShan Rd., but when we get there, the signs on the street will say something like Song Chiang Rd. We were at Carolyn's teacher conference and popped into her Mandarin teacher's class to meet her. Super lady, one of those teachers that makes the classroom fun in a way that you are excited to learn from her. We're sitting there learning about the class and just shooting the breeze, and I ask what the deal is with all the varying styles of Pinying. Unexpectedly, it was not due to the masochistic streak of the Chinese to make their language so hard to outsiders to remain intellectually isolationist, but rather was an interesting story about the age of world exploration and geopolitics. The way she explained it, in Taiwan, there are three distinct versions of Pinying...the oldest was derived from the translations done by the earliest Europeans to arrive in China. These were both Latin based and later, from the Dutch, who had many "trading outposts" in the area. At the end of WWII, and with the fall of the Nationalist ROC to the Communist China PRC, those two entities created their own distinct versions of "simplified" Pinying. In Taiwan (ROC), with the influx of Americans, who became increasing protectors of the government, they adopted a version the teacher called Yale-o, which was devised by a professor from Yale and developed with a bent towards English speakers, and implemented on the island. On mainland China, with their Russian comrades growing importance, another version of Pinying was developed that was geared towards Russian speakers. Later, as the PRC became the dominant force internationally, with their ever increasing cultural and educational interactions with the west, the PRC version of Pinying has become the dominant version internationally. So within the last decade or so, the Taiwanese government has decided to adopt that version officially as well. The problem is that not only are there old maps, but some are reluctant to change to the PRC version...even the teacher said the Taiwanese version was far more elegant than the PRC style. Add to that the facts that it was written in the European manner for centuries as little as 40 years ago, and the locals lack of really caring to spend money changing signs (why would you, the only people that get pissed off are foreigners) and there you have it. Interesting, but still a point of frustration. Oh yeah...my Survival Chinese language class starts tomorrow. Really looking forward to that.
A couple of other things have been bugging me lately. First, is it just me, or are more restaurants adding lemon or lime slices in their water jugs. I seem to recall it on occasion growing up, but it feels as if every other restaurant these days is putting them in their water pitchers. This is not just a Taiwan thing, but had noticed it more and more in the States as well. I don't like it...what is wrong with the taste of plain water? And if there is something wrong with the taste of your particular water that begs for some citrus to cover it up...perhaps I shouldn't be drinking it? And inevitably, you get a seed that gets stuck in the back of your throat that kinda freaks you out, which you then have to spit out into your napkin (at best). I would feel like an asshole if I asked for some water sans lemon and would probably get water with a little nose citrus added anyway.
The other thing that's been bumping me is Chinese men with really kinky curly hair. Not weird...just different, and with a head full of it myself, I shouldn't be so harsh, but still. I mention this today as Paul and I are going for our first Taiwannese haircut this afteroon...as the sign says (I think)...one bowl fits all.
Alright, gonna settle in for World Series Game three and they are singing the National Anthem...by Zooey Daschenel? The game is in Detroit...they couldn't prop up some ol' Motown great to sing the Anthem.
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