Wǒ shì měiguó rén

I had quite the conversation with a stranger today while waiting for the bus.  I’m going to share it with you because I actually understood it.  This is a major accomplishment.  And it was a little funny, so here goes…

Random stranger in a snazzy silver suit who was standing in front of me in line: “Nǐ shì àodàlìyǎ rén ma?” (Are you Australian?)

Me: “Duìbùqǐ, wǒ de zhōngwén bù hǎo.  Qĭng màn diăr.” (Sorry, my Chinese isn’t good.  Please speak a little slower.)

Stranger: “Nǐ shì àodàlìyǎ rén ma?” (Are you Australian?)

Me: “Wǒ bùshì àodàlìyǎ rén. Wǒ shì měiguó rén.” (I’m not Australian.  I’m American.)

Stranger: “Nǐ bùshì měiguó rén. Nǐ shì àodàlìyǎ rén.” (You’re not American.    You’re Australian.)

Me: "Wǒ bùshì. Wǒ shì měiguó rén."  (I’m not.  I’m American.)

Stranger: "Tā shì měiguó rén. Nǐ shì àodàlìyǎ rén." (Nods towards my friend.  She is American.  You are Australian.)

Me: "Oh.  Ok." (Oh.  Ok.)

And then we got on the same bus and stopped talking.   This conversation jazzed me (to use RVA lingo for the first time on this blog) for several reasons…

Reason A: He would not take my word for it.  To him, apparently, I am Australian.

Reason B: How could anyone think I am Australian?  Don’t get me wrong, I take it as a compliment, but seriously?  Have you heard me speak?  Have you ever been to Australia?

Reason C: How is it that now, after having visited Australia, that this suddenly happens?  It must be my glowing tan…hahaha…

Reason D: I understood the conversation!!!!  Yes, it’s lesson 1 Chinese…but still!  Woot woot…go me!

I'd like to thank Google translate for helping me with the tones :)

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 11:04 p.m. (2/11/2013)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 7:04 a.m. (2/11/2013)

A few questions rolling through my head...

My mind is so often filled with questions. Sometimes I ask them, and sometimes I don't, but eihter way they are still there. So, in the spirit of trying to blog more, I'm going to write some of them here and just throw them out into the void. Answer if you'd like to, but feel free to just ponder away like I have been and will continue to about them...

Why is it that I use my backpack more now than I ever did as a student? I don't know where I'd be without it! Weird.

Why do traditional definitons only allow the use of the term "best friend" in reference to one person? My life would be so strange if I only had one!

When is the point where you stop adapting and start changing the world around you rather than changing yourself? Not necessarily in merely a spiritual sense, but in a physical and transformational sense, as well.

How can people commit so easily to a place? The thought of staying somewhere longer than a few years is so against everything I know. It is such a nice thought, but in reality it is so difficult after such a transient life.

Why does it get cold again just when I thought things were warming up?

Why do we have middle names in some cultures? How did that start??

Okay, enough of that...