I really enjoy practicing my Chinese - and I will try it on anyone I meet who looks like they might be from China. I'll politely ask them in English if they speak Chinese - and then if they reply affirmatively, I'll introduce myself in Chinese. The past two days I have had two interesting encounters which tell me my Chinese has a long, long way to go. Sunday I went with my mom (she was visiting from PA) to brunch and she wanted to stop by a purse store and buy something for my sister. Well - the girl behind the counter looked Chinese, I asked her if she spoke it and sure enough she did. In Chinese I asked her where she was from and what her name was - and she stared at me for a second, and then proceeded to laugh. Apparently I had mangled something in Chinese and it sounded funny to her. She managed to figure out what I was trying to say, but I was glad to know I was entertaining to her.
Then today I was at the Chinese consulate getting my visa processed and I tried to begin a conversation with an elderly Chinese woman. After I introduced myself and asked her where she was from she stood up and walked away! I hope I didn't accidently say something offensive. Needless to say - the last two days have shown me just how much I have to learn about China, its language and its people.
This will be a way for family and friends to keep track of me during my life in China/Singapore/Chicago/The Milky Way.
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