Chinese & their English names... 很好笑！

With the influence of the West, as well as the important business relationship China has with the West, etc., more and more Chinese people have English names in addition to their Chinese names. Its sort of interesting because how do you get a name in a foreign language? Often there is no equivalent, especially from English to Chinese and vice versa - so you either have to be 1. given your new name, or 2. pick your own name. My Chinese name is Hao Danni (郝丹妮）and my Chinese teachers in the U.S. gave it to me. But, if no one was there to pick your name for you, you'd most likely pick it according to whether or not you think it sounds good. In Chinese language, you hear them say that sort of thing a lot "很好听“ or "it just sounds good."

We were looking around our new apartment's gym complex when I was reminded of another video by Sufei that I watched a couple years ago. It was pretty hilarious and covered how names get lost in translation. Anyway, we were talking with one of the gym's personal trainers whose English name is, and I kid you not, ROCK. I guess he thought he should pick his English name according to what he does for a living. Regardless, we thought it was funny and it reminded me of this awesome video by Sexy Beijing.

Again, I know a lot of people (myself included) tend to not watch videos when they are posted... but this is REALLY funny and its pretty short!



Hilarious, no?! LOL! Oh BTW its funny because you see that guy walking around with his shirt up and his stomach showing? They totally do that here! Its hot. And they just want to cool off. But, its funny to see. Lots of men do it!

I love Sufei! I keep hoping maybe I will run into her on the subway someday... hah. Or Smacker! Meeting Smacker would be even cooler. Sufei went back and interviewed Smacker in a couple more videos that are also really entertaining.

Steph

Shopping Your Closet

Don't you love that?

I pulled out a top that I bought on super sale from The Limited 4 years ago when my husband was in Iraq - that I have never, ever worn - and it just totally came together for my look tonight.

The top is perfect with two of this Spring's hottest trends: nude & lace.



I added to the look with my J. Crew gold & pearl necklace. On the bottom half, I wore dark rinse 7FAM skinnies with a pair of gold sandals I bought at Banana Republic last year. Yes - it was actually warm enough in Monterey to wear sandals. I would have taken a picture of the entire outfit but I was on my way out to dinner to celebrate my final Chinese scores! Which were awesome by the way - the best I could have hoped for :).

So, anyway, usually I would have taken a picture of the entire outfit when I returned home, but, somewhat embarrassing to say is there is not nearly enough light in this house for pictures right now - all the light bulbs in our living room have been dead for at least a week, but we've chosen to live in the dark instead of buy new light bulbs - you know, with all the effort that would require.

Now that Chinese class is over, I don't know what to do with myself!! Thankfully I still have this Vogue my friend in China sent me - I can read/study & learn the newest trends at the same time. Um, yay for Chinese Vogue?!


Until next time!

Steph