Language Corner

Okay, so I need to document these things just for our history's sake:

1. SUZANNE: My Chinese tutor was straight up with me the other night. She asked me to try to read some characters. I've been avoiding them, because in my mission we learned traditional characters, and in China they read simplified characters. She said that there are even some characters she doesn't know, so she reads the sentence around them, and then "fills in the blank". So I read through a whole paragraph using her method (not knowing a good amount of the characters). I was so shocked at how well her metod worked, I asked Tim to come in so I could read it aloud to him. I didn't know all the characters, but she promises it will come quick if I just try.

2. TIM: he says he's learning more complex words and characters through all the emails he has to read at work. He still acts as the go-between between his boss and some 40+ employees he manages. What a tough situation to be in. I would hate to have that pressure, but Tim takes it all in stride. He still loves loves loves his job! We do miss him here at home though. It is quite a reunion when he gets home... I'll post pictures.

3. HUNTER: now isn't scared to answer the following questions in Chinese:
1. What is your name
2. Where are you from
3. How old are you

Yesterday, we entered a construction site, and went into a house. Hunter even yelled from the window "Hello" (only in Chinese) to all the workers. This is not like his character. He is a little more reserved. He talked to anyone who would listen, and even answered the above questions for Tanner. He is really starting to love Chinese. Next month he gets to go to his Chinese pre-school. He's going to miss his best friend Andy (who's Chinese, but his parents speak PERFECT english, and weird story, Andy's mom knows Tim's old boss at Citigroup where he did his internship in NYC).

The funniest part of it all? Tanner wasn't talking yet when we were in the states. When we came to China, all the sudden he started talking, only in Chinese. It's much easier for kids to learn. IE: "Flower" in Chinese is "hua", much easier in Chinese. Anyway, Hunter has always looked out for Tanner and has taken personal responsibility over him. What's funny is Hunter thinks Tanner never spoke before b/c we didn't speak his language. So now Hunter translates for Tanner. We'll say "come on boys, let's go, put your shoes on". And Hunter will get Tanner and say "Lai, chuan xie zi" (come, put on shoes). LOL!! So, at the age of 4, Hunter thinks he's our family's translator.

4. TANNER: He is now copying Hunter in requesting things in Chinese "Qing Ni Gei Wo " ( which translates to please give me ). Except Tanner always throws in "milk" as he believes it's part of every sentence when asking for something in Chinese. So his common phrases come out like this (I have translated them for you):
"Please give me milk shoes"
"Please give me milk car"
"Please give me milk hold me"

We like to talk to the locals so the boys can see how much we love them. We usually always say hello to them when we pass them on the street. For the first month we were here, he thought Chinese people were Called "Ni Hao" (translates to Hello) just as Flower is called "Hua", so every time he saw a Chinese person, he'd point and shout "Nihao".

I remember on my mission when a Chinese little boy (Tanner's age) saw me, and shouted to his mom in Chinese (while in tears, he was afraid, he'd never seen a caucasian) "Mommy!! I see a 'Hello', I see a 'Hello' ". Funny how things come around full-circle in life.

It's really cute, and cracks Holly up. Even more funny--- Tanner knows what "BuXing" means. It translates to "Not acceptable", and we all use it when Tanner is doing something naughty.

The other day Tim walked in on Tanner drawing vertical lines on the wall. Tim over heard him talking to himself while he was in the act, saying "BuXing Tanner! BuXing Tanner! BuXing Tanner!".