Catherineli

Hi Danb, whatever you do will not offend the family because they know you're American. What I know or where I know is only from China. I'm new in America. (1) For a Chinese funeral, you avoid everything in red color. Women should not wear red lipstick or any make up. No balloons are needed either. Envelope is white. You may use white, plain envelope to donate money. Make sure you put your name on the envelope to let the owner know who is offering. Some day when you have a wedding or funeral, the family will bless you back. Traditionally we don't use envelopes, just a bill of cash. The money is given only on the funeral day not other days. For a common friend, one hundred Yuan is alright. For a close friend, 200 Yuan. For family friend, it may be more. It depends. We sometimes don't donate money. We once went to our chairman's funeral a couple of years ago, we didn't spend a penny which is in the same way we didn't give a penny for Chairman Mao's funeral lol Here, in America, you may give a check, or just cash. I guess card is alright, as long as the card is not too bright-colored. (2) In China, the family make a reception on the funeral day for visitors who come to the funeral using the money from everyone's donation. However, not everyone goes to the feast because they want to be thoughtful to the family. Those who come to the dinner should never stay too long and should never laugh and smile. If you like to take the person out for a dinner to comfort her, it's alright but that is not what Chinese people do. You may ask the person whom you want to take out for a dinner. (3) Don't be surprised if you see someone crying loudly. At some places in China, the funeral family even hire people to cry for the family. (4) You may ask for permission to visit the grave, only if you want to. You're not expected to, though. Chinese family, above 90 percent, burn the yellow paper at the grave because they think the yellow paper will become money in the dead people's world. It's the culture we can't judge them being ridiculous. My father is never happy with me not having burned the paper for my decreased mother. I don't think there is such paper for any family to burn in America. have a good day!

I wonder how many same sex couples can stay many years until they grow old? I've never heard of any same-sex pair being 80 years of age.

Hello, guys, please know the biggest difference is the color at a funeral. American people may wear anything they like, colorful or dark. For a traditional Chinese funeral, NEVER wear bright-colored clothes including shoes. It's a big offend to the funeral family. Chinese people don't laugh or smile at a funeral moment which is second taboo. Make sure not to greet your friends with a smile at a funeral. You're welcome to shed tears to show your sympathy but it's okay if you don't cry. It's known to many people that All Chinese people were required to cry when Chairman Mao decreased. We don't present flowers to the family but a funeral wreath is welcome. Usually very special relatives offer a wreath. Friends offer some money. I'm Christian but I still fear death. I love living above the grass lol

I like this topic. Is "The Jeff" Chinese or American? The topic translated into English means "Do you believe fate?" Here the fate refers to a man and a woman in a relationship? Do I believe the ordained fate? I don't know if I should believe or not. I do believe there is an invisible force in control of our life!

Sorry, guys, that I've not come here for quite a few days. (1) The small bones are sheep knee bones that have been over 50 years in my family. It was a game for young girls 60 years ago. I love the bones a lot and I still play them like playing jacks. We call them "Galaha", a game for Manchu people in the northeast China. Here is the link to know our childhood game. "Playing Jack" was among them. http://www.womenofchina.com.cn/html/report/2580-1.htm Manchu people back to Qing Dynasty made a living by hunting. The knee bones showed off how many games they sported. The bones functioned as a deer head in America. Some people hang up the deer heads on the wall. I feel the heads are scary but the local people take the deer head a sense of achievement. (2) The beanbags or hacky sacks go with the small bones that we colored them red because they were too valuable and precious for us. (3) The feather game is "Jianzi" that I do every day now. (4) In my picture you can also see the Chinese couplet that is only for Chinese new year. I've never seen Chinese finger traps that Randy mentioned. thanks for sharing. These days I've been bothered by my taxman who is a jerk. He is from Malaysia but speaks Chinese. He gave a wrong address to IRS for me. I didn't know until after I received a letter from IRS requiring me to verify my ID. I went to IRS office two days ago. It was solved but the process was a headache and a panic. have a good night, every one! Catherine

Hello Everyone, I'm a beginner of collecting Chinese stuff to share different cultures. Now I like you to say how much you know about my collections. What can you see in the pictures? What are the words in the plate and what are the things in the plate? Relax everyone!

I was avoiding Window 10 as well until I couldn't. Now I'm using Window 10 that I was made to accept. But I didn't find anything bad though it took me some time to feel better. Catherine

I think the reason that April Fool's Day is banned in China is a political matter. Who knows what is right and what is wrong? It's said China is again being invaded by foreign countries, but from culture point of view. Western Thanksgiving Day, western Halloween's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc all creep into Chinese culture. That's why China government encourages to have Tomb's Sweeping Day, Dragon Boat Day to let Chinese people remember they are Chinese. True, in the past there was no holiday for Dragon Boat and Tomb's Sweeping Day. There is another saying about Chinese language being spreading all over the world. China is also promoting its culture to other countries. It's up to you to see the modern world. Culture War against each other? Or cultures intermingle to achieve peace and unity? Be a happy fool everyone! Catherine

Thank you Tom, Randy and Warren! I do appreciate your news! Warren, I send you an email. Would you please let me know something about your company or where your company is. Will come back again. Have a good day, everyone! Respect Catherine

Dear all! How is everyone? I've been doing well building my life. It's been quite a few years since I joined our forum. You have been helping me a lot. Now I come for help again. My son is to graduate pretty soon with his master degree of Electrical Engineering. He is looking for a job. I wonder if there's someone in this forum who likes to be his boss. My son went to high school at Montana, college at Boise State University and post graduate still at Boise State University. Is there anyone who can give me a little information about his job opportunity? Thank you very much for any information. Sincerely respect, Catherine

Thank you Tom! Thank you Randy! This is the link I"ve got about the sayings.http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/singlehtml.htm Now I'm learning to use the quotations after learning from you guys. (1) I won't pamper my son anymore. I must let him fish himself because the cat in gloves catches no mice. Or: I don't like coy people who cover their real intentions when dealing with certain things as the cat in gloves catches no mice. for example, "Come on, Randy, don't wear gloves. Let me know what you mean directly lol" 2) A good lawyer, a bad neighbor. There're so many strangers coming in and out at my lawyer neighbor's house that I am nervous from time to time. It's just as the old wife's tale: a good lawyer, a bad neighbor. I must move away some day. (1) The king's cheese is half-wasted in parings, but no matter,'tis made of the people's milk. It pains me to see people taking material things for granted. Wasting is a sin because everything is a gift from God. The king's cheese is half-wasted in parings, but no matter,'tis made of the people's milk. (2) The poor have little, beggars none;the rich too much. Enough not one. In some country, people's financial situation goes to extremes. The poor have little, beggars none;the rich too much. Enough not one. (1) He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas. She is a nice gal. All her friends are graceful, decent ladies as she doesn't want to have negative influence from bad people. He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas. (2) One good husband is worth two good wives, for the scarcer things are, the more they are valued. I don't need two wives. One husband is enough because less is more! Thank you everyone. I'm learning more from you guys. have a good day!

Happy New Year everyone!! May I ask you guys some language questions, Maybe your helping will make a good beginning of the coming year for everyone! Xiexie in advance! Here are some quotations from Benjamin Franklin. Would you please make more sentences or context for the following sayings for me? To Tom, Dennise: (1) The cat in gloves catches no mice. (2) A good lawyer, a bad neighbor. To Greg and Mick: (1) The king's cheese is half-wasted in parings, but no matter,'tis made of the people's milk. (2) The poor have little, beggars none;the rich too much. Enough not one. ( what does "not one" mean?) To Rawknee and Randy or whoever, (1) He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas. (2) One good husband is worth two good wives, for the scarcer things are, the more they are valued. ( I understand the latter part of the sentence but why are husband and wife compared to quantity?) I appreciate whoever explains the above sayings. have a good New Year's Day Catherine

Happy New Year, Rawknee! Happy New Year Mick! Happy New Year,Tom!!

Oh, Danb, Merry Christmas to you from Tulsa!!! Gosh, how lucky you are! Beijing experience is soooo special to you!!

People say the dark eggs are made from the metal lead, so it's not healthy. I'm trying to find what food is weird in America but I can't. I see many school children eat apples without washing them. Another strange is that I've seen some people are bare-footed wearing sandals in the snowy cold day.

http://video.popyard.com/cgi-mod/show.cgi?n=26932&r=&lan=cn&v=0 Who dares to eat "Pi Dan" ?

Here is a bunch of crawling exercise. Who dares to walk on feet and hands unless you have your own farm? I do not dare to do it in public.

I think I'll do both. I'll let you guys know later. I won't do the telephone translating. I need social environment and full time job from the government. I'm having a full time job at Tulsa Public schools but it's a stepping stone. Happy Halloween! Have a laughing weekend!

Hello Everyone, I can't find the column about jobs. So I have to come here to get help for ideas. Now I have two choices as far as my job is concerned. (1) I have different schools to choose for a Chinese teaching position. (2) I can be a school counselor as a social worker. I can't make a decision which position to choose. To teach Chinese or to counsel the kids? I know if I don't have clients, I don't make money as a counselor. However, I do have some interpersonal skills to attract school children. On the other hand, if I teach Chinese, I don't like to raise my voice. As a lifelong teacher, I can't afford to speak loudly any more to some noisy rebellious kids. American students don't respect the teacher so much as Chinese students do. Please, I need more ideas! I appreciate all thoughts for me! thank you very much in advance!

thank you Greg for reading my long post! yes, the third guy did prove that the second guy was saying wrong. I didn't further grip the second guy. I only wanted my seven days phone fee back to me as well as my auto-account. So I'm now grateful and happy. I'm happy with most services in America. They are much better than those in China.

After I left At&T, I realized that Americans wouldn't endure such service. Why should I lose seven days phone fee? I don't want to lose one penny. So I went back for the third time. This time I required to talk to their boss personally, face to face. Their boss is the third guy who also made a mistake to me. When I related to the third guy what happened to me, he embarrassed himself. My English is not fast enough like native speakers, he should have waited until I was finished talking to him. But he didn't. I said the first guy didn't find my pass code, the boss quickly told me that they had no passcode record as pass word is a private matter. Now I see how inefficient they are! I surely let the boss know that I already got my pass code from the second guy. The boss isn't more professional than the employees, I bet. In the end, the boss helped me set up the auto-account. I don't have to go to the counter to pay anymore. Now I wonder if there is someone in our forum who works for At&T? I can't believe it's a true story happening at a professional legal phone company.

Today as scheduled I came to At&T again. A second guy informed me that my phone will stay active until next month, Nov 23rd because I just paid for 30 days yesterday. It meant I'm losing seven-day phone fee as my last payment should keep me until Oct 30. I trusted the second guy completely because he found my passcode within one minute from his I-pad. He seemed more professional. He also told me that I can't set up an auto-account until the last day before my phone stays active. So I have to wait. Then I went home forgiving the fist guy.

How is everyone doing? I just typed a funny experience with At&T to share, but all my typings disappeared within a wink of an eye. Now I have to do it again. I'd failed setting up an auto-payment account online for my prepaid phone. So yesterday, Oct 23, I went to the service counter to get help. It's hard to believe that three guys all made more or less mistakes when serving for me. The first guy who came to help me surprised me and everyone else because I was on the third place on the waiting list. He skipped others right in front of everyone. I allowed him to give me the privilege. lol Then he took me to a billing machine for me to set up an auto account. Guess what? he led me pay for only one month. He made a mistake. Next he had to use my pass code to go on helping me. I had no idea what is my pass word to my phone as I was in a knackered situation when I fist came to America. It took him quite a while searching for my password from his I-pad. By now everyone was complaining. Politely I made an appointment for today, Oct 24, to come and go on with the job. So that was yesterday. Oh, l will post now before my sharing disappeared again.

Good job! Tom! Yes, International marriage brings a big challenge to those who are involved. Eating habit is among the challenges. I agree that a good marriage is based on mutual understanding, like you said, "on the same side". Of course it takes much more effort in nourishing "your heaven on earth". May God continue blessing you in his unique way!

Thank you, everyone! I learned a new word here: cleaver! Yes, I understand, no one needs bone crumbs or splinters in his mouth when chewing. That sounds terrible!