Tag Archives: life

Black and White

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a-white-lady

You might think “black and white” party? No, there is an interesting topic about different about complexion in China and the West.

My western friends keep asking me “ why the Chinese always like taking the umbrella wherever sunshine is coming out?” people like be tanned or have a brown skin in the west. On the opposite, people in mainland China prefer their skin to look very white even like pale. There are several reasons for that. The big reason for white skin because Chinese men like women to look white. If women look white, it means they are week and innocent and men can protect them. The others reason is that white skin means they are rich, dark skin means they are working outdoors all the time, not an properly ladies.

However, in the west, people like to be tanned a lot and it represents healthy and fashion. It means people have more time for outdoors or on holidays and it is a rich symbol.

The same thought has appeared in most cultures. Hundreds of years ago it was a sign of beauty in Europe for a woman to be white, and this was for the exact same reasons: being white implied you were not working class, being dark implied you were a worker. At that time women used to apply all sorts of dangerous chemicals to their face to make it whiter. Queen Elizabeth I is famous for wearing lead powder, a chemical that we now know as being toxic to humans.

I’m sure the same will happen in China and over time having a tan will be a sign of wealth.

黑白主题

是否想到黑白派队呢？不是哦，是一个关于西方和中国喜欢不同肤色的主题。很多西方朋友问我，为什么中国人每当太阳出来就撑起雨伞呢？欧洲西方国家人们喜欢棕色的皮肤，而相反来说，中国人喜欢白皙的皮肤，主要的原因是中国男人喜欢白皙皮肤的女人，代表天真纯洁软弱，他们可以保护；二来白皙皮肤代表富贵的象征，假如棕色的皮肤，代表你是农民阶层，不是上流社会，白领的女人。

相反来说，西方国家喜欢棕色的皮肤，代表健康和时尚，同时也代表人们富裕的象征，有多余的钱去度假，晒太阳，享受生活，是有钱的象征！其实同样的事情发生在大多数的文化背景中。几百年前的欧洲，上流社会名媛白皙皮肤就是时尚与身份的象征。这也是同样的理由你不是工人阶级。伊丽莎白一代皇后就喜欢超级白皙的皮肤，涂上很多有毒的白皙化妆品，而这些漂白的化妆品而却是致癌的。

时代的变化，我相信不久的将来中国人也喜欢棕色的皮肤，同时也是代表富裕和健康。

Be A Wise Man

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michael-vartan

When I saw the TV or magazines sometimes, I always feel curious that what are the real age of all the celebrities? We know age for women is a secret and can not be asked or mentioned. Age is like a scar because no one wants to get old or leave a trace in your face. However, age is also a proof of being an adult and writing down experiences. People always can tell from thoughts to know the age without being asked. Maybe we are too scared to have birthdays in our generation because it means more responsible for life, even time is passing without our notice.

Some people link the age with death and it is a taboo to think of death, but actually there is nothing to afraid of when you face it with a good attitude, but life is too short to let us experience more, and I don’t want to live forever!

We never feel old in our heart and be more optimistic, be more generous, be more open-minded, be happier, treat ourselves better and enjoy the life with passion then we never feel old. Look at some celebrities like Michael Vartan who is already 41 from TV series ALIAS; see Sarah Jessica Parker who is already 40 or Madona who is over 45, but they still look fabulous. You might think they are celebrities and wear a lot of make-up, the point is that it’s an attitude to life. I wish I would look fabulous when I were 40 with a lot of smiles still, just like my Mum.

Let us be a wise man.

每当我看电视或看杂志的时候，总好奇的想知道明星们到底真实年龄有几岁？我们知道年龄对女人来说是个秘密，年龄就像我们的疤痕，偷偷的写下我们的记忆和经历,留下痕迹给人追踪。然而年龄却是一个我们成长的证明，象本历史日记。人们和你交谈时候，就能猜出你有多大。也许现代人太害怕过生日的原因，不是害怕被人知道他们的年龄，而是意味着他们有更多的责任将要承担。

很多人想到年龄就联系到死亡，就象是一个不可以说或提到的禁忌。其实死亡并不可怕，如何的态度去面对它才是关键。因为生命的短暂，你才珍惜你拥有的，我可不要长命百岁，我生活的态度就不同了。

我们要保持年轻的心态，用积极，慷慨，开放的心态活着，对自己好点，让自己开心点，用激情享受生活，我们就不会老得快啦。像迈克（看上面的照片）他已经41岁了，但仍然那么迷人；沙拉，帕克（欲望都市的女主角）40岁了；麦当娜超过45岁了，仍然活力十足。虽然他们是明星，我们不能比较，但是积极的生活态度。我也希望我40岁时候能依然迷人风光，象我妈妈一样！

让我们做个智者吧！

Congfu Tea Culture

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gongfu-tea

Congfu Tea , talking about Congfu tea it made me have a thought about another different culture in between Chinese and Western country.

Cong Fu tea, which is popular in Chaoshan area of Guangdong and the south of Fujian, is integrated with many aspects of tea such as spirit, ceremony, tea-making technique, and quality commentary. Regulations are made for the tea sets, tea-leaves and water, and its making, teaing and serving. It’s wonderful beyond words to sip and taste tea slowly and carefully with the small pot and cups. The fragrant of tea is divide several like green tea Tieguanyin, brown tea Oolong tea etc. As a chaoshanese from Shantou we are not only proud of our Congfu tea culture, every one also know how to make Congfu tea. but today we aren’t talking about how to make the Congfu tea; we are going to talk about the core of Congfu tea spirit.

Western people normally there have four dairy drinking cultures. One is coffee culture or British brown tea with milk and sugar one, the Coke drinking and the sparking water. In west, people drinking or eating are very individual way because people are more emphasis on what you own like and respect the other people’s choice. Western people are prefer to their own characteristics and specialties.

In Chaoshan or even the China, we are more emphasis on the group. My foreign friends always say Chinese like to follow the leader; Like if a shop has many people on the line waiting; other people might think it’s the nice shop, then follow the group. We like have a big drink or big meal like Hot-pot and everyone share with the same pot. Like Congfu tea, congfu tea always have 3 cups or more than 3 cups; it means all the people are sitting around the tea-set and talk in a group. It’s like a small party with serving a Congfu tea. That’s why people in China always say Chaoshaneses have the coherence of all the Chanshan people; I think it’s naturally form from our dairy life eating & living and become a culture.

It’s just funny that when I had a congfu tea with friends and talked about Congfu tea spirit and I realized it’s true that the different living style form in different culture, and I suggest sometimes these two opposite culture should exchange. Let Chinese experience more individual more; let westerners enjoy more group spirit.

说起功夫茶，它令我想到了中西饮食文化的差异，做为地道汕头人的我，不但个个都要会冲一壶好茶，也要懂得茶的文化精神。流行于广东潮汕、闽南等地的工夫茶，融精神、礼仪、沏泡技艺、巡茶艺术、品评质量为一体。无论是对茶具、茶叶、水质还是冲泡、饮法、礼节都中规中矩，大有讲究。茶具小壶小杯，品茶需慢慢吸啜细细品尝，妙不可言。内涵丰富的工夫茶习俗可谓中国茶文化一绝，但今天我想讲的是中西文化的饮食文化的不同而带来不同思维方式。

西方国家的人通常有四种是他们日常会喝的东西，像多数是咖啡，英式红茶，可乐和有汽的矿泉水。在西方，大家都很强调个性与独立，他们尊重别人的选择，不会把他们的思想强加在别人身上，这让每个人都很体现个性和独特性的追求。你喝你的咖啡，我喝我的饮料。

在潮汕地区，甚至其他中国地方，大家喜欢跟群，跟大伙；总之大伙说的一定是好的，像一家店前面很多人排队，那家人一定好吃；我们的个性宣传不是很大，中国人喜欢谦逊，喜欢照顾大众牺牲自己，可以说集体思想偏多一点，这是我们的一种美德，。潮汕地区的团结力就象我们大家围在一起品尝功夫茶一样，客人喝茶先，永远照顾大众，像一个陌生的人在藤下遮荫时，你要你看见有人在冲功夫茶，只要你停留片刻，大家都会热情叫你喝上几口功夫茶然后跟你闲话几句，体现照顾大众的文化。

在跟朋友品尝功夫茶同时启发我其实中西文化的不同来源与饮食习惯。中国人喜欢大伙一起分享；西方国家的人喜欢个性的美；其实我觉得这两种文化应该交换和综合，让中国人学习更有个性的美，多点享受自己的空间，自己争取想要的东西；让西方国家的人学习更有集体主义的美。

Live for family or for yourself

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life-for-yourself-or-family

I am an open-minded, rebellious girl. No matter whether in work, in relationships, or in life, I always want to be happy. I know who I am, what I need to do, and what I live for. I don’t care how other people judge me; only that I do my job well. I know if something has too many additions from the normal way, then it will change from the original. Sometimes things that happen in your life make you face your own reality.

My parents are a very traditional family in the Chaoshan area; Chaoshan people are famed for their caring attititude towards their family. I know many friends who have sacrificed their career to stay with the parents in Shantou. They are all very talented and they devote themselves to their family; they give up their dreams and live and work in their hometown. I am not saying that’s wrong or right. Nothing is wrong or right when you see them in a different position. I don’t know why Chinese parents always hope their children should live with them
and keep them in their vision?

My personal dream is this: parents should let children to experience what is life; let life teach them what the real world is about. Then you will try you best to earn money to devote to your hometown. I know it’s my untouchable dream,but I always hope I could do that.

However, I think we are a new generation; we have our own mind, our own dreams, we are educated and we have learnt about different cultures. Is this a reason to give up your own dreams and follow your parents? What about yourself? What do you live for? My friend Shine said: “because you belong to your family”. In Chinese tradition, parents raise you so you can’t belong to yourself. It’s one of the drawbacks. Though we choose to live our life in different towns, even our heart feels tired to strive against life sometimes; everyone wants to
settle down easily in life without worrying about things.

Will we be happy in the life our parents choose for us? Will their happiness be the same as our happiness? Different people have different paths in their life, and there are many routes with no choices. Human beings can’t always be selfish. I prefer that my parents respect my choices and what my life is; but not necessarily the way they want it to be. I hope my parents will respect my choices and wish me happiness. If I am happy, then they will be happy as well. If they really love and understand me, they will respect what I choose and not
interfere with my lifestyle; they will be my guides and teachers, and not force me to down a path of their choosing. If that happens then people become rebellious and struggle against it.

People always have ups and downs and you can only learn from your own mistakes. You have to take your own path to experience what life is to truly learn something inside. Maybe I will walk very hard but I hope I can look back on my life and say that I have finished it without regret.

No matter where I am, my body floats in the world, but my heart is still in Shantou. I love my hometown; I love my family. Without them, there would be no Carmen. But I hope this love is based on a respect and trust that goes both ways.

为家庭而活还是为自己而活

思想前卫带有西方思想而又带有叛逆的我，总希望我的生活简单，无论工作，感情，生活，希望很简单，很开心去做就好，做好自己的本分，不需要太多的外界干扰，因为我知道，很多东西假如有太多的外界干扰，会使它变质。但事实上现实不是像你想象的这么简单，我的家庭很传统的潮汕家庭，是所有人都知道最传统的，最顾家庭的。很多同学为了家庭，父母而放弃在外拼搏的机会，我有很多很有才华的聪明的朋友，都为了家庭而放弃自己的理想。这没有存在错与对，不同的角度看东西的事情不同。

不知道中国的父母都认为孩子就一定留在父母的身边？这样不自私吗？孩子又怎么能永远在温室里成长呢？每当我以前上大学时，上学校大巴回广州时，车水马龙的交通都因为所有的父母护送大学生们离开，在离开时还依依不舍的嘱咐这些或那些。他们都是大学生了，而且几个月就回家一躺，这不是教育孩子的方式。独立的我，总是摇摇头，父母总说我不懂他们做父母的心，或许吧！我的思想是：孩子需要锻炼需要去外面闯一番，然后为尽量为自己家乡创造财富，这永远是
我伟大的梦想。 那我觉得，我们年轻一族，有思想，有抱负，接受不同文化的熏陶，就为了父母想你留在他们身边而放弃自己理想吗？那你追求的生活呢？我朋友涵涵说：“因为你还是属于你家庭，中国传统父母养育 让你不能属于你自己，这也是中国一大弊端吧。虽然出門在外奋斗，内心永远有种累感觉，我们可以理解一个做父母亲心情，他们也不想我们奋斗太辛苦。”我们何尝不想安安稳稳轻松的过日子，但你经历多，有了不同的生命价观，思想就不是很单纯的满足物质生活，而是想充实精神生活。

按照父母给我们的生活模式我们会幸福吗？我们的幸福跟他们认为的幸福一样吗？不同人有不同角度去看生活。我明白生活有很多无奈和责任这是当然的，虽然爱是自私的，我明白父母总想孩子们总生活在一起，但为孩子好的话，应该放多点成长的空间孩子们去体现这个世界。我希望无论我选择什么样的生活方式，望父母会选择尊重和希望我开心，他们看到我的开心而开心，而不是按照他们的生活方式去做人,去生活，我不想我的人生为了别人而活，那不是我要的生活，也不是我的性格，他们是爱我的或了解我的，应该尊重我的选择而不是干涉我的生活方式，可以在旁指导并引到我，而不是强加给我的思想，我会反抗，我会变的叛逆，我希望是我会自动的给予或回报而不是别人的索回。我想我的生命由我自己掌握，好与坏是自己选择的路，人总要在跌跌碰碰中成长，人总要学会每一步自己去走，才学到东西。也许我会走的很辛苦，但我会无怨无悔去经历去体验什么叫做生活。希望我在我闭上眼睛上天堂时，我对自己说，我今生无悔。

无论我身在何处，身在外，心在汕头，我仍然爱我可爱的汕头，也永远爱我的家人，没有他们就
没有我现在的我，但希望爱是种尊重与信任。

Music inspires my thoughts

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chet_baker

Speaking of music I do admit music infects my soul, my blood and every cell in my body. When I listen the music especially Jazz, I can’t help myself indulging myself in music. It feels like the virus that it has invaded my mind and stroked my nerve to follow its melody and rhythm. I imagine the wind rustling through the grass, and the birds are singing, as well as the cycle of the seasons and the alternation of night and day are changing. I felt into my imagination and the flashback, and I feel I could visualize the future.

Sometimes I am such a romantic idealist and maybe I have too much energy and enthusiasm and wish I can experience all in the world. Music inspires me into various things in my life. When I listen to music, I always sink into profound thoughts.

Although human being’s hearts are fragile, their wills can be strong and tough. Life is about contradiction.

Who was the first create music? Thanks all the composers create such beautiful melody. They make rhythmical composition in the sequence of the musical phrase rather than in the sequence of a metronome. I can not imagine if I live without music, it will be like a fish without of water. I may say: I got a “FEVER” of music today. like the Jazz song ” fever”.