Blue sky, good air
It’s a beautiful morning in Shenyang. Air quality index is 53/80 (first number is “official,” second is measured by the U.S. Consulate). Temperature is a cool 59° F.
I fear that when things get bad, I will forget days like this.
Author: Den Hoopingarner
I have no suggestions for them
This was in the restaurant in my hotel. A cook will make your food for you as you want it, right in front of you.
现场=”Location” (as in broadcasting, “live on the spot”)
制作=”Make”
What would be a better translation for a restaurant station where the cook makes your food for you on-demand, like at an omelette station? I’m stumped. Anyone have any ideas?
My first China sunset
The rain cleared up in time to give us a sunset.
Bad English
It’s time to start having fun with the English mistakes that I find here. Remember, guys, we’re laughing WITH you, not AT you.
I will be looking at this one every day for two years. It’s right by the elevator in my apartment building.
I’m not sure what they’re trying to say here. The Chinese means something like: “A grand display of watercolors art gallery.” Which is Engrish also.
Rainy morning
Monday. May 12, 2014
Chinese Hagiography
Near to where I live is a very large sculpture honoring Mao Zedong. It’s an interesting example of modern hagiography, in which the leader is presented as a saintly, messianic figure.
You can read more details about the sculpture in this Wikipedia article
Surrounding the standing figure of Mao are figures of people who are enthusiastically moving forward:
The book that the central figure holds is the “Collected Works of Mao Zedong:”
The sculpture is very militaristic, showing the people fighting for the revolution:
Slogans are carved into the pedestal. This one reads: “Long Live the Unity of All the People in the World.”
“Socialism is Good!”
This book was a mystery to me. It reads “Angang Constitution.”
I had to do some research to understand what Angang is. According to this blog post, after WWII, the Shenyang area’s steel production facilities were devastated by the war. Under the leadership of Meng Tai, the facilities at Anshan Steel were restored, and production of steel was resumed, which facilitated further industrialization of China. Mao was so impressed with Meng’s leadership style that he designated it as the Angang Constitution. Hence the inscription on the book. “Angang” is the abbreviation of “Anshan Gangtie (éžå±±é‹¼éµ),” or “Anshan Steel.”
The inscription on the sculpture reads that it was presented by the Revolutionary Committee of Liaoling Province, the Revolutionary Committee of Shenyang City, the soldiers and officers of the Shenyang division of the People’s Libration Army, and it’s dated October, 1969. The country was in the middle of the Cultural Revolution at that time, so in that context, the militaristic flavor of the sculpture makes sense.
A taste of Taiwan?
Hey, å°å®¢ friends, does this look familiar?
Doughnuts!
There is a Dunkin Donuts just a few doors down from my apartment.
The Chinese name is pronounced: “Tang en du le.”
This is the weather that I was expecting
The view from my bedroom window this morning. Very hazy.
Gooooooooood morning Shenyang!
The view from my 17th floor apartment in downtown Shenyang:
The air quality today is 107, which falls under the “lightly polluted” category. I can really feel the pollution, though. The smell of coal smoke is strong. I am not looking forward to the heavy pollution days.
My sponsors met me at the airport and helped me settle in to my apartment. The apartment is very nice, and much bigger than I need.
This morning I walked around outside the city, got a local SIM card for my phone, and bought a few necessities. The city reminds me somewhat of Taipei 25 years ago: in the middle space between a modern city and a traditional Chinese town.
So far, so good.