Year of the Dog

[Axxaer]

This is one possible story:

All the animals lined up on the bank of a river and were given the task of getting to the opposite shore. Their order in the calendar would be set by the order in which the animals managed to reach the other side. The cat wondered how he would get across if he was afraid of water. At the same time, the ox wondered how he would cross with his poor eyesight. The calculating rat suggested that he and the cat jump onto the ox's back and guide him across. The ox was steady and hard-working so that he did not notice the commotion on his back. In the meanwhile, the rat snuck up behind the unsuspecting cat and shoved him into the water. Just as the ox came ashore, the rat jumped off and finished the race first. The lazy pig came to the far shore in twelfth place. And so, the rat got the first year named after him, the ox got the second year, and the pig ended up as the last year in the cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.

[Zkribbler]

And the dragon had roast pig for dinner??

[Mao]

hey adam, they look adorable. when did you adopt? there are a lot of programs around where i am (boston) for adoptees and Asian American students to get together (kinda like a big bro/big sis thing) because some of the parents want to bring the kids up with a sense of that. it's a cute program. anyway, that's off-topic, how long have they been a part of your family? are they siblings themselves? do they talk about you in mandarin in hopes that you don't understand?

[Axxaer]

From his posts he must understand at least a little Chinese.

[Zkribbler]

No...I think his daughters are little Chinese ...and oh so adorable.

[Mao]

Originally posted by Axxaer
From his posts he must understand at least a little Chinese.

shi, ke shi ta dong hao duo hai shi jiu zhi dao yi dianr a?

[FrostyBoy]

It's spelt Gon Xi Fa Cai

[Adam Smith]

Axxaer, Mao:

Wo wei (sp?) shou yi dianr Zhongguo hua.

Grace Qiuyun (L, 10) came home in February, 1996.
Claire Wenju (R, 8) came home July, 1998.
Both were six months old at the time.
Both are from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, about half way between Shanghai and Nanjing.
After a couple years of Chinese School both can speak about as much Mandarin as I can.
While not siblings originally, they are now
If they want to talk behind my back they try Pig Latin and think they are being cute.
Thanks for the tip on the program. We have been looking for someone who might be able to tutor a bit.

[Axxaer]

Originally posted by Adam Smith
Wo hui shuo yi dianr Zhongguo hua.

Fixed, assuming you meant "I can speak a little Chinese". Also I'm not sure if "Zhongguo hua" is actually incorrect but I would say "Hanyu" instead.

[Axxaer]

Mao,

Ni shi cong nar lai de?

[DaShi]

Happy Vietnamese New Year!

[Bosh]

Happy Solnal!

Saehae mani pajusaeyo!

[Mao]

Originally posted by Axxaer
Mao,

Ni shi cong nar lai de?

wo? cai yi cai

Adam, you want a tutor huh? Well, *I* need a job, I think you guys should all relocate to Oxford for a few months and I can tutor your kids for reasonable prices.

[mindseye]

Adam, your daughters are so cute!

Zhu ni he ni de jiating xin nian kuai le!

[Urban Ranger]

This pinyin is tough

We had fireworks yesterday evening