January 2009 – Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States and the economy all around the world was hurting.

February 2009 – Beijing went ahead and made it snow in February.  Good old SILVER IODIDE snow.  Just don’t eat it!

March 2009 – A story came out about a girl who was fired because of what she wrote on FACEBOOK!  So all of you be careful!

April 2009 – April for Americans means TAXES!  So this was our interpretation of TAX DAY.  Wonderful!

May 2009 – A story came out that Chow Yun Fat was going to star in a movie about Confucius and that he himself would star as Confucius.  Crazy!

June 2009 – It came out in June that there are 162 million bloggers in China.  That’s an amazing number that most westerners can’t fathom.  Which ones do you read?  Earlier in the year we taught all of you how to pronounce Michael Jackson’s name, but then at the end of June he was gone.  Later in the year we showed you varied reactions according to some Chinese sites.

July 2009 – In the heat of the summer there was the story about some Chinese company buying the Hummer brand.  In America everyone was shocked.  That story inspired us.  But, there are many websites in China that are accessible but the websites people actually use are sometimes hard to log on to.  Google sometimes has a hard time.

August 2009 – Unemployment in China was staying the same and we made a comic about Tiger Woods being part Chinese.  I don’t think anybody wants to say that again after the recent news about Tiger Woods.

September 2009 – The swine flu this year was huge.  It was all over.  So we decided that we should at least teach you guys how to say SWINE FLU in Chinese.  President Obama slapped more taxes and regulations on Chinese Tires and in return the Chinese put more regulations on chickens!

October 2009 -We got onto Twitter this year.  So we used one person’s tweet (Coljac) in one of our cartoons.  I was struck by how interesting the tweet was.

November 2009 – Obama came to China in November and we had our own ideas about that.  Ping and Ming, our two Chinese characters, I think illustrate both sides of his visit.  (Can you see Ming’s shirt?)

December 2009 – Even though in January we were talking about a bad economy, it’s gotten worse if you can believe it.  Yes.  2009 was bad for American jobs.  Let’s hope 2010 will be better.  Happy New Year everybody!

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Holiday Greetings to all of our readers.  Don’t worry.  There is still time to get our gift.  Just go here and read about it.

We both wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  We hope the holiday season brings you a little bit of joy.

Hopefully we can make you chuckle a bit.   We use Google Picasa to help translate our comics.  I mean, I post the comic, MX reads the comic and writes her Chinese in the comment section.  Christmas day’s comic “4 Stages of Life” made me laugh because when MX translated the comic Google tried to translate it back into English.  When you type Chinese into Google’s Picasa, they want to help you by translating as best they can into English.

They translated “AH YA” from Chinese into “Blimey” in English.  I thought that was a funny translation.  Very international.

If you’ve seen the comic, we decided not to use “Blimey.”

UPDATE: Lots of great stories have come in.  Everyone has had good comments on the wallpaper!  2 weeks to get the wallpaper!  Deadline December 31.   JUST WRITE YOUR STORY IN THE COMMENTS!

This is just a taste to what you can get for free this Christmas.  We at MandMX are in the giving spirit this year and we want to give a really cool gift to all of our readers!

We have a super cool computer wallpaper that we have specifically designed for Christmas.  It teaches all about Christmas words in English and Chinese.  It’s in color and it’s super nice and gets you ready for the holidays!

HOW DO WE GET THE COOL WALLPAPER AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT??

All you have to do is just comment on this post. Even if you’ve never been to China you can tell us a funny story about something at Christmas time that has to do with CHINA!  We’ll put them together for a cool post later on if you want.  (Don’t worry we won’t include names!)  Then we’ll have a whole year to make them into comics for next Christmas.  Make them funny.  Make them sad.  Make them heartfelt.  Make them Amusing.  Make them drop on the floor hilarious!  Whatever!  Here are a couple ideas to get you going:

1. Once while traveling in China during December I….

2.  I was in China last Christmas when…

3.  I remember the year I was in China during Christmas and…

4.  Christmas in China is…

5.  When I think of celebrating Christmas in China I think of…

6.  Silent night?  Yeah right! …

7.  One year while teaching English in China, my friends and I…

8.  One year in China while teaching my students Jingle Bells…

9.  At the Christmas party one year in China I…

10.  We were invited to a nice banquet while in China to celebrate Christmas…

11.  While exchanging Christmas gifts with my Chinese colleagues…

12.  Once at Christmas time in China I saw…

13.  One year my Chinese students gave me a Christmas gift I’ll never forget…

14.  I was unpacking my Christmas ornaments and noticed that all of them were made in China…

15.  One Christmas dinner we all ate a Chinese restaurant…

After we get your stories we’ll send you a special top secret link so that you can download your Christmas present!  Have fun!

Legal Disclaimer: All stories sent might not be used or created into comics.  If stories are used, the comics and stories included in the comics become MandMx’s property.

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There’s a great book out there that I’ve seen via ChinaSmack about Chinese people’s English names and how they get them.  I wanted to get into the hype and give out what I’ve seen and heard as an English teacher in China.  With 5 years of experience I feel like I’ve heard them all.  With the book “In China, My name is…” it’s obvious that there are many that I have not heard.  Here’s 2o that I remember:

1. Destiny – She sat in the front row.  A little girl.  It felt so strange to think that “Destiny sat in the front row.”

2. Gnitsy – This guy is super cool.  He created his own name.  As he explained, “It’s STING backwards.”  Never mind about the “Y”.  His English was impeccable and he had the confidence to have a bizarre name.  I think when he entered into the working world he changed it back to STING.

3. Glacier - Slow moving?  No.  Cold?  Nope.  Beautiful and fun, Glacier was a student who was always pleasant and inquisitive.  She was convinced it was a beautiful name.  We told her before she went abroad to Australia that she should change her name since people will not understand.  But she’ll always be “a big chunk of ice” to me.

4. Dreaming - I think her name explains so much about her.  Not a depressing type who was always dreaming of something more, but bubbly, dynamic and lots of fun.  The only problem is is that you would say her name from time to time in conversations that are not about her.  “Last night I was dreaming…” or “What?  You are dreaming!!!”  Kind of weird.

5. Diablo - This guy was a big fan of some computer game.  I asked if he knew the real meaning.  Yes, I know, he said.  It means “DEVIL.”  Yes, I know what devil means.  He seemed ok with that.   I never had a student named GOD though.

6. Chieftan - Another computer game inspired name.  Although he became a chieftan in my mind, he then changed his name as he began to work.  Now he is Barney which is not much better.  I keep thinking of a big purple dinosaur chief of a tribe of purple dinosaurs.  Weird.

7. Celery - This girl was classic since her explanation was that simply, “I like celery.”  Enough said.

8.  Tomato - Sticking with the salad theme, Tomato liked the red color and the taste.  Again, enough said.

9. Talk! -  A young guy who was naturally shy.  So he specifically chose this name to motivate himself to do something… can you guess?

10. Raila - Another student who made up her name.  Her beauty contrasted with her name.  Yet the contrast helped me to remember her name in some strange way.

11. Limpia - Friend of Raila, Limpia enjoyed Spanish and wanted to learn it.  Unfortunately I forgot all the Spanish I learned so I couldn’t help her, but I did know that the verb “limpiar” had something to do with cleanliness.

12. Hans - This guy was one of a kind.  Smart.  Daring.  Never embarrassed.  He was a constant fixture in English corner.  When I asked about how he got his name he calmly said, “My Chinese name is Han Han, so my English name is Hans.”  Naturally.

13. Freedy - A wonderful young lady from the country side living in the big city and giving everyone a run for their money.  She would tell us stories upon stories about how she grew up in the countryside fascinating everyone at English corner.  At first the name meant nothing to me.  After a few years knowing her, Freedy means my good friend.

14. Eric Floyd - One of my best friends in all of the Middle Kingdom.  All five years living in China we were able to keep up with each other via communication or by visiting each other.  He is a big fan of all things Western when it comes to music.  That should get you thinking.  His favorite artist is Eric Clapton and favorite band is Pink Floyd.  Voila!

15. George Oliver Alexander - Another full English name friend that I had in China.  This kid was really really smart.  He went on to university in Nanjing and I’m sure his future is very bright.  Perhaps he couldn’t choose one name and then someone told him about how Western people have middle names.

16. Matthew Trevelyn Knight - A friend of George Oliver Alexander.  Equally intelligent and stunning English.  I taught him in Middle school and therefore never was able to tell him about Knight Rider.  The Trevelyn part I’m not sure about but I’m sure he had some good explanation.

17. King - This was a simple translation from a common family name in Chinese.  But King didn’t really match the regal personality and attitude of a king.  We taught King and his class baseball during the Autumn and he was less than coordinated when it came to sports.  King somehow just didn’t fit.

18. Alpha - Never had an Omega but the name Alpha seemed to fit since she was the class monitor.  When she spoke the class listened.  When she wanted to argue in English, I listened.

19. Yo Yo - This was inspired I think by some Japanese influence.  It had nothing to do with the toy but that is the only image in my mind when I called on her during class.

20.  Sunny - This was the perfect name for this young student.  She was ALWAYS smiling.  Ear to ear.  If her name was anything else it wouldn’t fit.  She was sunny.  She was bright.  She was a breath of fresh air.

Buy their book and see the site at Chinese-Identity.com

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Mom, print this out.

Everyone today has a person in their family who is learning Chinese.  Maybe it’s your immediate relative and every year at Christmas it is too hard to figure out what to get them.  You don’t speak Chinese and you probably don’t understand why your family member or relative is interested in speaking Chinese.  But you want to get something for that person who is learning Chinese or is interested in China.  So here is the list of 11 Christmas gifts to get the Chinese Learner in your Family:

11.  A Handbook for Analyzing Chinese Characters (Chinese Edition)

This is truly an amazing book.  It’s huge and exhaustive.  The author has put the Chinese characters in 5 categories, 1 being the most important to learn and 5 being the least important to learn in the book.  This is the best, at home, dictionary you can get for learning Chinese.  The examples for each word also contain pinyin!  The best thing about the book is that it’s so darn big it will last for two years of Christmas so next year you don’t have to get them another gift!

10.  Chinese Character Refrigerator Magnets

I found these online at some point.  It’s a great idea.  I love fridge magnets and I love Chinese.  Combine the two and you’ve got a great product.  Use your fridge as a great way to study Chinese!  These are good for you too.  You can arrange the magnets and then ask your family member to tell you what it means!

9.  Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy

Back in January I read that John DeFrancis had passed away.  Thankfully each article about his passing had links to his books.  This looks like a great gift for any Chinese learner.  Especially those who want more.  This is also good for those who don’t know anything about Chinese, like you, and you might just learn a few things!

8.  Sapajou: The Collected Works

For those who love Shanghai and cartoons this book looks great.  The beautiful black and white line work of this cartoonist has entertained readers for years.  A bit pricey from Tales of Old China. A site that has TONS of other books that any Chinese learner or lover would want.

7.  Encyclopedia of Chinese Philosophy

Another great buy.  Another monstrous book.  This would satisfy any student, serious or not, to learn Chinese philosophy.  This is not some brief overview.  This is exhaustive.  From Buddhism to Zhuangzi it has it all including many many others.  Just like number 11 this one is so big it will last for two years!

6.  The Chinese Calligraphy Bible: Essential Illustrated Guide to Over 300 Beautiful Characters

This looks like a great book that will allow anyone interested in Chinese Calligraphy to become an expert.  Even if you don’t know anything about China or Chinese this is still a beautiful book.  Go ahead, just look at the pictures!  Your relative will do the work!

5. 

That’s right.  Chinese Class 101 is a great way for students to get a great foundation in Chinese in a fun and exciting way.  Take a listen to some sample shows and only pick the shows that interest you.  You’ll be speaking Chinese in no time!!

4.  Large Chinese BEGINNER Calligraphy Set with Free Paper (#SH11XXL)

This goes well with number 6.  You can use the free paper and practice what you learn in the book.  Just make sure you get a good teacher to make sure you are doing everything right.  Calligraphy is hard so don’t laugh at your relative when they try their hardest.  At least the paper is free.

3.  Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (Detective Stories)

I read one of Van Gulik’s books back in college and really really enjoyed them.  If a couple things on the list are too expensive, you can find some of these books used on Amazon for pretty darn cheap.  Take CSI, Sherlock Holmes and 7th century China and combine, mix well and you’ve got a Judge Dee novel.  It’s all in English so anyone can read it.  But don’t start it before your relative starts it, these book are too hard to put down.

2. Remembering Simplified Hanzi: Book 1, How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Chinese Characters

I’ve read so much about this book recently on other Chinese learning blogs and I would love to get into this book.  Is it possible?  Can I really remember so many?  Would I forget them right away?  After a month?  Ask me next Christmas!

1.  When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order

This book of course is to justify why your relative is studying Chinese.  Martin Jacques tells a frightening prediction about how China will surpass America and the west and usher in the new world order.  Maybe you should start taking Chinese lessons from your relative!

Merry Christmas!

For those in China:

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Shanghainese Links:  Woks and Pajamas

Recently, I found this article about an old Shanghainese Wok maker on the Faster Times.  The author had an interesting point about how many of the old Shanghainese are all about new stuff and some of the wacky foreigners are all about the old stuff in Shanghai.  When both meet, neither understands each other.

She writes:

“Our differing opinions on old vs. new is something you see a lot in China. There’s a gap of sorts between the older Chinese who value anything new and the foreigners and some younger Chinese who are eager to savor pieces of the rapidly changing city’s past.  We lament the demolition of old buildings. They celebrate the glory of modernity.”

I’ve seen this also in terms of behavior and morals.  As the morals are changing (or have changed) in China, the older look at the new behaviors as normal and when they meet people who don’t do the same they are confused.

In other interesting Shanghainese news:

On Fool’s Mountain: Blogging for China, they have a great collection of the constant debate about the Shanghainese wearing pajamas in public.  We all saw it.  We all don’t understand.  But it’s still fun to debate about it.

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Must the Chinese go?:  An examination of the Chinese question
By Mrs. S. L. Baldwin
Published: 1890

Two intelligent wealthy business-men of the State of New York, the one a Republican and the other a Democrat talking with me on the Chinese question, asked, “Why do you not send us decent immigrants?”  In reply, I put the following questions and received in substance the same replies from both gentlemen:
“Did you ever see a drunken Chinese?”
“No.”
“Did you ever see a noisy, boisterous one on the streets?”
“No.”
“Did you ever see one disturbing others, or lounging at saloons, or gossiping?”
“Never.”
“Did you ever see one on the street who did not seem to have some object in view, and to be going right toward it?”
“I must confess I never have.”
“Has a Chinese tramp ever come to your door?
“Never.”
“Do you hear of them committing murder, burglaries or other crimes against our laws?”
“No.”
“Will you be so kind as to inform me of any other immigrant class in regard to which you can reply in the negative as above and also what you regard as a decent immigrant?”

Both gentlemen honestly and frankly admitted that this was an entirely new view of the question.  Both state that they had formed their opinions from “newspaper statements,” and yet these same intelligent men read their newspapers with brain alert on every other subject than this, on which they were ready to accept the most libelous statements against a friendly nation, whose representatives were, by their own personal observation, the most inoffensive, law-abiding people of our land.  But how fearful is the responsibility of our press, which, so far from being, as it should be, the educator and conservator of the morals of the people, a mighty lever to lift them up to the nobility of true patriotism, is today in a large degree, only the tool of evil men, sacrificing right, justice and even humanity for votes!”

Apparently back then the newspapers of America were held to a much higher standard!