Zhen Qi Guai – Very Strange

Below is a translation of a Chinese children’s song sung to the tune of “Are you Sleeping, (Brother John)” or the French song “Frère Jacques.“

Two tigers; Two tigers

Running fast; Running fast

One tiger doesn’t have ears; One tiger doesn’t have a tail

Very Strange; Very Strange (Zhen Qi Guai)

Last weekend, my friend Claudia and I were commenting on how some workers were painting the bricks that pave the road as we were walking by and she used the term “zhen qi guai.”  She said she had learned it when she was taking her intensive Mandarin course and that it meant “very strange.”  She then proceeded to sing me the entire song written above.  This was a huge eye opener to me.  Let me explain…

In a couple of my International Business classes, when they brought up culture they said that one of the ways we teach culture and values is through songs and stories that we tell to children when they are young.  If you think back to the children’s stories and songs you know, I think you will find this to be true.  So upon immediately understanding the translation of this song, it made perfect since to me why I and my fellow expats get stared at so incessantly.  People are taught from a young age that to be different is “very strange.”  And clearing staring at something that is very strange is not rude in the Chinese culture, so two and two now makes four. 

Since I am on the topic of Chinese children, I wanted to share a brief story about my friend Junie who teaches English to ten different students some of whom are as young as four years old.  Before I do, let me back up a bit.  One thing we have come to understand by living here in China is that Chinese children are very disciplined and spend much of their time outside of school studying and doing homework.  Another friend, Michelle, teaches at Concordia International School and she has a constant battle with her students parents about more or less homework.  All of the Chinese parents want her to give their students more homework, while on the other hand, the American parents are begging for less homework as their kids are already spending hours a night studying.  With that in mind, back to Junie’s story.  One of Junie’s students is a young Chinese girl who goes directly from piano lessons to English lessons and then onto something else.  Junie gives the English lesson to this girl in the girl’s very large bedroom with a canopy bed and other elaborate decorations.  She noticed in the corner of the room that there was a Barbie Dream House that was still in the box.  Junie asked her why it was still in the box and the girl said that she didn’t have time to play with it until probably the summer.  Junie was amazed but yet not surprised entirely because of the pace that so many of these kids seem to keep.  Many kids seem to miss out on what we in the US would consider a “normal” childhood and you definitely do see ramifications in their personalities as adults.  Things that Americans might consider childish are perfectly acceptable to Chinese adults.  Of course, this is, in part, due to a difference in culture, but I also have to wonder if it is also because many children didn’t get to experience such things as a child.

This week was fairly normal except that it was strange in how things that came up at my friend Claudia’s work kept mimicking stories that Andy was telling me.  Although the problems were very different, I think they stem from the same root causes, miscommunication and a lack of knowledge about the bigger picture within the enterprises.  In Andy’s case, these issues have manifested into some frustrating days, but for Claudia it was much worse.  The management at her company has started making people stay until 7pm at night to correct the mistakes.  This might not sound so bad, but you might be forgetting that many of the workers have to commute two hours home and many of the women are expected to have dinner on the table for their husbands, and parents/in-laws.  Claudia was able to escape the first mandatory late night but is supposed to have another one tomorrow that she is not sure if she can get out of.  I feel so fortunate to not work at a company like that.

Andy had a big day out at the lake sailing yesterday.  He and Patrik first spent three hours commuting to the lake via taxi’s, buses and walking.  Once they were finally there, they had someone watch as they got a boat ready to go out.  Then, they took the boat out together and successfully navigated the boat despite quite windy conditions in which two other boats capsized.  The Commodore (President in boating terms) of the Sailing Club was so impressed with Andy’s skills that it sounds as though he was just beaming.  Then, Andy and Patrik were able to get a ride home, at least part way, with the Commodore.  On the way home, Andy was able to discuss sailing and many of the sailing books he has read with him.  He said it was so cool because he has never really had anyone to talk to about these books and the Commodore knew exactly which books he was talking about and also knows so much about sailing.  I am so proud of and excited for Andy.  He has found a new passion that he is really enjoying and seems to be quite good at.  Now I am just waiting for the “um honey, I bought a sailboat” conversation.

Last night, us girls threw a baby shower for Tiffany Bailey.  Not a huge fan of the traditional-style baby showers in the US (okay, I sort of despise them), Junie and I planned a group pedicure followed by a nice dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant because Italian food is Tiffany’s favorite.  And in lieu of gifts, we did the traditional Chinese red envelopes (money inside) since Tiffany and Eliot had already brought everything they need for the baby from the US.  We had a really nice time until they started saying that I needed to get pregnant so we could do it again.  Did I mention I am a big fan of parties with no occasion at all.

Today we walked over to a mall nearby and had lunch with Tiffany/Eliot, Claudia/Patrik.  It was very busy with tons of vendors laying their merchandise out on the street.  I ended up speaking English with a guy who was supposedly wanting to practice English.  I an not sure if it was legit or not, but it was kind of fun while it lasted.  Tiffany told me afterwards that they will often try and sell you something after using the “wanting to practice English” as a starting point to establish the relationship.  As we were walking back to our apartments, we stopped to check out a Chinese restaurant inside the complex and it turns out there is this beautiful Chinese garden right within our apartment complex.  Who knew?  We are going to go back there for dinner tonight.

The final strange story of the week was the apparent attack of a security guard in a different building within our apartment by three men with large knives.  That is about all we know except that the security guard is in the hospital.  It is unfortunate to learn of such a disturbing event and then due to the language barrier not be able to find out details such as who and why and how.  Our driver just dropped this bomb and we have been wondering ever since what’s up, exactly.  This is not a common thing in Shanghai, so we figure it was some sort of personal vendetta, but again, we don’t really know.

Oh the strange picture at the top of this entry is a picture of me with my prototype for my Product Development Class.  I used karate belts that I found at the Decathlon to make my first (and only) prototype of the Hands-Free Purse Strap.  The strap is attached to the purse with magnets.  Thanks to all of you ladies who filled out my concept testing survey this week.  I was amazed and thrilled with how many responses I received!  I really appreciate it!

We hope all is well with all of you!