A Comedy Movie to be produced - Stinky Tofu

I was inspired by an article "A First Encounter with Stinky Tofu!" from John Melendez on the LinkedIn.

Stinky Tofu [ST - 臭豆腐] is as someone put "a biological weapon developed in China," which is one of the featured dishes in Shanghai, Taiwan and many places. It is considered "a weapon of mass destruction" and some people suggested "it be banned by the Geneva Convention".

By the way, I love it, but my kids detest it. One time when we ate ST in the restaurant in Shanghai, my kids had to run to restroom for fresh air.

A story was told from a friend of mine...

One person heated leftover from the previous night dinner at workplace using a microwave. The leftover included Stinky Tofu causing the entire floor people being evacuated for a precautious measure... in the US.

One responder wrote: "Even after 6 years in Taiwan I still cannot stand the smell of it, but I miss it here back in Switzerland. ;-) "

I replied:

Thank you for your inspiring comments... a new brand of perfume will be born - "STINKY TOFU".

I'll talk with my IP attorney soon.

In fact, I was thinking seriously when John posted this Q&A... for people who live in Shanghai know that Yu Garden is one of Shanghai's tourist spots, which is also considered by many people in Shanghai the birthplace of the Stinky Tofu. Many famous world VIPs visited the Yu Garden including Queen Elizabeth II. I am pretty sure the head of the Commonwealth smelled the Stinky Tofu when visited there... there is a comedy movie that can be made of it... I've been looking for investors and screenplay writers...

Sources:
"Yu Garden: A World Famous Garden with Southern China Style"

"What are the challenges to become a professional screenwriter ?"

Article: "A First Encounter with Stinky Tofu!"

"Stinky Tofu"

Handshakes in China - Cultural Differences

Differences often cause misunderstandings. It is often for us to judge another culture through our own cultural lenses. The "walls" could be easily built by misunderstandings and poor judgment. I truly hope this discussion is a way of introducing Chinese people and the culture to all. I have a lot to learn from you.

__________________________________________________________

For majority Chinese people who have few direct physical contact with foreigners in China, a handshake is NOT a way to demonstrate one's confidence or sincerity as Western professionals have emphasized. Sometimes we may encounter the "dead fish" handshakes from men as many business etiquette trainers in the West describe.

Cultural background:
Old generation Chinese are not comfortable intentionally having physical contact with strangers in particular with foreigners. However, most Chinese are not bothered by bumping into each other in public on crowded streets, in busy buses, subways & train stations etc.

It is not Chinese tradition to shake a hand as a way of greeting in the past.

Shaking a woman's hand by another man firmly might be mistaken for being too eager or perceived as harassment - it is very tricky.

Most Chinese are a bit shy when they have to shake a foreigner's hand.

Two hand handshakes mean:
1. respect to officials, or elderly people etc. [below references with good examples from the President Obama and the First Lady of the USA and Queen Elizabeth]
2. good friends
3. eager to make good relationships in the near future.
...

Please share your thoughts with the group.

Thank you in advance !


References:
"Obama Meets Chinese President Hu" from CNN on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu6-UEx3pus&feature=related

"Queen Elizabeth Meets President Obama At Buckingham Palace" from CNN on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPkxw3WtaZs&feature=related

Source:
Handshakes in China - Cultural Differences on the LinkedIn Group "World & Shanghai"

"What is entrepreneurial spirit in your opinion?"

I was asked by a friend of mine Thomas Fu on the LinkedIn on April 6th, 2009.

My answer:

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for asking, I answered a Q&A 6 months ago for a question "What are the traits of an ENTREPRENEUR?" from John DiPietro.

There are many good answers from other people.

Here is my 2 cents...

My list of the traits of an ENTREPRENEUR... it is a journey of a pioneer...
a burning desire
passion for innovation
super high energy
street smart intelligence
strategies and tactics
a workable business plan
patience
confidence
communication skills
negotiation skills
leadership skills
ability to build a team with lots of soft skills
keeping focused
being able to survive one day without a penny
overcoming numerous obstacles including failures, tragedy, mounting pressure from inner and outer sources... never give up...
being able to quickly learn from mistakes of self and others

Of course, make money and create job opportunities for millions...

Source:
What are the traits of an ENTREPRENEUR?

There is a short answer from one of my friends Cosimo Caraglia on the LinkedIn... so simple, but to the point...
"An entrepreneur is a driver and a bad passenger.
An employee is a good passenger and a safe driver. "

By the way, John DiPietro is the author of the book "YOU DONT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE GREAT."

Ling Edward asked: "Hi Wei, I agree with your all the points here! But I think to be a successful ENTREPRENEUR or to be recognized as "success", he/she should have social responsibility, create/contribute more value to community/society! "

Wei answered: "Hello Ling,

I am so glad you brought up "value to community/society" as an entrepreneur. One month ago I posted a Q&A
"I always want to ask this question: Are there two types of careers for everyone ?"

“There are two types of careers for me:

Type 1. making money for a living - basic needs
Type 2. career as a volunteer to fulfill my dreams to help more people and community we live - self satisfaction
Hybrid of type 1 and type 2 is when one can achieve financial independence.
...”

I am a huge fan of doing volunteering activities for our community/society either to donate money or to donate time & efforts. Your comments make my week. Thank you so much !

Sincerely,
Wei

Source:
"I always want to ask this question: Are there two types of careers for everyone ?"

Chinese Entrepreneurs... from the group "Chinese-Speaking & China-Experienced Business Executives" created by Saul Gitlin 冀碩臨 on the LinkedIn.

"如螃蟹般一红就死　内地富豪形象集体崩溃"


"一项调查显示在美国，每16个人中可能有一人具有企业家精神；在欧洲，每26人中可能有一人具有企业家精神；在日本，每36人中可能有一人具有企业家精神；而在中国，每200人中还找不到一个具有企业家精神的人。"

I don't know if the survey is valid.

Your thoughts ?

Thank you !

Direct flights between China and the US

1. Los Angeles/Shanghai--China Eastern Airlines
2. Los Angeles/Beijing--Air China
3. San Francisco/Shanghai--United Airlines
4. San Francisco/Beijing--United Airlines
5. Chicago/Beijing--United Airlines
6. Chicago/Shanghai--United Airlines
7. Chicago/Shanghai--American Airlines
8. Atlanta/Shanghai--Delta Airlines
9. New York/Beijing--Air China
10. New York/Shanghai--China Eastern Airlines
11. Newark/Beijing--Continental Airlines
12. Washington DC/Beijing-United Airlines

Source: A direct flight between Shanghai and Texas ?

Business Chinese 101 - fun & practical

I would like to start with three level Business Chinese 101 here.
(Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced)

April 5th, 2009

Beginner:
Chinese language intro => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language
你好 [how are you] - [pron: nee hao]
一,二,三 [1, 2, 3 ] - [pron: yi, er, san]
说中文 [speaking Chinese language] - [pron: shuo zhong wen]
难 [difficult] - [pron: nan]

Intermediate:
Please share your learning experience and resources with all. Thank you.

Websites:
Convert Chinese Characters to Pinyin: http://www.chinesetopinyin.com/ [very simple]
Zhongwen: http://www.zhongwen.com/
Claimed a free online: http://www.chineselearner.com/

Can someone help find a free website to listen Chinese words & sentences ? Thank you.


Advanced:
Please share your learning experience and resources with all. Thank you.

Testing water - 摸个底

An interesting article "如螃蟹般一红就死　内地富豪形象集体崩溃"
http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_3468970_1.html#

Enjoy learning...

Are there good websites for children to learn Chinese ?

Many thanks !

122个英译最爱的中国成语

1. 爱屋及乌 Love me, love my dog.
2. 百闻不如一见 Seeing is believing
3. 比上不足比下有余 worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst
4. 笨鸟先飞 A slow sparrow should make an early start
5. 不眠之夜 white night
6. 不以物喜不以己悲 Not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personal losses
7. 不遗余力 Spare no effort; go all out; do one's best
8. 不打不成交 No discord, no concord
9. 拆东墙补西墙 Rob Peter to pay Paul
10. 辞旧迎新 Bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new
11. 大事化小小事化了 Try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all
12. 大开眼界 Open one's eyes; broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
13. 国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace
14. 过犹不及 Going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrong as falling short; too much is as bad as too little
15. 功夫不负有心人 Everything comes to him who waits
16. 好了伤疤忘了疼 Once on shore, one prays no more
17. 好事不出门恶事传千里 Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide
18. 和气生财 Harmony brings wealth
19. 活到老学到老 One is never too old to learn
20. 既往不咎 Let bygones be bygones
21. 金无足赤人无完人 Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect
22. 金玉满堂 Treasures fill the home
23. 脚踏实地 Be down-to-earth
24. 脚踩两只船 Sit on the fence
25. 君子之交淡如水 The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; a hedge between keeps friendship green
26. 老生常谈陈词滥调 Cut and dried, cliché
27. 礼尚往来 Courtesy calls for reciprocity
28. 留得青山在不怕没柴烧 Where there is life, there is hope
29. 马到成功 Achieve immediate victory; win instant success
30. 名利双收 Gain in both fame and wealth
31. 茅塞顿开 Be suddenly enlightened
32. 没有规矩不成方圆 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards
33. 每逢佳节倍思亲 On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away. It is on the festival occasions when one misses his dear most
34. 谋事在人成事在天 The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven. Man proposes, God disposes
35. 弄巧成拙 Be too smart by half; Cunning outwits itself
36. 拿手好戏 Masterpiece
37. 赔了夫人又折兵 Throw good money after bad
38. 抛砖引玉 A modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale
39. 破釜沉舟 Cut off all means of retreat；burn one’s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end
40. 抢得先机 Take the preemptive opportunities
41. 巧妇难为无米之炊 If you have no hand you can't make a fist. One can't make bricks without straw
42. 千里之行始于足下 A thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
43. 前事不忘后事之师 Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future
44. 前人栽树后人乘凉 One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests. One sows and another reaps
45. 前怕狼后怕虎 Fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind hesitate in doing something
46. 强龙难压地头蛇 Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies
47. 强强联手 Win-win co-operation
48. 瑞雪兆丰年 A timely snow promises a good harvest
49. 人之初性本善 Man's nature at birth is good
50. 人逢喜事精神爽 Joy puts heart into a man
51. 人海战术 Huge-crowd strategy
52. 世上无难事只要肯攀登 Where there is a will, there is a way
53. 世外桃源 A fictitious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world;
54. 死而后已 Until my heart stops beating
55. 岁岁平安 Peace all year round
56. 上有天堂下有苏杭 Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth
57. 塞翁失马焉知非福 Misfortune may be an actual blessing
58. 三十而立 A man should be independent at the age of thirty. At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself
59. 升级换代 Updating and upgrading (of products)
60. 四十不惑 Life begins at forty
61. 谁言寸草心报得三春晖 Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass
62. 水涨船高 When the river rises, the boat floats high
63. 时不我待 Time and tide wait for no man
64. 杀鸡用牛刀 Break a butterfly on the wheel
65. 实事求是 Seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts
66. 说曹操，曹操到 Talk of the devil and he comes
67. 实话实说 Speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
68. 实践是检验真理的唯一标准 Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth
69. 山不在高，有仙则名 No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy
    
70. 韬光养晦 Hide one's capacities and bide one's time
71. 糖衣炮弹 Sugar-coated bullets
72. 天有不测风云 Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue
73. 团结就是力量 Unity is strength
74. 跳进黄河洗不清 Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, one cannot wash oneself clean--there's nothing one can do to clear one's name
75. 歪风邪气 Unhealthy practices and evil phenomena
76. 物以类聚，人以群分 Birds of a feather flock together
77. 往事如风 The past has vanished (from memory) like wind.; What in past, is past
78. 望子成龙 Hold high hopes for one's child
79. 屋漏又逢连阴雨 Misfortunes never come singly. When it rains it pours
80. 文韬武略 Military expertise; military strategy
81. 唯利是图 Draw water to one's mill
82. 无源之水，无本之木 Water without a source, and a tree without roots
83. 无中生有 Make create something out of nothing
84. 无风不起浪 There are no waves without wind. There's no smoke without fire
85. 徇私枉法 Bend the law for the benefit of relatives or friends
86. 新官上任三把火 A new broom sweeps clean
87. 虚心使人进步，骄傲使人落后 Modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind
88. 蓄势而发 Accumulate strength for a take-off
89. 心想事成 May all your wish come true
90. 心照不宣 Have a tacit understanding; give tacit consent; tacit understanding
91. 先入为主 First impressions are firmly entrenched
92. 先下手为强 Catch the ball before the bound
93. 像热锅上的蚂蚁 Like an ant on a hot pan
94. 现身说法 Warn people by taking oneself as an example
95. 息事宁人 Pour oil on troubled waters
96. 喜忧参半 Mingled hope and fear
97. 循序渐进 Step by step
98. 一路平安，一路顺风 Speed somebody on their way; speed the parting guest
99. 严以律己，宽以待人 Be strict with oneself and lenient towards others
100. 鱼米之乡 A land of milk and honey
101. 有情人终成眷属 Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.
102. 有钱能使鬼推磨 Money makes the mare go. Money talks
103. 有识之士 People of vision
104. 有勇无谋 Use brawn rather than brain
105. 有缘千里来相会 Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination
106. 与时俱进 Advance with times
107. 以人为本 People oriented; people foremost
108. 因材施教 Teach students according to their aptitude
109. 欲穷千里目，更上一层楼 To ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther; Would eye embrace a thousand miles? Go up, one flight.
110. 欲速则不达 Haste does not bring success
111. 优胜劣汰 Survival of the fittest
112. 英雄所见略同 Great minds think alike
113. 冤家宜解不宜结 Better make friends than make enemies
114. 冤假错案 Cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases
115. 一言既出，驷马难追 A real man never goes back on his words
116. 招财进宝 Money and treasures will be plentiful
117. 债台高筑 Become debt-ridden
118. 致命要害 Achilles' heel
119. 众矢之的 Target of public criticism
120. 知己知彼，百战不殆 Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat
121. 纸上谈兵 Be an armchair strategist
122. 纸包不住火 Truth will come to light sooner or later

Why I call myself "Global Citizen" ?

Feelings Sandwich

At home, I am constantly in a situation between my elder child and younger child, or between my wife and my two children.

At work, we may experience the similar Sandwich feelings with colleagues, managers, friends etc.

The news about "a confrontation between American and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea" made me ponder. I, Chinese American, am in a similar situation when I read the news.

I share a Q&A with all I posted in April, 2008 "Your Opinion: Patriotism ?"
We are often called by a few Chinese as "banana", [skin - yellow, inside - white].
Meanwhile, we are not trusted by majority non-Chinese.

By the way, I am Hakka born in Shanghai, now I label myself Global Citizen.

I responded to a friend of mine on LinkedIn for the news in the South China Sea... "From Chinese history, Chinese were not aggressive, correct me if I'm wrong."

My American friend replied: "I would never disagree with you on such a subject. But all great people evolve, or we would have no history. "

Here is a positive development "US committed to pursuing positive relationship with China".

Collaboration = Win-Win

Confrontation = lose-lose

Your thoughts ? Thank you !

Global Citizenship

World Expo 2010 Shanghai