BRITAIN IS GREAT!
Arrival
After been through applying visa, prepare some simple luggage I went to the first the trip to the UK. I have never been to Europe Before also never took such a long time flight 16 hours including the transfer in Abu Dhabi Airport.
Finally I arrived. Jamie picked me up in the Manchester Airport wearing a panda suit 😀
Before I came to the UK I learned some information and got to know it through television, films and from British friends. Manchester, UK is very beautiful. The houses, trees, countryside, Jet lag 5 days I guess it took me to get over the it.
English
At the beginning, all the time I went out for food, shopping, and pubs was with Jamie or other local friends. I was not so confidence about my English. My English is not bad and I have many British friends also I speak it every day. But with English strangers I was not sure I could understand their English. So, whenever I order some food in the restaurant or cafe I was always panicked because their accent and being not so confident, so whenever the shop clerk speak something to me like asking me what sauce I want or which menu, I always turn my face to my friends ask for help 🙁
Until one day I took a day off didn’t go to work being alone and went out for food in a cafe. That day I have gained confidence for my English. I totally could understood and communicate with English people! After a nice meal, I went shopping in a fruit market and supermarket.
Food
Before I went to UK, whenever I told a English friend in Qingdao I was going to UK and they all got very excited. And they all told me I have to try pie, curry, fish and chips, English breakfast and I did. I liked them 😀
To be continued ….
Buying train tickets in china
Hi, I am Monica, an intern in InternChina. Today, I want to talk about how to get a train ticket in china. It’s not as hard as it seems! Just keep calm and follow these steps.
1. Where can you get a train ticket?
You can purchase train tickets from three places: online, at the train station or from a ticket booth.
We usually use the websites like Ctrip.com or Qunar.com to buy tickets online.
Several Chinese words you’ll need to buy a train ticket:
Train ticket :火车票 huoche piao
Train number: 车次 che ci
Soft sleeper:软卧 ruan wo
Hard sleeper: 硬卧 ying wo
Soft seat: 软座 ruan zuo
Hard seat: 硬座 ying zuo
First-class seat:一等座 yideng zuo
Second-class seat:二等座 erdeng zuo
Business-class seat:商务座 shangwu zuo
Window seat:靠窗的座位 kaochuang de zuowei
Pathway seat: 靠过道的座位 kao guodao de zuowei
2. How to get to the train station?
There are three ways to get to the train station in general, taxi, bus and subway.
Unfortunately, subway is still in construction in some cities; otherwise, it will be the best option. If your train is very early in the morning, I have to say you are lucky. It means you don’t need to worry about the traffic. However, if your train is some time during the day or around the peak-hour traffic, I strongly recommend leaving at least one hour earlier. Maybe you would arrive too early but at least you wont miss your train! And in some cities there is more than one train station and it can be quite hard to find the right platform.
3. What should you do after you arrive your destination?
Before you arrive, you should make sure that you have an address written in simple Chinese with you, the address of the first place you want to go from the train station. The best option would be to take a bus or the subway. If you have a lot of luggage with you or there is no right bus or subway to take, make sure you have the address with you and take a taxi away from the train station. Show the address to the taxi driver and everything should be fine.
If you think about the best things about China, you will inevitably think about Chinese food. Sweet, Sour, Spicy, Sichuan, Guangzhou or Shandong; the choices are seemingly limitless. But when it comes to Chinese summer only one will reign supreme: Street Barbecue! (Even better it is still awesome in winter)
For the sceptics among you, here are 10 reasons why Chinese Street Barbecue is the best:
Street Barbecue Stall in Qingdao
1. You can find it everywhere! Those little street grills just seem to mysteriously pop out at night time. They tend to look a little shady and frankly speaking are not that hygienic. However if you are confident that your stomach can take it, you should definitely go for it. And who could possibly just walk by the heavenly smell of street barbecue without a glance?
2. It is convenient! Imagine you are on your way back home, tired after a long day of work, wondering what to get for dinner. Well your choice has just been made. Go to a grill, point to some juicy meat or mouthwatering vegetables and enjoy.
3. It is cheap! Like everything in China street barbecue is so cheap that it makes you wonder how they could ever make a profit. Except for the chicken wings, they will ruin you.
4. The Chicken Wings! Chicken wings are pricey for Chinese standards, but sure are worth it. These tender wings made out of deliciousness are the best you will ever have in China and make you willingly go broke.
Silk Worms. Weird but crunchy and sweet
5. The range. Everything that can be grilled will be grilled.
6. Freshly drafted beer (In Qingdao summer). A combination that was meant to be.
7. Bagged beer. This one is a little funky. Basically in China you can get everything for take away. So if you are in a hurry but still want to taste some fresh draft just call for Dabao 打包 and you are good to go.
Tsingtao Beerbags in Qingdao
8. It just has so much style! Be a China hipster. Nothing will make you feel more Chinese than sitting on a way too small stool next to a busy street eating barbecue from an improvised grill.
9. Random Chinese encounters. One of the best ways to get in touch with locals. People will love randomly chatting with you over a beer or some chicken wings.
10. Pure deliciousness!
Come to China and taste some street barbecue deliciousness yourself! Apply Now!
Chinese cabbage 白菜:
Chinese cabbage is named “BAI CAI” in Chinese. BAI CAI has the similar sound with BAI CAI which means numerous wealth. The locust on the cabbage means continuous reproduction in an endless succession. Chinese people place a Chinese cabbage in their houses to bring good luck and huge wealth.Jin Chan 金蟾:
The Jin Chan in Chinese: 金蟾; pinyin: jīn chán; means “Money Toad” or “Money Frog”. It represents a popular Feng Shui charm for prosperity. According to Feng Shui beliefs, Jin Chan helps attract and protect wealth, and guards against bad luck because it symbolizes the flow of money. It is said that this creature will appear during the full moon, near houses or businesses that will soon receive good news. Perhaps the most interesting aspect about the The Jin Chan is their association with bad luck in finances it symbolizes protection and turning bad luck that causes money problems into good luck. The money frog is believed to help people end troubling bills, poor financial habits like overspending, and difficulty attracting money. According to one Chinese legend, the Jin Chan was the greedy wife of one of the Eight Immortals, who was transformed into a toad as punishment for stealing the Elixir of Immortality. The Jin Chu is usually represented as a bullfrog with red eyes, flared nostrils and only one hind leg (for a total of three legs), sitting on a pile of traditional Chinese cash, with a coin in its mouth.
Chicken Feet 凤爪:
Eating chicken feet may sounds gross to most of us, but it is a delicacy in China. Some say the reason that people eat chicken feet was not to waste any edible parts of the chicken, while other says chicken feet are good for health. Research by the Department of Animal Science of National Chung-Hsing University in Taiwan had shown that chicken feet contained a lot of collagen. This is the protein for younger looking skin and also benefits the heart and can even improve athletic performance. So now you know, eating chicken feet will not only save all the edible parts of the chicken, but will also make you look younger.
Fortune Cats (Maneki Neko) 招财猫:
If you’ve ever visited a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, Asian supermarket, or any Chinatown shop for that matter, you’ve probably noticed a little cat figure placed near by the cash register.
This Fortune Cat is a lucky charm that’s very popular in Japanese and Chinese cultures. It’s a talisman that is believed to attract good luck and fortune for its owners.
Maitreya Buddha 弥勒佛:
Maitreya’s name is derived from the Sanskrit ‘maitri’ meaning ‘universal loving-kindness’. Maitreya is typically pictured seated, with either both feet on the ground or crossed at the ankles, on a throne, waiting for his time. He is dressed in the clothes of either a Bhiksu or Indian royalty.
