http://superfreakymemories.com Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:11:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/26/parental-gps/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/26/parental-gps/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:25:41 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1344 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/26/parental-gps/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/08/at-the-nanjing-train-station/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/08/at-the-nanjing-train-station/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:43:08 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1351 This little girl was fascinated by my camera.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/07/08/at-the-nanjing-train-station/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/sprite/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/sprite/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:27:10 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1339 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/sprite/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/back-alley-watermelon-dealer/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/back-alley-watermelon-dealer/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:26:41 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1332 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/06/25/back-alley-watermelon-dealer/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/13/waiting-for-nanjing/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/13/waiting-for-nanjing/#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 11:47:43 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1313 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/13/waiting-for-nanjing/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/a-moments-rest/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/a-moments-rest/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 11:34:00 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1315 A Shanghai taxi driver takes a break to watch the sunset and call home.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/a-moments-rest/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/leaky-faucet/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/leaky-faucet/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 11:18:45 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1302 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/leaky-faucet/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/old-cards/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/old-cards/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 10:39:26 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1305 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/05/10/old-cards/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/tiananmen/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/tiananmen/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:19:35 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1290 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/tiananmen/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/but-it-itches/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/but-it-itches/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:15:03 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1297 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/04/19/but-it-itches/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/gangster-ginger/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/gangster-ginger/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:47:18 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1282 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/gangster-ginger/feed/ 2 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/sleepy-panda/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/sleepy-panda/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:38:03 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1299 He was supposed to be guarding the red pandas, but they were all napping, so…]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/sleepy-panda/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/futility/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/futility/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:05:06 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1279 Panda fail.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/futility/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/bemused-baby-panda/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/bemused-baby-panda/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:46:10 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1274 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/bemused-baby-panda/feed/ 2 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/got-your-nose/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/got-your-nose/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:44:30 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1277 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/03/17/got-your-nose/feed/ 2 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/22/mr-lau/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/22/mr-lau/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:56:12 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1086 On my way to the Philippines, I stayed at the same hotel in Hong Kong as during our last visit with the students — specifically so that I could return to this man’s restaurant a few blocks away. A friendlier manager, you could not find. And the Cantonese food, oh, the food was so good. [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/22/mr-lau/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/16/the-entertainment/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/16/the-entertainment/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:51:54 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=1077 Some of the female staff of Kaplan China Chengdu gave a dance performance at the annual meeting, held at Chengdu’s Intercontinental Hotel.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2009/01/16/the-entertainment/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/08/the-lived-in-look/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/08/the-lived-in-look/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:15:01 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=800 At the Shenzhen airport.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/08/the-lived-in-look/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/how-nice/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/how-nice/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:42:50 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=694 Chilled chicken for only $HK 33.90 at the local Wellcome grocery!  What a great deal!  Who could resist?  And it even comes with the head & a sleepy facial expression!  GREAT. The fresh meat section of my local Trust Mart leaves me similarly … “cold”, let’s say.  I’m not used to seeing my fresh meat [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/how-nice/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/lightning-earth/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/lightning-earth/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:06:24 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=702 I’m really not sure what this means.  Maybe there’s a power line (a “lightning” wire, perhaps?) below that would react unpleasantly to a shovel.  Another suggestion was that maybe the soil is there as part of a lightning rod setup, so there’s somewhere for the charge to go after a lightning strike to the pole.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/06/lightning-earth/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/hong-kong-heineken/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/hong-kong-heineken/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:59:19 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=690 I’ve always thought Heineken bottles were eminently photogenic.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/hong-kong-heineken/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/all-wrapped-up/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/all-wrapped-up/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:17:41 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=679 In the Chengdu airport on the way to Hong Kong.  Our Sichuan Airlines flight to Shenzhen was delayed an hour & a half.  This woman was pacing around with her baby swaddled on her back, and Jenny helped me ask if I could take their picture. Mr. Cute Baby here is smiling at the gestures [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/all-wrapped-up/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/aki-jenny/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/aki-jenny/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:19:17 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=769 At the Chengdu airport on the way to Hong Kong for the SAT subject tests.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/12/05/aki-jenny/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/ginger/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/ginger/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:07:03 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=713 The red pandas seemed like second-class citizens at the conservation center, but there were tons of them in a different section of the park.  They’re kind of difficult to photograph because they’re much more active than their black & white brethren – they scurry around and scratch themselves a lot like cats.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/ginger/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/stay-calm/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/stay-calm/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:54 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=742 These kids at the panda conservation center freaked out when they saw I had a camera…]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/stay-calm/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/apple-for-the-teacher/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/apple-for-the-teacher/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:53:30 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=676 After the conservation center staff called him down from a tree by waving apples in the air, I “donated” 400 RMB (about $60) to pet this panda while a staff member snapped photos.  That panda paid me no attention at all; he was far more interested in his apple (I figure you might be too [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/apple-for-the-teacher/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/its-not-polite-to-stare/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/its-not-polite-to-stare/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:20:20 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=718 Look at those ears!  Panda! This photo was a minor hit on Tumblr…]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/its-not-polite-to-stare/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/happy-panda/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/happy-panda/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:15:36 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=722 He’s smiling!]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/happy-panda/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/no-photos-allowed/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/no-photos-allowed/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:02:33 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=781 Baby pandas! The guards in the hallway shooed away anyone who tried to take photos (something about protecting their baby eyes, even through the glass and though I wasn’t using a flash).  I had to get this one surreptitiously, so it maybe isn’t the most perfect picture … but look at all that cuteness!]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/20/no-photos-allowed/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/06/history/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/06/history/#comments Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:35:01 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=630 Finding a newspaper headlining President Obama’s history-making election was a bit easier in China than in the U.S., where my emissaries failed to track down copies of the New York Times, Washington Post, etc. because they all sold out repeatedly.  People wanted a piece of history, and I’m no different — my version just ended [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/06/history/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/dog-man-staredown/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/dog-man-staredown/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:15:35 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=755 On the bench next to the dog is the dog’s carrying case.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/dog-man-staredown/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/hong-kong-graduation/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/hong-kong-graduation/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:11:35 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=562 Spotted this family taking photos on a Hong Kong bridge.  The girl saw me right before, waved, and called out, “Hi!”  She seemed happy.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/hong-kong-graduation/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/waiting-whistling-watching/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/waiting-whistling-watching/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:56:20 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=620 This boy seemed calmly abandoned. This “New Town Plaza” mall was the size of a small city.  The map even indicated a Ben & Jerry’s store (!) somewhere on the distant end of its vast reaches, but when the alternatives were, “The journey will be long and perilous; only some of you will make it [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/02/waiting-whistling-watching/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/nostrils/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/nostrils/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:55:53 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=548 This must be the view most people, those shorter than me, normally see. Aki took this photo in the “Ocean Theatre” of Ocean Park as we waited for the Sea World-esque dolphins show to begin.  I wanted a photo of me awash in the Chinese multitude, but you can see what is probably an Indian [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/nostrils/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/hans-n-franz/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/hans-n-franz/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:41:01 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=560 My student Hans waiting in line for the cable cars at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/hans-n-franz/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/into-the-breach/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/into-the-breach/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:55:48 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=570 My students wave from a balcony inside the test center at Hong Kong’s Lock Tao Secondary School before entering the test room.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/into-the-breach/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/before-the-test/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/before-the-test/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:45:00 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=614 With Aki & our students before the SAT in Hong Kong. Sue/Sushi is holding up her admissions ticket, which, um, didn’t exist half an hour before the test.  She is a fortunate girl, that Sushi…]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/before-the-test/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/shelly/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/shelly/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:44:04 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=574 Nervous before the test.  A moment later, she asked if I could have some of my intelligence, so I gave her all I had to spare.  Shelly got the raw end of that deal. I think the mosaic on the side of this Hong Kong school is interesting; such Christian iconography is out of place [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/11/01/shelly/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/cantonese-food/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/cantonese-food/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:54:07 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=572 Most American “Chinese” food comes from the Cantonese branch of Chinese cooking, indigenous to the south of China and not easy to find elsewhere.  In Chengdu, I’ve been craving “Chinese food” because Sichuan cooking is very, very different (and proudly über-spicy).  My first trip to Shanghai offered a glimpse of more familiar fare — Shanghai’s [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/cantonese-food/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/emma-wanted-a-photo/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/emma-wanted-a-photo/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:19:31 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=608 … so we took one at the Chengdu airport, on our way to Hong Kong. Emma dreams of going to UVa to study politics and is preternaturally poised & responsible — a natural leader.  On the day of the SAT, she practically made herself a member of the adult team when admission ticket problems cropped [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/31/emma-wanted-a-photo/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/29/chengdu-class-photo/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/29/chengdu-class-photo/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:02:06 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=854 On the last day of class before our trip to Hong Kong for the SAT.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/29/chengdu-class-photo/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/the-shanghai-airport/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/the-shanghai-airport/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:07:47 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=476 One of three airports, actually.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/the-shanghai-airport/feed/ 2 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/hi/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/hi/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:46:56 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=455 Ice cream!]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/hi/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/pandas-in-the-eaves/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/pandas-in-the-eaves/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:09:36 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=463 At the Yu Gardens in Shanghai.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/pandas-in-the-eaves/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/why-so-serious/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/why-so-serious/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:44:13 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=453 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/26/why-so-serious/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/25/pudong-starbucks/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/25/pudong-starbucks/#comments Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:54:01 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=488 Part of the Pudong skyline in Shanghai.  Also nearby on the river were McDonald’s and Häagen-Dazs stores.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/25/pudong-starbucks/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/21/stepford-students/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/21/stepford-students/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:53:20 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=805 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/21/stepford-students/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/simon-says/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/simon-says/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:09:53 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=480 He’s laughing because the other students he was leading saw me taking his photo and teased him.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/simon-says/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/paul-pierce/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/paul-pierce/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:07:58 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=474 The captain of the world champion Boston Celtics makes an appearance at No. 7 Middle School in Chengdu.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/paul-pierce/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/cameras/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/cameras/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:28:52 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=457 Here we see what happens when I bring my camera to the classroom.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/20/cameras/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/08/pe-in-the-sun/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/08/pe-in-the-sun/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:13:47 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=451 P.E. at the No. 7 Middle School on a rare, rare blue-sky day in Chengdu.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/08/pe-in-the-sun/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/you-might-lose-a-finger/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/you-might-lose-a-finger/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:42:24 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=445 The English translation on this sign is actually completely correct, and this photo is notable for that if nothing else. Every time I see this photo, though, I have to look again because I always think the hand is about to get cut by a circular saw (South Park reference: “Don’t screw around!”).  Sometimes the [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/you-might-lose-a-finger/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/china/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/china/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:34:05 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=816 This man epitomizes today’s China.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/china/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-2/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-2/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:27:10 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=388 Your erstwhile photographer has been spotted. This woman and her child are emerging from the Central City stop (at Tianfu Square) of the unfinished Chengdu subway.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-2/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-1/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-1/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:27:02 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=396 Ok, see, that’s just cute.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/baby-steps-1/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/dog-no-wagging/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/dog-no-wagging/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:20:02 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=522 I like that the doggie appears to be a miniature schnauzer, since most Chinese “dogs” I’ve seen are more kitty-sized.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/dog-no-wagging/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/sunset-warning/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/sunset-warning/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:16:07 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=518 Am I the only one, or are such iffy English translations … grating? Yes, yes I did. The light of the sunset found this plaque just as I took the photo.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/sunset-warning/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/foodstuffs/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/foodstuffs/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:13:27 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=391 For sale at the corner of Tianfu Square. I’m ambivalent about the composition here, but I liked this man, so we’ll have to take what we can get.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/foodstuffs/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/tianfu-monk/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/tianfu-monk/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 11:04:37 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=364 He nervously posed for me after a roundabout exchange in the style of “Who’s on first?”  I pointed at my camera, the monk with him pointed at his camera, he pointed at my camera, I pointed at his camera, we each pointed at our own cameras at the same time, and so on. Behind and below him is the incomplete [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/tianfu-monk/feed/ 4 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/guarding-mao-in-tianfu-square/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/guarding-mao-in-tianfu-square/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:59:32 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=362 This poor guy had to stand there, ramrod still for hours, while local tourists (and some rather more far-flung) photographed, mimicked, and stared. I’m told the joke is that Mao is trying to hail a taxi.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/05/guarding-mao-in-tianfu-square/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/the-good-ol-song-of-wahoowa/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/the-good-ol-song-of-wahoowa/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:30:41 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=369 So there I am at the Three Gorges Dam, the largest such project in the world, surrounded by hundreds of Chinese and foreign tourists.  Then I hear something very, very familiar, I follow the sound through the crowd, and before I know it I’m staring at this guy.  He’s busking away while keeping an eye [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/the-good-ol-song-of-wahoowa/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/michael-jacksons-thriller/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/michael-jacksons-thriller/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:25:00 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=322 I swear I saw the sign dude doing that move in the video. At the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/10/01/michael-jacksons-thriller/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/behind-the-scenes-behind-the-bridge/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/behind-the-scenes-behind-the-bridge/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:03:38 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=348 I asked to visit the bridge of the East King and watched the captain and first mate edge the ship into the last lock of the Three Gorges Dam.  Behind the bridge, though, these guys were waiting out the four-hour trip through the locks with a very, very spirited game of cards. The guy in [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/behind-the-scenes-behind-the-bridge/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/id-smile-too/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/id-smile-too/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:40:28 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=331 … if the other guys were doing all the work.  It’s not hard out there for a sampan boat captain.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/id-smile-too/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-shennong-stream-gorge/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-shennong-stream-gorge/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:35:54 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=336 The captain of my sampan boat, framed by the narrow gorge of Shennong Stream off the second gorge of the Yangtze River.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-shennong-stream-gorge/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/best-seat-in-the-house/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/best-seat-in-the-house/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:33:35 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=382 This meaty man rested at the front of his sampan boat but took over a rowing spot from a spindly teenager in an effort to beat us to the end of the line.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/best-seat-in-the-house/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-captains-cove/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-captains-cove/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:31:56 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=339 In Shennong Stream]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/the-captains-cove/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/oh-captain-my-captain/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/oh-captain-my-captain/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:56:38 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=279 The captain of my sampan (peapod) boat on Shennong Stream: my favorite picture of the entire trip.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/oh-captain-my-captain/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/175m/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/175m/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:07:45 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=524 When the Three Gorges Dam is completed in 2009, the water level will rise to the line on the sign, and our friend in the boat will have a remarkably different river to navigate.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/175m/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/i-just-liked-this-bridge/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/i-just-liked-this-bridge/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:21:47 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=288 Crossing under the bridge at the entrance to the Wu Gorge, the second of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/i-just-liked-this-bridge/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/exiting-the-first-gorge/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/exiting-the-first-gorge/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:22:05 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=291 The Qutang Gorge, first of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/30/exiting-the-first-gorge/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/merry/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/merry/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:03:27 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=283 My guide in Fengdu.  When I asked how she chose “Merry” as her English name, she told me she liked being happy, so she wanted a happy name.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/merry/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/buddha-dragon-sculpture-at-fengdu/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/buddha-dragon-sculpture-at-fengdu/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:53:17 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=294 This sculpture was one corner of four around three Ming Dynasty bridges at Fengdu, perhaps one of the least disturbed sections of what is now a recently-rebuilt and somewhat Disney-fied tourist site.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/buddha-dragon-sculpture-at-fengdu/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/chinese-couple-at-fengdu/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/chinese-couple-at-fengdu/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:34:22 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=308 They look like they’re coming out of a church after getting married.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/29/chinese-couple-at-fengdu/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/the-minivan-is-nowhere-near-as-awesome/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/the-minivan-is-nowhere-near-as-awesome/#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:21:55 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=252 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/the-minivan-is-nowhere-near-as-awesome/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/basketball/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/basketball/#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 06:54:16 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=247 ]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/20/basketball/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/rabbits-at-the-gate/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/rabbits-at-the-gate/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:21:19 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=182 Jingli Street was decked out with lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival (aka the Moon or Lantern Festival).  Fly related the whole legend to me of the “woman in the moon,” the archer, and the hare.  The story is really quite complicated (check out the Wikipedia entry for more), but the upshot is that there were [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/rabbits-at-the-gate/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/not-sure-what-hes-making/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/not-sure-what-hes-making/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:04:52 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=180 … but I took this photo on the food stretch of Jingli Street, so I’m sure it was something good.  Plus, I like the banners behind him.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/not-sure-what-hes-making/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/jingli-starbucks/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/jingli-starbucks/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:44:24 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=92 America in China.  The facade and the furniture were different, but the coffee smelled the same.  Look closely, and you’ll see a westerner — one of the few in evidence that night — inside with her laptop.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/jingli-starbucks/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/dinner-with-my-host/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/dinner-with-my-host/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:09:59 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=133 Fly Wang, one of my colleagues at Kaplan China in Chengdu, took me to a hotpot restaurant and Jingli Street.  Here she is at dinner. On the table next to her, you can see the ordering sheet for the hotpot, which is a big bowl that cooks at the center of the table.  It’s divided [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/dinner-with-my-host/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/she-sold-me-my-sim-card/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/she-sold-me-my-sim-card/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:17:24 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=112 She tore through screen after sophisticated computer screen of options in Chinese script like she’d done it a thousand times before (which she surely has), then handed me a receipt printed on old-fashioned carbon paper.  Here she’s formatting my SIM card in a store phone.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/she-sold-me-my-sim-card/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/cell-phone-sales/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/cell-phone-sales/#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:38:41 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=79 … and did a great job, too.  We had our little sit-down, and she brought out a different phone for the same price — one that I ended up buying instead of my original choice.  She put in a SIM card, switched the phone from Chinese to English, and even posed for a picture: far [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/13/cell-phone-sales/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/12/america-in-china/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/12/america-in-china/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:11:33 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=72 On my way to school, I found myself behind this man and his small son. America is right here on the Chengdu sidewalk, in this man’s Mickey Mouse backpack and basketball-in-a-bag.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/12/america-in-china/feed/ 0 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/11/chinese-children-find-duncan-hilarious/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/11/chinese-children-find-duncan-hilarious/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:04:30 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=83 These two kids spotted me before I got on the bus and laughed uproariously.  Once I joined them on the bus, they giggled uncontrollably.  Half the bus chattered about how endlessly they were laughing at me.  When I took their picture, they laughed at me.  When I got off the bus, they laughed at me. [...]]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/11/chinese-children-find-duncan-hilarious/feed/ 1 http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/09/chengdu-sat-students/ http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/09/chengdu-sat-students/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:40:43 +0000 Duncan Brook http://superfreakymemories.com/?p=97 Here are quick photos of most of my students from my first day (I taught the same afternoon I arrived in China).  They’ve chosen English names, some of which aren’t perhaps … mainstream: Sushi, Winning, Yoyo, and Sonic, for example.]]> http://superfreakymemories.com/2008/09/09/chengdu-sat-students/feed/ 0