 | erdos0 |
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Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:06:05 am
I always hate getting this question, especially when it's asked with exactly those words. I always answer with "New York", and I let the awkwardness linger. Some people respond with asking where I'm from "originally". I say "New York" again, knowing what they are really asking. I am not ashamed of my ethnicity, but I just don't like the question. Occasionally, I tell people that my parents are from China. I hate when this leads to an attempt to say every phrase in Chinese that they know. It's equally bad when they talk about their vacation in China and expect me to be familiar with the area. I have never visited China and the only dialect that I know fluently is Toisanese, which is neither Mandarin nor Cantonese.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:10:46 am
The only chinese phrase I know is "vegetable lo mein".
But seriously, I used to go through the same sort of internal agony with yiddish. People think it's endearing to utter every cliche phrase they know and somehow expect you to relate to them over it. One of the people at my old job was particularly infuriating with this. He loved studying other languages with Rosetta Stone and would practice every single thing he was clearly not ready to speak yet on all the immigrants that came in to the office. That is a really bad habit to have in an immigration firm and I couldn't tell him to shut up because he was a lawyer.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:14:14 am
re: comment#1
The only chinese phrase I know is "vegetable lo mein".
But seriously, I used to go through the same sort of internal agony with yiddish. People think it's endearing to utter every cliche phrase they know and somehow expect you to relate to them over it. One of the people at my old job was particularly infuriating with this. He loved studying other languages with Rosetta Stone and would practice every single thing he was clearly not ready to speak yet on all the immigrants that came in to the office. That is a really bad habit to have in an immigration firm and I couldn't tell him to shut up because he was a lawyer.
The only Yiddish I know is "oy vey".But seriously, I used to go through the same sort of internal agony with yiddish. People think it's endearing to utter every cliche phrase they know and somehow expect you to relate to them over it. One of the people at my old job was particularly infuriating with this. He loved studying other languages with Rosetta Stone and would practice every single thing he was clearly not ready to speak yet on all the immigrants that came in to the office. That is a really bad habit to have in an immigration firm and I couldn't tell him to shut up because he was a lawyer.
I know some Cantonese and it's painful to listen to how badly some people try to pronounce it when they are trying to impress me with their knowledge of Chinese.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:15:56 am
I get that question a lot (both in Philly and here) and it annoys me as well. I am not sure why I hate answering it so much. Yet, I always ask people that question as well.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:17:24 am
re: comment#3
I get that question a lot (both in Philly and here) and it annoys me as well. I am not sure why I hate answering it so much. Yet, I always ask people that question as well.
It's understandable in Korea, but I don't know why you got asked that in Philadelphia.Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:20:32 am
re: comment#4
It's understandable in Korea, but I don't know why you got asked that in Philadelphia.
I get that question no matter where I go. I don't think it's geared towards my country, but rather what state/area I am from? I was clearly not from the east coast so people would ask me where I was from. Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:23:58 am
re: comment#5
I get that question no matter where I go. I don't think it's geared towards my country, but rather what state/area I am from? I was clearly not from the east coast so people would ask me where I was from.
You must talk with a really funny accent.Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:24:11 am
agrees with: comment#6
You must talk with a really funny accent.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:27:17 am
re: comment#6
You must talk with a really funny accent.
I have absolutely no accent whatsoever. :-/ (Although I am picking up a really strange accent living over here...) Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:28:48 am
re: comment#8
I have absolutely no accent whatsoever. :-/ (Although I am picking up a really strange accent living over here...)
Maybe that's the problem. You sound like a robot.Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:29:42 am
agrees with: comment#9
Maybe that's the problem. You sound like a robot.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:30:07 am
re: comment#8
I have absolutely no accent whatsoever. :-/ (Although I am picking up a really strange accent living over here...)
I want to hear a before and after comparison.Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:31:29 am
agrees with: comment#9
Maybe that's the problem. You sound like a robot.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:31:33 am
disagrees with: comment#11
I want to hear a before and after comparison.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:33:34 am
re: comment#11
I want to hear a before and after comparison.
I only have one "before" and that was my youtube video to get the job here. No one is viewing that. The "after" would only work in a relaxed, slang filled setting. I am picking up many new words. I used "proper" in a sentence the other day and about died--as in something like "I had a proper good time." In my blog post today I said, "sorted." *sigh* It's a downward slope.Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:34:54 am
re: comment#14
I only have one "before" and that was my youtube video to get the job here. No one is viewing that. The "after" would only work in a relaxed, slang filled setting. I am picking up many new words. I used "proper" in a sentence the other day and about died--as in something like "I had a proper good time." In my blog post today I said, "sorted." *sigh* It's a downward slope.
What is the meaning of "proper" in that context?Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:39:43 am
re: comment#15
What is the meaning of "proper" in that context?
In this context: something done really well (a cool word british people use alot)That was a proper good ass kicking mate. Let's go to the pub and get a pint to celebrate.
But in general, it can be used as: buy proper mugs, tshirts and magnetsProper is actually a word you can use all by itself, you can just expostulate "Proper!" and it means something similar to "Wicked!" or "Excellent!" or "Cool!". It is an exclamative word. If something totally cool or awesome happens you just say "Proper!" and it means the same as "Awesome!" or "Cool!", but it is much newer and fresher and better and longer-lasting than those words. Its literal definition is "Perfect". Say this if you want to not only be with it, but way, way ahead of it. Proper.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:42:03 am
Whe I am asked where I'm from I always answer "I don't know" or "everywhere".
I don't know why people hate those answers.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:43:20 am
re: comment#17
Whe I am asked where I'm from I always answer "I don't know" or "everywhere".
I don't know why people hate those answers.
♥I don't know why people hate those answers.
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:43:24 am
*When
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:43:33 am
re: comment#16
In this context: something done really well (a cool word british people use alot)
That was a proper good ass kicking mate. Let's go to the pub and get a pint to celebrate.
But in general, it can be used as: buy proper mugs, tshirts and magnetsProper is actually a word you can use all by itself, you can just expostulate "Proper!" and it means something similar to "Wicked!" or "Excellent!" or "Cool!". It is an exclamative word. If something totally cool or awesome happens you just say "Proper!" and it means the same as "Awesome!" or "Cool!", but it is much newer and fresher and better and longer-lasting than those words. Its literal definition is "Perfect". Say this if you want to not only be with it, but way, way ahead of it. Proper.
Interesting.That was a proper good ass kicking mate. Let's go to the pub and get a pint to celebrate.
But in general, it can be used as: buy proper mugs, tshirts and magnetsProper is actually a word you can use all by itself, you can just expostulate "Proper!" and it means something similar to "Wicked!" or "Excellent!" or "Cool!". It is an exclamative word. If something totally cool or awesome happens you just say "Proper!" and it means the same as "Awesome!" or "Cool!", but it is much newer and fresher and better and longer-lasting than those words. Its literal definition is "Perfect". Say this if you want to not only be with it, but way, way ahead of it. Proper.
