xiu1 xi4 shi4 yao4 zou3 geng4 chang2 de lu4
Literal Translation :Resting will enable you to walk a longer distance.
Ha ... what a lousy translation.
This is the beauty of the Chinese Language. It can be crisp and apt. The words of description are precise and at times, one phase or idiom can only be used to describe one SOLE meaning.
I always love the Chinese Language. Its complexity and beauty marvel me.
I am glad I had the chance to soak in the Chinese culture in a very Chee-na school, aka Nanyang Girls' High in my teenage years. I am glad I had the chance to study Chinese at a higher level, took up Chinese Literature and even interacted with very "pure" and traditional Chinese teachers.
I will forever remember the "qi3 li4, xing2 li3, zuo4 xia4" in NYGH. (translated : rise, bow, sit. A way we greet every teacher who walked in for the various subjects.) I appreciate this mannerism thingy only much later. Those days in NYGH, it was just a formality, a chore and at times I didn't even greet my teachers as respectfully as required (meaning while going through the greeting motion, I could be bending over my wooden desk and digging textbooks (or were those comic books or novels? can't remember.) out. Ha.)
Think, my dear friend and ex-classmate, Caroline, can identify with this school culture stuffs. hehehe ..... It is still amazing to me that Caroline, together with a few other 2/4 girls, we are still keeping in touch after so many years. God is good! I can only say it again and again. Because even before I knew Him, He brought me to a good school and met good girls, whom we became friends. He put me in a good school environment so that I won't grow astray. He put me a a safe environment so that I could discover my talents without distractions. Through NYGH, I grew slowly to know what I really want in life and .... what really matters ......
God is good! All the time! Amen.
Love,
Liao Zhen Zhen tong2 xue2 (a term I had been addressed by every Chinese teacher back then in my NYGH days)
posted by Jesselyn Ng @ 9:18 AM
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