Alphabet Challenge
The inspiration for my second challenge comes from Eddie Murphy's movie: A Thousand Words.
I am setting myself a challenge to write something about our life in China, following the letters of the alphabet BUT I only have a 1000 words in total.
- I have successfully completed the challenge! A friend of mine, James, just commented on how useful constraints are for a creative project and referred to The Five Obstructions, which I find fascinating. Read more here ...
I am setting myself a challenge to write something about our life in China, following the letters of the alphabet BUT I only have a 1000 words in total.
- I have successfully completed the challenge! A friend of mine, James, just commented on how useful constraints are for a creative project and referred to The Five Obstructions, which I find fascinating. Read more here ...
Day 113 August 2012
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A cold winter's day in January 2012 ...
ARRIVED ... at Beijing airport! AMAZED ... by Annie's friendly welcome and generosity with time and support! ACCOMPLISHED ... ACCOMMODATION and shopping for the basics! ASPIRE ... to ACCULTURATE! ALONE ... in the night ... |
Day 214 August 2012
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Beijing
The hustle and bustle of MODERN BEIJING; the successful dynasties of QING and MING. All centred around the INNER RING Home to the ancient QUEEN and KING. Home to the modern PARTY WING. That's BEIJING! Peking ... evolving ... Beijing demolishing the old - creating the new preserving ... protecting ... restoring constructing ... constructing ... Beijing ... moving ... Beijing migrants flocking; population rocketing; industries expanding; pollution levels exploding; traffic flowing ... six rings and growing ... That's BEIJING! Beijing ... loving ... Beijing! |
Day 315 August 2012
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Writing something short and concise about a country like China is quite daunting. Actually, the name says it all:
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Day 416 August 2012
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DISTANCE ... a changing concept.
When we were growing up in South Africa, we drove a distance of just over a 1,000 km each December to visit our family in Cape Town. We did it in our grey VW Kombi in just under 12 hours. This morning Melt and I hopped on a fast train in Beijing at 7.00am and arrived in Shanhai at 12.25pm; 1,300 km in less than 6 hours! While we were living in New Zealand, I would never have thought of walking the 1.8 km to the supermarket to buy a bread - it was too far. I drove! In China I don't think twice about walking the 1.7 km to the nearest supermarket or subway station. 'It's actually quite close!' China seemed like a distant dream ... now it is reality! |
Day 517 August 2012
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We’re Excited and curious!
The place is Exotic and mysterious. Therefore, we continue to Explore … |
Day 618 August 2012
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Fascinating Far-EastThe Bund - Nanjing Shopping Street - The French Concession - XinTianDi - YuYuan Garden - and friends who treated us to a feast at The Dock! Fusion of the old and the new - fascinating Shanghai!
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Day 719 August 2012
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The grandeur of the GREAT WALL OF CHINA, snaking across m i l e s of country side,
makes me stand in awe of mankind's ability
to create iconic landmarks that can stand the test of time.
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Day 820 August 2012
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A walk through Beijing's HUTONGS is a must! This is where you experience and appreciate old China.
We love to stroll through Nanluoguxiang Hutong; eat long chicken and lamb kebabs and drink a BIG lemon freeze! It's a must to visit a Hutong
even if your stay is not long if you don't, it'll just be wrong! |
Day 921 August 2012
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Incompetent ImmigrantThis is how I feel when I
… can’t read what I see … don’t understand what I hear … can’t express my thoughts and feelings in the local idiom … can’t order from the menu … can’t manage to find the right change quickly enough in my purse - people cueing up behind me - patiently smiling at the immigrant ... Interpreter I need an Interpreter
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Day 1022 August 2012
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Jumping at Opportunities Brings about a Sense of achievement! |
Day 1123 August 2012
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This letter has two entries ... both about people ... historic and current ...
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Day 1223 August 2012
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L O N G E V I T Y ... an important concept that is widely pursued . A common custom is to release a small turtle into a lake and wish for longevity. |
Day 1324 August 2012
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MOER!! hier's baie mense!! (An Afrikaans entry specially dedicated to my brother-in-law in the Karoo :)) It means Gosh! what a lot of people! |
Day 1425 August 2012
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NATIONAL PRIDE
The growing national pride Of the upcoming generation - Taking change in their stride … The increasing awareness worldwide Of a new powerful nation - Aspiring to preside … China! |
Day 1526 August 2012
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ON OCCASION …
... we wonder, ‘What were we thinking when we decided to move here!’ |
Day 1627 August 2012
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Places ...Once upon a time, the emperors who lived in the FORBIDDEN CITY, commissioned beautiful imperial gardens to be developed on and around Longevity Hill and so the SUMMER PALACE came about.
Yongle Emperor also commissioned a temple complex where the emperors could annually pray for good harvest, and so the TEMPLE OF HEAVEN came about. Today, the National People’s Congress, meet at the GREAT HALL of the PEOPLE, which is opposite the MAUSOLEUM OF CHAIRMAN MAO ZEDONG, and located at the western end of TIANANMEN SQUARE. |
Day 1728 August 2012
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QUOTES form an integral part of Chinese language and culture.
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” Confucius |
Day 1829 August 2012
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Day 1930 August 2012
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Second SUPERPOWER Potential to reality ... how long will it take? |
Day 2031 August 2012
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TUK-TUKs
The olden-day rickshaw; the modern-day tuk-tuk …
you see them around every nook … but be careful … LOOK! Don’t pay too much for the ride you took! |
Day 211 September 2012
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Day 222 September 2012
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Vivacious
Independent Successful Influential Opulent NATION |
Day 233 September 2012
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WE ...… just we three …
CHINA, MELT & ME! ... overwhelming ... |
Day 244 September 2012
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XoXoXoXoXoXoXoXoXo
… dedicated with appreciation to my eXtremely patient, eXtra-ordinary loving husband who is willing to eXplore life in China - a new phase in our lives. |
Day 255 September 2012
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YIN-YANG
shadow - light low - high fire - water Opposing or Complementary? seemingly contrary forces work interdependently to create synergy … |
Day 266 September 2012
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Day 277 September 2012
Well, I made it! I managed to use each of the 26 letters of the alphabet to write something about our life in China and I managed to keep it within 1000 words. To be precise, I have 4 words to spare! The issue is that there are still 4 days of my 30 day challenge left, but I have no alphabet letters to work with. So, I've decided to use the last 4 words in conjunction with images because 'a picture is worth a thousand words', they say. ALPHABET ... |