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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 ...
A

Day 1

13 August 2012
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 ...


B

Day 2

14 August 2012
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! 



C

Day 3

15 August 2012
Writing something short and concise about a country like China is quite daunting. Actually, the name says it all:

C

communism …. consumerism … capitalism ...    

A

H

hostility …
harmony ... 

L

I

isolation … 
imitation … 
innovation ...     

I

N

need … 
negotiation ...   
  

V

A

adversity … 
ancient ...
affluence …     

E!

D

Day 4

16 August 2012
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! 

E

Day 5

17 August 2012
We’re Excited and curious!
The place is Exotic and mysterious. 
Therefore, we continue to Explore  … 



F

Day 6

18 August 2012

Fascinating Far-East

The 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! 

G

Day 7

19 August 2012
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.
  
H

Day 8

20 August 2012
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!  


I

Day 9

21 August 2012

Incompetent Immigrant 

This 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

J

Day 10

22 August 2012



Jumping at Opportunities Brings about a Sense of achievement! 
K

Day 11

23 August 2012
This letter has two entries ... both about people ... historic and current ... 

Kublai Khan ...

... grandson of Ghengis Khan; the fifth Khagan (Great Khan) of the Mongol Empire; and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. 

Say no more! 

Read the poem and more 
Generally speaking, Chinese KNOW, understand and accept different cultures; are KEEN to learn and explore; KEEP GOING until they've achieved their goal, and are KIND-HEARTED … very kind-hearted.

That’s what keeps us going even when we miss our family and friends back home! 

(Observations based on TetraMap)

L

Day 12

23 August 2012


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.  
M

Day 13

24 August 2012


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! 

N

Day 14

25 August 2012
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!


O

Day 15

26 August 2012
ON OCCASION … 

                                  ... we wonder, ‘What were we thinking when we decided to move here!’

P

Day 16

27 August 2012

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. 

Q

Day 17

28 August 2012
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
R

Day 18

29 August 2012

RED
symbolizing good luck and happiness. 

On Chinese New Year it's all red – you bet! 

RED ENVELOPES 
a monetary gift for special occasions. 

Red when you wed - that's what you want to get!

 

S

Day 19

30 August 2012


Second SUPERPOWER
Potential to reality ... how long will it take? 
T

Day 20

31 August 2012

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! 

U

Day 21

1 September 2012

Unexpected ... 

Expect the unexpected! 
V

Day 22

2 September 2012
Vivacious
Independent
Successful
Influential 
Opulent
NATION

W

Day 23

3 September 2012

WE ... 

… just we three …
CHINA, MELT & ME!

          ... overwhelming ... 

X

Day 24

4 September 2012
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. 


Y

Day 25

5 September 2012
YIN-YANG

shadow - light      low -  high      fire - water

Opposing or Complementary?

seemingly contrary forces work interdependently to create synergy … 

Z

Day 26

6 September 2012


Zen ... 

... time to reflect ... 

Day 27 

7 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 ... 

Day 28

8 September 2012

PHONEMES ... 

Day 29 

9 September 2012

TONE(S)... 

Day 30

10 September 2012

LANGUAGES ... 

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