Lunch Reflections

At a lunch we co-hosted for a group of guests from Guangdong, conversation went all over the place. Even though it was the first time I met them, they were rather friendly in a competitive sort of way. Everything points to the pride of a country and a growing economy versus ours. Earlier, there was a comment that almost bordered on criticism about how Singaporeans think in English and then speak it aloud in Chinese, making little sense and losing the initial flavor and meaning of a concept or expression. It's just saying that our Mandarin isn't up to par. Fair comment. Of course I had to smile and acknowledged that shortfall due many Singaporeans using English as the main language of communication even at the social and family. When one's language skills aren't quite there, whatever structure one creates, collapses.

There was this part almost at the beginning where conversation touched on the comparative beauty of 华山 (Mount Hua) versus 黄山 (Mount Huang), with almost everyone at the table expressing their opinions about it. These mountains in land-locked provinces aren't exactly near Guangdong, so it makes sense that they'd travel there for a vacation jaunt or something. Of course I kept quiet lah. What would I know about it that the table didn't? Then one suddenly turned to asked for my views and looked at me expectantly. I swore that was a test. In the prep for this lunch, there was no way I could have known they would ask this; no background brief could have covered it, and they knew it.

Luckily, I've been gone up the trails for both. Mount Hua is such an easy place to throw yourself off the steep precipice and ultra-narrow boardwalks. It's so easy to slip and die there. I was too chicken to climb the real deal up its South Peak. I went up the North. But what a trip that was. I'll never do it again though. Mount Huang was an exercise in frustration. Those stone steps were a breeze and an annoyance all at once. And the teeming mass of humans who flock to Mount Huang induced out-of-this-world vein-bursting experiences. NEVER again as well. But of course, I re-crafted all replies with great and appropriate use of euphemisms. :p

There were no more tests after that. Conversation flowed easy in both putonghua and Cantonese. The table confided in me just how many items they bought from designer labels and a whole load of assorted electronic items because those weren't made in China, i.e there isn't a point to buy goods made in their own country. o_O So on the matter of tests, it reminds me of the olden imperial examinations. How to bloody study for such a test that ranges from everything under the sun?! If you know it, you know it. If you don't, then die lor.