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| News, information, and links for China-adoptive families |
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Thursday, July 31, 2003
All About Ladybugs
News
Tourist ban on parts of Great Wall: It survived the onslaught of the Mongol hordes and the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, but China's Great Wall is struggling to withstand the number of tourists who climb its watchtowers and ramparts. Actor Jackie Chan to launch Olympic logo in Beijing: On Sunday, the organizing committee will present its new identity for the Games, an identity that will combine the Olympic symbol, which research says is the most recognized mark in the world, with the identity that China will establish for its staging of the Olympic Games. 100 Good Wishes Quilt Project 2000 100 Good Wishes Quilt Project 2000 has a new web location.In the spring of 2000, adoptive parents and prospective adoptive parents on the APC listserv learned of this tradition and several people became interested in making a 100 Good Wishes Quilt for their child from China. One list member volunteered to compile a list of names and addresses of parents wishing to make a quilt so that they could exchange fabric squares. This web site will showcase the resulting quilts.
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
NewsLast SARS patients recover in China: Chinese health officials says the country's last 12 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome patients have recovered. China fireworks factory blast kills 29: The explosion took place Monday at the Guoxi fireworks factory in the town of Wangkou in Hebei province. . . . After a 2001 explosion that destroyed a schoolhouse in southern China where parents claimed children had been forced to make firecrackers, then-Premier Zhu Rongji issued an unprecedented apology on national television for failing to protect public safety. Hot, Sweltering Weather to Linger in South, East China: South and east China will continue to swelter in hot weather for the next two days with temperatures of [95 to 100 degrees F]. The gift of education: Closing her dark brown eyes, Christine ponders her options. She thinks of the Chinese children with their stubby pencils, barely long enough to grip. Then she thinks of the Chinese teachers, assigned one book per subject, and how chapters must be copied on chalkboards for students to read.
Monday, July 28, 2003
Local Stories Adoption lets couples share parental love: Laura was 10 months old when her parents first set eyes on her. The small and somewhat frightened child was living in an orphanage in China, and Wally and Liz Hufford had traveled halfway around the world from Nikiski to make her a part of their family. SARS scare over, families bring China babies home: The wait might have been excruciating—but it was worth it. That was the consensus of the 11 families who returned to Chicago on Friday with their newly adopted Chinese babies. Their trip had been delayed nearly two months because of the SARS outbreak. NewsChina shut down 15,400 unlicensed coal mines since 2001: The Chinese government has shut down more than 15,400 small coal mines without license or poor production conditions since 2001. Amateur sleuths join China's growing movement to recover stolen treasures : He Shuzhong prowls the countryside searching for tomb robbers. He had to hide from one gang in an icy river, and mortgaged his own apartment to pay for the hunt—all to help protect the treasures of China's past. He leads a band of amateur sleuths who are part of a growing movement to protect Chinese cultural sites and retrieve treasures that have been taken abroad. Outsourcing—Make Way for China: After emerging as the world's hottest manufacturing hub, China is joining English-speaking countries such as India and the Philippines as a key destination for outsourced service jobs. Three Gorges Probe Three Gorges Probe is dedicated to covering the scientific, technical, economic, social, and environmental ramifications of completing the Three Gorges Project, as well as the alternatives to the dam. The site containts some incredible pictures.
Saturday, July 26, 2003
NewsGuangdong passes regulations on wildlife consumption: The wildlife cuisine of southern China's Guangdong Province is under fire from animal welfare activists and medical experts after the SARS coronavirus was traced to wild animals. The Sky is Falling: Mao envisioned a China in which women would "hold up half the sky." But as the nation embraces capitalism, women are losing ground.
Friday, July 25, 2003
News Tibetan costume show: Tibetan farmers and shepherds present costumes in an activity marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of Huangnan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture. Fresh Sars worry hits Hong Kong: Tests on 18 suspected Sars patients in Hong Kong have sparked fears of a re-emergence of the virus. Even though it is likely that the respiratory infections suffered by the patients are caused by influenza, not Sars, it will be days before the official all-clear can be given. China's deadly mining industry: China has renewed its efforts to improve conditions in its coal mines and reduce the alarmingly high number of mining accidents, but newly unveiled statistics suggest the country remains one of the world's deadliest places for miners toiling underground. Last year, 6,995 coal miners were killed in explosions, shaft collapses, and floods in different parts of the country. Internet Searching TipIf you would like to find information about Chinese Adoption on the internet, the following search tip will filter out a lot of false hits.
Chinese Stepping Stones Order Chinese Stepping Stones and other Asian-style products at Gumps.com. Dotted with these symbolic "Shou" stones, your garden path is paved with nothing but our best wishes for good fortune and long life. They also help protect flower beds and plantings while you water and weed. English antique finish. Hand-cast of a durable cement material. 10" diameter. (Thanks to Beth on APC!)
Thursday, July 24, 2003
News China manned space mission nears: Chinese officials say they are on schedule to launch their first manned spacecraft in October, becoming only the third nation to send a human into orbit. Yangtze River dam floods 1,200 sites: Nearly 1200 sites of historical and archaeological importance along the Yangtze River are now underwater as the first stage of China's massively ambitious Three Gorges Dam hydro-electric project reached completion on schedule. On 1 June the waters began rising in the huge 375 miles long reservoir created by the 185 metre high and two kilometre wide dam. Typhoon Slams Into South China Coast: Winds of up to 115 mph pounded the southern Chinese province of Guangdong as the storm made landfall at noon near the city of Yangjiang, about 190 miles southwest of Hong Kong. It was moving northwest at about 17 mph.
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo, botanical name Dracaena. It is tough and resilient which does not require much of the direct sun light and can even grow in the place like bathroom where sun light is not available in most of the houses. It is very easy to take care, only water is needed. Since this kind of plant symbolizes good luck, nowadays, people believe not only it brings green color into your room, but also bring fortune and prosperity to any household, business or people you care. Visit the Lucky Bamboo webpage. (Thanks to Al on APC!) News Photos—British PM visits China: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held a ceremony in Beijing on Monday morning to welcome visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 1,000-year-old Buddhist stone carving discovered in Chongqing: A Buddhist stone carving dating back more than 1,000 years was discovered near the World Heritage listed carvings in Dazu county of southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality. The carving of Guanyin (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) with a thousand arms was believed to be the oldest of its kind among the ancient stone carvings at Dazu county since it was engraved between 907 to 965 A.D. HK braces for powerful typhoon: Hong Kong is bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Imbudo, as it moves closer to the south China coast after sweeping across the Philippines.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
News 15 dead in China quake: A strong earthquake has shaken southwestern China, killing at least 15 people and injuring nearly 300. The magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit a remote area in Yunnan province, about 1,400 miles (2,254 kilometers) southwest of Beijing, before midnight on Monday, when most people were sleeping.
Monday, July 21, 2003
NewsDesire for sons spurs poor Chinese to sell daughters: In March, the police in Guangxi province found the fallout of son worship packed away in the back of a long-haul bus: 28 unwanted baby girls from Yulin, 2 months to 5 months old, being transported like farm animals, for sale. China bans lewd text messages: China's Liaoning province has launched an attempt to crack down on insulting or sexually explicit mobile phone messages. . . . China's communist authorities already screen email messages and online chat rooms, as well as blocking access to a large numbers of foreign websites which they consider subversive. Taxation on High-income Earners Urged in China: The State Administration of Taxation (SAT) issued a notice over the weekend calling on taxation authorities of all levels in China to intensify the collection and management of personal income taxes, especially those of high-income earners. Asian Food and Merchandise Buy asian food and cookware online direct from the supplier and save. Zen cooking essentials from Japan, ancient Chinese secrets, Thai curry ... 100's of items like these and lots of new additions every day. From Quickspice.com. (Thanks to Linnea from APC!)
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Product ReviewChinese for Adoptive Parents This two-CD set is designed as a crash course in adoption Chinese language essentials, especially for those adopting older children. It contains 184 phrases organized in the following categories: Love/Comfort, Encouragement, Basic Needs, Orientation, Safety, Travel, Emotions, Play, General Commands, Greetings/Manners, and Shopping. Each phrase is spoken in English and repeated twice in Chinese. While the speaker is not native Chinese, the pronunciation is clear and correct. While the serious student of Chinese should learn to imitate a native speaker, it is often easier to start with the clear pronunciation of a non-native. The CDs come with a six-page (on 8.5 x 11" paper) translation list, which presents each phrase by category, along with the Chinese pinyin (i.e., transliteration) and track number on the CD. The combined time of both CDs is about 45 minutes. This is a good quality product that is elegant in its simplicity. A few improvements could help make it near-perfect. First, the pinyin transliteration on the translation list does not include the tones for the Chinese words. This could be accomplished easily by adding the tone number after the syllable (e.g., Ni3 hao3) and might expedite language acquisition, since it is difficult for a beginner to pick up the tone by listening. (There is an upside to not including tones—it is less confusing for a beginning self-learner.) Second, it would be nice to have the translation in a booklet form, rather than on loose sheets of paper (although this would undoubtedly increase the cost). If you can get these CDs six months before you travel, you can master it by learning a phrase a day, which is certainly an attainable goal. Don't forget to practice on your Chinese-speaking friends, and be patient! [Chinese for Adoptive Parents web page] Local Story Greeted with applause and cheers at Louisville International Airport last night, wide-eyed Carissa Breeding finally arrived in her new country, her new home. Article from The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky).
Saturday, July 19, 2003
News
Summer scorcher set to continue in Southern, Eastern china: Southern and eastern areas of China have been blighted by heatwaves and severe drought as floods in the Huaihe River basin subside. . . . Under the influence of a subtropical high pressure system, the province has experienced temperatures of over 35 C [95 F] since June 29. Fuzhou, the capital city, sweltered through a record high of 41.1 C [106 F] on Tuesday. Ruins of 3,000-year-old Village Unearthed in Central China: Chinese archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a complete ancient village on the western edge of Yinxu, an important archaeological excavation site dating back more than 3,000 years, in central China's Henan province. Product ReviewOxford™ Chinese Dictionary for Palm OS If you have a Palm OS PDA and are interested in learning Chinese, this is a must get product. It includes the entire Oxford™ Concise Chinese Dictionary (both Chinese-to-English and English-to-Chinese, as well as some powerful features such as pinyin search, handwriting recognition for characters, and flashcards. (Additional features can be found on the product page.) I found the most utility with the character input. Never again will you have to count strokes and look up a character in a table to find its meaning. Simply input the character (as best you can) and this software will suggest possible matches. Select the correct one, and jump to its definition! If you are serious about learning Chinese, this product alone will justify the purchase of a Palm Pilot. Flooding in Chuzhou Half the Sky foundation has posted some images of flooding at the orphanage in Chuzhou.
Friday, July 18, 2003
China's Economic GrowthU.N. says World can't afford rich China: China's ambitious economic growth plans are environmentally unachievable because the world does not have enough resources to allow its 1.3 billion people to become Western-style consumers, a U.N. official has said. 260 billion eggs and the world's entire catch of fish: . . . Take the Chinese government's attempts to get its people to eat more healthily. Beijing has been aiming to encourage every Chinese person to eat 200 eggs a year—a total of 260billion eggs. To produce that many eggs, a flock of 1.3 billion chickens is needed. To keep the chickens fed, a grain crop bigger than that produced by Australia is necessary. China sees car production surge: Passenger car output in China rose last month (June) by 83 per cent on the same time a year earlier. The 179,200 vehicles assembled in June this year also represent a thirteen per cent improvement on May's production levels. UPDATE—China's growth no threat to world: China's ability and resolve to press ahead with its own approach to overall development should not be underestimated. China Radio International China Radio International (CRI) aims at promoting understanding and friendship between the people of China and people throughout the world. CRI broadcasts 211 hours of programs each day to all over the world in 43 languages and Chinese dialects. CRI's programs include news, current affairs, and features on politics, economy, culture, science and technology. (Note that broadcasts end at midnight in China, so they will only be available during the night and morning in the U.S.)
Thursday, July 17, 2003
News23 dengue fever cases reported in S. China province: South China's Guangdong Province had reported 23 cases of dengue fever by July 16. All of the cases were reported in Guangzhou, capital of the province. The main symptoms of dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, are high fever, muscle pain and headache. Tourists flock to see Beijing Sars hospital: Thousands of people a week are flocking to Beijing's newest tourist attraction—a decommissioned Sars hospital. More than 1,000 people in one day alone visited the Xiaotangshan Hospital, where most of the Chinese capital's Sars victims were treated and where many died. 2008 Beijing Olympic Mascot : Monkey King, the legend of the Chinese Literature Monkey King, or Sun Wukong has emerged as one of the most likely candidates for the icon of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
NewsEnvironmentalists cry 'fore!' in China: Water wastage on golf courses is far worse in some Asian countries. Thai courses exploit nearly 6,500 cubic meters of water per day, or about what 60,000 rural villagers use in a day. Fury at Nanking 'lie' claim: China has angrily rejected claims that the deaths of 300,000 Chinese civilians at the hands of Japanese troops in the Nanking massacre was a "big lie." China lags behind in special athletics: Everyone knows that the 2008 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China's capital. Fewer people—including the Chinese themselves—have heard that China will also host the 2007 Special Olympics World Games—this despite China's poor showing in the 2003 Special Olympics and a doubtful record of commitment to its own special-needs athletes. Survivors of SARS now suffer from social stigma: When a nurse named Wang Fang lay in a SARS ward recuperating from the illness that nearly killed her, state-run television proclaimed she was a hero to the Chinese people—a "white-clothed warrior" risking her life to help others. She knew better. When she returned home in May, recovered medically, it was not to a hero's welcome but to scorn and suspicion. To this day, no one shakes her hand, and neighbors avoid her on her nightly walks.
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
News China's 'Loch Ness Monster' resurfaces: China's legendary 'Lake Tianchi Monster' has surfaced anew, with local officials reporting sightings of as many as 20 of the mysterious and unidentified creatures in a lake near North Korea. (Reuters Photo) Chinese province bans female aides: Sichuan province made the announcement that males are forbidden to hire female secretaries, assistants or drivers in an attempt to cut down on corruption within the bureaucracy. Death toll in China flooding climbs beyond 500: More than 500 people have died so far this year in floods and landslides from annual rains inundating central and southern China. At least 1.6 million people have been forced from their homes in two hard-hit eastern provinces, Jiangsu and Anhui. Damage to homes and agriculture had topped $870 million there and in neighboring Henan province.
Monday, July 14, 2003
NewsWal-Mart Opens First Store in Beijing: Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, opened its first outlet in China's capital Friday, making its inaugural foray into a major Chinese city after setting up 22 stores elsewhere in the country. China jails man for killing panda: A farmer has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for killing a giant panda. The farmer is reported to have shot and skinned the panda cub and sold the fur to another man for the equivalent of $24. Local Story A story from the South Bend Tribune (Indiana).Couples anxious to travel to China for adoptions: By June 27, Greg and Hilda Patterson of South Bend had their referral—pictures and medical information for their child. They expect to travel to China in August to adopt their daughter, Anna Grace.
Saturday, July 12, 2003
For the Tea Lovers In the July 10, 2003, Far Eastern Economic Review, Erling Hoh writes about Green Gold: The Empire of Tea, “If you like good tea, this book should be a pleasure to consume, claiming as it does that the fragrant leaf has led to many improvements in the existence of mankind.” In 1830, China produced virtually all the world's tea, and England exported 1,500 tonnes of opium a year to China to finance the vast amounts of tea it imported from the Middle Kingdom. In 1835, the tea plant was found growing wild in the Indian province of Assam, and a year later, the first six chests of Assam tea were delivered to Calcutta. By the turn of the century, the cheap, strong Assamese leaf had destroyed the Chinese export market. “This is one of many fascinating tales the author tells in his world history of tea, which could have been an epic spanning centuries, continents and cultures, and more than the mere 285 pages of this book.” News5,000-year-old Skeleton Unearthed in South China: Chinese archaeologists have unearthed an intact skeleton at a Neolithic site in Dongguan City of south China's Guangdong Province. Experts say that the 5,000-year-old skeleton, positioned face-up with limbs extended was a male inhabitant of the Pearl River delta in the central-south part of Guangdong. China launches sex education website: China has launched what is believed to be the first website aimed at giving young Chinese people advice on sexual health. China's Three Gorges Dam has begun generating electricity: The first of the dam's 26 generators to go into operation was connected to the power grid on Thursday, 20 days ahead of schedule. SARS Does Little to Slow China's Growth: China's exports soared last month, despite a sluggish world economy and orders canceled because of SARS. In June, exports were up 32.6 percent over the previous year, reaching $34.5 billion. Language For those fortunate enough to live in the area, the Denver International School provides a Chinese Immersion program.
Friday, July 11, 2003
NewsQ&A: A fresh glance at China's foreign policy China flood toll rises to 569: The worst flooding China has seen in years has so far killed 569 people and forced the emergency evacuation of 2.29 million. NYT Editorial—China's Abuses on AIDS: Hundreds of Henan police officers raided the village of Xiongqiao last month, beating up residents and smashing their property. Thirteen people were arrested. The raid appears to have been a retaliation for a violent protest by villagers over promised help for AIDS that never came.
Thursday, July 10, 2003
NewsProtest Continues In Hong Kong: Tens of thousands of people wearing white shirts and yellow ribbons surrounded Hong Kong's legislative building tonight to celebrate their success in forcing the shelving of an unpopular internal security bill and to demand free elections to replace the city's deeply unpopular leader, who was appointed by the government in Beijing six years ago. Explosion kills Chinese miners: More than 40 miners were trapped inside the mine when the blast occurred early on Friday. Fifteen were rescued unharmed. The Yakeshi mine, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) northeast of Beijing, was government-owned and had operated legally since 1985. Chinese coal mines have the worst safety record in the world. Official figures indicate more than 5,000 people were killed last year alone. Deadly floods hit eastern China: Heavy floods in eastern China have killed 13 people and left more than a million stranded. It's the worst flooding since 1991 in terms of the volume of rainfall and water level. Factoid“The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1888 was America's first law restricting immigration by race or nationality to the United States. May 6, 1882 (22 Statutes-at-Large 58) Skilled and unskilled laborers from China were barred from immigrating to America for ten years and all Chinese were barred from naturalization. Repealed in 1943. Previously only Prostitutes, criminals, and morons had been exluded.” From The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association article “How Does Immigration Law Today Affect Your Domestic Law Practice?” by Kathleen Anne Harvey (May 2003). (Thanks to Theresa on APC)
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Language Tool
The dictionary is at the right level for beginning students. The entries are limited to the most commonly used words. This is a major advantage for those who like to learn vocabulary by browsing a dictionary -- you are sure to be learning useful words (as opposed to specialty or infrequently used words). There have been only a few times where I have look for a word that wasn't included in this dictionary. I expect that the casual learner of Chinese will not outgrow this dictionary for at least a year or two. I found the format of the dictionary uncluttered and very user friendly. In addition to the standard word and definition, entries also include very useful notes of clarification. For example, after the character for hui4 ("to be able to") there a note explaining that this character can also be pronounced as kuai4 with a different meaning. (Order from Amazon.com.)
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Chinese Proverb“Crows everywhere are equally black”Chinese Pinyin: Tian1xia4 wu1ya1 yi1ban1 hei1. Meaning: It is a metaphorical statement of "Bad people are bad no matter where you find them because human nature never changes." [from Haiwang Yuan' s Welcome to China]
Thursday, July 03, 2003
NewsChina, India Face Aids Disaster: The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said China and India—the world's two most populous countries—are facing a potential Aids disaster. China says it has at least a million people with Aids, but the UN estimates this could reach 10 million by the end of the decade. Two week delay for 2008 Olympic Games: China has won approval to delay the 2008 Beijing Olympics by two weeks. The period around late July early August, when the Games were to be held, is usually an uncomfortable time in Beijing because of the high heat and humidity. The games will start on August 8 and finish on August 24. China Cola I stumbled across this "made in the U.S.A." soft drink—China Cola—and had to give it a try. According to the company literature, the caffeine-free herb formula was "developed by an authentic herb master in China as a healthy way to cool off the Chinese youngsters and clean out their firey livers." Its ingredients include Szechuan peony root, cassia bark, malaysian vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, licorice, and cardamon. The taste? You be the judge! I will say that is milder than the ingredients suggest. It also had no noticeable effects on my liver.
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Featured MagazineDestinAsian Our aim is simply to reach the region's young and sophisticated urbanites who have a thirst for the latest in travel trends, whether it is the best places for a beach excursion or spa holiday or knowing what's the most recent in design, food, and fashion from Beijing to Bali, from Mumbai to Manila. . . . DestinAsian not only provides holiday destinations in a fresh new light -- by way of carefully selected departments and feature articles, the publication connects travel and lifestyle like no other consumer magazine in the region. Features include Architecture, Cuisine, Mind & Body, Excursions, Perspectives, and Fasion. Rates to the United States are currently $45 for 6 issues. (Note, the website seems to very slow.) |
About This Site Welcome to China Adoption News! After my wife and I adopted two beautiful girls from China, I've enjoyed keeping up on news, stories, and other information relating to China and adoption. Suggestions and comments are welcome. Feel free to contact me!
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As a "beginning" student of Chinese for a few years now, I have gone through a large number of Chinese language resources. This is one that I would unhesitatingly recommend to anyone.