Liebster Award 谢谢 and Nominations

Hi, everyone! Long time no see, hope life’s going swimmingly.

After logging onto WordPress for the first time in over two months (busy summer), I found in my comments: 1.) spam, and 2.) a lovely surprise from Diane at CultureQuote! (And maybe a comment or two. Sorry if I’ve forgotten you – short memory, nothing personal. 😀 )

Diane has given me a Liebster Award, which, according to my Google search, is a PR torch that bloggers pass around to recommend similar blogs to readers, thank favorites, and encourage newbies. There seem to be a few variations roaming about, but the one that I was given asked the recipient to:

• Thank the giver.
• Post the Liebster Award on my site.
• List 11 random facts about myself.
• Answer the five questions given.
• Create five new questions, and –
• Pass the Liebster Award onto five other bloggers with less than 200 followers. Remember to send them a comment or email!

Thank you, CultureQuote! For those looking for a wealth of language learning resources, CultureQuote seems to be on a mission to compile every Asian drama and pop song, as well as a healthy smattering of Spanish, French, and Hindi resources. A great and noble site, dedicated, in our stead, to hunting down and translating the vagaries of 第二语言 pop music.

Language learners, please take a moment to honor them. Yours is a worthy cause, CultureQuote. 😀

In all seriousness, I’m honored, Diane. I’m happy to do all of the above, but for the sake of my awardees, I’ll streamline the requests to:

• Thank the giver. (Optional: Send them fruit baskets, silent curses, or a virtual hug.)
• Post the Liebster Award on your site.
• List 5 – 11 random facts about yourself.
• Pass the Liebster Award onto five other bloggers with less than 200 followers.

And we’ll leave the following two optional:

• Answer the five questions given.
• Create five new questions, or pass on the existing five.

I have no idea how to check follower counts, so I’ve just chosen a few of my favorite individually run blogs. A couple of you probably have quite a few more than the requisite, but whatever, big fish need love too. 😀

For my nominees: please feel free to decline to pass this on. This is just a small thank you for your fantastic blogs – everyone, go check them out!

Here we go!

I Heart the Brazil – An American lawyer in NZ, posting about travel, work, life, writing books, and bar exams.

The Genre Salmon – On writing, reading, and blogging.

Hotpot – All about Chinese-ness – culture, food, family, and philosophy.

Line 21 Project – Documenting PRC soft power and propaganda in the 21st century.

The Vegan Kitchen of Dr. Caligiri – A food blog. By Dr. Caligiri. He’s vegan. And just so we’re clear, he works in kitchens. Cooking.

My questions for my nominees:

1. Oranges. How do you feel about oranges?
2. If cost and convenience weren’t factors, what would be your ideal breakfast?
3. How long do you think it would take you to learn Mandarin from scratch? (For those who speak Mandarin, please substitute Arabic or Hindi. Fluent in all three? Just… kudos to you.)
4. At the moment that you’re reading this, which city in the world do you most want to be in?
5. Could you describe your hometown for us, in a few short sentences?

Thank you all!

Now, to claim my Liebster Award:

Step one.

And to answer CultureQuote’s questions:

• If there was a singular wish you could have granted (standard rules: no wish for wishes, etc.) what would you wish for and why?

World peace. Caveat: the genie is forbidden to screw with human nature. Part of me wonders if the poor fellow would implode.

• What is your most cherished memory?

It’s a long story, so I’ll just give you the beginning and the end. It began with me waking up at 4 to doodle cattails as the sun rose, and it ended with me returning home in the evening soaked through by a summer rainstorm, carrying two bags of Indian takeout. It’s pretty much a cohesive story, so I’ll count it as one memory.

•  What is your most common typo?

Doubling words words and skipping them. I constantly words.

• If you could spot-on impersonate anyone in the world, who would that be?

Um, Bruce Lee. Of course. 😀

(Though upon reflection, that might not be what you had in mind as you wrote the question.)

• What is the one song you cannot get out of your head recently?

罗大佑 (Luó Dàyòu)’s “恋曲1990“. The background track to my mother’s formal ed era.

Really, I’ve listened to it once and didn’t understand most of what he was saying, and the tune has been stuck in my head for a week. The Youtube link is above. You’ve been warned.

And lastly, 11 random facts about myself:

1. My handwriting is illegible to most mortals.
2. I prefer plaid to stripes, and solid colors to them both.
3. I love oranges. Really, love them. The way a mother loves her firstborn child. (Note to nominees: there’s a right answer and a wrong answer to my first question.)
4. I can only raise my right eyebrow. The other one basically just twitches in place.
5. My favorite drink is ice water, with room temperature water coming in a close second.
6. I take my tea straight.
7. And my coffee black. Hardcore, right?
8. I think of myself as pretty hardcore.
9. I’m great at ignoring evidence that contradicts my narcissism.
10. I fear neither pain nor death, but automatic pool cleaners and plastic sippy cups give me the shivers.
11. Yeah, I rely on #9 a lot.

Thanks again for the honor, CultureQuote.

Also, this marks my return to posting regularly! Though whether that will end in triumph or awkward despair remains to be seen; I’m a little pressed for time this season, so posts might be rough, and editing thoroughness questionable.

To paraphrase Confucius, though: Fun times and rainbow dreams be ahead!

At least, I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.

一会儿见!  (Yī huĭr jiàn! See you in a little while!)

和祝我好运!  (Hé zhù wǒ hǎoyùn! And wish me luck!)