I don't recall much about learning to write my name. I mean who does really? I kinda recall the first time I was proud of my uniquely spelled name. R-O-N-Y. As opposed to Ronnie. Roni. Elementary school. I still remember the first time Starbucks spelled my name correctly on the glass without me having to spell it out for them. (it was in New York!) And I think it's adorable that Chloe knows how to spell my name, and put it with a little heart next to hers. Aww... Anyhoo, two Fridays ago, I started taking Cantonese class with some of my foreigner colleagues. Kinda fun. Like learning to talk again. Except it feels like random sounds and characters that are just as random with strokes. And we haven't even touched tones yet. What was fun today however, I learn how to say my name in Cantonese...

Broken down, FOK is Fortich. LOKH is Music or happy depending on how you say it, I choose music. And NINH is year... don't know why. So "Rony" totally disappears in the equation. And yes, it does seem like anyone can make up their Chinese name. But once it is bestowed, it is bestowed. Mine is actually written like that on my calling card. Kinda neat.

Also in class, we learned about numbers and identifying them in everyday life. Like movie posters... But first, understand that there are many words which do not have exact Chinese translations because they don't exist or are not understood in Chinese culture. I remember for Hallween, we wanted the word "spooky" which carries a certain coloring in western culture. But the translation came back "peculiar" which carries different meaning all together. So now...

Chicken Little... when translated to Chinese and back to English is "4 Eyed Piece of Chicken You Can Eat"

Ratatouille... mainly cause the play on words and the food doesn't really exist in Chinese culture, to Chinese and back to English reads "5 Star Hotel Big Mouse"

So here I am, learning how to do something all over again... Maybe I'll get it, maybe I won't. But either way, pen's at least on the paper. Wish me luck...

rhapsody [ 9:54 PM ] | 0 comments

Friday, April 18, 2008

Am halfway through watching a stunningly lush musical called The Light In the Piazza. With music by Adam Guettel, grandson of the Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame, it's a love story which takes place in Italy. Simple, but not that simple. And spun together by one of the most sweeping scores I know. I remember it was playing the last time I was in New York, but knowing beforehand that the musical was written in a classical manner, I opted not to go. What a mistake. Then someone lent me the soundtrack. The songs began to grow on me, slowly but surely. And now thanks to this PBS produced, made for TV version of it, everything is perfectly clear. The songs in context of the show, the plot, the language, the scenery, the voices. I mean, this man sings an entire song in Italian, but from performance and run of the melody, you almost completely understand how in love he is. It's amazing. ooh boy...

Thanks Jennie!

Hmm. It's ten pm. I should be packing. Flying to Singapore tomorrow for a quick audition. Back by Monday to jump on the prod week wagon of It's A Small World, which opens Sunday. Hoping to meet up with a couple friends in Singapore, including my sister who is coincidentally there for work. Then on Monday, while I fly in in the afternoon, Ralph follows in the evening to hang out with me for two weeks. His father is an Italian diplomat, he'd definitely appreciate Light in the Piazza. There's a lot of Italian in the show, perhaps he can help me understand it. Should be fun, hopefully we find time to check out the night scene. Presuming of course I'm not worn out by the attraction launch. While I'll be at work, he'll be at the pool. Hehe

Still waiting for pictures from my birthday jam. Hopefully Angel will have them when I see her tomorrow. Time is rolling by really, really quickly. It's practically May. It'll almost be three years. That's just flown right by. Lots of changes at work. People coming, going, moving up, moving out. Just taking it day by day I guess. And as always, looking forward to going back home...

"and the word love, there's only really one word for that in our language, in english. But in music, there're an infinite number of ways of saying that word"... Adam Guettel. Brilliant. He is interviewed in between acts. Genio. Such an eloquent speaker. I can't stand it. The score is so hypnotic. *sigh*

I think I need a clue... like a flying hat.

rhapsody [ 10:39 PM ] | 0 comments

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Wow it's been quite a while since my last blog. (i say that a lot).  My birthday weekend raced towards me and raced right by.  So many incredible things happened.  It's been wild.  As soon as I can catch my breath, I'll post pictures and stuff.  But in a nutshell, I flew home for two consecutive weekends.  Absolutely crazy, but necessary to get everything that happened the second weekend just right.  Will post pictures soon...

And on top of all that, the heart is smiling a little, again.   

rhapsody [ 11:44 PM ] | 0 comments

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Sometimes you're happy, sometimes you're sad
But the world goes 'round
Sometimes you lose every nickel you had
But the world goes 'round

Sometimes your dreams get broken in pieces
But that doesn't matter at all
Take it from me, there's still gonna be
A summer, a winter, a spring and a fall

And sometimes a friend starts treating you bad
But the world goes 'round
And sometimes your heart breaks with a deafening sound

Somebody loses and somebody wins
Then one day it's kicks, then it's kicks in the shins
But the planet spins, and the world goes 'round
And 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round
The world goes 'round and 'round and 'round
And 'round!

i knew it

rhapsody [ 2:17 AM ] | 0 comments