Bugs Anyone?

So in my pursuit of Medical Mandarin I have discovered a highly disturbing fact. Most Chinese Medicine includes insects. This enlightenment has cemented the fact that I never need to subject myself to taking Chinese medication.

I stopped at the local Chinese Medicine Clinic yesterday to look into their numerous brown bags and what did I see?

Cicadas. After we moved away from the counter neither my friend nor I could recall if they were just the skins or if it was the whole thing.

We asked the woman mixing the mixture (of herbs, nuts, flowers, furry items, and white balls) how you eat this kind of medicine. She said that you boil it and then drink it. After an extended conversation with my language helper and friend I learned that they will grind the insects up with everything else in that pile of mystery and then you will put it in your tea and drink it.

In this same conversation Ruth Anna assured me that cicadas are only the beginning for bugs/insects/creepy crawlers in medication. Grasshoppers, Scorpions, Millipedes, Spiders, and Earthworms are all part of the giant modpodge that makes up Chinese medicine.

Chan tui is the name of the medicine created using Cicadas. If you want to read in-depth on the ins and outs of the philosophy of how cicadas can be a healthy life choice click on: Chan tui. I will give a brief over view here. Cicadas are a cold substance. I am still trying to determine the logic behind what is cold and what is hot. It is supposedly good for the liver and the lungs. Some of the highlights of its medicinal attributes are: reduces fever, relieves restless sleep or nightmares, antispasmodic, and treats rashes and eye issues such as-cataracts, pink eye, or blurred vision. The only problem associated with taking cicada treatment seems to be possible miscarriage.

All in all Chinese Medicine is still very interesting but slightly strange and there is no way I intend to eat cicada.

Ma Ma Hu Hu

So I was reminded today that I haven't blogged in a while. I apologize. I forget that you all cannot read my mind or tell what is happening a gagillion miles away.

Life right now is just a week in and week out of class and tutoring. It is pretty mundane. But I am very thankful for the steady stream of busyness. The routine is nice and I am really enjoying strengthening my relationship through conversation and sharing. It is not a stressful existence. For which I am very thankful. Because only 7 months ago I was a very stressed language learner. Tomorrow I have a tingli. The listening portion of my lesson. Which means the first part of the lesson will be me listening to a story being told by my teacher and then after the story is done she will ask me a string of questions I have to answer regarding the story.

When I first started those days were my most feared classes because usually I would get like 20% of the story. Now I am more confident and even if I didn't catch some details I will have caught the majority of the large details. So that is always encouraging.

Today I want to teach you some of my favorite words in Chinese. The three most useful phrases in Chinese (for me) are: Ma Ma Hu Hu, Ma Fan, Zen Me Yang.

Ma Ma Hu Hu: (马马虎虎) these characters are literally Horse Horse Tiger Tiger. The deeper meaning is a combination of: so so, just okay, not great, or mediocre. I use this often in my daily life. It is an easy explanation of many things.

Ma Fan: (麻烦) these characters are literally Numbness Annoyed. The deeper meaning is a combination of: troublesome, annoying, too much effort, irritating, or not worth your time. This phrase is probably used at least once a day. Because so many things in China are mafan.

Zen Me Yang: (怎么样) this phrase means-how do you like it, what do you think, how are you. If I were to say it alone it means-How are you? If I say Green tea zen me yang? it means what do you think of having green tea. or if you already drank the green tea I would be asking how you liked the green tea. I use this phrase daily as well.

I have been here almost two years now and I find that some days I feel like this life is so natural and other times I wonder what in the world am I doing here. However, the sun shines here, the moon shows itself, we have rain and the flowers grow. We have good days and bad days, people are born here, and some die. I am grateful for each meal I have and every friend in my life. I have become used to the isolation/difference from people in America and am thriving. I feel at home here and yet am not at home at all. Indeed, all is the same under the sun.

Thank you for your continual thoughts for me.