I’m at home with family and my Auntie (almost like 2nd mum) and her husband have just flew into town to welcome the Chinese New Year together.

Because there’s been so much prep going on, I haven’t had time to make a video for you so hence this picture wishing you 兔年快乐！ Happy Bunny Year!

新年快乐 - XinNian KuaiLe

May you be healthy and happy, Day Day Smile Smile

and of course, get a lotta hongbao (red packets)!

As you can see, I’ve got my haircut (another last minute thing before the New Year coming in).

Would love to hear how you’re celebrating this Year of the Rabbit. Just comment below!

your Crazy ChinaSpeak amigo
Alex

P.S. Please forgive me if I don’t reply very soon cos I’ll be away from the computer for a while doing Chinese New Year family stuff

(no, it wasn’t an “O” and I wasn’t on the white grainy stuff… sugar!  

anyway, the story!

= = =

It was Monday afternoon and when Alex checked his phone, he had a voice message. Dated Monday morning. Just after 930am. From Gary. Please call back.

Alex dutifully did the next day when he could talk.

‘Nihao Gary, got your voice message, how you goin’ – wassup?’

*surprised voice*

‘Hi Alex! I was just calling to ask you what other lessons you have? The girls have finished your course and want more.

Alex was so happy and fulfilled that the girls found the course fun and useful and wanted more. Being naturally thoughtful and curious he asked Gary, ‘That’s cool! So what’s the story? Are you and your girls learning together?…’

Gary replied, (summarising here)

‘I wanted to prepare my girls. Chinese is going to be so important but their school doesn’t offer it. So I pushed and lobbied the school to have a Wednesday morning off every week. To learn Chinese and starting to speak to one another.’

A: ‘That’s awesome! Your girls are really fortunate to have such a dedicated Dad like you. So what kind of learning material do your girls go through? …

G: ‘Oh – just yours.’

A: … silent shock…

‘waa? you mean they’ve soley been going through the ChinaSpeak course?’

G: ‘Yup. They’ve gone through it already and we’ve reviewed the course several times. Now I want them to go onto the next level and increase what they can say so they can start speaking even more with each other.’

at this point, Alex, me, I was beyond words.

One of my dreams was to help one Million persons start speaking Chinese. That is something I wanted to contribute, as part of being Here.

And Gary just said. He pushed the school for a morning off. Every week. Just so his girls could start speaking Chinese. With a ChinaSpeak course.

*tears of gratitude*

Thank you Gary. Xiexie ni

It’s just these little moments and words that inspire me to continue doing ChinaSpeak. I don’t have a big budget and definitely not making squillions. If I can help people doing what I love and contribute to this world – thank you.

= = =

Postscript. I’ll be meeting up with Gary and his girls for a coffee to chat and see how I can help them (and of course you) even more.

Thank you for your support and encouragement.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uwAdAFx6U

Just wanted to wish you a Xin Nian Kuai Le!

May all your resolutions come through…ok not all…2 of them…ok 1…

If you likey this, please Facebook like-it, share-it, shout on the rooftops in your knickers in winter!

Alex

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql73YtwNEpE

Just wanted to not only teach you how to say Merry Xmas in Chinese but to wish you and your loved ones a warm time together -- and in the Chinese tradition -- eat Heaps!

This is our first official ChinaSpeak blog post with video as well and we’ll be adding more content as we go along.

As you can see it’s a work in progress so please let us know what you think!

Reflecting on it, starting this blog has been rather like learning a language -- perfection paralysis -- where we want to make it perfect before using it and displaying it to the world.

That’s another post in itself so stay posted for tips to counter that one.

From the hot sweltering asian elf…

Alex
=)

It’s been a long time coming, sitting on my backside and planning to start a blog to interact with you and all the other ChinaSpeakers more fully.

Now that it’s coming up to Christmas and the end of 2010 with a fresh new start to 2011, the year of the Rabbit – it’s time to start cranking on a blog!
=)

What would you see on this learning Chinese blog?

Well hopefully entertaining yet educational videos, posts, rants and thoughts on tips and tricks on how to have an awesome time ChinaSpeaking!

As you can see, it’s in “Construction Phase” but as time goes, we’ll be making to changes to the look.

Thought it was better for me to start right now then wait for the perfect look (of which there never is – and I’ll never get around to it)

Thanks for dropping by and I hope to interact with you in some form or another.

Da ChinaSpeaker
Alex
=)

P.S. If there’s anything you’d like me to comment about etc, feel free to hit me up, drop a line or chat.