Genmai Cha

Orange Strawberry Tea Infuser

English:

My coworkers drink coffee. A lot of coffeee No, you don't understand what I mean. At a minimum, they walk a few blocks to buy cups of coffee 3 times per day. Now, I like coffee. It's possible that I like it too much. :) But the level of my coworkers' coffee-drinking… oi!

I don't want to drink 3 coffees (or mochas, actually) for, hehe, 3 reasons: it's an expensive habit, it's a lot of calories, and it's a lot of caffeine. Because of this, I've bought genmai cha*, a type of Japanese green tea with roasted brown rice. It's a loose-leaf tea, so I also bought an infuser. How cute, no? And, why is the strawberry orange? That's a good question. :)

Spanish:

Mis compañeros de trabajo beben café. Mucho café. No, no entiendes lo que quiero decir. A un mínimo, ellos andan unas cuadras para comprar tazas de café 3 veces cada día. Bueno, me gusta el café. Es posible que me gusta demasiado. :) Pero el nivel de beber café de mis compañeros… ¡ay!

No quiero beber 3 cafés (o mocas, en realidad) por, jeje, 3 razones: es un hábito caro, son muchas calorías, y es mucha cafeína. Por eso, he comprado genmai cha*, un tipo de té verde japonés con arroz integral tostado. Es un té de anillas, así que también compré un infusor. Qué precioso, ¿no? Y, ¿por qué es anaranjada esta fresa? Ésa es una buena pregunta. :)

* I usually mispronounce "genmai cha" as [ʤɛn mɑi ʧɑi], like I've got some vowel harmony going on or something. :P (It should actually be pronounced something like [ɡɛn mɑi ʧɑ], if you were trying to follow the Japanese pronounciation (while still speaking in English).

¡Puro Español!

English:

To improve my Spanish, because of the advice of Spanish Only, I've changed the user interface language on my iPhone and web browser (to Spanish, of course). I also tried out Skype with video with my sister's help. We chatted for a bit — everything worked with the netbook webcam and microphone without problem! Now I'm looking forward to chatting with Spanish-speakers on Skype (even though I'm a little scared to use the video, because it makes me nervous).

If you want to chat with me, my Skype username is Arthaey (like it is everyone on the internet).

Spanish:

Para mejorar mi español, debido al consejo de Spanish Only, he cambiado el idioma de la interfaz de usuario de mi iPhone y mi navegador web (a español, claro). También probé Skype con video por el ayudo de mi hermana. Charlemos un rato — ¡todo funciona con el webcam y micrófono de mi netbook sin problemas! Ahora estoy deseando charlar con hispanohablantes por Skype (aunque tengo un poco de miedo de usar el video, porque me pone nerviosa).

Si quieras platicar conmigo, mi nombre de usuario de Skype es Arthaey (como me llamo por todas partes del internet).

Writing in Non-English First

English:

You guys* know that when I write these bilingual entries, I write in the non-English language first, right? I just wanted to tell you that. :)

Spanish:

Saben ustedes que cuando escribo estas entradas bilingües, escribo en la lenguaje no-inglés primero, ¿no? Sólo quise decirselo. :)

* Amusing coincidence that the plural-you in English that I use, "you guys," sounds pretty informal. But the Spanish translation, "ustedes," is technically a polite/formal pronoun. Of course it's understood in context, but it still amuses me.

Resolutions, Vaguely

English:

I don't like the idea of New Year's resolutions -- they're never fulfilled. But new habits, that are made up of specific, concrete goals, yes. I don't know if I want to elevate these to the level of "resolutions," but these things are important to me. And today is the time to take about such things...

• I want to be fluent in Spanish. I can communicate well enough, but not fluently. I want to be able to really speak.
• I want to lose 35 pounds. I had been tracking my weight a few months ago, but I stopped during the last two months. I'm sure that I've gained weight since then. :(
• I want to continue being creative. I enjoy when I do things like that; I don't do it enough.

Tomorrow I will think about concrete steps that are less will take 1 month or less. (If the steps are larger, they can seem impossible, or, on the other hand, like there's enough time that you can procrastinate.)

Spanish:

No me gusta la idea común de los buenos propósitos de Año Nuevo -- nunca se los cumplió. Pero nuevos costumbres, que están hechos por metas específicas y concretas, sí. No sé si quiero elevar estos al nivel de "buenos propósitos," pero son cosas que me importan. Y hoy es tiempo para hablar de tal cosas...

• Quiero dominar el español. Puedo comunicar suficientemente, pero no con fluidez. Deseo que podría hablar de verdad.
• Quiero perder 35 libras. Había estado apuntando mi peso hace algunos meses, pero paré durante los dos meses pasados. Estoy segura de que he ganada peso desde entonces. :(
• Quiero continuar con la creatividad. Me lo pase bien cuando hago cosas así; no lo hago bastante.

Mañana pensaré en los pasos concretos, que son de duración de sólo 1 mes al máximo. (Si los pasos son mas grandes, se parezcan imposibles, o, por otra parte, como haya tanto tiempo que puedes "procrastinar.")

New Years Day Travels

Traveling back home in New Years Day is looking to be One Of Those Days (TM). So I'm starting to document the fun...

12:00 AM: Happy New Year! I welcome in 2010 in Santa Cruz with Forrest's family while making crepes and drinking cheap champagne. We play Beatlea Rock Band after the stroke of midnight.

1:30 AM: Forrest and I pack up and leave the house. Destination: SFO, for a flight that departs at 6:45 AM.

1:45 AM: Donut run completed successfully. Forrest is now suitably caffeinated for our late night / early morning drive.

2:30 AM: We avoid two deer nommimg on the narrow shoulder of Highway 1. A little while later, we see a dead deer on the side of the road.

3:00 AM: We arrive at SFO. No one is here, surprise surprise. Forrest goes off to park the Jeep for my parents to pick up at a more sane hour while I do the check-in kiosk thing. Our seats have been reassigned so that we're not next to one another anymore, but the kiosk won't let me change them back.

3:30 AM: I settle into the line for security. "Settle" because it won't open until 4:30. Four other people are camped out with me; we wish each other happy new year.

3:45 AM: Forrest arrives from the long-term parking lot and camps with me.

4:30 AM: Right on time, TSA opens up and lets us through without incident. An airport employee buffs the carpet, because... we deserve shiny carpets?

4:45 AM: We found an airport restaurant that's open this early. Too bad they want like $20 for some pre-cooked egg-like dish that I won't even like. So I'm going hungry (for now) while Forrest eats a bacon egg cheese croissant thing. Lack if sleep is getting to me -- I'm beginning to resemble zombie-me. But no svn-commits on my brain, yet.

5:30 AM: I kill half an hour doing a self portrait (of how I feel)on my iPhone while Forrest tries to straighten out why he's assigned a non-existent seat.

5:45 AM: The restaurant I'm waiting for finally opens. They told me they didn't know when they'd open -- apparently they had no cash and couldn't make the decision to open accepting just credit cards without over-the-phone approval for some manager. Clam chowder was pretty decent, though.

6:20 AM: We board the plane in our original seats. Woohoo! Fingers crossed for an uneventful rest of the trip...

10:00 AM: By plane, train, and automobus, we have arrived home! Very tired. Going to sleep now. FSF for dinner, mmm...

26

Twenty-six is my favorite number. It's also, incidentally, my new age. :) my cowowrkers bought lunch for me, my friends bought me drinks (and delicious cupcakes), my best friend called me, and my parents got me a "Meh" T-shirt. All in all, a very pleasant birthday. :)

Spanish Dreams

English:

Last night, I dreamed in Spanish. That happens once every two or three months (or so). When I wake from a Spanish dream, I still think in Spanish. For example, I continued speaking in Spanish to my cats when I gave them breakfast this morning. :)

What I don't understand about my dream is this: How is it possible that the Spanish speakers speak Spanish I don't understand well, when what they're saying is from my own mind?? But it's true — sometimes in my dream, I had to ask them to repeat what they said. Very strange.

Oh, Mr. Subjunctive! I need to check my notes about you. :P

Spanish:

Anoche, soñé en español. Eso ocurre una vez cada dos o tres meses (o algo así). Cuando me despierto de un sueño españól, sigo pensando en español. Por ejemplo, voy hablando con mis gatas en español cuando las di su desayuno esta manañá. :)

Lo que no entiendo de mi sueño es esto: ¿Cómo es posible que los hispanohablantes hablen español que yo no entienda bien, cuando lo que dicen es de mi propio mente?? Pero es verdad — algunas veces en mi sueño, tuve que pedir que ellos repitieran lo que dijeron. Muy extraño.

Ay, señor Subjuntivo! Necesito revisar mis notas sobre ti. :P

First Day of Work, Again (Israesisat a Lhi)

(Backdated post...)

English:

I worked my first day. I had no company computer. Even so, I am happy. Will they be my friends?

Lhenazi:

Zame a kesath a ir rae ateilh. Ekamioter mozreshata one uan ateilh. Lhikei zrazo atei. Amaizorei isemei ia aikeish?

Explanation:

I worked my first day.

Zame a kesath a ir rae ateilh.

work that day that one at I-did

I had no company computer.

Ekamioter mozreshata one uan ateilh.

computer of-company have not I-did

Even so, I am happy.

Lhikei zrazo atei.

am-happy even-so I

Will they be my friends?

Amaizorei isemei ia aikeish?

my-friends become yes/no they

Words like this were coined for this entry; words like this demonstrate new grammar needed for this entry. See my website for more information about Lhenazi.

Jambool It Is (Israesisat a Ne)

English:

The second company said they're not giving me an offer. I will work for Jambool. I will work soon, tomorrow!

Writing numbered journal entries creates many numbers! One, two... What will the next number be? I will know soon!

Lhenazi:

Noke zreshatalh a ne zame-anen oan a-one atei. Zamei a Shamol-rae ateish. Zamei a some, a kesath ash shate, ateish!

Kazeme ainisraesisat a trimeta-one teze ox aitrimetan. Ir, ne... Thai-zre sia trimeta ash shate? Ilhei a some ateish!

Explanation:

The second company said they're not giving me an offer.

Noke zreshatalh a ne zame-anen oan a-one atei.

says company-did that two work-giving not that-have me

I will work for Jambool.

Zamei a Shamol-rae ateish.

work that Jambool-at I-will

I will work soon, tomorrow!

Zamei a some, a kesath ash shate, ateish!

work that near, that day that will come, I-will!

Writing numbered journal entries creates many numbers.

Kazeme ainisraesisat a trimeta-one teze ox aitrimetan.

creates journal-pieces that number-has writing many numbers

One, two...

Ir, ne...

What will the next number be?

Thai-zre sia trimeta ash shate?

what-is what number that-will come

I will know soon!

Ilhei a some ateish!

know that near I-will

Words like this were coined for this entry; words like this demonstrate new grammar needed for this entry. See my website for more information about Lhenazi.

Israesisat a Ir

Zrishelhei a tie-ikath-rae zreshatalh a ne atein. Klhime a iakor-rae ateilh. Lhike Thores na ateilh atezon a oishe. Mazrisi kaixei na Sheri-an ezrolhin Zelata. Tezei a lho-rae atei tie israesisatan.

English Translation:

I interviewed at a second company this morning.

Zrishelhei a tie-ikath-rae zreshatalh a ne atein.

interview that this-morning-at company-did that is-second me

I read at a cafe.

Klhime a iakor-rae ateilh.

read that café-at I-did

Forrest and I ate a tasty dinner.

Lhike Thores na ateilh atezon a oishe.

eat Forrest and I-did dinner that is-tasty

We played a Zelda game with Jerry.

Mazrisi kaixei na Sheri-an ezrolhin Zelata.

play we and Jerry-did game Zelda

I am writing this journal entry now.

Tezei a lho-rae atei tie israesisatan.

write that now-at I this journal-piece

Words like this were coined for this entry; words like this demonstrate new grammar needed for this entry.

[Lhenazi information]