Weird as it is but I have lived in Hong Kong for 7 years now and have not managed to learn more than a few words of Cantonese or Mandarin. My life went on pretty well with English, both at work and outside, and I did not really feel a need to learn any Chinese. But now after 7 years, I suddenly have developed strong interest in Mandarin, which incidentally is not spoken in Hong Kong but in mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and other places.

After doing a research for my learning options, I have decided to go for self-study with audio podcasts and related online material from ChinesePod.com as my primary source for Mandarin. I have also purchased Smartphone edition of English-Chinese dictionary from Lingvosoft� as reference. ChinesePod has distinct teaching format than others online courses� I have looked at. It really engages you and� I am so far happy with their lessons.

Lingvosoft dictionary is helpful� if you have some grasp on the language� but it is not good for beginners. For example it gives you multiple Chinese translations for an English word without explaining the different situations in which those words should be used. Even worst is the fact that most common Chinese words for an action (i.e. “can”, “speak”) are ofen listed last in those translations. I often get confused which word should I use, so external help is always needed.

So far learning is going pretty well and I am enjoying it as well.

It was like a thriller, but tonight ends a chapter in my life: the longest one; the most shaky one in many ways but very happy one too.

But it ends tonight!

Tomorrow is new day, new sun, new wind, new life. And lest I forget to mention, I got a new home too. I am moving tomorrow morning. I am off!

There was a huge fire on Fri night in the mountains next to my flat. We had to evacuate at midnight while fire raged next to our building.

Luckily, the fire was extinguished and none of the residences were damaged. I have put some pics of
the after-fire scene here.