bu xie
My friend Lil (otherwise known as my ex-roommates girlfriend, but also known as the really sweet random girl who writes me letters on cool stationary) called me up at work just now. “I was reading this newspaper article on Chairman Mao shoes. Do you have a pair of these at home? I think they’re called bu xie.” She says it remarkably well, by the way, for being Filipino.
“Naaah, girl. I’m Taiwanese. We have flimsy plastic sandals, made for fifteen cents. We’re kinda tacky.”
“Oh. Did you get the postcard I sent you?” She had recently sent me a giant flashcard of a toothbrush with the word written underneath in English and Chinese. “I have more, if you want.” She then proceeds to quiz me on the translations for airplane, bicycle and sofa. I’m stumped however, when she asks me how to say motorcycle in Chinese.
“I guess I’ll have to send that card to you, then.”
“I guess you will, Lil. I guess you will.”
