This lesson takes place in a doctor's office, and while we hope you won't have too many encounters with the Chinese medical system, it is one of the many places the words and phrases we teach in this podcast will come in useful. So if you're new to learning the Chinese language, put on your earphones and get listening. By the time this podcast is over, you'll know enough mandarin to ask how others are doing and be expert at pointing and complaining whenever someone else returns the courtesy.

trevelyan
 said on
October 1, 2009
Happy National Day holiday for anyone in China. We managed to catch bits of the military parade on television this morning, and it's been hard not to notice the aerial flyovers too. Sample video:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTIyNDU2NDY4.html

The subway was apparently closed this morning and they took the taxis off the road too. Trying very hard to make sure nothing goes wrong, I guess. The videos are pretty cool, although I don't think I've ever seen Hu Jintao wearing that much make-up. An incredible amount of effort must have gone into all this. If you're in China, have a great week-long holiday, anyway.
paglino9
 said on
October 2, 2009
I was waiting all parade long to see this float-

http://rconversation.blogs.com/rconversation/2009/09/chinas-censorship-arms-race-escalates.html.

National Day Trivia- How many microphones does Hu Jintao need to inspect the troops of the Chinese People's Liberation army while standing through the rear seat sunroof of his bulletproof car?

Answer here-

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/01/content_12159884.htm
henning
 said on
October 3, 2009
No new lesson today - is it because of the holiday? :(

I especially miss the HSK tests. They keep me modest.
Echo
 said on
October 3, 2009
@henning,

Film Friday is up :)

同时，我们也在享受国庆节假期，昨天上午和晚上在天安门的庆典真的不错，我看了电视，觉得很感动。

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
trevelyan
 said on
October 3, 2009
Yeah... we havent had an HSK test in a while now. Weve got an HSK Intermediate listening test scheduled for release later this weekend though, so hopefully that will help fill the void.