The iPad is So Easy to Use...

...that a cat can use it, as shown by this new post at tiandi.info. It’s just one more reason I expect it to have a major impact on how computer-based resources for the Chinese field are used in the days ahead.

To obtain the login information for tiandi.info, request e-mail notification of news regarding available resources, or if you have any questions or comments, you may e-mail me at waynerj@shaw.ca, providing information such as what group or congregation you’re with, who referred you to this site, etc.

tiandi.info

As shown on the current Links file, I have started a new blog over at tiandi.info. Here is a quotation from its About page:

“Matthew 13:38 says ‘The field is the world’, and ‘田地’ (tiándì) is the Chinese term used there to translate ‘field’. The Chinese field is indeed worldwide, reflecting the presence of Chinese people all over the world. ... This blog will contain original content that I hope will provide a deeper look at this worldwide Chinese field and at what is involved in being in it. Some of the thoughts expressed may be relevant to other fields as well.

“Some of the themes I am thinking of exploring regarding how they relate to the Chinese field and those involved in it include:

• Culture / Pop Culture / Media
• News
• Technology
• Language
• Experiences & Interviews
• History
• Travel

“You may also find it interesting to check out the list of Chinese proto-groups (not official groups yet), groups, and congregations that I know of around the world. It can be accessed by clicking on the List link in the Navigation section at the right side of each page. The Map page contains links and information about how to view the locations of these proto-groups, groups, and congregations in the amazing program Google Earth. You might be surprised and delighted to find out where in the world fellow workers are active in the Chinese field.

“...I hope you fellow workers will find this site to be a good alternative to worldly web sites, magazines, etc. It is meant to be a source of information and commentary on topics like the ones listed above, but written specifically for you, not worldly people.

“...there will be a certain amount of personal observation and personal opinion on this blog. Commenting will be enabled, so feel free to contribute to the discussion in an upbuilding and encouraging way. Note that Comment Moderation is enabled, so anonymous comments will not appear until they have been cleared.”

Notes:

• For better security, do not check the Remember Password option.
• The hosting service for tiandi.info does not support news feeds on password-protected blogs, so a related blog and its news feed have been set up here to provide notification of new content at tiandi.info. You may use a news reader program or web sites like Bloglines, Google Reader or NewsGator Online to get notification of new entries in this blog as they are posted.

A Sacrifice

This recent post on the PandaGator blog offers a personal experience about an interesting concrete example of the kinds of sacrifices and adjustments some make to further their service in the Chinese field.

For those for whom English is not their native tongue, this dictionary page tells us that “nuts” does not necessarily mean “insane; crazy”, since another meaning is “extremely enthusiastic”.

A Couple of Blogs by Floridians

I have recently come across a couple of interesting blogs written by fellow students of Chinese, who happen to be from Florida, USA. Here are the links, along with some excerpts from their About pages:

http://stephenanddianna.com/

“This website is dedicated to providing useful information for preparing, traveling and living in Taiwan. Hopefully, this online blog will answer alot of questions and mysteries about living in Taiwan. Plus we wanted a way to keep in touch with our family and friends. Send us an email if you’d like and just drop a comment. We hope you can live and enjoy this experience with us.”

http://pandagator.info/blog/

“This blog is dedicated to those learning Mandarin Chinese. Learning another language is not just about vocabulary and grammar, it’s also about the people who speak it. Their language is inextricably tied in with their history, their food, and their land.

“I also write about my own experience learning Mandarin as someone who lives on the other side of the world in Florida, USA. I comment on the unique challenges this sometimes presents.”

(Note that there is other content on this site besides the blog. It is listed in the Blogroll section on the right.)