REPORT IDEAS FROM ASIA
We still don't have information about all the Asian countries so if you live in one, please e-mail us telling us what life
in your country is like.
HONG KONG
Sato
Hong Kong is a city very convenient for both job and life.Thereīs a lot of communication and traffic. What I don't like is that the living environment is not good, the air is bad and environment consciousness of residents is low. My family and I like to go sightseeing, eating delicious food and swimming in the sea or in a swimming pool. My favorite holiday is the long summer vacation when I go back to Japan, my home country.
Back to Top
INDIA
Amardeep
People in India are very open hearted. I have many friends. Nothing is bad in India, (though we do have to eat a LOT of onions). I love to go to the park, because of all the grass, which is very strange for such an arid country.
Back to Top
Mann
17
What I like about living in India is that people love each other and like to make friends. What I donīt like is the pollution and over population. I'm studying to be an engineer in computer hardware.
We caught up with Mann from India on Yahoo chat, if you like
to eavesdrop, you can listen in...
GlobalPals1: Hi, I'm doing a web site, and need help
researching India, will you help?
Screenname: Sure!
GlobalPals1: what is your real name?
Screenname: Mann
GlobalPals1: And Age?
Screenname: 17
Global1Pals: Where are you from mann?
Screenname: India Email:Responseme_2000@yhoo.com
GlobalPals1: what do you like about living in India?
Screenname: People love each other.
GlobalPals1: That's a plus. :-)
Screenname: I like to make friends :-)
GlobalPals1: And what don't you like about where you live?
Screenname: I don't like population and, pollution is worst.
GlobalPals1: Ick :-p What is you occupation?
Screenname: Still I am studying to be engineering in
computer hardware.
GlobalPals1: COOL! I'm a geek. Proud of it.
GlobalPals1: So what's the weather like in India right now?
Screenname: It's hot here.
GlobalPals1: Well...Thanx for talking to me.
Screenname: No problem.
GlobalPals1: C'ya!
Back to Top
JAPAN
Kimiko
There are many holidays my family celebrates: New Year, Christmas, Hinamatsuri (for girls),Tanabata (there is a love story about stars. we write our wishes), Geshi (the longest daytime), Toji (the shortest daytime), and the days for our ancestors.
On days for our ancestors, March 23 and September 23, we go to the tomb and eat sweets thinking of them. Bon is the biggest one. It is celebrated on August 15, and many people go back to their home town and pray. Bon is also the summer vacation for Japanese. Children make animals like horses with vegetables for our ancestors to ride on back to their home. We also burn wood and welcome their spirit. It is a fantastic night.
The best thing about living in Japan is the beautiful nature although a lot of it has been destroyed. Japan is safe compared with other countries and the food is excelent. What I don't like about living in Japan is the water, these days it's very bad, but we drink it anyway. I don't think life in Japan is very different from other countries, but itīs an island country. My favorite place in Japan is Tokio because it is my parents' home town.
Back to Top
CHAT TRANSCRIPT FROM JAPAN YAHOO CHAT
GlobalPals1: I want to know what it's like to live in Japan
mooch1021: i'm in japan
mooch1021: life is what you make it
GlobalPals1: you're right
tenten_pokeratto: good one lol
GlobalPals1: well what is the best thing about living in
Japan?
mooch1021: there are no guns
GlobalPals1: ? none?
tenten_pokeratto: no guns that's right
mooch1021: guns are illegal
tenten_pokeratto:yes
GlobalPals1: cool
GlobalPasl1: but hey, what's the worst thing about living in
Japan?
tenten_pokeratto: hmm not much freedoms
dontfeedthemunkeys: lol
GlobalPals1: really?
tenten_pokeratto: yeah
GlobalPals1: like, what kind of freedoms do you miss?
tenten_pokeratto: like, you have to always respect older ppl
GlobalPals1: that's bad??
mooch1021: not always
tenten_pokeratto: you have to respect them, even if they are
wrong
GlobalPals1: oh
tenten_pokeratto: we have to say yes
tenten_pokeratto: but still, it's the 'beautiful thing' for
japanese
GlobalPals1: what is a favorite holiday you celebrate?
mooch1021: golden week
tenten_pokeratto: golden week, yeah!!!!
GlobalPals1: lol, just holiday for nothing
mooch1021: long holiday
GlobalPals1: but what do you?
mooch1021: visit & have a good time
mooch1021: i gotta pay off all the little kids
GlobalPals1: explain.
mooch1021: it's a holiday for kids, but everybody is off
work
avalonn_2000: hey GlobalPals
GlobalPals1: howdy
tenten_pokeratto: howdi ho, um, howdy yo ka?
mooch1021: howdi ho?
GlobalPals1: lol
GlobalPals1: how do you do...howdy
tenten_pokeratto: okay
mooch1021: BRB
GlobalPals1: What is a favorite place to visit in Japan?
tenten_pokeratto: hmm, Kyoto
tenten_pokeratto: Kyoto is cool
glazed_ice15: what is that?
GlobalPals1: what is it?
<mooch1021 is away. (raiding refrigerator)>
tenten_pokeratto: Kyoto is a city
GlobalPals1: And why do you like this particular city?
tenten_pokeratto: you can see very old traditional buildings
over there.
tenten_pokeratto: so beautiful
GlobalPals1: sounds like a place I'd like to visit
tenten_pokeratto:Tokyo is very exiting, but no more of that
for me.
tentenpokeratto: okaeri rein san
GlobalPals1: you like more peaceful setting?
tenten_pokeratto: yep, I like the cultural thing
mooch1021: I like ikiti onsen
GlobalPals1: what's "onsen"?
tenten_pokeratto: spa
mooch1021: hot prings
GlobalPals1: we have hot hot springs where I live too
mooch1021: what?
GlobalPals1: Salida
reina_in_japan: Let's go!
tenten_pokeratto: too far away for me, I cannot drive that
long
mooch12021: no, too far for me to go to onsen
tenten_pokeratto: it's like from omaha to kansas
mooch12021: i have to go to kagoshima
tenten_pokeratto: kagoshima is cool
mooch1021: yeah, it was fun in april
tenten_pokeratto: not this season, too humid
mooch1021: can't be worse than okinawa
tenten_pokerato: I have never bee to Okinawa
mooch1021: real nice place, but hot
tenten_pokerato: so sleepy
mooch1021: yeah, all the US people are on, it's morning
there
tenten_pokerato: guess so, going to get some sleep.
GlobalPals1: thanx for talking to me
mooch1021: ok, see u next time
<tenten_pokerato logged off>
<mooch1021 logged off>
GlobalPals1: oh well
<GlobalPals1 logged off>
Back to Top
KOREA
Melinda
What did you like best about living in Korea?
Korea holds all my childhood memories. I loved going to the beach in the summer for mission meeting where all the
missionaries and their kids had a big meeting. We stayed in little cabins along the
shore.
what didn't you like about living in Korea?
Since I had golden blond hair the little Koreans kids would
always follow me around and pull and my hair. Everyone one
Korea has black hair.
What is a popular source of entertainment in Korea?
Well, back then (in the 60s) they played traditional
oriental instruments. But the Beatles and other early rock
and roll groups were just coming on the scene. We American kids heard western music from the
Army bases in Korea. And like you, we just hung out with our friends.
MALAYSIA
Global Pals caught up with several people living in Malaysia. To make it less confusing we combined the screen names. Thank you for everyone who participated!
GlobalPals1: Ok, I have a topic!
Malaysia: Spill Global...
GlobalPals1: What's the best thing about living in Malaysia?
Malaysia: mmmmm, The food.
GlobalPals1: What kind of food?
Malaysia: yummmmm...seafood
Malaysia3: all my friends
Malaysia2: I'd say my family
GlobalPals1: Is family very important in Malyasia?
Malaysia2: Not too everyone I guess, but it sure is to me
GlobalPals1: Good for you. :-)
GlobalPals1: hmmm, what's the worst thing about living in
Malaysia?
Malaysia2: I can't think of anything
Malaysia: me niether
GlobalPasl1: What's a favorite place to go on vacation?
Malaysia: Why are you planning on soming here?
GlobalPals1: No I'm just curious
Malaysia2: I'd say probably our tower, it's the tallest in
the world.
Malaysia: Not anymore, now China has the tallest
Malaysia2: Ok, fine, second tallest
Malaysia: What kind of vacation Global? Family or by yourslf
GlobalPals1: Family Vacation, or one with a lot of good
friends
Malaysia: Well our capitol, is a very exciting place. Lots
to do.
GlobalPals1: Like what?
Malaysia2: Hey Global, what's with all the question. Are you
with the CIA or something?
GlobalPals1: I wish. Where do you like to hang out in
Malaysia?
Malaysia: Yep, she's from the CIA. lol
GlobalPasl1: I'm just 14
Malaysia: I get, your doing this for a school report,
cramming right?
GlobalPals1: No I'm do a web site and I have to research
Asia. You guys are helping alot :-)
GlobalPals1: honestly
Malaysia: The beaches are nice here
GlobalPals1: oooh white or black sand?
Malaysia: white
GlobalPals1: AHHH! <GlobalPals1 is in paradise>
Malaysia: Though there is one beach with black sand
GlobalPals1: really?
Malaysia: In ancient Malay legend, the sand there is said to
be cursed!
GlobalPals1: cursed?
Malaysia: Yep
GlobalPals1: Do you know any other Malay legends?
Malaysia: Well, hmmm
Malaysia2: Yes tell us a legend!
Malaysia: (Starts to talk in Malay, I wasn't able to type
fast enough, so that part of the transcript is lost)
GlobalPals1: Translated?
Malaysia: Malaysia2, you tell us a legend.
Malaysia2: hmmm, ok
GlobalPals1 :-)
Malaysia2: hmmm, I'll tell the legend of Hang Tauh
Malaysia: Hang Tauh! Yes!
GlobalPals1: Who is Hang Tauh?
Malaysia2: Hang Tuah was a warrior
Malaysia2: It is the story of Hang Tauh, he was very honest.
He had three very good friends.
Malaysia2: One day the evil sultan heard an untrue rumor
that Hang Tauh was trying to steal the sultan's wife. This
made the
sultan mad.
Malaysia: not just mad, angry mad.
Malaysia2: yes. One day, Hang Tauh was having a conversation
with the sultan's wife in the gardens, and the sultan was so
outraged that he banished Hang Tuah from the kingdom.
GlobalPals1: Poor Hang Tauh. :-(
Malaysia2: The sultan then wanted ot kill Hang
Tauh.
GlobalPals1: oh no!
Malaysia2: Jebat, one of Hang's friends defeated the sultan.
GlobalPals1: You mean, killed him???
Malaysia2: Jebat was a warrior.
GlobalPals1: But did he kill the sultan?
Malaysia2: No, the sultan ran away. He found Hang Tauh, a
convinced Hang to go back and kill Jebat.
GlobalPals1: Hang didn't do it, did he?
Malaysia2: yes
GlobalPals1: noooooooooooooooooooo
Malyasia2: Yes, he killed his friend, and the moral to the
story is, stand up for yourself!
GlobalPals1: And know who your friends and enemies are!
Malaysia: yep
GlobalPals1: well thanx for talking 2 me.
Malaysia: No problem
GlobalPals1: G2G
Malaysia2: Bye!
<GlobalPals1 logged off>
Malaysia: bye!
<Malaysia logged off>
Malaysia2: uh, bye.
<Malaysia2 logged off>
end of transcript
Back to Top
PHILIPINES
What
was the hardest thing to get used to in the Philippines?
It was muggy and HOT there all the time. As soon as you got
out of the shower, you needed another one!
What was the strangest sutom you encountered in the Philippines?
They ate duck eggs that were fertilized! Zuck! They would
tap a hole in one end of the egg and suck out the "juice". Sometimes
it already had feathers!
RUSSIA
Melinda
I'll quickly answer your questions.
What do you like about living in Russia?
To me it's awesome to be sharing Christ with a country that
when you were born were our bitter enemies. Russia is full of ancient history. I love the snow in
winter. It really is the most beautiful time of year in Moscow. If you've ever seen the movie, "Dr.
Zhivago", you know what I mean.
What don't you like about it?
Living among a people who rarely smile is a challenge. People are not very polite to one another.
We don''t have a car here, so getting around is sometimes tough. But we have the subway, and that is
especially good for our teenage son who likes his freedom to go where he wants.
What is the weather like in Russia right now?
Now, July 5, it's long days ( 19 hours of daylight) but fairly cool in Moscow. Out in Siberia it gets very hot in
the summer. Even up to 90F. But here it's usually in the upper 70s and lover 80s. This week
it's been in the 60s. Rains some, but not every day.