Global village

Forever Friends

Do you have a song in your heart that you want to share with the world next year? Beijing 2008 organizers are still looking for the official song and would-be expat song writers can get hints from the efforts of Academy Award-winning Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder who was in Beijing last week to plug his latest effort. He has composed two previous Olympic theme songs and worked with Chinese pianist Kong Xiangdong for the 2008 entry. The duo took three years to create the song, In Harmony (English), Forever Friends (Chinese). Kong says a successful Olympic song should be one that can be accepted and sung widely. So keep it simple.

Chinese donuts and coffee

Our food feature last week attracted questions from expats asking for the Chinese equivalent of coffee and donuts. How about giving "oil sticks" with soy milk a whirl to kick start your day? It's the breakfast you see vendors selling on the street for early risers, and a serve shouldn't cost you more than a few yuan, says US expat Ben Ross, creator of www.howtoorderchinesefood.com.

Losing the blame game

Venting your frustrations about new challenges in China is considered a normal way of dealing with issues, however complaining too much may make matters worse. A recent US study found that teenage girls, who vented to each other about their problems, from romantic dramas to social snubs, were more likely to get more depressed. Amanda Rose, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and researcher of the report says complaining in moderation is OK, however it can "becomes risky when it becomes excessive".

One China expat offered sound advice. "A foot massage fixes everything," says Beijing photographer Chris Hyde.

Bollywood boogie

The Indian film industry produces some 1,000 movies each year - twice the number of Hollywood - and is becoming bigger in China.

One Indian expat in Shanghai is getting into the groove and sharing the Bollywood buzz with the locals. German-born, Indian dance sensation Sangeetha Sander has a dancing style reflecting the visual feast for which Bollywood is best-loved. Sander is attracting a growing following for her new classes in Bollywood dance at Shanghai Jazz du Funk studio.

Read more in next week's profile.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

There is a sign for a new neighborhood restaurant operated by Tang Luo, which claims to be a "traditional brand" of duck.

However Tang seems to have got his geography a bit muddled, according to Danwei.com.

Comparing that to KFC's Chinese name, it appears that Tang Luo is promoting his traditional Chinese cuisine as "Kentucky Fried Duck".

We wonder what those secret herbs and spices are.

(China Daily 08/17/2007 page20)