Beijing sign fun and other stories

I must confess I was expecting to see perfect English on the signs at the Olympic park. However, I ended up getting my usual laugh in. In case you can't see, I'll post a few favorites.

1. Please do not bring the dangerous materails into the park. No smoking and making a fire in the open air.
5. Please look after your elderly, children and private belongs.
8. Please cooperaterstaff's work...

The English translation of this sign might be funny, but the Chinese is great! It's a cute little rhyme about taking care of the smiling grass. (It makes a lot more sense in Chinese.)

This is not a sign, but I thought it was pretty funny. While I am accustomed to seeing people making wedding photos outside in parks, I am pretty sure these folks were shooting advertisements for a tennis shoe company. There were tons of brides and grooms in tennies.

What else did I do in Beijing? Probably the other biggest cultural highlight was the Beijing Acrobats show. I could not believe what those people could do with their bodies, and I never dreamed 12 girls could ride one bike! I also had fun shopping for a few import groceries to bring home (Gatorade, Almond Joys and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups), and shopping for a Beijing t-shirt for Archie.

Cheaters Never Win!

Teach your kids never to cheat on their homework. You can't rely on computer translators. My friend Joe sent me the link to this picture. You can check out the original post.

I snapped this next one myself while at a restaurant recently. If the English corresponded with the characters, it would say something like "Please don't bring your own alcohol." Looks like they might have used a computer translator on it, too, with the crazy English. (Don't worry: we neither brought our own beer nor drank theirs :))

Pleasr, Oh Pleasr!

Pleasr not to step the lawn!



Pleasr, pleasr not to step with your shoe

That would not be good thing to do!



OK, I'll admit I made up the little "Bad English" poem, but the sign really is outside our apartment. I get the biggest kick out of the way I see English used around here sometimes!