VIP class notes (Tibo) [S]

What does it mean to be part of the middle class in Shanghai/China today. Do people actually define themselves as middle class people or it is something in the making?

The lifestyle will be my biggest interest then museums and then church things.
I have never to a mosque before but church and temple are originally pretty stupid to me. Church are more noble. It is usually decorated well with paintings, sculptures, but temples are usually quite basic.
I think because there are indeed a lot of things that we don’t know why pr how/ They don’t know why the sun rise everyday. IF it could be explained as god do that then it’s reasonable to them. Even nowadays we have a lot of don’t knows like is there any aliens. and other complicated scientific questions I cannot tell about but on the other hand it is emotion related. sometimes you don’t know why he doesn’t love me or why my grandma died. these questions. Most principles in the religion tell you the truth you have to embrace. and it is the arrangement of god. then you will feel acceptable somehow.

if you are a soldier you can dress your uniform when you get married. but if you are not it is illegal. but you have to apply for marriage. They have to do the background check on the other person.

I got married 8 years ago . I think at that time it was a peak of the fashion of taking those wedding photos. everyone did. It took me 5,000 rmb 8 years ago. Girls will imagine that wedding ceremony will include the photo shoot it is quite romantic but the truth is it is like a program you have to follow.  The result was ok but the photographer told it is nothing you are really happy or passionate about /you are quickly exhausted and you keep smiling because the photographer told you. After the shoot the salespeople will come to you and tell you maybe you can make it into an album and a big poster.I put them on the walls of my apartment and forced my parents to receive some of them.
After that my parents moved once and asked us to take them back. I said no you can get rid of them.

The lifestyle will be my biggest interest then museums and then churches.
I have never been to a mosque before but churches and temples are originally pretty different to me. Churches are more noble. It is usually decorated well with paintings, sculptures, but temples are usually quite basic.
I think because there are indeed a lot of things that we can’t explain/for which we do not have a scientific explanation. / They don’t know why the sun rises everyday. If it could be explained as an act of god  it’s reasonable to them. Even nowadays we have a lot of unknowns like is there any aliens. and other complicated scientific questions I cannot talk about but on the other hand it is emotion related. sometimes you don’t know why he doesn’t love me or why my grandma died. Questions like those. Most principles in religion tell you the truth you have to embrace. and it that it is all God’s will/intent. then you will feel it somehow is easier to accept.

if you are a soldier you can wear your uniform when you get married. but if you are not it is illegal. First you have to apply for marriage. They have to do a background check on the other person.

I got married 8 years ago . I think at that time  the trend of taking wedding photos was at its peak. Everyone did. It costed me 5,000 rmb 8 years ago. Girls will imagine that the wedding ceremony will include the photo shoot and that it is quite romantic but the truth is it is like a ritual you have to follow.  The result was ok but the photographer was very cold. We didn’t enjoy the process. It is not like you are really happy or passionate about /you are quickly exhausted and you keep smiling because the photographer told you to. After the shoot the salespeople will come to you and tell you maybe you can make it into an album and a big poster/print.I put them on the walls of my apartment and forced my parents to take some of them.
After that my parents moved once and asked us to take them back. I said no, you can get rid of them.

Vocabulary

to get rid of : to dump
I got rid of my old car in May and bought a new one.

album: a picture book
We made an album with out wedding pics.

Poster: big print which you usually put on a whole.
I had many posters of LiYiFeng in my bedroom.

cold: not nice
The photographer was very cold during the shoot. I didn’t feel comfortable at all.

ritual : a program / ceremony
Getting married is like a ritual here. First you need to have a photoshoot, then you…

an act of god: something done by god / miracle
We were 3 month behind on our rent but suddenly we won the lottery. It must have been an act of god.

billow 滚滚浓烟
a billow of smoke rose from the fire.

to engulf : to cover from every side
The house was engulfed in flames

to obstruct: to block the way
I parked my car for a second and the policeman fined me for obstructing an exit.
Trump may have tried to obstruct the investigation.

spire 尖顶
The spire was lost in the fire.

blaze : strong fire / intensity of fire.
The blaze was hot enough to melt iron within seconds.

thunder / a flash of lightning 闪电

relic :  historical artifact of great value.
Many ancient Chinese relics were lost in war.

to vow: to promise
He vowed to love her till death and he got into a car accident right afterwards.

to pledge: promise to give (support / money)
Many of my colleagues pledged to support Tom as he decided to open his own company.

to devastate: to destroy
The town was devastated by the hurricane.
I was devastated by her death.