Signs Fascinate Me

Signs fascinate me: some humorous; some telling of the situation. I’m not laughing at anyone as I am sure our attempts at Mandarin are somewhat pitiful.

The first photo—“No Louding.” Chinese people love to get together for almost any reason. And when they do, they certainly have a wonderful time. Being from a large family, I identify with their noise level. This sign was on the wall of the Lingering Gardens in Suzhou. There were many Chinese tourists there along with other tourists from all over the world. Guess the powers that be wished to make a good impression. Therefore, “no louding” allowed.

And, yes, there was Tiger Woods in the huge Accenture ad in the Hongqiao Airport as we were leaving Shanghai.

There was a sign on the railing around our second floor balcony at the Lu Jiang Hotel in Xiamen: “Prohibition of Climbing.” If a sign can be translated, “No Louding,” why not “No Climbing”? “Prohibition of Climbing” must have seemed much more forbidding.

The sign about giving up your seat “to the elderly” was above my head when I was sitting on the ferry from Xiamen to Gulangyu—Archie’s humor.

Just as the wrong tone can completely change the meaning of a Chinese word, a missing or misplaced letter can do the same for English. The hotel information book had a label in Chinese and in English. The English message said, “For your readying pleasure.” Getting ready to see the local sights?

But I do love the signs in our Hong Kong bathroom. Remember that Hong Kong was a British protectorate for many years. English is spoken often and spoken well. The humor I see here is in the necessity for the provided information: “For your own safety, please do not bathe when you are fatigued, after consumption of excess alcohol, or when you do not feel well.” Please notice the handles on the bathtub to help with entering and/or exiting the tub. With the prices in Hong Kong being what they are, I would surmise that there are lots of charges on the ole corporate credit card other than lodging. Many American movies are offered via the room TV; about every fifth ad is for QUALITY ADULT ENTERTAINMENT with the assurance that no movie titles will be listed on the bill.

At the Internet café there were several young people playing video games. (Not nearly as many as I would have expected since it was Saturday.) The noise level was VERY HIGH! We were relieved that the Internet email hookups were in a separate room with a sign on the door to keep it shut. The sign on the entry door tells a lot: “No one under 16 or in school uniform allowed.” Guess that cuts down on school truancy. You think? But not late nights if you are over 16—closes at 2 am.

Did you notice that McDonald’s is open 24 hours in Hong Kong? “I’m loving it.”

And the truck with “Pearly Gates”? Archie just thought that was cool. He says you can get to heaven from Hong Kong.