Job Discussion Forums

[prof]

http://benji2u.com/

"Benji learned Mandarin Chinese while working with the Chinese people in Melbourne, Australia for two years from 2001 to 2003 as a volunteer for a non-profit organization. He furthered his education in the Chinese language and fell in love with the Chinese culture in 2004 when he worked as an intern for the Finance Department of Otis Elevators in Tianjin, China."


"As a native of Colorado, it might seem unlikely that Benjamin Schwartz could someday become a Chinese pop star, but after serving a Chinese-speaking mission, it became a possibility... �He has a willingness to take the time to memorize hard Chinese words and music,� Boothe said. �He�s always an extra miler and that has really paid off. Schwartz does not currently write his own music, but instead translates popular American songs into Chinese. He also sings some traditional Chinese songs and adds some of his own verses. Boothe said Americans are popular in Asia so Benji has an opportunity to do well with his career.
�People are increasingly more interested in trying to develop English language skills,� Boothe said. �There�s a real interest on the part of the people to mesh with American music.�
http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/57129

[lollercauster]

That's all kinds of lame.

Point in case:

"FAVORITE SINGERS

Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Jay Chow，Wang Lee Hom, S.H.E."

[laodeng]

If I'm reading all this correctly, at least he doesn't plan to be doing his proselytizing in a classroom. Must run . . . I'm beginning to gag.

[laodeng]

Ah, that's better. A good purge always helps. An afterthought: in this land that still venerates Karen Carpenter, young Schmuck, er, Schwartz, might just make it.

[Shan-Shan]

I'm curious how this Boy Wonder managed to "fall in love" with Chinese culture. Any speculations on what it was that helped him to see the light, mystery, awe and splendor that is a Carrefour on every corner and tacky Mao Ze Dong pins?

[tw]

[Shan-Shan]

China is the home of many desperate white men dying to be a star who would otherwise be a pinch of stellar dust back in their home cluster.

I knew a British man a while back who returned to England yet continues to prepare for his "comeback" in Shanghai where he wants to star on tv by simply speaking Chinese. Personally, I think that a knack, in addition to cross-talk skills, are needed now. Da Shan pioneered the "Look at me, I'm white, and speak Chinese as well as, if not better than, the Chinese themselves!". Can white, or other non-Chinese folk, still get away with making millions by simply speaking a language that around one-fifth of the world has already mastered?

If so, I better paint my eyes blue, memorize more idioms, and find out where the cigar smoking CCP executives are all hiding!

[janie29]

[lollercauster]

How can you behold that intense gaze and not orgasm? I did so thricely.

[Travel Zen]

It's about time.


Do you know that the market is ready for guys like these???

In Hong Kong, Shanghai and all the major cities....being even half cute and raving about Chinese-anything can get you famous!


In Asia (if you hadn't noticed) there is a form of white-worship that is pervaisive....easy to take advantage....like teach and pick up girls who are ready-made groupies.

You know this already.

[Steppenwolf]

I forgot to check his name but it's official so it's on record: the "world master of Chinese" (speaking Chinese) is a German who knows 4000 characters. He was elected Chinese world champion after he gave a speech in China. During his speech he claimed "maybe one of my ancestors was a contemporary of Emperor Qianlong!" in explanation why he learnt Chinese so easily. This apparently carried the day - anything connected with China's history impresses a Chinese audience.

[Shan-Shan]

I get praised for knowing about 猪八戒's former life in the clouds. Should you possess a six year old's knowledge about Chinese history, you are a genius here in China.

Say "how much is this?" or "hey, is there anyone back there?", and your Chinese is superb, worth heaps of praise.

All quite condescending in my opinion.

[prof]

"BenJi" looks like the guy who put up drywall in my house outside of Boston a few years back.


Let's look at how he's thinking about this.

He worked at Otis up in the North East and scored a few discogroupie / workinggirls who were happy to be treated to bottles of cognac on that Otis salary at a couple neon discos. He went back to the US and thought "Expect for the chlamydia , that's better than anything I'm going to get here."

He also put on a few shows up there and thought he could cast a spell over the whole population like he could with the secretaries and drivers at Otis. His fans (his mom and his dad) urged him on and he booked an economy class seat and flew to Shanghai, a copy of "The Beach" in one hand and a CD of Britany Spears playing in his Ipod.

He's going to soon realize that in Shanghai the people like International Stars, and not snakesalesmen with games (see InTime leaving Shanghai this year also as a failed dreamster).

He's going to burn out within a year.

Then the real Benji will come to town:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002IQEDM.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[Mr D Improbably]

[prof]

benji won't last.

Da Shan didn't come to China to strike it rich and become famous.

Benji is here to make loot and score the babes.

He won't make it.

I'll follow his story and tell you about it.

Hell, I'm off to Park 97 soon and might meet him after watching him smoozing with some Anhui ho's.