Video: China in 7 Minutes! (and Possible Project)

Hey, everyone! Coming at you with another video and some thoughts! I'm gonna be uploading on YouTube and Youku, just in case YouTube is blocked in your country :)




So, for a long time, I've been wanting to do kind of a "nutshell of China" video - this is my attempt at doing that.

What did you think? What could I have talked about that I didn't? What do you want to talk about in future videos, China or non-China related? I have my own set of ideas about what I want to do, but I'm always looking for what you guys want!

I live for comments and "Likes" and your input, so let me know!


Cool new update - I was contacted by a college friend about a collaborative project whose vision is: "To reach the world with social media content that matters, teaching necessary topics that are not of easy access to people in order to create a better citizenry able to contribute to society in a more positive manner." 


It will use social media to change the world by giving access to free educational materials to people in six languages on a variety of subjects using vlogging and blogging as their main tools.


If that doesn't sound like a worthwhile topic, then what does??

I personally think that it will be a great thing to be involved with. If all goes well, I will be the "English-language American Blogger for History and Special Topics about China."

I've only just begun discussing the project, and the project itself is still in the developmental stages, but I'm excited to see what happens with it!

(I don't want to talk too much about it in case something happens and I end up not doing it for whatever reason).......we'll see!!

New Video! Traveling in China and (a little) More....

Hey, everyone! Coming at you again with a new video about traveling within China!



This is mostly just a video of your different options of ways you can travel and a few pros/cons of traveling in China.

I've got a few more video ideas, and I'll be putting them up soon! They include:

"China in 4 Minutes"
"Why be Interested in China?"
"Lanzhou in a Nutshell"

What would YOU like to see more of? Have the videos worn out their welcome, or should I keep putting them up? Comments are welcome!

As always, I'm looking forward to being back in China! Less than 2 months to go until my trip in June!

Top 8 Facts About China (and Thoughts on Vlogging)

Hey, guys! (and ladies.....hello, ladies)

Today I'm coming at you with my Top 8 Facts About China in vlog form. I've been sort of addicted to vlogging because I just love being able to tell stories. I love being in front of the camera and talking about stuff that I love, which is China.

Vlogging is such a great way to do that - it's still relatively new and is exploding all over the internet - from China to Giraffes to Tea to Music, vloggers talk about all kinds of things, and are able to share their gift of storytelling through the medium of video.

Here's my latest one from my YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/austinguidry2





I'm still learning and improving on my vlogging techniques - if you watch the first video that I ever did all the way up until what I've done now, you can see how I've improved.

I've really begun to realize just how much of an art form that vlogging can be - there are so many different facets to the way things are shot, the way you say things, whether or not you have a script or lighting or a microphone, how you use your jump cuts or your silence.....it's really hard, but can sometimes just be organic and in-the-moment.

I really love doing it, and I can't wait to get back over to Lanzhou to do more and share my adventures with you!

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Quick New Video!

Hello!

I just put up a quick update video on my YouTube channel about what's going on with me at the moment - like the video says, if you guys have any comments about what you might want me to talk about or suggestions for videos or anything, really, just leave them and I'll respond!

Thanks for coming along with me this far - there are more adventures to come!

Chinese Stories: The Old Man and the Golden Fish

Hello, everyone! I'm just the same as ever - working and putting together my next China adventure! 

I've been quite enjoying these classic Chinese stories! I'm going to be putting them up every now and then when I feel like it - sorry...that doesn't really tell you anything at all, does it? Anyway, here's the lastest one that I found!

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There was once an old man who liked fishing. 

He always fished in a lake, which was near his house. One day, the old man brought his fishing rod and fishing tackle and went out to the lake to fish after he had eaten his dinner.

When he reached the lake, the sky was becoming dark. There was a boat beside the lake. The old man used the boat and rowed to the center of the lake. He began fishing in the center of the lake. After a while, he fell asleep.

Suddenly, the old man woke up as his fishing rod was shaking. The old man pulled up the fishing rod and caught a fish. To his surprise, it was a golden fish.

Even more surprising, it could talk to the old man. "Can you let me go, please?" The fish begged the old man. "No, I am going to eat you," The old man said. "Please! Let me go. If you let me go, I will give a golden rope," the fish said.

"Golden rope? Is that true? How can I trust you?" the old man asked. "You can put your fishing rod into the lake and a few minutes after, you are going to get the golden rope, " said the fish.

The old man listened to the fish and put the fishing rod in to the lake. After he pulled up the fishing rod, he saw a golden rope attached to the fishing line. 

"The golden rope must be very long," the old man thought because he could not see the end of the golden rope. The man was very happy and he continued to pull up the golden rope.

"Let me go now that you have the golden rope," said the fish . "No, I won't let you go. I am going to sell you. I think someone will pay a very high price to get you." The old man said. 

The man then put the fish into a container, which was full of water and continued to up the golden rope.

As the man pulled up the golden rope, his boat began to sinkinto the lake but he was too greedy and still wanted to get all of the golden rope. He continued to pull it. 

Finally, his boat sank completely into the lake, and the old man died.

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What are your favorite stories - from your childhood, or even ones that you've recently discovered?

Do you enjoy these stories as much as I do? Or am I just totally geeking out?

Do you want to write something for this blog about China? Maybe your own story? Your own take on something going on there? I don't want to be the only person talking here. 

Leave your thought in comments below!!

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**I got the cartoon from this page here. This is his picture. The first photo came from here and belongs to that website. The sunken boat came from this page on Flickr. **

Chinese Stories: A Man Who Loved Seagulls

Here is a short little classical Chinese story that I found interesting and I thought I would share with you all.

If you want more of these stories, let me know in comments! A great way to learn about another culture is to read its classical literature, and I hope you share my enthusiasm for them.

A long time ago, there was a man who lived down by the sea. He loved the seagulls that swooped and dived and played in the air above him. Every day at daybreak, he would go down to the seaside and play with the gulls, and they were great friends to him.

But one day, his father said, "I heard that you play with the seagulls and are a great friend to them. Catch a few for me so that I may play with them too."

The next day, he went down to the seaside, and the seagulls swooped about in the skies, but none came down to play with him.

One may try, but it is ultimately impossible to hide one's true inner thoughts. Even birds and animals can sense one's true feelings.

What are some of your favorite folktales - from your own culture or others? Let me know in the comments, and I'll gladly read them! Also, let me know if you enjoy these occasional stories!

I got the first picture from sofiyafobi's DeviantArt Page and the second from Peter Kurlduja's "Flight of a Seagull."

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