Tutors and the T-shirt

Celebrating my tutor's 22nd birthday

Chip's tutor for the month of May, an English Literature post-graduate student

 YuYue is my tutor for the month of May.  I was excited to be her student because she is one of the singers in the praise band at the fellowship that I attend. The first day of class, I noticed that she was wearing a shirt with English words on it, so I asked what it said.  She excitedly told me that it was a new purchase. She had no idea what it said but pulled her shirt flat so I could read it and translate for her.  Here's the shirt:  WARNING! Curse word below. . .

She knew the word "fashion" and that was as far as her English understanding extended.  NOTE:  Chinese people think wearing shirts with English on them is cool.  It doesn't really matter what it says or if it makes sense. 

A closer look

So I read it.  And then I didn't know what to say.  She asked what it meant.  I lied.  I said I wasn't sure--that I would need to look it up.  It was a new shirt.  And she was so proud.  And it was my first day with her.  I didn't want to embarrass her. 

Then she wore the shirt the next four days in a row.  On the fifth day, I got the guts up to tell her the truth because I couldn't imagine my sweet little YuYue singing praise songs at the front of the church with the "B" word on her shirt. 

I told her.  She took it well.  Then I quickly volunteered to sew something on to cover the words.  We agreed that a teapot pouring into the cup would look nice.  Well, with my limited sewing skills, I'm not sure the shirt looks better, but at least it's not offensive.

No more fighting words

Now for a little Chinese humor--a joke from YuYue: One day a Chinese man accidentally bumped into a foreigner.  He said, "I'm sorry" (a basic English phrase that most Chinese people know). The foreigner said, "I'm sorry, too."  Confused but wanting to seem culturally savvy, the Chinese man said, "I'm sorry three."  Equally confused, the foreigner said, "What are you sorry for (four)?" Playing along and feeling more sure of himself, the Chinese man said, "I'm sorry five."