Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Q AND NO A, II
"Daddy, are we really mostly made of water?" T1 asks.
"That's what they say," I reply.
"Who says we are made of water?" T2 asks.
"I guess scientists," I say.
"How do they know?" T2 asks.
"They study these things," I say.
"I know we are not made of water," T2 says, "because we are not falling apart."
"I always had trouble with the concept myself," I concur, "but apparently it's true."
"Then where is the water?" T2 asks.
"All through your body," I say. "In all your parts, in your skin and in your blood."
T2 holds up her hand. "If I go like this, is all the water going down from my hand and arm?"
"I think it stays," I say. "It's caught."
"Is it pond water we're full of?" T2 asks.
"No!" T1 shouts. "We are full of well water, not pond water."
"I'm full of very expensive bottled water, myself," I tell them. "Now go to sleep."
"Daddy, I have another question," T1 said.
"Just one?" I ask.
"How do people learn Chinese words?"
"Well, you could study to learn it, but most people learn the language their parents speak. If their parents are Chinese, then they will learn to speak Chinese."
"But daddy, after the China children learn the Chinese words, do they ever say, 'now teach us the regular words'"?
"To them, the Chinese words are the regular ones," I say.
"Chinese words are not regular words!" T2 shouts.
"Time for sleep now," I say. "Good night."
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"Are they asleep yet?" LZ asks, as I barrel down the stairs.
"Almost," I say.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" she asks.
"To the kitchen for a drink," I say. "That Chinese food makes me thirsty as all get out."
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"Daddy, are we really mostly made of water?" T1 asks.
"That's what they say," I reply.
"Who says we are made of water?" T2 asks.
"I guess scientists," I say.
"How do they know?" T2 asks.
"They study these things," I say.
"I know we are not made of water," T2 says, "because we are not falling apart."
"I always had trouble with the concept myself," I concur, "but apparently it's true."
"Then where is the water?" T2 asks.
"All through your body," I say. "In all your parts, in your skin and in your blood."
T2 holds up her hand. "If I go like this, is all the water going down from my hand and arm?"
"I think it stays," I say. "It's caught."
"Is it pond water we're full of?" T2 asks.
"No!" T1 shouts. "We are full of well water, not pond water."
"I'm full of very expensive bottled water, myself," I tell them. "Now go to sleep."
"Daddy, I have another question," T1 said.
"Just one?" I ask.
"How do people learn Chinese words?"
"Well, you could study to learn it, but most people learn the language their parents speak. If their parents are Chinese, then they will learn to speak Chinese."
"But daddy, after the China children learn the Chinese words, do they ever say, 'now teach us the regular words'"?
"To them, the Chinese words are the regular ones," I say.
"Chinese words are not regular words!" T2 shouts.
"Time for sleep now," I say. "Good night."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are they asleep yet?" LZ asks, as I barrel down the stairs.
"Almost," I say.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" she asks.
"To the kitchen for a drink," I say. "That Chinese food makes me thirsty as all get out."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
related link
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