MAR. 15, 2023 | $8.24
THE MIMIR EASY-TO-READ MANDARIN CHINESE
这样旅游，省钱又环保 Let’s Travel with WWOOF!
超简单！10分钟做出一盘 好吃的蛋炒饭 Making Egg-fried Rice in 10 Minutes
狗不喜欢的八件事 Eight Things Dogs Don’t Like
Editor's Note In this issue you will learn about Chinese culture and how they perceive weight. You’ll also learn about delicious foods, such as egg-fried rice and walnut cookies. You’ll learn about what dogs like and dislike, and you’ll also read about traveling made easy with WWOOF, which sounds a lot like a dog named it. WWOOF is doggone amazing, allowing you to get the most out of your adventure without taking the most out of your bank account. Traveling and experiencing new cultures is very important, and you’re likely to learn a little bit about how to do exactly that. In Chinese culture, food is important, and not the food that you would typically see in your local Chinese restaurant, even if that food is good too. However, the Chinese also take great pride in their appearance, and their weight as well. While society is changing the way that we view our relationship with the word fat and the concept of fat, many people still rightfully worry about and opt to change their weight. Learn about the misconception of Chinese weight management and get the skinny on China and weight loss with “Why Do Chinese People Love to Lose Weight?” As mentioned above, the relationship that you have with your food is very important, and the Chinese are well-aware of this. Their culture goes back many centuries and is rich, diverse, and often food-centric. This celebrated culture also includes many more standard dishes, including egg-fried rice. Learn about egg-fried rice and how to prepare it with “Making Egg-fried Rice in 10 Minutes.” After that, you’ll be taken to a sweet moment with a sweet treat, featuring grandma’s walnut cookies. Feel the warmth of grandma’s kitchen, with the easy-to-read “Walnut Cookie.” Thereafter, you’ll read about amazing travel options and opportunities with “Let’s Travel with WWOOF!” Traveling is something that everyone should prioritize at some point in their lives, and this short story gives you an idea of how you can travel to amazing places on a budget. You’ll also learn about the world’s greatest travel companion, the dog. Learn some more about your dog’s boundaries with “Eight Things Dogs Don’t Like.” These stories both require extra skill to get through, so you may want to save them for when you’re open for an extra challenge.
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For an even greater challenge, read “What Can You Do If You Can’t Fall Asleep in an Unfamiliar Environment” and “Gas Up On the Highway” which are intermediate and advanced level stories. Finish the magazine off with a goofy watermelon prose, which is easy to read and even fun to read out loud. This issue provides a lot of different interesting topics, while also giving the reader multiple different levels to pick. Take your time as you work through the stories, and come back to them later if you’re having trouble getting through them. Learning a language is a journey, and much like traveling, it should be fun, even if you may run into hiccup here or there. As a learner, it’s always a good idea to dissect each sentence if you need to. When I’m struggling to get through a certain piece, I sometimes read the piece out of order, and then come back to try the story again in the right order. It’s also fun to read the stories out loud, practicing your Chinese as you do. If you have a friend who can help, try and read the story with them. You both may find the practice fun, and the content provides a lot of good conversation starter material. Most importantly, while reading the stories included in this issue, take the time to reflect on how you feel about them, and always have fun when reading and learning new things in Chinese and about the Chinese culture!
Ted Wilson Ted Wilson English Editor of TMM Mar. 15, 2023
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t e e Mditors
d E r u O
Ted Wilson is a writer, marketing specialist, and squirrel feeder with over 14 years of experience. When he’s not working or writing, he enjoys playing tennis, creating art, working out, and looking at raccoons. He currently lives in Michigan with his fiancée, two spiders, and a fish. He hopes to relocate to Washington State soon. He is a language lover, currently speaking English, German, some Polish, and is also learning Chinese.
Hi! I’m Sophia Zhou, a professional Mandarin teacher. My teaching career started from 2012, and have led and taken part in many Mandarin teaching projects. I have been teaching
for
over
10,000
hours.
I’m
experienced with teaching people from many countries with different levels from beginner to
advanced,
covering
beginner
course,
regular course, oral conversation course, business course, customized course, and HSK&HSKK test course, etc. I’m good at adjusting teaching method according to the student, and making every student their own perfect Mandarin learning plan. I’m funny and outgoing. You will feel interesting and joyful while mastering the Mandarin with me.
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content Let’s Travel with WWOOF!
TRENDS
这样旅游，省钱又环保 Gas Up on the Highway
FOOD IS EVERYTHING
07
在高速公路上加油
33
Making Egg-fried Rice in 10 Minutes 10
超简单！ 分钟做出一盘好吃的蛋炒饭
12
Walnut Cookie
核桃酥
27
ASIAN CULTURE
Why do Chinese People Love to Lose Weight?
为什么中国人爱减肥？
23
LIFE & SCIENCE
Eight Things Dogs Don’t Like
狗不喜欢的八件事
18
What Can You Do If You Can’t Fall Asleep in an Unfamiliar Environment?
40
去陌生环境里睡不好怎么办？ SHORT STORY
What do Watermelons Like and Dislike?
西瓜喜欢和不喜欢什么？
Click here to listen to audio recordings of this issue on YouTube
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"THIS IS MY SECRET WORLD!"
LEARN CHINESE UNLOCK A SECRET WORLD www.themimir.com TMM | 05
friends 莉莉
艾米 Amy is a high school exchange student from the U.S. She likes traveling and is curious about ancient cultures. She thinks Dada is very knowledgeable.
Lily is a student in the same high school as Amy. Her mom is Chinese and her Dad is from Ireland. Like her mom, Lily enjoys reading and cooking.
达达
凯文
Dada is a high school straight-A student from China. He loves science, the universe, and everything about aliens.
Kevin is an exchange student from Australia. He likes sports and cars. He thinks Amy is the cutest girl ever.
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TRENDS
LET’S TRAVEL WITH WWOOF!
这样旅游，省钱又环保
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL READING TIME
：5 MINS
Everyone should travel in their life.It’s important and exciting to experience new cultures and learn new things. WWOOF makes it easy and interesting, allowing you to work your way through your trip. While this may not be the ideal way of traveling for some, it’s definitely a great option if you don’t have the biggest budget. There are similar trips set up for those looking to visit Washington State, where you’re able to work in a field, or on a farm for a place to camp, or even a room to stay.
Often,
this style of trip even includes meals! Doing so in a different country would only add to the adventure of it all. Read more about this travel arrangement below. Would you utilize WWOOF? This piece is somewhat easy to read, and is a great piece for those looking to help their Chinese flow, especially with certain phrases and words. As a reader, you may wish to read this story when you’re looking for a light read. Editor TMM | 07
：Ted Wilson
TRENDS
的中文名是什么？ Q2: 参加WWOOF有什么好处？ Q1: WWOOF
到中国种茶，到意大利摘水果，到新 西兰挤牛奶……这些是你想做的事吗？ 如果你喜欢旅游，又喜欢在农场生 活，你会很喜欢WWOOF。 WWOOF 的中文名是 “ 世界有机农场 组织 ” 。如果你参加 WWOOF ，你可 以到世界其他国家的有机农场旅游。 那么，参加WWOOF有什么好处呢？ 第一，它可以帮你少花钱。 我们出去旅游的时候，会在飞机、出 租车、公共汽车等交通工具上花钱。 而且，我们还要在住的地方和吃的东 西上花钱。 但是，在WWOOF的农场里，吃和住 是不用花钱的。你只需要每天帮助农 场做一些工作就可以了。
第二，你可以保护环境。 WWOOF 的农场都认为保护环境是 最重要的。它们不会用对环境不好的 东西。所以，在那里你吃的东西都非 常健康。 第三，你可以体验那个地方的生活。 在 WWOOF 的农场，你可以半天工 作，半天做自己想做的事。种菜、种 茶、摘水果、挤牛奶、钓鱼……在农 场里，你可以做很多在城市里很难做 到的事。 世界很大，我们生活的地方很小。旅 游可以让我们走到其他地方，见到那 里的人，过他们的生活。现在，有了 WWOOF，旅游变得更好玩了!
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作者：阿雪