May 15th 2011

When I'm at home, I like the TV to be set at CCTV9 which is China's documentary channel. The phrasing is articulated and clear, and lately there's a series about famous ancient explorers. Today is Marco Polo and his travels to Asia. With grandiloquent symphonic music as a background, I like to envision myself as another explorer venturing into mysterious lands. But the truth is today is a lazy Sunday and I'm here sitting in the sofa, wearing my sleepers and flipping through endless series of Chinese character flashcards. Does this sound exciting?

It is to me; the adventure happens inside of my twisted mind. In accordance to obscure mnemonic techniques I create stories for each hanzi. Each new card that I remember helps weaving new mythologies that live in my head. Let me introduce you today one of my old favorites: 土, the man who jumps. It's here in all his glory, stretching his legs, arms wide open, reaching new horizons. The man who jumps it's been in hundreds of adventures such as: 告 "The man who jumps a fence while holding a hot dog" or: 老 "It's forbidden for the man who jumps to get a slingshot" or the amazing: 境 "The man who jumps and the Silver Surfer against a giant piñata". 

Most of the hanzi have their own story featuring different characters and objects such as "the Triforce", "the reptilians" or "the portrait of Britney Spears"… it even gets more bizarre and embarrassing so I should probably stop here...

And it's in the way to the stars how one loses his sanity :D  

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