Cantonese Cultural Conversations - My story :)

[@CoolsBreeze]

You're truly one in a million. What a story. You speak Cantonese with no accent and if my eyes were closed and I heard you speaking Cantonese I would absolutely think you grew up in HK. I have never met a foreigner that speaks without an accent. And then not a lot of people will go out of their way to experience a new city on the other side of the planet.

[@jonsings]

Really like the idea of making the need become the norm. No better way to learn! Thanks so much for making these videos.

[@CantoneseCorner]

You're so welcome! I'm thinking I should get "make the need become the norm" printed on a T-shirt to remind myself :) Thanks for commenting .... have a good night (or day :)!

[@4eyemonkey]

Interesting sharing, love it. keep it coming Sue!!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much!! I'm so glad you did, and I'll do my best to keep them coming! :)

[@bobbytam7383]

I really enjoy your true honesty. Excellent Cantonese speaking. Yes, Leslie Cheung famous song in the early day was Monica. Keep up the good job.

[@rogerzheng8180]

Thank you. Have a good night!

[@CantoneseCorner]

You're welcome! Thanks ... yup - 1am here ... time to shut down and sleep! :)

[@MrX-wd8cm]

SO true - back in 2000, was walking down Austin rd, and I overheard this English couple saying if you don't speak Chinese (Canto) then the Chinese world is not for you, in front of a whole crowd of HK people. Nobody even batted an eyelid, nobody even cared what they were saying like two worlds within two feet of each other.

[@jd00313]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@CantoneseCorner]

You're so welcome ... and thanks for commenting to let me know! :)

[@Jason-yc1bq]

KZbin algorithm got me here and I watched your several videos and man they are interesting! I love them!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much!! 🙏🙏 I can’t believe your message was a whole year ago! How did I miss it!! 😅 🤷‍♀️

[@ayske1]

Great story. I'm 35 and ABC from Australia trying to improve my primary school level Cantonese. I saw your larn yum video and thought of my mother and only knew about it many years ago. I love Hong Kong and it's history. I assumed you'd been a missionary haha

[@CantoneseCorner]

I think a lot of people think that! HK's history is fascinating. I especially like the Facebook groups that share pictures and stories of old Hong Kong. If you haven't checked them out, I recommend it!

[@ayske1]

@@CantoneseCorner I was really fascinated learning about the opium wars from my mother and the walled city from Jackie Pullinger who is a Christian missionary

[@kazuomukai4987]

Thank you for sharing your story!! That might be hard at that time!! Well done

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much!! I had been thinking about it for quite awhile, but didn't feel really sure about it, then the other night I thought, "now or never!" and just did it. I'm glad I did and that you liked hearing it! :)

[@sannywong9718]

Thank you for sharing your story! It was very interesting to hear it. I love all your videos and your stories. I look forward to more.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you so much for leaving a comment to let me know! I really appreciate it. Just today I was at work talking with a colleague about the changes since I've been here and thought "I have to do a part 2" :)

[@julial3758]

I like your Cantonese voice.

[@coolhead8686]

This is one of the most interesting video I have ever came across.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much! 🙏 I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🤗

[@shrimboy7492]

Sue, u were a cantonese in ur previous past lives. Just coming home.

[@CantoneseCorner]

🤣 maybe! thanks for commenting :)

[@deroxanlit4181]

Everything you share are so accurate to my aunts stories about Hong Kong 🇭🇰

[@monlau76]

Love your story! I really enjoy watching and learning from you!

[@susanzhong1988]

Thank you for keeping Cantonese alive

[@errofit1682]

Thanks for sharing - I actually arrived in HK in 97🙏🙏🙏

[@CantoneseCorner]

You're welcome! Ah! So you remember flying into the old airport ... wasn't it amazing? :)

[@supertrouper]

Back in the 1980s until the 1990s, all the large cities with Chinatowns were mostly Cantonese speaking back then. Your Hong Kong girlfriends could have taken you into these Chinatowns to help pick up on Cantonese before coming to Hong Kong, but it does not matter now. You had the chance to go to Hong Kong and your girlfriends helped you with learning the language and immersing yourself in the Hong Kong culture helped you and you are already speaking good Cantonese almost like a native Hong Kong person.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks! True ... but we did make that one trip to San Francisco, but being at school in Madison, WI there weren’t too many Chinese places ... and I’m not sure why, but we never went to Chicago’s Chinatown. We probably should have!

[@kimngantran1377]

Really enjoy your story. I love learning Cantonese. I can understand a little when people speak Cantonese but i can't repeat and until now, my Cantonese communication skill is still at very basic level ^^. Thanks to your video, Cantonese learning becomes simple. I really appreciate it. Tks Sue!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi there! Thanks so much! And you're welcome!! I'm glad you're enjoying learning, and let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to learn. I'm going to try and get another teaching video up soon ... been a bit busy with the holidays and all. :)

[@kimngantran1377]

@@CantoneseCorner I visited Hong Kong 5 days ago. It's so great to immerse in Cantonese world. Cantonese daily conversation is the most interesting to me. Then, the way we bargain in market ^^ Tks for your enthusiasm :)

[@zhengyeli7555]

I love your story. I had two daughters in usa with an American woman. My daughters don't under any Chinese. I wish they will watch your channel sometime and get to learn some Cantonese. They are going to Richmond University and William & Mary this summer time. Thanks. Li.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi there and thank you! I hope they will ... even a little could make them feel more connected. I am also in the US now and actually not far from Richmond and Williamsburg. 🤗 Both campuses are so beautiful! I wish them all the best in their studies and with learning Cantonese!

[@wingfufung4330]

Great story of your life experience.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks!! :)

[@suchgreatheights8841]

What a story! Your youtube reminds me of when it was more about sharing vs the commercial element it is now. I grew up without chinese parents and have a baritone like voice so I get shunned whenever I try to speak my "native" language. But your videos are helping me through bounds. You have a very nice reading voice btw; kinda like a youth pastor/counselor. God bless you-

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. I kind of understand how having a baritone voice makes it different and a little bit more challenging when speaking Cantonese because my son's voice is rather low and also hard for people to understand him (let alone hear him lol :). I appreciate your letting me know I have a nice voice. I would love to work more with children and have been doing school visits with my book, ROLL with it, so that makes me happy. I wish you all the best and happy learning!

[@uncpotato]

You are wrong, Sue. Your story is very interesting.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much ☺️ I'm really glad you thought so ... and thanks so much for taking the time to comment to let me know! :)

[@googlereviewer1944]

Good story. Interesting background!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much! So glad you like it!

[@jls4184]

Your voice sounds fantastic and tender.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you! 💞

[@andrewchan902]

I attended UW Madison in the 70s. Originally from hK.

[@aabbcc7319]

Thanks for sharing! Interesting....

[@CantoneseCorner]

You're welcome! :)

[@JohnRichardsonJohnRichardson]

This is a wonderful, very heartwarming story! I'd be quite interested in flash cards, when you get them done. Speaking of negotiating, if you need suggestions about Cantonese culture - it could be interesting to show the Temple Street night market. Also of the night street restaurants.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you so much, John! :) Good to know you'd also be interested in flash cards ... and Temple Street is an excellent idea ... I haven't actually been there in quite awhile!

[@heiditang7245]

Dear Sue , thanks for loving HK and our language - Cantonese It’s sad to see many foreigners left Discovery bay recently ( I live in Poggibonsi ) Below is an organization newly set up in Canada for promoting Cantonese , may be you can join them and continue to enjoy the language. God bless you and your family :) ICAC institute of Chinese and Cantonese NPO

[@drod3954]

You are sweet Ms Ma'am. Your dedication has earned you a subscriber. @ 40 y.o. I've chosen to embark on this adventure... here's hoping I remain as consistent and dedicated. Do1 Ze6 Saai2, in advance.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Oh thank you so much!! I appreciate the compliment and am so glad you subscribed! How is your Cantonese coming along? Feel free to drop send me an email - I would love to know! (Email on the about page :) Happy learning! 🤗👏🙌

[@dreamydayun3602]

Thanks for sharing your video. It's really interesting to hear one's history about HK. I am moving to HK this summer so I am studying 廣東話 and your calm lessons are helping me a lot. :) And I was living in Madison WI for 6 yrs. 🙌🙌🙌

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi and happy to hear you're moving HK this summer and also that you lived in Madison! I don't miss the cold, but I visited recently and realised how much I took for granted back in my school days. :) I'm so happy to know my lessons are helping. Happy learning and safe travels! 🎉

[@evebill8]

I am a HK guy who is living in US. If I close my eyes, sometimes, I can't tell you are American. Your Cantonese is very good.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you!! 💞 I'm now living in the US more than HK and so worried I'll lose my Cantonese. 😫 I hope not, and am determined to do more videos so I don't! :)

[@TWYBLF]

Sue this story is lovely and more importantly honest! I find myself in HK recently got here 18 mos aka exact point of protesters at the airport - then Covid - but whatever I still LOVE HK! I am working my way thru my passions first so have learned to make a lot of the amazing food first adn now learning Mahjong...like to get to Cantonese at some point. I hilariously also went to college (later but still) in Wisconsin - Marquette grad:) Thanks for your posts!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Oh wow! Baptism by literal fire! I'm so happy to hear you're loving Hong Kong ... I actually just got back last month then had the 3 weeks of quarantine to do, and it wasn't that bad. I admire you for learning to cook and would love to know how mahjong is going. I hope my videos with my mother-in-law helped! Very cool (cold? 🥶 haha) that we both went to Wisconsin schools 🎉

[@kct9439]

Thanks for sharing this experience with us. I just started to watch you. Do you mind sharing your life before Hong Kong? Things like your birthplace, your parents, siblings, your US school years... If you already made that video, maybe you can direct me to it. Thanks 😊.

[@CantoneseCorner]

That's a great idea - you probably won't believe it, it's so crazy! LOL But one reason I started this channel was to record stories and teaching videos to leave my kids and grandkids, whether on KZbin or elsewhere. So yes, I think I'll do a video on that soon ... leaving out personal details of course, but enough to share and explain why I decided to go to Hong Kong. :)

[@kct9439]

@@CantoneseCorner wow, that will be great. Thanks. Look forward to that. 👍

[@mrtsiqsin2290]

Do you like Danny Chan as well? I love many of his songs and his articulation of Cantonese words is brilliant!

[@CantoneseCorner]

I admit I don't know his songs as well, but do know of him .... and how he was much loved! I'm going to go look up his songs on KZbin now - thanks!!

[@hcdelias8480]

@MrTsiqsin Did i misunderstand your name or you are actually saying that cantonese word😂

[@buckspath]

This is wonderful! Thank you! Learning Cantonese from piano tones?!?!??! How amazing. Does that place still exist?

[@CantoneseCorner]

You know, I don't think it does ... at least not in that location (Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei). I want to say it became the Hong Kong Language Learning Centre in Wanchai, but I'm not sure if I'm right about that, and even if I am right, I don't know what their methods are now. It was really special back then, though! I can still vividly remember sitting on our folding chairs as he played the notes on the piano and had us all repeat after him like we were in a choir. Fun times!!

[@lexaaxel916]

So interesting, Sue! :) Not boring at all! Did you ever go back to live in the States after you first travelled to HK?

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks so much! Glad you didn't find it boring :) I did - I HAD to ... they pretty much kicked me out after I had gone to Macau like 5 times in 5 months after my one-month visitor visa ran out (now they give Americans 3 months, I think) and was waiting for my work visa to be issued. But the funny thing was, I got all ready to leave, then a week before I was due to leave, the work visa came in!! So I went back to the US for a short while (since I had already planned to do so) then came back to Hong Kong with the work visa. Pretty crazy when I think about it! :)

[@manchuckmi]

Hi,Sue. Interesting story about how you got involved in Cantonese. You are quite a remarkable person. Usually someone speaking a dominant language seldom want to learn another one. If they do, most likely superficial. Most Westerners live in Hong Kong don’t learn that local dialect. I think you are quite unique for leaving your comfort zone to venture into an unknown territory especially being female. Language can bridge the gap of different cultures, dig deeper into others minds. By the way, have you heard of Andrew Yang, the first Asian American running for president in 2020.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi again! Thanks so much :) I do think sometimes "how did this all happen?" ... and that's usually when I'm in complete shock at how fast time has gone LOL I remember thinking 7 years was a long time to have been here in Hong Kong (because that's when you can get your permanent residency, of course) and it's incredible to me that now it's been more than 3 times as long. I haven't heard of Andrew Yang, but thanks for bringing him to my attention ... going to look him up now!

[@EppingForest304]

Interesting 👍

[@CantoneseCorner]

I'm glad you thought so! Looking back, I sometimes wonder just how I got here ... fate, I think! :)

[@TheGuitarDojo]

You are a great teacher :)

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thank you! I appreciate that!

[@HotPepperLala]

8:33 wait I thought u said u graduated from Wisconsin, and then you went another university? How did you survive in between? What jobs did you held? How did you even get an apartment without knowing the language?

[@sinoxenon1005]

Hi there, I’ve been in HK for over 10 years and can really relate to this video. I have picked up some Cantonese over the years but I really should learn it. Do you give lessons?

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi there! I'm actually working on some proper lessons right now and hope to have them ready by Easter. Will keep you posted! Thanks for commenting and happy learning!

[@justStardust940]

what did you major in?

[@justStardust940]

you're like a female version of Gregory Charles Rivers :) he said in an english interview that the brits, prior to 1997 mostly didn't understand cantonese. is that true? how did they live in hk without speaking the language?

[@elaineg60]

In ‘78-early 1980, I dated a guy who was from Hong Kong, but his family had moved to Africa when he was young, then came to Florida for college. (Or as he put it, “Chinese with a strong British accent from Rhodesia living in the Deep South”😂). He tried to get me to agree to move to Hong Kong with him..and now, I look back and could kick myself..but, C’est la vie. I DID end up doing a lot of traveling, especially when my kids were about 6-teens; but never China. Then, when my Son was in college, he became the Student Ambassador and Counselor for Chinese students and started going with the many friends he made, back to China during Holidays. He went to Hong Kong, Taiwan AND the Mainland and absolutely fell in love with the country, culture and people. It took a few years for him to convince me how misinformed we are here in the US-but once I learned the truth, made my own friends (both ex-Pats who have been there many years and Chinese friends); I set out on my own mission to learn Mandarin and as much as I could about the history and culture. I’ve also become part of a growing group trying to change the narrative-with dangerous rhetoric seeming to increase almost daily. I’m a former physician and researcher who was born with a rare genetic disorder. Because I can no longer practice, I began writing and participating in a research group I had been connected to since the mid-90’s. About 2 years ago, Trump made major cuts in Federal funding of research projects, including the one I had worked with...guess who offered them full funding? A Chinese university! 😊 My friends are now in Beijing and we had originally planned on my Son and I going over last Summer..obviously, everything was put on indefinite hold. We are still hoping for late this year...we’ll just have to see what happens. In the meantime, I’m building a website and TRYING to find a Domain host that won’t kick us off. Myself, my son and friends have all been dealing with a major crackdown on “free speech”. After being suspended 3 times from Twitter, I posted a link to a UN White Paper on Xinjiang which included 8 months of research of Islamic leaders from countries around the world, contradicting what US (and some other Western media) was saying. This white paper was completely independent from the Govt in China..but I was threatened with a ban for linking to “propaganda”. My son and I have some Uyghur friends who have also attempted to post stories of how they and their families experience things-all but one has been banned from Twitter and ALL of our articles removed from Medium. In fact, my only article still on Medium, (I think), was a short article of mostly links that I could keep posted anywhere else, about Hong Kong. 😔 It’s getting very scary. I’m just hoping this new administration will focus on fixing things here at home-and stay out of everyone else’s business for a change. Sorry..I’m sleep deprived and a bit frustrated today. I came across your videos looking for videos about Mahjong. One of my Chinese friends, (whose actually in Hong Kong right now-he started a financial services company there last year after living in New York for 10 years. His main office is there in HK, but he’s got branches on the mainland) sent me a Mahjong set for Christmas and another friend sent me some cards and said I could play a “solitaire” version whilst in quarantine. They were missing all the instructions when I got them last week. That’s OK, I also got some new calligraphy and Chinese brush painting supplies (as if I don’t have enough to teach a large class 😂); but, I DO want to get some couplets done for myself and my kids. I do Hope to make it to Hong Kong one day...I just have to stay healthy enough to get a VISA when things start opening back up. My Buddy there in Hong Kong sends me photos every few days of all the restaurants he’s been to..oh goodness. 😛😂. Speaking of which..I’m attempting some 狮子头 tonight, “Wuhan style”.😁 (some friends from Wuhan made a video and sent the recipe-I finally got the last of the ingredients today!). Going back to my boyfriend 40 years ago-this was actually one of the dishes he spoiled me with! 😂. I also got my sweet Chinese sausages today..something I’ve been addicted to for 40 years! Take care!

[@CantoneseCorner]

Wow, what a story!! Thanks for sharing it, and sorry it took me so long to reply. Knowing the border is still closed to tourists, I'm guessing you haven't made it to Hong Kong yet, but hope you can soon. For family reasons, I'm back in the US now, but missing Hong Kong every day. Take care and hope the mahjong videos helped you learn!

[@jacinyan3893]

I can tell you've picked up a bit of Cantonese accent while speaking English haha.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻And I was also wondering if you ever learn to speak Mandarin since you got such great talent for languages.

[@CantoneseCorner]

That's so funny! No one has ever said that before, so now I have to watch this again and see! Thanks for such a nice compliment, but sadly no, I have never learned to speak Mandarin. I suppose if I ever had the need to learn it I would, but since I don't, then I probably won't. I know I SHOULD learn it, but we all know how that goes with things we "should" do LOL :)

[@jacinyan3893]

Cantonese Corner Right, even though I grew up speaking both(I am from the city of Zhuhai), in a way I was"forced" to speak Mandarin most of my student years, and I am always like a little hard-pressed to express myself in it compared with Cantonese. I know how that feels. By the way, I wish a happy new year.

[@CantoneseCorner]

@@jacinyan3893 I always wondered how that worked with learning Mandarin in school but speaking Cantonese at home ... I remember schools tried it here (my daughter went to one of them for a year) but it wasn't as strict language-wise ... I mean, her academic classes were in Mandarin (except English, PE and Music) so it was almost half-and-half, and of course the playground language was Cantonese. We didn't last long in that system ... it was too all over the place for me, to be honest. Happy New Year to you, too! Looks like we're in for a cold one ... at least colder than it has been lately!

[@sinoxenon1005]

Do you offer in person lessons? I live in Hong Kong and speak “some” Cantonese but I really need to get serious at it.

[@MrYoumitube]

I dream to learn a second language, let alone teaching it.

[@tszwahyeung1410]

Thanks for sharing your experience. 不過我個腦未處理到咁快咁多嘅英文 :) 你嘅記憶好重要，因爲你之所以係你係因爲你擁有你獨特嘅記憶。香港係一個出眾嘅地方。60年啲人冇嘢食好多走難嚟咗香港，70、80年代係香港最好嘅時期，有首歌叫「這是我家」，但係90年代啲人覺得唔對路開始移民。自從美帝2008金融危機搏命印銀紙好多錢流入咗某國之後，香港嘅利用價值減弱，所以啲香港人而家好似苦瓜乾噉。噉對成個自由世界都係打擊，唔單指香港。

[@CantoneseCorner]

Thanks, Tszwah ... I'm so glad I was here for part of the 80s and then the 90s and beyond (wish I had been here even earlier!). So many changes in the time I've been here...and now the whole Greater Bay Area initiative just means Hong Kong is further losing its identity. It did feel so special back before 97 ... and now like you said, it's not as "useful" or "valuable" as it once was -- I think I can be, but not the way things are going :(

[@tszwahyeung1410]

香港可以睇成一個概念，係西方英國佬文明制度溝埋廣東文化嘅集合，我最鍾意嘅社會。社會由人構成，香港之所以叫香港，係佢有最多同我差唔多價值觀嘅人，唔係睇佢啲樓價幾高經濟幾發達，呢啲任何地方都做得到。香港經歷過好多風浪，千祈唔好徹底灰心，勿以善小而不爲 :)

[@justStardust940]

can you speak mandarin?

[@melvinwu3249]

Thanks Thanks Thanks Monic 誰能代替妳地位！

[@CantoneseCorner]

Still one of my favourites! Bring back such fun memories 🥰😎🤩

[@almacohen7952]

Great story..are Cantonese and Mandarin very different? Do you think one is harder to learn than the other?. I have listened to both and for some reason Mandarin sounded softer with the intonation. Maybe it had to do with who was speaking it? I live listening to different languages and have always wanted to learn something outside of English and Spanish. Thanks, a Texas girl Ps. I came upon your videos trying to learn Chinese mah jongg and your videos have been very helpful.

[@magienoire1015]

Alma Cohen they have some differences. They are very similar at the beginning of the word. They differ a lot when the word ends. For example Cantonese reads duke. Mandarin reads du. People who speak mandarin usually have softly spoken voice esp ladies. Or their cultural background affects them to do so. Cantonese people usually speak directly sometimes bluntly. Their culture is more straightforward. I am from Hong Kong. Cantonese is my mother tongue😁

[@CantoneseCorner]

Hi Alma!! Apologies for the huge delay in seeing your message and replying. Love that your wanting to learn Chinese ... did you decide on one over the other (or both?:) I would say they are very different ... they don’t sound the same at all ... and I would say you’re right with the softer intonation. Mandarin can sound pretty ... Cantonese not so much 😅😅😅 And happy you found me through mahjong - how is that coming along? I haven’t played in so long - or done a video 😢

[@supertrouper]

You look a little bit like Susan Sarandon. 你有點像蘇珊薩蘭登. 你有啲似蘇珊薩蘭登.

[@CantoneseCorner]

I actually had someone stop me in a shop here about a year ago and tell me that, too! 😆😅 I take it as a compliment - I like her as an actress. Thanks! 🤗

[@jls4184]

If I have a kid, I won't teach him cantonese. It's hard and most likely useless in workplace. I will only teach him english and french.

[@CantoneseCorner]

Interesting! If I had the time, I always wanted to learn Japanese, Mandarin, French (and English and Cantonese, of course!). I took French in high school and university, but like most Americans, I lost it completely (and really never had it as all was classroom only - no chance to really speak it). Thanks for commenting!

[@fabianchan7]

Really safe? i always think that its not, from HK movies etc where the streets are controlled by triads and people are rude?. I am juz being silly lol.

[@CantoneseCorner]

LOL! 😂

[@mazza1982]

I am born and raised in UK, and I felt safe whenever I go to HK, mainly because the streets are always full of people, so if anything happens, there are always other people nearby to help you. Or maybe I'm just lucky? Lol.

[@susanralph274]

its interesting that you say she spoke cantonese and was laughing making a ruckus...that is unfortunately why the bad guys of earth are trying very hard to get rid of cantonese ...it sounds too happy and they don't want it. i couldn't believe it, but ask anyone it is coming true