Yes it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything here, so please forgive my absence dear readers! You see, it’s been tough to bkog as I’ve been taking Chinese lessons again, this time two days a week after work. It makes for some very long days and a lot of my weekends are spent studying and sleeping. As such, there’s not been much time for blogging!
Today, however, I have to share an experience. Actually, it’s more akin to unlocking an achievement!
During travels between Suzhou and Shanghai I arrive at the train station a bit early to pick up my train ticket from the window. After obtaining the ticket, there usually is enough time for me to stop by the Starbucks in the train station (past the security check, south side of Suzhou Station, business platform level) and grab a coffee.
In the past my typical order was an Americano, black, hot, venti sized (我要一杯美式咖啡，热的，venti 的). Then I graduated to asking for a little milk (你可以加一点牛奶吗?) as unlike in the USA and other locations around the world, there is no cream available on the fixings bar at coffee shops, just sweeteners. It’s a bit annoying as everyone’s concept of “a little” ranges from a splash to half the height of the Americano!
Well today I tried something different as I’m feeling more confident with my speaking abilities; I ordered a vanilla latte, in Chinese, for the first time! The assistant working the register didn’t bat an eye when I ordered, so I must’ve said everything correctly. Even better, when the barista finished my drink and was about to announce it, she saw only me waiting for a beverage and started to say it in English but forgot the words … So stepping in to help, I said the drink in Chinese, accepted it from her, and noticed a smile on her face. (Most shop assistants in China, including baristas, don’t seem to smile very often, so this was definitely something to note!)
As it turns out, the word in Mandarin for vanilla is 香草/xiāngcǎo. Fairly easy to remember and fairly easy to pronounce. (Ok, maybe just for those who are studying the language or are fluent speakers is it easy…) If you look up the individual characters for vanilla to learn what they mean you’ll discover that 香 (xiāng) means sweet-smelling and 草 (cǎo) mean grass, making the word vanilla even less difficult to forget!
Next up on the Starbucks list of learning: the names of the other flavors one can add to lattes and capuccinos!
大／热香草拿铁 (hot grande vanilla latte)
Sweet smelling grass, but isn’t vanilla an orchid? I’d expect sweet smelling grass to have something to do with that fresh “california” or “seattle” air…. 🙂
Now learn how to ask for a hazelnut latte
Love ya!
榛子拿铁 is hazelnut latte, but not sure they have that flavoring available…