I pretty much never blog about work stuff, but this just couldn't be passed up. Hopefully none of my local coworkers read this... =P
To make a long story short, one of the "behind the scenes" subsystems that I own and manage in our game's engine had to have a name for us to refer to (internally) during the production process. Yesterday, a local coworker of mine without asking me decides to name it the "Advanced Shader System" and emails the entire engine team decreeing that this is what we'll call it.
While it describes things fairly concisely and accurately, it's not too hard for a native English speaker to see why it might not be the best idea if abbreviated... Being the only one in my immediate group though, no one else noticed... or at least thought it important enough to overcome inertia and change for something that's "under the hood".
So, starting today, my inbox is starting to be filled with emails with subjects like those shown above. You pretty much see where this is starting to go. I thought about bringing this issue up at first, but the extra levity it silently adds to my workday encourages me to not worry too much about it for now... ;) Let some other laowai in another group inform them.
In our company, and I'm sure in any other multinational organization working in China, there's always the issue of correcting or improving things and processes where there's a need -- where us expats always tread a balancing act between our desire to genuinely help out on one hand and on the other, a 19th-century colonialist mentality of "taking over because our way is better". In my case, it's none of that, except that I find it all nonetheless funny. OK, maybe I can be a bit childish at times too...
Just another day and another cross-cultural anecdote here in Shanghai...
Comments (13)
In my business English classes, I learned that some of my students were Process Equipment Engineers. "Oh, you work in the PEE department?"
Posted by ShanghaiRon | June 13, 2006 5:21 PM
Posted on June 13, 2006 17:21
That's hilarious!
Posted by kitw | June 14, 2006 8:39 AM
Posted on June 14, 2006 08:39
hehe :) and then when another Laowai tells them, they'll be like, "What!? Mark you didn't TELL us?!" hehe
Posted by aimeeeemia | June 14, 2006 4:49 PM
Posted on June 14, 2006 16:49
yeah, isn't it great how the little things in life can bring great amusement?
Posted by vnee | June 14, 2006 11:24 PM
Posted on June 14, 2006 23:24
Haha! I'm with you! I'd probably let it slide too, it's just too stinkin funny! The "ASS problem" email is the best. =P
Posted by mistaHtam | June 16, 2006 2:47 PM
Posted on June 16, 2006 14:47
laugh my Advanced Shader System off
Posted by westwindsor | June 21, 2006 1:31 AM
Posted on June 21, 2006 01:31
This reminds me of an Indian co-worker I know that decided to abbreviate/truncate his first name to "Gopi" so that it would be easier for English speakers to pronouce. That's fine for laowais, but it sounds like "dog's advanced shader system" to Mandarin and Cantonese speakers. As a result, I had a hard time working with him without busting out in laughter.
Posted by gsya | June 21, 2006 5:13 AM
Posted on June 21, 2006 05:13
Wow, your North Korea pictures are stunning. Thanks for giving me an insight into North Korea.
Posted by AncientEvil | June 21, 2006 10:29 AM
Posted on June 21, 2006 10:29
HAHAHAHHA... Mark, you sinner! Hee hee Great acronyms!And yes, I agree with AncientEvil... amazing pictures of N. Korea... hope to see you soon, Mark!
Posted by Maiku | June 26, 2006 8:33 AM
Posted on June 26, 2006 08:33
thanks for making me laugh today. We lawyers are always so precise in our communications, we'll never make mistakes like that.
Posted by Gleefully | June 26, 2006 4:00 PM
Posted on June 26, 2006 16:00
thx! =)
Posted by falanke | June 28, 2006 4:43 PM
Posted on June 28, 2006 16:43
Thanks! But you didn't miss anything: my Xanga is on US-time...so posting on 6/30 leaves a time stamp of 6/29. If that makes sense. Anyway...thanks =)
Posted by Neopolitan630 | June 30, 2006 3:54 PM
Posted on June 30, 2006 15:54
Hi Mark! Long time no talk...looks like you're doing well and having a blast over in Shanghai!!
Posted by tyluu | July 3, 2006 9:40 AM
Posted on July 3, 2006 09:40