jenny's blog

尽管只有短短的两个星期，英国脱欧延期的申请被欧盟通过了。
Although for only two weeks, the extension application of Brexit has been approved by the EU.

但是，这之后有很多不同的走向。
However, there will be many alternatives after the extension.

如果英国国会能在下个星期之内通过梅姨的脱欧协议，脱欧时间会一直延到5月22号。
If Britain Parliament can pass the Brexit deal proposed by Mrs. Theresa May, the date of Brexit will be postponed to 22nd May.

但是如果协议不能通过，那么英方必须在4月12号之前向欧盟提交一份新的方案。
But if the deal cannot be passed, then Britain must submit a new plan to the EU by 12th April.

对于全世界，尤其是新西兰人民来说，2019年3月15日是一个黑暗的日子。
For the whole world, especially New Zealand, 15th Mar 2019 was a dark day.

一场恐怖袭击（kǒngbù xíjī – n. terrorist attack）降临了两家回教堂，嫌凶（xiánxiōng – n. suspect in crimes involving death）大规模枪击回教徒，导致了49人死亡，48人受伤。
A terrorist attack fell upon two mosques where a suspect violently shot everyone at the mosques. 49 people have passed away while 48 have injured.

尽管英国应该在2019年3月29日，也就是下个星期五正式脱欧，但是近期的新闻都在告诉我们英国很可能不能按时（ànshí – adv. on time）脱欧了。 Although
Britain was supposed to officially exit the European Union (EU) on 29th Mar 2019, which is next Friday, recent news has suggested that the Brexit may not go as planned.

英国首相特蕾莎梅已经正式向欧盟申请（shēnqǐng – v. apply）把脱欧延期（yánqī – v. to extend the date）三个月，也就是到6月30日。
British Prime Minister Theresa May has officially written to the EU to ask for a three-month extension to Brexit, which makes the new date 30th June.

“放鸽子（fàng gēzi）”， 本义是“放飞鸽子”。实际上，它的实际意思非常不一样。 ‘
Fang Ge Zi’ literally means releasing pigeons, but it actually means something totally different.

简单来说，如果你和别人有约（yǒuyuē），但对方却没有赴约（fùyuē）（尤其是在没有提前告知的情况下），那你就被放鸽子啦！
Basically, if you have an appointment with someone and the other party did not show up (especially in the case that they did not inform beforehand), then you are being stood up (aka. Fang Ge Zi)!

不过有一类人，连自己的鸽子都敢放！
There are some people who even dare to stand themselves up!

那么在新加坡的我们是不是不能吃辣条了呢？
So does that mean we should not eat La Tiao in Singapore?

其实不用太过于担心，在2018年的《全球食品安全排行榜》上，新加坡首次荣获了榜首！
In fact, you do not need to be too worried. For the first time, Singapore ranked No.1 on the Global Food Security Index!

虽然从上图来看，新加坡的食品质量与安全指数还不是特别高，但是总的来说，新加坡的进口把关还是很严格的。
Although from the index breakdown, the individual section of quality and safety is not particularly high, Singapore’s import procedure is generally quite strict.

辣条你爱吃吗？
Do you like to eat ‘La Tiao’?

辣条真的是一个红到发火的零食。不仅很多成年人吃，小学生也喜欢。 ‘La Tiao’ truly is an extremely popular snack. Not only adults like it, but some primary school students also eat it frequently.

一些辣条还走出国门，来到了海外的食品货架上。（新加坡也有哦！）
Some brands are being imported overseas. (We have La Tiao in Singapore!)

它甚至还成了一个网络热词呢！众多网友玩辣条玩得乐此不疲。
It is even a trending word on the internet. So many memes are being created based on it.

但是！！！这么火的辣条竟然被在315晚会上被点名通报了！！！
However!!! La Tiao is being exposed on this year’s 315 Gala!!!

“国际消费者权益日”，因确定于在每年的3月15日，而因此得名“315”。
The International Day for Protecting Consumer’s Rights is held yearly on 15th Mar, hence we also call it ‘315’.

自从1991年以来，中国中央电视台联合相关部门，在每年3月15日晚现场直播“3.15晚会”，来曝光（bàoguāng – v. expose）一些企业“黑幕（hēimù – n. black curtain, shady background）”并且普及维权知识。
Since 1991, there is a ‘315 Gala/315 evening party’ broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV) and relevant agencies to expose some shady story behind some shady corporations and to spread out knowledge regarding consumer’s right.

. 埃塞俄比亚航空公司的空难事故之后，波音遭遇“911”事件以来最大的危机，目前，总计有超过50个国家和地区的航空公司宣布禁飞737-MAX8机型。甚至有飞机在半路上被要求返航。最近两个交易日，波音股价连续大跌，也创出“911”以来最差表现。
After the Ethiopian Airlines crash, Boeing suffered the biggest crisis since the "911" incident. At present, a total of more than 50 countries and regions have announced the 737-MAX8 model. There are even planes that are required to return on the way. In the past two trading days, Boeing's share price has fallen sharply, and it has also produced the worst performance since "911."
2. 至少已有43个国家和地区全面停飞737-MAX8，另外还有8个国家有1家或1家以上的航空公司宣布停飞737-MAX8。

学习中文的朋友们可能多多少少在某一个时间有过“丧失信心”的感受。中文不是一门简单的语言，偶尔的丧失信心是理所当然的。
Chinese learners may all ‘lose their confidence’ at some point in learning. Occasional confidence lost is reasonable as Chinese is not an easy language to learn.

但是，“丧尸信心”又是什么鬼？
However, what the hell is ‘zombie confidence’?

是一个丧尸的信心？
Is it the confidence of a zombie?

还是打字太快出来的错别字？
Or is it a typo from typing too fast? (‘lose’ and ‘zombie’ have the same pronunciations in Chinese)

其实都不是。
Both not.

1. 马云已于3月7日退出了阿里旗下5家公司，包括阿里巴巴(中国)软件有限公司、淘宝(中国)软件有限公司、阿里巴巴(中国)网络技术有限公司、阿里巴巴(中国)教育科技有限公司、阿里巴巴科技(北京)有限公司。
Ma Yun has withdrawn from five companies of Ali under March 7, including Alibaba (China) Software Co., Ltd., Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., Alibaba (China) Network Technology Co., Ltd., Alibaba (China) Education Technology Ltd., Alibaba Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
2. 马云将于2019年9月10日正式“退休”，从事教育和公益事业。
Ma Yun will officially “retire” on September 10, 2019, and will be engaged in education and public welfare.