Gunky stuff
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:26 am
WASHINGTON: A young Chinese woman wanted to know: What is the English word for that gunky yellowish stuff in the corner of her eyes when she wakes up in the morning?
Jessica Beinecke, 24, host of an online travel video program aimed at young Chinese viewers, responded with a humorous segment for her show, explaining in fluent Mandarin and exaggerated gestures all the icky stuff that comes from the face.
The segment, called Yucky Gunk, went viral, garnering nearly 1.5 million hits. And suddenly a petite blond, who is not Chinese and began studying the language only five years ago, became an iconic translator of American slang for pop-culture-hungry Chinese fans.
"We are so lighthearted. I dance to Lady Gaga and . . . talk about boogers," Ms Beinecke said of the low-tech show, taped in front of a MacBook in her Washington apartment. "It's a one-on-one conversation with an American."
The popularity of the show, called OMG! Meiyu and produced by Voice of America (VOA), has not escaped the notice of the agency's executives. (VOA is the official external broadcast arm of the US federal government.).
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/techno ... z1YMT90KFf
