What’s your language of LOVE?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Maria A. Petit
Patricia Millns - "In the slaughterhouse of love"

Patricia Millns - "In the slaughterhouse of love"

According to Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the 5 Love Languages series, people speak and understand emotional love when it is expressed through one of five languages: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, or physical touch.  Dr. Chapman argues that while all people enjoy each of these languages to some degree, a person will usually speak one primary language. Quality Time is my no. 1, what’s your love language?

Words of Affirmation

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Quality Time

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

Receiving Gifts

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Physical Touch

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

Make sure you know the difference between being called a ‘xxx’ or being told ‘I love you.’ LOVE or HATE, find out what is REALLY being said this Valentine’s Day! dirty.jam launches ARABIC & DUTCH!  Check it out.

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新年快乐! Welcoming in the Year of the Dragon

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jaime Chamberlain

 

 

 

Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year is the most important Chinese holiday. It runs over the course of 15 days which is spent visiting and paying respect to your elders, collecting ‘lai see’ which are red packets with money inside to represent good luck and wealth. In addition to lai see, small gifts of food and sweets are given when visiting family and friends; usually fruits or cakes, i.e. small mandarin orange trees which symbolise wealth (gold).

The period around CNY is also the period of the largest human migration where migrant Chinese workers, overseas Chinese travel home to have reunion dinners with their families.
Another important tradition is the wearing of red. According to tales and legends, in a remote Chinese village the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called ‘Nian’. Nian would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors. But one day people saw that the Nian was scared away instead by a little child wearing the colour red. The villagers then began to hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors at the start of the New Year. People would also use firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again.

Any child born this year will be a Water Dragon. If you were born in 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 200o you are a Dragon. Find our what it means to be born in the Year of the Dragon here.

 

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I SPEAK French, English & Urdu . . .

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Maria A. Petit
The Bakery Company - Dubai, UAE

The Bakery Company- Dubai, UAE

Earlier this year, right before the start of the scorching Dubai summer, miraculously “The Bakery Company” appeared across the street from my apartment complex in Dubai Marina.  Torn between being delighted to have a specialty store at my doorstep and taunted by the fact that I now had very easy access to sugar & carbs, I naturally decided to investigate.

So I timidly entered the realm of “Elias”, Jordanian Founder and Owner of “The Bakery Company.” Who eager to have a curious customer in tow rolled out the red carpet and provided me with an improvisational tasting of all his favorite concoctions including his most prized strawberry cheesecake.   The experience culminated with Elias divulging the secret ingredient to his oh so delightful cheesecake.  What a sucker I thought…or is he?!  Like Elias, the place has a cozy disorderly appeal to it, which actually is just a front.  Underneath the seemingly disorderly shop is a very meticulously premeditated branding formula and vision.   Starting with the clever customized employee uniforms embroidered with the statement “I Speak English, Arabic, etc…).”

I speak French, English & Urdu

I speak French, English & Urdu

Why had no one else thought of that I wondered?  Genius really!   In a transient city of multi-cultures and languages off course its only natural for the customer attendant to allow his client to speak to him in more than one language.   I think Elias is more brilliant than he leads on to believe.  After his secret ingredient confession, I have been a loyal customer ever since :)

Check out JAM.apps for iPhone, iPad & iPod: Mandarin, Spanish, Cantonese & Arabic

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Seychelles & Creole

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Maria A. Petit

Anse La Source A Jean, La Digue, Seychelles Panic struck when I received notice from Emirates Airlines that my coveted air miles were about to expire. I was flabbergasted as I was certain the air miles had infinite shelf life. I refused to lose my precious miles or worse yet cash them in for a saucepan or a serving saucer. Immediately on the case I scanned the list of potential destinations. With the Arab spring still in full bloom places at the top of my list like Yemen or Syria were unfortunately discarded. However to my delightful surprise Seychelles was on the list and the decision was instant. I knew nothing about Seychelles except it was an archipelago on the Indian Ocean and that was enough for me.

I was however, in for a treat as the official languages are French, English and Seychellois Creole, sweet! Since its independence in 1976, the government of the Seychelles has sought to develop French-based Seychellois Creole, with its own orthography and codified grammar, establishing Lenstiti Kreol (the Creole Institute) for this purpose.

French-based Creole is the largest French-derived language in the world, with more than 12 million fluent speakers. The largest concentrations of fluent French-based Creole speakers are in Haiti (7M) and Louisiana, USA (4M). As it turns out most fabulous islands are run on French-based Creole; i.e. Mauritius, Reunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, St. Lucia and Saint-Barthélemy. Hence it might be a good idea to pick up a few words for that next island holiday.

Here are a few words to get you started:

Creole within the education system in Haiti is a hot topic. Worth checking out is this article “The Power Of Creole”. MIT Linguistic professor Michel DeGraff, is leading an experimental Creole language school in Haiti given that speaking Creole in schools is at par with bringing weapons into the classroom, both are prohibited. This has caused an educational gap between the masses, which speak Creole and the tiny ruling French speaking class. Just last week BBC also published an article on this hot topic “Should Creole replace French in Haiti’s Schools”.

As for Seychelles, best beaches I’ve been to thus far and I do get out often ☺ . . . Irrespective of the unfortunate and freak shark attack incidents that took place on Anse Lazio just weeks after I was vacationing there.

JAM has entered the space of apple. Check us out on itunes App Store!

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JAM takes a bite out of apple!

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Maria A. Petit

jam.99.spanish.verbs - apple iphone/ipad application

We are uber excited about the launch of our first Apple iPhone and iPad application!  Its been months in the making in collaboration with Lux HQ Ltd., headquartered in London, UK.   For the initial launch we have opted for 99.spanish.verbs flashcards with Audio from yours truly :) .  I will add that while it was fun and exciting to record all 99 spanish verbs and sample sentences it was a total labour of LOVE.   The Audio option is one of the main reasons we have been gaging to expand our product portfolio into the realm of Apple applications.    The other Apple advantage is that unlike Amazon Kindle, Apple does not have any language restrictions.  So expect an expansion of languages offered by JAM Language in the future particularly learning tools for ARABIC (my passion and personal endeavor).   While this is the initial collaboration with Lux HQ Ltd., we foresee this as a long-term partnership with JAM Language Ltd. focusing on our language content expertise while Lux HQ Ltd. shines with their programming skills & experience.

The Apple application of 99 ‘expert selected’ key Spanish verbs in a fun flashcard format is perfect for easy memory recall.   The application is retailing for $1.99 and can be downloaded from the itunes store.

We hope you enjoy the app as much as we have enjoyed making it! Check out the demo and do give us feedback!

jam.99.spanish.verbs – iphone & ipad application demo

*Lux HQ Ltd. is headquartered in London, UK specializing in programming of games and applications.

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My Perfect Day in Hong Kong

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Jaime Chamberlain

essential phrases and secret tipsIt’s been almost 10 years since I’ve lived in Hong Kong proper but I do try and go back every year as my family and friends still live there. And obviously all the great shopping, eating and partying are also great incentives!

So my ideal day in Hong Kong would begin with the smell of fresh bread (my mum is a great baker!), a coffee and a HI-C lemon tea, and if I’m really being treated by my Dad, he would’ve popped down to the shops to pick up some ‘chee cheong fan’, yum! After a lazy catch up with my mum I would then get ready for the day, with a pashmina in my handbag for those super chilled shopping malls, and jump on a bus or train or taxi, if I’m feeling really lazy, into town. If I haven’t been in HK for awhile I would get to Tsim Sha Tsui ferry to take the ferry across to Central. I love taking that ferry. Even if it is only a 10 minute ride across the harbour it can be a lovely, peaceful start (or finish) to the day. Walk through the IFC shopping mall (or maybe stop in at the Four Seasons for a spa treat!!!) and through the walkways onto the escalator which I love riding up to see what new restaurants have popped up (or which of my favourite are still there).

Back down to Hollywood Road to poke around the antique shops, and have a coffee with my sister or a friend who works down the road. Pop into the main building of HSBC if I need to check in with my super efficient bank manager. Potter around the lanes in Central if I need to pick up some cute outfits for Sophie. Dimsum with friends – I would have dimsum every day of my life if I could! My favourites are chicken feet (fungzhou), shrimp dumplings (hargow) and bbq pork rice rolls (charsiew cheong faan).

After lunch I might pop in for a reflexology session  - the more painful the better! Pick up some egg tarts to take home to my mum to have afternoon tea with her and maybe a nap – exhausted from my busy day : )

Back out to town around 8pm for a delicious thai dinner in Rat Alley with old friends – sounds appetising I know! But I would consider it some of the best thai food outside of Thailand. Dinner is finished off with a few cold tsing-tao’s (if you’re not made to ‘yum boi’ with the owner at any point during your meal….). Maybe a quick jelly shot at Al’s Diner around the corner for old times sake, and then to see if Featherboa isn’t too busy for a drink. Even if it is I’m happy to have one of those strawberry chocolate martinis standing on the street (I need to find that recipe and just learn to make them myself). Maybe bump into a few old acquaintances but probably unlikely – Hong Kong is one of the most transient cities – but you never know who’s going to be back in town visiting too. Off to find somewhere to dance off my thai green curry – the cheesier the music the better. You can make as much of a fool of yourself in this city – no one cares, and even if they do, you’re never going to see them again (well hopefully they’re not sitting next to you on the plane home!!!).

Check out jam.travel: hong kong for more travel tips and essential phrases!!

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Perfect Engrish

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jaime Chamberlain

I read this interview with Professor Kumiko Torikai a few months ago and it made me think twice about the idea of “Perfect English’ and whether it’s essential that people learning English as a Second Language need to strive for this standard set by the English and Americans. Is there a standard that should be reached or whether the focus should be on just communicating, whether it be with a Japanese accent or an American accent.

This article is about how Japanese (and I’m sure many other nationalities) strive to speak perfect English but that instead, we should start to look at there being no one, perfect way to speak English but many different forms. There is already a differentiation between British English and American English – why can’t there be official versions of Japanese English, Chinese English (“Chinglish”), Singapore English (“Singlish”), and so the list goes on.

On a daily basis I hold myself back from over-correcting people who are learning English as a second language. Firstly, I don’t want to come over as over-bearing : ), and secondly, if I can understand what they are saying then they clearly have accomplished their job of communicating. I guess the question is where do you draw the line? Sometimes I even struggle to understand native English speakers. Sometimes it’s not just about having perfect grammar, or clear pronunciation (though of course they are important). I think if you are learning a new language, the lack of vocabulary means you are more direct about getting your message across. The whole idea is of communicating is to get your idea, question, suggestion across – and if you can accomplish that with your limited vocabulary you are probably doing a much better job than most native speakers.

Note: An analysis by Mike Guest, in response to Professor Kumiko Torikai’s interview. Worth a read if this particular debate is of interest to you.

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Bull & Bear Essentials for JAM

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Maria A. Petit

Maria A. Petit (Dress: Temperley, Hat: Philip Treacy) & Rashid Khalaf Al Habtoor (UAE National Dress), Dubai World Cup

Maria A. Petit (Dress: Temperley, Hat: Philip Treacy) Rashid Khalaf Al Habtoor (UAE National Dress), Dubai World Cup

This picture was taken by power house Ms. X accompanied by fierce lady Ms. Y during the 2007 Dubai World Cup.  We had been introduced by the mutual friend and infamous Mr. Rashid Khalaf Al Habtoor (picture above), perhaps most notably known for his ability to act as the catalyst for bringing the colourful and diverse jetsetter crowd together under the umbrella of his decadently generous dinner parties hosted around the world.   These vibrant young ladies were rocking the banking industry in New York and were visiting Dubai for the first time.  We instantly clicked and somehow through the years we managed to stay in contact.  Ms. Y eventually moved down the street from me in London and what a delight to have her as a neighbour!   Not to mention our occasional rendezvous @ Annabel’s

Why do you care you might ask, because these girls along with some other banking industry dynamos went on to create Bull & Bear Essentials.    Dedicating their spare time to stripping down financial definitions and concepts right down to the basics.    Making their world accessible and comprehendible to the average person packaging the otherwise dull content with sufficient wit and satire making it pleasurable and even memorable.  Genius I tell you!

Today, many years later after that initial encounter, JAM is proud to announce a partnership with Bull & Bear Essentials.  Introducing the first set of the Bull & Bear Essentials for JAM financial Series: stocks.flashcards

Bull & Bear Essentials for JAM Financials: Stocks.flashcardsThe first edition, Stock Terms, focuses on the U.S. Stock Markets. Bull & Bear experts explain all relevant terms and answer the important question, “Why do you care?” The Flash Cards distil important financial information into simple definitions everyone can understand. Ever laughed out loud while reading about stocks? Hardly – but you may now. These 20 Stock focused Financial Flash Cards are perfect for business, school or investing in general. Stay tuned for the next instalment: U.S. Economic Terms.

Available for download onto Amazon Kindle, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and BB. Coming soon in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Cantonese!

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Sabrina Gabriele for JAM

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Maria A. Petit

Sabrina Gabriele, Author of Una & dirty.jam.italian

Sabrina Gabriele, Author of Una & dirty.jam.italian

I met Sabrina Gabriele through my friend Anthony Landereau.  I was meeting Anthony for dinner in Soho, in London, after a hiatus from the Dubai golden days. Anthony had moved back to Paris and I had moved back to London.  He was now working for Marc Jacobs and warned me he was going to be with his colleagues.  Nothing could have possibly prepared me for his “colleagues”.  A harem of women I tell you, all gorgeous, oozing with individual style and my god intelligent!  Among them stood out Sabrina who was louder than the rest, outrageously funny and just a blazing personality shouting in Italian, French and English but still with an underlying sensitivity about her; she is someone you can just tell your whole life story to without being judged.

jam is excited to announce our first collaboration with none other than Ms. Sabrina Gabriele for dirty.jam.italian, Author of Una.  Hot-blooded Mediterranean Sabrina was born in Bergamo, Italy. After she studied Theater Management at the Paolo Grassi Academy of Drama, she went on to work as a Casting Director in Milan. She then moved to London and obtained a degree in Fashion Management at the University of the Arts. She currently lives in Paris where she is an executive at Marc Jacobs. Una is her first published work.

Una by Sabrina Gabriele

Una by Sabrina Gabriele

Una Synopsis:
“Love is the first thing that I learned. Since my mother took me in her arms, the 5th of May 1980, around 4pm”.  London, the backdrop to a young woman’s discovery of beauty and sex. A novel dominated by spontaneity, humor and eroticism. Una conveys palpable sensations and true emotions through a modern tale of the present generation. With a sparkling and original style, Sabrina Gabriele allows the reader to walk the streets of this city alongside its characters and to accompany them in a long and intense journey of life.

You can find Una in Marc by Marc Jacobs’ boutiques around the world or online.

dirty.jam.italian by Sabrina Gabriele

dirty.jam.italian by Sabrina Gabriele

Sabrina Gabriele, Author of Una & dirty.jam.italian, Maria A. Petit and Anthony Landereau

Sabrina Gabriele, Author of Una & dirty.jam.italian, Maria A. Petit and Anthony Landereau

dirty.jam.italian

Posted in Amazon Kindle flashcards, Anthony Landereau, dirty.jam.italian, Italian, italian flashcards, italian slang, marc jacobs, Sabrina Gabriele, Una, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The history of pinyin

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Jaime Chamberlain

Mandarin (or other pictorial based languages like Japanese, Korean, Hindu, Arabic, Russian…) can be a pain to learn if, like me, you find it much easier to learn a language through phonetics.

Pinyin is the romanisation of chinese characters. It was only created in 1958 but the romanization of chinese characters started hundreds of years earlier when explorers started to visit China.

In 1867, Thomas F Wade, the Chinese language secretary to the British embassy published a book on how to learn Chinese based on a romanization system that he adapted from an English priest R. Morrison (1815). Forty-five years later, H. A. Giles published his Chinese English Dictionary, in which he used Thomas Wade’s romanization system with slight modifications. This is how the famous Wade-Giles system came about. (Source 1)

The modern day pinyin system was developed by Zhou Youguang, accepted by the Chinese government in 1958 but only internationally recognised in 1982. Pinyin literally means ‘spelled sound’ (Source 4). Grammatically Mandarin is not as difficult as other languages but technically you are learning 2 forms of the same language – once in characters and then again in pinyin but luckily Mandarin has only 4 tones (unlike Cantonese with their 13 tones!).

As the Chinese economy continues to grow, the number of people learning the Mandarin Chinese also continues to grow. Romanisation systems, like pinyin, can help encourage people to start learning languages that may have seemed too daunting a prospect at first.

JAM Mandarin Chinese flashcards: 99 verbs are available on Kindle and have both chinese characters and the pinyin form to help you learn!

Source 1. http://white-clouds.com/iclc/cliej/cl4ao.htm
Source 2: http://www.pinyin.info/
Source 3: http://www.chinesepinyin.org/pinyin-history/
Source 4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin
Source 5: http://www.chinesepinyin.org/
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