成功!

I learned this term yesterday. We've been having a little trouble getting cash from the ATM because we didn't notify our bank early enough to open up our card for international use. All good now, but yesterday... we were trying various ATMs to see if maybe the release request had gone into effect yet.

So, I went to one ATM where the bank worker came up and stood behind me. I know that he was kinda trying to be helpful, but you kinda need your space when you're at an ATM machine, you know? So anyways, I made my request for cash, and then I got a request denied message, my card returned, and my receipt, which basically said I was rejected.

The bank worker looked at my receipt, and he said, 没有成功 (mei you cheng gong). I don't know what that means, so I say, 设么？(shenme? = what?). He says 没有成功! again a few times... pointing at my receipt, at the part that tells me that I got rejected. I say thank you and walk away.

I say to Bethany, "That guy keeps saying 没有成功. What does that mean?"

Bethany says, "Oh, that means unsuccessful. He's telling you your transaction was unsuccessful."

Uhh... yeah. I noticed that when I walked away from the machine without any money. 没有成功? You're telling me, buddy.

But, what a great way to learn a new term! So now, at the end of any attempt that Bethany or I have at a task, we proclaim to each other whether or not we were successful. 成功！ (cheng gong = Success!) or 没有成功. (mei you cheng gong = Fail.)

Monday was a day of 成功. What a good day. With a friend's help, we were able to sign up for cell phone plans, get me a cell phone (Bethany will get a different model in the next day or two), and sign up for phone/internet for our apartment. Then, on our own, working as a pair to communicate in a new language, we were able to order food at a restaurant (成功！), bargain for a bed/dresser and setup delivery to our apartment (成功!), and then go bargain for curtains and work through the details of measurements and deposits, etc. (成功!).

It has been a good day. Rewarding through and through. Not all days will be like this, sure. But it's nice to receive the grace to be able to have day full of 成功.