Chinese - The Learning Curve

So I am trying to learn Chinese. I have my mp3 player that a carry with me and I have Pimsleur and ChinesePod pumping into my ears. The cool thing - I'm starting to hear words around me and I understand. A person in the mall tells me that "there are none" - after I show her a picture of billiard balls. Someone else tells me "sixth floor" and I get it! I showed them my billiard ball picture too, but I ended up in a golf shop.

I tell the banker "I speak English"...I get a look of confusion, I think she's afraid I don't agree with the exchange rate (I guess my Chinese will need some sprucing up). Well at least we all seem to understand sign language.

Next problem...reading Chinese characters. I look at a sign in the grocery store. Does it say 30NT for one apple or is that 30NT per kilogram of apples? Later I find myself at a street side shop with some fresh donuts for sale. The sign says a bunch of things in Chinese. I just throw some money at her and see what I get. Two donuts. Okay. I deduct that a donut must be 10NT a piece.

I love how the language is tonal. I see little strokes moving up and down in my head as pitches fly around like bird chirps. Forget the chirp and you could be committing social suicide!

Well in a short while (once the government gets around to paying us) I will be taking an even more intensive look at Chinese through a personal tutor online - until then I'll be the talking head walking down the street saying, "Pea street is over there. Do you speak Chinese? I'm French? Can you dance? Bye."