A Video Chat with Biscuet from Biscuet.com!

September 10, 2008 in Technology with 10 Comments


Biscuet.com Video Podcast. June 18, 2008 from Jonathan Smyth on Vimeo.

Hi there!

Sometimes people say to me “why do you spend so much time on your laptop? It’s antisocial!!”. My belief is that my online community is just as real and important to me as my face to face community. Online I am linked in with friends across the globe – England, all over the USA, Denmark, South Africa…and even China!  The great part is that from time to time, you cross paths with people from the online community and get to hang out face to face.

My friend Biscuet (that’s a nickname he got given in elementary school as he mispelled the word ‘biscuit’ in a spelling bee!) built my www.vickybeeching.com Blogsite from Beijing China, where he lives and teaches English as a foreign language.

The time difference from the USA to China is 13 hours so we would discuss Blog ideas on iChat, then I’d go to sleep in Nashville and meanwhile he’d be working on the Blog throughout his day/my night, over in Beijing. Then when I woke up in Nashville, he’d be finished with his work day in China and have a ton of cool stuff done for me to look at. It was hilarious to think we were working together on creating a website, but doing it SO many miles apart! Teachnology is amazing!

He’s originally from Alabama, and is spending his summer back in the States. His travels took him to Southen California, so we hung out today and I asked him a few questions on video. I couldn’t get my iMovie software to work tonight, so this video isn’t edited…so forgive its messiness and the fact that some of it is upside down! I also included a video below that one of him at a Chinese banquet – eating TURTLE! So these are the things you get to see on his blog!..

Check out his Blog www.biscuet.com especially in a few weeks time when he heads back to China and starts posting videos and photos of Chinese life and culture… I point you to his blog because I have a huge heart for China, and through his posts you can see what life there is like. One of my dreams has always been to visit China, so perhaps in 2009 I will!

We’ve all had our eyes on China for the Olympics, but I’m deeply hoping that we won’t forget about that amazing nation just because the Olympics are over… so I am wanting to keep China on our radar!

If you are one of my blog readers, why don’t you jump over to his page and just leave him a comment that says hello?

www.biscuet.com

Cheers!

Vicky

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  • http://www.biscuet.com Biscuet

    Am i allowed to leave a disclaimer? That video was made after about 7 hours of non-stop hang out time. Lots of talking, lots of listening, lots of laughing, we were exhausted. Thanks Vicky! I had an awesome time, you were an amazing host in sunny San Diego.

  • http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com/ Jonathan

    Both of those videos are pretty great! I loved your camera angles, Vicky, and Biscuet did a great job with the turtle; what a funny guy!

    I guess this is the time for the rest of us online friends to be a little jealous of Mr. Biscuet for his 7 hours of hangout time! :o) Glad you both had such a nice time though!

  • http://drawingcloser.blogspot.com Rachel

    Sounds like you guys had a great time! I’m convinced that Thai food is some of the best stuff on the planet. I got a kick out of the mini “Chinese lesson” at the end. Chinese with a UK accent. Very nice. =)

  • http://twitter.com/lightmanx5 ~JOSh-X

    Thanks for making Biscuet speak Chinese, Vicky!

    I’m glad you guys got to hang out and see each other. I didn’t know he designed your website, so that is an awesome little fact to know :)

    I totally get the time difference. When I was in Taiwan, I’d be emailing my family back home and they wouldn’t respond until I was asleep, and visa versa.

    By the way, is this your first attempt at speaking Chinese? It sounded pretty good!

  • http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com/ Jonathan

    Rachel’s thought reminded me of this… After watching the movie “Outsourced” recently, I found out from a friend that there are call centers in India that service Japan – in Japanese. Which made me wonder what Japanese would sound like with an Indian accent!

    And regarding first attempts at Mandarin, at a Chinese buffet years ago my sister once called our waiter “uncle” when she meant to thank him – causing him some confusion. In her defense, the words do sound quite similar – at least to a Western ear. :o)

  • Vicky Beeching

    @ jonathan: Thats exactly why I’m nervous to learn Mandarin…in case I accidentally offend someone by calling them ‘uncle’ or saying that their mother is ugly when I meant to say ‘beautiful’!!!

  • http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com/ Jonathan

    @ vicky: :o) I’m sure you’ll do great at learning Mandarin if that’s what you decide you want to do. Also, I’m sure native speakers will simply be charmed that you’re trying; no need to be nervous!

  • http://www.jonathanpaulmusic.com/ Jonathan

    …oops! Forgot to mention that, in the case of my sister and the waiter, this is exactly what happened. He was slightly confused, but he was even more pleased that she was making an effort, and we all left with big smiles on our faces!

  • http://worshipvj.com proctor

    i heart Biscuet!

    he’s inspiring to converse with, and a load of fun!
    and the story behind his nickname is awesome!

    He also did an amazing job on my blog.

    Wish i was out in San Diego when you guys were hanging out….we’ll have to do a multi-video iChat when he gets back over to Beijing.

  • Steve

    The video is a little bit topsy-turvy at times, but I enjoyed it. It is neat to hear about what your friend is doing in China.

    Steve