"Please get ready for rival"

Beijing, China

Vowels are not given much consideration. Consonents often come preloaded with a vowel sound. Children are not taught, 'b', 'p', 'm', 'f' but 'baw', 'paw', 'maw', 'faw'. Ns come preloaded with a leading 'i' so that a word spelled, 'tun' is pronounced, 'twin'. What I heard on the bus: "Please get ready for rival". Turns out it was not an invitation to spar but lack of respect for the lowly first letter of our alphabet which, when preceding 'rival' helps us not miss our bus stop.