At the iTunes App store for your iPhone: DianHua translator for Pinyin, Traditional, Simplified, English. You can set up flash cards of your choice: (grape, as opposed to chrysanthemum) wine, bathroom, French fries, pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and it's free.

Sadly Bu jian jiao or Bu la are going to be my phrases of the week. Can someone advise if that really means no chili pepper and no hot pepper? I am a wimp, planning to survive on rice, beer and great companionship.