Wednesday, October 26, 2005

A Weekend in Tianjin


This past weekend was really interesting, as I was able to go to Tianjin to visit some friends, an older Chinese couple. They were very hospitable and warm in welcoming me to their city and into their home. It was a really good opportunity for me to practice my Chinese all weekend, since they do not speak English. They made delicious food and showed me around the city. One of the most interesting activities was exploring this old church building which is in the process of being torn down. It's a shame to see such a beautiful structure being demolished, but I'm glad I had the chance to see and explore it before it is leveled. Tianjin used to be where most of the foreign embassies, consulates, banks, and other organizations were located, as the emperor did not allow them in Beijing. This next weekend, I plan to go to Taiyuan, in the Shanxi province, and visit some other friends. I hope to post on that trip when I get back next week.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Great Wall, Great Friends


Yesterday, my class, along with four or five other bus loads of students in the "B" level of the intensive Chinese college study program went to the Great Wall at Mu Tian Yu. The weather was beautiful and the scenery breathtaking, as the trees are changing colors. As you can see, I had a lot of fun, and we even had a little picnic on the wall with our teacher and a few students from our class. It was a great chance to practice Chinese with each other in a "real life" situation, rather than just in the classroom. Saturday, I will leave early in the morning to catch a train to Tianjin. I'll be there through the weekend, and I hope to post some reflections on the trip, along with some pictures!

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Study Time!

As you can see, I have been quite busy lately studying for tests and doing homework! Tomorrow, all of the "B Level" Chinese students take a field trip to the Great Wall; so I am excited about that! Thursday, I have a short "examination" (as my Greek professor always called them, and still does, I'm sure). Tentatively, on Saturday, I will be going to Tianjin with an American friend to visit some Chinese friends we met on the train from Hong Kong. Hopefully, when I have some extra time, I can write more. Until then, peace!

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

A Birthday on Holiday

This past weekend, a Chinese friend of mine who I met in the US, came to visit me here in Beijing. Since Saturday was my 23rd birthday, that was really cool. It is interesting also to note that October 1st is China’s National Day, called “Guo Qing Jie.” So, that made my birthday all the more special this year, as I begin my new life in China.

My friend and I were able to visit the Great Wall of China, at Ba Da Ling, and the Forbidden City. It was really fun, and I am in awe at seeing the Great Wall extend endlessly into the horizon. The Forbidden City (also known as the Imperial Palace or the Palace Museum) is a very intriguing site, as you walk through the halls and imagine the palace in a flurry of daily activities and the regality of the imperial age. Since it was the National Day holiday break, Beijing was especially crowded with tourists from all over China. It was really nice to see Tiananmen Square all decorated for the celebration, and the picture of Dr. Sun YatSen, the “Father of the Nation,” in the middle of the square was quite an impressive centerpiece. The 3 subway stops closest to Tiananmen Square are closed for the holiday, in an attempt to help with the congestion of the millions of people converging on the city. Therefore, the buses are quite loaded with people, especially in the area immediately surrounding the city center.

As long as I’m a student or teacher in China, I will always have a nice break for my birthday, with the annual “Guo Qing Jie” celebration. It has been really nice having a week-long break from classes, and now that my friend has returned to Guangzhou and since I have a test on Saturday, I will need to buckle-down and study, study, study.

The Daily Life of an International Student

Monday-Friday

5:00-6:00am – Rise and shine!

5:30-7:00am – Preparation for the day

7:00-7:30am – Breakfast
Sometimes I eat some oatmeal or fruit in my room.
Other times I grab a crepe and egg from the cafeteria.
Occasionally, I go to my favorite little shop near the “No. 13” elevated urban train station for a delicious breakfast crepe, called a "jian bing." They cook it up right there in front of you on a hot stone-skillet with fresh batter, an egg, fresh green onions and spices and then put it in a bag and hand it to you. It’s great! Steaming and ready to eat! Mmmm! Have them add the hot sauce…and it’s to die for!

7:45am – Head to class
I walk across campus to the teaching building where my class is held. Then, up to the 4th floor and on to room 403.

8:00-10:00am – General Chinese Class
My class is quite an international occasion everyday as the group of us, 18 foreigners in all, struggle to master the Chinese language. We have patient teachers, who listen to us as we mispronounce words and slaughter the Chinese language, and we also have to be patient with each other, as we learn to understand Chinese spoken in a wide variety of foreign accents.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mauritania, Panama, Sweden, Turkey, and the USA are the places my classmates come from to learn Chinese. Some come to learn Chinese for business, teaching purposes, cultural exchange, college/university requirements, and other personal reasons. However, we are all here together, and we are all having a great time learning about Chinese and each other as we study and learn about life and culture in this remarkable land.

Every hour we have a 5-10 minute break. I usually get up, stretch, stop by the washroom, or talk with classmates in the hall. Sometimes I will stand out in the hall and talk. Other times, I return to the class and talk with people or study as I wait for the next hour to begin.

Every third or fourth day of class, we have a test. We are to prepare to write about 40-45 Chinese characters, our vocabulary lists. We all come, with varying levels of preparation, and after our teacher dictates each character or phrase, we diligently write the characters (at least the ones we remember). This is an interesting exercise in patience and endurance for us in the class, as some of us are coming in with little to no character writing ability. Thankfully, I am coming with some knowledge of characters and the proper way to write them. However, many nights, my time will be consumed with looking up the proper stroke order for writing the characters and practicing them several times before I have committed them to memory. This class is really going to stretch me and force me to use Chinese, which is exactly what I need at this point in my language acquisition.

10:00am-12noon – Focused Language Abilities Classes
Tuesday and Thursday – Spoken Chinese Proficiency
Wednesday and Friday – Chinese Listening Skills

12:00noon – Lunch
Usually, I will eat in one of the dining halls.
Sometimes, I will meet up with Chinese or international friends.

Afternoon
Sometimes I will take a nap, if I have time.
Studying or taking care of daily life and tasks typically consumes a lot of my time.
Exercise is supposed to be on the schedule here (or in the morning), but I’ve gotten out of my regular routine. I hope to resume it soon…sigh…

Evening
Dinner – either in the cafeteria, a small restaurant, or in my room
Study or interacting with my new friends is something I would like to do more.
Getting on the web for an hour or two for correspondence is vital for keeping in touch with family and friends.

9:00-10:00pm – Prepare for the next day, get ready for bed
Usually, I try to go to bed around 9:00-10:00pm; however, recently, I was not able to get much sleep. There is some type of construction project across the little road in front of my dorm. Last week, it was difficult for me to sleep, as the noise of heavy equipment and incessant hammering and clamoring came blaring through my window early in the morning and late into the night. (The work hours here in Beijing, at least for some construction projects, appear to be much longer than in the States. These workers really have a very demanding work schedule. I am learning to be grateful that I am able to keep the hours that I do. They must work long hours in order to put food on the table. So, I may lose a few hours of sleep, but at least those workers can work and eat. Before I know it, I’ll be used to the noise coming in my window.)

As I think about each passing day, I am constantly reminded of all the lessons I am learning, not only about new cultures, but also about myself and my own culture. Not only am I learning to appreciate the Chinese culture and the cultures of other international students; I am also learning to appreciate my own culture and the people who know me best.

Tomorrow is a new day! I am again eager to see what I shall learn as I continue in this new life as an international student!