长城很长: the Great Wall is very long

So yesterday, I went with my fellow PiB'ers to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall.

[a very long and steep section of the Great Wall, and myself sporting a hat that I bought that day]

It was a hot, tiring, and long day.

But it was also pretty awesome.

While I can't say the Great Wall changed my life and all the pieces I know about Chinese history are coming together, it's certainly amazing to see how much sheer manpower can do.

[click on the picture for the original and zoom in, to do this one some justice]

In fact, throughout the past week in Beijing, I've come to realize that my knowledge about my parents' culture is pretty limited, aside from random things here and there. In the coming weeks, there are a few common topics within Chinese culture that I want to expand upon, particularly on how they're tying in with my current experience in Beijing. What I will note now, however, is that while my parents' perspective on China has been helpful in many ways, I'm starting to realize that China has certainly changed, particularly in the last decade.

Getting a better grasp on China is certainly one of my goals for this summer. Looking back at my very first blog post however, I'm starting to realize that the goals I listed before were more guidelines than strict benchmarks. After this past week, I've certainly gotten a good sense of the workload, but it's slightly frustrating to realize that only so much can be done each day. Discipline aside, my biggest issue is something that was mentioned during the Light fellows orientation meeting, that there should be a focus on production rather than perfection. Admittedly, this past week I've heard my teachers frequently tell me "别紧张," which, as interpreted by Google Translate, is "take it easy." Particularly when there's really nothing to lose by talking to locals on the street, I'm still struggling with overcoming that internal barrier of nervousness so that I can really utilize my time while in Beijing. Ultimately, my end goal for this summer is to be able to speak confidently, as well as set a foundation that I can continue to build off of.

As just a random endnote, here's a picture of Beijing Normal University's (new) library.

I am posting this picture not because of the building, but because of the blue sky and clouds behind.

Until it rained this past Thursday, Beijing was pretty hazy due to pollution. So for the past few days, we've actually had very clear, blue sunny skies (that also make for nice picture-taking).

Also, it's nice to know that our readings in class do have some relation to the real world. In relation to the picture above, there was a passage about disposable chopsticks, pollution, and protecting the environment. Additionally, it's also very nice that I can now read and understand the characters on the recycling and garbage cans around campus.

-艾琳

Procrastination (on multiple levels)

So it's been about a week since I last posted.

And SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.

But, in addition to putting off posting on my blog, I also have quite a bit of studying for tomorrow's quiz, which covers all of this week's material (8 lessons, about 300 phrases, 83 grammar rules).

So for now, I'll just give some of the highlights of the week (intellectual thoughts to come in a later post).

The Friday afternoon I arrived in Beijing, I went to a restaurant across the street from where our dorm is. Thirteen of us went, and the food was good and cheap (10 kuai for a huge bowl of spicy beef noodles). Perhaps the most interesting part of the trip was when we caught one of the waiter's older children trying to take pictures of us. The older child then proceeded to enlist his younger sibling to take a picture of us.

[At that point, it was kind of obvious what they were doing, and we gladly obliged.]

On Saturday, we had our placement test, and as expected, I was placed into third year Chinese. (This past year I took first year Chinese for heritage learners.) There was a bit of a hitch, since my oral exam wasn't spectacular, but so far, third year Chinese has been pretty good (not to say that it's at all easy, however).

[Xinsong Gongyu (XSGY), i.e. home for the next two months]

On Sunday, we had orientation and we were split up into our respective years (lots of handouts explaining the schedule for the week). Although that day was pretty busy, we still managed to get out and drop by Tiananmen Square and the Wangfujing Snack Street.

[On the edge of Tiananmen Square; not exactly sure what the two guys standing with the guards are up to]

 

[Scorpions at Wangfujing (which I opted out of eating)]

 

All in all, besides these adventures on this past weekend and venturing into different restaurants/food carts around town, I've been pretty guilty of burying my head in the books this week.

[an interesting sign on Beijing Normal University's campus]

But,  even with the little time I've spent to go out to see the city, I've learned a lot, in terms of Beijing itself, as well as understanding my own identity, between being American and Chinese.

So, that being said, I'm certainly hoping to get a better handle on the workload this coming week and get some more exploring done along the way.

-艾琳

While I was on the plane . . .

Beijing Time: 10:50 am, ETA 3:54 pm

Okay, so right now I'm on the final stretch of my journey to Beijing. I was definitely worried that I wouldn't be able to make the last connection (multiple delays in Vancouver), but fortunately I am still well on my way.

I nabbed the window seat, although not much of a view since just about everyone on the plane has their windows closed shut (mind you it's about 11:50 pm Eastern Time). But, I'm sitting next to a sweet old lady from Jinshi and a high school-aged girl from Beijing (who went to Edmonton this past year for school).

I have to say, even to minor exposure to Chinese makes me excited (and scared) for what is to come. When I was first sitting down, it took me a few seconds to realize that the woman from Jinshi didn't speak English. Interspersed with my naps on this plane ride, I've had my share of brief conversations with the woman next to me (I found out she was visiting her children in Canada and showed her how to watch a Chinese movie on the touch screens). However, it's a bit jarring when I realize that either because I couldn't keep up or I simply don't recognize the vocabulary, I find myself nodding and smiling along (and that, because she doesn't speak English, I cannot ask for an immediate translation).

What I find most interesting however, is that it actually feels weird speaking English on the plane (e.g. asking the high schooler for clarification on Chinese vocab, to explain that AirCanada went on "strike" [ba gong]). Although I've certainly been in settings where everyone (or almost everyone) is Chinese (i.e. Asian family parties), I've never felt this compelled to only speak Chinese.

Check out, check in (going through Canadian customs)

Phew.

Currently chilling at the Montreal Airport (again, yay for Wi-fi). I must admit, however, that for the last hour I was panicking about being late to Beijing.

As luck would have it, some of Air Canada's staff went on strike two days ago. Needless to say, there have been quite a few delays (getting off the plane, getting luggage for customs to check it back in, going through Canadian security, finding out that my next flight is delayed . . .)

Anyways, slightly more on topic (regarding foreign language): at the airport, people are buzzing about, primarily speaking in French. I can catch the occasional word or two, recalling from my limited vocabulary thanks to two paltry semesters of high school instruction. But it's a bit shocking that I'm already a bit disoriented, despite the French cognates and many signs still written in English. I can only imagine what is to come when I land in Beijing.

艾琳

At the airport

Woah.

It's been more than a month since I've posted, and in less than two hours, I will be on a plane and leaving Boston.

To Montreal.

Then to Vancouver.

And finally, to BEIJING, CHINA.

Admittedly, it all feels so sudden; for the past 4 weeks I've been speaking the language of chemistry research rather than Chinese.

[Fortunately, this is not how I'll be getting to Beijing.]

But ready or not, I am soon on my way to China.

(Also, huge props to Boston Logan Airport for having free Wi-fi.)

艾琳