My Chinese Loot ;)

CHECK OUT THIS LOOT I BROUGHT BACK FROM CHINA! OREOS, SKITTLES, TOOTHPASTE,  AND SO MUCH MORE!!!!!

Santa's in China!!

Fox News Philadelphia was tracking Santa Claus this morning. He had already delivered billions of gifts and was headed to Chongqing, China as his next stop :) See map below.

The Best Way to End My Semester Abroad :)

Seeing Lem, my Freshman roommate, was definitely the best way to close out a wonderful semester abroad. It had been almost a year since I had seen her. We had so much fun together. I miss her so much already!

It's All About the Tones

I'd like to take a moment to discuss with all of you the MOST IMPORTANT part of learning Mandarin Chinese. This is something that you MUST and I repeat MUST accomplish even before you attempt to speak to native speakers. For all of you who do not know that much about Mandarin Chinese, I am happy to report to you that this language has tones. Yes, tones... and getting these tones correct is VITAL when learning the language. If you conquer this, congratulations, you have passed the first part of learning Chinese, now what are you waiting for? Start speaking! ;))))

 If you are trying to communicate with native Chinese speakers, and your tones are incorrect, believe it or not, they will have a very very difficult time understanding you. You might think you are the one doing the hard work just trying to force a sentence or two out of your mouth, but actually, these native speakers have the hardest job of all: Trying to understand what the heck it is you're trying to say! And not only that, if they don't understand you, then you both just end up feeling uncomfortable and awkward and embarrassed, right?

What do I mean by tones? You can think of these tones as certain pitches, and if your tones come out right, it sounds very nice and very standard indeed. Mandarin Chinese has four tones, (five if you include the neutral tone) First Tone, Second Tone, Third Tone, Fourth Tone, and when pronouncing each word, you must know the correct tones of that word.

Here is a very simple example:

Take the character 有. The spelling (or Pinyin) for this character is 'you'. One meaning of this word is "to have." Now, take this character 又. The Pinyin for this character is also 'you.' One meaning of this word is  "again". Confused???

 Although these characters are different, the two words have the same exact spelling, or Pinyin we call it. It's just that the first 'you' is pronounced in the Third Tone, while the second 'you' is pronounced in the Fourth Tone. So if you want to use the first 'you' meaning "to have," make sure you listen to how that Third Tone is pronounced, and pronounce it just as it's supposed to be pronounced. And remember, the character is not always there for reference, so knowing pronunciations is key!


Why do I choose to discuss this?? Well, it's very simple. During my time spent in Chinese language class (approximately 4 hours a day, Monday-Friday) I have experienced too many mistakes made by students trying to read a sentence or a paragraph in Chinese or trying to tell the teacher about their day. I'm just being honest here with all of you. Everyday I watch the teachers' brows furrow and faces draw a blank as they are trying to make out what it is these foreign students are trying say. The main problem with foreign students when they are trying to learn Chinese is the tones. They just can't seem to get over that hurdle, the most important hurdle when learning this language.

Of course, my tones are not always perfect, but I am proud to say that 98 percent of the time, my tones are correct. I'm a foreigner who has learned to conquer this first step in learning Chinese, so clearly this is not an impossible hurdle to get over, so the question now becomes, why is it so hard for others???

The answer to this is also very simple. It's all about passion. If you do not have passion in learning a foreign language you will most likely not improve very much in that language you are trying to learn. This is very true. No passion equals very little improvement.

But what about the foreigners who do have passion, yet still cannot get those tones correct? My next reason for you then is talent. It helps to have a language learning talent when learning a new language. From the very first time I ever spoke Mandarin Chinese, my tones were considered to be "not bad," and I wasn't even learning the language at that time. Once I started to learn the language I devoted hours and hours a day to perfecting my tones because I understood that this was a priority. I knew that if my tones came out sounding horribly wrong, I could kiss speaking fluent Mandarin Chinese goodbye.

If any of you read my poem titled: I Think I've Met You Before (an earlier blog post) you can see how I personify the Mandarin language, the "you" in my poem. I Think I've Met You Before is a poem written by me to explain my familiarities with Chinese culture and Chinese language, and how I have an uncanny feeling that Asian culture is somewhere in my historical background (see first blog post American Girl Trapped in a Chinese World ).

The beauty of language learning is all about effort. Putting in effort to learn, and having a true desire to learn is extremely important. So if you are thinking about learning Mandarin Chinese, don't let these tones scare you, or hinder you from wanting to learn. Just make sure you get them correct before you talk to native speakers or even before you try to tell the teacher about your day. Trust me, perfect tones make a difference! ;)

I'm Losing my English!!!!

My Chinese tutor told me this would happen! Have any of you ever studied a language so much that you begin to forget how to say or spell certain words in your own native language?? 

Let's face it...I'm losing my English!! I completely forgot how to spell the word "embarrass" during class last week. Felt very EMBARRASSED after I spelled it wrong in front of everyone! Just happy I spelled it right this time:) haha

Three Full Months Down

Quick Language Note: 加油 (Jia You) is a phrase used among many Chinese people. In English it translates as "Keep going" or "Go, go go!!" :)))

With exactly three months down and less than one month to go, I can honestly say I am happy with how far I’ve come. Not only because I’ve managed to make it this far being abroad, but because I feel that my Mandarin speaking and listening skills really improved. Before coming to China, I had only taken two semesters of Chinese at college and had been tutored in the language over the summer, but obviously this one year of study was not enough for me to understand the language when hearing it, or even speak a somewhat complicated sentence. But after being in China for some time, I can now understand so much. They say that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the culture of the language you are trying to learn. I completely agree. Hearing Mandarin being spoken by native speakers every day definitely forced the language into my brain and out of my mouth:)

At this point now, I am ready to return to the U.S! I am so grateful to God for giving me great teachers and friends who have helped me get this far in the language. I still have a long way to go (it’s only been a year), but I know that with a lot of hard work and practice I will most definitely continue to improve:)))) 加油!!

My Photo Won Third Place!

Before language class began this afternoon, my Chinese teacher told me she saw where I had won third place in a photography competition I entered called How “Eye” See China. I was happy to see my Chinese name (白爱丽) on the wall and my picture beside it.

Here’s a little background info about the photo:

While at an elementary school located in a Naxi Village, I spotted a bunch of children outside playing and snapped a photo. They seemed very happy and joyful. I entered this photo because it depicts the life of school children in this ethnic village, and shows how they spend their time during school hours. The village is located in the Southern part of China in Yunnan Province.

Naxi Village School
This is a photo of children at school in a Naxi Village. They are having fun playing outside.
这是纳西村学校的孩子们。他们在外面玩得很开心。

The Great Wall

The Great Wall is the longest man-made structure in the world!  It has a large influence on the history and culture of China, and attracts millions of tourists every year. The Wall runs through many cities and provinces so walking the entire Wall would take...who knows how long!!!!








See more pictures here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yFki8MNPO0

A Naxi Village and A Hike

I would like to share with you all these photos I took from the very beginning of my trip. During the two week travel seminar I got a chance to experience how people live life in the villages, and believe me, it's extremely different from life in the city! You don't hear the honking of cars, you don't see streets filled with pedestrians, and you certainly do not feel that same sense of hustle and bustle as you would in Beijing for example. The people living in this particular village are Naxi people, another ethnic group in Yunnan Province. As I walked through this Naxi village, I began to wonder if the people here ever had a desire to move to a city. I constantly asked myself, "Are they happy with this lifestyle? Do they ever feel too isolated from the outside world? Yet I realized this is life for them here. Their families have lived in the village for generation after generation and therefore, this is what they call home.

 The link below will direct you to the slideshow I created. In the slideshow, you will see photos I took while in the village as well as scenic photos from a five hour hike I accomplished in order to reach the village. If you have any thoughts or questions please do not hesitate to comment below. I hope you enjoy what I put together!

Link to slideshow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNFcQgadDqc

A Visit to the Summer Palace

Here is a slideshow of photos (see below) I took while at the Summer Palace, one of the largest imperial gardens in China, built by the emperor Qianlong around 1750. Its features highlight forms of Chinese garden design, including a landscape of hills, water, bridges and exquisite architecture. The Summer Palace was once used as a vacation home for emperors in China. It was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.

Quick Language Note: 大黄鸭 Da Huang Ya means Big Yellow Duck ;))

Side Note: The Big Yellow Duck, or 大黄鸭, (shown in the slideshow), I was told has no real historical significance related to the history of the Summer Palace, but may only be a way to attract tourists to the area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8ly49dEJzE

I Think I've Met You Before

Another one of my favorite hobbies...writing of course! I love to write anything from poems to songs. The poem below, I Think I've Met You Before is one I wrote that I would like to share. Can you guess who or what the "you" is to which I'm referring?

Quick Language Note: Wo ai ni （我爱你） means I love you in Mandarin.  “Ai”（爱）means to love/ affection/ to be fond of

I Think I’ve Met You Before

I think I’ve met you before,

possibly somewhere in my dreams,

or perhaps you were with me, by my side, all my life

and I never knew it.

Maybe I met you when our hands and minds were at work

building the longest man-made structure,

saving our country from invasion.

Maybe we met in a café

when I heard you mumbling from behind the counter.

Or was it out on the street

when I bumped into you, and just kept right on walking?

Did I hear you in my dreams?

When as a child curiosity would overcome me

as I would make jokes…

Make jokes about the way you appeared to me.

What is that? I would say, then mimic what I heard forcing out a roar of laughter…

Oh, how I do apologize.

Maybe one day you called my name and I did not answer.

I know! It was down memory lane,

When the days were hot, hard and heavy.

Out on the railroad tracks, just maybe...?

Or maybe much earlier in the East,

tied down in the emperor’s court

when you served me or I served you or something like that for it was way back when-

way back when not only feet were bound but minds and hearts…

Was it right in my own backyard I met you?

When I was scolded once more for mocking you,

hearing your voice from across the way.

Forgive me again, for it was only the ignorance of a child.

I think I’ve met you before,

when I know something sounds off, and realize it, 

but don’t know how to EXPRESS!

Please understand for it’s only been a year I was born not too long ago…

I’m just an Infant. 

I must have met you

'cause my verbally drunken mind goes back for more.

What can I say?

I’m addicted to your tone, your rhythm, your style.

I never beg to be SOBER.

I know I’ve met you

because I like the way you sing in my ear.

I love your melody.

I know I’ve seen you

because my heart opens up for no one but you every time you come around,

and all the stuff you bring with you

makes me feel right at home.

I must have heard you before because I can feel you in my heart.

“I’ve said this before” many times I say to myself.

I know I’ve heard you before because the speech I utter every day

is a reflection of what you once were to me,

and still are to 1.3 billion.

I felt you close to me back in room 109B,

when I heard you all the time,

but didn’t yet understand you.

I know I’ve met you before

when the first three words I learned were: Wo ai ni

and my “ai” for you has never left, never will.

I know I’ve met you before because when I’m frustrated with you

we play the same old love games,

and then make up right away, always

as if we never even fought.

Could it be you’re hidden somewhere deep into my history?

Your traces extracted from deep within my heart,

proving that a part of you remains inside of me.

 Yes, 

I’m sure I’ve met you before.

Possibly somewhere in my dreams,

or perhaps you were with me, by my side, all my life

and I never even knew it.

A Visit to the 798 Art Zone

Art lovers??? I know you're out there ;) I believe art is a great way to express all kinds of feelings and emotions. A while back, I got a chance to see some stunning artwork located at the 798 Art Zone in Beijing. Check out the video by accessing the link BELOW to see the photos I took while I was there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTnol2ZZWWs

Tsinghua Sports Action

These students certainly know how to have fun!

Almost every day you can find students having a blast playing sports here at Tsinghua. Here is a quick video I put together of students playing soccer and basketball on Tsinghua's campus. Enjoy! ;))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTq8SSTOjXU

I Can't Stop Eating!!!

Quick Language Note: The sentence: 我胖了五公斤 means I gained 5 kilograms.
(5 kilograms is roughly 11 pounds)

Ever since I came to China I've noticed a huge change in my appetite. My mom told me I'm eating my face off while in China! I say, I think she's right... Why can't I stop eating??? The food here is just THAT delicious. It's possible 我胖了五公斤！Okay, maybe not that much :) Check out photos below;)

And...it's clear I think Mickey D's tastes better in China than in the States

If you're looking for a delicious cookie as a snack...

Okay, so yes, there was a buy one get one free kinda thing goin on...

Had to try KFC ;) (肯德基 )

Delicious cheesecake from McDonalds

Can't forget about dessert ;)

I love learning Chinese! 我爱学汉语！

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."-Colin Powell

Quick Language Note: 我爱学汉语 means I love learning the Chinese language ;)

A lot of times, all it takes is effort and a true desire to learn in order to reach your goal. While in China, I am determined to really improve my Chinese listening and speaking skills. At a hotel one night in Lijiang ( a city in Yunnan province), I decided to put my speaking skills and even listening skills to the test. I was having trouble making international phone calls using my cell phone and needed to find the director of the program so that she could help me. I couldn't remember where the lobby of the hotel was (it wasn't like your normal American style hotel), so I pulled out my handy dandy-dictionary, and asked for directions (I carry the dictionary with me everywhere)! Unfortunately, the Chinese word for lobby was not in the dictionary I carried with me, but I found a sign that said lobby and showed the man where I wanted to go. He gave me directions and I understood him perfectly. I went to the reception desk and informed the two people behind the desk of my problem and for whom I was looking.  They asked me some questions, and I asked them if they could speak slower. When they did, I understood them perfectly.

What I am trying to tell all of you, no matter how old or young, is to never be afraid to take a risk. Do NOT let fear hold you back, for there is a whole world of opportunity out there just waiting for us to grab ahold of it. Don't ever tell yourself you can't do something, but instead just go for whatever it is you want.

When my roommate would be afraid to speak English to other American people I would always tell her to not be afraid. I would say, "If you make a mistake, that's okay. You will learn from it and get better." Now, when I find myself becoming a little fearful at times about speaking Chinese to other people, I stop myself from feeling that fear, and remember what I would always tell my roommate. Just go for it. If I make a mistake, it's okay.

Just remember, it takes effort, true desire and  practice to get to where you want to be. I can already tell all of my hard work is paying off!!! 我爱学汉语！

China Is Ethnically Diverse!

Quick Language Note: 少数民族 Shǎoshù mínzú is how you say ethnic minority, or minority peoples in Chinese :)

Did you know that China is super diverse? There are so many different ethnicities in China. China has 56 ethnic groups, with Han being the largest, consisting of 91% of the population!

During the two-week travel seminar, I spent time studying how ethnic minorities in China find their place amongst a large society, and how ethnic people have come to develop their culture and ways of living over time. Most ethnic minority groups live in villages, which is extremely different than life in the city or in the town.

Yunnan Province, located in Southwest China, is the most diverse province in the country. It consists of 26 out of the total 56 ethnic groups. At the beginning of the seminar, I was able to experience the life of the Bai ethnic group in the village of Xi Zhou. The video below will show photos I shot of everyday life in that particular Bai village. Through these photos, I hope you will gain a better understanding of what life looks like in a Bai village. Enjoy!

Xi Zhou, a Bai Village in Yunnan Province

CHECK OUT MY VIDEO BELOW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77m7sOOaM-4

Chengdu, China: Home of The Giant Pandas :))

Quick Language Note: 熊猫 are the characters for Panda in Chinese, pronounced: Xióngmāo. 

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS SLIDESHOW OF PICTURES I PUT TOGETHER. YOU WILL SEE PICTURES OF THE CITY OF CHENGDU, THE GIANT PANDA AS WELL AS THE RED PANDA. ENJOY!

Link to video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJhg__K2F0o&feature=youtu.be

I love the city of Chengdu. Chengdu is a large city with a lot of people, but it didn't feel too overwhelming while I was there. I was told that city life in Chengdu is not very fast-paced. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, located in Southwest China, where the cute and cuddly animal The Giant Panda can be found (see pictures below). However don't be too fooled by this cuddly animal. They're known to not like human contact and are capable of biting humans' limbs off!!!

I learned that most of their diet consists of bamboo and they are known to live in areas populated by ethnic minorities in China, such as Tibetans, Yi and Qiang people. The Giant Panda is an endangered species. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all help out in some shape or form to save these adorable mammals?

  I hope you enjoy the slideshow of photos I put together of life in the city of Chengdu, and of course the life of the pandas :) Please check out the montage by accessing the link at the top of this blog post. I will also post the link to the video on my Facebook page. There's so much more to see!
 

When I knew I Had to learn Mandarin

I remember the first time the desire to learn Mandarin entered my mind. I was a Freshman in college at the time, and besides English, I had only studied Spanish in the past. My roommate introduced me to a lot of cultural aspects of China such as the food, climate and ways of living. I would always listen to her phone conversations that she was having and tried to pay close attention to the tones of her voice, yet the thought of actually wanting to learn the language never entered my mind until one specific day when my roommate entered our room one day in a very low mood. I could tell something was wrong with her because she was not her usual self. I didn’t ask her what was wrong. I wanted to be sure that I was reading her correctly. After a short while, my roommate quickly left out of our room and sat in the common area right outside our door. I could hear her talking on the phone in a low voice, and after some time, she began to cry. I went out and sat with her. She was in tears. “What’s wrong Lem?” I asked her. She looked at me, and mumbled something in English, then continued her conversation over the phone. She was in an argument with the person over the phone and that had led her to cry. I felt bad for her. She was my roommate, and being that she was in a foreign country, I wanted to help her in any way I could. I didn’t want her to feel sad or angry. “I wish I could understand,” I said to her as she looked up at me again. From that point on, I just knew I had to learn Mandarin. Not only to understand my roommate’s phone conversations, but also to communicate with her, especially when she had difficulties expressing her feelings in English.

"From caring, comes courage."
-Lao Tzu (Chinese philosopher)