Tomorrow is Zhongqiu Jie, the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's a public holiday and people have three days off. Everyone is happy, running around in the streets with mooncakes. Chinese people love their mooncakes, they are sold everywhere in different sizes, flavours and prizes and are delivered in beautifully decorated boxes.
I'm going to spend the holiday being a tourist. Tomorrow I'm going with Philip, a Swedish guy in my class, to the Summer Palace. I'm also going to explore Beijing with my friend Sofia who's coming here. Sofia and I got to know each other through a Chinese language competition we participated in one year ago. We were in China together with Anna, the friend who I went with to Beijing, and experienced the Chinese culture during the three-week long competition. Thanks to that competiton, called Chinese Bridge, we received the scholarships that finance our studies here this year. Sofia and Anna are both studying in Shanghai, and during the fall break 1st-7th of October I am going to visit them.
21 September 2010
15 September 2010
Studying at BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University)
In China students shall call their teacher by their last name followed by their title. My two teachers are called Zhao Laoshi and Zhang Laoshi. Laoshi means teacher and the word consists of lao, which means old, and shi, which means wise, scholar or master.
Today Zhao Laoshi told us that during Zhongqiu Jie, The Mid-autumn Festival, we have three days off. The festival falls next Wednesday to Friday. Later she explained that we have to make up for this, and will therefore have classes the following weekend. Our week-long holiday is during the first week of October, connected with the celebration of China's national day. Due to that holiday, we will have to spend another weekend in the classroom. This is definately a cultural difference, Chinese people work hard, and we should learn from them.
As I wrote before, the pace is fast and we learn a lot. All classes are taught in Chinese and the students have to explain as good as they can if they have a question. This especially makes the spoken language improve rapidly, which facilitates the daily life.
Today Zhao Laoshi told us that during Zhongqiu Jie, The Mid-autumn Festival, we have three days off. The festival falls next Wednesday to Friday. Later she explained that we have to make up for this, and will therefore have classes the following weekend. Our week-long holiday is during the first week of October, connected with the celebration of China's national day. Due to that holiday, we will have to spend another weekend in the classroom. This is definately a cultural difference, Chinese people work hard, and we should learn from them.
As I wrote before, the pace is fast and we learn a lot. All classes are taught in Chinese and the students have to explain as good as they can if they have a question. This especially makes the spoken language improve rapidly, which facilitates the daily life.
 |
| Frontgate of BLCU. Teaching Building No. 1, where I have all my classes. |
 |
| Zhao Laoshi |
 |
| Monday-Friday from left to right. White+blue=school days, pink=holiday |
14 September 2010
IKEA - 宜家
Today's mission was to visit IKEA. I wanted to buy things to make my room cosy and eat Swedish meatballs. I translated all Swedish words and made the guys try different types of food.
13 September 2010
Update
My life here slowly starts to take shape. Lessons started last week and I have class every Monday to Friday between 8.30 and 12.30. In the afternoon two hours of self-studies are expected. My class contains of 20 people from 12 different countries, there are 14 boys and 7 girls. Every day we get at least two pages of homework and every day we finish a new chapter, so the pace is pretty fast.
Among foreign students in China it is common to have a language partner or a tutor, either a Chinese student who exchange their Chinese knowledge with your English skills or a Chinese student who gets paid for teaching you Chinese. They are easy to find, often they just approach you in the street. Yesterday I met two willing candidates for the job, and I just have to call them whenever I want to practice some more Chinese or need some help with my homework.
In my freetime I have started to hang out with a bunch of North American guys from Canada and the US. It is good to be a group here, especially when you go out for a meal since the Chinese way of eating is to order several dishes to share, which is hard to do alone. Last night we were six people that went out for a nice dinner and we paid the total of 143 yuan. How cheap is that?!
I happen to be the only girl in our group and also the only one who's not from North America and therefore speak another native language than English. They like to tease me for that, but I see it as my duty to spread the Swedish culture to these uneducated men. Therfore, we are going to IKEA tomorrow!!!! My plan is to buy some necessary stuff I need, and buy everyone some Swedish meatballs! I'm so excited! The first proper food in over 10 days!
Among foreign students in China it is common to have a language partner or a tutor, either a Chinese student who exchange their Chinese knowledge with your English skills or a Chinese student who gets paid for teaching you Chinese. They are easy to find, often they just approach you in the street. Yesterday I met two willing candidates for the job, and I just have to call them whenever I want to practice some more Chinese or need some help with my homework.
In my freetime I have started to hang out with a bunch of North American guys from Canada and the US. It is good to be a group here, especially when you go out for a meal since the Chinese way of eating is to order several dishes to share, which is hard to do alone. Last night we were six people that went out for a nice dinner and we paid the total of 143 yuan. How cheap is that?!
I happen to be the only girl in our group and also the only one who's not from North America and therefore speak another native language than English. They like to tease me for that, but I see it as my duty to spread the Swedish culture to these uneducated men. Therfore, we are going to IKEA tomorrow!!!! My plan is to buy some necessary stuff I need, and buy everyone some Swedish meatballs! I'm so excited! The first proper food in over 10 days!
7 September 2010
Gym time
Today I went to check out the gym at my campus. It was huge, two floors and loads of different machines. I got a guided tour (in Chinese, of course) and tried to answer all the sport questions the best I could. I decided to become a member for 700 yuan per semester. All classes such as spinning, yoga, ballet and salsa were included in the price. Woho!
When I was about to pay a man showed up and he told me that he was my personal trainer (what?!). Suddenly he had scheduled a session tomorrow at 2 pm.
Later, when I was running on a treadmill he showed up again and started to ask me questions about my training history. I felt like an idiot running beside him while he was asking me questions in Chinese that I barely understood.
He took me away to a room where he put me on a scale and measured my blood preasure. Then he took some weird tool to measure the fat on my arms, legs and belly! "Arms... Not bad! Legs... Not bad! Belly... A little fat!".
After that I had to do push-ups, sit-ups and other exercises for balance and agility. He finished the examination with questions about smoking, drinking etc.
When I thought we were done he took me outside and I had a one hour workout that certainly made me feel alive, to say the least. After that hour I was ready to throw up, but he thought that I should have another 15 minutes of running on the treadmill. So I started. He came to check on me every other minute.
You really push yourself if you have a Chinese man hanging over you screaming while you workout. We decided to meet twice a week for two months, then he believes I can workout on my own. Next session is on Thursday. Wish me luck! My sore muscles says hello.
When I was about to pay a man showed up and he told me that he was my personal trainer (what?!). Suddenly he had scheduled a session tomorrow at 2 pm.
Later, when I was running on a treadmill he showed up again and started to ask me questions about my training history. I felt like an idiot running beside him while he was asking me questions in Chinese that I barely understood.
He took me away to a room where he put me on a scale and measured my blood preasure. Then he took some weird tool to measure the fat on my arms, legs and belly! "Arms... Not bad! Legs... Not bad! Belly... A little fat!".
After that I had to do push-ups, sit-ups and other exercises for balance and agility. He finished the examination with questions about smoking, drinking etc.
When I thought we were done he took me outside and I had a one hour workout that certainly made me feel alive, to say the least. After that hour I was ready to throw up, but he thought that I should have another 15 minutes of running on the treadmill. So I started. He came to check on me every other minute.
You really push yourself if you have a Chinese man hanging over you screaming while you workout. We decided to meet twice a week for two months, then he believes I can workout on my own. Next session is on Thursday. Wish me luck! My sore muscles says hello.
5 September 2010
Exploration
After a long nights sleep I woke up and realised that I am in Beijing. A pretty nice feeling.
Today's schedule consisted of finishing registration and buying necessities. Close to my dorm I found a supermarket that literally sells everything from table tennis rackets to washing detergent. For less than 200 RMB I got towels, hangers and all other things I needed in two plastic bags.
On Monday my friend Anna will go to Shanghai where she is going to study. We had to buy her a ticket and that had to be done at Xizhimen station, three stations from our closest one on line 13. The Beijing underground system is impressive.
 |
| Crowded Chinese supermarket |
Today's schedule consisted of finishing registration and buying necessities. Close to my dorm I found a supermarket that literally sells everything from table tennis rackets to washing detergent. For less than 200 RMB I got towels, hangers and all other things I needed in two plastic bags.
 |
| My room |
This day I also unpacked my things and tried to make my room feel homley and cosy, which wasn't too easy. I don't have a room mate at the moment because when I came to my room there was a Portuguese girl who left with all her bags, crying.
She didn't come back, so I'm alone in my room.
To most of you this room looks really small, lousy and primitive. But this is a really good standard in China and I'm happy. It's going to be interesting sharing bathroom with other students and live a simple life on campus.
To most of you this room looks really small, lousy and primitive. But this is a really good standard in China and I'm happy. It's going to be interesting sharing bathroom with other students and live a simple life on campus.
On Monday my friend Anna will go to Shanghai where she is going to study. We had to buy her a ticket and that had to be done at Xizhimen station, three stations from our closest one on line 13. The Beijing underground system is impressive.
We also tried to buy tickets in a machine, which was interesting. We finally managed and felt so proud of our Chinese skills.
I'M IN CHINA!
Day 1
We arrived early in the morning on the 3rd of September, when our bodies felt the time as 1 am. After only one or two hours of sleep on the plane, we started a whole new day at 7 am in China. We were extremely confused, tired and unclean when we got in a taxi to go and leave our suitcases in our friend Georgies' dorm. The taxi ride took nearly 2 hours because of the morning traffic and cost 110 RMB~120 kr~12€~11£~16$. Taxi in China is cheap.
The first day we spent 4 hours at my university trying to registrate. According to my addmission notice I was supposed to sign in in The Entrance Hall in Building no. 1. When we got there a sign told us to go to Building no. 3 Room 109. When we got there at noon a sign said that lunch break was between 11:40-14:00. Fun.
Two hours later we knocked at the door to Room no. 109 in Building no. 3 and an angry Chinese man told us that registration was in The Entrance Hall in Building no. 1. We tried to explain that we had been there and that someone sent us to him. But no luck. We just had to go back.
Before we left, the angry Chinese man told us that there were two entrances to Building no. 1. We had just gone to the wrong entrance. Anna and I walked back and saw the registration tents they had put up. We felt so stupid wasting that much time when it had been there all the time.
I got a folder and was told to sign the forms inside. I only found a paper with rules of safety that I signed, which was pretty simple. Then I went to the next registration line. When it was my turn a woman told me that I had had to sign a form which was not in my folder. So I went back to the first tent again.
I got the form and filled it in and went to the second registration tent again. I gave them the 10 photos I had prepared, my passport, my admission notice and the form.
"What is your room number?"
"I don't have a room yet."
"Oh, you need to registrate for accommodation first."
So, we left the tents and went to the opposite side of the campus to get my room. We went to The Reception in Building no. 1 and no. 2 to figure out what dorm I was in. After that we went to my dorm, which was number 9. There I got my room key and an accommodation receipt.
Then we went back to the tents and were put in a line for physical check-up, that I also tried to explain that I had already done in Sweden. But no luck. The queue was long and after 15 minutes with no movement we decided to come back the following day.
We arrived early in the morning on the 3rd of September, when our bodies felt the time as 1 am. After only one or two hours of sleep on the plane, we started a whole new day at 7 am in China. We were extremely confused, tired and unclean when we got in a taxi to go and leave our suitcases in our friend Georgies' dorm. The taxi ride took nearly 2 hours because of the morning traffic and cost 110 RMB~120 kr~12€~11£~16$. Taxi in China is cheap.
The first day we spent 4 hours at my university trying to registrate. According to my addmission notice I was supposed to sign in in The Entrance Hall in Building no. 1. When we got there a sign told us to go to Building no. 3 Room 109. When we got there at noon a sign said that lunch break was between 11:40-14:00. Fun.
Two hours later we knocked at the door to Room no. 109 in Building no. 3 and an angry Chinese man told us that registration was in The Entrance Hall in Building no. 1. We tried to explain that we had been there and that someone sent us to him. But no luck. We just had to go back.
Before we left, the angry Chinese man told us that there were two entrances to Building no. 1. We had just gone to the wrong entrance. Anna and I walked back and saw the registration tents they had put up. We felt so stupid wasting that much time when it had been there all the time.
I got a folder and was told to sign the forms inside. I only found a paper with rules of safety that I signed, which was pretty simple. Then I went to the next registration line. When it was my turn a woman told me that I had had to sign a form which was not in my folder. So I went back to the first tent again.
I got the form and filled it in and went to the second registration tent again. I gave them the 10 photos I had prepared, my passport, my admission notice and the form.
"What is your room number?"
"I don't have a room yet."
"Oh, you need to registrate for accommodation first."
So, we left the tents and went to the opposite side of the campus to get my room. We went to The Reception in Building no. 1 and no. 2 to figure out what dorm I was in. After that we went to my dorm, which was number 9. There I got my room key and an accommodation receipt.
Then we went back to the tents and were put in a line for physical check-up, that I also tried to explain that I had already done in Sweden. But no luck. The queue was long and after 15 minutes with no movement we decided to come back the following day.
1 September 2010
The final countdown
A month later, I'm back.
Tomorrow at 1.50 pm I'm leaving Sweden. 7 am on the 3rd of September I arrive in Beijing with my friend Anna. Luckily, our French friend Georgies will meet us at the airport and help us with our major bags...
I have got my 180 days visa, my dictionary, my camera and all other stuff I will need. With less than 24 hours to go I'm suprisingly calm, but excited. I'm looking forward to my China studies a lot, but I don't have any expectations. I will find out what my Chinese life will be like in due time!
Next post will, eventually, be posted from China. Until then, take care and wish me luck!
Tomorrow at 1.50 pm I'm leaving Sweden. 7 am on the 3rd of September I arrive in Beijing with my friend Anna. Luckily, our French friend Georgies will meet us at the airport and help us with our major bags...
I have got my 180 days visa, my dictionary, my camera and all other stuff I will need. With less than 24 hours to go I'm suprisingly calm, but excited. I'm looking forward to my China studies a lot, but I don't have any expectations. I will find out what my Chinese life will be like in due time!
Next post will, eventually, be posted from China. Until then, take care and wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)