汉字,tai qi, 和 Shanghai

So I really enjoy learning Chinese characters. I've always been more inclined towards writing than speaking no matter what language. Hence I excel in writing and struggle in speaking class. So I'm only half as incompetent as I formerly thought. Yay! I did really well on the first test (top 6 in the class)so I felt pretty good about myself. Still I struggle every day with the class format. AKA teachers speaking in Chinese constantly. How am I supposed to learn much if I don't know what you are saying? I understand the importance of comprehending an actual person's speech, but I'm not quite there yet. Only for the most part the things we have learned.

I think I focus a little too much on individual characters as opposed to making them into a cohesive sentence. It's just cool to know what each one stands for because that is at least somewhat concrete, but when you mix words together they can be completely different in context. In Chinese everything is basically an expression of some sort. Words are used more for their symbolic meaning than something literal. Also the language is lacking a lot of connecting words that we use in English making it awkward to translate. I kind of wish classes would slow down a bit to break things down for us. If I understand each part of a word's character, I will be able to better understand it in context. I don't just want to memorize how to say things, but their true meaning.

I'm starting other classes this week as well. Today I had tai qi class in the common area of the 留学生一号楼宿舍。Or the overseas student building number 1 dormitory. I just learned those words today so I though I'd use them :P. It was pretty fun and I was able to follow pretty well even though the teacher ONLY spoke Chinese. The moves are really cool and make you really focus. For those of you who know what the show Avatar is, Jack, Talbot and I like to say that we are learning water bending. There is something powerful in the movements. They are almost like a dance, but you feel more than just your body moving. I also have a Chinese business class Monday nights, tai qi again on Thursday, and then I start Chinese painting on Friday. Hopefully I will be able to bring home some decent self made souvenirs as well as cool skills and knowledge!

This past weekend the Central College group went to Shanghai for some sight seeing. It was a good trip with its fair share of troubles. Five of us didn't bring our passport so we weren't able to check into the hotel we booked without paying a 500 yuan fine each at the police station! ya we had to go there; we are officially criminals. Fortunately one member of our group is married to a wonderful former travel agent and Chinese woman who managed to get us rooms in an even nicer hotel! OH PROVIDENCE! Thank you Wei Ling! We went to a beautiful Chinese garden, an aquarium, science museum, and of course shopping. There are soooo many people and so much stuff in that city it is insane. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the end and slept most the drive home (2 hours). Fortunately nobody died or got arrested. I call that a success.

Other notes:

-again saw a matching recycling bin for each garbage can in Shanghai

-Got foot rubs and Pizza Hut(which is much nicer in China btw)

-Tutoring May again tomorrow. :)

-Went to a cultural club party about Chinese weddings and won a 1000 yuan photo shoot!

-Did a skit with Will there about blind dates. awkward! haha

-Went hiking on the mountain next to campus on Thursday. Sooo cool

-Walked around West Lake on Friday. Then nearly passed out on a hot bus that was packed like a can of sardines and stuck in rush hour. Luckily I was saved by Korean barbecue!

-Have I mentioned karaoke yet? KTV is pretty sweet! So glamorous. So ridiculous. So fun.

-Shopping here is a skill. Bargaining is exhausting, and sometimes insulting. I'd be a fool to think that people won't try to gouge me because I'm obviously foreign. To be fair though, I did fall for it once on a shirt that doesn't even look good on me.