Week 6: Cultural

29/03/12

‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do’, Mark Twain (1864).

A good friend of mine said something very similar to this before I was leaving to come to China. I was told to embrace the nerves that I was feeling and to remember that this was an incredible opportunity and to ‘have a go’ at everything.  This viewpoint has stayed with me every day here.  Already I have done things and made memories that I know will last forever. 

This week we were invited to go to a Tai Chi lesson with our Mandarin teacher.  I have always wanted to try Kung fu and Tai Chi is the perfect way to start.  The Tai Chi teacher was dressed in a long robe that looked exactly like the Kung fu teachers depicted in many films.  I felt so cultured taking part in this class.  It was a lot more difficult than it looks and by the end of the class I was really frustrated that I couldn’t get the moves right.  However, it was fun and I enjoyed the new experience of spending time outside of university with my lecturer.  I am also very glad to say that I have now done Tai Chi.

The past week has seen a welcome change in weather. Since arriving in China the weather has been cold and mainly wet.  Fortunately we have been blessed with lots of sunshine this week and I am enjoying ‘sunbathing time’ in between classes.  Normally we end up being the only people lying out in the sun because most of the Chinese people prefer to protect their skin from the sun.  The dreaded mosquitoes have finally arrived.  Within a few days my legs were covered in bites.  Now I am religiously applying my spray everyday to protect myself. 

Recently we have found it very difficult to see any of our Chinese buddies.  There is a curfew at the university and students have to be in their rooms by 11pm.  This does not apply to us as we are in the International Building. This is so different to the student lifestyle that is common in Northern Ireland.  In many instances 11pm would only be the beginning of a night out.  I am hoping that next week with the annual Chinese holiday coming up we may get to spend some more time with our friends then. 

Every day I am discovering a new area of the university.  We met up with Jim Nelson again this week and he took us through one of the four entrances to SCNU that we have never even seen before.  The campus is huge with many beautiful gardens.  There are even families of the lecturers and students who live on campus.  This means there is a homely atmosphere about the campus and at all times I feel safe living here.

Some families relaxing by the river on campus

 This week was my last day teaching at the middle school.  I was very sad to be leaving. My teacher in school has become a real friend and we have planned to meet up for dinner.  After a final rendition of ‘Ireland’s Call’ I taught my classes about festivals, mainly speaking about Easter.  Many of the children and teachers did not know the Easter story and I loved being able to share this with them and explaining the real meaning of Easter.

Teaching the students about Easter

I am still so thankful for the time that I am spending here in China and I am making the most of every single day that we have left here in Guangzhou because the time is going by so fast.

Wo Shi Liuxuesheng – I am a foreign exchange student.

This is another very useful phrase for introducing ourselves to new friends.