Hello everyone! 大家好
Almost a month ago, I flew from Glasgow airport to Beijing’s Peking airport equipped with three incredibly heavy bags, which I could hardly carry, ready to start my adventure in Tianjin (天津). Although saying my goodbyes at the airport was very hard, I was also very excited for the year that I have ahead of me. Following a gruelling 24 hours of traveling, I had finally arrived in Tianjin and was able to start exploring the city. Like many other cities in China, (中国) Tianjin has grown a lot over the past decade, so there are skyscrapers everywhere, and there are always new buildings in the middle of construction. Next year, the China 117 tower is scheduled to be completed which will be the second tallest in China and the eight tallest in the world!
Adjusting to the Chinese way of life was a challenge during the few days, however we soon took to it like ducks to water. In Chinese society, speed and efficiency are emphasised greatly, and everything works incredibly smoothly. For example, there is a subway station (地铁站) only a couple of minutes’ walk from where I stay, so it is incredibly easy to get to almost anywhere in the city. If that wasn’t great enough – the trains come every couple minutes, and most stops only cost ¥2, which is the equivalent of around 20p! Another way in which Chinese life is very easy is paying for things, as I often carry very little money, as almost all shops (whether it be massive supermarkets, or someone selling food out of a van) allow you to pay through using your mobile phone. You simply scan a QR code, enter how much the items cost and then input your password – I use it so frequently, it now feels strange to pay for things using cash! I wonder how I will adjust to living in Scotland where I won’t be able to use my WeChat (微信) and the trains might not even turn up, never mind turn up on time!
Whilst I have been in China, I have noticed that my level of Mandarin has improved significantly. Being surrounded by a language helps a lot as you are simply forced to speak the language, as in China most people speak no or very little English (英语). However, most of our learning is done within the classroom, where our lessons are solely Mandarin. Despite the lessons being rather difficult, they are made totally worthwhile when you can use what you have learned in the classroom in a real-life scenario. We have been able to make friends from all over the world thanks to our Mandarin skills, which has led to some surreal moments, such as playing a game of football against a team consisting of players from Uzbekistan, Madagascar, Egypt, Kenya and more. Another great thing about classes is that most days we are finished by 12pm, so that leaves the rest of the day for exploring the city. Also, the university building is located only around 100m away from our accommodation, which is very handy for when you sleep in for an 8:30 AM class!
Although I have learned lots of new words at university (大学), I have yet to learn the Chinese words for colours. Luckily this has not presented any problems when it comes to crossing the road, as it seems like Chinese drivers cannot distinguish between a ‘red man’ and a ‘green man’ anyway. Crossing the road in China is very much a skill, which must be honed if one intends on making it to your destination alive. We have all now learned that confidence is key, and if you just keep walking the cars will (probably) stop.
As the weeks have progressed, I have come to understand China, and all its unique customs and traditions better, and I have become used to the routine of my life in China. However, there are still many things in China which take me by surprise, such as monkeys in the mall, or a man walking a goose!
P.S. – I have been struggling to come up with a name for the teddy, which you all so kindly gave me, so I would appreciate it if you as a class could help me by choosing a name for him.
Goodbye! (再见)
