I am finally having some adventures, which is good because I have settled into a routine now and am unphased by sucking snake off the spine or the ridiculous amount of dirt where I live.
On Saturday Tom and I accompanied Chen Li Jun (Caroline, our Chinese teacher and friend) to Shanghai so she could sign up for a national English exam. If she passes the exam, she will be certified as an interpreter for large companies, international conferences and the like. The train ride was not too bad since we bought standing tickets for the way there but the people sitting next to us got off at the first stop and we grabbed their seats.
The city is huge with a beautiful skyline. It was a very quick trip, but I think during the May holiday we will go there for a few days. We are (somewhat) familiar with the subway lines at this point and almost all of the signs in Shanghai are in Chinese and English.
One of the most interesting things was at Shanghai International University where Chen Li Jun had to sign up for the test. There was a saying on the wall that read:
I have tried to find the quote online, but cannot. Perhaps it was translated improperly, but for Tom and I it was a good insight into the difference between American and Chinese students, as well as the general differences in thinking about society and its advancement.
On Saturday Tom and I accompanied Chen Li Jun (Caroline, our Chinese teacher and friend) to Shanghai so she could sign up for a national English exam. If she passes the exam, she will be certified as an interpreter for large companies, international conferences and the like. The train ride was not too bad since we bought standing tickets for the way there but the people sitting next to us got off at the first stop and we grabbed their seats.
The city is huge with a beautiful skyline. It was a very quick trip, but I think during the May holiday we will go there for a few days. We are (somewhat) familiar with the subway lines at this point and almost all of the signs in Shanghai are in Chinese and English.
One of the most interesting things was at Shanghai International University where Chen Li Jun had to sign up for the test. There was a saying on the wall that read:
Intelligence is the result of diligence; but genius the result of accumulation.
I have tried to find the quote online, but cannot. Perhaps it was translated improperly, but for Tom and I it was a good insight into the difference between American and Chinese students, as well as the general differences in thinking about society and its advancement.
3 comments:
I like how you nonchalantly mentioned that people suck snakes off their spines... :) I am definetely phased by that. But I am still living in the US of A, where some crazy people choose to eat ONLY vegetables.
Shanghai sounds like fun - I am glad you guys are adapting! A longer email update is on its way...
I'm not crazy. I like to eat my veggies.
Since arriving, I have often thought I could very easily become a vegetarian here.
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