Hello Blogger audience. Long time no posts, eh? That's probably because British Girl Abroad hasn't really been abroad since Italy (excluding two WONDERFUL, sun-drenched and food-fuelled weeks in the south of France with my favourite French family). 'So where are you off to now?' I hear you all clamouring. Well, my virtual friends, I am off to China. I am participating in a programme called 'Study China' which involves three weeks spent at a Chinese university (I'm going to Zheijang University in Hangzhou), including 40 hours of Mandarin lessons, a university module (I'm studying a politics module called Nation and Nationalism), and extra-curricular activities.
'Why? Why go to China? Haven't you got finals exams to prepare for?' Yes, dear reader, I do. However I am pretty confident about doing well in the exams, they're nicely spread out, and if I don't go to China now, when else am I going to go? When else am I going to be able to learn Mandarin IN CHINA? Especially given how the programme is free (excluding flights, visa, jabs and spending money). Life is too short not to take opportunities handed to you on a plate, I have decided.
I leave on 5th April, and after 11 and a half hours on a plane I expect to land in Shanghai. After navigating the airport, there will be a meeting point for Study China students for us all to get on a bus for the 2.5 hour journey to Hangzhou. I hope I meet some nice people. There's a Facebook group, and some people seem to be proper, real-life morons. 'What jabs do I need?' GO AND ASK A QUALIFIED TRAVEL NURSE. 'When do we get free time?' YOU WERE TOLD, AS WERE WE ALL, THAT YOU WILL FIND OUT WHEN YOU GET THERE. Hopefully all the smart ones have been keeping quiet and we can find each other when we get there and make a cult.
Moving on from my intolerance of (most) other people... What am I expecting in China?
* Being stared at.
* Having to eat weird, unpleasant food.
* (As a girl:) Not being treated as well as men are.
* Not understanding what's going on most of the time. (Although I'm sure this won't hit home til I actually get there, since in France I spoke the language. Even in Italy it felt OK after a while...)
* A mind-broadening, enriching experience.
I think everyone's a bit racist, and certainly at Exeter there are an awful lot of Chinese students who can't speak English. Now I'm going to be in their shoes (although hopefully without my toes taped to the soles of my feet - JOKES!). I wonder how it will feel at the other end of the linguistic and cultural barrier.
I've always thought Chinese culture was pretty cool, too. Probably ever since I first saw Mulan. Love that girl. She's my favourite Disney heroine. And just the values of respect, loyalty to your family, and personal honour. Too many people seem to have lost sight of their inherent value, instead preferring to invest that value in a group, like a gang or clique, and instead lose it completely.
What am I taking with me? Thanks to my Saturday shopping spree I am now happily equipped with an extensive first aid kit, complete with Imodium and Pepto-Bismol for the anticipated D & V, and an awful lot of anti-bacterial handwipes. I also indulged in a bountiful supply of Cadbury's chocolate and some Maoam. I'm also taking with me a book called 'China: a History' for the plane (better late than never). Other than that, I'll be accompanied my trusty travelling-brain, common-sense and un esprit ouvert.
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