Farewell

Our last Friday activity - class trip to a Beijing Opera. So much tuk tuk chiang but pretty interesting. I can only understand 5% of the performance. Haha!



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I went for skiing at Nanshan. It was my first time and it was so fun!



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We have finally reached the end of the course. We had a graduation thing yesterday and a farewell dinner provided by BLCU. I got the excellent student award and perfect attendance award. Dinner was good. I was seated at the teachers' table. It is always nice to sit with teachers because you get to converse in Chinese with them. It actually feels good that I can actually hold a casual conversation in Chinese.

My listening teacher who sat next to me, asked me:

Teacher: 你的汉字写得很美， 为什么你不会写马来西亚? (You write beautiful Hanzi, why you don't know how to write Malaysia?)
Me: 我有写啊。。。我写错了吗? 但是我不会写 "亚"。。。我写了什么啊? (I did write...did I write wrongly? But I don't know how to write "a"...what did I write?)
Teacher: 你写了"牙" 。。。不是 "亚"。 "牙" is teeth. (You wrote "牙", not "亚"。 "牙" is teeth.)

LOL!

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Mike, Denny and Jonathan left for their Tibet trip today. It's the last day for me to see Mike and Denny. Oh the sadness. I'm so gonna miss them. Jonathan will be traveling around Asia and he will be visiting Malaysia on the 31st. So I will be seeing him on the 31st.

I'm bringing home all of the good memories of my time here. I have nothing to say now except that I'm going to miss the people I hangout with in Beijing and the good times we shared.

My last weekend in Beijing. This is the video of us hanging out in KFC before heading to Mix Club in Sanlitun. We were supposed to get Cold Stone ice-cream but it was closed, so we ended up in KFC. Robert was so disappointed. :P

Random Updates

It's 9:26AM now. I just had my speaking exam and I'm done for the day. That explains why I have some time to kill now. We are just waiting for 1pm to go for another class trip again. This time, we are going to a place where they introduce us the history of Beijing opera. Pretty interesting!

I didn't know all these trips are included in the programme. Oooh I like! Even better, those one semester intensive course students get to go for a 6 days class trip to Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing. Of course, their course fee is much higher than the 12 weeks intensive.

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As the course is coming to an end, the attendance of the students are getting lesser and lesser. This started a month ago. I am the only one in class who never skip class. Looks like I'm getting that perfect attendance certificate. Yeah, big deal! =D

My friends are always joking about how they're going to sabotage me one day so that I will skip class and I won't be getting that certificate.

"I'm going to put a broom at your door so that you won't be able to get out of your room."

"We are going to do something to your food so that you will get diarrhea."

LOL.


List of names of the students with perfect attendance for a certain period on the notice board in the intensive studies building.

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Studying Chinese here in BLCU feels like a cultural exchange experience too. You meet so many people from other countries and you actually learn some of their culture too.

If I didn't come to BLCU, I won't know that the people in Germany are still using ICQ.

If I didn't come to BLCU, I won't know that the Japanese do not have a signature. Marina told me that the Japanese do not have a signature. They just write their name as it is. People will laugh at you if you have one. Signatures is only for celebrities or famous people.

One shocking thing is when Marina asked me at what age I started to bathe myself. She was shocked when I told her 4 or 5 years old. So I asked her the same question and she said 12! And then everyone started mocking her and her country. Poor girl. Of course she know that we are just joking.

During dinner one night, we asked everyone the sounds of the animal in their country. It was a good night...we laughed so much. Here is a summary:

Dog
Canada: Woof! Woof!
Japan: Wang! Wang!
Indonesia: Gook! Gook! <--We can't stop laughing

Pig
Canada: Oink! Oink!
Japan: Buik! Buik! <--Again, we can't stop laughing

Frog
Japan: Kero! Kero!
Germany: Quaaaaaa <--Hysterical

I was talking to my Canadian friend and I said "revise" for exam. He corrected me that it should be "review" and not "revise". You only say "revise" if you're modifying something. Later, I found out that the British call it "revise" and the American call it "review". That's because Robert (Malaysian who grew up in London) also said "revision" and Denny (Indonesian who spent the last 6 years of his life in America) was confused with that term. Hmm...interesting.

2 weeks left

时间过得很快。 啊。。。我不想回国。 :(

I've been eating lots of good food lately. Those food that you should not miss in Beijing. I don't really save up now. I mean, c'mon I only have 2 weeks left. :( Damn, time flies!

So last week, we all went out with the teachers. It was fun and it was good timing too because the next day, our head teacher (Gao 老师) told us that it is her last day teaching us. BLCU is sending her to continue study another language (Portugese) because there will be a lot of students coming from Brazil next year. Well, the new teacher replacing her is not bad either but I do miss Gao 老师。

We all went for go-kart! It is the first time for most of us. It was so fun! One thing I hate about go-kart is because of the smelly helmet. I'm just so glad that they provide us disposable cap for hygiene purpose. In fact, the helmet is not smelly at all.

Oh, I finally checked out the salsa club here. Salsa live band was playing for 30 minutes or so when we first got there at around 11pm. Then, a rock band took over the stage. It was a disappointment. We didn't go to a salsa club to listen to a rock band ok.

Here's a video of salsa caribe.

Good progress

I can actually converse in Mandarin now on MSN with my friends. As I learn more and more new words each day, I actually type faster now than before. I think that my mandarin typing skills is better than my writing now because I can't remember so many words but I will know what it is when I see the character.
I'm just so happy with my progress. 我觉得我有很大的进步!!! 真高兴!!!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

早上9:30我的辅导给我发短信。 她说 "there is snow outside"。 我起床，开窗帘, 然后我看到雪。 我真开心。

In Pinyin
zao3shang5 9:30 wo3 de5 fu3 dao3 gei3 wo3 fa1 duan3xin4. ta1 shuo1 "there is snow outside". wo3 qi3chuang2， kai1 chuang1lian2， ran2hou4 wo3 kan4 dao4 xue3。 wo3 zhen1 kai1 xin1.

In English
9:30AM, my tutor sent me a text message. She said "there is snow outside". I got out of bed, draw the curtains and I saw snow. I'm really happy.

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The heater starts to work today. Funny thing about Beijing is that the temperature fluctuate like crazy. The temperature doesn't drop gradually. Anyway, I can adapt to this cold temperature for now.

My 27th Birthday -- 我的生日

Classmates and teacher singing Happy Birthday



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Friends in BLCU celebrated my birthday at a Japanese restaurant in Wudaokou. They bought me dinner, a birthday cake, a panda bear and nail polish. We went to La Bamba for drinks after that and I bought them drinks. A nice birthday with Stephanie, Marina, Martono, Billy, Michael, Rob, Johnathan, Antonella and Denny.

It's the beginning of winter already?

今天，我们老师说北京的秋天很短。 It is now the beginning of winter. 我们一定要穿多一点儿。 不要感冒。

In Pinyin
jin1tian1, wo3men5 lao3shi1 shuo1 Bei3jing1 de5 qiu1tian1 hen3 duan3. It is now the beginning of winter. wo3men5 yi1ding4 yao4 chuan1duo1 yi1dian3r5. bu4yao4 gan3mao4.

In English
Today, our teacher said that Beijing's autumn is short. It is now the beginning of winter. We must wear a bit more. Don't get a cold.

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The weather was crazy yesterday. Windstorm the whole day and night. Apparently, the wind comes from Inner Mongolia. I can still feel the wind in the room even the window is shut. It was so cold. The heater will not work until November. I just have to wear more layers until then. A friend told me that you can buy the plug-in heater for 150 kuai. I will consider getting that if it gets really cold. :D

MC for Chinese & Foreign Students Get-Together Programme

I kinda suck but I did have a lot of fun!

LOL of the night

Jonathan was talking about watching ping pong and then the topic switched to Thailand's ping pong show. I told the guys about Thailand's ping pong show and none of them have heard of it. They have never been to Thailand anyway. I told Billy that it is a sex show and you will see girls inserting stuff into their private part. Mike didn't get what I was saying the first time so I asked Billy to explain that to him.

Billy: It is a show where girls insert ping pongs into their vagina.
Mike: OH REALLY?! LIKE A COMPETITION?

We just couldn't stop laughing after that.
Images of naked girls playing ping pong with their vagina ran through our heads.

Electronic Dictionary

前天我跟Mike去中关村买词典。 我们买了一部Besta Super5000. 价格是1000元。 我觉得应该比较便宜。 我很喜欢我的新词典。

In English:
The day before yestereday, Mike and I went to Zhongguancun to buy a dictionary. We bought a Besta Super5000. The price is 1000 Yuan. I feel that it's quite cheap. I like my new dictionary very much.

P/S: I can't get the pinyin translation. I got slow connection today.

Private Lessons

The private lesson went well today. She's good and I learnt a lot more new things other than what I learn in class.

One thing though, I REALLY need to get one of those electronic Chinese-English dictionary that you can write on. That would be REALLY helpful as I can't remember all the Hanzi in my head.

I really need to get one soon.

Please eat my moon cake

"Joyce, do you want some moon cake?"
"No thanks..."
"PLEASE TAKE MY MOON CAKEEEEEEE!"
"=D"

That was yesterday.

Today, as usual we all meet up at the lobby for lunch. Martono shoved me a little box forcing me to take it. :D

Private Tutor

I just got myself a private tutor to improve on my listening and speaking.

How?

I got some numbers from the notice board at the cafeteria on the 2nd floor of the Conference Center.

I sent out a text message to 3 people.

All 3 replied.

Shortlisted 2 people and just met 1 at the lobby to discuss further. Her name is Song Jie. A student studying English in BLCU. I will be paying her RMB25/hr. Mondays and Wednesdays one hour each session.

Private lesson starts tomorrow! I'm excited.

Funny moment

We were all walking Marina back to Dormitory 17 and as we reached the entrance of her building, Mike said "Hey, Marina. I want to show you something!"

He ran to the spot where Marina puked last night and did a funny gesture. Marina started to laugh and fake cry at the same time. She started to speak Japanese to Mike. The whole time Mike was just standing there grinning and replying her in German.

So hilarious.

I should have taken a video of them but I didn't bring my camera.

Saudi Arabian speaking good Chinese

At a bookstore, Montsa and I met this guy from Saudi Arabia who speaks Chinese. He's really funny and just makes you laugh. Probably the way he speaks and how he kept on grinning and smiling when he speaks.

Random Happenings

I was walking back to the Conference Center and this Chinese man on his bicycle spoke to me in Chinese…

Pointing at the restaurant at the Conference Center, “Excuse me, is that a restaurant?”
“Yes, it is.”
“What kind of food do they sell there?”
“Chinese food”
“Is the food there better than the one at the dining hall?”
“Yes and it’s also a little bit more expensive.”
“Ok…thanks.”

So, as I started to walk away, he spoke to me again…
“Are you Korean?”
“No, I’m a Malaysian Chinese.”
“Do you study here?”
“Yes. I’m learning Chinese here.”
“How long have you been here?”
“2 weeks.”
“Where do you live?”
“I live there…” Pointing at the conference center.
“I thought that’s where the teachers live?”
“Oh, really? I don’t know.”
“A lot of foreigners live near the south gate.” Pointing towards the south gate.
“Oh.”
“Do you have a number?”
“I don’t have a China number :).”
“Oh ok, bye :).”
“Bye :).”

P/S: Somehow, a lot of people here asked me if I'm a Korean.

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As a bunch of us walked to Propaganda last night, we lost the Spanish ladies, Montsa and Christina. Got a phone call from Montsa while we wait for them.

Montsa: Where are you?
Me: We're standing in front of Green Tree (it's a shop name). Can you see it?
Christina: I see a lot of green trees *chuckles*

LOL!

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A bunch of us were hanging out at Propaganda last night. This mat salleh came and talked to some of us.

Mat Salleh: So, you’re from Indonesia, you’re from Malaysia and you’re from Spain. How do you guys know each other?
Me: We’re the United Nations.
Christina: (Started laughing) No, we’re the United Colors of Benetton.

LOL! Christina is really funny.

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Today, as I was walking back to the Conference Center, I saw all these aunties shaking the Gingko trees in my university campus. I was wondering why did they do that. Turns out that, they were trying to take the Gingko because I saw some aunties picking them up from the ground. Amazing!

First day of class

今天上课很高兴。 我们班有十八个学生。 我们有马来西亚人，日本人，泰国人，法国人，阿根廷人，加拿大人，新西兰人，韩国人，意大利人，德国人, 印尼人。我很高兴认识我的新朋友。

今天我学习:
我叫陈丝薇。 我来自马来西亚。 我是名大学生。 我学习汉语。 今天我学习用汉语介绍自己。

Pinyin translation of the above:
jin1tian1 shang4ke4 hen3 gao1xing4. wo3men2 ban1 you3 shi2ba1 ge5 xue2sheng5. wo3men5 you3 ma3lai2xi1ya4ren2, ri4ben3ren2, tai4guo2ren2, fa3guo2ren2, a1gen1ting2ren2, Jia1na2da4ren2, xin1xi1lan2ren2, han2guo2ren2, yi4da4li4ren2, de2guo2ren2, yin4ni2ren2. wo3 hen3 gao1xing4 ren4shi5 wo3 de5 xin1 peng2you5.

jin1tian1 wo3 xue2xi2:
wo3 jiao4 Chen2 Si1Wei1. wo3 lai2zi4 ma3lai2xi1ya4. wo3 shi4 ming2 da4 xue2sheng5. wo3 xue2xi2 han4yu3. jin1tian1 wo3 xue2xi2 yong4 han4yu3 jie4shao4 zi4ji3.

In English:
I’m happy with today’s class. We have 18 students in the class. We have Malaysians, Japanese, Thai, French, Argentinian, Canadians, New Zealander, Korean, Italians, German and Indonesian in the class. I am happy to meet new friends today.

Today, I learn:
My name is Tan Hsi May. I come from Malaysia. I am a college student. I am learning Chinese. Today, I learn how to introduce myself in Chinese.


My classroom


My timetable

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First day of class and we were given homework to do. Just some writing exercise. It's good for me because I have a problem with recognizing and memorizing the Chinese characters. It's really hard. I've learned the importance of the dictionary. But that's cheating. Haha! Had some problem with dictation today. The teacher called out some words and we were supposed to write it down. I know the word but I don't know how to write it. Well, teacher is very nice to me and understanding too. I must really buck up now.

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I usually sleep throughout the night and wake up the next morning but I realised that I don't sleep like that anymore. I've been waking up from my sleep a lot every night and I can't explain why. Could be the dreams, noises and the bed especially. It's not the most comfortable. One day, I woke up with my ass aching for no reason. Maybe because of the way I slept? Lol!

Placement Test and Cheap Food

我的老师说，我知道讲普通话. 她问我要不要学读写. 我说我要. 她告诉我, “Maybe I will put you in class A, maybe not”.

Pinyin translation of the above:
wo3 de5 lao3shi1 shuo1, wo3 zhi1dao4 jiang3 pu3tong1hua4. ta1 wen4 wo3 yao4 bu4 yao4 xue2 du2xie3. wo3 shuo1 wo3 yao4. ta1 gao4su5 wo3, “Maybe I will put you in class A, maybe not”.

Well, from her expression it seems that my spoken Mandarin is good enough to go to class B. But I want to learn how to read and write too. So, she might place me in class A. There is a total of 6 levels whereas A is the beginner and F is the highest level.

Placement test results will be out on Monday and class will start on Tuesday. At the meantime, I'll just have to enjoy the free time I have now.

Montsa (a lady from Barcelona who's also taking the 12 weeks course) and I just meet up with Li Zhuang (a Chinese national who's studying at the Geoscience University opposite BLCU) for dinner. He took us to this dining hall in BLCU which is really good. Good in terms of the price and the variety of food. Now I know where to go get good and cheap food in BLCU.

Arrival, registration, touring

Alright, first of all, I'm really pissed off with the Great Firewall of China! The government have to ban all the websites that I usually visit such as Facebook, Blogger, YouTube, Twitter and the list goes on. But thanks to Kok Eng, I found this really cool browser that lets you surf the web from a proxy. Otherwise, I won't be able to blog this. Oh by the way, the government is also smart enough to ban some of the proxies website too. I'm not going to tell you which proxy that I'm using now just in case they ban it too. Haha!

I arrived Beijing Airport at 6:25am on Sept 14. As I got out of the arrival hall, I looked for the taxi stand by following the "Taxi" sign in the airport. The taxi stand is outside the airport. I told the taxi driver where I wanted to go by showing him the BLCU campus map.

I arrived at BLCU Conference Center (that's where I live) at 8am. It's a good thing I called earlier to reserve a room. Otherwise, I won't be getting a room at all. So I checked in, called mom and waited for her to come see me.

Mother came with Emily and we proceeded to Building 3 for registration. Took us almost 3 hours to get everything done from registering to paying and then to collect the student card. We had KFC for lunch at the nearest shopping mall called Hua Lian. Then we took the subway back to mom’s hotel. We went exploring the city by foot. We hung around Wangfujing (it’s like Bukit Bintang in KL). It's pretty cool.

The next day (Sept 15), we went to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and the Bar Street at Qianhai. I went back to BLCU that night.

My attempt to blog in Chinese:
九月十四号 六点二十五分钟，我倒 北京. 我关注这个 “TAXI” 标. 我跟[Help! I don’t know how to spell the “da”]讲我yao[I actually know how to spell this but by the time proofread this, I’ve already close the NJStar and it takes a long time to load] 去北京语言大学.

Alright I give up! To write the above, I actually took almost 2 hours. I’m getting tired. It’s just too much! Haha! But I did learn a lot. At least I know a few words now. I just need to remember them. Hopefully I still know what I wrote above when I read it again in future. I just fell in love with this dictionary: http://us.mdbg.net/chindict/chindict.php. Let me know if you know a better one.


My room


That's just me at Forbidden City