A few random videos I never got around to posting...and why you haven't heard from me. haha.

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Hey All!

It's definately been a while since I last posted. This is partly due to my Chinese homework, as it exponentially increased in the past few weeks. And, well, I'll admit that my interest in the Chinese language (unfortunately) took a dive recently, and left me wondering *why* I came here.

Yeah, that was scary.

But, after much thinking, I feel like I'm much more level-headed about it now. Although Japanese is my focal point in terms of careers (and I do tend to study it more than Chinese), why shouldn't I be here in China? For all I know, it chould be the only chance I'll ever have to be here. I actually kind of doubt that, but...you never know. Well, I can see myself returning to Beijing in the future...even if it just means during vacations. I have to go back sometimes, since it's my first *home* outside of America.

And there's no doubt about it: Chinese is definately helping me with some new kanji that I otherwise wouldn't learn from my Japanese books.

Plus, staying here has helped me learn *so* much about East Asian culture (not to generalize, or anything).

Don't get me wrong...I do love learning Chinese. I love being here, period. But, sometimes I feel like if I were studying in Beijing, I'd be more serious about learning the language. Not because I want to live in Beijing, but because I would like to visit/stay there from time to time. And because of the Beijing Dialect...Er Hua!

Sometimes I find Chengdu to be...not for me. Because, compared to other parts of China, some of the locals can be so...nasty (and I mean both meanings). And it wasn't until I came back from Guilin, and thought about the people in Beijing, that I realized this. But a lot of it also has to do with Sichuan Hua. I just don't really care for the dialect here...but I am absolutely *in love* with Beijing Hua (or Er Hua). (If you don't know what that sounds like, just imagine the Chinese language with the 'are' sound at the end of most words).

And I miss Beijing's local roast duck and steamed baozi. And...sometimes I just crave Beijing yogurt. After all that oily Sichuanese food...

Everyone says a student abroad has their crisis...even the most devoted ones. Even students in anthropology. And I definately experienced a good three weeks of it. And am coming out of it...thank god.

It's not just about benefiting my Japanese. I just need to remind myself...if I want to come visit Beijing again, I really need to buckle down.

So after that slump, I'm slowly but surely getting back into the grove of *trying* to learn Chinese, no matter how difficult it becomes, or how frustrated I get. I'm still putting Japanese first every day, but I definately won't put Chinese on the backburner anymore. :-)

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Photos

Tianfu Square.
Super amazing lights.

Tianfu Square.
No, Harry, no! Don't look at the light!!
I-can't-help-it. It's- so-beautiful
lol