Day by day

Time flies when you're having fun, eh... :) My life here in Kunming has now pretty much settled into an everyday rhythm, mostly between my home and the campus and its surroundings. Every morning around 7:30 I jump on my bike (grief of griefs, with another part going *kabloinck* every couple of days) and weave my way through the morning traffic for 25 minutes. Then, a quick breakfast on the little rooftop terrace at the school (i usually grab some fuit from home before leaving) and off to class it is.

After 4 hours of class, I meet up with my little bunch of friends and we head out for lunch somewhere nearby, there are lots of little chinese, korean, japanese and western places just around the corner from our school. More often than not, after lunch we go to one of the cafes for a couple of hours of homework various chinese-related mental struggles, accompanied by a cup of coffee and/or a strawberry tart...mmmm :)

In the afternoon it's either extra classes (such as Chinese painting or calligraphy) or just general hanging out, studying or discussing the meaning of life and why the the little birds sing the way they do. And, either enjoying the weather or bitterly complaining about the freezing cold or the burning heat in the supposed "spring city".

All in all, it's a wonderful life of no hurry, just time time time to sit around, watch the world go by, talk to friends and learn new things. :) ahhh
I have to say though that I am quite impressed by the time of actual studying that gets done, either by myself or with other people.

And you know those little lines and squares and all that what they call Chinese characters? What a great feeling when they begin to make sense and mean something :)

Pictures...!!

Finally I've put some photos on the net, from my holidays in Finland, travels in Yunnan and life in Kunming. Take a look :) http://members.imagehost.biz/ims/album.php?u_id=214749GYX

Free education for the people

Some time ago the mum of my Chinese family left home for a couple of days to 'study'. I was curious as to what did she have to study (she works in the provinvial tax bureau) and I was told that every now and then, employees from each work unit have to study socialist philosophy and especially the heroic deeds and important teachings of important Chinese communists. So, each year the themes change through different people and time periods. On the main TV channel, the China Central Television 1, they run spots about the current theme, which right now is a somebody somebody who apparently did very many good things. So, the employees spend a couple of full days studying the topic, after which they have to pass an exam. What happens if you don't pass is something i didn't ask...

Free education for the people

Some time ago the mum of my Chinese family left home for a couple of days to 'study'. I was curious as to what did she have to study (she works in the provinvial tax bureau) and I was told that every now and then, employees from each work unit have to study socialist philosophy and especially the heroic deeds and important teachings of important Chinese communists. So, each year the themes change through different people and time periods. On the main TV channel, the China Central Television 1, they run spots about the current theme, which right now is a somebody somebody who apparently did very many good things. So, the employees spend a couple of full days studying the topic, after which they have to pass an exam. What happens if you don't pass is something i didn't ask...

The big freeze

As we were learning how to say 'the four seasons in Kunming are all like spring' in class, the temperature outside was dropping fast. And this morning, close to zero degrees, we were wiping snow off the wiondscreen of the car. And as there is usually no heating, there is no way to really escape the cold. Moreover, because of the rain and the humidity it goes straight to your bones. Brrrr. So I guess I was a little premature in my 'spring city' and 'endless sunchine' speeches.

But other than that, the first week of classes is nearly over -- and I'm still alive! After looking for the right level for me for the first couple of days, trying out different classes, I've settled in a nice group consisting mainly of Koreans, with addition of a couple of Japanese and westerners. Even one blonde Finnish girl...;)

We have four different types of class, first one of which is called 'Basic Chinese', which just like the name says is your 'basic' kind of language learning, studying texts, vocabulary and grammar. In addition, we have speaking, listening and reading classes.

All in all, I'm not doing too badly, except having to do some extra work to try and keep up with the reading and the writing. As I have never been taught those in a formal class (just learned by myself), I am well behind the other in the class. But no worries, I'll catch up. Anyhow, those Koreans have only been writing Chinese characters all their lives, surely I can catch up with them in a couple of weeks!?!

But, one more day to go and it's the weekend. Yea! This time I can truly appreciate it. Of course weekends feel like nothing when you are always on holidays (as I was for half a year!) but now that I'm a very hard-working student (really!!!), I can appreciate the chance to sleep in...mmm....yeahhh...

So, time to head home, with my brand new longjohns in the bag.
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