I passed Level 5 Advanced Chinese Test!

It’s been 2 years of studying in a world often opposite the one in which I grew up.  Simply walking to the store or a restaurant was always accompanied by flipping through vocabulary books to cram 2,500+ Chinese characters into whatever remaining corners of my brain.  Step by step it accumulated as I prepared for the advanced Chinese Test—HSK Level 5—a level capable of reading Mandarin newspapers, watching films, and giving speeches in fluent Chinese.  On April 14 the test day arrived along with a slew of nerves.  As with any test, I left feeling relieved when it was over, but anxious as to the outcome.

One month later—today—I found the result.

 

I passed. 

60% is required, but I earned 80% with listening even surpassing 90%. 

 

Ultimately, there is no effect of this test.  It served as a means to motivate me to study.  Yes, I can officially write this on my resume.  Yet, any employer interested in my ability will most likely mandate I demonstrate it on the spot.  Only level 4 is required if I wanted to attend a Chinese university, and I passed that last year.  Either way, it does serve for a great feeling, which I will relish. 

 

Maybe one day this will be of use, and until then, I’ll keep it in my back pocket serving as simply more preparation for the right opportunity.  My high school algebra teacher, Mr. Kohler, said that luck is simply preparation meeting opportunity.  That formula holding true, one day I believe I’ll count myself “lucky.”

 

Later days,
Rick

The Aftermath, an Analysis

HSK Level 5 Chinese Test, goodbye! I recently finished that which has plagued my thoughts for the last 7 months and is, in some way, a culmination of my efforts from the last two years.

Walking out of the test center filled me with both a sense of pride and relief. On one hand, I can now communicate fluently and to an advanced degree in three languages, all highly relevant to business. On the other hand, thank goodness it's over! (Hopefully the results also support the former statement.)

Naturally, I did some calculations to assess my preparedness. After reviewing all 2,504 likely vocabulary words, I discovered my recall rate (not the easier-to-achieve recognition rate) is 80.2%. With reviewing, my recognition rate landed around 93%. I need 60% to pass, and my average practice test scores are approximately 76%.

Yet, can you, the reader, predict the most overwhelming feeling now 2 hours after the test? Exhaustion.

Good night and later days!
Rick

A Stare, but not a Star

Foreigners in greater China all know the stare, and, personally, I'll never get used to it. I cannot leave my apartment without passerbys pointing, staring, and even shouting the Chinese word "foreigner." In Germany, I fought my anonymity being no different from any man on the street (except a little shorter than average).

Ironically, here in Zhengzhou I simply want to be a 老百姓, a commoner. There are times being a foreigner has benefits; one may get preferential treatment, one can usually get out of any situation with a "ting bu dong" (I don't understand), and one is easily noticed so is actually safer in public/on roads. Yet, it all serves to a general feeling of discomfort. The paradox that I'm treated like a celebrity, yet truly a commoner. I live here, speak the language, and follow the culture, but every time I hear "Laowai" (old outsider) it emphasizes a feeling of isolation or distance.

I know someday when I'm deep into marriage, have wanna-be independent teenage children, and I'm sitting in an insurance office just waiting for some trivial service I'll look back and revere this time when always treated special. For now I'll continue to bear the stare.

Later days,
Rick

Literature Review: What's Fun in Intermediate Chinese

A friend's recent post about her monthly readings left me feeling that I should read more; personally I felt as if I'm neglecting my further education.

In the vein of "Monthly Readings"  here are mine.  None will ever make the New York Times Bestsellers, but my descriptions below are written as if a review! (Read with "satire tone")

 

新汉语水平考试模拟试题集：五级

New HSK Practice Test Questions: Level 5

A book of 10 practice tests structured exactly like the test for advanced Chinese.  While it has no narrative and no interesting characters, the time restriction does keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat!

 

HSK核心词汇天天学：中册

HSK Core Vocabulary for Daily Study: Volume 2

If you want to improve your vocabulary, you need to study every single day.  This book is geared towards just that reader.  With an aim of adding 3,000 words in one year, it provides riveting delineations between synonyms like 鼓励:encourage (a person as subject) 鼓舞:encourage (an event as subject), or 违反=violate/break 违法=violate/break 违犯=violate/break 违背=violate/break.

The author provides real insight into the mystical language of this Eastern land.

 

中级汉语阅读教程

Intermediate Chinese Reading Course

Released from Beijing University Press, this book is filled with tales as wonderfully informative as your dusty newspaper collection.  Read thrilling events of birds flying into a window because of a beautiful painting, learn about the life of those with high blood pressure, and practice all of your Chinese radicals to learn the logic of this cryptic character language.

 

 

小王子

The Little Prince

Rated one of the best books of France from the 20^th Century, this international classic is a delightful way to confuse everything you know about the language as you, the reader, follow the tale of the narrator who meets a boy in the Sahara Desert.  This boy comes from an alien asteroid where he lives alone and cares for a talking rose.  It's an adventure to read as the reader challenges his own comprehension, "Did that flower just talk and complain about vanity?" 

 

趣味汉语阅读

Interesting Chinese Reading

Do you know Chinese humor?  This book explores the joys of the language to keep you groaning with painful laughter.  Discover how saying the word for "two yuan" (liang kuai) can be misunderstood as "chilly" (liang kuai).  Why?  Well it's just a mix-up in the tones, that's all.  What a delight.

 

多彩汉语， 50个趣味故事

Chinese Made Fun

With 5,000 years of history, China presents abundant culture and customs.  Through 50 stories, each in Chinese (characters and pinyin) and English, learn about many aspects of this rising Eastern dragon.  The authors thrill and dazzle the reader by adding a language column in each story, which teaches words like "popular" and "sorghum beans."  How 丰富！

 

That concludes my October-April reading.  My cynical nature is in part due to the constant, overwhelming feeling of a need to study, a need to have one of these books in my lap at all times.  They're simply textbooks, and, as such, inherently dry. 

For a few positive notes: I may not know much about British or American classic or modern literature, but I know over 2,500 Chinese characters;  I speak 3 languages. Tiring, but it makes me proud.  Also, my test will finally be over in only 12 days!

 

Back to studying on this sunny day!

 

Later Days,
Rick

Who says piano isn't a sport?

I just finished 5 hours in front of a piano in a tiny little practice room. Who says piano isn't a sport? It requires daily practice, warm-ups, speed, concentration, and technique. Plus, if you do it right, a lot of sweating. It's truly exhausting. Take that you football players and marathon runners!

Today was a good day for piano as spring hid behind clouds, my teacher (with a masters in piano performance) asked for my opinion on her music, and I finished my Chopin Nocture (Op 9 Nr. 2) and the first movement of the Beethoven sonata (Sonata no. 10, Op 14 Nr. 2--see pg 3 of the music and you'll understand how this is a success. That page is a long passage of sixlets against left-hand sixteenth notes. It was many headaches of practice.)

Now for rest and a shower.

Later days,
Rick

Soon to join the ranks of the perfectly-tailored

See the picture? I'm about to make the next one. Today I ordered my first tailor-made suit! The company is the top store in town. I started by picking out a sleek, subtle pinstriped, 100% wool navy fabric, I then described all attributes I want on the suit (high lapel, medium width as a combination of traditional with a bit of the skinny style en vogue now, double side vented back, 1/2 pockets on coat for sleek look, and a two button coat for a professional yet modern look.)

In only 18 days, I myself will be the next one en vogue.

Ha, I enjoy how excited I am about a suit. Like me, this suit will be one of a kind.

Later days,
Rick

Glory be, Spring arrived

Spring arrived today and I am on cloud nine. (pollution joke: Literally cloud nine. Their's so much pollution that the government now labels city districts in cloud numbers. Mine's number 9.)

Having just taught my students the word "dramatic" I will admit both this week and I are dramatic. I'm so content in this moment on the new, chik patio that just opened only 2 blocks from my home. Admittedly, this is not the best place since the prices are so high. My real Chinese favorite are the crowded sidewalks filled with squatter chairs--stools about 8 in. tall. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lively, the prices are ridiculously cheap, and it's all in the open air. I think I'll go there next.

Enjoy your spring.

Later days,
Rick

Monotony, Depression, and a Departure. What a splendid day.

Although China is 10,000 Km from the life I grew up with, is foreign in food, culture, language, and mentality, it's surprising how dull it can become. I've settled so much into this lifestyle that every day is so similar. The content I teach, study, and practice may be different, but everyday is piano practice, coffee, teaching, and Chinese study. This country is so chaotic and unpredictable, but, ironically, I need some change.

This are likely the words of seasonal depression. Zhengzhou is painfully trudging through the cold rainy spell before spring is forecasted. This weekend should be upper-60's with sun, but right now it's mid-30's and rainy. Thanks to it being late March, the piano center where I practice turned off all their heating. After 45 min I gave up practicing as my hands were losing feeling and nothing was sounding as it should.

Next, my favorite student left the school today. He's transferring to a school in his hometown and is gone for good. He was the one ray of hope in my lower level class. His name, accurately, is Ray.

Right now, I need this venting forum. I can't complain to my coworker, Kellen, because he has it worse. His electric bike was stolen last night.

In such ridiculously unpleasant circumstances, I usually laugh inappropriately figuring it's better than frustration. Thanks to such, I had a fit of uncontrollable laughter in class when a student asked who would take Ray's place on their team now that he's gone. I suggested Donger, a student absent from more classes than his low math ability allows him to calculate, a student who has never brought a notebook or anything to class, a student who is so apathetic he refuses to do anything other than sleep instead of being bothered to learn 5 vocabulary words. The thought that my class is one polite, bright student less and instead is left with Donger, well my students wondered what was wrong with me as I laughed ridiculously for 5 minutes. Oh, China.

We need spring. Bad.

Later Days,
Rick

Truly the other side of the world

I’m increasingly convinced that China is another planet, not simply another country.  I’ll admit to being the opposite side of the globe.  From Minnesota, China is literally the other side of the globe (it’s not perfectly antipodal—crossing through the center of the earth—but is opposite. The exact opposite seems to lie on the border between Mongolia and Xinjiang province. 

 

I conclude this because I repeatedly encounter situations that would never happen to me in MN.  Back in Minnesota, most people can ice skate. Playing piano is a common hobby that parents encourage their children to learn.  In my region in China it is only for the wealthiest.  Therefore, doing these activities puts me in contact with incredibly rich people.

 

My usual piano practice on Monday led me to meet the wife and daughter of Henan Province #2 construction company’s chairman.  They then took me to dinner at a newly opened Novotel hotel where the General Manager personally introduced himself to me and urged that I call him the second I come back. 

After the General Manager left our table, I clarified to my new friend that the man is the General Manager.  In a comically passing comment, the 7-year-old girl said, “Oh, my dad is a general manager.”  I’m a lowly English teacher here, but apparently Blue eyes are the ticket.

 

 

 

In other, horrifying news, look what the Chinese copycat of Teletubbies looks likes.  Yikes!

 

Later Days,

Rick

A Chinese New Year Celebration, but a Different Day

Chinese new year is the most important holiday in the entire calendar.  With a full 15 days of celebration, it almost makes Christmas seem like as important as a coworkers farewell coffee and cake in the kitchen. 

Last year for the festival, I was on a train to Lijiang and watched a passing village’s fireworks out a train window.  This year I resolved it would be different.  The difficulty is that everyone returns to their hometowns for the holiday, meaning all my friends are gone.  We solved that by moving the date.  Yes, it’s like celebrating Christmas on December 29^th, but it’s still celebrating.

 

The first tradition is making dumplings by hand.  Kellen and I were nearly clueless, so we relied on our Chinese counterparts for everything.  This was the first time anyone had made dumplings without the guidance of an elder family member telling what he or she is doing wrong.  Don’t worry, there were many phone calls to family members to check how to do every step. 

 

Zheng Ting, Jason, Kellen, Della, and I all gathered at school to make hundreds of dumplings to welcome the new year.

 

As is tradition, a coin is placed in the filling;  the person who chooses the dumpling with the coin will be fortunate in the new year. 

Being it’s not my tradition, I had fun choosing the coin and selected one that said “Bathroom Token: Valid for one Visit.”  (Probably from some airport automated bathroom service in whatever country.  Don’t worry, they made us wash, scrub, and boil the coin first to sanitize it.)

 

Most importantly, there were fireworks.  The night always ends with fireworks.  As written previously, it’s a war-zone around this time.  We gladly contributed. 

Here, Kellen and I explore the storage area of a distant (somewhat rural) grocery store where the owner sells fireworks year-round.  This large circle of firecrackers totaled $19.  Next, you see Kellen’s excitement to light a firework usually illegal in any other country.  We bought it for 50 cents. 

 

Finally came time to light the fireworks.  We had things that glow, spin, pop, bang, and crack.  Everyone dives in and makes a ruckus.  That’s actually the goal; the fireworks scare away the “Nian” monster.  I conclude that he’s well terrified.  I was.

\

 

Happy spring festival, but on a different day!

 

Later Days,
Rick