Joshua Yap In China Take 2 : Deep City Expedition

Classes started yesterday which means the language pledge has gone into effect. In the two days that I have committed to only speaking Chinese, I have felt the most frustrated I have ever felt in my life. I am talking head smashing frustration here. Picture a really playful puppy confined to a corner and segregated from all the other dogs playing around. All the puppy wants to do is socialize with the other dogs, but he can't and he is oh so sad. I feel like that kind of puppy. Actually, I do feel that my oral proficiency has improved in the past couple days. The language pledge is incredibly frustrating, but I really like it. By the way, I'm NOT breaking the pledge by writing this blog. For those who wish to know my schedule you can continue to read, those who don't can move to the next paragraph. Well I have about 4 - 5 hours of homework everyday and 6 hours of class everyday. My days begin at 6:30am, but classes don't begin until 8:30am. I wake up that early because I need to warm my brain up before jumping into a day of intensive Chinese. The first class lasts 50 minutes, then a 10 minute break, then another 50 minute class, then a 20 minute break where all the different classes break into smaller groups, then another 50 minute class with 2 other people to reenforce what was taught in the lecture, then a 10 minute break, then another 50 minute class. After that, then we have lunch with our teachers (each class has 4). After lunch is a one-on-one session which ends at 2:30pm. The one-on-one is so far my favorite since it really puts me on the spot to speak and think. Now that you know my schedule, please forgive me if I can't take many pictures and post them. Also, internet in Kunming is just a big lump of donkey shit which makes an upload of 10 pictures take around 6 hours. This post did take about 6 hours to create.

On a happier note, I did go on an excursion into the city with my new friends. We tried to spend as much time as we could with each other while we were still allowed to speak English. We essentially had a 4 day vacation in Kunming.

It is typical to see women in this kind of "armor" riding around on their scooters. Everyone has a scooter in China, everyone. The dangerous thing is that these scooters are all electric so you cannot here them coming from behind you. We have dubbed them the silent killers as they also do not warn you when you they pass. The rules of the road in China is that the larger mass has right of way, go where you want when you want, pedestrians have a negative amount of right of way, and drive like a man on crack. Walking on the street is an event that gives a good adrenaline rush sometimes.

This is a little garden outside of an old building here at the university. The building is where people would take the imperial service exam during the dynastic era.