Much of my first year in China was spent in a blur of new experiences. This year it certainly feels different. I started learning Chinese before coming to China but have never been very brave about using it (especially around my Chinese friends)This year I've given up on hanging onto that problem somewhat...thrown away some luggage and stepped out :-) I don't like to feel reliant on my Chinese friends and whilst I can often make myself understood...this year I've really made an effort to speak much more... and much more often. The other day was a great achievement for me. First, I did the normal thing and caught the bus downtown...then I topped up my bus card...not just by thrusting the card and the money at the girl but by actually asking her to please put 100 rmb on my bus card...then I went to a small Chinese food stall/shop and ordered "Fried Baozi" Not just by pointing but by asking...and the biggest achievement, my friend rang me and invited me to her apartment...I said "yep great, I'll walk, see you in a while..." BUT...With such a successful run I decided ,what the heck...I'll hail a taxi :-) Believe it or not I rarely take a taxi and on any previous occasions that I have, my friends have waved one down and told the driver to take me home. I stood on the side of the road (being careful not to get taken out by a bus) and with my ever faithful group of Chinese paparazzi curiously watching on, I watched for the little light indicating a vacant taxi and waved him down :-)I told him where I wanted to go and WOW...I actually arrived there. SO GREAT!
I go back to the small Baozi stall more frequently now "Liang fen Zhu rou jian bao" :-)
1 comment:
Well done Sue sounds as if you was pleased with yourself,good one Mum and Dad.
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