Because 茶 puts me in a reflective mood...

So this is hard, really hard.

I'm from Nebraska, my parents are also from Nebraska. I didn't grow up bilingual and I didn't really learn language in school. It was a pretty homogenous place. I feel like I'm catching up with the brain machinery and wiring. After this experience, I think I want my kids to go to Chinese school on Saturdays from first grade on. Haha. I'm working very hard, harder than during the school year but I'm still struggling. I have the most trouble with listening and comprehending, especially if the laoshi is speaking fast or with an accent I'm less familiar with. I guess I just keep watching Chinese TV and talking and thinking in Chinese as much as I can. Last night in my quest for resources I stumbled across mandarintube.com which has videos and news stories in Chinese. It's pretty helpful! It's the constant conversion between languages that I'm not used to. I have confidence that I can learn Chinese but I feel like it's going to take me a while longer. I need a lot of drilling and practice. On another note, Dahlia and I have been sick the last few days possibly from questionable street food or not boiling our water for long enough. Hmm. What I would give for western cereal and milk at this point (This is already my fourth week abroad). Even Chinese packaged foods seem to have a lot of chemicals and additives that don't sit well with me. Everything is heavily sweetened. I definitely don't have a "Chinese stomach." I find it interesting that Chinese food is so greasy and yet the people are so thin! I asked my laoshi this question and she laughed and said their portions were 很 小。 Back to the grind stone.

再见！