The Smog Continues To Worsen...

Today was by far the worst smog I have ever seen. From my hotel window I could see about two blocks in either direction before everything paled to gray. Truly depressing stuff. If that doesn't do it for you, get a load of this. Many of the hotel windows are open because it is cool outside during the afternoon. You could see the smog INSIDE the hotel corridors. Disgusting. Strangely, it isn't smog that is hard to breathe. The gym where I work out has windows that are constantly open and I had no problem there. Then again, it really can't be good for you.

As for the studying, everything is going pretty well. However, I have found that the grading is much harder here than at Yale. The teachers are (I don't want to say nitpicky) strict. If a tiny piece of the character is wrong or there is too big of a gap between parts of the character the entire thing is counted as wrong. I now wonder if the grading was so lenient at Yale to help cope with all of the work.

Jiao zi count: 120

Jiao Zi Count

115

Language Pledge (With Jiao Zi Update)

Today was our first day of the language pledge. It was really tough but I can see the difference in my Chinese after only one day. When you have to speak Chinese, you rack your brain and find very creative ways to say things. It is very rewarding when you can finally get you point across without using any English. I can see why sometimes the language pledge may become a little frustrating. When I was in class today and did not understand some of the grammar, it could not be explained to me in English. I feel this could impede my learning a little bit, but on the whole, the language pledge should be great for my Chinese.

Jiao Zi Count: 60 Jiao Zi. Today we went for dinner to a jiao zi restaurant and I have 2 plates (20 jiao zi). On the way back to the dorms, I just had to get another couple so I got a bag of jiao zi from a different restaurant. The jiao zi are also really inexpensive; 4 kuai for 10 jiao zi. My feast of 30 jiao zi was only 12 kuai ($14 HKD or $2 USD)

Language Pledge Countdown: 2 Hours

At 1:00 today, I sign my language pledge. This will prevent me from speaking English until I leave. It is going to be really tough because I don't know as much Chinese as many of the people here and I have really only learned classroom expressions (contrast that with someone who speaks Chinese at home). I think I will have trouble expressing myself/fleshing out my personality. Then again, it will be phenomenal for my Chinese. 

I just completed my first day of work. It was a lot, but manageable. Meanwhile, Beijing is as dark as ever right now. It is raining, so that has something to do with it, but the pollution must also factor in. The pollution has gotten steadily worse since we arrived and the far away buildings have been shrouded in smog for a while now. 

Mian Bao Che

I just finished class for the day. We have four hours of zhongwen ke without much of a break and it is very mentally draining. However, I have little time to spare. I have homework to do and about 60 han zi to memorize. In my opinion, one of my favorite parts of Chinese is the idioms. We learned mian bao che (which literally translates to "bread loaf car") today. I had never realized that a van looked like a bread loaf. Silly me.

Tomorrow we start our language pledge and I will not be able to speak any English, although I can still email and blog in my native tongue. It is going to be really tough. I really just don't know enough Chinese to flesh out my personality and make friends just speaking Chinese. It will, however, be great for my Chinese. 

I am going to the gym later today. I only mention this because the gym is called Hokay Gym which really makes me laugh. I thought I would pass that on. I might have to have a couple more jiao zi as a post workout meal. They are delicious. 

The air has been a little bit worse today and more of the Beijing I was expecting to see. 

Jiao Zi Update

Total Jiao Zi consumed: 30

I'm completely hooked.

Jiao Zi For Breakfast

I was running a bit short on time today and got about 15 delicious Jiao Zi for 8 kuai. I love this country.