I’m back to school…in Yangshuo, China 🎒🇨🇳 For the last two weeks, I have ticked off one of my biggest bucket list items by learning Mandarin in China. ✅
I enrolled at Omeida Chinese Academy and checked into our basic one star hostel accommodation, just like being a student again!
I was so excited on the first day and soon realised this school had a wonderful culture where all the staff, teachers and students were all genuinely open and friendly. The school was also very good at organising social and cultural activities. Where else could you take part in sugarcane and yellow rice harvests?
As well as learning Mandarin, we have volunteered our time with English tuition for Chinese students who want to learn English. One student called Alan didn’t know what an English Breakfast was so we decided to treat him and his dad to one in a local English cafe. It’s something neither had ever eaten. A week later, Alan told me he bought all the ingredients including baked beans, bacon and sausages online and cooked the delicious English breakfast himself. I was so happy that I’d inspired him to embrace some English culture through our 121 chat🇬🇧
A few fun facts we’ve learned about China whilst living like a local.
1. Did you know that giving a cigarette to others is viewed as a form of respect, similar to us giving each others a peck on cheek as part of our greeting. We had a right laugh when the restaurant owner insisted on treating Jonathan and practically force him to have cigarette but he doesn’t smoke! Lol 🚭
2. It’s normal for most Chinese people to take an afternoon power nap after their lunch to re-energise themselves. I did wonder why the school had such a long lunch break between 12-2pm! My Language Partner Lucy normally has a sleep but she was happy to forfeit hers to help me with my Mandarin as she could learn English and Cantonese from me😴
3. Chinese Herbal Hairdresser – There’s a Chinese herbal hairdresser next to our hostel. At first, I thought it was just a standard hairdresser then soon realised she only washes and doesn’t cut hair! I thought to give it a go. It turns out she uses the traditional Chinese medicine to wash your hair , it’s what ancient people used to use before shampoo and conditioner was invented ! It cost only £4 for a 30 mins head massage treatment. I felt like I’d been in a ‘head’ spa, and slept so well afterwards! I highly recommend it if you are ever in China!💈
We’ve stripped things right back to basics and with the beautiful and relaxing scenery, it’s a great place for us to reflect and evaluate what’s important to us. I am pleasantly surprised that my Mandarin has improved greatly and now have the confidence to have basic conversations with anyone, which was one of my 2024 New Year Resolutions!
I love Omeida school so much that we’ve decided to extend our stay for a further two weeks ❤️
My final thoughts are that you are never too late to learn something new. Journal 140 – Check point 5 Yangshuo🇨🇳
By Linda Jones🇬🇧🇭🇰
