A few days ago, I wrote a pot about how to choose a Chinese language school. Today I would like to share how my experience has been. If you read my previous post you might have seen that my choice was indeed Omeida Chinese Academy.
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon when I was welcomed by roommate and some fruit she got for me. I spend my time unpacking and just wandering around town to get familiar with the area. A quiet start for what was to come.
On Monday, after a short orientation by Lucy and Twelve, I started my calligraphy classes. The calligraphy school, 落雨堂 (Luò Yǔ Táng), is right around the corner, and it gives such a special and calm energy. The place is a rather traditional place full of old stone statues and wooden carvings, along with paintings my masters and students alike, all of them relics in their own way that set the perfect mood for calligraphy and letting you feel history, yet cozy and charming.
Going to the canteen at noon quickly became a habit, although it took me a few days to get used to how fast the food was gone—everyone goes there right after class so if you get delayed by more than a few minutes, you might not have as many options to choose from!
After lunch you might find a few people in the student lounge singing or playing guitar, some choose to do homework right before class (that was me!), playing Ping-Pong on the fifth floor or, if it is sunny, basking on the rooftop.
My Chinese classes where in the afternoon, I enrolled in the standard course (3 lessons a day in small groups), as I find I usually study better when I have a few classmates, but turned out I was the only one at my level… But the teacher, Cecilia, was great. So even though I don’t usually like 1-on-1, she has been making the classes really fun and enjoyable. I feel like I am learning a lot every day, and practising both what I learn and what I already knew.
After class, the lounge becomes even more fun and dynamic. Many people meet with their language partners from the English school (Omeida English Academy), which can look like a proper language class for some, going for a walk or for dinner together for others, or like playing boardgames (there are a lot of boardgames in the lounge). In the lounge, there is something going on almost anytime, so it is a great place to make some friends!
I have an idle bone, so on top of studying, I also got into the volunteering program and do marketing bits for a couple of hours a day, which has also been good fun, a great way to keep my skills tuned and explore some new areas, even though it means being rather busy on weekdays.
On the weekends I have been making the most of Yangshuo by exploring its surroundings. The views are incredible from pretty much anywhere, including my room. But there is something special about walking by Li River or taking a bamboo boat ride down Yulong River. Exploring local markets like Fuli, going strawberry picking (yummy!), seeing the sun set from the top of one of the karst mountains here… Every time I head out, I find a new angle from which to appreciate and enjoy the stunning landscape.
The most special bit about the school, and about Yangshuo, I reckon, is the people and the welcoming atmosphere they have created here. I have no words to express how much fun I am having with both spontaneous or organized outings, hanging out in the lounge with no purpose and joining random Katan games or playing quick badminton matches in front of the school. Each of the moments lived here are quickly becoming cherished memories.
About the author: Sonia Rivero is a translator and copywriter fluent in four languages with a passion for travelling.
