My first Chinese class

sounded like a chorus practice.

China time: 10:36 a.m.

We split into groups based on ability and clearly I was in one of the lowest groups. When I went to "test out" for my level the teachers (who are young students) laughed at me when I said "Ne hao ma".

"Do you think Chinese is difficult?"
"YES!"


All of us (about 8 in my class) have had no experience with Chinese so I didn't feel stupid. The teacher kept making noises that I had a tough time repeating. There's this one damn sound that sounds like "Doa" to me but Edek claims sounds like "Dghua" or something. I feel like I probably inherited tone deafness from my parents.
Thanks Mom and Dad.
We all repeated the tones and it sounded like we were an a capella band. "La la la la la" "Bao Boa Boa". The teacher laughed at us a lot. She told Spencer to stop making noises. I laughed-don't judge me. Dujan has a fierce "BA!" sound that left me laughing as well. He's from Philly so I already adore him because we can discuss Wawa and Cheeesteaks together. Chinese sounds like two things to me: Questioning and Yelling. Like German I find it harsh. If I wasn't singing the words I was screaming them. As if I don't offend the Chinese enough with my loud voice.
I think that the class will be entertaining, but difficult. The teacher may quit before the end. Poor Erlinda looked like she was about to cry so I hugged her afterward.

I wish life had subtitles that scrolled across the bottom of my line of vision so that I could understand what is going on. I find it more and more frustrating not being able to speak Chinese. I am the ignorant American that I always hate.

In the classroom there are these straight chairs that reflect the seriousness and obedience that I've noticed in the students I've met. These kids don't even go party on the weekends-they go to dinner and watch movies. So different. I even feel wild in comparison, even though I rarely go out.

This is technically journal writing time, but as I am updated already this is short. I am a night owl blogger anyway.
We are going to a lecture and the Summer Palace today.
I am behind on my reading and work, ugh.

Also I haven't watched CNN or read the paper in days, though I heard we can access The New York Times online. Is anything important going on? Let me know. I feel disconnected.

I leave you with something fun.
Hopefully I haven't told this story already..I always repeat them.
"Woo" means 5 in Chinese so Tom and I "High Five" and yell "WOOO".
I think it's fun.

Hana