Feedback from BNUers

[nomad]

I teach at BNU and some of my Chinese students would like to meet you guys. A few of them have talked about throwing a party. Would the foreign students (BNUers out there) be interested in participating in something like that? Any advice / suggestions about something like this welcomed and sought after?

Some of my students have been slammed (2 of my female students were told that they were ugly/ fat... by some Eastern Euopean guys, another was told by an American that he wasn't interested in a Chinese study partner...) by some the foreign students here, so they want to find another approach to meeting you guys.

Anyways, these kids are tired of talking to a 40sth old fart and would like to meet foreigners closer to their own age.

This is not part of the English Corner!!

[Jamoldo]

I actually might be interested though my schedule is a busy one. Although it's not English Corner, as you specify, such events often become one (though I understand if they don't want it to become "Chinese Corner" either.)

I think it's clear what some of these other guys were looking for . However, I probably am not interested in a language/study partner because I have a few from last year that I have yet to meet with given my schedule.

[msittig]

This is not part of the English Corner!!

[roddy]

Is this one of your students?

I might have come along when I was in Beijing, although not regularly. Nice thing about English corners and similar activities is that every who turns up is so damned enthusiastic and earnest. If they're majoring in English Lit or similar they're often surprised to find out they're a hell of a lot better informed than me as well.

[cdn_in_bj]

Wait, I'm a bit confused. Are they looking for language exchange partners or just to meet new friends in general? If the latter, why specifically foreigners?

I'm not against language exchange or English Corners, I'm just curious as to how they expressed to you their desire to meet "us guys" on this forum.

[heifeng]

hmmm, not to be unsympathetic to the cause but I think foreigners get emotionally tramatized out here too so I can't really shed a tear. I doubt that that will make them feel better, but at least they don't get called fat, tall, too dark, something or rather every single day they are out here at least 10 times per day...

I would like to help but....hey, who am I kidding....I was probably one of the foreigners that said hell no and ran.....

[nomad]

Actually, these students don't care if you speak English, Chinese, or Japanese (3rd language) they just want to hang out with foreign students. They don't want to get in to a language exchange either. Their schedules are busier than yours (8am-8pm).

They see you guys outside blgd 2 laughing and having a good time- they just want to be a part of that.

Again, this in NOT the English corner. The English corner tends to be for non-English majors.

This is a one shot deal- a meet and greet. The student that approached me is a male. He wants to have a party, drink, snack, talk (Eng/Chinese/Jap/Fr), play games, listen to music...

So if anyone's into a party!

[maidou]

I'll come. I'm a student here.

Am I　ｔｏｏ　ｌａｔｅ，　ｉｓ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｔｈｒｅａｄ　ｄｅａｄ？

[Jamoldo]

I've been told I look African here in Beijing when I'm very clearly not. And while I have no problems with anyone African, I know lots of Chinese look down upon them and are scared of them...

Nomad, as for lots of the people they see outside dorm number 2, they could be high school students who attend a semester/year long program