going to BLCU? Introduce yourself here!

[etcetera24]

I'm taking the initiative on the suggestions for an introduction thread for people who are going to blcu

suggested information to share:

- first name (maybe your chinese name if you have one!)

- age

- where are you from

- are you in the 12 week program or one year program

- why are you studying chinese

[puja]

Hey cat, so you finally took the initiative but you didn't share the info yourself

Anyway, here I go:

- first name: Puja (spoken pooyah)

- chinese name: 何普阳 (hé pŭ yáng)

- age: 22 (will be 23 when the term starts)

- location: Cologne / Germany

- one year program

- why chinese: general interest, friends, studying (and instructing) trad. chin. gongfu (太极梅花螳螂拳 Tài Jí Méi Huā Táng Láng Quán)

[UC_nostradamus]

Ok- I guess I'll go next-

First name: Chris

Chinese name: 秦克里 (qin2 ke4 li3)

Age: 20

Location: Pittsburgh/Chicago

Year/Semester: Year-long program

Why?: Chinese heritage, interest in East Asia and foreign languages in general, international studies major, recipient of Chinese government scholarship.

I would also like to add another section to the intros - maybe travel plans/interests while in China?

For me, I'm flying into Dalian on the 26th, then Beijing on the 29th. While in China, perhaps I want to visit all the touristy things of course (i.e. Shanghai, Xi'an, Hong Kong), but maybe make a trek out to Xinjiang/Tibet? Harbin in the winter? Maybe Mongolia? Russia? Who knows. I'm up for most things.

Email/PM me anytime! Looking forward to meeting you all in September

[etcetera24]

puja, figures it would be you to call me out for not answering my own questions ! anyway, this is me:

first name: cat(hy)

chinese name: 馬淑恆 (ma3 shu1 heng2)

age: 23

where I'm from: depends how you define from... I've lived in hong kong, canada, and the US

program: one year program

why chinese? wanted to learn to read/ write chinese - my family is hk chinese but I was only educated in english. I also think mandarin is a beautiful language

possible travel plans: harbin (snow and ice festival), xi'an, trans-siberian or trans-mongolian to moscow, follow the silk road

[pete]

Another for the pile...

first name: Pete

Chinese name - none as yet, but will hopefully get given one when i'm there.

Age: 23

From: London.

Program: 12 week,

Why Learn Chinese? 1/2 Chinese-background, but was never taught it by my ma when growing up, so figured it was time to get on with it myself. Plus, I like a challenge!

I'm also planning on doing some travelling around the region, probably after the course ends in early December. Definitely going up to Harbin as some friends are studying there, and would like to take a boat trip down the Yangzi to see the Gorges. Also, Tibet is quite tempting... Lots of options!

[puja]

Ah, cat, you finally joined in

ut hey, why am I the only one without chinese background here?

I have no concrete plans for travelling yet but there are many interesting places and I think one should take the chance and try to see as many of them as possible once beeing in china. There are the usual Shanghai, Xi'an, Hong Kong and perhaps Macao. Then Harbin like cat told me sounds very cool at the time of that festival. Also Xinjiang/Tibet are quite interesting. silk road would be tempting too. Some friends of mine took trans-siberian from moscow to china and said it was very nice, but quite a hard trip. Also I'm probably going to Shandong/Qindao to visit some folks. If time and money allow I would visit Seoul and perhaps Tokyo before returning home next year.

Warm regards,

Puja

[redpixel]

hi all!

don't worry puja, i don't have any chinese heritage either ;P

- name: martin

- chinese name: haven't really decided yet, but my .cn friends all call me 马丁 so i guess i'll go with that, even if it's a bit "dull". perhaps another dīng char!

- age: 19 (20 in september)

- from: Gothenburg, Sweden

- program: 1 year

- why: friends, fun to learn, no clue what else to study

i'll be arriving in beijing on the 26th, not sure where i'll be staying

[Harvey]

Hey you guys are young!

What is the average student age at BLCU?

[karmakid]

Name: Svante

From Stockholm / Vaxholm -> sweden

one semester intensive from september 15th

Looking forward to learn a new language aswell as a new culture.

[luodan-nyc]

Greetings all,

looking forward to meeting you all in september. here's my info:

name: Dan

chinese name: 羅丹 (fanti) or luo2dan1

age: 24

location: brooklyn, nyc

program: one semester for now. after that i may stay on in beijing or move elsewhere. kunming is a strong possibility.

why chinese?: why not. i picked up a little bit of mandarin experience during a teach english summer program while i was in college. later, when i decided to study a new language seriously chinese was a no brainer.

travel plans: anywhere possible. i'd love to see the manchurian provinces. would also like to see shandong or head out to the far west or southwest. at somepoint it would be great to use china as a jump-off point to travel a bit throughout SE asia.

-dan t.

[Stef]

Hi everyone! I just joined so I guess I'll introduce myself.

Name: Stefanie

From: Indianapolis

Age: 22

Program: one year intensive on CSC scholarship

Why: I've had 2 years of Chinese in college and just got back from studying this summer at Nankai University in Tianjin. I'm very interested in Chinese language and culture.

I will be arriving on August 29th and I look forward to meeting all of you. Feel free to email at Sglaspie@butler.edu

[sillen]

Glad to see that so many are going to BLCU this fall

My name's Cecilia (or ling ling?) ..21 years old female born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. I'l be in BLCU to study Chinese for beginners for 12 weeks starting from September.

Actually half Chinese but was never taught by my mother when little...so I see this as a way of catching up with my chinese heritage, or something.. Really looking forward to my stay in China and hope I'll meet a lot of interesting people and challenges!

Arriving in the beginning of September (or earlier if I can find a seat on the plane)..Have no place to stay at the moment...and at the moment very open to all kinds of options and suggestions!

Regards, Cecilia.

[redpixel]

wow, another swede. now there are 3 of us in this thread alone

question to all of you: what are your current chinese skills like?

i'd say i know somewhere around 500 chars, although my writing is very weak. compound words i have no idea. i'm actually not too sure about the 500 either, it might be a high estimate

does anybody know how the BLCU classes work? i'd hate it having to start off again from scratch ("你好。。。") but then again, the 800 chars mentioned on the application paper might be hard.

if given a choice though, i'd much rather go with the 800 class and study real hard than start off again from zero

regards, Martin

[sillen]

Hey to all of you!

I'm probably the one here who knows the least Chinese. I litterally know about 10 words ..that's it! But I've always liked a good challenge so I can't wait to go Less than a month to go now ...

If anyone have information or suggestions about accomodation solutions feel free to send me a message!

Be good, Cecilia.

[artichoke]

Chinese name: MeiLi 美丽

From: Australia

Program: 12 week beginners intensive

Why: I studied Mandarin (double Chinese major) at uni many years ago, and am finally getting around to doing the "live/study in China" experience. An interest in (Chinese) fine art is what began my interest in Chinese language.

I feel the same way as Martin, starting from scratch will be painful, but for me, trying to catch up when others already know 800 characters will be too much. I thought perhaps this way I get to ease in to full-time study again!

I too have no accomodation confirmed, and will hopefully find something quick smart once I arrive. My plan is to stay off-campus.

I also plan to travel a bit after the 12 weeks are up ... Xi'an to see the Terracotta warriors, down the Yangtze to see (what's left of) the 3 gorges and then on to Shanghai for a 'holiday'. But open to suggestions for weekend trips I can do during the course.

I will be arriving on Sat 10th September. It's not far away ... very exciting!!!

:-) See you all soon

[Xander]

name: Alexander

age: 21 when in China

location: Aalesund, Norway right now 6 years, before that Germany15 years.

program: one semester intensive.

why chinese? I wanted to learn something I actually can use – a language, and I imagine China is a great place to be.

travel plans: Horseback travelling in Mongolia – for some days, maybe. Tourist sights. The other China - the opposite of Beijing/Shanghai. Pretty open when it comes to other plans.

[Kada]

name: Kadri or KaDeLi.

Age: 21

Location: Tallinn, Estonia.

In BLCU during the fall semester.

Me and my friend will arrive in Beijing on 17 of August. We'd be reallyreally glad to and meet other people going to study in BLCU (or other universities...)....

[puja]

Hey, there's finally someone arriving even earlier than me

[myth]

New to the forum

name: Albert

age: 23

location: Manila

program: 1 semester

Hi guys, il be arriving in beijing on sep 6 with an old friend. Last we saw this city was 10-11 years ago so we're not sure what to expect

Planning to see as much of the city as we can before classes start so if any of you want to join (or guide ) us, send me an email at albert_u@hotmail.com, it's always safer AND cheaper to travel in groups. I'm not sure if i can post my mobile on the forum so il just send specifics via email.

Oh and if anybody knows about any good deals on apartments near BLCU, pls pls PLS send us some info. Same for bikes, city tours, etc.

[ulander24]

First name: Jenny

Age: 24

Location: Sweden

Program: One year program

Arrival date: 26th of Aug

Why chinese: I've studied psychology for 3,5 yrs and I just want a break from that doing something completely different and then I saw an ad about China and thought why not?Don't know a word though so we'll see how it goes!