Jaozi and Characters

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

I had a fun day today at school. It was the second day of actual classes. We learned some sentences and responses and I actually picked up on things! Learning Chinese is starting to get fun!!

After class Connie and I went to lunch with some other students from her class. Our lunch group consisted of Maymui, who is from Japan, Sarah, who is from Italy, these two other young high school age kids that really didn't talk to us. We walked to a small shop for fried noodles. That really sounded yummy to me! When we got there, the menu was all in characters. I can't read enough of them yet to understand and figure out how to order. One of the ladies that we were with, Maymui (from Japan), ordered for us. When we got our food, it was noodle soup. Not what I expected. I was really bummed! I didn't complain because I couldn't order for myself. I was grateful that she helped us.

Aren't these usually used for straws?!? Not here! They are chopstick dispensers!!

Ice cream stop on our way back to campus

During our conversation at lunch, Maymui asked if we pray before our meals. Connie got to tell them that we are Mormon. She has this cool app and was able to find Chinese words for it and have a very simple conversation. Even in China, Heavenly Father is providing missionary opportunities. We just have to be prayerful and mindful of those opportunities. A seed was planted and hopeful more opportunities will come about.

Maymui is teaching me Chinese and I am helping her with her English. It was fun to laugh, learn, and talk to someone from another country. It does get a little strenuous because I have to listen so carefully and use simple words that they can understand and remember. English is one of the most complicated languages ever!

Connie and I and the lunch group went to the culture activity planned for today. We met in a cafeteria and learned how to make dumplings. Maymui really knew how to fold the jaozi and it was fun to learn the native ways of those that were at our table, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Chinese.

Recipe to cook - don't stir the jaozi just stir the water like a hurricane

Laoshi teaching us how to make jaozi

Sarah, Mom, and Mayumi

Amy and Mayumi

Dinara and Mom

My teachers joining in

A different way to fold the jaozi

Our table

Time to cook the jaozi

The trick is to swirl the boiling water

Learning to boiling jaozi

Dinara putting jaozi into boil

Time to eat!

Yummy!!

Relaxed a little bit after school and then had to do homework. Two pages of Chinese characters, reading and writing. I actually can read and write Chinese Characters!! I'm so proud of myself. It feels really good!