On Friday, I officially graduated.  I finished my first semester in China at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).  We ate lunch with our teachers (老师 laoshi) and they presented us with awards. This is Shao Laoshi and classmate/roommate Rafannah. I gave my laoshi a postcard from Maryland since I was always describing Maryland in class all the time.  Unfortunately, she will be moving to Shanghai to teach at the Alliance program there so I won’t see her again in Beijing.  

Alliance gave us a great ending lunch though.  Nobody liked this starter but me.  It’s Chinese yam (looks and tastes like mashed potatoes) with a blueberry drizzle over it.  Delicious!

I finally got to eat some Peking Duck.  They served it on nice duck plates and everything!

We were given our certificates for completing the semester.  At the beginning of the semester we all took a placement exam.  The exam was out of 100 points.  Anything above an 80 would place you into the 300B level course while anything above a 90 would place you into the 400 level course.  My entrance exam score was a 10.  Yup, that’s it.  I was placed in the 200 level class with two other students.  I was happy with my placement but discouraged that I only had one year experience with the language while my other classmates both had two.  I was in a constant state of being behind.  However, I studied a lot.  3 hours of classtime per day plus 4-5 hours of studying at night.  Somedays I didn’t want to study at all but I powered through learning a new chapter in our book every day.  When I took the exit exam (exact same test as the entrance exam) I scored a 45!  That is gaining two semesters worth of language study in one.

They even gave us little souvenirs to bring home!

My teacher also gave me an award for being the most improved in my class.  This calligraphy means that the skies are open for me to succeed as long as I work hard. (I think, I can’t quite remember because I was so happy!)

After graduation, I met with my language partner for the last time.  She has been an absolute blast to hang out with.  I know she will go on to make a great teacher!  I gave her a postcard of Maryland as well as some brand new quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies to show her what our currency looks like.  She wants to teach in America one day so maybe she’ll get to use them!

In return she gave me this paper cutting. It is called 红双喜子 (hong shuang xi zi) or Red paper cutting of “Double Happiness”.  This is usually given to people on big occasions like weddings but she cut this out for my by hand and framed it.  I feel so lucky to have met such wonderful and nice people here in China!

Although I had a fun (but difficult) semester, I am so ready to get on that plane tomorrow to see you all!