So apparently I am NOT blogging. I had good intentions but I think I prefer the interaction on Facebook especially since many of my friends and family are there.
I will just say that I am enjoying my time in Hong Kong. School is more challenging than I expected, I spend way too much time trying to learn to write characters, doing homework, studying for quizzes, etc. with less than satisfactory results. The program is quite intensive and my brain is not keeping up as well as I as I would like. And the more I study the harder it is to enjoy what Hong Kong has to offer.
I have a plan to have an easier semester in the Spring. And that will be it. Forget the diploma (3 semesters) I am just aiming for the certificate right now. And forget being a star student, I just want to freaking pass. What's the point of the certificate? For some people it will be useful in either finding a job or as professional development. For me? Not really sure. But after one semester, you don't leave with anything, after 2, if you meet the requirements, you get a certificate, just seems more fulfilling.
Don't get me wrong, I am learning a lot, I like my classes, the teachers and the program. It is just too much for me at this point in my life (yep, sometimes I feel my age).
After the certificate? I would like to stay on, get a job, put what I have been learning to use, enjoy Hong Kong more and travel in the area a bit. Still a tall order but as long as I am having fun and not in the poorhouse, then all is good.
If you want to follow my adventures here in Hong Kong and are on Facebook, let me know, look me up, whatever. If not, I will still attempt to blog here and there.
I'm on Facebook and would be interested in following your adventures in Hong Kong
ReplyDeleteHi Diana! Glad to hear you're doing well.
ReplyDeleteYep, language learning is not easy at our age. I often take breaks from my Chinese studies, but I keep coming back to it. Right now I'm focusing on reading Chinese, not speaking, not writing. I find that trying to do all at the same time does overload my brain.
I think you made a good decision to lighten your load and adjust your goals. Hong Kong has a lot to offer. You don't want to spend your whole time studying.
Alas, I'm not on Facebook, otherwise I'd follow you. But I'd be glad to read an update on your blog every few months. :)
Best wishes,
Dave
Hi Sarah, great. All I see is your google hangout, cannot email you or get to your blog. I will figure something out.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave, no problem about FB, I know it isn't for everyone. Knowing there are some folks that aren't on FB will get me back here more often I think. Nice to hear you have similar issues with the language. I do want to learn to write and I am amazed how much I have learned already about the language from the less the 100 characters we have covered. But I have to be realistic about my abilities and why I am here.
Hi again Diana,
ReplyDeleteSorry. You can email me at sknight@northshire.com. I admire your language study and found trying to learn Chinese (Mandarin) frustrating as my retention is very poor.
Hi Diana, great to see you enjoying yourself in HK! it's getting mighty cold here in NYC! I'm sure you don't miss it around here. Still enjoying your updates and unfortunately I don't have or plan to hop into facebook! Keep us in the mix especially if you go to any Andy Lau or Ekin concerts!
ReplyDeleteHi, Mr C, thanks for sticking around. There is too much out there, one has to pick and choose ones social media, or timesuck as some people refer to it.
ReplyDeleteNo, don't miss the cold weather, or the snow. I like thinking that 65 degrees is cold. How did you know there was an Andy Lau concert in my near future? lol
Sarah, I completely understand, sometimes my brain seems like a sieve, I even forget something someone just told me minutes ago, and that is in English.