Late at night, my friends and I find 安慰 in going to office hours. Initially, office hours was a place for questions and quiet work. Now, it has evolved into a rowdy room full of excited students—some who are there to study, some who are there to chat.
I’ve realized, after attending many office hour sessions, that it is a space where Chinese improves quietly. Most nights, we leave with sore cheeks from all the laughing. Our teachers are willing to discuss anything and everything, from love to politics. Jokes are now easier to make in Chinese than in English. My relationship with HBA is now stronger than ever.
The special thing about this program is that it has showed me I can communicate in Chinese. At home, my conversations with my parents rarely break through the surface level. At Yale, because I had always spoken English in school, speaking Chinese around my classmates in heritage Chinese always felt odd, unfitting, uncomfortable. I’ve always used Chinese as a bare necessity, something I needed only for when time called. But recently, Chinese has become a means of expression.
My goal coming into this experience was to explore something new everyday. This goal has 实现 in unforeseen ways. For example, finding a love for Mahjong, learning how to sing new songs, understanding culture through movies, reconnecting with childhood cartoons during lunch, becoming addicted to Taobao, and experiencing the inner peace that TaiChi brings to a body.
And office hours, where formal grammar structures take a break and colloquial Chinese gets to shine. I’ve learned to be comfortable speaking Chinese, comfortable with making mistakes.
Wonderful breakthrough Amy! Hope you enjoy our last few weeks! ~John @ Light Fellowship