Author: nmonsalv@nd.edu

First and second year undergraduate students across the United States will hear about all the benefits from studying abroad; you will not only explore a new culture, but you may also have the opportunity to develop your foreign language while studying abroad. I’m thankful that I was granted both these opportunities while abroad in Beijing, China; I learned to admire the unique Asian culture, and I received a myriad of opportunities that accelerated my Mandarin Chinese language learning level. The natives were so helpful to foreigners like myself; for example, when I interacted with them—with a taxi driver, at a market, or any of one hundred other scenarios—they would help me on my grammar or pronunciation.

Their kindness allowed me to understand that the only reason I’ve had the significant gains in the language is due to the fact that I took advantage of talking to foreigners whenever given the opportunity and no matter how embarrassed I was. These significant gains are the reasons why I would recommend anyone that is considering applying for a SLA Grant or preparing to start their own summer language study aboard to have an open mind and to set any fears aside, because there is a significant difference between learning a language in a classroom setting and learning a language in the country of origin.

The start of this upcoming semester will mark one year since I started Mandarin. With the completion of my 2nd year Chinese class this summer, I am now in a position to complete my 3rd year of Chinese this upcoming year, and I also plan to finish two years of Arabic my junior and senior year. This summer language school placed me in a special position in which I established a strong foundation and advanced knowledge in Chinese as well as a fresh foundation of Arabic coming out of Notre Dame. I am very blessed to receive the opportunity to go abroad this last summer because now I will gain above an intermediate level in two very difficult and practical languages from Notre Dame in just four years.

Prior to arriving to China, I did not expect to have anyone to help me with my studies besides my teacher and fellow classmates. My expectations were easily exceeded once I dared to use my choppy Chinese to engage a taxi driver in a simple conversation. After he asked me what I was doing in Beijing, he took it upon himself to help me with my pronunciation and my grammar; a few sentences into the conversation he realized I mixed up the proper order of a sentence, and he proceeded to tell me what the correct order was. He went above and beyond in his teaching abilities when he fixed my “r.”

 

For those who don’t know, people from Beijing, unlike other cities in China, often use “r” at the end of words, and, for non-native speakers, this can be difficult. After meeting that man, I didn’t think I’d meet any other civilian on the rest of my trip that would bother to stop and help me with my pronunciation. I was mistaken, because in one of my many visits to the Pearl Market, the store clerk happily sat down with me to help me with some of the common mistakes I made while I was bargaining with her.

 

I am very grateful to the people that would waste their personal time just to help me, a random person, with the difficult language. Those are just a few fascinating encounters that I’ve had on my trip thus far. I hope to have many more before my time in Beijing ends!

Throughout my entire childhood I have always considered bargaining to be one of the most entertaining activities one could take up when in a foreign country. Unlike the U.S., my family’s native country, Colombia, has markets where you can negotiate the prices for a wide variety of products. However, Colombia isn’t the only country with these amazing markets; Beijing, China is home to the famous Pearl Market. I’ve had the pleasant opportunity to visit this market multiple times during my stay in Beijing, and I enjoy every time more than the last! I can attribute my increasingly satisfying visits to the knowledge I constantly accumulate in the classroom.

 

The China Summer Language Program is catered to us students that have allotted an entire two months in China to learn Mandarin Chinese; our textbook lesson topics cover situations that we will encounter during our time in China—bargaining and buying products at the Pearl and Silk Market, visiting historical sites in Beijing and Xian, amongst many others. In fact, the day after we learned more about bargaining in class, I, along with some classmates, went to Pearl Market to utilize our new skills. At the end of that day, I can strongly assert that we made every good deals as well as came on top over the market vendors who attempted to overcharge us at every opportunity.

 

Although I’ve had several successful visits to the Pearl Market, I still intend on visiting the Silk Market as well as paying a visit or two to the Pearl Market before I return to the U.S. for the sole reason of purchasing products for my family and my closest friends; I want them to see what the fruits of bargaining entail.

Considering the long history between the U.S. and Chinese governments along with the controversial foreign and domestic policy that has surfaced from the Trump administration in the last year, I’m certain the people of China have their own impressions on the United States government and on the Americans themselves. I set out to the streets of Beijing, China to find out what commonalities in opinion, if any, were held by citizens with various backgrounds, ages, and genders. After engaging these citizens in a stimulating interview, I realized that the factors that contributed to the varying point-of-views was either how much experience the individual had with Americans, how aware the individual was with U.S. related news, as well as how invested the individual was with matters that relates to the U.S.

 

The general attitude of the interviewees towards the U.S. was a favorable one. Although they believed that some of the president’s foreign policies were “outlandish,” they still hold most Americans, at least the Americans the interviewees have come into contact with, in high regard, because those Americans have shown a great respect for the country and customs. They also find the large cultural difference between Chinese and American natives to be especially interesting. It seems that most of the Chinese might not prematurely link the United States’ policies with the personalities of Americans.

Beijing, China is famous for its Peking Duck. I ventured to a local restaurant that specializes in this exact dish to not only experience the dish for myself, but to also uncover what has allowed the Peking Duck to maintain its popular status besides the unique taste. I arrived at the restaurant one evening, and before I asked the waiter about the dish I was truly concerned he would name some cooking practices I wasn’t familiar with, but the waiter gave me an unexpected surprise; she led me to this fully glass box in the middle of the restaurant, and, inside this box, was the kitchen and the chef’s. I could see every step necessary to prepare the meal.

The waiter shared her opinion on why the dish has retained its demand over decades. She believes that the historical significance that dates back to the “imperial age” along with the overwhelming acknowledgement by the Beijing community in regards to the unique, wonderful taste, the Peking Duck will live on for centuries to come. She also believes that the process necessary to make the Peking Duck is so exquisite that it is easy to tell when the Duck is prepared properly, and I believe she is spot on. After looking at the unique process, I now understand that it is years of perfecting the process that has allowed the Peking duck to be one of the most delicious dishes I have had since I arrived in China.

One afternoon, as I was browsing through one of the many stores at Beijing’s Pearl Market, I saw two English-speaking natives walk into the store and comment on how they liked the variety of sports jerseys and athlete names that were hung up on the wall. As the store clerk walked up to these two gentleman, she intervened in their conversation by commenting on the quality of her products: “these are best that you will find, feel the material!” To my surprise, and even more to the store clerk, the two men used, what seemed to be fluent, Chinese to not only ask about the price for the hockey jersey, but also if she had certain sizes and teams. After they purchased some of the clerk’s products, I asked if they would answer a couple questions about living in China, and they agreed.

 

The two men granted me an interview that not only touched upon the distinct difference between being a minority in a rural and urban city in China, but also on their experience with the natives; an attitude that they believe should be adopted by Americans when they come across foreigners. They both agreed that the overall environment when it comes to the Chinese interacting with foreigners is a pleasant one. They both feel accepted into the community as minorities, and, they even feel even more appreciated when the natives learn that their Chinese is fluent. The only distinguishing factor between the relationship between two natives and that of a native and a foreigner is that the Chinese natives are in awe when they see a foreigner; this is especially true in rural areas where the people of those areas rarely—described by my Chinese teacher as once in 4 or 5 years—see foreigners. These specific encounters make them feel special.

 

I’d say I have to agree with them, because, during my time in the city of Xian, I also came across similar situations in which the natives enjoyed asking me questions about a life completely different than the ones they lived. Throughout my time here in China, I can strongly say that the Chinese have shown nothing but respect for me and my culture.

            In recent weeks, several U.S. based news outlets have been covering a topic that has become increasingly popular amongst civilians due to the recent issue concerning North Korea’s government and their newly developed missile: Intellectual Property(IP). IP, to those who are not aware, is described by the World Intellectual Property Organization as “creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.” What is the relation between China’s IP practices and the U.S. government’s recent exchange with North Korea? The U.S. government insists on using trade and an investigation on their IP practices as leverage in order to incentive the Chinese government to intervene into North Korea’s recent progress with their missile program that has proven to be a formidable threat to the U.S. as of late. What does a possible investigation on IP theft mean to the Chinese who use these “stolen” products on a daily basis? Let’s ask them.

After interviewing several Beijing natives on how they felt about this possible investigation on products so vital to their everyday lives, there were nearly identical thoughts and feelings shared amongst the interviewees. One of the initial reactions of the native speakers to the topic was that they felt that there was a possibility that if the U.S. government’s suspicion yields merit, then, in the upcoming years, they and their fellow countrymen wouldn’t have the opportunities to flourish in the advanced society that they have had for so long. Their concern stems from the fact that they are aware that if the investigation falls through, then the Chinese companies that allow nearly the entire population to benefit from all sorts of up-to-date technology won’t exist, and, therefore, the affordable, advanced lifestyle to many has instantly become a lifestyle granted to only the wealthiest within the population; they are forced to buy over-priced American bred products.

This issue truly seems to not only affect government officials, but will also affect over a billion civilians—an entire population. This affair is merely one component of many, so, if you considered this topic interesting, then I encourage you to look into this topic more because this war on IP theft between the U.S. and China, although recently becoming popular, dates as far back as 2015.