December 22, 2003
Immersion
I am midway through a month of homestay intensive language study in Shanghai. My host family -- Ms. Xu Chunhua and Mr. Cao Pingping are terrific. Xu Laoshi (Teacher Xu) has drilled me to the point where I can mail a letter, take a bus or taxi, distinguish among the meat, vegetable and red bean paste "baozi" (tasty stuffed, steamed bread balls), explain why I am a "chi su de ren" (vegetarian), and a few other activities of daily life.
Lao Zhang (Xu Laoshi's mother) is a great cook, but (like so many women in the U.S.) worries that I don't eat enough. Cao Ping Ping works in Nanjing during the week, but returns to Shanghai weekends and helpfully pushes me into situations on the street where I have to talk with people. After two weeks, Xu Laoshi's sister, Aihua, and I can understand one another a little bit. Older daughter Xiami attends a private middle boarding school and comes home on weekends. She and I are even -- one game apiece -- at playing "xiangqi" (Chinese chess). Unfortunately, her mother has beaten me each time we've played. I came out a little ahead playing ping pong with Cao Pingping the other day, though -- and playing ping pong is a great way to practice the Chinese number system. The last member of the household is Renr, a cute four-month-old baby. I think she recognizes me. (Lao Zhang and Aihua are here temporarily, to help with the baby. They will probably go to Nantong along with Terry and me on January 8.)
--Norty
Posted by now at December 22, 2003 12:04 AM