Finding yourself in a new and strange land can be overwhelming. It is helpful to know a few words and phrases to get around. Check out the Chinese letters for common phrases.
餵............hello
我的名字是.....my name is
您好嗎........how are you?
我不明白......I don't understand
我失去了......I am lost.
多少費用......how much does this cost?
謝謝您.......thank you
再見.........goodbye
March 5, 2010
Foreign Studies in The Middle Kingdom
After serving a two year Latter-day Saint Mission in Thailand, Spencer Owens, a junior studying business management, wasn’t finished with the oriental culture.
Upon returning to BYU-Idaho, Owens began taking Chinese courses to make himself more marketable. To become fluent in Chinese, he took his studies to the next level and did a a two month semester abroad in China.
“Because I had served a foreign language speaking mission, I knew the only way to be fluent in Chinese would be to be immersed in the language, so I went to China,” Owens said.
Owens found out about the semester abroad experience in China through BYU in Provo, and took the opportunity with limited details and information.
“I had no idea what I was doing before I left,” Owens said. “I just bought a ticket to China and showed up to this university and I just gave them tuition money and they let me in.”
His university, Nanjing Normal, places students according to their level after placement tests which covered reading, writing and speaking. In his level, Owens attended classes Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-12 noon. The classes included speaking, grammar and writing.
Aside from being taught entirely in Chinese, Owens said the class work felt about the same as the BYU-I Chinese courses. But, the teachers did not sugarcoat poor student performances.
“The Chinese teachers they would tell you exactly what you were doing wrong in front of the whole class,” Owens said. “In a sense, they tell you that you suck.”
In addition to his studies, Owens traveled in China as well. Owens lived in Nanjing, located in eastern China. He went traveled to northern China, seeing Beijing and the surrounding areas, as well as southern China, including cities such as Guilin, Yangshuo, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Among the sites he saw, the Great Wall of China stood out to him.
“My friend and I walked 10 kilometers (6 miles) [on the Great Wall of China], and it was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be,” Owens said. “The fact that we walked 10 kilometers on it, and that it was still going on for miles and miles each way was the reason it was so great and impressed me. It’s pretty insane.”
Owens is an supporter of foreign experiences as a way to better understand the world.
“I would say, don’t hesitate to do it, because it’s great to experience another way of life,” Owens said. “It’s more than a vacation; you get to experience more of the culture and surroundings. I feel like [study abroad programs] and a foreign mission give you a more broad sense of culture and how huge the world is.”
Upon returning to BYU-Idaho, Owens began taking Chinese courses to make himself more marketable. To become fluent in Chinese, he took his studies to the next level and did a a two month semester abroad in China.
“Because I had served a foreign language speaking mission, I knew the only way to be fluent in Chinese would be to be immersed in the language, so I went to China,” Owens said.
Owens found out about the semester abroad experience in China through BYU in Provo, and took the opportunity with limited details and information.
“I had no idea what I was doing before I left,” Owens said. “I just bought a ticket to China and showed up to this university and I just gave them tuition money and they let me in.”
His university, Nanjing Normal, places students according to their level after placement tests which covered reading, writing and speaking. In his level, Owens attended classes Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-12 noon. The classes included speaking, grammar and writing.
Aside from being taught entirely in Chinese, Owens said the class work felt about the same as the BYU-I Chinese courses. But, the teachers did not sugarcoat poor student performances.
“The Chinese teachers they would tell you exactly what you were doing wrong in front of the whole class,” Owens said. “In a sense, they tell you that you suck.”
In addition to his studies, Owens traveled in China as well. Owens lived in Nanjing, located in eastern China. He went traveled to northern China, seeing Beijing and the surrounding areas, as well as southern China, including cities such as Guilin, Yangshuo, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Among the sites he saw, the Great Wall of China stood out to him.
“My friend and I walked 10 kilometers (6 miles) [on the Great Wall of China], and it was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be,” Owens said. “The fact that we walked 10 kilometers on it, and that it was still going on for miles and miles each way was the reason it was so great and impressed me. It’s pretty insane.”
Owens is an supporter of foreign experiences as a way to better understand the world.
“I would say, don’t hesitate to do it, because it’s great to experience another way of life,” Owens said. “It’s more than a vacation; you get to experience more of the culture and surroundings. I feel like [study abroad programs] and a foreign mission give you a more broad sense of culture and how huge the world is.”
Everybody has a story
It is easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget to look outside ourselves. Thirty minutes before the Tuesday Devotional with Elder Nelson began on January 26, I remember trying to fit in my religion class reading assignment while I was waiting in the John W. Hart Building. But something told me to look up and talk to the blonde girl sitting to my right. I went through the usual questions: what’s your name, what are you studying, where are you from. She answered, “Hélène, international business and Belgium.” Wait. Belgium!?! Where weren’t talkin’ Utah or Idaho here.
Hélène just completed a semester abroad at Missouri State University and was briefly visiting her brother at BYU-I before returning to Belgium. She spoke highly of her experience, and I simply couldn’t pass up an opportunity to look at a semester abroad from the flip side; someone coming to the United States to study.
Hélène just completed a semester abroad at Missouri State University and was briefly visiting her brother at BYU-I before returning to Belgium. She spoke highly of her experience, and I simply couldn’t pass up an opportunity to look at a semester abroad from the flip side; someone coming to the United States to study.
Q&A with Hélène Baret
1. Where were you born?
Liège, Belgique
2. Where do you currently live?
Belgium
3. How many, and what languages do you speak?
3, I speak French, English and I'm learning Spanish
4. What made you decide to study abroad in the United States?
I wanted to have a new experience, to meet new people, to learn about the American culture (to check if the movies where the right version the U.S.!), and most of all get experience for my career. I study the international business.
5. Describe what studying in a different country was like for you.
That was great! I studied in Springfield, Missouri, and that state was great to live in. I went to Missouri State University, a wonderful university. They have really good programs and take care of the international students really well. So I gained knowledge and, at the same time, I discovered the U.S. I went to Memphis, San Antonio, Kansas City… I saw really great places. This study abroad program was also an awesome human experience. At church or at school, I met people I will never forget.
6. What are some lessons you learned during your semester abroad?
First, be tolerant. Sometimes, people don’t think the same way because of their cultures. When it happened to me, I just tried to understand why people don’t think like I do and I learned how to respect that difference. Actually, differences are amazing! You can get the good things from everyone and make your own multicultural mix!
7. What were some difficulties you encountered while studying abroad?
Sometimes, it was hard to understand the people. When [people] are talking together, they use slang or they talk about stuff typical for the U.S. but not for the rest of the world. That could sound stupid but it’s hard to socialize when you don’t understand some jokes or some stories about their favorite song for example (some are not the same in Europe!).
8. What were some of your greatest successes or memories during your semester abroad?
One of my greatest successes was to figure out at the end of the semester that I was able to study in another language. I mean, it looks huge sometimes to leave your country and go somewhere you don’t know anybody. When I left Missouri, I thought: “Yeah, I did it! And I would do it again!” That was a great accomplishment. In the greatest memories I have, there’s always a friend. I met wonderful people.
9. Describe your brief time in Rexburg and at BYU-I. What was that like for you? What did you feel on campus?
I came to Idaho to visit my brother and his family. My visit was wonderful. Rexburg is not a really big city so you get familiar with it pretty fast and I like that. The campus of the university is pretty nice too. For a European member of the Church like me, it was amazing to walk around and see buildings with prophets’ names! I enjoyed attending the devotionals. The students are so lucky to hear inspired people at school! I had the blessing to listen to Elder Nelson on January 26. I’m so thankful that I got that opportunity thanks to BYU-I. To study at BYU-I is a great blessing because you can increase your knowledge and, at the same time, grow spiritually.
10. What has it been like to go home? Has it been difficult to adjust back?
You never want such an experience to end! So it has been kind of hard to be back home. But it’s ok; I have a great family here in Belgium supporting me! And it feels good to be back in the old Europe!
Liège, Belgique
2. Where do you currently live?
Belgium
3. How many, and what languages do you speak?
3, I speak French, English and I'm learning Spanish
4. What made you decide to study abroad in the United States?
I wanted to have a new experience, to meet new people, to learn about the American culture (to check if the movies where the right version the U.S.!), and most of all get experience for my career. I study the international business.
5. Describe what studying in a different country was like for you.
That was great! I studied in Springfield, Missouri, and that state was great to live in. I went to Missouri State University, a wonderful university. They have really good programs and take care of the international students really well. So I gained knowledge and, at the same time, I discovered the U.S. I went to Memphis, San Antonio, Kansas City… I saw really great places. This study abroad program was also an awesome human experience. At church or at school, I met people I will never forget.
6. What are some lessons you learned during your semester abroad?
First, be tolerant. Sometimes, people don’t think the same way because of their cultures. When it happened to me, I just tried to understand why people don’t think like I do and I learned how to respect that difference. Actually, differences are amazing! You can get the good things from everyone and make your own multicultural mix!
7. What were some difficulties you encountered while studying abroad?
Sometimes, it was hard to understand the people. When [people] are talking together, they use slang or they talk about stuff typical for the U.S. but not for the rest of the world. That could sound stupid but it’s hard to socialize when you don’t understand some jokes or some stories about their favorite song for example (some are not the same in Europe!).
8. What were some of your greatest successes or memories during your semester abroad?
One of my greatest successes was to figure out at the end of the semester that I was able to study in another language. I mean, it looks huge sometimes to leave your country and go somewhere you don’t know anybody. When I left Missouri, I thought: “Yeah, I did it! And I would do it again!” That was a great accomplishment. In the greatest memories I have, there’s always a friend. I met wonderful people.
9. Describe your brief time in Rexburg and at BYU-I. What was that like for you? What did you feel on campus?
I came to Idaho to visit my brother and his family. My visit was wonderful. Rexburg is not a really big city so you get familiar with it pretty fast and I like that. The campus of the university is pretty nice too. For a European member of the Church like me, it was amazing to walk around and see buildings with prophets’ names! I enjoyed attending the devotionals. The students are so lucky to hear inspired people at school! I had the blessing to listen to Elder Nelson on January 26. I’m so thankful that I got that opportunity thanks to BYU-I. To study at BYU-I is a great blessing because you can increase your knowledge and, at the same time, grow spiritually.
10. What has it been like to go home? Has it been difficult to adjust back?
You never want such an experience to end! So it has been kind of hard to be back home. But it’s ok; I have a great family here in Belgium supporting me! And it feels good to be back in the old Europe!
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