The Talking Traveller

I can walk the walk...but can I talk the talk ? The past two days I have entered into the realm of LE, language exchange. Since I had the first sparking sensation that the east is calling me I had the desire to learn Chinese Mandarin. And since I've been here this has grown in a realisation of necessity. The reason for this is many-fold, but three of the main ones being that A: I will be a better teacher, understanding what my children are saying, giving better commands, B: To understand what people in the street and shops are saying to me and also being able to communicate my desires towards them and C: To get into the culture and the minds of the amazing Chinese race.

So the answer to the floating questions of "Ok, bla, bla, bla please tell us how you are doing this" and "What the heck is this LE you started with !?" follows. I have called numerous universities in Hsinchu, but to my disappointment found out the next semester, and thus the next enrollment, for OFFICIAL Chinese classes is only in September. Hence I had to discover a means of learning the language in the most exciting, challenging and (not forgetting) fun way. Therefore I started doing language exchange with native Chinese speakers.I put my pretty face up on the www.tealit.com website, sat back, yawned once or twice, and the replies came rolling in. We corresponded via e-mail, and the ball started to roll! This involves meeting a person in a coffee shop, sitting down, ordering and then exchanging language lessons. I have had two meeting so far and it was definitely worth it as there seems to be an eager urge to soak up and share among these people. Sessions usually last about 2 hours if time available.I help them in pronouncing words and constructing sentences while they help me get the hang of the four different tones of the Mandarin language. I have made appointments for the next two days with different individuals and I have a vision that friendships will develop. I feel that this is an excellent way to learn , to teach, and of course, challenging myself with speaking in a whole new dimension, for free!