Wo bu dong le (I don't understand....)

Two weeks ago Saturday, I moved in with my host family. This opportunity is something that I was really excited about doing. What better way to experience Chinese culture and language than to be engaged in it daily at home.

IES has somewhat of an awkward, ceremonial process that we all had to undergo. All the students and host families lined up on separate sides of a small courtyard outside. The IES Director would then call out the family name, then the student's; we met in the middle. It was funny to watch the families as they would get there new student. As much as the students were worried about who they would be living with, the families were even more worried.

A common problem with homestays in China is that often the student is used as a show-and-tell throughout the families daily life; they are a status symbol. Most of the families that have abused the whole process have been kicked out of the program, so we were told not to worry too much about it. Anyways, I say that to say this; there are certain characteristics that families like more than others. Me, being tall, western-looking, and a boy makes me something my family is proud of... which is weird...lol.














So back to the process.

My family's name was finally called and soon after so was mine. Awkwardly we walked towards each other and the first thing my new mom said was "He is very tall!" (in Chinese) (she is really short).


Thus began the strangest car ride of my life.

I quickly realized that my Chinese mother spoke no English; she didn't even know hello. It was about 5 minutes into the trip when I had exhausted all of my Chinese that I began to think this might have been a bad idea :)

When we reached the home I was a bit surprised. I am just down the street from the Birds Nest and all the Olympic buildings/parks. In fact, I can see the Birds Nest when I leave my building every morning which is pretty cool.

So anyways, we make it back home and I get to meet my dad. He also speaks no English; brilliant. I spend another 5 minutes in the same conversation, but this time with him. He also discovers that I speak little English. But I am tall, white, and a boy so I think he is happy...

While I begin unpacking my stuff into my room the zhongguo (China) parents begin making Jiaozi's for dinner. I go out and watch and try to converse. Unsuccessful, I return to my room and shuffle things around.

Beijingers have a 'Beijing accent' that sounds something like adding an 'arr' to every word. Think of them as like Chinese Pirates. My parents have a thick one, so much so, that I feel as though a different language is spoken at home than what I am learning at school. My parents also speak very fast which makes understanding them much easier as well.

Our typical everyday conversation looks something like this:
Parents: Kelisi (my chinese name), blah blah blah blah
Me: Shenme? (what?)
Parents: [faster] blah blah blah blah
Me: Wo bu dong le (I don't understand)
Parents: [faster, this time with food in their mouths] blah blah blah blah
Me: Wo bu zhi dao (I don't know)

Regardless of the obvious language barrier, and by barrier I mean Great Wall, Berlin Wall, China's Firewall - all combined, its been an awesome experience thus far. I really like my parents and I am pretty sure they like me as well. They have very fun personalities which makes up for my lack of vocabulary; basically they make fun of what I am trying to say which I am ok with. For now, they are feeding me a lot (more on that later) and making sure I take my umbrella with me when it rains; good parents.