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Rice Plus in Tongzilin is crazy good value for money. You can eat for around 30 kuai and it’s damn good curry, in my opinion.
I know my landlord goes to church somewhere around TianFu Square. I can get you some more details, if it’s close enough for you.
Also sometimes posts don’t go through when you don’t set a subforum from the dropdown.
Are you contributing to this Kickstarter? It looks like the 300 yuan contribution will get you one shipped to Chengdu, which should arrive in July.
Unfortunately, no. It’s ahead of its goal and could likely arrive after my exit date. I’ll see if I can find one retail when I get back to the UK.
The way you’ve described your time here is basically avoiding opportunities
You’ve got me there, Rick. Even now as I’m finding the confidence to converse shortly with our artists, who have the lowest English level, I’m getting complimented on my language and it feels great.
Simple things like short conversations with old Chinese people who tell stories about their youth are fascinating. Things like that require Chinese. I find that Chinese people who speak English also tend to have a different mindset since command of the English language means they’ve been exposed to a different way of thinking and approaching problems. The people who don’t speak English are more “pure” Chinese in their way of thinking and getting to know them is worth it, in my experience.
Inspirational words there Charlie. I’ve definitely noticed a correlation between how much English someone speaks and their personality. I’ll make a point to get into some more meaningful conversations. That even seems like a meaningful goal.
I guess I can just concentrate on reading Chinese while I’m away. Aside from finding a language partner among the international students at my Uni, I’m doubtful that I’ll get a real opportunity.
You guys give me hope. In high school, I thought I’d never even want learn a language. Now there’s nothing I want more than to have Mandarin fluency on my CV.
I feel as if I have neglected my opportunity to learn the language. Though part of my excuse is that I am relatively spoiled in terms of how often I’m required to speak Chinese.
My girlfriend’s English, so no dating scene for me.
My room-mate is the Greek guy that I came here with, and I’m stupidly lucky to have a landlord who speaks impeccable English.
The company at which I work puts English fluency as a requirement – depending on the department, they won’t hire you unless you speak English.
Regarding Charlie’s book suggestion. I think it’s brilliant, I read it in a post before I came here and ran out to buy a little pocket book to keep my Chinese. I did my tone diagrams in the first page then started with numbers and basic phrases. Then as soon as I got here, I’ve never touched the thing. Apart from one emergency situation involving a lack of toilet paper.
I am the ignorant laowai, and I’m not happy about it. I’ll cram as much as I can in the next three months, then try again if I get another chance at Chengdu life in a year’s time. Which brings me to a question:
What can one do to maintain the language outside of the country? Should I venture into China town every day? Should I address the restaurant owners in their native tongue?
Rainbow Fair is coming!
15th April, 10:00-16:00, in Rainbow Chinese Language Institute, let’s enjoy Spring together!
Food ,tea, coffee, cloths, kitchen stuff, even the Calligraphy trial class and Tea Ceremony!! Let’s welcome vendors from different countries!
Its a mini fair, also a good chance to meet new friends there!
THE PROCESS:
10:00-16:00 Fair time. Various goods; free food tasting; free snack and drinks has offered by Rainbow Chinese school.
11:00-11:30 & 14:30-15:00 Calligraphy trial class; Tea Ceremony show.
VENDORS:
1 Rainbow Chinese Language Institute
2 Xiao Tuzi Children’s Apparel
3 Happy Yak Yogurt & Cheese
4 Q’s Coffee & Food; Farm Delivery
5 Marc Wines
6 CC kichen
7 Blue Sheep Handicrafts & Gift Shop
8 San Yi Xuan Tea House
9 Three Trees Healthy Food
10 Da Liang Mountain Handicraft
11 Dancing Yak Handicraft
12 Ba Dudu Little House
Come and join us! Enjoy Rainbow Fair in Spring!
WHEN : 15th April Tuesday 10:00-16:00
WHERE: Inside Orchard Villas west area, Building No.2, Unit1-201, Tongzi Lin Dong Lu 3#， Chengdu (Turn left after get in the gate then walk down the road, left side No.2 court yard)
虹文化 桐梓林东路3号锦绣花园西区锦莲楼1单页201号（进大门第一个路口左拐走到底，上左手边平台。）There’s always people looking for room-mates on this forum – People with spare rooms and whatnot. Here’s a hot post from a few days ago. It seems to meet your needs perfectly. Safe location, already down town, foreigners and foreign bars on your doorstep.
Might get there early for the promise of some Lao. If not, keep me a bottle in your back pocket. Then sit down, break it and be like, “Why the fuck was there a bottle of beer in my back pocket?”
In our office we have fruit delivered every couple of days. Sometimes apples, sometimes oranges, etc. Bananas are the winner though. They disappear within an hour of getting dropped off.
Back home, we’re taught not to drink water outside the UK from a young age. Here’s a limerick popularized in an advert for some dutch beer.
Here’s the proper link. The last one was a result of dodgy embed stuff. I can open the map up to collaborators whenever. I just need emails, preferably active gmail accounts. Lest Charlie wants to start his own to administrate it himself.
While I can’t think of any directly useful pieces of equipment that you should bring. Some home comforts never hurt. I’ve been making requests for tea and biscuits from my visitors from back home in the UK. They serve as a warm comfort when I really need it. The tastes and the smells will throw you back to scenes in your living room back at home and make you feel at ease.
As for what to expect here, I’d recommend a few things from the site. The concise guide to Chengdu, and this list which is updated with categorised articles about Chengdu specifically. I also feel that this show represented Chengdu very well. It’s essentially a cooking show, but it was very informative. I encourage you to watch and get an idea of, at least, what you’ll be eating.
“Your first week in Chengdu” would be a great idea for a future article too!
