The very last day in Jinan we had to do one big final exam to demonstrate our Chinese language skills to various people...the most of them we didn't even know...Anyway, one part of the test was to tell a story in Chinese. I really have to thank our Chinese teacher...that she always pretended to understand our sentences. But actually I'm sure we were all perfect :)

After the test in the morning we had an official farewell with all the teachers and some very important people from the international Office as well as from the Jinan University. They even came all the way from Beijing from the CDC (Carl Duisberg Center) to convince themselves of our – I have to say – outstanding Chinese speaking skills :). Big event :).
To make it even more official we all got a Chinese language certificate...so now we officially have the license to speak Chinese...poor Chinese people..they will suffer...a lot :)


Official farwell...


A lot of important people from the International Office and the University


Our Chinese and Taiqi Teacher.


Melek, Juliane and Daniel ...quite relaxed after the final exam.


In China tomatoes are fruits!!! Unbelievable ...but true :)


I'm getting my certificate...finally :)


Here it is...even with picture. I hope it says I passed :)


Group picture: all our teachers and us.

I really have to say the time here in Jinan past very fast. I think I can say for all of us that we all enjoyed our time in Jinan very much. We all learned a lot...and now I'm very motivated to test my Chinese language skills in Shanghai. Poor Shanghainese...I'm cooooming :)

Our teachers in Jinan also felt responsible - besides teaching us Chinese -to bring the Chinese culture closer to us. So, we also went to visit a traditional tea house in Jinan. The tea house and the tea ceremony we participated was an impressive experience....especially I never inhale so many joss sticks in such a short time :) We spent there about two hours...listening to traditional Chinese hand made music and of course drank a lot of tea.

Thank you very much to our teacher for this nice experience!


Entrance to the tea house in Jinan.


In front of the door...that's were they get the water for the tea...hmmm :)


In the lobby...they are already waiting for us.


There is a lot to prepare for a tea ceremony.


Our teacher is ordering the tea...we don't understand a word/sign...but looks interesting :)


Of course the Chinese lessons continue in the tea house...our teacher brought a board...especially for us :)


Melek is listening very concentrated ....really? :)


The tea ceremony starts....


How did she do that???


Looks very elegant...


Especially for us they play traditional Chinese music...nice :)


Juliane and me having a good time :)


The end....no more tea left :)

The emblem of Jinan

The first two month in China I spent in Jinan to study Chinese. For our understanding Jinan is a quiet a big city with nearly 5 mill. Inhabitants - but for China’s relations this is rather a small and rural city. They have here an "Everbright Bank" and the "Evergrowing Bank" and not to forget the "Book Foreign Language Bookstore" …so obviously this is the place to be :)

Compare to Shanghai, Jinan is very Chinese... that means very loud due life takes place on the streets, very chaotic (especially the traffic – advice: never ask the taxi driver to get you very fast to the airport...rather book another flight or just close the eyes ;-))) and a bit dirty.


Food is very often prepared on the streets


Street market in Jinan...


Another street market picture..


A family eating on the street

Most of the people do not speak English which leads to very interesting situations...especially when you go shopping, try to by an airplane ticket or try to explain the taxi driver where you would like to go (even with a map in your hands ;-)). But usually it works out fine…somehow.

One of the main hobbies of the Jinan inhabitants is to observe the foreign people living in Jinan very closely :) (There are not so many foreigners in Jinan). So, if you wandering though the streets in Jinan it is not very seldom that the people start staring at you. After a while you get used to it :).
Another interesting experience was when I tried to buy a spoon in the supermarket and ask one of the employees where to find a spoon (of course in Chinese ;-)). After a view seconds I caused traffic jam within the supermarket, due suddenly everybody stopped and watched me how I desperately try to explain in Chinese that I want to buy a spoon.


Me and Daniel trying to buy tea....in china green tea is not just tea :)


Chinese people like to buy their food fresh as possible :)


Turtle soup?

Another very famous hobby of the Jinan inhabitants – especially the taxi drivers – is to start a conversation with you. It does not play a big role here if you able to understand them...they just keep on going...very patient people ;-)).

But the most famous hobby of the Chinese people is to get photographed with European people. So, if you dreamed of getting a model....China offers some opportunities for European people :).


Me and my new best friend the taxi driver

Chinese - I have to say - is probably not really the easiest language that can be chosen to learn. Europeans have to fight with many difficulties in learning this language. Drawing and reading Chinese characters is just one of them. I’m still very fascinated when I see a Chinese person reading a newspaper in Chinese characters. I’m already happy if I recognize one character in every second sentence. Now I know how it must feel to be an illiterate. It already starts in the restaurant when you try to order the food...I usually order the dish with the most beautiful characters...but I really have to say...it is not always the best tasting dish :-)).
Besides that, the next problem is to meet the right tone, while speaking Chinese. The Chinese language, all together has four tones. So it can happen that you have the same word in written, but with a different tone, then it means something completely different. So, for example instead of saying "I go quick to the bathroom brushing my teeth (teeth = ya, second tone)" you could end up saying "I go quick to the bathroom brushing my duck (duck = ya, first tone)"...I really would like to see the reactions on that...especially when the Chinese family really has some ducks :-).

But our Chinese teachers here in Jinan, at the Shandong Economic College try their best to teach us the Chinese language :-). I think we should be paid for their entertainment ;-).



Mrs. MaBo our very, very patient Chinese Teacher :)



We, very concentrated learning Chinese

Everyday we have about five hours of Chinese lessons. Fridays we have a test, where we can demonstrate our improved Chinese skills :)
Tuesday and Wednesday we have Taiqi lessons, which is a quiet interesting sport. Every time we have Taiqi lessons people stop and watch us how we try to follow our teacher - with her it looks always very elegant - but I assume we looks less elegant trying to follow her movements. But, of course, we try our best ;-). Look yourself:


Warming up :)


We haven even started yet with taiqi....and we are already tired. But our teacher is still very motivated doing stretching, as you can see :)


We, practicing confu kicks...so you better pay attention when you cross my way the next time :))


Finally, we are practicing Taiqi :)