The last time I was in China, my friends and I picked up a phrase most commonly used before going out to the Wudaokou or Sanlitun districts for the night, a phrase reminiscent of simpler times (2011) and youthful indulgence: 你只活一次.
Now, I should preface this by letting you know that Chinese is not my first language. I have found that it is often difficult to translate colloquial phrases from one's native tongue without losing some of the phrase's original meaning and connotations. But I'd like to think that native Mandarin speakers understand the spirit of what I'm trying to convey when I say '你只活一次.' Literally, it translates into 'you only live once.' Yes, Y.O.L.O. Yes, from the Drake song.
The last time I was in China, I was seventeen years old and in my junior year of high school. I arrived in Beijing in the summer of 2012 with the School Year Abroad Program. I would spend the next nine months living with a local Chinese host family, drastically improving my Mandarin, and learning about Chinese culture and society. When I left in May of 2013, I was leaving what I had grown to consider 我的家:my home.
This summer marks the first time that I'm returning to China since I left in 2013. However, this time, I will not be surrounded by the safety net of neither 63 American students and friends, nor a host family. I am returning as a 19 year old rising college sophomore, not a 17 year old high school junior. I am excited to rediscover China, regain all the Mandarin I forgot, and make new memories and friendships. '你只活一次' has a slightly new meaning to me now than it did when I was seventeen, but the basic jist remains. It means making the most of your experiences and savoring the happy moments.
Now, what will I be doing, exactly?
I will be working with the Amity Foundation, the largest independent charity organization in China. I will live in the city of Nanjing in Jiangsu province from June 3rd- July 5th. In Nanjing, I will work with Amity's several social development centers, such as the Amity Home of Blessings for mentally disabled folk, the Amity Senior Service Center, and the Children's Development Center.
In July, I will be moved to Suining, Sichuan to help Chinese middle and high school teachers improve their English. I will teach about four hours of lessons per day, 5 days a week, for three weeks,
I will attempt to write at least one blog post a week, hopefully two. I'd like to thank Claremont McKenna's Human Rights Center for sponsoring my work, and you, for joining me this summer. I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences, and I hope you live by the phrase '你只活一次 this summer as well.
Now, I should preface this by letting you know that Chinese is not my first language. I have found that it is often difficult to translate colloquial phrases from one's native tongue without losing some of the phrase's original meaning and connotations. But I'd like to think that native Mandarin speakers understand the spirit of what I'm trying to convey when I say '你只活一次.' Literally, it translates into 'you only live once.' Yes, Y.O.L.O. Yes, from the Drake song.
The last time I was in China, I was seventeen years old and in my junior year of high school. I arrived in Beijing in the summer of 2012 with the School Year Abroad Program. I would spend the next nine months living with a local Chinese host family, drastically improving my Mandarin, and learning about Chinese culture and society. When I left in May of 2013, I was leaving what I had grown to consider 我的家:my home.
This summer marks the first time that I'm returning to China since I left in 2013. However, this time, I will not be surrounded by the safety net of neither 63 American students and friends, nor a host family. I am returning as a 19 year old rising college sophomore, not a 17 year old high school junior. I am excited to rediscover China, regain all the Mandarin I forgot, and make new memories and friendships. '你只活一次' has a slightly new meaning to me now than it did when I was seventeen, but the basic jist remains. It means making the most of your experiences and savoring the happy moments.
Now, what will I be doing, exactly?
I will be working with the Amity Foundation, the largest independent charity organization in China. I will live in the city of Nanjing in Jiangsu province from June 3rd- July 5th. In Nanjing, I will work with Amity's several social development centers, such as the Amity Home of Blessings for mentally disabled folk, the Amity Senior Service Center, and the Children's Development Center.
In July, I will be moved to Suining, Sichuan to help Chinese middle and high school teachers improve their English. I will teach about four hours of lessons per day, 5 days a week, for three weeks,
I will attempt to write at least one blog post a week, hopefully two. I'd like to thank Claremont McKenna's Human Rights Center for sponsoring my work, and you, for joining me this summer. I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences, and I hope you live by the phrase '你只活一次 this summer as well.