After seven years in China, you’d think that navigating the streets of Beijing should be a piece of cake. Unfortunately, it’s anything but. Just yesterday, I was trying to get to my school for some editorial work and spontaneously decided to take public transport for the first time in a long time, because I’m just that adventurous (and my phone was out of service so ordering a Didi was a no-go).
I thought I knew my way around the city pretty well. Boy, was I wrong. I couldn’t seem to find a bus station anywhere in the area. After walking for what felt like an eternity, I finally spotted my golden goose: the Jintai Lu subway station. I’m much more familiar with subway routes, which is why I was relieved to have seen a station on the horizon. Before I knew it, I was darting through the busy streets and running down the escalator to buy a subway ticket, so that I could reach school as fast as my little legs would allow.
I’m not entirely fluent in Chinese which is why I was not able to ask around for guidance or direction. Even if I had, I would not have understood a single word and would have probably hit them with a good old “Duì!” or “Shénme?” Worst of all, I couldn’t rely on my best friend Google Translate (nor Google Maps) either. Tell me you’re having a bad day without telling me you’re having a bad day.
Living in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language is a struggle on the whole, and not just here in Beijing. The language barrier often sets us back and restricts us in countless ways: whether we’re ordering food, trying to find our way around town, or even something as simple as buying groceries from the local jingkelong. All of it requires some sort of communication and verbal interaction, which is one of the many reasons I’ve decided to stop taking Chinese for granted and really learn the language (a decision that is seven years late, but better late than never, am I right?). And honestly, I encourage everyone living in China who can’t speak Chinese yet, to do the same.
Learning the language will not only keep you open-minded but also allow you to get the most out of your stay here in China. Becoming entirely fluent certainly won’t happen overnight. However, it’s a great first step towards autonomy and having to rely less on the same three Chinese words you learned the first week you got to Beijing.
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Images: Unsplash
