Last week we were in China. Shanghai was our “home base” but we took a day trip to Hangzhou. We had planned to visit Beijing also for a few days. But after experiencing the high speed train station WITH a Chinese speaker, we quickly realized that we could be in big trouble trying to navigate the train station with our luggage in tow and WITHOUT a Chinese speaker. We returned home earlier than expected and will save Beijing for a future visit.
This is a small shopping area at West Lake in Hangzhoa. Beautiful but totally foreign to us as far as reading signs goes. In Shanghai most signs are in Chinese and English. Not in Hangzhoa. The following video is of a boat tour on West Lake. Sorry … can’t tell you one word the tour guide is saying. ;D
I think what made it all even more challenging was we couldn’t read the writing. At least when the standard alphabet is used we can sometimes read the words or at least identify them. But the Chinese characters began to look all the same to us. Pretty … but all the same.
I think in the future I’d like to travel to countries where English is spoken. At least a little bit. Preferably a lot.
How about you? Do you speak more than one language? Would you like to learn to another language?
Beth @ TheAngelForever says
I took French from 4th grade to 11th grade when I received college credit. A lot of that is still there, but it’s rusty from lack no Parlez Vous-ing. Also went to Hebrew School – not that I remember much from that. Lots of other languages I would love to learn, but not sure if I will have the opportunity.
Smellyann says
I speak Spanish but I’ve lost a lot of my fluency, so it’s more stilted than it used to be. I speak bits and pieces of several other languages, but just bits. Not enough to have a real convo in. I’d love to speak like 15 languages. I should’ve been European, lol…
Jennifer says
I can understand my family’s native language, but I’m just barely conversational in it. I’d love to learn another language – I’ve been learning French since I was a teen, but I’m STILL not fluent! LOL!
Ollie McKay's Chic Boutique Blog says
Used to speak Spanish well! Took it in high school and college and really loved it and then over the years it just sort of slipped away ~ I can “attempt” to read it much better than any speaking of it! But would LOVE to become fluent in it again or another language like Italian or French – our daughter took
French in high school and I loved listening to her speak the phrases!
JamericanSpice says
I speak a little Spanish, my country’s language and I would love to speak French, Mandarin and Farsi
Deborah says
I speak English and a little French.
Xmasdolly says
Being of Sicilian decent my grandparents spoke it fluently I would like to learn, but I don’t think I could get the hang of it. I know a few phrases & words that’s about it. Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend.
Tami says
I’m mildly embarrassed to say I only speak English. Took 2 years of Spanish, and I can pick up a few phrases when I hear people speak it – but that’s it.
Neat post! I love the mix of the old and the new at that ‘shopping area’! So interesting.
Stacy Uncorked says
How cool you were in China! I’ve always wanted to learn a new language – French or Swedish or both – but never got around to it. Guess it’s never too late to learn! 🙂
Wrapping Christmas