学习外语像一双鞋子一样 (studying foreign languages is like a pair of shoes)

Greetings from Hangzhou, China!

So after what must have been the longest day of my life, both my two 50-pound suitcases and I made it to Hangzhou, China. Since then, I’ve just been settling in, getting to know my roommate, learning more about the program, and taking placement tests. So far, everything has been going very smoothly.

There are a total of 13 students on the program that all come from different American universities (there are actually only 4 Middlebury students, despite this being a program from their university). There is also one other Fulbrighter on a CLEA grant, so I’m not the only one here who has already graduated. Everyone is very bright and friendly, and I think that we should all get along pretty well.

My roommate Chen Yan is really wonderful. She is very helpful, eager to become good friends, and above all, extremely patient. I am incredibly thankful, and look forward to getting to know her over the next four months.

So there’s a lot I could say about my experiences so far and culture-shock (yes, it is all too real), about my classes and newly-signed language pledge, but for now I’ll just address the title of this entry, “Studying foreign languages is like a pair of shoes.” (Michelle and Stefi, this one goes out to both of you).

Okay, so here it goes: you go to a store and find a pair of shoes that you absolutely adore. Let’s say, a pair of red patent flats (made in China, naturally). They’re somehow both cute and functional. You think of all the amazing things that you’re going to be able to do with these shoes. However, when you try them on you realize how tough they are. Your soft, dainty feet scream in protest. But regardless, you identify their potential use and comfort. More importantly, you can’t live without them.

You buy the shoes. You are so excited to wear them for the first time, but after 5-some hours you grow to hate the shoes. Resent the shoes. What the hell were you possibly thinking? Will it EVER get better? However, being stubborn and resilient (after all, you did invest a lot in these shoes), you persevere through band-aids and blisters. Finally, after much hard work and dedication, you break them in (or rather, let’s be honest, they break you in). You wear them all the time with ease. Thank God.

However, the season changes and you reluctantly have to retire the shoes. You buy another pair (Italian leather boots, to be exact), and endure through the same struggle to break them in. You miss the red flats, but have grown to love the boots as well.

But all too soon, boot season is over. Time to pull the red flats back out. But where as a couple of months before they were so comfortable, your blisters have softened and you have to start over again.

BUT NOT QUITE. Here’s the good news: yes, your feet are sore, you have to rebuild your blisters, but this time it’s not quite as bad. Your feet slowly remember, and the shoes are softer after their last use. So yes, wearing shoes requires constant use and dedication, but somehow, it pays off.

So there you go. Breaking in shoes is a flawless analogy for how one learns a language, provided that we stop here and omit the footwear's inevitable destruction. Perhaps you think that this is merely the toxins and pollution talking, but I assure you that if you think about it, you’ll realize how genius this is.

And with that, a lovely Saturday to everyone in America! If you want to know what Sunday will be like, just drop me a line...