This week marked the halfway point for our NSLI-Y scholars’ adventures in Xi’an. In addition to language classes and mid-term oral progress checks on Friday, students’ afternoon activities this week included learning two more Chinese pop songs, watching an episode of a TV show based on the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” and playing language games with their language partners.
The highlight of the week, though, was the field trip to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Daxingshan Temple, both important centers of Buddhism in China during the Tang Dynasty. Both sites were integral to the spread of Buddhism from India to China and housed the translations of many sacred texts.
Easton and Juan in front of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in 652 C.E. and stands at a height of 141 feet
Our NSLI-Y Dragon group in front of the Daxingshan temple (Maureen, Gillian, Kayden, Logan, Nina, Juan, Johannah, Easton, Jovanna, Jacob, Cameron, Linnea, Phillip, Jacqueline, Amaya)
Johannah, Linnea, and Nina at the temple in front of a stone lion
Jovanna, Easton, and Jacob inside the temple’s place of worship
Kayden and Cameron at Daxingshan Temple
An important part of adjusting to culture shock and developing coping strategies for a successful experience living abroad is giving yourself a break. In an act of spontaneity, many students decided to visit a local cat cafe after exploring the pagoda and temple. After ordering milk teas and lattes, we sat with the cats for about two hours of “therapy.”
The cats were happy to engage in cultural exchange with our NSLI-Y scholars (Gillian & Cameron)
Or maybe it’s all about who has the treats… (Jacqueline & Johannah)
Maureen making a new Chinese-speaking friend, 小蓝 (“Little Blue”)
Finally, on Friday, despite having to cram for mid-term oral progress checks for Chinese class, students went out of their way to throw a surprise party for Resident Director Nan Laoshi’s birthday, complete with a thoughtful message in Chinese on the blackboard, a home-made piñata, and a store-bought cake (ordered all in Chinese, of course!).
Before the “surprise”
Resident Director Nan Laoshi doing his best to get over his distaste for surprise parties