Chinese class

I started taking Chinese classes in September. Every Monday evening, I voluntarily have my poor, over-40 brain tortured.

It started off okay and I really enjoyed feeling like I was learning something. Ni Hao! (Hello!) Wo men shi xue sheng (We are students!).

Last week was probably the low point for me. I was sooo tired. I stayed up way too late, got paged in the middle of the night (which meant I got a crappy nights sleep) and was generally exhausted at class. And of course I was expected to carry on a conversation in Chinese. This would be taxing even under the best circumstances, but my brain was a blob of jello. It didn't help that she was asking Ta shi shei? (who is that?). Sadly, we just don't know each other's names in class, so we would all sit there like bumps on a log. I suggested nametags :-)

The next part of the lesson was reading and involved reading dialogue between students and teachers, and between teachers, between students (you get the picture). Then she would ask Ta Shi Li Fang? (Who is Li Fang?) Geez, I don't know the names of the real, live humans in my class - how am I supposed to keep track of pretend people?

I think it's been worthwhile. I probably won't be able to carry on a conversation, but I am starting to recognize some characters and I understand more about the language. Plus I get out of the house every Monday night leaving Mr Rx to put the kids to bed.