Why China, why Beijing?

A recent report by Boston Consulting pointed to the emergence of a vast middle class in China, estimated to be worth $10 trillion in 2020, all of which point to the idea that regardless of whether my career and future have anything to do with China, China will definitely have something to do with my future. So from a very rational and practical standpoint, I decided to go to China to pursue a 6 months intensive Chinese Language and Business Chinese course. I thought I needed to not just enhance my level of Chinese proficiency, I needed to go beyond the Chinese culture on a deeper level and what is better than immersing myself fully in China? While my reasons for going to China were more rational, I realized midway that I had actually fallen in love with Beijing.

It certainly wasn’t an easy decision to deliberately step out of the rat race for a good 6 months. Before graduation, the one most commonly asked question was “Have you found a job? Have you secured an interview?” I remember getting weird stares and raised eyebrows when I replied to these questions, “Ooh... Not yet because I’m going to China.” And almost immediately, the next question would be “Why China?”

It is indeed very difficult to look back upon at the 6 good months I had spent in PKU without digressing into the realm of nostalgia, but I’ll try to be dividing up the sub-sections for an easier read.

Learning at Peking University, the experience

I was indeed very fortunate and very much privileged to learn from two of the most learned and wise teachers in my faculty – Associate Professor Zhao Yang, Deputy Dean of the School of Chinese as a Second Language and Professor Zhao Yanfeng. An intellectual individual may not necessarily be wise, but here in my two teachers, both traits co-existed in a single individual.

Learning at PKU, especially from these two teachers, went far beyond the monotony and routine of classroom learning, and memorizing chunks and paragraphs of text. Learning the Chinese language and culture has never been more alive with my teachers making the learning relevant to our daily lives and sharing their life experiences. It went beyond the textbooks and constraints of a classroom, the mere vocabularies, correcting grammatical structures, it also went far deeper than the teaching of China’s history, culture and the many turning points and tumultuous periods that shaped and molded China and its policies. I’m appreciative that my teachers made it a point to integrate and inculcate traditional values that may often be neglected or downplayed in the pursuit of academic excellence. It serves as a timely reminder especially as I’m at the crossroads and about to enter the workforce, that in the pursuit for success in my career and life, never to lose sight of who I am and to be grounded in the values and beliefs I stand for.

I remember very vividly Professor Zhao saying “ Learn, and know how to appreciate the life of the ordinary man on the streets.” The first immediate reaction of the aspiring and ambitious young adult in me was, “Why? When contentment often leads to the loss and lack of drive?” But upon closer scrutiny and deeper understanding, I began to understand that the essence of what Professor Zhao was trying to impart and teach was – humility and humble confidence.

The good times spent

Apart from everyday school (which was in itself already very enjoyable and fun because we played very hard in class too), there were ample opportunities for meaningful cultural exchanges as I was in a class with a good cultural mix, with individuals hailing from 13 different countries in the world – from the Nordics in Norway and Sweden, Germany, England, Russia, America, Jamaica, to countries nearer to home such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and Japan.

Professor Zhao Yang once said, “The smart man knows when an opportunity is near, but the smartest man is able to look beyond and seize the opportunities within opportunities.” This was indeed a very rare opportunity for us to leverage on to engage with each other in meaningful cultural exchanges.

Indulging in what we all love – food, where we sought out one another’s national dishes and cuisines, specifically, Jamaican cuisine, Russian, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese and not forgetting trying out Chinese food from the different provinces and minority groups in China! Through these countless gatherings, we got to know each other on a more personal level. I recall a friend of mine asking me, “Having spending an entire day in class with your classmates, aren’t you bored of them and rather seek out other groups of friends?” And I recall us laughing at and with each other about how after a few months of each other, we seemed to have infused one another’s way of speaking, mannerisms and style of speech till it has become one jumble mix of our different personalities!

How has PKU influenced or changed my life?

Studying and living in Beijing for the last 6 months has been quite a humbling experience and a very experiential journey. Beijing would have been very different without PKU, my learned and wise teachers and my classmates who collectively grew to become like family to me. The good friendships forged with my fellow classmates, the cultural exchange with classmates who hail from 13 different countries as well as the support and somewhat reliance we grew used to when around each other are but a few reasons why I fell in love with Beijing so quickly. Looking back at the times spent in PKU, it is not so much the distinctions scored (of course they matter), but more so the friendships forged, the values learnt from my teachers and the opening up of the mind to fresh new perspectives that I cherish the most, and that which makes the PKU experience so valuable.  

I knew I was really loving my time in PKU when I knew I could actually see myself going on studying for another couple of years and living in Beijing. Unknowingly, Beijing has come to become like a second home to me. I believe at some point in my career ahead, there will be a number of years that I will like and want to spend in China.

I believe the learning points and teachings that my teachers impart will continue to influence my perspectives, my attitude and most importantly, my character, for a very long time to come and put me in good stead as I enter the next phase of my life – the working world. For all the learning, immense joy, countless laughter and the good times we share, I’m eternally grateful to my classmates, Professor Zhao Yang, Lecturer Zhao Yanfeng and Xu Haiyan, who have come to be one of the most influential and important teachers in my life. I’m much blessed, my cup overflows! I guess no words can express how thankful and grateful I am that our paths have crossed and the fond memories we share will always be etched in my heart. China will always be an important chapter in my life and a critical milestone in my growing.

Having fallen in love with PKU and China, returning to PKU for Masters has been on my mind since! Perhaps the only regret I have is having applied for only a 6 months course, instead of a year long!

By Clara Genevieve Tan Yulin

Update Date: March 31,2014