Discovery Year - Eye opener

As you know, I've completed my Chinese learning programme in Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). It was a wonderful experience as expected by our university to open our eyes to the world. I wasn't alone, I went on this programme with Sieh Yee, the great company!!

WEATHERIt was a dream to see snow in real life, and I've realized it! SNOW! We arrived in Harbin on 23 February 2012, and it was just the right time there when it snowed for the first tim a few days later after a long cold winter. However we missed the Ice and Snow festival because the ice sculptures were starting to melt at that time.

I remembered 8 March, we played snow war and we slide down a slope, it was a thrill and great fun.

Its spring during April and you start to see green plants everywhere. Blossom blooms! =D In the beginning it was still cold but it is good enough to not wear your down jacket already.

Slowly june will be the early summer. You can wear shorts, and T-shirt by that time.

In short, winter is long in Harbin. No worries, they have heater in every building. and Summer in Harbin is rather short, it lasted only for 2 months or so. The weather wasn't as tough as we think,we adapt accordingly without much hassle.

STUDY LIFE
Study life was great! We just need to do what the teacher told us to, then we can move on to doing things we like.

I would say I wasn't really into learning chinese there, rather I would say I was there to enjoy the cultural exchange experience. The differences between Bruneian Chinese and those in China is quite large, I would say.

We have the same festival but the way we celebrate it is different. We refer to the same food in different words. The expressions we used is also different.

Example of  food they eat during CNY,
The food we eat during Chinese New Year, for example. They don't eat Keropok with "Archa". Some part of them eat dumplings, and some eat "nian gao", and near to southern part, some eat "Mi Xian".

Example of speaking language,
"We" in northern chinese refers to "Za men" rather than "Wo men".
"What?" in northern chinese refers to "Sa?" rather than "Shen me?"

Example of how they celebrate a festival
One that I personally experienced is the Dumpling Festival. In Brunei, we bring those dumplings to the beach and throw them into the sea. They don't practice this here, maybe for the sake of not wasting food. They have this culture of wearing a bracelet and let the first rain that comes on the Dumpling Festival wet the bracelet, and you make a wish, cut the bracelet, and let it flow with the river. Interesting right?

Example of eating culture
As I believe you know, they use only chopsticks, without chinese spoon in very typical chinese restaurant. We found this difficult at first because I am so used to using spoon to eat but slowly get used to it.

EXPLORING CHINA
Sieh Yee and I had opportunities during semester holidays to have a short vacation elsewhere.

We went to Dalian and Shenyang at first, and before we come back, we visited Beijing, the capital city of China!


APPRECIATION TO HIT BUDDIES
First, I would proudly say that Sieh Yee made the 4 months more meaningful staying there. Making a lot of friends and learning new things is normal, but getting friends to be able to talk about anything just feels great. You don't need to worry, you just gotta let things off your heart, telling others. Most probably, we think so much alike. We laughed at our mistakes, we talk problems out and solve them, we feel afraid together, we do silly things together, and of course we got through the semester together!

Second, I have to thanks all my teachers and classmates for helping us so much with our lives there in Harbin. The teachers there are like friends, trying to help us improve our chinese. Besides, of course they are strict and they have rules to obey. HIT is famous for its strict rules and regulation that helps them to succeed. F2 buddies, in fact F level buddies, thanks for all the great moments!

Thirdly, Thanks to all chinese friends I met from "Chong Feng Ba" members, table tennis, calligraphy club and also dancing classes. Although we might not meet again, but friends, you will be remembered as the beautiful memories I have in Harbin Institute of Technology!

Thanks Ethan, for your passions in calligraphy, your effort in helping me out with the calligraphy work is so much appreciated, and I will remember you as a great leader, a great friend, a great dance partner who never gives up. Its my honour to meet you! :D

Thanks Uranus, for your cuteness and understanding. Maybe the way we work, the way we think, the way we act and the thoughts we have are so much alike, that I can somehow understand you without knowing you, and vice versa. I always love chatting with you and talk things out. Thanks for being a great friend!

Thanks Pan Jian, the great dancer. Our teacher always appoint him to run a demonstration, clearly shows he is experienced. Oh well, I love dancing, and he taught me a lot on this! and of course thanks for checking out on me during Beijing Trip. He was really like a great brother, worrying about his sister. It feels so heart warming!

Thanks Jia Hao, the great brother among friends. He always have that kind of feeling like a brother who will always be there when you need him! hehe! Thanks for offering your help in everything, and thanks to you, I could participate in the table tennis tournament. I am sorry I've disappointed you in some ways, perhaps you expect me to be better and maybe I could, but well, for all that, I appreciate everything. The confidence and endless hope you have in me, thank you!

Thanks Gan Lei for being so cute ! haha! We didn't spend too much time hanging out but he always have that kind of feelings that makes girl wanna tell him he's cute! *right, Sieh Yee?*

Thanks Senior Xu, for being the great table tennis sparring partner! :)

Thanks Davy (Dai Wei) for being the most fashionable person in the university. HIT is a top university, and it is not surprised to see people not prioritizing in their outlooks so much compared to other chinese universities. They were too busy with their studies to take care of their outlook but Davy is different! He caught korean's attention alot because he is fair and somehow looks korean too! He is a nice chatter too ;)

Thanks to F2 BUDDIES. Inna, Natsya, Serga, Chary, Suin, Mijin and Dajeong, we have great times together!! Sun island and all the gatherings. Thanks for being there for me like a family! <3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Long story, and I can't summarise them properly!! :D haha! anyway, I enjoyed it very much. There are a lot of first times in it.

First time watching sunset with Suin and the other F1 class friends.
First time falling in love with Harbin Beer.
First time closing my eyes and feel the snow on my face.
First time playing snow war.
First time dance like nobody is around.
First time going into a russian bar and enjoy the free beer and wine.
First time writing so many postcards to friends all over the world.
First time away from family and serious assignments for so long.
First time putting down everything and just enjoy the moments without worries.
First time getting to know more international friends!

Coming back from China, I see things differently. a lot more relax, although still very stressed. a lot more open minded, although still not so open minded. *laugh*

Ahh, too many first times! and what a messy post! Too many things to tell and didn't want to post a long essay over here. =p

Harbin's reaching melting point!

Harbin is reaching melting point. Its no longer snow, its raining. You see snow coming, but all melts when it reach the ground. We can no longer play with snow, all of it melt away.

We used to "ski" on the smooth icy ground, now it all melts.We could even lie down on the floor to make 'snow fairies' before. Now, the ground is wet and muddy. (awww.) but I am still glad, that I  experienced how fun it was, playing in snow with some international buddies back on 8 March.

Apparently this means SPRING IS COMING!!

Please compare! Before and After!

I was so afraid that it will be too cold in Harbin before I arrived, after a week staying here. I wish the weather could stay around -3 to -15 degree celcius! The moment we can still enjoy seeing snow! I bet when I go back Brunei, I'll be complaining so much about the hot weather! I miss the feeling living in the fridge (really!) If there would a chance to come the second time, I would! :D 

Food ~~

 Familiar with this? Yes it looks like martabak, aint it?? Yes they have it here too~ but it taste a little bit different. They put ginger in it *amazed*.

To the left, you see a picture of four dishes. It was one of meals. You will be pretty amazed that the four dishes only cost us B$2! Of course, this is what we can get from our campus canteen. Outside the campus, it would definitely be much expensive. One dish costs around B$3+. The more high class, the more expensive, yes, of course. And yes, Harbin is famous for its beer as well, below is the picture I took from the restaurant. Quite cheap, RMB 12 ( B$2+ ), you can get a bottle.

 Oh yes, this is my classroom, very chinese style, isn't it? We still stick to blackboard. There is 7 students in our classroom. Initially there were only 6 females, now that we have a new russian boy joining us, so we have 7 in total!

Everyday, there's homework, and the teachers are friendly and helpful. They are so caring. If you missed a class, they would ask and give recommendations on which medicine might be helping us to get well. 

 We are planning to go Siberian Park tomorrow! We can see TIGERS.. ROARRRR! =D Can't wait!

The beauty of Harbin

Before coming, I imagined heavy snow and strong wind. When I stepped out of Harbin airport, the imagination was gone in one click, because it wasn't as scary as imagined. No heavy snow, no strong wind.

Buildings outside Dorm 6, Ha Gong Da (HIT)

Basketball court and tennis court outside Dorm 6

We met a lot of friendly korean in the bus, we were in the same bus going back to campus from airport. They arrived just an hour after us. We celebrated our first night with them. "Guobaorou" was the most delicious dish, and the weirdest dish I think was this (see the pic). I forgot the name and its spicy. No more second time, especially when its spicy. (hehe!)

Unknown, but not delicious to me!

 Our room is bigger than expected. In summary, we are living in dorm 6, 506-2. In this 506, there are two rooms: one single room, and one twin-sharing room. Only post graduate students get to live in the single room. We have an italian software engineering student over here, her name is Ari and she is friendly. Sieh Yee and I share the twin bedroom.

Toilet

View from our bedroom door

Just an introduction to illustrate how our rooms actually connect to the bathroom. When you enter 506 and open the door, basically you will see 3 doors, left to the bathroom, straight to the single bedroom and right to the the twin bedroom which is our room. You could imagine it with the help with the pictures.

Our Socket

Our heater

Our wardrobe and TV

 The heater is SO crucial, thank god for people who invented it. It is -10 degree back then. Now its increasing to -3, which is getting warmer and warmer. Just recently it gets colder because the snow started to melt. This would mean Spring is coming!

Chinese food is homely, it feels like being at home to see those food! I love their tofu! NO MATTER HOW THEY COOK! I like Tofu, Sieh Yee likes potato, we end up buying these very often! The picture shows one of our meals.

MORE PICTURES !! :D

One of the park in our campus

Another view of the park in our campus

A nice looking building in our campus

I heard from our classmates who were here since last semester, they told us that there were little snow in winter. I felt a little sad at first, because I haven't seen any snow. Not until early March.

On 8 March 2012, it was the prettiest day in Harbin. It is also the Women's Day. There is a Russian classmate in Sieh Yee's class and she got a rose! All women in the class get to get one! Awwww!!

On the same day,one of my dream came true!! We made snow fairies on the ground, we slide down the slope, we climbed over gates, we stand on frozen river having our SNOW war! Koreans VS Indonesians+USA people+ Bruneians! It was the one and ONLY day the campus was so crowded! We were so happy, all students were. The only heavy snow that actually freeze the ground completely. Students started to gather and build snow castles, and all sorts of things on the field. There were cats, dungs, mushrooms.. oh my god, they are just so creative! (Pictures still in friends' camera!)


Some pictures of Harbin in SNOW!

My first snow!

 

 

View outside my classroom

Notice this basketball court (compare to the picture earlier on!)

Basketball court in front of Dorm 6

 We are happy, but its going to be the headache of the cleaners, as they are working hard to scope the ice away, to avoid any accidents. You need to be extra careful when its not snowing anymore, especially when the ice is melting.

In this picture, I am standing in front of the international student building, also the place I am having my classes.

Now I registered quite some number of classes. Chinese class is compulsory, and electives are optional. I am here, why not join and have fun!

I chose 3 electives. 1) Ballroom dance, 2) Latin Dance, 3) Love and Sex Education for University Students. Are you feeling weird about this? Well, its a good opportunity to learn some electives that UBD are not offering, plus no one knows me over here, no harm go for dancing, no need to feel embarassed about anything! Plus, this could help me in improving my posture and stimulate more of my feminine side =D My schedules are quite packed !

I LOVE the learning environment here, because they are strict. Do you know what "late" means here? In class, if you are late for class 5-15 minutes later, you are late. Later than 15 minutes, its counted "absent". Full attendance students with less than 4 late records will be awarded some cash. WOW, I am so going to get that cash! Another experience, 1 minute late is late. We missed our Harbin tour because we were right in time to the gathering place and we saw the bus departing. How sad! 3 students didn't get to go because we were just right in time. When they tell you to gather 1.30, it means the bus is departing at that time, so we learnt that we should come earlier next time.

OH YES, I forgot this!

Shui jiao

This is 'Shui jiao'. quite delicious, its like wanton back in Brunei but this is bigger and with more meat, most important, its cheaper! Imagine the big plate just cost you RMB 7 ( approx.B$2 +-)

When we arrived, we went to Zhong Yang Da Jie (most popular place recommended in Harbin). Its a street full of shops and shopping centres. We didn't get to buy anything, because we will be doing a lot of walking and didn't want to carry too much along with us. If you come to Harbin, DO invest in a good walking shoe, this is true. and DO eat their ice cream especially in winter! HAHA! I tried, its delicious! :D There are a lot of branded goods- NIKE, ADIDAS, LINING etc etc. Cosmetics and a lot. We didn't finish exploring, because the day was late and we need to catch a bus back to campus! One trip cost you only RMB 1! Transportation in Harbin is efficient, there will be buses every 10-15 minutes, operating from morning till 8.30pm. so no worries.

 

Its freezing cold, I need more accessories to keep me warm. This is my new winter hat I got here for RMB 25, the auntie in the shop made it! =D 

Bear with me!! with this long post, my post will be once in a blue moon. =p hehehe! <3 

Thank you for your concern, my friends! Love ya lots!! <3<3