Involve Me and I'll Understand

I've always believed there was great weight in the Chinese proverb:

Tell me and I'll forget. 

Show me and I'll remember.

Involve me and I'll understand.

The best way to learn anything is to be a part of it; that's why I didn't like learning Spanish in high school but was highly motivated to study the language before and while traveling in Peru last summer.  This proverb I think also relates to traveling: I do not think school can ever teach a person about another country or place in the world as genuinely as actually being somewhere, experiencing a culture, and getting involved with the people of that culture.  It's funny, I can remember having a conversation with another teacher at  a previous school I worked at who was outraged at a student's family for taking her on a two week vacation to Europe.  I reluctantly listened and at my first opportunity removed myself from the conversation because I did not agree with most of or any of the sentiments my colleague was expressing.  I learned more about British Literature, Europe, the UK, and British History in the 3 weeks that I spent taking a summer course at the University of Westminster then I ever learned about the above mentioned topics in High School and College combined.  Not only does traveling throw one in the mix in a given country and culture, but it also inspires one to ask questions and learn more.  When I reflect on the most exciting and formable times/experiences in my life, all of my major traveling experiences rank up there at or near the top.


Traveling is the best investment one can make in himself.  


My next blog will recount arriving to China and all of the amazing, unexpected, enlightening, confusing, and every adjective in-between to describe my time in China so far.  Again, sorry to anyone who follows this and to myself personally for not fulfilling my personal goal to write here at least once every two weeks.  


Apology accepted, you've been busy living. 

Hong Kong

Spanish Style Street in Wuhan with John and Autumn

Hong Kong at Night (Stole this picture from my friend Sabrina)

Hong Kong dance partners

Back way to my place in Wuhan

Guilin

Little John

As a side note:


For any English speaker who wants to learn another language, the website Memrise is amazing!  I have been using it to learn the Mandarin characters and pronunciations. Shout out to my friend Rickard who I am living with in Shiyan for showing it to me!  I think I'll use this language for my Spanish when I return to the states...