Living and enjoying Chinese in Beijing
Leonardo Chavarría shares his experience at the Renmin University of China's International Summer School, held from July 3rd to 21st, 2023.
By: Rodrigo Martínez
Photos: Leonardo Chavarría
Beijing, China - August 8th. The scholarship for the Renmin University International Summer School offers a unique opportunity for training and enhancement in various areas of Chinese culture and the Mandarin language. It took place in Beijing, China, from July 3rd to 21st, 2023. The program, organized by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and Renmin University of China (RUC), is designed as a space for training and improvement in various areas of Mandarin language and Chinese culture knowledge. Student Leonardo Chavarría shares his experiences with the scholarship. Below is Leonardo's story:
Hello everyone! My name is Leonardo Chavarría, but my Chinese name is Gōng Jūn Míng. I had the great opportunity and pleasure to attend the Renmin University of China's summer school. What can I say... It was an experience better lived than heard. I feel that in China, my thinking and way of viewing life changed completely. Despite being from a Chinese family, after arriving in China, I was able to learn more deeply about its culture, music, cuisine, education, etc.
I met many people from different countries like Japan, Russia, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the USA, Italy, and Korea. I arrived in China with only my mom's contact on WeChat and left with more than 50 WeChat contacts. Chinese people are extremely friendly and always willing to help foreigners. The classes were very comprehensive, and the Mandarin taught was practical for everyday life in China. During this trip, in just one month, I visited the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, the zoo, and on one occasion, I cycled around almost the entire central city of Beijing at night, as the security in China is outstanding and bike rental services are very cheap. The food was excellent and delicious; I dared to try everything my Chinese friends offered. It's funny to see such different things as the toilets, the efficient subway and transport service, the city, restaurants served by robots, etc.
I am grateful to the Confucius Institute, the Chinese Embassy, my parents, and Renmin University. I will soon return to continue pursuing my goals, as I have fallen in love with China.
It is reminded that the Confucius Institute (IC-UCR) is a public institution formed by the University of Costa Rica, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), and the China Foundation for International Education (CIEF), in collaboration with Renmin University of China (RUC). Its main focuses are the dissemination of the Mandarin language and Chinese culture; in addition, social action is also a fundamental part of the Institute's work.
Contact for more information: Rodrigo Martínez
Communication Officer, Confucius Institute
Email: comunicacion.confucio@ucr.ac.cr
Website: http://institutoconfucio.ucr.ac.cr/
Phone: 2511-6870
