The First Leap: Embracing Mandarin
I used Chinese for the first time in REAL LIFE. It was the summer of 2023, and at this point, we were hitting about a year and a half learning Mandarin Chinese on and off, not consistently at all. Really sparse practice, just like five or 10 minutes a day, oftentimes just like not even practicing for several weeks. My motivation was FLUCTUATING. I was always questioning whether it was worth it or not to practice today.
Is it worth my time?
Are there other things that are more IMPORTANT?
OK, but the practice that I have put up to that point was practice that has built up my level to which I could recognize some common words and know how to ask questions.
A Buffet of Possibilities
So there comes this day, summer of 2023, where my grandparents meet up with me, my mom, and my brother at this Chinese buffet, "Lucky Village". I have gone to this Chinese buffet ever since I was like eight years old, but this was the first time going there in a while. My mom typically doesn’t bring us to Chinese restaurants. We usually go to Mexican restaurants, so in my mind, I’m like, OH MY GOSH, this is the PERFECT opportunity for me to use my Mandarin and maybe show off some skills.
So Much Hesitation
I was just excited to see the reaction of my mom and my grandparents. Because I know it’s pretty impressive to see a white person speak Mandarin, so I’m looking around me, looking at the employees to see or listen to anyone speaking Mandarin Chinese. It’s really difficult as I walk in because I don’t see any opportunities around me. Everyone is kind of busy or not speaking Mandarin Chinese; the reason why I’m so careful about this is that we have a high Vietnamese population here in Houston, and speaking to a Vietnamese person in Mandarin Chinese would be INSULTING at least that’s what I would think, if I were Vietnamese.
A Glimmer of Hope
We go and sit down at our table, and our server is giving me some water, which I had for the first time ever asked for hot water, which is an Asian thing to do, definitely not an American thing. My whole life, I had asked for ice water. I wanted to kind of immerse myself and through the culture a little bit. As she puts down that hot water, I look at her Apple Watch, and I can see some Mandarin Chinese characters on it, and I thought to myself. Oh boy, this is my chance.
The Moment of Truth
Oh, this is AMAZING. Come on, let’s go. My heart starts racing, and I'm wondering how I'm even going to like show her a little bit of a hint that I know Chinese like how do I start that up. So when she placed the water down, I just said 謝謝, which is thank you in Mandarin, but I said it pretty quick and pretty quiet. She didn't respond, so I was like, okay, she didn't hear me, and I kind of got scared because I don't think I had the BRAVERY to give another attempt to you know, like get her attention to show her that I know some Mandarin.
An Unfinished Journey
So she leaves, we're chatting. I'm chatting with my family, and this is a Chinese buffet, which means you can go up and walk towards the buffet and get another plate of food. My plate was empty, so I got up to get some more food, and I kept looking for her to see how I could say something else. I was REALLY hoping that I could have another chance. But I finish my meal, so it's the END...
... until I go to the bathroom and come back.
The Connection
When I come back, that waitress is collecting plates from the table and she suddenly says a full sentence pretty quickly in mandarin to me, and I can only recognize like 2 of the words in her sentence, and I hesitate with so much doubt and confusion. I want to ask her what she said, but I actually don't even know how to ask her to repeat in Mandarin.
So I'm over here hesitating and stuttering, my voice is wanting to say something, but no words come out. That's when she realizes that I didn't understand.
She says it again,
你吃完了嗎,
("Are you finished eating?")
Oh my gosh! I understand! but I can't figure out how to respond, so I say a phrase that I did know that works in this situation, which is
我吃飽了
("I'm full.")
Thank goodness I was able to complete that interaction and stop sweating.
THE BEST PART
She goes around the other side of the table and speaks to me in pure mandarin asking me questions back to back like
"Have you been to Beijing?"
"How did you learn mandarin"
"How long have you been learning mandarin."
and I was able to understand and respond to everything!!!
HOW???
That magical feeling was like finding a pot of GOLD! That smooth back and fourth was just like the most wonderful taste of freedom.
A Blooper Worth Remembering
A little side note about a little story that happens afterward. We are leaving the restaurant, and as soon as I get in the car,
I say, "Oh shoot, Mom, I think I left my phone inside."
She's like, "Okay, go get it, go find your phone quick!"
and I'm freaking out. I go inside really fast, and I'm trying to ask the woman like
我的手機...我不會...
(My phone… I can’t…)
I was trying to say "I can't find my phone," but I didn't have the words. I could only use the words I knew. And when I wanted to describe what it looked like, I said
黑色的case... haha!
Conclusion:
So there you have it, a journey of linguistic bravery, cultural immersion, and the serendipitous moments that language learning can bestow upon us. This story is more than just an anecdote about speaking Mandarin for the first time; it's a testament to the unpredictable, yet rewarding path of acquiring a new language. Through sparse practice and fluctuating motivation, the experience at the Chinese buffet underlines a UNIVERSAL TRUTH: language connects us in profound ways, opening doors to new worlds and enriching our understanding of cultures other than our own.
The takeaways for my fellow English learners and enthusiasts are clear:
Every bit of effort COUNTS.
Embracing opportunities to use your target language, no matter how daunting, can lead to unexpected victories.
This journey highlights the importance of PERSISTENCE and the beauty of cultural exchange.
Let's remember that the journey is punctuated with moments of courage, laughter, and learning. Whether it's the thrill of being understood in a foreign tongue or the humorous missteps along the way, each experience is a stepping stone towards fluency.
So, what's your story? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where speaking a language you've been learning turned into an unexpectedly rewarding experience? Share your moments of linguistic bravery and the lessons they've taught you. Let's inspire each other to keep learning, keep speaking, and keep connecting.
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