I arrived in 福州 Fuzhou city (福建 Fujian province, China) on 23 February 2006 to pursue a Mandarin language study as a preparation for my PhD in Chinese studies. The program was made possible by the Gesit Overseas Charity Foundation (GOCF), in which the wonderful Mr. Jacob Soetoyo, Ms. Meiriana Soetoyo and family play such big roles. I am currently based at 海外教育学院the International College of Chinese Studies (ICCS), 福建师范大学 Fujian Teachers University (FTU).
A lot of people would probably ask, “Why Fuzhou? Why not 北京 Beijing or 上海Shanghai? Why FTU? Why not 厦门大学 Xiamen Univ or 北京大学 Beijing University?” The answer is that not long ago, GOCF facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CSIS and the ICCS. This is a part of the shared vision between GCOF and CSIS in improving Chinese studies in Indonesia.
My program in ICCS will mainly be language program. It is a very good opportunity for me to hone my 汉语 Mandarin. With my spare times, I’ll be loosely conducting my own personal research on various issues pertaining China. All the while, I’ll also be making new friends, eating good food and enjoying Fuzhou’s livelihood. 我在福州已经习惯啦！我觉得很幸运。
I’m staying at the ICCS dorm. I’m staying in a unit with 4 other girls – 真琴菊地Makoto from Tokyo, 喜友名晴香 Haruka from Okinawa, 王思瑞 Jim and 吴佩玲 Joy from Bangkok, Thailand. I’m so lucky to get to stay with them.
I have my own petit room, while the others shared the 2 rooms. They are such lovely, kind, sweet, helpful, trustworthy and easy going girls. 他们非常可爱。We share a lot of things, including the sorrow of having to deal with a freakin mouse in our unit. 哇，我们怕老鼠。At one time, we all stayed up until 4 am in the morning because some of the girls were too freaked out to sleep thus we went mouse hunting.
We have so much fun talking with our limited 汉语 Chinese and 英语 English, cooking with limited kitchen wares (one electric stove, 2 medium size pots, and all), strolling around the city to find places to visit and eat （有很多好吃的地方呀), as well as banging on our darn neighbor’s door for inconsiderately playing music and karaoke songs very loudly late at night. 真讨厌！
I’m now taking 中技班 intermediate class, which it turns out to be not as difficult as the teachers were telling me. I plan to take the advance class next semester if possible.
From my room, it takes less than 20 SECONDS to get to my class. How convenient. :o) 多么方便啊！The school bell amazes me. I mean it’s been at least… 12 years since I heard school bell rings for me… There are approximately 14 students in my class – 3 Indonesians, 5 Koreans, 3 Japanese, 1 Vietnamese, 1 Australian, and 1 Dutch. I have 4 teachers (Grammar, conversation, listening, and reading), 1 taichi instructor, 1 HSK trainer and 1 calligraphy teacher. 有一个老师非常好，黄彬老师。 别的也都不错。 但是也有一个非常懒惰的。她说我干吗做很难的句子，作简单的都可以啦。老师那里可以这样说呢？如果我只要简单的，干吗来中国呢？ 如果要简单的，我都可以在 Tomang 补习，是不是？下一次，我一定跟她说。
Access to buses is easy because we’re near the university. Whether it’s far or near, it only costs 1 Renminbi/Yuan (1.250 rupiah lah or US$ 0.125) during cold season and 2 Renminbi/Yuan (2.500 rupiah or US$ 0.25) during hot season because the fan would be on. The ‘student’s bus’ is Bus No. 20, which is FAMOUS for its reckless driving and the constantly exceedingly packed trip where passengers momentarily became sardines in a can. I tell you, it’s quite an exercise riding that bus – packed or not packed…
Fuzhou is indeed not Jakarta, indeed not Shanghai nor Beijing. Gosh… y’know, I’m devising a project to capture the hair styles and fashions in this city. Who am I to say whether it’s good or bad, but it is definitely different to my own liking. That is all I have to say to that. The good side, I get to save money since I can’t find anything to shop here. :o)
Still, I find the city quite amusing and I’m enjoying my time studying here. The only distress I have so far is that I can’t find anyone to have intellectual and critical debates with – be that on the matters of politics, society or international relations… It’s not only a matter of language barrier, but also attitude and interests of the people around this area.
Ah well… I have just been in Fuzhou for like, what… over a month… perhaps there are things to be found soon… I can’t wait… In the mean time, I hope you enjoy the story of my life in Fuzhou… 欢迎来福州，希望你们能享受我生活的故事。。。
A BIT ABOUT FUZHOU:
The capital of Fujian province, Fuzhou has been the political center of Fujian since the Qin Dynasty and was the temporary capital of China at the end of the Song and the Ming dynasties. It has also been an international port with foreign trade since Han Dynasty and was a ship making center during the Song Dynasty.
Visit:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/fujian/fuzhou/index.htm 
