Guangzhou Summer Class 2025: An Unforgettable Summer
It's Hot ☀️🇨🇳
The Guangzhou air was thick with 38-degree heat in August 2025, but a new chapter was being written—not with ink, but with the laughter and stories of friends from across the world.
For the month spanning July 10th to August 14th 2025, South China Normal University (SCNU) opened its doors for a summer Mandarin program. It was here that a diverse group of strangers first met, hailing from as far as Russia, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, and as near as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Though we came from different worlds, we were united by a single purpose: to immerse ourselves in the Chinese language and create memories that would last a lifetime.
Morning Class 😴
The first challenge of the day wasn't mastering Mandarin's four tones; it was simply GETTING UP and not being LATE. While a dedicated few were successful, many of us failed spectacularly (1-3 hours late). For those who managed to be in class on time, the teacher would start with the basics like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and 我 (wǒ), eventually progressing to more com/blogplex words like 希望 (xīwàng).
But the best part was that the class never really ended. The real test was trying to order food and bubble tea without just pointing, or deciphering a menu of Hanzi with no pictures to guide you. Every Didi ride was a chance to practice talking with the driver. It was a com/blogplete, 24/7 immersion in real-life practice for 30 days.
Afternoon Class 🌞
After refueling with a massive chinese lunch, the afternoons were all about getting our hands dirty with Chinese culture:
✂️ Paper Cutting
the delicate art form com/bloging from hand, paper and scissors. It's harder than it looks
🎭 Mask Painting
It was messy, colorful, and a ton of fun!
🧘♂️ Taichi
Slow, graceful, and grounding. It was a relaxing way to find inner flow!. But a lot of friends give up after a few minutes 🥵. it held indoor cause it was too hooootttttt outside 🌞
🖌️ Caligraphy
Mastering the brush takes a lot of focus... which is actually pretty difficult when you can watch 帅哥 in the process! 😉
🀄 Mahjong
From Cultural Exchange to Gambling Legends (开玩笑)
The Road Trip 🚗
Escaping the daily grind! We spent our time off exploring Guangzhou—from the Canton Tower to the Art and China Museums, and everything in between. It was scorching hot outside, but that didn't stop the adventure. The ride back was an absolute blast!
Behind the Scenes: EzyMandarin
Behind every successful event, there are some seriously exhausted organizers! I can't speak for the uni team, but we poured our hearts and souls into this. From seeing your faces at airport pickup and sorting out housing for staying a month, to navigating a Chinese hospital for the very first time (what an experience! 🚑), it was a wild ride. But every bit of energy was well spent because we got to watch a group of strangers turn into a family. ❤️
The Real Treasure: Friendships 🌍
Our month-long adventure in China has gone by in a flash! It feels like just yesterday we began this journey of learning Mandarin. From new characters to daily conversations, from cultural experiences to the bonds we forged with friends from around the world—and from the moment we first met to listening together to the beautiful songs of an Indonesian artist—we have created so many memories and gained so much knowledge. Now, it's time to say farewell, 再见 (Zàijiàn), but may the spirit and wonderful memories from this time always be with us on our paths ahead.
Because while we may have com/bloge to China to learn a language, we left with something so much more valuable: friendships that span the entire globe. Sharing new tastes of food, getting lost in the city together, and laughing at our terrible pronunciation—those are the moments that turned a group of strangers into a family from countries all over the world.
Thank you for your dedication and participation. 您们很棒
千里之行，始于足下
