Miranda and Wang Jia admiring each other
When I arrived in Ya’an it was definitely a culture shock. Although adjusting over the past week and a half has been difficult, it is a learning experience and pretty fun. Typically in places where they speak other languages I can pick up on a few phrases and words, but China is a whole other story. It goes right over my head without even a single word to be picked up on.
The Ya’an Mall bridge
The language has definitely been the hardest part to adjust to, but I love trying to learn the language and talk to people. Most people are eager to help and usually just laugh when I butcher every word I have learned in Chinese. Even though my “Jersey” accent is throwing off my pronunciation, I have been able to tell the lady in the market I want Rou Bao (a delicious little bread filled with pork and spices) as well as learning the numbers so I can pay her. Aside from the language barrier, the culture is very different from what I am use to and I am really enjoying walking around the city, soaking it all up!
When it came to my first trip to Bifengxia, it was a dream come true. Ever since I was little I have loved pandas. This all must stem from the awesome nickname my parents gave me, Miranda panda bear. For short its now just bear, which I have learned is “Xiong”( 熊). The first panda that I met was Jing Xin and it was one of the happiest days of my life. She will never know it but she made my year. I walked through met all the pandas and met the keepers as well. Both the keepers and the pandas have made the adjustment a lot better. The keepers are extremely helpful with helping us conduct our studies and are also allowing us to do other things to help out around the base.
Min Min eating a bamboo shoot. (notice the heart-shaped nose)
I have helped out in cleaning of cages and also was able to feed Lin Bing. Not only are they helping us get to know the pandas and learn the ways of the breeding center, but they are also helping me learn the language. Its fun having them teaches us their language and at the same time we teach them a little English, which they appreciate. The pandas always put a smile on my face every time I see them. I mean how can you not, they are probably the cutest animal ever. The most interesting part about the pandas at the breeding center is getting to know each one and seeing how different their personalities are. They all start to look unique in their own ways, like Min Min’s heart shaped nose and chubby chipmunk cheeks, and all have different qualities in their demeanors.
So far, this has been an amazing experience and there are only more adventures to come!
-Miranda
