I have a few anecdotes to share, I hope you don’t mind the fact that you won’t learn too many characters from them. However, you will learn something about the characteristics of this country.
Just when I had sat down on a low wall with a cone of fruit ice cream in one hand and the wrist of my child in the other, I noticed two girls standing in front of plaque, chatting animatedly in what I think was French.
Suddenly – I had already turned my attention away from them – they approached me and sat down next to me. A slightly awkward silence followed. Then, the older of the girls spoke up: “请问， 社会主义是什么?”* I wasn’t sure whether I had understood her correctly so I asked her to tell me again: “请你再说一边啊.”** She complied. Still confused, I replied “社会主义是Socialism的意思.”*** “Oh. —You speak English?” “A little.” Stunned silence. Then: “But what exactly is Socialism?”
Oh my.
* Qing3wen4, she4hui4zhu3yi4 shi4 shen2me? Excuse me, what is “Socialism”?
** Qing3 ni3 zai4 shuo1 yi1bian1 a. Please say it once again.
*** She4hui4zhu3yi4 shi4 “Socialism” de yi4si. It means “Socialism”.
