back from xi'an

Sometimes it feels like I've been anchored in the stream of time. A moment repeated and repeated; the only changed is the weather outside. Coming back from our class field trip to Xi'an, I felt the trickle of monotony dripping slowly on the back on my mind.

But there is something different about going to school in Beijing, especially here at ACC. Everyday is literally the same: daily quiz, four classes, lunch, nap, workout, HW, study, dinner, study, sleep. Yet, I enjoy the self-enforced discipline that ACC inspires. What makes it more amazing is that "grades" at ACC are inflated to the point where it doesn't matter how hard you work, yet everyone here works to the limits of their patience and beyond. Perhaps, it's because our progress, though not obvious, is recognizable. Everyday we learn at least one new word or grammar structure that makes our lives seem all the more clearer.

Of course, there is the complaint that we have NO time to explore, no time to use our language, no time to rest. They're all valid. But the feeling of improvement is a powerful motivator for me. It allows me to sacrifice a lot. But then again, I'm taking the day off today to recover from a minor cold and catch up on life, something that's subtly accepted at ACC.