12.12
A Promise to Myself
A few months ago, I compared my English score on Duolingo with one of my English-learning friends. At that time, I just had a score of around 90. To encourage myself, I said that if I reached a score of 105, I would dub one of my videos instead of just adding subtitles.
About a month ago, Duolingo added 10 points to my score out of nowhere, so my target rose to 115.
Yesterday, I finally got a score of 115. Then I started to prepare this video, and now I’m uploading it.
It might be very easy and simple for you, but it’s a big thing for me because speaking in English is kind of my nightmare.
Could you give me some feedback?
Thank you so much for your attention and participation.
12.13
A Little Discovery on Hiking
Recently, China seems to be a model of infrastructure. Many foreign friends chatted with me about this topic. But most of them believe it’s because of the highly developed technology.
I think it’s more than that.
Many years ago, I visited Dujiangyan, an irrigation system built during the Warring States Time about 2,300 years ago. It has been maintained by generations of Chinese and still works today.
If you had seen it, you would have been as surprised as I was.
Previously, I didn’t understand why ancient Chinese people built their houses with wood, which was so easily destroyed compared to the stone buildings in other cultures.
After seeing the large amount of big stones in Dujiangyan, I kind of got our ancestors’ logic: flood control and irrigation are more important than building bigger houses.
I encountered a lot of this while hiking in the wild mountains of China. For example, a trail leading out of a mountain still can be used even if the village that built it has disappeared because the trail was paved with stones, while the houses in the village were likely built with wood and mud.
12.14
My Flowers This Week
Usually, Saturday is my hiking day. But I’m not hiking today because I’ve been feeling unwell since the hike I went on last Saturday.
As a result, I have more time for housework, especially small tasks in my tiny garden.
In case you’re not up to speed: I have a small garden on my windowsill with about 20 types of plants. I like them very much and really enjoy their company.
My friends always say that I have a green thumb. I think it’s more about learning, observing, offering, and waiting. Technology nowadays helps me to know every plant I have: its life cycle, what it likes and dislikes, and so on. Then I spend a little time with them after I get up every day, looking at them carefully, and then giving them what they might need.
When I was a kid, I was taught to study the nature of things (格物致知). So in some way, my flowers teach and support me too. If you seek it, you can find the project management and PDCA process in a garden.
You can see my flowers here.
This video is processed automatically by the Little Red Book app, which is convenient and high quality to my surprise.
Have a nice weekend! （Is there another way to say it? I say that every week. It seems a little repetitive.）
12.17
You Can Hike in China Now
The Chinese government just relaxed its visa-free transit policy this morning, extending the permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours.
So if you come to Shanghai, you will have more time to explore, not just visit a few spots.
Furthermore, the new policy includes cross-regional travel that allows you to move freely across 24 specified provincial-level regions during your 10-day stay.
Perhaps you can hike during your visa-free transit through Shanghai, just like I do every weekend.
Perhaps you already know how unique and beautiful the mountains in China are through my simple videos. I highly recommend them to you all!
* This is my personal interpretation of the news, and if you’re really going to do this, please consult a professional first.