I started studying Mandarin Chinese last semester in fall of 2001. Previously, I had studied Spanish and French, and had spent nine months in Spain my senior year of high school. This year I decided to switch to Mandarin, since I know this language will be valuable in the future. As a Foreign Affairs major, my dream is to work in the Far East either for the government or as a financial consultant of some sort. This summer I will go to Shanghai to study Mandarin and Chinese culture for two months with the University of Virginia program. So far, I have learned an immense amount in the time that I have studied Chinese. Every week our professor, Tseng laoshi, guides us through a rigorous, well-structured curriculum, which I believe is necessary for learning a language so much unlike our own. Characters were especially difficult to learn at the beginning of last semester, but, with time, they become less daunting, since I am learning to recognize the reoccurring radicals. Pronunciation is also difficult in this class, but has also become less of a problem over this year. I am happy with my decision to take up Mandarin, and am looking forward to this summer in Shanghai. Xiexie!!