How can people live in a country for years and not learn the language? I'd heard of such people and, if I'm(complete) honest, I judged them. Then, the time came for me to move to China and I decided I wouldn't waste my opportunityothers.
After two years, I'm embarrassed to report that I've not made significant progress.I work mostly with Chinese colleaguesoffer to help me, I simply don't make the time. Why, though? How is it possible? Well, life is so interesting in Beijing that I get (catch) up in anything and everything else.
One would think that living in a foreign country would practically press you (study) the language, but it's more complex than that. First, when your job is to use your native language, the majority of your day (spend) in and around native language material. Second, let's not forget that we live in the (advance) era (时代) of translation apps. Yes, it is easy indeed to go about the majority of your day and not hear or need to use much Chinese at all. Thirdly, it must be recognized that learningnew language takes time.
In short, it has taught me how to abandon my opinions about how people "should" interact with the world. It has increased my (able) to empathize(共情).
