this isn't one of those

"look at that guy, big tough guy using a parasol"

"My mother gave this to me. She was afraid I would catch a cold in the rain. I will always love my mom."

I've been learning Chinese for just over a year. It's tough, I've wanted to quit on several occasions, but at the same time I've had so many rewarding moments. I'm actually in China right now, in Yunnan, for the first time in my life. Although my Chinese is still at a basic level, just talking to locals in my broken Chinese is so fun. I get quite emotional after conversations because people are just as excited to be speaking to you as you are too be speaking to them, and they are very encouraging and patient. Ive never learned another language before, but all I can say is that it is worth the effort. Especially Chinese. It unlocks this whole other world.

P.S. China is fucking awesome from the little I have seen so far. Both the city and the countryside.