开心 kai xin: that is, to open your heart
Hello from the breezy coastal city of Dalian, China! It has been insightful living abroad for the past month and a half as a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State. I’ve truly learned a lot about myself, and feel like I have a clearer understanding of my personal values and the life I hope to create. My classmates and the locals here are truly amazing. Upon arriving in Dalian, we all signed a language pledge (only speaking Chinese amongst ourselves and with others) and have kept to it strictly. I’ve been so proud of myself and others with the significant increase in language skills, both written and spoken.
In Chinese, the word for happy/excitement is kai xin “开心”,the literal meaning is “open heart.” I love this Chinese word. It is spoken in fleet and with little weight, but its meaning is weighted. Open your heart, and you will be happy.
When I first arrived in China, I fully expected myself to just immediately fall in love with the place and with the schooling and with my new life. In many aspects, I did just that. Because of my mission in Flushing, NY (if you don’t have the means to go to China, Flushing is a very good taste of Chinese lifestyle), I didn’t feel like I had a lot of cultural things to get used to like the food, language barrier, living situation, etc. since I had been exposed to so much of it in NY. What I didn’t expect, but what came in the beginning, was a slight period of loneliness.
I felt lonely as a new foreign member of a Chinese family. I felt lonely as an American in a Chinese society. I felt lonely within my classmates being religious, let alone the only member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, I have found my classmates to be among the most inclusive, open-hearted, good-natured people I have ever met.
Not being able to attend a church meeting in a while has basically forced me to open my heart. I’ve been actively seeking for ways to maintain my relationship with Christ and God. Come Follow Me has held a greater importance to me, and it has been a structured way for me to continuously learn and grow spiritually.
It’s hard to put into words all that I have learned from my time here in China so far. But if I had to, it would be learning to open my heart. Opening my heart to new mindsets of Americans and Chinese alike in all aspects of life, opening my heart to understanding different ways of worship, opening my heart to being intentional about my study of language and culture and people, and opening my heart to what God has in store for me.
Open your heart, and you will be happy.