Many times we are faced with a fork in the road. These moments are essential as we decide the next step of or journey.
Some decisions are of such importance that in the end it might control what possible final destinations we can reach. Faced with these moments it is common that our fear grabs ahold of us and tries to direct us along the road which we are more familiar with as opposed to taking that other road of exploration. So when faced with a fork in the road do you dare to take the lesser known path?
In 2007 I was faced with a fork in the road. I moved to China in 2002 because my father got a job in a Shanghai. After I graduated from High school in shanghai I decided I would study Chinese. 2 years later I was still not very good at Chinese and this was despite my goal to learn it in two years.
The environment was not good for learning Chinese. I was not integrating in the Chinese society because after Chinese classes I would hang out with other foreigners in Shanghai. When I would have the opportunity to speak Chinese with the local people they would be more interested in practicing their English with me...
Shanghai was eating me up. I was feeling like a tadpole in the Ocean and the feeling of alienation was getting stronger month by month. I had made a goal to learn Chinese, and I never want to give up before I reach my goal. Never would I know that learning Chinese was so hard and that integrating to Chinese society was so difficult.
I was at a fork in the road. I could choose to go back to Sweden and try to get on with my life there. It would feel like a failure though because it would be like I gave up. I could continue learning Chinese, however, time was flying by and I couldn't study Chinese forever, I would need to start University at some time.
After much contemplating and also many sleepless nights I decided I would take a step into the unknown. I would go big or go home. So I decided to kill 2 birds with one stone. I would study my bachelor in a Chinese University. I would be able to learn Industrial design like I always wanted and in the same time I would be forced to learn Chinese as my classmates would be Chinese and all the Classes would be completely in Chinese.
Pretty crazy idea, but I decided that I would rather know if I could do it than tonnot try it at all. There was actually a quote which inspired me a lot in my decision.
"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."
- Soren Kierkegaard
Staying in China and going to Chinese university was one of the best decisions of my life . They say that fortune favors the bold. I really think it did in my case. I had 4 of the best years in my life. I was the only foreigner in my class but I felt right at home. I now know Chinese fluently. But more importantly I know that I can do anything I set my mind to. So next time I face a difficult decision I will atleast give it a try, because in the end, if you ask me, the worst that can happen is never trying - don't you agree ?
That's really awesome and very inspirational! I used to think that way when I was young and full of fire, not so much now lol. I'm not dead yet though, so I've still got a few mountains to climb left in me. It's just that now I need to choose smaller mountains ;)
Hehe even small mountains can have a beautiful view :) In the end the most important thing is to really enjoy that view when we reach the top as opposed to directly look for a new peak to climb :)
Great article.. You made me dare more
Glad to hear that my friend !
Nice story, must have been a real adventure for you
Thanks Tony it definitely was. An adventure that I will always treasure that I was able to embark on
Wow! You are an absolute inspiring and brave man! You can be proud of yourself! It takes really much to make the decission you made! But you are the living proof, that you have to jump into the ocean and than just swim and don't care about anything else.
Thanks a lot my friend. It was a scary decision but like you says sometimes we have to put ourself in a situation of sink and swim and it's then we can discover that we can cross oceans !
You are welcome buddy!
super story,
I'm going to give up a lot to paint every day, I'm quite anxious because it's an unknown road. I have no idea where and how my income is going to come, but I'm going for it. life is too short to not chase your dreams! Thank you for the story, it is very inspiring
Yes, paint every day. When you do, of course the quality of your work will improve by the week. Maybe you can commit to your goal for two years as dandesign86 did? I am going to follow you and go to your blog to see some of your efforts. ok?
super, thank you.
Glad to hear you liked the story. You make a good point life definitely is too short to not chasing your dreams ! Keep it up and success will find you sooner or later
thank you.
First, to congratulate you for learning the toughest language in the world. Another great thing is that you never give up, because only successful people never give up. Continue on, because with such a positive attitude and strong will, there are no limits for you.
Thanks a lot for this comment ! You are right, if you want to be successful you have to never give up !
Frankly speaking, Chinese is our future. I am sure that many people ask you to be their guide, translator and business partner.
It turns out that learning Chinese was even more valuable then my actual bachelor degree. China has big plans deep into the future landscape, so I definitely agree with you Chinese language will be very important in the future. Thanks for your comment !
Your story inspired me, i was just about to give up on something really important, thanks for sharing..
I'm very happy to hear that ! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors my friend !
You took the jump and it all worked out such a great story and well done
Thank you a lot for that comment !
Always a pleasure :)
Great reflection! I feel that I, too, am at a fork in the road, and I plan on taking the daring option as well. One must risk before one can gain, isn't that right?
Upvoted!
Yes only if we try we will know, glad to hear you are going for it !
Best Brother!!! Never Give Up Without Hitting GoaL!!!
Thanks a lot buddy !
@dandesign86
Brother I Will Appreciate If You Only Upvote My Latest Post Please :) :)
@ah-2002 I Hope You'll Check Buddy! I Just Love Your Work :) It's Ok If You Are Not Free! :)
Impressive read. I think when someone is faced with that fork at the crossroads. They must vision first either one of the paths ahead is going to be like eating soup with a spoon or eating soup with a fork instead?
Hahah that is definitely one way is seeing it. I need to go on a diet actually. Maybe I will try eating soup with a fork hehe
Haha better make sure it`s a thick soup and not a thin type of soup or you will be there for days. Might be the longest event in history the fork and the soup race.
@dandesign, I am glad you stuck it out:-)
Thanks a lot @presentminded!
This is one of life's best lessons. You can achieve anything If you dare. Kudos
Thanks a lot :) yes, if we can dream we jus have to apply action and we can achieve it !
It's a good approach in life! Congratulations on making a decision on the direction you were going and to the successful and fulfilling outcome!
Thanks a lot :) Thia decision and the experience that came because of it will always follow me .
Good post, never give up. You will find a way to make your own fork in your life.
:)
I follow you.
Me i finish the University in fews days, but i don't talk Chinese ^^
Thanks for your comment ! Best wishes on your graduation !
What a cool and funny picture you made :-D. I had the option to learn Chinese if i wanted during my business school, bjt i skipped, seems so difficult. Even some chinese students born in NL, had difficulties learning their own language. What happened to your voting power?
I got my photo studio set up so I thought I would use it hehe. My wife was taking photos and told me to be completely still which was not easy in this position heheh.
Chinese is really hard, as you say even Chinese people think it can be hard to learn. I think unless going to China it's very hard.
As for my voting power I leased some a week ago. Before I leased it I was saving up the voting power so that I could be full when I leased it. I used minnowbooster for leasing. I can't say it has done a lot of difference for me, but maybe the time is too short to know.
Either way it's a lot more fun to vote when you atleast got some power hehe.
Regarding the resteem of carlobelgado I made it for you but it doesn't seem like there was a lot of effect. Sometimes the weekends are a bit slow.
I see, I also want to buy this photo studio set but I am going to wait a little bit since I am saving for my driving lessons/license. It is ok, maybe not many people are interested in buying 3D stuff :-)
The driver license.. it sure is a pain hehe
What about a photo studio, isnit expensive if you buy it in Europe ? Shouldn't be too bad right ?
Well, I did my theory exam last year. it's only valid for 1,5 year. So I have 7 months to go.Wish it was valid much longer. The theory exam is also not that easy, you are only allowed to make 5 mistakes from 40 questions. I want to buy these special umbrella's, with backdrop fabrics and light ring. I saw on amazon.com but they don't ship to NL, so I have to check at amazon.de. I saw something for 80 euros. Going to a photo studio costs more I believe. If you have your own photo studio you can make many pictures as you want, it's a life investment! :-)
It definitely is a great investment and I am very happy that I bought it. The only problem is storage . But we have a guest room so that is good.
80 Euro is not bad at all I thought it would be more .
It's kind of stressful with this driver licens hanging over the shoulders. I think you are doing the right thing to focus on it first and make sure to pass the test so you don't have to redo the theory test again
It can be more than 80 euros, there are professional photo home studios that cost hundreds of euros. But for a beginner i think the 80 euros one is good enough. I failed many times in the past with my driving :-(.i hope this time i will pass the test. :-)
This post is quite inspirational. Did you have to turn assignments in using Chinese script? That seems even more over-whelming.
In the time since, what steps do you take to not 'lose' the language?
If it's in your spirit to do something to better yourself, there's always regret in the not doing. It becomes a case of the 'what ifs?'
Thanks for sharing!
Peace.
I had to write essays and homework in Chinese so that was very time consuming for sure. But it was really a good way to push myself hard enough so I actually finally could learn it
Thanks for sharing! Peace.
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Nice photography in good story in post. thanks for sharing
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Nice thumbnail creativity!
Upvoted and Resteemed!
Fortune indeed favours the bold.
And if you happen to be a supporter of my homebase football team, We say, Never Say Die Unless the Bones are Rotten. I like your courage. Keep it up!
All our steps make us the person we are today. :)
Yes I agree
I always like the motto of the Special Air Service: Who Dares Wins.
you are so fast and cool in discovering new stuffs :)
I am so impressed! It started with vision... then you took action. Tell me, what made you want to learn Chinese in the first place?
Well i was brought to China with my Family so before that I didn't have any plans to learn chinese. But then I went to high school in shanghai for 3 years and I didn't have the chance to learn any Chinese at all. It was like living in a bubble.
I took the shuttle bus to school. The school was all fenced in. After school I would go home by shuttle bus and we lived in a compound which was also all fenced in. I didn't use any Chinese and I didn't integrate into the Chinese culture whatsoever.
So after I graduated I decided that I definitely have to learn it before I leave China. Little did I know that it would be so hard hehe
Okay! That's so cool! Yes, being there isn't enough. You needed immersion. So I get it... I was in Taiwan for a year when I was in 6th grade and everyone practiced their English on me. 😁
Hahah I can imagine. That was the situation when I was in Shanghai, so many people wanted to learn English.