Community Profile: Zhongping
Zhongping is a regular participant in our free weekly conversation group and he also volunteers with MOSAIC! Thank you, Zhongping, for sharing your interesting ideas and experiences with our ENGAGE community!
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Zhongping Hou. I am from Shanghai, China, and I came here for a family reunion. I have experienced the excitement of exploring a new world and the culture shock that came with it. I appreciate the cultural diversity and inclusiveness of Canadian society. I used to be a high school teacher in Shanghai, and now I am an English student in Vancouver. These are all part of my lifelong learning journey.
How do you spend your free time in Vancouver?
Walking is my daily activity. I like to go to English Bay or Central Park. I like the beautiful environment there, enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and drizzle. Another activity is online activities. It really spends me a lot of free time every day. Recently, the AI language model has fascinated me. It can help me navigate the unknown world effectively.
What are some challenges you’ve faced with moving to Canada?
I think the language gap is my biggest challenge. And this gap is difficult for me to fill. Because English and Chinese are two completely different language systems. And I missed the best age to learn English. So my brain is the Chinese version. For example, if I listen to or read English, I have to translate it into Chinese in my brain, think in Chinese, and then speak or write in English. It's very inefficient.
Which place would you recommend to someone visiting your country?
Shanghai is my hometown. The Bund in Shanghai is famous for its collection of historical buildings in various styles, including neoclassical, Gothic Revival, Baroque, and Renaissance, reflecting the city's 100-year colonial history. Pudong, across the Bund, is an emerging city with many super high-rise buildings.
What are you hoping to achieve during your time at MOSAIC?
I have three shot term goals:
· listen to the news, I can catch its main ideas.
· complete watching a movie three times (the first time without a caption, the second time with a caption, and the third time for appreciation).
· express my opinions freely and confidently (except in politics).
