The pleasure of learning

Describe your idea and concept of your work in relation to the festival outlines:

People said to me, "Why are you going there?”, "Aren't you scared?”.

But the pleasure of being a stranger and experiencing a foreign country has been completely intoxicating. A simple personal reflection on my time so far - my response is to ‘the pleasure of learning’.

Just saying ‘ni hao’ alone can bring the pleasure of a successful conversation and transform the way I interact with my new locals. Just saying ‘ni hao’ shows I am about to attempt to speak your language, so please give me the time and patience. ‘Ni hao’ signifies the development of a new skill I’m proud to show off - a way to share dialogue, bring people together and a way to show I’m not just another lazy foreigner.

It’s a dopamine buzz, an esoteric high, an unadorned pleasure.

What kind of communication approach do you use?

The communication approach is digital - speaking to my friends, ex-colleagues and family back home.

What are in your opinion concrete benefits to the society because of your communication?

I have experienced, observed and conversed about laowai's (foreigners) trying to speak Mandarin to locals and being stone-walled. They don't understand what we're saying. I analysed this as a conflict of assumptions. The locals assume the laowai will speak English, and close down their ears, almost refusing to acknowledge understanding of the local language being said. But many times this is because myself or my friend is just learning and cannot string a full sentence together so say independant words. If we all just began with 'ni hao', this signifies we are about to speak Mandarin. The pleasure of a successful conversation is more likely to occur thereafter.

What did you personally learn from creating your submitted work?

I delved very deep into the wider issues of breaking down stereotypes of foreigners in Shanghai and even the deep-seeded racial stereotyping that occurs of Chinese people by Australians. I questioned the reasons of succumbing to the pleasure of fear of one another. I delved deep into tactics of creating long-sustaining happiness and the benefits of using your talents to achieve this. I delved deep into pleasure media and how the new values of Millennials (world, connected, informed, purpose-driven…) are not being translated in their social media representations. I delved deep into the pleasure of learning and self-actualisation. I learnt about myself after a reflection on why I love being here so much. I learnt a new language throughout this whole journey!

Why is your work, GOOD communication WORK?

A simple, personal response that captures a passion and an addiction to living.

Where and how do you intent do implement your work?

I don't imagine this work going very far. It could be misconstrued as being illegal if publicised here in China. Luckily I have my VPN on.

Did your intervention had an effect on other Media. If yes, describe the effect? (Has other media reported on it- how? Were you able to change other media with your work- how?)

No other media involvement.