My Journey into Chinese Culture: From Beginner to BLCU Scholar - Rohit Adhikari
My Journey Learning Chinese
The journey of learning Chinese was begun by me, Rohit Adhikari, when enrollment in the BTCSOL course at Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU) was made in November 2024. No prior experience in Chinese language or culture was had, only motivation and interest in learning both the language and culture of China. Starting was found to be tough, and even recognizing basic Chinese characters was considered difficult. With daily practice and guidance from the teacher, slight improvements were gradually made.
Chinese was learned at LBU not only through course materials or books but also through participation in various activities encouraged by the university. Volunteering for a week at Zhonghua monastery was one such activity, where words outside the course framework were learned, and cultural insights were gained. A tea culture exchange with Nanhai Buddhist Academy was also hosted by LBU, where insights into Chinese tea, which is more like herbs compared to Nepal, were provided to me and my classmates. In February 2025, participation in a Chinese New Year program at LBU’s building was made possible, deepening knowledge of Chinese culture and offering a new cultural experience.
After just three months of learning, the HSK exam was taken and passed with good marks. Under the teacher’s supervision, the CIS/CLEC scholarship application form was completed, with Beijing Language and Cultural University (BLCU) chosen as the study location. Approval for a one-semester scholarship was granted by CIS after about two months.
Hope is held that BLCU will help broaden understanding of Chinese language and culture. Gratitude is expressed to all LBU staff and teachers who taught, motivated, and assisted during the scholarship process. The knowledge gained is hoped to be used to foster greater interactions between China and Nepal and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations.
While circumstances and situations differ, it is important to take advantage of the benefits that learning across borders poses such as increased networking, collaboration and ideas sharing thus initiating an exposure to innovative and unique perspectives. My experience of distance learning has been exciting and enlightening. I have got to know people from various countries and continents, identified with them (despite cultural differences) in terms of motives for registering, collaborated on ideas discussed, and built friendships that transcend the virtual environment.
