Mandarin is a must for today's workforce

" ......The UK's lack of foreign language skills is problematic for our export performance: a study by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in 2014 estimates that language and cultural barriers are costing the UK economy up to £48 billion per year.

 Graduates who can speak more than one language will have a significant competitive advantage in today’s job market, and as China is a fast-developing market that the UK has a huge trade deficit with, Mandarin speakers will not only be in high demand by UK companies, but also essential to future-proofing the UK economy.  "


see the full article here....

The Great Walk

There is a saying in Northern China,
(Bù dào chángchéng fēi hao hàn).

不到长城非好汉

One who fails to reach the Great Wall cannot be called a man; you should not give up until you succeed; be determined to reach one's goal, not stopping half way.

It was November 2008 shortly after the Beijing Olympics when I  had stopped  atop the Great Wall, standing on tiptoe on Day 1 of a seven day trek across the northern parts of the Wall.   

I fancied I could see Mum and Dad’s bungalow in South Derry from here, both sitting out on the bench by the porch in the evening shade.
 
I cupped my hands and shouted ‘Mum, Mum, I can see you from here”