Beyond Translations

Growing up on Long Island, going to the beach always was and still is a staple of my summers. My family and I would spend the whole day at the beach, from sunrise to well past sunset. When I was younger, I had no interest in the usual activities that my family would partake in. Rather than swimming or playing games, I sought a much more impressive feat, a feat that all young boys have once chased, digging a really big hole. 

I would start out as soon as we got there, committing myself to the pursuit. After years of experience, my process became methodical. As the afternoon arrived, the adults would come over to see the progress I had made. “Wow,” they would say, “you’re doing great”. One of the most peculiar comments I received went along the lines of “you know if you keep digging, you’re gonna dig all the way to China!”

That was my first encounter with China. China was a mystical, faraway place on the opposite end of the world, that could only be reached by digging a massively deep hole.

This idea of China inspired a deep curiosity. I wondered what was this mystical place like. Who lived there? What were they like? Did they know that I was trying to dig my way to them? 

Unfortunately, as I advanced through elementary school and middle school, my interest faded. China was a place that was talked about in the news, but it was way too far away for me to have to worry about. The only thing that I knew of the Chinese language was that it was complicated, and there was no need for me to learn it. I lived in America, we were different from China, and that’s just the way it was. However, the summer before my freshman year of high school something began to change.

I was starting at a new school, a private school, more than an hour away from my house. I was excited for all the new experiences I was going to have, and I told myself I was going to seize all of the opportunities this new place could offer me.

That commitment was challenged when it was time to select my courses for the next school year in early July of that summer. I had clicked through all of the subjects, selecting the courses that were available to me. Finally, it came time to choose the language I would take for the next four years. The languages offered were Spanish, French, Latin, and Mandarin. 

Right away the possibility of learning Mandarin jumped out to me. I had taken Italian in middle school, so no matter what, I would be starting a new language from the very beginning. Spanish seemed like the logical choice, since it was very similar to Italian, and because I would have plenty of opportunities to use it in daily life. 

The decision seemed obvious, but not exciting enough. Mandarin represented the mystery and intrigue of China, a place that had once sparked a deep curiosity in my young brain. Mandarin would give me brand new experiences and adventures, and ultimately provide me with more opportunities than any of the other languages available to me.

Inspired by my curiosity, as well as my enthusiasm for the opportunity being presented to me, I selected Mandarin, and so it began…

Supported by an marvelous teacher and an incredibly small and intimate class, my curiosity began to be quenched as I learned, and started to master my first few basic characters, 我，你、不，是. 

As my freshman year passed along, I fell in love with the beauty and the depth of meaning in each character. Each stroke represents a unique perspective and each phrase symbolizes centuries worth of human experiences. 

Throughout my sophomore year, my teacher began to emphasize the importance of learning more about Chinese culture. If I could understand the cultural nuances and expectations, then my proficiency and understanding of the language would prosper.

This required me to do research into Chinese films, landmarks, and historical events. One of my favorite assignments was researching the similarities and differences between Tiananmen Square in Beijing (天安门广场) and the National Mall in Washington D.C (国家广场). I looked into the different landmarks in each of these places, and people and events they commemorated. This project, though, took me much deeper than just learning about buildings, landmarks, people, and events. I learned about what is important to the people of China and what is important to the people of America. I began to believe that our differences may actually not be all that different, and I realized that if we understood each other’s culture and heritage, we would be able to have better diplomacy and a better relationship. These realizations came to me as a result of my love for the Chinese language. Learning this language has given me such a deep passion for international diplomacy, because it has helped me to realize a way in which it can be made better.

I wouldn’t have been able to come to these realizations had it not been for my understanding of the Chinese language. While understanding culture helps understand the language, knowing the language allows you to make stronger connections and interpretations about cultural principles. This is why language education is immensely important. If we are able to understand the language of other people, we can better understand their culture and their perspectives. If we can better understand these, we will be able to foster stronger bonds and facilitate better connections. 

The relationship and connection between China and the US is one of the most important relationships in the world. The actions that these two countries take, especially towards each other, have repercussions that touch every person and every corner of the globe. However, this relationship is fragile, and it requires constant attention and nurturing in order to maintain a positive status.

A positive relationship can only be achieved through understanding. Americans must understand the history and culture of the Chinese people, in order to understand their reasonings and practices. The people of China must understand American ideals, in order to be able to connect and relate to Americans. It is our mission at Beyond Translations to facilitate this understanding by offering new perspectives, expert insights, as well as informed and truthful updates on the relationship between these two countries. We hope to contribute to better communication and understanding between these two Nations, and ultimately contribute to a more diplomatic and peaceful world. Our goal is to create lasting cultural understanding and connections, in ways beyond just translations.

中文摘要：

我小时候对中国不太了解，只觉得它是一个遥远而神秘的地方。我还觉得中文是一种太难的语言。可是，在我上九年级前的那个夏天，我有机会学习中文，我便抓住了这个机会。从那以后，我就爱上了中国文化。

随着中文水平的不断提高，我也开始更加深入地了解中国文化。

在一次比较天安门广场和华盛顿国家广场的项目中，我更深刻地体会到了中美两国所珍视的价值。那次经历让我意识到：理解能够带来外交，理解能够带来和平。

“超越翻译”的目标，是为中美两国人民创造机会，让他们相互了解彼此的文化，促进更好的关系，从而让世界变得更加和平与繁荣