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What Hospitality!  by Chen Jin Feng
I did not know anybody in that village, so I went to the central village square to see whom I might find there. At first it was
deserted, but soon, an old man, about 70 years old showed up.

It was late 2004, and I was living with my family in Wuming County of Guangxi Province. I had learnt Zhuang in a classroom for a few months and felt ready for some real life practice.

I plucked up enough courage, walked up to the grandpa, and asked him if we could talk in Zhuang. He agreed, and we started to chat. After a few sentences, to my surprise, he invited me to his house. We walked

The Lus
The author with the Lus

Wuming, Guangxi
down a dirt track, and turned right into his house. It was a little house, with two bedrooms, a kitchen and a small courtyard.

We sat down on stools in the courtyard and continued to dialogue in Zhuang. I used some of the words, sentences and set conversation pieces I had learnt in the classroom. It was very encouraging that he understood me, and I understood him! Later he offered me an apple, and even peeled it for me when he saw me struggling with the peeler.

Soon it was time to go, but I would visit Mr Lu several more times in the months ahead for more Zhuang conversation opportunities. Without Mr Lu's hospitality, I would not have had such a rewarding experience for my first real conversation in Zhuang.