Stuff – Harrison Christian 
Hello, I’m Kong Ruisheng. That’s my Chinese name, picked out by my tutor when I started learning Mandarin two years ago. Chinese people often tell me it’s a good name: Ruisheng has connotations of far-sightedness and growth, while Kong was the surname of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (it can also mean “orifice,” but my tutor never told me that). If Chinese Language Week has got you thinking about taking up Mandarin, or maybe just learning some basics, I’m here to tell you: don’t listen to the naysayers. A lot of people think Chinese is incredibly difficult for English speakers to learn, but it’s a myth. (more)