Congratulations to your small victory David! Yea, it's true that the Chinese language is pretty much difficult for foreigners to learn. It also has many dialects from different regions which we Chinese even cannot fully understand sometimes, seems so sophisticated to grasp... Well, Practise makes perfect, so just keep going and things will improve for sure. It would always be my pleasure to help you with your Chinese:) Cool and discerning observations, it just sooo true!
I have been to the Temple of Heaven as well, and quite like it. A really cool and stunning place that almost represents the Ming's culture to the full extent.
