Hey everyone! Below is my paper... it's a little dry this time... didn't have as much to talk about. Feel free to simply skim! Love and miss you all!!! Oh, and today's weather report: 83 degrees, blowing sand and haze. No lie, that's what it says on the Weather Channel.com
Hilarious! Pray I don't die from breathing it in all the time!
On Saturday (24 May 2008) we visited three of the top sites in Beijing: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. All three sites I have visited before, but each time offers a new experience. I have enjoyed seeing the sites again because I now have a new appreciation from studying more about the culture and learning the language. It is exhilarating to be able to read the Chinese signs, the temple names and even some descriptions. I am looking forward to understanding more as my language skills grow.
In the early morning of the day, we began our travels at Tian’anmen Square. We were unable to walk in the square on Saturday because of fences and guards blocking the entrance. I don’t know if the square was blocked because of the earthquake or because of another reason. I do know that the previous Monday marked one week since the earthquake; and Tian’anmen Square was the location of the ceremonial lowering of the flag to half-mast. I don’t know if this had anything to do with it, but the square was still interesting to see and evokes many emotions, especially questions about the massacre in 1989.
From the square you can see the portrait of Mao hanging high as we made our way to the Forbidden City. Once arriving at the entrance, we were given a map and set off to explore the ancient wonders. The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace. It is rectangular in shape and forms the largest palace complex in the world. The city is divided into two parts: the southern section (outer court) and the northern section (inner court). The Outer Court is where the emperor exercised his power over the nation. The emperor and the royal family lived in the Inner Court.
Having been here before, I found it interesting to pay attention to the reaction of my friends. I remember coming two years ago and honestly being distressed that many of the buildings were under construction. During my first visit, many buildings, including one near the front entrance, had a canvas picture of the building over the actual architecture. This was done so the public could see how the building was designed and but was currently under renovations. I appreciate the canvas as opposed to just the construction site, but would prefer to simply see how the buildings look in their original form. All of the Forbidden City has been repainted to represent the old colors.
The Forbidden City began construction in 1407 and was completed 14 years later. It was home to 14 emperors during the Ming Dynasty and 10 emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Now called the Palace Museum, the city is one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. I found it interesting to learn what materials were used to make the bricks and cement. The bricks were made with white lime and glutinous rice. The cement is made of glutinous rice and egg whites. These materials, which seem more like a dinner combination rather than building materials, make the structure of the Forbidden City extremely strong. Yellow dominates the color palette of the city because the color represents the royal family. The only building without a yellow roof is the Wenyuange (library); it is painted black to represent water, which is used to extinguish fire and fend off destruction. Although we didn’t see the library, it was interesting to find out the reasoning behind the color choices. The city is vibrant; however, some parts of the walls appear to be older and show faded colors, making it seem like you are experiencing the original structure of the building.
During the heat of the morning, we stopped outside the Hall of Clocks to get some drinks. It is interesting to note here that a bottle of coke is cheaper than a bottle of water. At the stop, we were able to learn some more information about the city from another tourist who frequented the site. Short on time, we began to move quickly through the middle quadrant of the city, not having time or money to see the side exhibits, including the Hall of Clocks and Treasure Hall. I would like to go back in order to spend more time and see these additional relics.
As we moved through the Inner Court, we saw the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the emperors often slept. Legend has it that the Forbidden City was supposed to contain 9,999 ½ rooms, only one-half room away from the 10,000 rooms in Heaven. The city never actually constructed that many rooms, coming short by roughly 1500 rooms.
At the northern most part of the Inner Court contains a temple and ancient garden with deformed cypresses. The Forbidden City exits along a river. We were slightly delayed during our journey because of our students didn’t arrive at the meeting place at the north gate. After waiting half an hour, we left for lunch, leaving an advisor to wait for him.
Lunch was again eaten on a lazy-suzanne with 10 people to a table. We ate dishes such as lotus root, sweet and sour chicken and several different tofu dishes. The lunch break allowed us to re-energize for the second half of the day when we traveled to the Temple of Heaven.
Construction began on the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) in 1420. It is three times bigger than the Forbidden City and is the largest existing complex for worshipping Heaven. Twice a year, the emperor would go to the temples to pray for a good harvest and conduct ceremonial worshipping. All the buildings have special dark blue roof tiles which represent Heaven. When we entered the complex, it was amazing to see the vast gardens and fine details of the temple architecture. The buildings were constructed with squares and circles in a precise manner. The squares, representing Earth, are located on the bottom of many of the sites. The circles, representing Heaven, are used for the design of all the temples. I didn’t learn until later about the effects of the Echo Stones. I have heard that if you speak facing the Imperial Vault of Heaven while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo. If you stand on the second and third stones, you will hear two and three echoes respectively.
Also, the Echo Wall is designed to hear even a whisper. It’s been said that if you and a friend stand on the east and west roots of the wall, one is able to utter a whisper and the other can hear it clearly. The long corridor was marked with local musicians and numerous citizens lounging along the walls, playing different instruments and chatting together. The gardens are lined with rose bushes and low-hanging trees, providing shade and a relaxing atmosphere. I don’t think we had enough time to fully experience all there was at the Temple of Heaven. We didn’t get the chance to visit the Abstinence Hall, which is where the emperors would fast in worship. I would also like to spend more time sitting in the gardens. Saturday’s weather was extremely hot and an ice cream was a must. The cold refreshment helped during our long walk through the temples.
In 2005, the Temple of Heaven underwent a 47 million yuan renovation to prepare for the 2008 Olympics. Many of the famous sites in Beijing have undergone construction and facelifts for the many people who will flock to the city during the Olympics this summer. It is exciting to see the changes in the city and the infrastructure that has been added to better the city. I have been interested to see the changes around me from two years ago to today. I look forward to seeing other sites in the city and how they have been altered, mostly for the better, in order to prepare for the 2008 Games.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Blessings....
So, for those of you that don't know, I got my final bag on Friday! I was so excited. Thank you all for your prays and concerns... they did take my M&Ms (and possibly my jewelry) but it doesn't matter and I finally feel more settled. We went with our program yesterday to the Forbidden City, Tian'namen Square and the Temple of Heaven, but this blog is not about that. I will post my response paper about the day later.
I had the opportunity to go to a Christian church this morning. My friend in the program, Charlie, heard about it and found out where it was. His girlfriend came here two years ago and met a guy, who came to pick us up this morning and take us. He is a Korean-American student studying in China. His name is He Sung. He actually is very involved in the church and did the sermon today.
For those of you who don't know this, churches in China are not allowed to acquire new property. However, any churches that existed before the PRC was founded (late 40s) is able to rebuild, expand, or just stay the same and conduct worship. The church we attended has owned this peice of land for more than 100 years. It is called the Beijing Haidian Christian Church. We were told more than 4,000 people attend and they have several services every Sunday. We were able to go to an English service. It is actually set up much like CofC and many of the same things are done. I didn't expect to know any of the songs, but actually knew them all - When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, It is Well with my Soul and Lord I Lift Your Name on High. I know I have traveled a lot and I know that Christians exist all around the world, however, I feel that this sentiment wasn't fully understood until today. It was so amazing to see Christians, Chinese, English and other foreigns alike all come together to praise God. We had several songs and opening prayer, a scripture and then the message. Because of the disastrous effects of the earthquake and the magnitude of people affected, the sermon was targeting toward dealing with suffering - Phil 2: 2-11. It felt like many sermons taught in the States after 9/11. - very moving. After the message, they have all the newcomers stand and actually have a song of welcome - it is simply geared toward the new people and asks for God to Bless them (well for today - us too!)
They then recite the Lord's Prayer and conclude with some fellowship.
We were sitting next to two Chinese girls and one Chinese male.... we talked to them for a while after church and actually went to lunch with them. Again, it was another great experience to work on my Chinese. I have been so blessed to meet new people in the city and work on my language skills. The girls have been studying English for many years, but still aren't fluent (which continues to worry me!) But it was great to be taken to a local spot and spend time with some local Christians. The three of them didn't quite understand the entire sermon, but the Chinese service is often so full that many ppl come downstairs (our service was also full... probably can hold about 800 ppl and it was full with ppl standing) The girls are both attending university and we (Megan, Charlie and I - the ones that went to church) are planning to come to their university for English Corner - which is an open class for ppl to talk and discuss in Chinese and English. They have many of these through the week and throughout the city.. it is a neat experience to see and converse with so many ppl... hopefully this will be exponentially benefical to my Chinese. Anyway, I'm getting tired of writing.. not used to this diary thing, but wanted anyone interested to learn more about Christian churches in Asia.... hope you are more informed... Email me if you want to ask more. We will definately be attending every week! So great to have this in China and slightly odd that this type of church doesn't exist in England but does in China. God is good!
Will be posting pictures and info about our travels through Beijing soon! XOXO
I had the opportunity to go to a Christian church this morning. My friend in the program, Charlie, heard about it and found out where it was. His girlfriend came here two years ago and met a guy, who came to pick us up this morning and take us. He is a Korean-American student studying in China. His name is He Sung. He actually is very involved in the church and did the sermon today.
For those of you who don't know this, churches in China are not allowed to acquire new property. However, any churches that existed before the PRC was founded (late 40s) is able to rebuild, expand, or just stay the same and conduct worship. The church we attended has owned this peice of land for more than 100 years. It is called the Beijing Haidian Christian Church. We were told more than 4,000 people attend and they have several services every Sunday. We were able to go to an English service. It is actually set up much like CofC and many of the same things are done. I didn't expect to know any of the songs, but actually knew them all - When I Survey the Wonderous Cross, It is Well with my Soul and Lord I Lift Your Name on High. I know I have traveled a lot and I know that Christians exist all around the world, however, I feel that this sentiment wasn't fully understood until today. It was so amazing to see Christians, Chinese, English and other foreigns alike all come together to praise God. We had several songs and opening prayer, a scripture and then the message. Because of the disastrous effects of the earthquake and the magnitude of people affected, the sermon was targeting toward dealing with suffering - Phil 2: 2-11. It felt like many sermons taught in the States after 9/11. - very moving. After the message, they have all the newcomers stand and actually have a song of welcome - it is simply geared toward the new people and asks for God to Bless them (well for today - us too!)
They then recite the Lord's Prayer and conclude with some fellowship.
We were sitting next to two Chinese girls and one Chinese male.... we talked to them for a while after church and actually went to lunch with them. Again, it was another great experience to work on my Chinese. I have been so blessed to meet new people in the city and work on my language skills. The girls have been studying English for many years, but still aren't fluent (which continues to worry me!) But it was great to be taken to a local spot and spend time with some local Christians. The three of them didn't quite understand the entire sermon, but the Chinese service is often so full that many ppl come downstairs (our service was also full... probably can hold about 800 ppl and it was full with ppl standing) The girls are both attending university and we (Megan, Charlie and I - the ones that went to church) are planning to come to their university for English Corner - which is an open class for ppl to talk and discuss in Chinese and English. They have many of these through the week and throughout the city.. it is a neat experience to see and converse with so many ppl... hopefully this will be exponentially benefical to my Chinese. Anyway, I'm getting tired of writing.. not used to this diary thing, but wanted anyone interested to learn more about Christian churches in Asia.... hope you are more informed... Email me if you want to ask more. We will definately be attending every week! So great to have this in China and slightly odd that this type of church doesn't exist in England but does in China. God is good!
Will be posting pictures and info about our travels through Beijing soon! XOXO
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
First Adventure - 20 May
So, I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but we are a group of about 25 ppl. Either we all get along (which I think so really well) or we are scared to venture out in smaller groups, but before this week we were basically inseperable. We were going everywhere in such a large group. Yesterday (today for you!) I heard some of the guys were looking into exploring the Underground Revolution City - which was built about half a century ago, completely underground (I believe by Mao) so that about 1/4 of the city could live underground if there were an invasion by Japan. The underground city contained malls, playgrounds, schools, houses, etc. everything needed to function. They worked on it for 10 years. Anyway, today it is able to be seen. So myself and 4 of the guys set out on our first subway ride here (for some guys it was there first subway ride ever) and tried to find the place.
Beijing's subway is not set up like it is in London or the States. They basically have a line that goes north-south, a line that goes east-west, a circle around the first ring of the city and then this loop that happens to come by our university. So we walked about 20 minutes to the Subway station, paid our 2 yuan (about 30 cents) and started the journey. Along the way, the pollution became so bad we felt we were breathing in pure dust. OUr throats felt scratchy and our lungs were tight. It is an interesting experience to look out into the city and realize you can't see the building 100 m away because of smog. (later we found out that there had been a sand storm in the city while we were out). AFter changing subway lines and arriving as close to our destination as possible, we set out to find the place.
Finally, we found it only to find it closed. So, since the pollution/breathing had become so bad, we decided to go into this mall that was close to the subway station we were near. The boys also decided to eat at Pizza Hut (which is NOTHING like ours). The Pizza Hut in China has pizza, calamari, onion rings, fries, beer, all types of tea, and other samplings of stuff. AFter navigating the subway and realizing it was rush hour (which is a NIGHTMARE in the tube), we decided to take a taxi back, even though the ride would probably be 20 times the price of our subway ticket.
This is the main reason I decided to write all this.... having to split into two cabs (each cab only accomodates 4 ppl), myself (Charlie and Malcolm) had the best taxi ride ever and our first true long experience speaking Chinese. The cab driver was more friendly than any other I had encountered and we were told the most language you would learn would be with taxi drivers. For the first time, this cab driver spoke some English, so when we hit a language barrier he was usually able to say a word that helped with the context of the sentence. He wasn't as far along in his English studies as we were in Chinese, so the majority of the cab ride was spoken in Chinese. It was so great to just work on the tone of a sentence (especially since the tone for some words changes in the context of a sentence). It was also great just to understand and respond. We learned another phrase for "you get it or you understand it" He tried to tell us about a song with the music of jingle bells that contained verses about Mao, Marx, Lenin, Stalin and another communist leader, but that was the biggest thing we didn't quite understand. All in all, the 60 yuan (less than $10) cab ride was well worth the money spent so that we could have more than an hour of full conversation with a local.
I'm so happy to have such a drastic change in learning curve after being in the country. Please continue to pray for the victims of the earthquake. They believe the final death toll will be more than 50,000 ppl. Love to all! since I am awake at 5 AM, I need to study before class - quizzes everyday! (I'm also trying to not get a full blown cold, even though I can't figure out if it is really a cold or my body trying to expunge all the pollution!)
Much love!
Beijing's subway is not set up like it is in London or the States. They basically have a line that goes north-south, a line that goes east-west, a circle around the first ring of the city and then this loop that happens to come by our university. So we walked about 20 minutes to the Subway station, paid our 2 yuan (about 30 cents) and started the journey. Along the way, the pollution became so bad we felt we were breathing in pure dust. OUr throats felt scratchy and our lungs were tight. It is an interesting experience to look out into the city and realize you can't see the building 100 m away because of smog. (later we found out that there had been a sand storm in the city while we were out). AFter changing subway lines and arriving as close to our destination as possible, we set out to find the place.
Finally, we found it only to find it closed. So, since the pollution/breathing had become so bad, we decided to go into this mall that was close to the subway station we were near. The boys also decided to eat at Pizza Hut (which is NOTHING like ours). The Pizza Hut in China has pizza, calamari, onion rings, fries, beer, all types of tea, and other samplings of stuff. AFter navigating the subway and realizing it was rush hour (which is a NIGHTMARE in the tube), we decided to take a taxi back, even though the ride would probably be 20 times the price of our subway ticket.
This is the main reason I decided to write all this.... having to split into two cabs (each cab only accomodates 4 ppl), myself (Charlie and Malcolm) had the best taxi ride ever and our first true long experience speaking Chinese. The cab driver was more friendly than any other I had encountered and we were told the most language you would learn would be with taxi drivers. For the first time, this cab driver spoke some English, so when we hit a language barrier he was usually able to say a word that helped with the context of the sentence. He wasn't as far along in his English studies as we were in Chinese, so the majority of the cab ride was spoken in Chinese. It was so great to just work on the tone of a sentence (especially since the tone for some words changes in the context of a sentence). It was also great just to understand and respond. We learned another phrase for "you get it or you understand it" He tried to tell us about a song with the music of jingle bells that contained verses about Mao, Marx, Lenin, Stalin and another communist leader, but that was the biggest thing we didn't quite understand. All in all, the 60 yuan (less than $10) cab ride was well worth the money spent so that we could have more than an hour of full conversation with a local.
I'm so happy to have such a drastic change in learning curve after being in the country. Please continue to pray for the victims of the earthquake. They believe the final death toll will be more than 50,000 ppl. Love to all! since I am awake at 5 AM, I need to study before class - quizzes everyday! (I'm also trying to not get a full blown cold, even though I can't figure out if it is really a cold or my body trying to expunge all the pollution!)
Much love!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday 17 May
Another day of studying here on campus. I was able to listen to Eric's sermon from last week online today! It was great - Jeremiah 1. i'm still waiting for my bookbag. i am having to borrow ppl's converter things to charge my computer so can usually only get it plugged in for an hour to charge... the battery doens't fully charge so i only have about 3 hours of battery life.... i am starting to speak some chinese with fuyuan (servers) and other service ppl... hoping to conquer it this summer! but i am also working on my spanish so that is a plus! lol...
Miss you all! We are trying to try to figure out this whole homework thing constantly so we can find time to go see stuff in the afternoons in Beijing, including the Peking Opera, the Acrobatics show, the Beijing Dance Festival and the Peking Variety Show. All are suppose to be good and have great culture. This Saturday we are going to the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City.... should be great. the weekend after we are on a trip to Shanghai (i think). anyway, back to studying for a little while then off to bed. miss and love you all!!!!!!
Oh, on a side note, I've been pretty impressed with the food I have been eating -- so many different vegs than normal, including turnips, peppers (i know right!), bok choy, etc. the cow stomach though is a little chewy! lol.... I have found a digestive/ biscuit (its a word for a British cracker) that is high in fiber so i try to eat a few everyday to help with my digestion and 'moving things along!' lol... also try to take a vitamin at least once a few days... still drinking my green tea every morning, so that's been a nice regular in my diet. Today, we went to have brunch on campus at a place that served american food and I had the chance to try "chocolate milk tea - in english" it was amazing!!! it tasted just how it sounds... but i've never heard of it in the states. will definately be making it a drink of choice here. learning more about food everyday and really can't believe just how adventurous i have been in eating things.. i am still a visual eater, so if it looks like eye balls (even if ppl say it taste like a bean) I won't eat it! Not too much has changed!
Hope you enjoy your day!
Miss you all! We are trying to try to figure out this whole homework thing constantly so we can find time to go see stuff in the afternoons in Beijing, including the Peking Opera, the Acrobatics show, the Beijing Dance Festival and the Peking Variety Show. All are suppose to be good and have great culture. This Saturday we are going to the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City.... should be great. the weekend after we are on a trip to Shanghai (i think). anyway, back to studying for a little while then off to bed. miss and love you all!!!!!!
Oh, on a side note, I've been pretty impressed with the food I have been eating -- so many different vegs than normal, including turnips, peppers (i know right!), bok choy, etc. the cow stomach though is a little chewy! lol.... I have found a digestive/ biscuit (its a word for a British cracker) that is high in fiber so i try to eat a few everyday to help with my digestion and 'moving things along!' lol... also try to take a vitamin at least once a few days... still drinking my green tea every morning, so that's been a nice regular in my diet. Today, we went to have brunch on campus at a place that served american food and I had the chance to try "chocolate milk tea - in english" it was amazing!!! it tasted just how it sounds... but i've never heard of it in the states. will definately be making it a drink of choice here. learning more about food everyday and really can't believe just how adventurous i have been in eating things.. i am still a visual eater, so if it looks like eye balls (even if ppl say it taste like a bean) I won't eat it! Not too much has changed!
Hope you enjoy your day!
Great Wall (Badaling) and Silk Street
Hi!
Here is my discussion paper about our trip to the Great Wall - Badaling section and the Silk Street market.... feel free to read or just skim over! Love to all!
On Saturday, May 17, the UF students had the opportunity to travel to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, enjoy a hearty lunch and then go shopping at the Silk Street and Pearl Market.
It is easy to see how the Great Wall is considered an ancient wonder of the world. The vast distance covered by the wall is an impressive feat, not to mention the amount of time dedicated to building over 2,000 years. Starting in the Qin dynasty, more than 2800 years ago, the wall has become a symbol for Chinese culture and power. Originally built for military defense, the wall built in most areas was established during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The wall runs over 344 miles throughout China. The area we explored, Badaling, is the most well-preserved section of the wall and a site most often visited by tourists. Located about one hour north of Beijing proper, the wall has an average altitude of 1,000 meters (3,282 feet). Upon arriving at Badaling, we were given two hours to explore the wall. Having been to this section of the wall before, I was aware that one side, leading to the North Gate was considerably more difficult than the other side, which leads to the South Gate. The majority of the UF students chose to climb the difficult side.
Having already traveled this route of the wall, I was familiar with the steep climb, the combination of stairs and ramps and the often 80 degree angle the surface of the wall takes. Donned with tennis shoes, we set out on the journey to the farthest point accessible (North gate). The day was overcast and the smog had set in, but the view of the mountains and ridgeline is breathtaking. The wall spans as far as the eye can see, winding between mountain tops and valleys. Along the wall are holes created for military defense – shooting arrows during battle. Also carved into the stone of the wall is graffiti, mostly in Chinese characters. Even in China, people want to leave their mark on a national landmark. The trek is covered with vendors selling souvenirs, including hats, t-shirts and collectibles. All are willing to negotiate, but most rip off the inexperienced bargainer. A billboard featuring the 2008 Olympics is posted near the wall and can be seen in many pictures taken.
As you climb, the small city below becomes more visible. Foreigners all climb to the fortresses found sporadically along the wall, stopping to take a break and enjoy the scenery. The fact that the wall was constructed with stones and earth is an incredible feat. The width of the wall is more than 20 feet and can accommodate the breadth of five horses (designed for military ventures). As we climbed the wall, each of us was tilted almost parallel to the ground, in order to keep our balance and, at times, push against the wind. There is a point along the difficult side of the wall where one can not see directly below someone standing – it is like a ledge with a steep drop. It was surprising to see older adults and young children climb this part of the wall; I expected to only see the young (and slightly foolish) seek this journey of the wall.
The Great Wall is a piece of Chinese culture that is hard to convey to someone who hasn’t experienced this same wonder. I would like to travel to the Simatai section of the Great Wall, in order to experience the sun rising along the ridge line. I believe the street vendors and attractions added for tourist benefit have negatively altered the view and experience of the Great Wall. I think being able to experience the magnitude of this creation without the modern distractions would allow you to see the wall as it was seen millennia ago.
After leaving the wall, we traveled by charter bus back to the restaurant visted on our first night for the welcome dinner. We dined again on lazy-suzannes, eating chicken, cow stomach, noodle soup, squash and egg custard pastries for dessert. The dining experience was enjoyable; we were even able to dine with our bus driver.
We were able to rest our feet for a short while at the restaurant. Afterward, we were off to the Silk Street market. The Silk market hosts an array of clothing, jewelry, shoes, antiques, fabrics and knock-off goods. The market is not on a literal street, but encompassed in a building with six floors. Each floor contains different goods and most signs are written in English. The vendors tend to sell similar goods on each floor, but bargaining is a must. The market was packed with American, German, French and other foreigners looking for a good bargain. The trick of negotiating is three-fold: 1) offer 15 percent of the asking price; 2) negotiate to a point you feel the good is worth; 3) walk away if the seller doesn’t concede to your price. More than likely these three tactics will bring the price down to a reasonable figure. Remember though, bargaining for that last 10 yuan is usually pointless because you are only paying roughly $1.30 more for the item. During our time at the market, I was able to haggle with several vendors and got a price my friend wanted for some gifts. Most interesting, we saw other foreigners walk away from a vendor only to be followed by the seller in an attempt to reach an agreed price. Usually the person was able to get the seller down to a better, more preferred price and would return to the stall to complete their purchase.
Several of our group members experienced the aggressive nature of the many of the vendors. Even when trying to leave, sellers would use any tactic, including blocking their exit, in order to detain someone and get them to purchase something. I was looking at different shoes and found a pair of knock-off, cheaply made Puma sneakers. The vendor, in English, originally asked for 180 yuan. After speaking to her a few moments in Chinese, she had dropped the price to 80 yuan. She also said, “because I was with my Chinese friends (two of my friends in the program) she would give me a good price.” This price wasn’t negotiated until I began speaking Chinese. Realizing I knew more than I originally let on, she was quick to negotiate and the price reached 50 yuan. I told her I would only pay 40 yuan and began to walk away. She renegotiated at 45 yuan. Having thought she said 40 yuan, I agreed. However, once the misunderstanding was realized I backed away from the deal. This was my first experience with Chinese-English language problems. I know backing away from a deal is considered impolite, but I didn’t believe the vendor was giving me a good price for the cheaply-made shoes (even though the price was equivalent to seven US dollars). After the transaction, I was excited to have interacted with someone for so long in Chinese. Even though I had a miscommunication, it was uplifting to be able to talk with a local.
Several students, including myself, didn’t make any purchases that day, but it was fun to see the different interactions and be in the bustling atmosphere. By the end of the day I realized that I do not like the aggressive nature of vendors. Unlike the United States, vendors tend to follow you and be increasingly pushy. I prefer to shop silently and not interact with sellers unless I am sincerely interested in making a purchase. I also prefer to not haggle over a price. I believe that as long as the price is competitively placed, then I am willing to pay for the product. Even though you could possibly get something at a slightly cheaper price, the amount of time taken to haggle over it is not generally worth my time and efforts.
Overall, the shopping experience was interesting and taught me about the Chinese shopping industry, especially in open markets. The Great Wall was a must-see in Beijing, and I was pleased we were able to see it early in the trip. I hope to see many more sites in Beijing before the end of our stay.
Here is my discussion paper about our trip to the Great Wall - Badaling section and the Silk Street market.... feel free to read or just skim over! Love to all!
On Saturday, May 17, the UF students had the opportunity to travel to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, enjoy a hearty lunch and then go shopping at the Silk Street and Pearl Market.
It is easy to see how the Great Wall is considered an ancient wonder of the world. The vast distance covered by the wall is an impressive feat, not to mention the amount of time dedicated to building over 2,000 years. Starting in the Qin dynasty, more than 2800 years ago, the wall has become a symbol for Chinese culture and power. Originally built for military defense, the wall built in most areas was established during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The wall runs over 344 miles throughout China. The area we explored, Badaling, is the most well-preserved section of the wall and a site most often visited by tourists. Located about one hour north of Beijing proper, the wall has an average altitude of 1,000 meters (3,282 feet). Upon arriving at Badaling, we were given two hours to explore the wall. Having been to this section of the wall before, I was aware that one side, leading to the North Gate was considerably more difficult than the other side, which leads to the South Gate. The majority of the UF students chose to climb the difficult side.
Having already traveled this route of the wall, I was familiar with the steep climb, the combination of stairs and ramps and the often 80 degree angle the surface of the wall takes. Donned with tennis shoes, we set out on the journey to the farthest point accessible (North gate). The day was overcast and the smog had set in, but the view of the mountains and ridgeline is breathtaking. The wall spans as far as the eye can see, winding between mountain tops and valleys. Along the wall are holes created for military defense – shooting arrows during battle. Also carved into the stone of the wall is graffiti, mostly in Chinese characters. Even in China, people want to leave their mark on a national landmark. The trek is covered with vendors selling souvenirs, including hats, t-shirts and collectibles. All are willing to negotiate, but most rip off the inexperienced bargainer. A billboard featuring the 2008 Olympics is posted near the wall and can be seen in many pictures taken.
As you climb, the small city below becomes more visible. Foreigners all climb to the fortresses found sporadically along the wall, stopping to take a break and enjoy the scenery. The fact that the wall was constructed with stones and earth is an incredible feat. The width of the wall is more than 20 feet and can accommodate the breadth of five horses (designed for military ventures). As we climbed the wall, each of us was tilted almost parallel to the ground, in order to keep our balance and, at times, push against the wind. There is a point along the difficult side of the wall where one can not see directly below someone standing – it is like a ledge with a steep drop. It was surprising to see older adults and young children climb this part of the wall; I expected to only see the young (and slightly foolish) seek this journey of the wall.
The Great Wall is a piece of Chinese culture that is hard to convey to someone who hasn’t experienced this same wonder. I would like to travel to the Simatai section of the Great Wall, in order to experience the sun rising along the ridge line. I believe the street vendors and attractions added for tourist benefit have negatively altered the view and experience of the Great Wall. I think being able to experience the magnitude of this creation without the modern distractions would allow you to see the wall as it was seen millennia ago.
After leaving the wall, we traveled by charter bus back to the restaurant visted on our first night for the welcome dinner. We dined again on lazy-suzannes, eating chicken, cow stomach, noodle soup, squash and egg custard pastries for dessert. The dining experience was enjoyable; we were even able to dine with our bus driver.
We were able to rest our feet for a short while at the restaurant. Afterward, we were off to the Silk Street market. The Silk market hosts an array of clothing, jewelry, shoes, antiques, fabrics and knock-off goods. The market is not on a literal street, but encompassed in a building with six floors. Each floor contains different goods and most signs are written in English. The vendors tend to sell similar goods on each floor, but bargaining is a must. The market was packed with American, German, French and other foreigners looking for a good bargain. The trick of negotiating is three-fold: 1) offer 15 percent of the asking price; 2) negotiate to a point you feel the good is worth; 3) walk away if the seller doesn’t concede to your price. More than likely these three tactics will bring the price down to a reasonable figure. Remember though, bargaining for that last 10 yuan is usually pointless because you are only paying roughly $1.30 more for the item. During our time at the market, I was able to haggle with several vendors and got a price my friend wanted for some gifts. Most interesting, we saw other foreigners walk away from a vendor only to be followed by the seller in an attempt to reach an agreed price. Usually the person was able to get the seller down to a better, more preferred price and would return to the stall to complete their purchase.
Several of our group members experienced the aggressive nature of the many of the vendors. Even when trying to leave, sellers would use any tactic, including blocking their exit, in order to detain someone and get them to purchase something. I was looking at different shoes and found a pair of knock-off, cheaply made Puma sneakers. The vendor, in English, originally asked for 180 yuan. After speaking to her a few moments in Chinese, she had dropped the price to 80 yuan. She also said, “because I was with my Chinese friends (two of my friends in the program) she would give me a good price.” This price wasn’t negotiated until I began speaking Chinese. Realizing I knew more than I originally let on, she was quick to negotiate and the price reached 50 yuan. I told her I would only pay 40 yuan and began to walk away. She renegotiated at 45 yuan. Having thought she said 40 yuan, I agreed. However, once the misunderstanding was realized I backed away from the deal. This was my first experience with Chinese-English language problems. I know backing away from a deal is considered impolite, but I didn’t believe the vendor was giving me a good price for the cheaply-made shoes (even though the price was equivalent to seven US dollars). After the transaction, I was excited to have interacted with someone for so long in Chinese. Even though I had a miscommunication, it was uplifting to be able to talk with a local.
Several students, including myself, didn’t make any purchases that day, but it was fun to see the different interactions and be in the bustling atmosphere. By the end of the day I realized that I do not like the aggressive nature of vendors. Unlike the United States, vendors tend to follow you and be increasingly pushy. I prefer to shop silently and not interact with sellers unless I am sincerely interested in making a purchase. I also prefer to not haggle over a price. I believe that as long as the price is competitively placed, then I am willing to pay for the product. Even though you could possibly get something at a slightly cheaper price, the amount of time taken to haggle over it is not generally worth my time and efforts.
Overall, the shopping experience was interesting and taught me about the Chinese shopping industry, especially in open markets. The Great Wall was a must-see in Beijing, and I was pleased we were able to see it early in the trip. I hope to see many more sites in Beijing before the end of our stay.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Trying new things!
Ok, so this is not going to be as long as the other, but I will have to post another in a few days because we have to write a report about our trip to the Great Wall and Silk Street market (which we did today!)
Just wanted to drop a note and tell everyone thanks for the prays about my luggage. I have received one bag (my big bag with most of my clothes) and I'm still waiting on my bookbag, which included my textbooks... sooo continue to pray! Also, continue to pray for the victims' families of the earthquake. They have opened several blood banks around the area in which we live for the victims and we have seen a lot of organizations trying to raise money. It is interesting to see the reports on the news here (in Chinese of course) and how ppl are handling the situation... just glad that the Premier is working with other countries now.
Also, I have been settling in and started to venture out - food wise. WE have eaten stomach (mostly cow, but sometimes pig) a few days in a row, have eaten lots of tofu and tried several non-descript vegetables (which are all cooked of course). The best dining experience so far for dinner has been the "hot pot." This concept is basically like that of the Melting Pot (which I know mom, it isn't my favorite, but in a city with everyone dripped in sauce and not necessarily fresh, it has quickly moved up the chart). The food is dipped in a hot boiling sauce (usually spicy) and then you can order whatever you want. It is always fresh and since we get to cook it, we are sure it is done correctly. The only problem is that our first experience with the hot pot menu was all in Chinese.... soooo I was the lucky one to literally point and choose dishes based on their characters and if I knew what they were or if they just looked cool! WE ended up with several interesting htings (including the stomach)... You quickly learn to try many things or go hungry... and RICE is a must at every meal, which i have to say i'm quickly getting sick of.
Besides the food, we are just trying to stay afloat of the classes. We have class from 8-12 every day and then usually have to spend the majority of the rest of the day studying. It is very intense language program and we are moving quite quickly along. (Stephen we have finished 2 lessons in one week!) I believe the experience will be a positive thing though and am happy that in one week I already feel less overwhelmed than I did on day 1. Since I don't have my converters and stuff for my computer (in the other bag still not here), I am writing this on another person's computer. So I will try to keep this one short. Will post again in the next day or two a longer one about the Great Wall (which was amazing, but my calves are killing me!) and about the Silk Street market. Love to all! Miss you!
Oh, I will try to post pictures later! XOXO!
Just wanted to drop a note and tell everyone thanks for the prays about my luggage. I have received one bag (my big bag with most of my clothes) and I'm still waiting on my bookbag, which included my textbooks... sooo continue to pray! Also, continue to pray for the victims' families of the earthquake. They have opened several blood banks around the area in which we live for the victims and we have seen a lot of organizations trying to raise money. It is interesting to see the reports on the news here (in Chinese of course) and how ppl are handling the situation... just glad that the Premier is working with other countries now.
Also, I have been settling in and started to venture out - food wise. WE have eaten stomach (mostly cow, but sometimes pig) a few days in a row, have eaten lots of tofu and tried several non-descript vegetables (which are all cooked of course). The best dining experience so far for dinner has been the "hot pot." This concept is basically like that of the Melting Pot (which I know mom, it isn't my favorite, but in a city with everyone dripped in sauce and not necessarily fresh, it has quickly moved up the chart). The food is dipped in a hot boiling sauce (usually spicy) and then you can order whatever you want. It is always fresh and since we get to cook it, we are sure it is done correctly. The only problem is that our first experience with the hot pot menu was all in Chinese.... soooo I was the lucky one to literally point and choose dishes based on their characters and if I knew what they were or if they just looked cool! WE ended up with several interesting htings (including the stomach)... You quickly learn to try many things or go hungry... and RICE is a must at every meal, which i have to say i'm quickly getting sick of.
Besides the food, we are just trying to stay afloat of the classes. We have class from 8-12 every day and then usually have to spend the majority of the rest of the day studying. It is very intense language program and we are moving quite quickly along. (Stephen we have finished 2 lessons in one week!) I believe the experience will be a positive thing though and am happy that in one week I already feel less overwhelmed than I did on day 1. Since I don't have my converters and stuff for my computer (in the other bag still not here), I am writing this on another person's computer. So I will try to keep this one short. Will post again in the next day or two a longer one about the Great Wall (which was amazing, but my calves are killing me!) and about the Silk Street market. Love to all! Miss you!
Oh, I will try to post pictures later! XOXO!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Finally arrived in Beijing!
Hi everyone!
So, after many many many changes in flights, flight itineraries and such... I finally arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning... and without any luggage. I am still without any (and it's Wednesday)... probably not going to get it for another day. But just to let you know, we are all ok from the earthquake. It hit about 100 km outside of Chengdu (which is south of here). Some ppl here said they felt it, but honestly, not me! UF does have a program there, but all the students are fine... Continue to pray for them! I had to write a 5-7 page paper about my first impressions of Beijing, so I am placing that below. Hopefully it can give you some insight into the trip so far, or you can just skip it! Also, I will try to figure out how to upload pictures... You can see my dorm and some of the city. It is pouring rain right now here, but the sky was semi-clear yesterday! It is weird though to see ppl with masks over their face, which makes me think, maybe I shouldn't be breathing in this air! Oh well. Hope my lungs don't explode. Love you all and miss you! Best way to check in with me is by reading this blog, posting comments on it or using skype! It's free to download and we can talk to each other for free! My skype name is lentzj24
Love to all!
Pray my luggage gets here soon!
XOXO Jordan
My paper for class about first impressions:
When I first arrived in Beijing, I was exhilarated. I was mainly overjoyed because my flights along the way were a complete nightmare. I was originally supposed to arrive in Beijing on Saturday night. Unfortunately, mechanical delays forced me to reschedule my flights in Memphis, Tennessee. I was then on a flight itinerary rollercoaster – having each flight I was scheduled on to be rearranged, until I finally arrived in Hong Kong, only to be told that my luggage was missing. I finally got on a flight to Beijing and arrived without any luggage. Having been to China before, I was prepared for the 14 hour flight, the cramped spaces and the dehydration. What I wasn’t prepared for was the feeling of being lost, compounded by the anxiety of traveling to a foreign country when I am not fluent in the language. My first experience upon arriving at the Beijing International Airport was the Baggage Services counter to file paperwork about my missing luggage. The two women who helped me where both polite and accommodating, even though I speak little Chinese and they spoke little English. After describing my luggage with shapes and big hand gestures, I made my way to the taxi line to hail a ride to the university.
I tried to speak Chinese to relay to the cab driver where I was going and knew how to say it – or so I thought. I ended up showing him a map and a written sentence about where I needed to go. The ride was long, yet fast to say the least. I thought American drivers were crazy, but they are turtles in comparison to Chinese taxi drivers. He weaved in and out of traffic, merging into lanes with cars in them and going through and intersection when the light was clearly red. My first experience of Beijing included the thought, “What am I doing here?”
However, an hour later, I arrived at Tsinghua University and managed, after some work, to find my way to the right building and check in to my room. I found a classmate from UF, and he quickly showed me to a store on campus to collect things until my luggage arrived.
One of the first things I noticed upon arriving in my dormitory is how different they are from American dorms. I was surprised to learn that we (the foreign students) would have a single bedroom, whereas all Chinese students share a room, usually with four to six people per room. Also, I was surprised to learn about hot water hours, internet payments per minute and beer in a vending machine downstairs. American students tend to not think or even question the fact that toilet paper will be in the bathroom stalls, or that we will even have a bathroom stall (with Western toilets). It is considered a modern, Western accessory to have “normal” toilets in the ‘cesuo.’ All in all, the dormitories, at least for the foreign students, are nicely equipped and contain many amenities that the local students do not have.
The first night of my stay, all the University of Florida students in the study abroad program were invited to the UF in Beijing office (which is a 10 minute cab ride from the university) to see the office and enjoy a dinner with the Beijing staff, directors and professors of all the classes which are taught for us. Another difference between Chinese and Western culture is the idea of shared, family-style dining. Like eating with your family in the U.S., many Chinese restaurants have ‘lazy-Suzannes’ atop each table set for a party of ten. The fuwuyuan places appetizers followed by main dishes on the table, while people pick freely off any of the items. It is a unique experience and allows you to interact with all the guests at the table. I enjoy this element of Chinese dining; our experience on the first night allowed us the opportunity to meet all of the professors that we would be working with during the summer.
Another element I discovered about Beijing was the number of people who lived in such a small radius. Topping over 17 million people, the city is brimming with workers, students and tourists alike, including more than 5 million people who commute each day or don’t hold permanent residence. I find it interesting that citizens must have a household identification card. In the United States, people are able to live where they please and are able to move to any city, find a job and take up residence. This phenomenon is not the case in China. I cannot imagine the difficulties people must face in order to move to a larger city to build their career. I think Americans take it for granted that we have certain unalienable rights.
Another feature I found interesting about Beijing is the subway and its roots in the city. I discovered, upon finding one of the few English speaking television channels that the subway was originally built through the city for military purposes. It wasn’t until 1977 that the Chinese government decided to allow the local population to use the subway as a way of public transportation. The most interesting fact is that it wasn’t until 1980 that the government allowed foreigners to use the subway. I automatically assumed that when a subway is opened for public transportation that it allows use by the entire population, not just the locals.
Over the past several years, the subway has been under construction to allow more lines of transportation to various areas of the city. This construction is largely underway for the 2008 Olympics. The fact that the Olympics are located in Beijing has provided a dramatic increase in infrastructure, which will be useful even after the games are over. Having received the bid for the Olympics, China has the ability to develop international relations, increase global investments in the country and make it more accessible for students and tourists alike. When my parents were growing up, China was still largely closed to foreigners, and it was nearly inconceivable to travel to the country for language and culture programs. Today, with the economy growing four times faster than the United States annually, language proficiency and cultural knowledge can prove invaluable to American companies looking to invest in Asia.
Because of this, many students, including myself, have chosen to study here. As I settle into my surroundings, I begin to appreciate and understand better the cultural differences between America and China.
Another difference seen in Beijing is the number of bicycles used in the city. I have heard before that many people use bicycles in China as a primary source of transportation, but I didn’t realize just how many people relied on this method. I find it interesting that cyclers usually take up an entire lane in traffic and seem to use their own system of traffic laws. During all hours at Tsinghua, it is normal to find more people on bikes than on foot. They weave through the pedestrians, crossing lanes and sometimes moving through on-coming traffic to get to their destination. However, I often feel that being a pedestrian could cause more injury than riding a bike in this country, simply because you can be hit by more bikes and are largely outnumbered on the streets.
People in the States tend to use bicycles for leisure use only. Furthermore, it is almost imperative to own a car in the United States; whereas, in Beijing, a bike can get you to your destination quicker and more efficiently. It is interesting to note that the majority of Chinese drivers have only had their driver’s license for less than three years. This figure might help explain the number of people who run red lights and seem to drive equivalent to teenage drivers in America. That being said, it is not a fault of the people, yet a cultural difference (especially since the majority of Americans hold a driver’s license upon reaching the legal age).
Another interesting thing to note is that most Chinese vendors and stores we have visited since arriving tend to play American pop music. I wonder how many of the customers, employees and general public actually know the music and the English lyrics of each song, or if they simply play it. Also, it is possible and often seen that many people will know the words to the song, but won’t know English. They have memorized the tune and lyrics, but don’t understand what the song means. I have experienced the same thing in Switzerland. While there on vacation, my friends and I encountered a group of young boys playing soccer in the streets. We went to join them, not knowing any Swiss German or them knowing any English. We weren’t able to communicate clearly, but the boys did play a popular American rap song, and they sang every word to it, even though they clearly did not know what it meant.
Over the next few weeks, I hope to use less and less English when communicating. I believe that full immersion into the culture will be the best way to learn more about the language and culture. I feel that the biggest hindrance while in Beijing is the smog, not the language barrier. Once overcoming the atmospheric differences, Beijing will become an even better city in which to study. Because of the Olympics, the government is going to great lengths to address this problem during the summer, so I feel confident it will improve soon. My first impressions of the city have been mixed with culture shock. As the shock wears off, the city will begin to feel like home and the differences will become less pronounced. I am looking forward to the summer and all I have yet to experience.
So, after many many many changes in flights, flight itineraries and such... I finally arrived in Beijing on Sunday morning... and without any luggage. I am still without any (and it's Wednesday)... probably not going to get it for another day. But just to let you know, we are all ok from the earthquake. It hit about 100 km outside of Chengdu (which is south of here). Some ppl here said they felt it, but honestly, not me! UF does have a program there, but all the students are fine... Continue to pray for them! I had to write a 5-7 page paper about my first impressions of Beijing, so I am placing that below. Hopefully it can give you some insight into the trip so far, or you can just skip it! Also, I will try to figure out how to upload pictures... You can see my dorm and some of the city. It is pouring rain right now here, but the sky was semi-clear yesterday! It is weird though to see ppl with masks over their face, which makes me think, maybe I shouldn't be breathing in this air! Oh well. Hope my lungs don't explode. Love you all and miss you! Best way to check in with me is by reading this blog, posting comments on it or using skype! It's free to download and we can talk to each other for free! My skype name is lentzj24
Love to all!
Pray my luggage gets here soon!
XOXO Jordan
My paper for class about first impressions:
When I first arrived in Beijing, I was exhilarated. I was mainly overjoyed because my flights along the way were a complete nightmare. I was originally supposed to arrive in Beijing on Saturday night. Unfortunately, mechanical delays forced me to reschedule my flights in Memphis, Tennessee. I was then on a flight itinerary rollercoaster – having each flight I was scheduled on to be rearranged, until I finally arrived in Hong Kong, only to be told that my luggage was missing. I finally got on a flight to Beijing and arrived without any luggage. Having been to China before, I was prepared for the 14 hour flight, the cramped spaces and the dehydration. What I wasn’t prepared for was the feeling of being lost, compounded by the anxiety of traveling to a foreign country when I am not fluent in the language. My first experience upon arriving at the Beijing International Airport was the Baggage Services counter to file paperwork about my missing luggage. The two women who helped me where both polite and accommodating, even though I speak little Chinese and they spoke little English. After describing my luggage with shapes and big hand gestures, I made my way to the taxi line to hail a ride to the university.
I tried to speak Chinese to relay to the cab driver where I was going and knew how to say it – or so I thought. I ended up showing him a map and a written sentence about where I needed to go. The ride was long, yet fast to say the least. I thought American drivers were crazy, but they are turtles in comparison to Chinese taxi drivers. He weaved in and out of traffic, merging into lanes with cars in them and going through and intersection when the light was clearly red. My first experience of Beijing included the thought, “What am I doing here?”
However, an hour later, I arrived at Tsinghua University and managed, after some work, to find my way to the right building and check in to my room. I found a classmate from UF, and he quickly showed me to a store on campus to collect things until my luggage arrived.
One of the first things I noticed upon arriving in my dormitory is how different they are from American dorms. I was surprised to learn that we (the foreign students) would have a single bedroom, whereas all Chinese students share a room, usually with four to six people per room. Also, I was surprised to learn about hot water hours, internet payments per minute and beer in a vending machine downstairs. American students tend to not think or even question the fact that toilet paper will be in the bathroom stalls, or that we will even have a bathroom stall (with Western toilets). It is considered a modern, Western accessory to have “normal” toilets in the ‘cesuo.’ All in all, the dormitories, at least for the foreign students, are nicely equipped and contain many amenities that the local students do not have.
The first night of my stay, all the University of Florida students in the study abroad program were invited to the UF in Beijing office (which is a 10 minute cab ride from the university) to see the office and enjoy a dinner with the Beijing staff, directors and professors of all the classes which are taught for us. Another difference between Chinese and Western culture is the idea of shared, family-style dining. Like eating with your family in the U.S., many Chinese restaurants have ‘lazy-Suzannes’ atop each table set for a party of ten. The fuwuyuan places appetizers followed by main dishes on the table, while people pick freely off any of the items. It is a unique experience and allows you to interact with all the guests at the table. I enjoy this element of Chinese dining; our experience on the first night allowed us the opportunity to meet all of the professors that we would be working with during the summer.
Another element I discovered about Beijing was the number of people who lived in such a small radius. Topping over 17 million people, the city is brimming with workers, students and tourists alike, including more than 5 million people who commute each day or don’t hold permanent residence. I find it interesting that citizens must have a household identification card. In the United States, people are able to live where they please and are able to move to any city, find a job and take up residence. This phenomenon is not the case in China. I cannot imagine the difficulties people must face in order to move to a larger city to build their career. I think Americans take it for granted that we have certain unalienable rights.
Another feature I found interesting about Beijing is the subway and its roots in the city. I discovered, upon finding one of the few English speaking television channels that the subway was originally built through the city for military purposes. It wasn’t until 1977 that the Chinese government decided to allow the local population to use the subway as a way of public transportation. The most interesting fact is that it wasn’t until 1980 that the government allowed foreigners to use the subway. I automatically assumed that when a subway is opened for public transportation that it allows use by the entire population, not just the locals.
Over the past several years, the subway has been under construction to allow more lines of transportation to various areas of the city. This construction is largely underway for the 2008 Olympics. The fact that the Olympics are located in Beijing has provided a dramatic increase in infrastructure, which will be useful even after the games are over. Having received the bid for the Olympics, China has the ability to develop international relations, increase global investments in the country and make it more accessible for students and tourists alike. When my parents were growing up, China was still largely closed to foreigners, and it was nearly inconceivable to travel to the country for language and culture programs. Today, with the economy growing four times faster than the United States annually, language proficiency and cultural knowledge can prove invaluable to American companies looking to invest in Asia.
Because of this, many students, including myself, have chosen to study here. As I settle into my surroundings, I begin to appreciate and understand better the cultural differences between America and China.
Another difference seen in Beijing is the number of bicycles used in the city. I have heard before that many people use bicycles in China as a primary source of transportation, but I didn’t realize just how many people relied on this method. I find it interesting that cyclers usually take up an entire lane in traffic and seem to use their own system of traffic laws. During all hours at Tsinghua, it is normal to find more people on bikes than on foot. They weave through the pedestrians, crossing lanes and sometimes moving through on-coming traffic to get to their destination. However, I often feel that being a pedestrian could cause more injury than riding a bike in this country, simply because you can be hit by more bikes and are largely outnumbered on the streets.
People in the States tend to use bicycles for leisure use only. Furthermore, it is almost imperative to own a car in the United States; whereas, in Beijing, a bike can get you to your destination quicker and more efficiently. It is interesting to note that the majority of Chinese drivers have only had their driver’s license for less than three years. This figure might help explain the number of people who run red lights and seem to drive equivalent to teenage drivers in America. That being said, it is not a fault of the people, yet a cultural difference (especially since the majority of Americans hold a driver’s license upon reaching the legal age).
Another interesting thing to note is that most Chinese vendors and stores we have visited since arriving tend to play American pop music. I wonder how many of the customers, employees and general public actually know the music and the English lyrics of each song, or if they simply play it. Also, it is possible and often seen that many people will know the words to the song, but won’t know English. They have memorized the tune and lyrics, but don’t understand what the song means. I have experienced the same thing in Switzerland. While there on vacation, my friends and I encountered a group of young boys playing soccer in the streets. We went to join them, not knowing any Swiss German or them knowing any English. We weren’t able to communicate clearly, but the boys did play a popular American rap song, and they sang every word to it, even though they clearly did not know what it meant.
Over the next few weeks, I hope to use less and less English when communicating. I believe that full immersion into the culture will be the best way to learn more about the language and culture. I feel that the biggest hindrance while in Beijing is the smog, not the language barrier. Once overcoming the atmospheric differences, Beijing will become an even better city in which to study. Because of the Olympics, the government is going to great lengths to address this problem during the summer, so I feel confident it will improve soon. My first impressions of the city have been mixed with culture shock. As the shock wears off, the city will begin to feel like home and the differences will become less pronounced. I am looking forward to the summer and all I have yet to experience.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Hi Everyone!
I'm welcoming myself and my friends to the wonderful (and now necessary) world of blogging. I will be using this blog to post picture, relay information and tell others about my China travels. I can't guarantee anything, but I'll try to update often! Anyway, have a good one! Happy reading~
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