Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Great Wall



            After our bus driver got us lost multiple times before even making it to the freeway, we finally made it to the Great Wall.  Wow!   That’s really all I can say.  The stone barricade lies on the ridge line of some huge mountains.  We had to take a ski lift up to get to it.  We ended up climbing (climbing, because it really is sooo steep and some parts that you must use yours hands to help push yourself up) all the way to the highest peak that tourist were allowed to go.  Past that, reconstruction was taking place.  The views were spectacular, although there was a considerable amount of smog in the air, which shielded our view from some of the far off mountains.  The smog really comes in and out.

            On our ascent, we met a couple from New Hampshire, Acadia’s home state (small world syndrome), who were in their 70's.  The husband had won a Fulbright Scholarship to teach American History in Shanghai.  They climbed all the way to the top. They were awesome! I hope that when I get that old I will be able to do what they are doing.  They also invited us to see them in Shanghai after our program ended.  To get down the mountain there was a toboggan on a metal track that we rode down; it could get pretty fast but was really awesome and lasted a long time.

            The day before we went to the Olympic area and into the Bird's Nest.  The Water Cube was closed, but will re-open in September and you are allowed to swim in the warm-up pool! Acadia, my fellow swimmer, and I will be taking advantage of that for sure.  Going to the stadium area was really cool, it’s a real tourist attraction, with thousands and thousands of people wandering around. It reminded me of the Salt Lake City Olympic games, and how awesome it was to go.  But besides people taking pictures in the Bird's Nest and walking around the Water Cube, there wasn’t much going on.  I hear most of the facilities are rarely used and driving around some of the lesser stadiums, they were ghost towns with parking lots overgrown with weeds.  The area seemed very underutilized.  Overall, it was pretty cool going to it and I can't wait to swim in the pool.

            I just got out of my first language class and we learned pronunciations. Time for lunch, noodles!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Arrival


 

            After some internet difficulties I am now able to get online.  I got really excited on this one.

The 12 hour plane ride was pretty uneventful, caught up with Acadia, Leah and Thomas, played some cards, read and tried to sleep.  On the plane, we not only had to fill out customs information, but also a quarantine health check form.  We were a little scared by it, but upon arriving at the airport all we had to do was walk past body heat detectors and give someone our health slip. In that area, every employee of the airport was wearing a mask, but they didn’t seem concerned.  The Beijing airport in huge!!! Not only that but it is pretty cool to look at from the inside with its high ceilings and interesting architectural styles. 

            After getting out bags (they all made it, which was a good sign), we walked through customs and immediately saw a man holding a Pitzer College sign.  He introduced himself Zhang Hao.  Quick Chinese lesson: in China the family name always comes first, so Hao is his given name.  He is going to be our residential advisor.  He took us into a parking garage where the roof was covered in plants and where they also washed the floor where the cars were.  Immediately, once we stepped out of the air-conditioned airport,  a wave of humidity and heat came over us.  We got into a van and headed into the city, though we couldn’t really see much of the city at first; Beijing is very flat and also pretty smoggy. Imagine a pretty heavy fog, but it's 85 degrees; that is how it first felt when we arrived.  Before you get all worried that I will not see the sun until I return, I must tell you that I am currently writing this paper looking out of my room with blue skies and the sun coming through my window.

            The ride to our dorm really showed us that the car is boss when it comes to the road, everything else is last.  For bikes or pedestrians to cross the street, they basically have to have strength in numbers and finally when they reach a critical mass they can cross, or there better be a big gap between the oncoming  traffic.  We drove to the North Western part of the city where the university is located.  We passed the biggest IKEA I have ever seen, with it yellow lettering and big blue walls.  It's pretty industrial in some parts, with lots of high rises and big buildings.  We passed by the Bird's Nest and Water Cube and Hao told us we would have a trip to them this weekend.

            We were driving through heavily congested streets then suddenly we made a right turn through a guarded gate and it was the complete opposite -  there was nature!  A lake to one side and an old shrine on the other and Hao said “Welcome to Beijing University”.

            We are living in basically an international students dorm/hotel on campus. Each room has a bathroom with a tub and shower as well as a sit-down toilet (I got a little scared with I saw the standing ones in the airport, but I know I will encounter them again) and two bedrooms, one with two single beds a tv and some desks, and another considerably smaller with one bed and a desk.  Leah and Acadia are living together; Thomas and Hao share a room and Chris (the 5th Pitzer student) and I are sharing.  Friday we will be joined by our Chinese roommates, who will help us around and with Chinese.

            I got to the dorm and Chris was asleep, he had arrived an hour earlier, he flew from DC over the north pole to Beijing and it only took him 1 hour longer than our flight from San Francisco.  

            Later, we met some of our teachers, took some desperately needed showers and then with the guidance of Hao went out to get some dinner. The school provides us a meal card which we can use on campus and some of the eateries.  Hao took us to a noodle place.  We all tried different things, but it was pretty funny watching us try and order.  On the wall-size menu, they had English translations of the food, but the problem was most of the workers didn’t speak English. We had some awkward yet funny experiences trying to order beef and rice noodle; this most certainly will not be the last time.

            We are going to the Great Wall tomorrow and we toured part of the city today.  This is a picture from the Temple of Heaven where we went today.  More updates soon!

            

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Beginning

When my school’s study abroad department asked me if I wanted to study abroad not only my junior year, but also the fall semester of my sophomore year,  there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to go.   I jumped onto the opportunity for many reasons.  First off, I love to travel and an opportunity like this rarely comes around.  I will be studying and living at the University of Beijing, learning Mandarin, Chinese culture and history, traditional Chinese medicine as well as conducting an independent research study based around an internship that I choose.  China is one of the world's most influential countries and has an immensely diverse culture and history.  Another reason was that I have been fortunate enough to do home stays in Spain and Costa Rica as well as study last summer in Italy and I had never been to Asia before. This will be the longest and furthest I will have ever been from my home and family, which will be an interesting test, but I am really excited for this adventure.

My friend Leah arrived at my house today, I have been showing her around Santa Cruz. She will be traveling with me to China. There are 5 people in the program, 3 of them are really good friends of mine - Leah, Acadia and Thomas - and the other I do not know.  The program ends December 4th, hopefully by then Leah, Acadia and I will have a plan for the next three weeks which eventually leads us to Hong Kong where we fly out a few days before Christmas. We choose Hong Kong because it is south and by the time our program ends, Beijing will be in the 30's I hear, about half the temperature of Santa Cruz during that time.  

I have spent the last week or so realizing that cutoff jeans and raggy flannels may not be a choice fashion while there, so I have sort of “upgraded” (according to my mom) buying some new pairs of pants.  

I wish I could write more but I must finish packing and I take off in about 12 hours. I also just found out the Facebook is not allowed in China; I'm not an avid user, but until 5 minutes ago I counted on it for being able to get friends' addresses. Hopefully, I will be able to do a follow-up soon. Much love.