So it's 2:45 AM Monday morning here in Beijing. I'm watching some bootleg DVDs that I borrowed from a friend while I write this blog; since I'll arrive in America in the morning, American time, I decided to pull an all-nighter tonight and try to beat jet-lag. I leave for the airport in two hours, and it's just, pardon the cliche, surreal...
I came to this country six months ago not knowing what to expect, but knowing that it would be an experience. Well, I definitely got an experience, and got it to the full. I wrestled with Mongolians in the grasslands, rode camels in the desert, went to the Olympic Games, went on a month, 5000 mile+ trek around all of China, made new international friends, and, oh yeah, learned Chinese the whole time.
I wish I could say that I was completely fluent, that I could easily translate at the U.N. or do something cool like that. But I'm not, I'm not even close. Learning this language is the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life, and I say "is" and not "was" because this process is not over. Despite all the frustrations, I want to keep learning this language, even though it'll probably take the rest of my lifetime. But what's wrong with that?
So that was the sentimental, reflective part. I could go on about all the valuable lessons I've learned about life and blah blah blah... but I think you guys would rather hear that from me in person. Since I'll be in the States in a day... you'll be able to soon!
I just have to give credit where it's due though...first, God. He blessed me with an incredible six months in China. Second, my parents. They provided the means for me to take this study abroad opportunity and I'm so grateful to them for that. And, of course, I wanna thank you guys for following this blog and keeping me in all your prayers.
See ya guys soon!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sightseeing in the Freezing Cold
So this past weekend I saw some parts of Beijing I hadn't seen yet. Saturday morning checked at this open market called 潘家园 (Panjiayuan); the vendors there mostly sell art stuff and small nick knacks. It would have been more fun if it hadn't been outside in the 20 degree weather. After lunch I hopped on the subway again with my friend Kaitlin and we walked around Olympic Park, which is now completely open to the public, unlike In the summer, where everything was fenced off. It was a little weird to see the little man-made creek that goes by the Bird's Nest completely frozen, a complete contrast to the humid heat of the summer. We paid the 50 RMB (7 bucks) entrance fee to walk inside the Bird's Nest. It was pretty surreal walking on the track and the middle, remembering the crazy Opening Ceremonies and the athletes and the gold medals won and, well, just everything.
Sunday after church I went with some friends to Beijing's 798 Art District, about 20 minutes outside the main part of the city. This district was originally an factory grounds built in the 1950's or '60's, not really sure what they produced. Anyway, about 6 years ago it started getting converted into a place for contemporary art galleries and other random sculptures and graffiti art and stuff like that. It hasn't lost it's originally "industrial feel" though, and the random sculptures and other art that dot the grounds just make it that much cooler. It's getting pretty commercialized with big sponsors like Christian Dior and Nike putting money in there, but still interesting nevertheless. Nike converted a whole building as an live exhibit/shrine to basketball/LeBron James.
So that was the past weekend. I have about nine or ten days left here in China and only three finals next week are keeping me from the States. As I hear of all my other friends studying abroad going back home it only makes me more excited. But I know I got some studying to do before I get to that point, so I better get on that.
I'll try to write one or two more posts before I head back home.
Sunday after church I went with some friends to Beijing's 798 Art District, about 20 minutes outside the main part of the city. This district was originally an factory grounds built in the 1950's or '60's, not really sure what they produced. Anyway, about 6 years ago it started getting converted into a place for contemporary art galleries and other random sculptures and graffiti art and stuff like that. It hasn't lost it's originally "industrial feel" though, and the random sculptures and other art that dot the grounds just make it that much cooler. It's getting pretty commercialized with big sponsors like Christian Dior and Nike putting money in there, but still interesting nevertheless. Nike converted a whole building as an live exhibit/shrine to basketball/LeBron James.
So that was the past weekend. I have about nine or ten days left here in China and only three finals next week are keeping me from the States. As I hear of all my other friends studying abroad going back home it only makes me more excited. But I know I got some studying to do before I get to that point, so I better get on that.
I'll try to write one or two more posts before I head back home.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tiananmen (天安门） Flag-raising Ceremony and Class Weekend Getaway
So here's what went down in Beijing this past weekend for me:
1. Tiananmen Square Flag-raising ceremony
So everyday when the sun comes up a bunch of Chinese soldiers ceremoniously marches out from the Forbidden City and put up the big Chinese flag on the flagpole and then watch it rise while loudspeakers play the Chinese national anthem. Okay, so I apologize for that summary lacking any romantic description, I'm just short for time here. I had heard that this ceremony was just something one should see if in Beijing, so I joined some friends in getting up at 4:30 am and taking a 15 minute ride on a bus at 5 am to Tiananmen Square..oh, and it was probably in the 20's or low 30's temperature wise :) . The ceremony happens daily, but on the weekends tons of people come out and watch. Freezing from head toe, we ran across the square once we got through the screening tent and ended up with the best spots in the whole place, front and center.
Too bad it was only 6 am and we still had another hour and 10 minutes to kill before the ceremony would take place. As more and more Chinese people (mostly tourists) gathered around us and and the other side of the street I began to realize the truth in what a Chinese friend a told me. He had said that this Chinese flag and the soldiers of the People's Army mean so much to the people; how, before the republic was established in 1949, people were suffering terribly in all kinds of ways. So flag and the army represent that renewed hope. And while Chinese will admit Mao's horrible mistakes, they still give him and the Chinese flag sincere respect for what they did to bring change to the nation.
So yeah, it was pretty sweet watching the soldiers do their special march from across Chang'an Blvd. (长安街) with the traffic stopped and put the flag up. When we had got to the square it was completely empty except the soldiers standing guard... now the whole place was packed with people. I parted ways with my friends Courtney and Helen and made my way back to BNU to meet up with my classmates. One of my Korean roommates had arranged for us to go to this Korean-owned campground-like place at the base of Xiang Shan, a series of big hills an hour outside of Beijing.
2. Camping with My Classmates
Ok...so we didn't really go camping. Basically, one of the Korean guys in my class knew of Korean-owned camp-like-ground-place-thing at the base of Xiang Shan and organized for us to go up there for the weekend to hang out. And now I realize that I just wrote this exact information in the last paragraph...huh...well that's kinda embarrassing... but I'm not going to delete it... it's probably just a side effect of drinking all the melanine-filled milk I've been drinking (just kidding Mom...I only drink the healthy milk...the kind with lead paint chips). Anyway, so we got to the Korean place after an hour in this 17 person van (I know it was a 17 person van because it said so on the outside... I'm quick like that). Since it's the end of fall and beginning of winter most of the trees were bare and didn't look that all appealing, but it was a chance to get out of the city and breathe some less-polluted air so I appreciate it anyway. After having a Korean-style lunch (lots of kimchee) we played some basketball on the dirt court, had a relay race on these rickety old wooden paddle raft things, and played a type of tag-game. I took a nap after all the fun and was woken up by another Korean classmate who told me to come to the recreation room. We hung out there for the rest of the evening as it was freezing outside (it was freezing inside too with only small heaters... but I think freezing inside is better than freezing outside, just a personal preference of mine). Dinner was some awesome Korean BBQ pork veggie wraps and, of course, kimchee. Just to give you an idea of the racial mix, off the fifteen of us there, 10 were Korean, 2 Indonesian, 2 Japanese, and me. The rest of the night was filled with funny Korean drinking games, a weird food eating contest (think whole lemons, kimchee Sprite, etc.), and karoake. I had a good time just getting to know them all a little better outside of the classroom, not to mention learning more about their countries while sharing them what America's really about... not what the movies proclaim. They were all really interested in American politics and Obama and things of that sort too.
We came back Sunday morning and when I got back to my room I realized that I had exactly 3 weeks left week in China... so exciting...
Sorry for the lack of pictures they aren't uploading at the moment. I'll try again sometime later this week.
1. Tiananmen Square Flag-raising ceremony
So everyday when the sun comes up a bunch of Chinese soldiers ceremoniously marches out from the Forbidden City and put up the big Chinese flag on the flagpole and then watch it rise while loudspeakers play the Chinese national anthem. Okay, so I apologize for that summary lacking any romantic description, I'm just short for time here. I had heard that this ceremony was just something one should see if in Beijing, so I joined some friends in getting up at 4:30 am and taking a 15 minute ride on a bus at 5 am to Tiananmen Square..oh, and it was probably in the 20's or low 30's temperature wise :) . The ceremony happens daily, but on the weekends tons of people come out and watch. Freezing from head toe, we ran across the square once we got through the screening tent and ended up with the best spots in the whole place, front and center.
Too bad it was only 6 am and we still had another hour and 10 minutes to kill before the ceremony would take place. As more and more Chinese people (mostly tourists) gathered around us and and the other side of the street I began to realize the truth in what a Chinese friend a told me. He had said that this Chinese flag and the soldiers of the People's Army mean so much to the people; how, before the republic was established in 1949, people were suffering terribly in all kinds of ways. So flag and the army represent that renewed hope. And while Chinese will admit Mao's horrible mistakes, they still give him and the Chinese flag sincere respect for what they did to bring change to the nation. 
So yeah, it was pretty sweet watching the soldiers do their special march from across Chang'an Blvd. (长安街) with the traffic stopped and put the flag up. When we had got to the square it was completely empty except the soldiers standing guard... now the whole place was packed with people. I parted ways with my friends Courtney and Helen and made my way back to BNU to meet up with my classmates. One of my Korean roommates had arranged for us to go to this Korean-owned campground-like place at the base of Xiang Shan, a series of big hills an hour outside of Beijing.
2. Camping with My Classmates
Ok...so we didn't really go camping. Basically, one of the Korean guys in my class knew of Korean-owned camp-like-ground-place-thing at the base of Xiang Shan and organized for us to go up there for the weekend to hang out. And now I realize that I just wrote this exact information in the last paragraph...huh...well that's kinda embarrassing... but I'm not going to delete it... it's probably just a side effect of drinking all the melanine-filled milk I've been drinking (just kidding Mom...I only drink the healthy milk...the kind with lead paint chips). Anyway, so we got to the Korean place after an hour in this 17 person van (I know it was a 17 person van because it said so on the outside... I'm quick like that). Since it's the end of fall and beginning of winter most of the trees were bare and didn't look that all appealing, but it was a chance to get out of the city and breathe some less-polluted air so I appreciate it anyway. After having a Korean-style lunch (lots of kimchee) we played some basketball on the dirt court, had a relay race on these rickety old wooden paddle raft things, and played a type of tag-game. I took a nap after all the fun and was woken up by another Korean classmate who told me to come to the recreation room. We hung out there for the rest of the evening as it was freezing outside (it was freezing inside too with only small heaters... but I think freezing inside is better than freezing outside, just a personal preference of mine). Dinner was some awesome Korean BBQ pork veggie wraps and, of course, kimchee. Just to give you an idea of the racial mix, off the fifteen of us there, 10 were Korean, 2 Indonesian, 2 Japanese, and me. The rest of the night was filled with funny Korean drinking games, a weird food eating contest (think whole lemons, kimchee Sprite, etc.), and karoake. I had a good time just getting to know them all a little better outside of the classroom, not to mention learning more about their countries while sharing them what America's really about... not what the movies proclaim. They were all really interested in American politics and Obama and things of that sort too.
We came back Sunday morning and when I got back to my room I realized that I had exactly 3 weeks left week in China... so exciting...
Sorry for the lack of pictures they aren't uploading at the moment. I'll try again sometime later this week.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving...Beijing Style
So yesterday EAP took us to the Kempinski Hotel in Beijing's Chaoyang district for an amazing Thanksgiving buffet. Our tuition fees included this buffet (thanks Mom and Dad), but just to give you an idea of this hotel's fanciness, the price of the buffet was like 300 something kuai... 45 US dollars. I didn't even mind that the turkey was a little dry because they had every other type of meat available. We got there around 5:45 pm and just seeing the array of food made me hyperventilate a little... but I recovered and just started out slow. 
Three hours later everyone was about 5 pounds heavier and passing around the Tums that my friend Matt had bought. Some people had even snuck in containers to bring some "Thanksgiving leftovers" back to the dorms. 
The whole only thing they didn't have was eggnog, but come three weeks and two plane rides back to the States and that won't be a problem. Tomorrow morning at 5 am I'm joining some friends in going down to Tiananmen Square and watching the flag-raising ceremony. It happens daily but supposedly is a big deal and special to watch. Thennnn around 10 am I'm going with my classmates to some campground at this mountain called Xiang Shan （香山: Fragrant Hill/Mountain) to hang out for the weekend. I'll be back Sunday sometime and will hopefully be able to put up pictures a couple days after that. Hope you all had an awesome Thanksgiving wherever you may be.
Three hours later everyone was about 5 pounds heavier and passing around the Tums that my friend Matt had bought. Some people had even snuck in containers to bring some "Thanksgiving leftovers" back to the dorms. 
The whole only thing they didn't have was eggnog, but come three weeks and two plane rides back to the States and that won't be a problem. Tomorrow morning at 5 am I'm joining some friends in going down to Tiananmen Square and watching the flag-raising ceremony. It happens daily but supposedly is a big deal and special to watch. Thennnn around 10 am I'm going with my classmates to some campground at this mountain called Xiang Shan （香山: Fragrant Hill/Mountain) to hang out for the weekend. I'll be back Sunday sometime and will hopefully be able to put up pictures a couple days after that. Hope you all had an awesome Thanksgiving wherever you may be.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Last EAP Excursion: 爨底下村 (Dicuanxia village)
So some of you may be wondering, "Does Beijing have anything else besides Chinese food?" The answer's yes. There are restaurants of practically every country somewhere in the city. Most international restaurants' menus tend be more like western prices though, so I usually don't frequent them.. unless it's a friend's birthday! Friday was my friend Alice's 20th birthday (you may remember her from all my pictures while traveling... she was one of friends I trekked China with) and so a bunch of went to this Italian restaurant on the eastern side of town. 
It was a pretty fancy place, and besides the rich-man-style small-sized portions, was an enjoyable dinner. There were even two Chinese women playing the violin and cello in the corner of the room, but to my disappoint they only played classical music and didn't take my requests for Queen's "We Will Rock You" or AC/DC's "Back in Black." Oh well. The restaurant brought out Alice's birthday cake and stuck this huge dynamite-stick of a candle right in the middle. The sparks were like 3 feet tall; it was sweet.
Saturday EAP took us on last excursion to this place called 爨底下村 (Dicuanxia village), about 2.5 hours west of Beijing in the barren hills. I think there was some special explanation behind the village's name and how it had some historical significance, but I kinda ignored it.
The small village it self was like any other Chinese tourist place, nicely rebuilt and crawling with vendors. The director of Beijing program had brought her husband so he took some of us who didn't want to listen to the tour guide on a hike outside the village. The trails weren't very clear and the map he had was a little outdated, but luckily after a half hour of walking through thick brush and getting whacked in the face by brush and tree branches we reached a steep hill of loose rocks. The only way was up, so up we went. 
There was a road/trail at the top and we followed it to this cool looking abandoned village.
There was an older looking man who was watching some sheep nearby that we talked to a bit. He said the village was abandoned a while ago because there wasn't any water, and when we asked him where he used the bathroom and threw away trash, he responded with "Anywhere, the whole place is trash can."
We watched where we stepped a little more carefully after that. 
We got back to Beijing around 6:30 pm that night and EAP took us to this dim sum restaurant. The food was good, but it for me it was just a pre-cursor of the Thanksgiving feast that will be happening this Thursday. EAP originally said we would have to find a place for Thanksgiving dinner on our own because the budget wasn't big enough, but last week the hotel the normally go to called and said they would offer us a discount because of the current financial crisis. Soooo, this Thursday we are getting hooked up with an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink thanksgiving dinner buffet at this sweet hotel (forgot the name at the moment). So by the time all of you in the States wake up on Thanksgiving Day, I'll have already stuffed myself with as much fire chicken as my stomach can hold. I'll post pictures of the inevitable Thanksgiving craziness this next weekend.
It was a pretty fancy place, and besides the rich-man-style small-sized portions, was an enjoyable dinner. There were even two Chinese women playing the violin and cello in the corner of the room, but to my disappoint they only played classical music and didn't take my requests for Queen's "We Will Rock You" or AC/DC's "Back in Black." Oh well. The restaurant brought out Alice's birthday cake and stuck this huge dynamite-stick of a candle right in the middle. The sparks were like 3 feet tall; it was sweet.
Saturday EAP took us on last excursion to this place called 爨底下村 (Dicuanxia village), about 2.5 hours west of Beijing in the barren hills. I think there was some special explanation behind the village's name and how it had some historical significance, but I kinda ignored it.
The small village it self was like any other Chinese tourist place, nicely rebuilt and crawling with vendors. The director of Beijing program had brought her husband so he took some of us who didn't want to listen to the tour guide on a hike outside the village. The trails weren't very clear and the map he had was a little outdated, but luckily after a half hour of walking through thick brush and getting whacked in the face by brush and tree branches we reached a steep hill of loose rocks. The only way was up, so up we went. 
There was a road/trail at the top and we followed it to this cool looking abandoned village.
There was an older looking man who was watching some sheep nearby that we talked to a bit. He said the village was abandoned a while ago because there wasn't any water, and when we asked him where he used the bathroom and threw away trash, he responded with "Anywhere, the whole place is trash can."
We watched where we stepped a little more carefully after that. 
We got back to Beijing around 6:30 pm that night and EAP took us to this dim sum restaurant. The food was good, but it for me it was just a pre-cursor of the Thanksgiving feast that will be happening this Thursday. EAP originally said we would have to find a place for Thanksgiving dinner on our own because the budget wasn't big enough, but last week the hotel the normally go to called and said they would offer us a discount because of the current financial crisis. Soooo, this Thursday we are getting hooked up with an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink thanksgiving dinner buffet at this sweet hotel (forgot the name at the moment). So by the time all of you in the States wake up on Thanksgiving Day, I'll have already stuffed myself with as much fire chicken as my stomach can hold. I'll post pictures of the inevitable Thanksgiving craziness this next weekend.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Weekend After Midterms
So last Friday I finished a set of pretty tough midterms; I was just glad to get them over. Friday night I went to this punk rock/hardcore show (concert) at this venue not far from school called "MAO Live," which probably holds about 300 people. 
It was was really sweet place, except that with everyone lighting up cigarettes I felt like I lost a few of years just by standing in the room for a few hours. The bands' music reminded me of some of the stuff I listen to back in America, except in Chinese. Then again, at times they were screaming so loud, even if they had been singing in English I don't think I would have understood. But overall it was cool time to see another side of Beijing.
Saturday I tried finding this open market that sells second hand stuff but ended up giving up when I couldn't find the right bus stop. Ended up in place called “国贸” （guomao), it's the part of Beijing with a lot of sweet looking buildings that house multinational companies and some embassies.
I'd been there before but this time had my camera. Beijing doesn't have a skyline like Shanghai, but there are a few impressive skyscrapers. The first picture is almost-complete China World Trade Tower. Second and third pictures are of the almost-complete CCTV (Chinese government television company) Tower. This is, in my opinion, the trippiest looking thing in Beijing. 
Fourth picture is just some random new building that I took a picture of from the bottom.
And the fifth picture obviously isn't a building; I took this picture just give everyone an idea of the stuff that people transport on those 3 wheel motorized bicycles that I was talking about before. They put everything on those bikes. This particular one has a lot of stuff on it, but I've still seen bigger and crazier.
One more thing: Moment of the Week
My roommate and I eating dinner together in the dining hall, I'm helping him practice his English...
Me: "How's your food, Joseph?"
Joseph: "I am spicy."
Don't worry, I corrected him. That's it for now, I suppose. It's getting to be pretty cold again (well, for me... I'm not as tough as my Montanan relatives). The highs will be in the low forties this week. This upcoming Saturday EAP is taking us on a day trip to some old village/tourist trap about forty miles outside Beijing. I'll try to post something after we do that.
It was was really sweet place, except that with everyone lighting up cigarettes I felt like I lost a few of years just by standing in the room for a few hours. The bands' music reminded me of some of the stuff I listen to back in America, except in Chinese. Then again, at times they were screaming so loud, even if they had been singing in English I don't think I would have understood. But overall it was cool time to see another side of Beijing. Saturday I tried finding this open market that sells second hand stuff but ended up giving up when I couldn't find the right bus stop. Ended up in place called “国贸” （guomao), it's the part of Beijing with a lot of sweet looking buildings that house multinational companies and some embassies.
I'd been there before but this time had my camera. Beijing doesn't have a skyline like Shanghai, but there are a few impressive skyscrapers. The first picture is almost-complete China World Trade Tower. Second and third pictures are of the almost-complete CCTV (Chinese government television company) Tower. This is, in my opinion, the trippiest looking thing in Beijing. 
Fourth picture is just some random new building that I took a picture of from the bottom.
And the fifth picture obviously isn't a building; I took this picture just give everyone an idea of the stuff that people transport on those 3 wheel motorized bicycles that I was talking about before. They put everything on those bikes. This particular one has a lot of stuff on it, but I've still seen bigger and crazier.
One more thing: Moment of the Week
My roommate and I eating dinner together in the dining hall, I'm helping him practice his English...
Me: "How's your food, Joseph?"
Joseph: "I am spicy."
Don't worry, I corrected him. That's it for now, I suppose. It's getting to be pretty cold again (well, for me... I'm not as tough as my Montanan relatives). The highs will be in the low forties this week. This upcoming Saturday EAP is taking us on a day trip to some old village/tourist trap about forty miles outside Beijing. I'll try to post something after we do that.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thanksgiving is Whennnn?
Ok, so I"m skyping with my girlfriend Mariel right now and was blown away/ utterly disappointed when she informed me that Thanksgiving is in two weeks, not one. Which meansssss.... 1.) I'm an idiot for not knowing when Thanksgiving is.... and 2.) I have wait 16 days 'til I eat some fire chicken. Dangggg it. Ok, that's all. Just wanted to vent to the world. And publicly own up to my mistake.
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