The Agenda
The map of the 5 cities we visited: Beijing, Xi’an, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Shanghai. Suzhou is not shown on the map below. Plus our group only stayed there for 3 hours at most, then headed straight for Shanghai.
Day 1 and 2 (Beijing)
Having no study abroad experience before, I didn’t know what to expect on this trip to China. Having “learned” about the country from classes, news, web, lectures, and wherever; I was still awestruck when confronted with the country’s cities, people, and lifestyles. My first encounter with a Chinese local was on the flight from Chicago to Beijing. He was the father of a daughter who was an exchange student at the University of Illinois. He described a bit of the itinerary that I showed him from our study abroad program. He seemed very helpful and willing to explain his knowledge. Of course, this was done in Mandarin and so I only understood at best 40% of his description of the cities. Nevertheless, I received first-hand experience utilizing mandarin before arriving at the mainland.
A large part of the background and history of the attraction sites our group went to was provided by our tour guide. Even though China at first glance seemed westernized and modern in its main cities, I was interested in fact that the local Chinese population is still so superstitious with numbers, colors, and etc. Many still base their decision and habits on what they deem lucky or auspicious. To Americans, we would rather pay less for a condo on the 4th floor rather than pay more to live on the 8th floor or have phone numbers ending in the number eight. (8 is Chinese lucky number but 4 is bad luck)
My favorite stop in Beijing was at the pharmacy practicing Tradition Chinese Medicine (TCM). I took note how doctors integrated TCM with western medicine into their practice. The ying yang theory was especially significant where one feature should not dominate over another, such as light vs. dark. When treating chronic ailments vs. immediate attention cases, doctors would operate accordingly based on their judgment. In order to fully understand TCM, one must be able to learn and embrace the Chinese culture in its entirety. I liked how this practice takes a holistic approach in treating the human body. A lot of these treatments may not be scientifically proven but is still a widely implemented healthcare practice that holds much promise in the field of medicine.
Day 3 and 4 (Xi’an)
The train rides to Xi’an and to Nanjing were an experience both times. On the train, we were able to bunk and interact with the natives. In fact, our roommates (me, Allen, Shawn) were two female college students who were returning to their university in the city after a holiday trip from Beijing. Surprisingly, these two students were both mechanical engineering majors and one was a PhD student. Talking and socializing with the local residents was always a challenge because no one from our bunk was fluent in Mandarin. Therefore, communication was a weird but humorous moment for everyone.
Consequently, I emphasize and note during our visit to the Xi’An marketplace where communicating in Mandarin was sometimes necessary. For the most part, bargaining is an acquired skill needing good judgment, persuasion, and sturdiness. Using Professor Lu’s advice we would start at 10 yuan to counter the owner’s price, and then slowly work our way to a middle price that we might both agree on. Compromising and even walking away slowly is all part of the act in getting the best deal possible. In the end, I was able to buy a Mao Tse-Tung “bible” for 20 yuan while others may have gotten it for 40-50 yuan. Sometimes even a little luck is needed in haggling the price down to a feasible level.
Finally, I also was able to strike up an interesting conversation with the train conductor with my crude and limited Mandarin skills. The local Chinese are always inquiring to our group: “where are you from?” However people usually go one step further asking me: what my ethnicity is. I usually reluctantly respond saying my parents are from Taiwan. Surprisingly, one train conductor secretly said he was in favor of the Guo Ming Dang Party (国民党). Of course, he cannot actively support other political parties other than the principles set forth by Mao Tse-Tung. Nonetheless, I deemed it impressive to have found a person who privately dislikes the current form of Chinese government.
Day 5 and 6 (Nanjing)
The city of Nanjing is the first city in China that most of us can designate as “home” as we settle in for the next two weeks. So far I have found the city to have both an urban and natural feel in its setting and environment. As tourists, our main objective was to explore and scout our premise within the vicinity of our hotel. I really took note of our hotel’s location being at the gate and entrance of Xuanwu Lake. Our hotel room even has an exceptional view of the wall encompassing the lake itself. Walking through the gate felt as if we had entered into some utopian domain that felt isolated but unique from the city.
I was glad some of us got the chance to tour and explore some regions of the lake. In fact, we were able to find a lake within one the islands at the lake. The lake was so expansive and tranquil that I was utterly convinced into believing that everyone should spend some time everyday at the lake. To be frank, Xuanwu Lake is the ideal place to mediate, exercise, socialize, film and date. We hope to eventually explore each island and to take in the serene ambiance that the lake has to offer for visitors and residents alike. Lastly, understanding the history of the lake and its islands might also help us further appreciate the scenery and substance of the area as well.
In all, I am pleased with our hotel’s location. It is situated very conveniently next to the greatest lake I have witnessed first-hand. Although the hotel is not in downtown Nanjing where it may be more vibrant and dynamic, there are plenty of food stands, supermarkets, and entertainment shops scattered within walking distance. Once again, I appreciate the experience of exploring a foreign city with classmates. Making mistakes, trying new food, and asking for directions is always a learning process that I am glad to share and be a part of with colleagues and friends.
Day 7 and 8 (Nanjing)
The city of Nanjing has been an ideal city so far in our trip. When arriving in Nanjing, it was obvious that the air was a level cleaner and purer that the previous cities we visited. There hasn’t been a heavy or dense smog that has enveloped the city during our stay yet. This is an additional bonus as we don’t have to wear masks and can breathe freely with less worry. Obviously, there is still some trace of haze and fogginess in the morning, but visibility generally clears by mid-afternoon.
Experiencing the air quality in Beijing, Xi’an, and Nanjing made me realize how fortunate it is to have clean air. It never dawned on me in New York how important it is to have good air quality and the need to protect one’s environment. Inside, I find it despairing how the Chinese residents must live through these conditions constantly everyday. Although the health effects might not be apparent at first, long-term I feel all the residents will be affected when they further age. This is especially of importance for the future generation of China where they will have to end up managing the situation when the pollution becomes too severe. In fact, the health of the people and the environmental damage may become irreversible if action is not properly taken.
The environment needs to be factored into public policy and government legislation. There seems to be no simple solution to the air pollution dilemma as the country is still developing in all aspects of society. Unknowingly, although China may be developing in infrastructure and technologically, the land itself is being destroyed in the process. In all, I hope Nanjing’s air quality continues to improve even after the Olympics have come and gone. Most importantly, I hope China becomes a paradigm for the rest of the world in acting to protect its land, air, and sea.
Day 9 and 10 (Nanjing)
During my stay in Nanjing, I have tried to maintain a balanced lifestyle adjusting my schedule to compensate for others and myself in the group. I believe studying abroad with limited time means maximizing the events we have to organize each day. Each day must be planned accordingly and with care. I like to abide by the structure of: academics during the day and entertainment during the night. In terms of productivity, I was able to visit the Massacre Museum, Nanjing Museum, Buddhist Temple, and Presidential Palace with small groups when the main group went to Hong Kong. Moreover, I got the experience of drinking and clubbing overseas with a flamboyant group of colleagues.
My initial plan was to sleep more and exercise daily this winter break. Instead, in some ways I am applying even more pressure physically and mentally than I would during a typical college semester. I have accepted the fact that I must expand and exert my limits even further to reap the full benefits of being abroad. Sleeping six or less hours has become the norm in order to balance educational and leisure activities. It pains me thinking about the end when the trip concludes. In the end, I believe the opportunity to travel to China with this particular group unequivocally will be a unique and memorable experience for all.
Furthermore, even though I am a Chinese-American, I still feel uneasy walking alone in the streets of Nanjing. At times, I feel hindered and constrained due to the language barrier and unfamiliarity of the city. Therefore, I am grateful for the opportunity to spend three full weeks with a group of such diversity, quality, and character. Many groups and “circles” often divide and break off. However, I feel connected to generally three of these groups and as we can freely wander together as a crew. I feel most comfortable roaming and traveling as a group too. Each group’s identity is important, as we’re all dependent on each other for support and companionship. I believe getting lost and exploring as a group is an invaluable experience as numerous of qualities are expressed and fostered by everyone.
Day 11 and 12 (Nanjing)
As a Chinese-American, one of my goals for the trip was to reconnect with my heritage and culture. By being an overseas non-Chinese citizen of Chinese descent, I felt the importance to ask the question: what would life have been if my grandparents had not have emigrated from China to Taiwan. When people ask me in China if I am Korean, I respond stating, “no I am 华裔.” Then the locals usually proceed to ask what part of China my parents are from, which I respond saying Taiwan. Afterwards, I get mixed responses depending on the person’s view of Taiwan.
It never dawned upon me how important it is to preserve one’s culture, customs, and language from one’s native country. I appreciate assimilating into American culture but at same time I feel lost in my identity as a first-generation. After spending two weeks in China, I understand that I would not have been able to survive and live a comfortable life in this foreign country. In all, this trip has opened my eyes in making me realize that I must start with improving my language in order to begin adapting with the locals. For the most part, I was forced to practice my Mandarin and so I did learn more of the language by doing so. However, after returning back to New York I know I must find a way to continue consolidating what I learned and further absorb more of the language through any means.
After traveling to China for the first time, I feel touched in the sense that I truly am interested in learning the Chinese culture and history. Inside, I believe I have to somehow give back for as much as I take away from the trip. In other words, I also believe that I have an obligation to learn and share as much as I acquire during the trip. The experiences I have gone through with other students and colleagues are invaluable that we will remember and take away later in life. Going through the program with this group has been a memorable experience that has helped me ease the transition living in China.