Chinese democracy

The timing of this piece in The Atlantic couldn't be better. Upon our return from China, many of us have been wrestling with ideas of democracy, meritocracy, and communism. We learned about new ways of life and new methods of governance that seem both legitimate and effective. Yet, these new ideas are not what we are traditionally exposed to in America. 

Thoughts? 

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/05/chinese-democracy-isnt-inevitable/394325/

3D

Hong Kong is very 3 dimensional. In Albuqueque, it's N-S-E-W, but in Hong Kong, it's N-S-E-W-Up-Down! 

Jet Lag and Flying

We all flew back yesterday, and we were all up for at least 30 hours straight and we were traveling back to New Mexico in that amount of time. So that was an exhausting day/couple of days. 

Something that was hard to comprehend was the fact that we left on Wednesday at 12 pm, and we landed in Seattle the same day at 10 am. That was a concept that I thought was really interesting. But of course we got to Albuquerque at 11:50 that day, and the jet lag killed.

I didn't fall asleep until 4 am that night, and I ended up waking up at about 4 pm on Thursday. Flying back was a lot better than flying there, but the 6 hour layover is Salt Lake was not the most enjoyable.

We mostly tried sleeping on the ground which wasn't comfortable. It's great to be home. I'm appreciating ice cubes a lot more too. China was such a great experience that I'm very thankful for. Thanks for the great time China!

Repulse Bay In Hong Kong

We went to Repluse Bay in Hong Kong the first day we were there. There were many smaller Buddhas all around the beach that many people were praying to and tourists were taking pictures with. This was the Buddha that we had to rub his belly for good luck. 

The beach itself was actually a man-made beach. The city ordered sand in from Thailand and other surrounding countries, but it was so beautiful. There water was very clear and luckily we went the day that it didn't rain. The water was the perfect way to cool down in the humidity. 

Loved the Great Wall!

My Favorite Experiences

Dinner in the hutongs: I consider this one of my favorite experiences because it seemed authentic. Most of the other places we went in Beijing were giant tourist attractions, which is fine, we are tourists, we want to see them. However, home cooked dinner inside someone's courtyard in their private home seemed like a unique experience.

The Great Wall of China: The Great Wall was the most amazing place I have ever seen. It was set in the middle of these beautiful mountains and these small little villages in a more rural part of the Hebei Province outside of Beijing. I could have spent all day hiking the Great Wall enjoying the scenery, the history, and the exercise. 

Lantau Island Buddha: This temple was absolutely stunning. I felt so peaceful just enjoying the remote and colorful temple and the spectacular Buddhist religion taking place (Maybe the temple wasn't remote, I'm not sure, but the thick fog made it seem so secluded in the mountains).

Shopping in Hong Kong: I never thought this experience would be at the top of my list, but as it turns out, when we are given time to shop we can really explore and gain our own unique experiences and see what Hong Kong culture is really like. We saw modern clothing stores and we pondered why certain styles and products seemed so popular in China. We also walked down a street with a food market and saw fresh fruits and dried squid and butchers chopping up whole frogs. The best part of this experience however was this tiny little dumpling shop that we stopped in where they barely spoke English. They got Matt's order wrong twice. In fact, he never did end up getting what he ordered. Nevertheless, the dumplings were pretty great and I felt like we had an authentic Hong Kong experience.

My last favorite experience was touching down in Beijing for the first time after an 11 hour flight. This may not seem remarkable, but I will forever remember how Beijing looked in the dusk as I stepped foot in a foreign country for the first time in my life. Just knowing that I was about to embark on a journey through another country with such a different culture was extremely exciting. 

China's Government

One of the main things I took away from this trip is how brainwashed we are towards other governments that are not our democracy. While I was in China people truly believed in communism as much as us Americans believe in democracy. Instead of thinking their government systems were wrong, I took the stance that maybe we are all oblivious toward governments that are not our own. Maybe democracy is not actually the "correct" government, and we have yet to find the "perfect system". More than anything it was truly eye opening to realize other views and beliefs that are not acceptable in the United States. 

Buddhism

One reason that I was very excited to go to China was to experience different religions. There are three main religions in China, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. We were able to witness a little Confucianism in Beijing when our tour guide Zoey discussed what expectations Chinese children learned in school that were set by Confucius. For example, Confucius teaches that everyone in a traditional Chinese society should be impartial and calm. We didn't really witness Taoism, but with Buddhism, we were not disappointed. Visiting the giant Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong most likely gave us a warped sense of what Buddhism really looks like because this temple is supposedly one of the richest in Hong Kong and probably the surrounding area. The temple even had life-size Buddhas inside made of 24 karat gold. 

What I really enjoyed about this experience however was how beautiful the rituals of Buddhism were to witness. It was foggy that day so the whole temple had a mystical look that added to the mood. 

I loved seeing devout Buddhists praying or meditating to the giant Buddha statue. I felt peaceful just witnessing their powerful faith. One thing I noticed that was very different from western religions was that the Buddhist visitors to the temple and the monks themselves all looked very happy. Rather than an obligation, their religion was something they wanted to participate in and they enjoyed it. I also loved walking through the temple and seeing (and smelling) the hundreds of incense that were lit.

 It is amazing to think that so many people have such a strong faith and were able to leave behind evidence of their faith. The Buddhist temple was probably the most peaceful place I have ever been.

 I could have stayed there all day witnessing the the fascinating combination of power and peace unite to form Buddhism. It gave me a new found respect for a religion and a whole culture that I knew very little about before. 

Beijing vs. Hong Kong

I think that getting the opportunity to experience both Beijing and Hong Kong was really amazing for a few reasons. Beijing was a very traditional Chinese city with a very rich history. Hong Kong on the other hand seemed very fast-paced and modern. Within China, these cities were almost polar opposites. It was fascinating to experience two very different places and lifestyles while visiting one country. That was not something that I really expected, because no matter how different big cities are in the United States, the cities are always evolving and they generally evolve together so that much of the culture is uniformly American. There is diversity in the culture of course, but many of the major cities share many similarities in the arts, food, and even politics. Hong Kong and Beijing still seemed very different from the religion and politics to the attractions within each city. In my mind, it was pretty much like visiting two different countries. 

Diversity and Opinions

I believe that American society often takes diversity for granted. It was really quite strange to walk around Beijing and have people staring and taking pictures of us because we look different. I also believe that The diversity in the United States has allowed us to develop a society in which everyone can have a different opinion and have a say in politics. Having people from all different backgrounds as encouraged diversity in opinions as well. We have free thought and are able to think whatever we want about any subject. As our tour guide Zoey suggested, it is not quite the same in Beijing. Because Chinese people have been living in a society that encourages impartial opinions and few emotions for centuries, and because of the lack of people who have had different experiences, and also the significant censorship, many Chinese people completely trust their government and do not want to have a say in politics. Our tour guide, Zoey, even explained that she believed in the one party system and did not believe that China should run through a democracy. She believes that one government that controls everything is the only way for China to function. While in the United States, there is so much diversity and so many different opinions and backgrounds that there seems to be no way except democracy. Now I feel like I can appreciate free thinking and I hope to take advantage of my right to have a say and voice my opinion. 

Airplane Travel

Airplanes. They sure are great for traveling, but can we talk about the bathrooms and the food? Something I learned about airplane food, it smells weird but you eat some of it because you're so hungry. Bathrooms? You have to use those too because you can't hold it in for 12 hours. But they are tiny and mostly dirty. Then, the plane is always freezing. I now understand why they give you blankets. I will admit that having a TV screen in front of you is quite convenient. They give you a good choice of movies as well. Most about a year old. I watched a decent amount of movies...

The plane feeds you very often; which helps when it tastes good. 

Being on an airplane isn't the most exciting thing ever, however I don't think it's the worst thing. It's dark so that you can sleep, and when you wake up you will either be in a new place or home. 

My flying experience there and back was not bad. I was able to be by the group, sleep, and watch a lot of movies. Luckily I got to sit in between Tessa and Jessie on the way there, and Sierra on the way back. However we have a few layovers in Seattle and Salt Lake City. But we'll see how those go. Thanks for the great adventure China. 

Overlook On The China Experience

Just finished packing my bag to return home. Thinking about how busy, crowded, beautiful, and exciting these past 8 days have been. Beijing was an industrial city. It was horribly hot with terrible traffic. The minute you cool off in the bus, you get off and you're hot immediately. One of the best experiences I recall was climbing the Great Wall, yet it was a challenge, it was something I couldn't wait to do. Below is a GoPro shot of the Great Wall. 

The expectations and the view was just as amazing as anticipated. 

On the first day we were here, we went to a Chinese school. That was one of my favorite parts of this trip because it gave me an idea of what school is like in China and the other kids there were so nice. They tried out their English and asked us questions that they had previously prepared. Knowing that they were so excited to see us was so sweet and thoughtful. Below is a photo of one of the girls Jessie and I met. Not to mention that we got their emails to stay in touch. 

Hong Kong was not as hot, but horribly humid. The skyline was amazing and words cannot describe the shopping. 

Then the city in general was so densely populated and a gorgeous city that I happened to love. 

On our last day we went and saw the biggest outdoor Buddha. In the picture below it shows the tram going down the mountain from the Buddha.

The Buddha had exactly 270 steps to the top. We were so high, we were in the clouds on the mountain. This made it humid and foggy. Although here is a decent photo of the Buddha, and a good representation of how big it actually was.

Up on the mountain there were other Buddhas as well, including three 24 karot gold Buddhas that were amazing to see. However you couldn't take any photos. Seeing the Buddhas and seeing the people that came to see it was a great cultural experience. 

Another great thing about this trip was how close we all became. Starting off I only knew a few people, then in just one week we all felt like we all had known each other forever. We bonded very quickly.

 All in all China was a beautiful country. I'm happy I came back for the first time with such a great group of people. 

Last day in China

So today we spent our last night in China exploring Hong Kong on our own. Walking around a city where you don't speak the main language and can't read most of the signs makes you really feel adventures and opens you up to another world. This truly has been an incredible experience. I have been exposed to some unique cultures and have tried authentic food that I would never have the opportunity to try any where else. This was a trip I will defiantly remember. 

Buddha

The world's largest outside Buddha requires tourists to walk up 270 stairs in order to get that desired close up. 

Dangers of packing

Packing was painful...literally. Being a typical clumsy teenager, I moved too quickly and stubbed my toe on my mom's suitcase. It may or may not be broken since I can't move it. I guess I'm following in my sister's footsteps from when she broke her finger in Paris. Good thing it's our last day? 

You're all my pizza

Before this trip I only knew a small handful of the underclass men and hadn't gotten to know any of them. After our first meeting we all stalked each other on social media, which we admitted to today. We laughed at each other's jokes during meetings, but other than that very few of us were actually friends. This trip changed that. I now know more of the underclass men and am closer to the ones in my grade. I'll never forget Willa's sass, Sierra's puns, Emma's adorable pictures, Jessie's "athletism" (yes, we made up our own word on this trip), Libertie's mushroom buns, late night roommate gossip with Ellie, and Smith yelling at us for giggling to much. Together we conquered China. Now can we please go get pizza? 

Shopping etc: More about Hong Kong

The largest aspects of our Hong Kong experience piggyback on American culture. On several occasions in the past two days, we've had long periods of time dedicated to wandering through markets and shopping centers. Our tour guide, Benny, says that he has noticed that Americans like to shop. It is true, our group has bought loads of souvenirs, clothing, and gifts. However, my experience in the "Chinese" stores has extended beyond the items I've purchased. Spending tons of cash has been an incredible learning experience. Earlier today, we visited a market famous for its size. It's located in a crowded street similar to New York's Time Square. Shop after shop after shop, people are selling and buying every kind of souvenir, clothing, accessory, and toy. As you walk through a row of tiny stores, you're bombarded by shouts of "Hello!" by the shopkeepers and the enticing display of cheap merchandise. I bought some things here and there, and I bartered a bit to get better deals. Afterward, I felt I had gone back to Beijing and truly seen China. Our day took a more modern turn after the market. We visited a massive shopping mall. Reaching a height of 13 stories, this place was also famous for its size. Marisa, Kaitlin and I started from the top floor and looked into each and every store all the way to the bottom. We paid attention to more details than your average passerby. Although you couldn't tell the difference between some mall in America and this one, the foreign nature of the stores became obvious after seeing things like duck-headed mannequins on display. We noticed the ridiculous store names accompanied by ridiculous phrases on the clothing. These phrases are something we've seen throughout the entire trip. The younger generation of Chinese often wear plain t-shirts with English words written plainly on them. It usually doesn't matter the words or phrases, but hey it sure is hip! This produces the sight of hats reading "NO LA" or shirts saying "Bang me" or "The American Mountains" or my personal favorite, "Less think." Things that seem so odd from my perspective, but are growing in popularity in China. Altogether, I believe the fascination with American fashion trends is more evidence of the influence of western culture in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a western city. The currency, language, architecture, and population are so different from Beijing that I'd believe it if I were told Hong Kong is in a different country. At first glance, I thought it would be a Chinese city perverted by western influence, but as time went on and we visited more and more attractions, I've decided that there's hardly anything Chinese about this city. While in Beijing, I spoke to another American tourist from Philadelphia who told me that Hong Kong is a beautiful city. I agree; however, it seems to be reserved for the enjoyment of rich, white westerners. This is precisely why people like me find it beautiful, the city belonged to Great Britain until 1997. Much of its modern development relied on western style. This is very obvious with the common use of English and the appeal to American consumer culture. Despite my complaints about visiting a city close to home and bluntly un-Chinese, there has been a lot to enjoy about Hong Kong. Most notably, the beautiful scenery. We have visited 'The Peak,' a location high above the city with an amazing view of the skyscrapers and harbors. We have also seen the giant Buddha, a massive and enlightening metal statue. We have also been to one of the beaches, far less crowded and disgusting than California's. We saw the home of Jackie Chan, we've gotten some fantastic mealtime views, and we've ridden on a cable car far above the foggy jungle wilderness. In addition, we've been exposed to unique and superbly delicious Chinese cuisine. We saw the famous public light symphony which utilizes the height of the buildings to dazzle the audience with colors and beams radiating from across a bay. This truly is a beautiful city, and I would enjoy returning another time.

Fun facts about China

Here are some fun facts about China that we learned in the past week!

1) In order to enter the forbidden city you must go through the three gates 

2) the ground of the forbidden city is 15 feet thick 

3) there are no trees in the forbidden city 

4) the average age of the emperor is 39

5) there are very few fountains in China (2 or 3 maybe) 

6) there are nine million bicycles in Beijing 

7) the children live to meet the goals their parents have for them

8) the hutong are given names and if the house is big,then it is given a big name. If it is small, then it is given a small name. 

9) Beijing in split by "a dragon's spine" 

10) there is a figurine on one of the buildings in the forbidden city with a sword through it to keep it attached to the building. It is supposed to prevent fire. (Chinese logic?) 

11) the number 8 is a lucky number because in mandarin it is pronounced similarly to the way fortune is pronounced. The number 4 is not good because it is similar to the way death is pronounced. 

12) the tallest building in Hong Kong is 88 floors high

13) the Great Wall of china is the worlds longest cemetery because there were too many people to bury so they just built the wall around them 

14 In Hong Kong, if you have a white license place you can drive in Hong Kong, but if you also have a black one then you can go into China 

15) in Beijing the traffic is terrible so cars with certain numbers on the license plate can only drive on certain days. 

16) in the tall apartment buildings it is required to have an empty floor that the wind can go through 

17) in the monastery by the largest outside Buddha in the world there are 24k gold Buddhas inside the temple 

18) there are 270 steps to get to the giant Buddha 

19) people from Hong Kong can go to China for as long as they want, but people from China need a visa to go to Hong Kong and can only stay for 7 days 

20) Hong Kong has three parts: Kowloon, Hong Kong, and the territories (115 territories) 

21) mandarin and Cantonese are the same written but spoken differently 

22) they have 165 days of school 

23) disney land in Hong Kong is 1/3 the size of Disney land in Hong Kong 

24) all beaches are free and they all have shark nets 

25) horse racing is the only legal gambling in Hong Kong 

Night life

Any city can be considered most impressive at night and Hong Kong is no exception. The light show last night made us all fall even more in love with this city. 

Beach time!!

Even with it only being May Hong Kong is rediculoisly hot and humid. In the heat of the summer Hong Kong will get up to 95% humidity and 98F. Getting into the cool water at the beach felt so refreshing. Fun fact, this beach is not natural, the Hong Kong governement bought sand from near by countries and made this beach. 

Buddha!!!

Hong Kong Day 1

Today was our first day in Hong Kong. My first impression was how different the skyline is compared to Beijing and Albuquerque, while the second impression was the humidity. During our sight seeing we were able to get beautiful views of the city after taking a cable car to the top of a peak in Hong Kong. We were able to see Victoria harbor, Buddha statues, and many markets. We finished the day by watching a light show in Victoria harbor, and riding in a ferry across the harbor to the other side of the island. Overall, Hong Kong has provided many beautiful sights that contrast to Beijing. Touring in Beijing was comprised mostly of historically significant landmarks, while touring in Hong Kong had been comprised of urban landmarks and architecture. 

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is vastly different than Beijing. Hong Kong is far more modern and western, unlike Beijing. Being in Beijing gave me some great insight into traditional Chinese culture and tradition. The food I was able to try in Beijing was fantastic! I think food culture is a large part of any culture in the world, it's like tasting a bit of a tradition in a split second. Hong Kong is like a tropical yet urban jungle, and I don't have that much to say about it yet besides the fact that I already love it! 

Being in Beijing

My experience in Beijing was absolutely surreal. I've grown more and more exhausted as the days gave gone on, but I find that all of that is worth it. I've noticed that many of our planned endeavors are designed for us to spend more money, and I have spent more than I should have. I bought several souvenirs and knick-knacks that I hope I can give as gifts. But I'm bringing home more than souvenirs. I have a new sense of humility and insignificance. There are so many people here, and it's hard to believe that their culture can be so different. My dissonant mind has always subconsciously decided that America is the best, and anything unamerican is gross and tiny. But now I realize that the way of life for more than four times the American population is guided by completely different principles, and participates in completely different forms of happiness. I have only ever been concerned with Western ideals and customs, which I now realize is sad. Being in China has brought to my attention more toils of the human race that cannot be solved with American methodology. And I admire the courage and dedication that the millions of faces I see walking past have to a Chinese way of life. There is an impossible expression of the feeling of being in Beijing. Thus far in the trip, trying to summarize my experiences into any kind of words is too challenging. This is because I cannot accurately translate the beauty of tastes, sounds, scents, sights, or textures into language. Every moment of the day was spent in complete awe at a new experience, all of which lie in a category of extreme perfection. There is an invisible essence about Beijing that is only available to one who is there. I believe this awe is easy to fall in love with, but also easy to grow tired of for impatient people like me. I am inspired and amazed by the short-lived, entirely tourist activities that I was a part of. And I only hope that the memories and feelings of supreme happiness will remain with me for the rest of my life. There is a final note I want to make about Beijing. Sadly, it will be forgotten, which is why I'm writing a out it now so as to preserve the potency of the memories. When I first arrived, I mentioned the difference in scents. The chemical stench of the outdoors became a common scent for me whole I was in Beijing. The smell of food being prepared somewhere nearby was almost always filling the air I breathed. Wherever I walked with the tour, I came across a familiar scent on several occasions. It smelled a bit like food, a lot like the smells that occur when a chef is frying something. It has a tang to it as well as the smell of cooking bread in hot oil. The tang is made my taste buds swirl and beg, the bread smell made my stomach ache with emptiness. Mixed with the mild smog chemicals, the cigarette being smoked twenty feet away, the unique trees, hedges, and flowers, and the cleanliness left by the countless patrolling litter crews, I believe this is the smell of Beijing. This scent had been the most profound of all my experiences in China thus far. It will always be in my memory, but sadly it will likely never be smelled again. That is, unless I want to return.

Peking Duck

The Peking Duck dinner will also be unforgettable. This makes at least top two for best meal I've ever had. The tradition is to take a flour wrap (about the size, shape, and thickness of a corn tortilla), small slices of cucumber (length of normal celery slices in America), a few slices of green onion (size and shape of long toothpicks), some duck meat, and dip all of these in a sauce before placing them on the wrap, rolling it up tight like a mini buttito, and eating it. There's a catch, all of the picking up, dipping, placing, and rolling has to be done with chopsticks. As you can imagine, only skill will bring the best looking rolls. But nonetheless, the rolls I made were delicious. The first bite is an explosion of flavor. The first recognizable flavor is the sauce. A sort of sweet, tangy, salty mix that floods the air in your mouth, priming your brain for the delicious combination of cucumber and duck. The cucumber is unique, a sort of cool and crisp and refreshing taste that comes with a small crunch. The onion is very mild, not very strong, but it has the characteristically tangy sweetness. Then there is the duck. I've only ever had duck once before China. It was awful. But this was beyond words. The grease and the juicy goodness that adds to the unique, meaty, delicious flavor. On top of the sauce and vegetables, the duck is hard to taste, but it is a perfect addition that that makes the complete combination of all these flavors both incomprehensible and unforgettable. I had four or five rolls and many other fantastic Chinese dishes along with them, and it almost seems I was still hungry when we left.

Bartering with Vendors

One of the most memorable experiences I will have is bartering with Chinese junk vendors. On my first try, I was attempting to buy a red shirt with a printed image of Mao Tse-Tung on it. The older Chinese woman picked out my size of the color I wanted as she said things like, "Good size for you!" And, "You like shirt, look very good!" Then I asked how much it costs and she said "285 Chinese Yuan!" Which is nearly 40 dollars. I thought that a ridiculous price, so I almost walked away. But she pulled out a cardboard sheet and a pen and asked me to write a lower price. Without thinking, I wrote something like 140. This was still far too much, but give me a break, it was my first time bartering. So we wrote prices on this sheet back and forth for a little bit, she went lower and I went higher for a while. Eventually, she said, "Final price" as she wrote 190 on the sheet and circled it. So I said, "Five less!" as I held up my five fingers. This being the agreed price (still about five times the shirt's actual value), I handed her 200 and she fumbled around the vending stand for 15. I held out my hand to shake hers, and this moment I will always remember. The other four or five vendors, unoccupied, had gathered around this ordeal. She looked at me with a gigantic grin and said "Welcome to China!" in an impressive English. At this, all the other vendors laughed loudly. Ignorant, I walked away smiling, thinking of how nice the gesture was. Very soon, I found out that I had overpaid in the extreme. But I justified the extra money being spent in the experience I had just encountered.

The Great Wall

The Great Wall was absolutely breathtaking. Literally. On our way up through the village in the bus, I got a look at the more rural side of Beijing. I saw buildings in poor conditions and people whose lives relied on vending fruits and vegetables on every street. The bicycle tragic was heavier, and the pedestrians grew older and thinner as we rode further and further outward from the booming city. I saw more wilderness, which drew my gaze for 90% of the trip. I saw more mountains, steeper and more vegetated than the ones in New Mexico. As we turned into a canyon, I looked thought the front window as the guide was explaining some history of the Great Wall, and I saw a glimpse of it. The Great Wall of China. John Hammond's voice said in my thoughts, "There it is." As we continued up, up, up, we walked up a long slope to a cable car. This is exactly like a gondola at a ski resort. Through the trees and hills, up we went and finally we were at the top. Now very visible, the crowded Wall was stunning. We walked up onto it, through the crowds and hectic Chinese chatter, and we walked a ways to take a group photo. As soon as we took this, I walked off. I decided I would need as much time as possible to walk as much of the Wall as possible. That would be an actual accomplishment, something to be proud of. It also meant I could see more of the surrounding area. I walked fast, faster than everyone else. I was booking it through the towers, not stopping but once or twice for water. I went and went, breathing heavier and heavier. After some time, it became less crowded. This is what I call the threshold for distinguished tourists. I saw many more white people than Asians, which is unbeard of in China. These were the Europeans and Americans who thought higher of the Great Wall than the average Chinese person. They also liked exercise a bit more. I walked up a massive flight of stairs, one single flight that I overheard was 454 steps long. Since I was already tired, I had some trouble. By the time I hit the last 30 steps or so, I could feel the heat of the sun more intensely with each passing second. The last bit of steps is a walkway up to a tower. The steps must have been 14 inches upward each. The last ten steps, I was using my hands to grip the stairs, I felt the heat taking over my head. I was dizzy, I was ever so close to passing out. When I got to the top, I could hardly believe it. I had made it to my goal. Of course, the wall went on, but I was finished. I was short on time too. I took a few pictures and selfies, barely able to walk, then went back down. I was rushing back because I thought I had no time left. I met up with a few girls in the tour group, who told me there was about an hour left. I was shocked, and disappointed. I could have gone further. But I was happy because no one in the group went nearly as far as I did, and no one got as good a view of China as I did.

The Legend of Kung Fu

The group watched a Chinese play called "Chun Yi: The Legend of Kung Fu." This was a Chinese theatrical rendition that seemed to mimic a Broadway production in many ways, except for its meaning. It is an attempt to represent large aspects of Chinese culture without rigorous study. It is a middle ground between easily bored Westerners and ancient, deeply rooted Eastern culture. My piece on the play is that it had a rather boring plot with many exceptional action scenes, and an unforgettably amazing choreography. The story is easy to follow, a young boy leaves the comfort of his mother's arms and is raised by Buddhist monks who train him and teach him all the ins and outs of Kung Fu. Chun Yi learns through time and eventually becomes the Abbot of the temple, succeeding the aged, wise man who taught him almost everything he knows. Many scenes boast the strength of the actors, with their suspense-driven taunts of danger. Blades, wooden sheets, and metal rods are commonplace throughout the show. In addition, Buddhist teachings and Chinese principles are scattered in every scene. The most impressive part of the entire play was the choreography. The fighting was incredibly realistic, and the dancing was unreal. There were a few scenes containing the play's only female actor, used to represent the fantasy of Chun Yi. These scenes invariably involved dancing of the male-female-infatuation type. I found that every single movement made to the slow and lovely music represented exactly the dreamlike temptation of love that everyone encounters at some point in their lives. I found myself astounded at the complete beauty of these dancing scenes. In fact, I came to a rather profound epiphany about my own life during one of these scenes. The play brought me to many emotions, and also taught me more than I ever thought I could learn about Chinese Buddhism in two hours time.

Traffic!

Chinese traffic is intimidating. None of the drivers pay attention to the lines and the signs. Sedans and SUVs fill the roads, 1.5 to a lane, dodging each other and honking to make their presence known. It's fun to watch. It's impressive to me that they can act like water in a river when behind the wheel; a moment of chaos that still has the outcome of a destination. Cars are parked everywhere on the side of the streets, and bicycles and scooters can be seen zooming past, dodging cars and hundreds of pedestrians. There are people everywhere on the streets, it's impossible to find a quiet, lonely nook. The bustle of this city enchants me because of how different the littlest things can be. What I love the most is the norm of disregard for order. It's ironic to me that this country is considered less politically free, that their government is considered controlling, and yet Americans submissively follow stricter traffic laws and rules for public conduct.

First Impressions

From the moment we started boarding the plane to Beijing, I felt different. It was like a disconnection from home and an immersion in a new culture. When we touched down in Beijing, it became obvious that the immersion had only just begun. Right now, I feel the sense of 'long way from home' and I'm sure the native people who see me walking and talking feel it too. Some of the first things we saw in China were the vast urban areas and the smog in the skies. You could see a couple miles, but no more. The farthest visible distance from the descending plane was still not enough to see the end of the city. Everywhere you look, there are glowing Chinese characters written for instruction or advertising. As far as sounds, most of what I heard was the distinct chatter of Chinese people and the ongoing bustle of traffic. I haven't had a chance to eat a Chinese meal yet, in fact the only things I've been eating are the bland and impossibly processed airline foods, and a couple snacks from the convenience store. I'm still excited for my first actual meal in China. Among all the memorable aspects of today, the one thing that will stick out most in my mind is the different smells. Nothing in America smells the way it does here. Outside, there is a bit of a chemical stench. In the airport, I smelled a sweet sort of cleanliness. It stood out because I've never smelled anything quite like it. I also smelled some different enticing foods in the airport, and there is more cigarette smoke here than in the States. I am already awed by the differences in the way people act, speak, and go about their daily lives. China definitely has a feeling to it that enchants me, despite being a long way from home.

The worst traffic I've ever seen

The traffic in Beijing is unbelievable. Mostly when I think of bad traffic I just think of the really slow moving traffic but this is more like slow moving traffic plus what seems like a lack of respect of the rules of the road. It seems as though everyone believes they have right of way so cars, buses, bicycles, just all seem to go where they need to go regardless of what others are doing. But at some level that is what have to do here since it is so crowded. Otherwise you will never be able to get where you are going. 

Their very unique language

We learned a little bit about their language and how unique it really is. For starters there are approximately 3000 different characters and grammar is practically non existent. When they write, they separate thoughts with as many commas as the need and when they are done talking they put a period. They also don't have any past, present, or future tense, they just add now and the end of the sentence if it is present tense or tomorrow if it is future tense but everything else in the sentence stays the same. Also they don't have any way of making anything plural. Say they need 4 apples they would just say 4 apple. Additionally there is no gender differentiating kind of like how we will use 'man' in a very general sense. Finally, when they talk you always have to listen all the way to the end because the most important part will always be the end the thought, never the beginning. 

A Great Selfie

Selfie stick at Tiananmen Square

Livin like a celebrity

I've been grabbed a lot while in Beijing. Not in a weird way.  Let me explain. 

The majority of tourists in Beijing are from China. The majority of those tourists have never seen Americans before. 

We spent all morning at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. As we walked through crowds, you would have thought we were the Kardashians. Strangers ask to take pictures with us. Mothers pose their kids with us. Fathers pose their grandmothers with us. There is now a contest between our students for who is getting the most picture requests. Kaitlin and Tessa seem to be the most sought after with their blonde to red hair. Cristin gets the least requests, as she looks the most ethnic of all of us. 

It's a funny feeling knowing that your face is going to feature prominently in some family's vacation scrapbook on the other side of the world. 

End of Day One Update

Ni hao!

First off, an apology. Blogger is run by Google, which is heavily blocked in China. Oops!  Periodically, we can get service to post here. But unfortunately, we will not be able to post as often as we hoped. 

Today was our first full day of sightseeing.  We began with breakfast in the hotel, which was a fairly extensive continental style breakfast, with the addition of fried rice. Everyone's favorite breakfast item, however, was the fried sticks of bread. 

Then we met up with Zoe, our tour guide. Zoe is local to Beijing and stays with us the whole time we are here. She has been incredibly informational and highly entertaining. When she first met Trey, her first reaction was that his voice sounded just like Badger from Breaking Bad. She did not even know we were from Albuquerque until that moment. Now, she loves us even more. 

Our first stop today was the Summer Palace. It was truly inspiring when we first walked up to it. To go from a crazy city of 22 million people, and then all of a sudden, to walk into the most peaceful, green park area, was quite a contrast. After touring the grounds, we took a dragon boat ride on the lake. You read that right- it was a boat, shaped like a dragon.  You might think that was the highlight; however, that honor has to go to Matt. We participated in a taiji lesson at the Summer Palace. Near the end of the lesson, Matt was volunteered to attack our demonstrator. Watching Matt get beat up by an elderly Chinese lady will be a highlight of the trip. 

We then had lunch at a restaurant that was notable for its cultural decor and interesting food textures. After discovering a few bones and that salad can sometimes be served piping hot, we had conquered our first true Chinese meal. 

Next, we visited a local school. The students were 16-18 with a focus on international business. They entertained us with some hip hop and traditional dancing. Then, we played a Chinese version of musical chairs, though instead of chairs, there were coca cola bottles. By the end of the game, Trey left victorious with the winning bottle. We were able to socialize and get to know the students, despite the language barrier. Selfies were had, emails were exchanged.  

After the school, we stopped by the Pearl Market. Guess how many pearls were in the oyster we saw opened? Not 3, not 12- but 25! Some of you back home reading this can possibly expect some pearls as a gift... Unless your child decided to keep it for themselves.  

We ended our day in the hutong district, a series of alleyways that represent the true Beijing. In pairs, we were given a tour of the district by rickshaw, a seriously underutilized form of transportation in Albuquerque. One of the hutong owners allowed us into her home and cooked an amazing dinner for us. Cristin's camera will be the source of all food photopgraphy, btw. She gave us a tour and even played some authentic music for us. 

It was a long, eventful day in Beijing. It is insane how much we have crammed into one day. 

Time for sleep so that we can make our 7am trip to Tiananmen Square!

First day!

Our first day in China was full of exciting adventures such as seeing the summer palace, visiting a local school and getting to know students our age, having our first taste of Chinese food, and visiting a pearl factory! I'm honestly just surprised we have seen/been in an accident yet considering how crazy the driving is here.

 

Selfie stick at the Summer Palace

Safe and sound

For all those following, we are safe in our Beijing hotel. After a full day of traveling, we are all going to sleep now.  

Check back again soon for our first pictures. The Summer Palace is our first visit in the morning. 

Quick group photo before we leave

Chinese Culture

Coming from a culture that is a couple hundred years old at the most, I look forward to experiencing a culture that has thrived for thousands of years. There is so much rich history in China, from ancient China, to the cultural revolution, to the industrialized, modern China that we see today. I hope that we will be able to witness aspects from all of these eras of Chinese history on our trip through historic landmarks, food, art, and interactions. 

We are at the airport!

What I'm most excited about

My family loves to travel and because of this I have had many incredible opportunities to travel all over Europe. Europe has amazing culture, but nothing like China. I've been most excited to experience the culture that exists in China. Their customs and history and architecture is completely different than any other I've experienced. 

Packing Tip

Hey guys! Quick tip for packing: roll your clothes, you will have more room in your suitcase and it will stay neat that way!

What I'm most excited to see...Top Three...

My generation has a thing for making lists and rankings. Buzzfeed is a testament to that. As we gear up for our Chinese adventure in four days, here is my list of the top three sites I'm most excited to see.

1. Tiananmen Square
Why not the Great Wall? Don't worry-that's second on my list. But I'm a major fan of Chinese history. In college, I took many courses on the subject, especially on modern Chinese history. Mao Zadong, the Cultural Revolution, Chiang Kai-shek,,,there's something about Tiananmen Square that reminds me of all this history. It's iconic. When we get there, I want to appreciate all that the Square has seen. The Square represents the center of the most important and longest-lived civilization that our planet has ever seen.

2. The Great Wall
I recently learned that you can't actually see the Great Wall from space. That's disappointing. Not that I plan to go to space. But, I still plan on being awed and inspired by one of the greatest structures ever built. I also imagine this year's Christmas card photo will be from here. We also bought a New Mexico flag to take a group picture with from the top. Right now, it's supposed to be 98 degrees on our Wall day. So, we probably need to take pictures early before the sweat takes over.

3. Lantau Island
To be honest, I had never heard of Lantau Island before this trip. But the more I've learned about Hong Kong's largest island intrigues me. And we get to see this guy on the left-the world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha statue. This will be on the final day of the whole trip, so it should be a nice, relaxing end to our adventure.

What I've learned from my travels over the past several years is that it's the experiences that make the trip. When we went to Rome, I was most excited to see the Colosseum. But my most fond memory of Rome is eating pizza outside of the Colosseum. When we went to Germany, I was most excited to see Neuschwanstein Castle, but, most fondly, I look back on chatting up locals in a beer hall. So, while I'm wildly excited to see these sites, I know it will be the experiences, that you can't plan for, that will be the most memorable.

Get Hyped

Nǐ hǎo! Hopefully this will be only one of the many posts on our blog! While we're in China, I plan on taking time out of each day to account the day's events and share my experiences. I'm incredibly excited to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel as many aspects of Chinese culture that can fit in nine days! I'm counting down the days until our departure and taking last-minute measures to prepare for the shock of visiting another world.