Kung Fu

This picture depicts the students participating in a Kung Fu class.  I would not want to meet our teacher, Master Li, in a dark alley.  He showcased some of his skills for our students during break and after class.  We all had a healthy work out.  The students are looking forward to learning more about Chinese Martial Arts.

I hope all is well on the home front.  Our Chinese Scholars continue to expand their perceptions of the world.

- Jay

Delicious Foods

The students were invited to taste some local delicacies.  Some of the dishes included Peking Duck, Pigs Feet, and Pumkin French Fries.  There were plenty of delicious alternatives for our vegetarians.  All dietary restrictions were carefully considered.  Originally we were seated at a long oblong table, but the students requested to sit together in the red velvet donut-shaped booth.  From the picture, you can tell we are a close knit bunch.

The Nest

This picture was taken at the Olympic Green.  You can see both the Stadium (a.k.a. The Nest) and the Water Cube in the background.  These buildings include two of the venues for the Olympics.  Ted, our guide, mentioned that so much steel was used to build this structure that the total world supply of steel was noticeably impacted.  The Bejingers are extremely proud of their opportunity to host these games.  You cannot set foot in the streets without being reminded that the Olympics are drawing near.  We were so fortunate to have a tour of these facilities because security is tight.  Wallace Bao, the Kodak Representative, gave us a thorough overview.  Kodak and Coke are the two biggest US sponsors of the games.

Food, Smog, and Rain!

Hey it's me, Lyla, and as for my time here in China- it's been totally crazy, fun, and as you know, super busy; as well as completely foreign! 

China is so different and yet still so the same. The fashion here is AMAZING, the traffic laws are practically nonexistent ( as in like I'm talking taxis hitting old ladies- pedestrians do NOT get the right of way, and the sporadic car driving down the sidewalk, etc.). The food is extremely different- they did not kid when they said it wasn't like American Chinese food- but I am being fairly nourished and we eat a lot here.

I feel like I'm always eating as a matter of fact. And yes, the smog is so thick that there is not even a horizon line on most days and the sun here is the average moon shine in glare although somehow the sun still is fryingly bright and strong. I even took a picture out of my dorm room window on the rare day so far that I can see the horizon line to celebrate the elusive visibility lol!  I'll show you the pictures when I get back- I've already taken tons and we are only one week in (approx.)

I would upload them on the the computer if I had that kind of talent ( I clearly don't- I would probably just break something) but I'll ask for help because I want to send them back home to you guys and put them up onto my facebook as well. Everyone says that this year has had entirely odd weather for Beijing.... it has actually rained more than it has been sunny- and I'm talking SHEETS of rain at that. Needless to say I am now accustomed to getting periodically soaked/drenched. Till next time! 

Yi Li!

Jet Lag Wearing Off

The jet lag is finally starting to wear off and we were able to stay up later. We started off our day with our newly found routine and went to breakfast. It was easier today with breakfast because both of our teachers were there and we didn't have to play mime and break our backs trying to communicate with body language. After breakfast we had our first full classes. they were surprisingly short and very interesting. We are learning a lot in every class and we can already tell that we are more confident in Chinese. Then after lunch, we went to the Beijing museum which was HUGE! In order to get there we had our first experience with the Beijing subway. The subway was surprisingly clean & very smooth when you rode them. We were thoroughly impressed (much better than DC & Rochester subways).

 

In the museum we saw wonderful exhibits and met very interesting people who were very interested in us. We were also able to make zodiac signs with these Chinese brushes. We also went to one of the most popular shopping mall in Beijing (It had 80 floors)! The first floor was filled with gorgeous shoes, makeup and the rest were clothing stores. On the 8th floor there was all of the food restaurants. People were able to bargain and find some cheaper stores. After a long day of fun we arrived back at the dormitories at 9:30 and decided to have a fashion show of all the things we bought. ALL of the clothes that we bought fit us all very well and we all walked down the "run way" (our hallway) for our camera. Tomorrow were going to the embassy, so it'll be another promising day.

 

Zaijian!

Commercialism and Bargaining

Today was so amazing! 

Today we went to the Commercial Office in the American Embassy. We talked with Ted & Mark A. Lewis, who is a standards officer in the commercial department. We discussed China's growth, piracy, importing, and exporting. We talked about so many things. Once we finished talking we took a tour of the office and viewed the CCTV Towers from the board room. A brief discussion with Mr. Kaiser Kuo took place within the same building. We discussed Tibet, piracy, music and China's expansion over the past few years. Mr. Kuo also told us about his life as a 'rockstar'. We went to the Silk Market where we each had our own adventures both individually and as a group and bargained prices, some were more successful than others. We had dinner at a restaurant with many of the people who made this trip possible and it was just another great experience to add onto our list of great experiences.

Breakfast Barriers

Due to the "big" time difference, everyone's body clock was off, with time varying from 2 am to 5 am. Breakfast time was definitely a wake-up call that we were no longer in the US. We and the cook were unable to communicate because of the language barrier and it was both comical and frustrating. Everyone sat at the table puzzled, not knowing what to eat because of our dietary needs. The cook on the other hand was puzzled as well because she couldn't figure out why we weren't eating. After the semi-catastrophe we met our new exciting teachers, Pan laoshi and Wang laoshi. Class was only an hour but it was really fun and intriguing, and everyone now knows how to say "I'm an American." It's really helpful to use when citizens try to hold conversations with us in the streets.

 

We also visited a park nearby, which was filled with amazing things. It seems like wherever we go, no matter where we go something is always happening here. There was so much going on in the park. There was shadow boxing, tai chi, and jianzi (a type of bean bag toss). Most of the groups that were doing activities and exercising were older groups of people who had retired and just wanted to keep limber and flexible. They would just gather together in the morning and perform different types of exercises that were quite beautiful to watch. All in all, today was just another amazing day in China. One of many.

 

Liann :)

1st Day: From a Student's Perspective

Today was an experience that we will never forget. Although we were suffering from severe jet-lag we still managed to find a surge of energy due to the sights and excitement. Immediately, when we got here we were welcomed with open arms by the Chinese people. They were extremely polite and smiled even though we had unfamiliar faces and only knew a few of the basics. We also met Chen laoshi, who took us to the No.2 High School and gave us a tour of some of the neighboring department schools.

 

After the tour, we had dinner, which was our first taste of authentic Chinese food, which we all ended up enjoying. We found that the food here is much healthier and very fulfilling. When dinner was over we all immediately became one with our beds and for those who stayed awake, we discovered the many shops that Beijing has to offer including a clothing boutique, bakery, and a McDonald's that serves duck sandwich as one of the meals. This was definitely a long and joyous experience. And it's only the FIRST DAY!