Groups Week Through S. China

 Richard, Kati, Carlota, Michelle and Rodrigo posing at the Hong Kong Peak

 Wait, where are we again?

 Have you ever seen green Kit-Kats?? Me neither! New experiences every day - no one had the guts to try them though :)

 I used this transit system map to get me through Hong Kong; during one of our days there we were given free time after seeing the Avenue of Stars. I took a map and was off! The transportation systems all throughout China and Hong Kong are extremely easy and efficient. During this particular self-excursion, I started at Tsim Sha Tsui, took a train to Admirality, then got off at our hostel spot: Chai Wan (the last stop on the blue line, where my picture got cut off).

 Me looking through some of the pictures I had gotten while traveling - Kati comparing shots and Andres... falling asleep? What are you doing Andres??

 

That's me! Avenue of Stars in HK

Traveling Through Southern China - From Shenzen to Guangzhou

The day we left for our week-long excursion to Hong Kong, June 7, our small group of only nine students reduced to one less after we made the departure from Shanghai airport to Hong Kong. One of our group members, Will, became ill on the plane trip over – eventually passing out at the end and taking an ambulance to the Shenzen hospital. It’s not clear as to the exact reason he became ill, but we hear that he is doing alright now and left Shenzen to return to the States.

On that note – here we are in Hong Kong!! One thing that has really amazed me about China is the fact that there isn’t just a few big cities. There are many huge cities – like some of the biggest in the world.

So, speaking of amazement, what do I think of traveling to Hong Kong?

It’s truly remarkable how Hong Kong is basically a completely separate entity from China. Our group even had to go through customs and immigration again when we passed through the border separating them. Ever since it was a British colony from the first Opium War, Hong Kong carries a ton of British undertones. In China, the people drive on the right side of the road, as opposed to HK where people drive on the left. Even the money is a different currency! Similarly, when our group visited Macao, the area was previously owned by the Portuguese so many of the road signs and buildings were in both Cantonese and Portuguese.

So in just a week of traveling, we experienced Mandarin, Hong Kong, British, Canton and Portuguese flavors of the China area. Cultural overload!!!!

It may seem like a lot but I think once you’re on the road you’re a lot more adaptable to differences. It’s similar to how almost our entire group is already international. Even Kati, who is American by statute, is Chinese ethnically. Without Will here, I am the only born and raised American. These students come from a culturally diverse university; over 25% of Lynn is international. You can tell they’re used to not being around their own culture – and it’s a tool many of the students have found to be inextensible when it comes to adapting. Me on the other hand… this is my first real culture-shock and even after three weeks of having time to adapt, I’m still feeling like a fish out of water, even in western-like Hong Kong.

There are so many incredible things to learn while we’re here! My interest has already been peaked about Macao, being that it is basically the Las Vegas of China. I’ve only been to Vegas once for a volleyball tournament but nonetheless I’m extremely excited to see what the casino life is like. Our tour guide was telling us earlier that a lot of the locals will travel over with the ferry boat to Macao for the night, then the casino’s have set up a system where they will boat everyone back in the morning with their respective wins/losses. It’s like people can just leave to the island, gamble and drink, then come back to the mainland to either drink more to their losses, or bask in their winnings.

Anyways, as I wrap this history lesson up I’m reminded of where I am right now. Is this really happening? Am I seriously in Hong Kong right now? Three months ago, if you had told me I’d be sitting in a hostel in Hong Kong in June, I would have laughed. Today, I prepare to travel through Southern China and learn more about what makes this nation and its people so fantastic.

More updates to come -

Early Bird Movie

Below is the link to my first movie I made while in China - here's a little peek at what 6 a.m. mornings are like at East China Normal University with our friend Hakim :)

Take a look here

Internet Obscurity and Other Things we Americans Don't Understand

Perhaps it's something we've just gotten used to, taken for granted, or haven't even noticed - but Internet censorship is something Americans typically don't think about on a daily basis. However, whether we understand it or not, it is something we profoundly, and vocally, condone.

It's not just Americans either. Countries from all over the world have taken their stand on freedom of speech, religion and press. Some mirror American values such as the UK, Canada or Australia. Others, oppose the notion in forms of strict government laws prohibiting the use of things like social media, Google, and forums. Most notorious for this are many Eastern Europe countries, Middle Eastern countries, North Korea, and of course, China.

The People's Republic of China was established in 1949, under the leadership of Chairman Mao. Mao is considered to be a Chinese "people's hero" and is commemorated on their currency, in their streets, on their buildings, and in museums. His body is even preserved and open for viewing in Beijing. Depending on who you talk to, you could get a different reaction regarding Mao. Some saw him as a hero, others a cruel dictator. It's not something people really talk about here in China - a theme you're about to see reoccur throughout this post.

Anyways, what does all this history have to do with my journey here in China? Well, before I answer that let me give you one more quick history lesson.

On June 4, 1989 student-led pro-democracy movements had been occupying the government area in Beijing around Tiananmen Square. On that day, government militants fired on unarmed student protestors, killing countless protestors. Thousands died that day defending their belief in a democratic system, and today, talk of the protest is prohibited as well as any printing of it in textbooks.

Conveniently enough, our group happened to be here, in China, during the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Because of this, we got a first-hand look at just how this sort of event impacts people today - and it's something I as an American am not used to.

The first sign that something was up was when Google suddenly became even more dispersant than it already was. It was already difficult to access the search engine with a proxy server, but with the government putting in extra effort to block internet access, it became near impossible. This was probably the most inconvenient effect it had on people - since Google is probably the largest monopoly of the internet there is in todays world (Sorry Google, please don't remove my blog. Oh wait, I forgot, freedom of speech).

The second noticeable difference that week was heightened security at the subway. I noticed a man get stopped by uniformed guards for a random search leaving the station and leaned over to ask quietly to my Chinese teacher if it was because of Tiananmen. She nodded yes and we kept walking in silence.

Oddly enough, our trip seemed to have been timed just right for us to encounter all aspects of what remains of the June Fourth incident. We were in Beijing for the weekend just before, left during that week, and now we're in Hong Kong where vigils held for the victims are only held here. The freedom this section of China has offered has been... well, incredible.

It's truly amazing to see a nation function where it's considered part of China, and yet independently governed. And it's not even like it's a similar party, no, it's more closely representative of democracy, the complete opposite of communism. Hong Kong has access to internet, freedom of speech, religion, churches, Facebook, you name it. If you've kept up with my blog thus far, you'll notice most of my posts happening this week while we're here. It's an amazing feeling that I'd surely forgotten these past few weeks of censorship - to be able to do pretty much whatever I want with the Internet... it's definitely something I took for granted back in the States.

I'm not saying I've suddenly "understood" where Chinese people (and people from other countries with censored media) come from with this lifestyle. I haven't lived here my whole life, only four weeks. But I am saying that in just that short amount of time, I've come to appreciate what I don't realize I have so good at home. It's not just about the internet - it's about the lack of fear that what you say or how loud you say it might land you a spot in communist prison. It's about the idea that what your opinion is matters, and that you don't have to conform to the mass population's "opinion." It's difficult to explain honestly... yes, things aren't as bad as I think they are painted as in the States. But, it's still very different from our open system.

You really CAN'T say something too controversial too loudly. You really CAN'T always trust the media, especially government owned stations like CCTV. But are there soldiers lined up on the streets, waiting to hear you whisper "Tiananmen Massacre" and suddenly you're erased from the system? No. Realizing it's not how American media portrays it to be makes me wonder - who's really being lied to? Who's really telling the truth?

Heavy stuff, perhaps. This is a topic that has weighed heavily on my mind, both before and during my trip.

Even writing this now in Hong Kong, I wonder to myself, who's watching?

Cultural Activities.... and More Food!!

Fried dumplings are a go-to meal for us - most of the time, we know what they're made of! Plus they're fairly delicious, especially with soy sauce.

Another dish the group loved - fried noodles in spicy sauce. It looks like soup but there's noodles underneath all those scallions. I would have probably liked them too but I'm not one for spicy stuff.

 

I learned a little of how to play Chinese Chess, but I'm pretty bad at it. It's a complicated game for foreigners to learn, especially if you don't know Chinese characters. I don't know which is harder, learning the characters or learning the game 

 

Another one of my favorite activities was learning a little of Chinese calligraphy. It was also another difficult task; calligraphy is a form of art so even when I thought my brush stroke looked the exact same as the example, I didn't perform the stroke correctly so it wasn't how it should be. Some students study this as a hobby for years.



This was another great meal - fried chicken with sauce, vegetables, and a type of root covered in sticky sweet sauce and yes, rice krispies. They were actually really good!

First Round of Pictures - Toilets, Creepy Crawlies, and Food

 

Yes, this is how 99% of public bathrooms are. It's easier than it looks!

 

 

 

One of our first traditional Chinese meals in Shanghai - every meal is served on a type of "lazy susan" contraption so that the whole table can share dishes.

 

Or if that food looks unappetizing to you, perhaps some Beijing fried spider? Yes?

 

Just kidding, let's stick to the edible things.

 

Lotus root (tastes like a sweet gummy candy) and fried pumpkin. Both very delicious and lacking 8 legs....

 

One of my favorite meals since we've been here... FRUIT! Thank you, Hong Kong.

 

Copy Cat Zen Master

Kuàisù Kèchéng (Quick Lesson)

Before I left for China, the only words I knew in Chinese were: "Nǐ hǎo," Hello.

If I can learn how converse in Chinese (broken, granted) in two weeks, then you can learn a couple words here and there.

Lǎoshī (La-ow-shir) - means "teacher" and we usually put it after the surname of the Chinese professor. It's like calling someone Professor Smith, only now it's Smith Professor

Wǒ jiào (Woah-Chow) - literally translates to "I am called" but pretty much means "my name is". Wǒ jiào Liz.


Unlike really any other language, Mandarin is based completely off tones - which means if I say "Lǎoshī" in a monotone voice, it means nothing. If I say it with the dip on the "a" and the high tone on the "i," it suddenly means teacher. Tones are the most important, yet the most difficult part of learning this language.

Simple and short! That's it for now!