Khata’s and Mono

Sad to say, this will be my last school trip reflection. 😦

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Our third and last group travel was more towards the northwest of China to 甘肃 (Gansu Province). We took a 16 hour train ride to the freezing cold province (in April!) where we played cards, ate suspicious fruit from the 阿姨 (everyone is called ‘Aunt’ in China if you don’t know their name), and slept on some hard, hard triple bunk beds.

Upon arrival, we got on a bus and drove for about four hours to 甘南 (Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. So we all like to say we snuck into Tibet ;). When we got our bags checked into the hotel, we made our way to visit the 12-year-old Buddha to get our Khata’s blessed by him. Khata’s are a traditional, Tibetan, ceremonial scarf that is given to guests as a welcome or during other special events. I can’t say I’ve taken really good care of my Khata, as my cats really like things with tassles and strings. Whoops! (I probably shouldn’t be so casual about this).

The rest of the trip was a bit of a struggle for me because I got a really bad migraine for about two days which made me miss out on a lot of really cool experiences. Including: hiking a snow covered mountain with monks and a Tibetan art contest.

However, I did make it to the villages to give children backpacks we bought for them and play games with the villagers. We also were taught how to write Tibetan by a monk.

When we returned home, we once again rode the slow train to Beijing and during that trip back got really sick (surprise, surprise). I usually wouldn’t feel the need to mention this, but my whole time in Beijing has been me having zero luck with my health and it’s demonstrated by the diagnosis of my hospital trip when I got back. I had mono.

云南 ft. no inappropriate puns

So late. So sorry.

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Our second class travel was to Yunnan Province in the south of China. Yunnan is known for its gorgeous weather, 普洱茶 (Pu’er Tea), fresh fruit, and many minority nationalities (Around 23 minority groups have villages in Yunnan. My Chinese family took me to a nationalities park for six hours one day, so if you have any questions about them, please don’t ask. I’ve heard the word 民族 [Minzu] way too many times for comfort.).

I actually went to Yunnan a week earlier than the rest of my classmates because my family wanted to go down with me and introduce me to my 妈妈‘s (Mama’s) 阿姨 (Aunt) and 姨夫 (Uncle). We had just moved apartments in Beijing so we left the cats in the old apartment (hopefully with someone looking after them, otherwise they are extremely strong cats), packed up what wasn’t already in boxes, and hopped on a plane to one of the coolest places I’ve been to in China.

When we arrived we were VERY warmly welcomed by 阿姨 and made our way to their house (which is extremely luxurious by Chinese standards). The next morning we packed up again and seven of us squished into a Land Rover that seats five. No one really told me where we were going and I didn’t ask at first, but once we had been driving for four hours I decided that I should probably know where we were going. Turns out, we were going camping. In the mountains. For two days.

Not only was I not prepared for this at all, but I’m not much of a camping fan unless there is a little outdoor bathroom and shower stall nearby. However, I decided to keep an open mind. Well, until someone offered me a chicken foot. Though I had to pee while standing on two slats of wood a few feet apart with my 妈妈 holding a towel in front of me, I actually had a really good time. My little sister, Mary and I read books in our tent together, as we both have a dislike for extended and dirty outdoor pursuits, and listened to her new favorite band, One Direction (I’m extremely guilty of getting her hooked). When it was time to drive home, I noticed a new member of our entourage, 姑姑 (GuGu) the chicken. Upon seeing 姑姑 I suspected the worst… I was going to be offered another chicken foot for dinner. My suspicions were confirmed upon asking Mary. 姑姑 seemed to have the same suspicion, because she decided to put herself out of her misery earlier than my 阿姨 planned and she arrived at the apartment with a broken neck.

Now, I should really try and keep this short, because no matter how much I write to explain the events that followed with my classmates in Yunnan, nothing will ever do them justice.

When I met up with my classmates, I was pretty relieved. Living with only Chinese people and no contact to other foreigners, is extremely exhausting. By the last day with fam, I had buried myself in a book.

The rest of the trip with my school included an AP Environmental Science Lab at a local park/pond; a stay in a 景颇 (Jingpo) village, where we set off illegal, gun-powder fireworks and had a basketball tournament; a day long scavenger hunt in 建水 (Jianshui); and a few days attending a high school in 西双版纳 (Xishuangbanna), which was insane because we were constantly getting our photo taken and being taken out for free meals.

Yunnan had to be my favorite trip out of the three we went on this year (the third trip reflection will be coming soon). It was gorgeous and it was the first time in almost seven months that I had eaten a mango.

Shang(high)… I’m just joking.

Honestly am just kidding… it’s a great pun.

But also, weed laws in China are 非常严格 (very strict).

http://www.people.com/article/jaycee-chan-indicted-jackie-chan-drug-charges

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ANYWAYS, let’s get on with this…

I haven’t had much time to post (the Great Firewall of China also attacked my VPN and I couldn’t get onto certain sites for a while). But to make up for lost time I’m going to try and pack as much as I can into a few posts.

Near the end of January, two friends and I had the amazing opportunity to go on an independent travel trip to Shanghai together. I’m not saying we necessarily took advantage of all the cultural activities we could have participated in while we were there, but we did see the Pearl Tower, which I think should count for something.

We mostly walked along the Bund and ate some really good French food, because believe it or not there is a huge French influence in Shanghai. Before the start of the Korean War there was a large area of Shanghai inhabited by the French, otherwise known as the French Concession. There were other countries that had little communities in Shanghai and Beijing as well, but France left more of it’s culture in Shanghai than the other countries when everyone had to leave because of the Nanjing Massacre.

It was extremely interesting to see all of the French influenced architecture and be able to connect what we were learning in our history class with something concrete.

This was my second time visiting Shanghai and though it was a very short second visit, I have to say I think Beijing is a much better place to live in China than Shanghai. Yes, Beijing may be dirtier and more crowded, but it is both Western and Chinese at the same time, whereas Shanghai is much too Western for me to justify living there… I could live in the States or Europe if I wanted a mostly Western culture surrounding me.

However, I would never say no to a trip back!

(If you wanted to read about my trip to Shanxi province 1000 years ago).

During November, our school took us to a province near Beijing (but sadly much colder than Beijing). I wrote these reflections in my notes on my phone, but only got around to publishing the reflection about Datong. So, even though they’re almost too old to publish, here ya go:

Ping Yao was the next city to visit on our itinerary in Shanxi and it was easily my favorite part of our trip. It is one of the last ancient cities left in China, which means that electricity is one of the most modern technologies present. Cars are not allowed on the streets, so we had to take these small golf-carts from outside the city walls to our hotel. Speaking of our hotel, it was freezing cold, barely had mattresses, and had a very questionable menu. However, it made up for that in character. The courtyard was cozy and left room to play soccer and a Chinese version of hacky sack. The roofs were reminiscent of ancient temples and there was an adorable husky (we all thought that it was a real wolf at first because it was so dirty) that would steal your food if you weren’t paying close enough attention to it, not that that was all too bad considering the less than pleasant taste of it.

Sadly, we only stayed in Ping Yao for one night, but it was such an unique experience that I feel like I was there for the perfect amount of time. We were sent off to fend for ourselves once again, as well as explore the local night market that sold a mix of tourist items and actual antiques. My friends and I ended up spending all of our money at that market and ate a small hole in the wall where you eat hot pot while sitting on a tree trunk.

We also got to tour all of the ancient parts of the city and learn about its culture, however, I gleaned most of my knowledge of Chinese culture in Ping Yao from the people and artifacts in the night market. I also learned how to bargain like a pro. Or a semi-pro. All you have to do is yell the price you want repeatedly until the shop owner gets so annoyed they accept it so that you will leave.

All in all, if you ever get the chance to go to the Shanxi province in China, visiting Pingyao is a must.

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We were in Taiyuan for the shortest amount of time out of all the places we went to in Shanxi. Taiyuan is your average Chinese city. It’s more modern than Datong, but looks a little more polished than Beijing (at least in my opinion).

When we got to Taiyuan we went out to a local park with our APES class and did a lab on population with bubbles. My group, of course, managed to spill almost all of our bubble juice during a fight over who would be blowing the bubbles, so we were at a slight disadvantage, but in the end all turned out fine. Just a lot of dead bubbles to be mourned by the end of that lab.

That night we were once again allowed to go wander around the city on our own and a group of friends and I ended up at a well-known night market. It went up a long alleyway and sold every knockoff item imaginable, from Daisy by Marc Jacobs to long-sleeve shirts with “Cocococococococo” up the arms (which my friends and I all actually purchased).

The night market wasn’t any different that going to the ones in Beijing, but we were all very excited to shop and see Taiyuan which is very pretty at night with all their lights.

DIY Hamburgers

My parents called me for dinner and instead of the usual 炒米饭 (fried rice) and 白菜 (boiled cabbage), there was a bowl with what looked like a hamburger. Though knowing my family, I knew that there was no way that it was an honest-to-goodness, beef patty, hamburger. And I was right.

As I picked it up, my Mama said, “DIY汉堡。爸爸做。” (“DIY hamburger. Baba made it.”). My suspicions were proved correct when I took a bite and it was lettuce, very sweet mayo, and two slices of white cheese that I really can’t determine the type of on a sesame seed hamburger bun.

At first I was a little annoyed because I hadn’t eaten lunch and wanted something a little more substantial, but then I realized that they think I am a dedicated vegetarian because I never eat the meat that they give me (China meat is hella sketchy, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make). So, their intentions were pure and it turned out not to be too bad of a dinner, though I might teach them how to make grilled cheese for the next time they want to experiment with making American foods.

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Thursday my family and I move to a new apartment, which means right now our old apartment is even more claustrophobic because of the ridiculous amount of boxes and gadgets that now litter our very small sitting room and hallway, but it also means that when we move we all get the luxury of larger bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a dining room separate from the kitchen.

My little sister just left for Singapore (I’m incredibly jealous right now, Singapore is hella rad), which means I get undivided attention from Ma and Ba. This is going to be a great opportunity to connect more, but also could be a little bit too much attention for me. But as I say almost every single hour now, 没事 (mei shi er) which literally translates to “nothing”, but really means “no prob”.

And an odd/typical China thing I saw on my walk home from the bus stop today was a Mercedes parked in the middle of a two way road. Nobody was in the car and nobody on either side of the road could get by it. You wouldn’t believe the horns. I’m pretty sure parking in China is the most uncivilized aspect of our world.

The Not So Disappointing Search for the Invisible KTV

I know I said I would update over my break, but considering it was my first real chance to get out of my room and see Beijing, it completely slipped my mind. Sorry! Although now you can read about all my adventures in one post instead of multiple, which is convenient.

The first day off, I have to admit, I slept. A lot. Though I don’t think my choice in activity was much different from my classmates’, as we were all either sick or falling over in our chairs at school the week leading up to the break.

Though the days leading up to the break were really exhausting, the last day of school was a lot of fun. It was the Erfuzhong “olympics”  (Erfuzhong is the school I go to, by the way), where the entire school competes against the other grades in track and field events and hula hoop and double dutch contests. Now, I didn’t actually participate in any of these events because I barely had time for sleep, let alone training to run a 400m (also, I just really don’t like running). Even though I wasn’t apart of any of the races or games, it was so much fun to see my friends winning and losing against all of these Chinese kids and also seeing the traditions the school has pertaining to this day (the traditions are wearing Yoshi hats and eating sushi in the freezing cold).

One of the priceless photos that we gained from the olympics is this gem here of my friends Caitlin (right), Dehlia (left) and I (I hope you know which one that is) sitting in the back of the crowd swaddled in blankets and our hideous uniforms.

After that lazy day, my friend Caitlin was unexpectedly whisked away to the Chinese countryside where she didn’t have a shower, shared a room with her entire family, and had a dead baby chicken left on her bed (we still don’t know whether that was a threat or some sort of, “Welcome to the family! Enjoy our cutest dead chick.”). Though we felt bad for her, my other friends Dehlia and Miles and I went out to a part of Beijing called Yong He Gong which is where the Lama Temple is. We spent our first real night out in Beijing walking around the streets trying to find a karaoke place. However, after asking many shop owners and sketchy people we found out that it, in fact, is not a real place.

The next night we had much better luck and ended up going back to Yong He Gong to check out the hutongs. Hutongs are these old alleyways filled with boutiques, bars (that we didn’t go to, of course), coffee shops, and stands. We ended up spending most of our money that night on street food and vegan chocolate cake from the restaurant called, “Veggie”. Hutongs also happen to have some really awesome music and performances that warrant them another visit.

Most of my nights were spent with my friends, while my days were spent with my family. I really got to know them over the break and they took me to some really fun places like Chaoyang Park which has a ropes course and outdoor laser tag, one of the ugliest and most hilarious art exhibits that I’ve ever seen, and to my Nai Nai’s house (grandmother’s) to make dumplings and play Chinese chess (which I was a pro at because of Grandpa Donald <3).

We had so many amazing experiences this break and I’m definitely not excited to be back in school, but what can you do.

I’m Not A Native Yet

I’m waiting for my bus again and however embarrassing it may have been, I feel like I should mention my bus related panic that occurred yesterday afternoon.

I’m thinking that Monday afternoon’s successful bus ride was beginner’s luck because yesterday I completely forgot which stop to get off at! And did I mention I forgot my cell phone at home that morning as well? (When I told my Ma what happened she laughed and said, “Aiyaa, ni duo san la si de!” Which means, “You’re so scatterbrained!”)

Basically, I was on a bus with no phone, freaking out because I can’t remember if I’m supposed to get off after the tunnel, the weird hair salon where everyone’s hair is a crazy color, or the Chinese KFC. Naturally, I showed the lady sitting next to me the address card that my Ma gave me and she said at the next stop I needed to get off. Relieved, I turned my music back on and got ready to get off. Little did I know that this was just the beginning.

She had given my incorrect directions and I had no idea which bus I should get on to get back or where I was. Turns out I was only three stops away from my correct one, but it’s paralyzingly frightening to be in a foreign city where everyone speaks a language that has no resemblance to English, whereas in a place like France or Spain you could probably figure out what someone is saying even if you don’t know the language.

Luckily, with a lot of Chinglish and pointing I made it onto another bus, which I got off too early again, but by then I was able to see the Rainbow Shopping Center (which has a Hagen Dazs) by my apartment in the distance and I trekked through the rain towards what at the time seemed like the most beautiful thing in the world.

After all the excitement, I treated myself to some ice cream. If there’s anything I know how to say in Chinese, it’s “chocolate”.

The bright side of the story is that I now know how to get to my house from multiple bus stops. Progress!