Maybe it was the fact that I haven’t been in a classroom in months, maybe it was the fact that Emmy and I were matching in our polo shirts tucked into our little black skirts, but today felt oddly reminiscent of all the days I’ve spent reveling in my perpetual same-sex education. We must […]
first day of school and the bank Read More »
In the back of a taxicab today, Chloe, Nicole, and I snacked on some “salty crispy chicken” flavored dried mushroom snacks in a little box-package with cartoon mushroom drawn all over it. Needless to say, this was the highlight of my day. But before I get more into that experience, I want to talk about
Snacking on Dried Mushrooms Read More »
So today was our first day of Chinese language classes and, as the title clearly suggests, I was not prepared. I really should stop having expectations about Beijing, because the reality is always completely different. One of my friends from home is minoring in Chinese and from what I gathered from watching her study, I figured
Our trip to the Peoples Republic of China is paid for by the generosity of the Bank of China (BOC). Today we spent the afternoon at the BOC Head Office Tower in Beijing on a tour. The beauty and grandiose of the building was breathtaking. A rock garden imported from western China, bamboo specially grown
Generosity and Beauty Read More »
I was waiting all week for Chinese classes. I was so excited to finally learn basic phrases and be able to try and converse with the natives. I woke up ready to grab my favorite new notebook just to see that it was missing. I searched high and now for it and could not. My
For breakfast today, instead of eating in the dining hall, we all ate in the common room of the international dorm. Breakfast of champs included bread, bananas, milk, and grape jelly. We had our first Chinese class today and learned how to introduce ourselves and our roommates. We also learned how to say hello during
Chinese Language Class & Bank of China visit Read More »
When I last was on the Great Wall I did not get a great experience. Because of the rain there was not a great view of the surrounding region. My experience today was vastly different. Blue skies, an air quality index of less than 60, and a cool breeze made for some phenomenal sights. The
Today, we climbed more than a thousand stairs with a fantastic view from the Great Wall outside of Beijing. The temperature was wonderful and there was a breeze to help. Although the climbing made for another sweaty day, it was certainly enjoyable with the view. There was also a slide chute that could be taken
Scaling the Great Wall Read More »
Today I woke up at a reasonable hour, after having woken up four different times in the night, and was pleasantly surprised by the breakfast that was served to us. My fever feels like it has gone down and my throat is getting less swollen slowly yet surely. I enjoyed the pancake and the fried bread
While Donald Trump is prattling on about making America great again from his ivory tower back in the states, the Great Wall of China has clearly never stopped being great. Our visit to the Great Wall today was easily one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had in my life. We had to
