[March 4th-5th, 2011] Our day of travel/arriving in Wuhan- China!
[March 9, 2011] On the cruise ship- little boating expeditions 
#5: Great Wall. When I used to think of the Great Wall of China, I thought of a dark looming structure, swarms of people and lots of stairs. Now when I think of the Great Wall of China, I think of clean cold air, beautiful untouched deterioration, and the mesmerizing voice of William Lindesay. I had no idea going into the day that we would have the experience we did. If I was FORCED to pick my favorite part of the trip, this would be it.
The three mile climb up the wall was tiring, but refreshing after all of the time we had spent on planes and on buses in the previous days. I was fueled by the continuous story told by Lindesay as we walked, I wish I could remember everything he told us. I would have to say he is one of the most fascinating people I have ever met. It takes a lot of guts, and a lot of passion to keep returning to a country that deports you. I have never seen a person so enthralled with and enthused with a piece of architecture. Once we reached the top however, I understood.
The experience we had on the Great Wall was one that not many people will ever have. I can’t even wrap my head around how different it would have been had we visited the touristy bits of this looming structure. The character and vibe I got from the wall was so natural and peaceful, and I was so grateful for the experience. By the end of the day, my brain was an overflowed sponge, my legs rubbery and sore, and my stomach happily filled with dumplings.
#4: The People. I was completely overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity displayed by the Chinese people throughout our trip. A few specific moments stand out, one being my interactions with two women whom I purchased breakfast from in a Wuhan alleyway. They did not speak any English, and at that point my Mandarin was less than understandable, but they were willing to do their best at pleasantly communicating. The hospitality demonstrated by everyone we met at the school, and by my host family in particular was remarkable. Abbie and I only spent one night with our host family, but they treated us as though we had known each other for years. It was so touching to be welcomed into someone’s home, and to be treated as honored guests.\
A second aspect of the people that was especially striking was their reaction to our presence. One of my main questions in the beginning of this course was in regards to how the Chinese people felt about Americans. This was more than answered for me throughout the trip. On our first night in Wuhan, Abbie and I were taken into Steve’s classroom on our way out of the school. The second the students saw us, we were welcomed with applause and cheering. We were only in there for a few minutes, but the feeling I got when I entered that room will always remain with me.
At one point, Steve explained to us how much our being at school meant to the students. “You’re who they want to be,” he said, and I felt that a real sense of responsibility on our part was demonstrated by that statement. I was also extremely taken aback by how we were watched. Everywhere our group went, we were stared at, pointed at, whispered about and photographed (particularly those who didn’t have dark hair.) This was not something I was expecting to occur on the scale that it did- it was almost like being a celebrity.
#2: Circles. On our first full day in China, we explored the city with the help of our two tour guides, Linda and Lilly. Among the attractions we visited, was the Temple of 500 Buddha’s. Someone noticed that the doorways in the temple were shaped in a circular fashion, and inquired about the significance. Lilly explained that to the Chinese, the circle represents the strength of a closely knit family. Later that day at lunch, we were given a sweet sesame encrusted hollow pastry. The pastry was in the shape of a baseball, and one of the Chinese students who had joined us for lunch explained that the shape of this pastry held significance. This symbolism was similar to that of the circular doorways, she explained that it stands for the strength within closenfamilies, and is used as a sign of welcoming.
#3: Relationships. A conversation that I had with Lara, one of Steve’s colleagues at the school, is something that has stuck out to me about the trip as well. On our way to dinner, our first night in Wuhan, she was telling me about her relationship with her husband. He is not Chinese, but rather an American from California. She was discussing with us the cultural obstacles that correspond with such a realtionship. One in particular arose when they first started dating. She informed me that it is customary in China, for the man to carry all of his girlfriend’s bags (purse included) when they are out in public together. However, seeing as we don’t have this custom in America, it was not something her husband was aware of- and therefore did not do. She explained that this had initially caused problems when her family and friends met him0- they felt that he was disrespecting her. It was interesting not only to hear about this, but also in the sense that after having this conversation with her, I noticed many men in China carrying purses.
In thinking about our March 2011 expedition to China, it was important to me to document all that I wanted to remember. It’s impossible to remember every observation, and every remarkable experience that you have on a trip such as this one, but I wanted to be able to look back and remember the most important parts for me.
In addition to my scrapbook and pictures, I wanted to do something more that would further document the unusual things I learned, experienced, and observed while on the trip. So I have decided to compile a list of five things that surprised me about China.
#1: Pollution. It is common knowledge that China’s environment has been severely damaged by over and improper use- and that this has been amplified by their tremendous population. I knew prior to going on this trip that pollution in China was on the rise, but I didn’t put a great deal of thought into it in terms of how I would experience it once there. Once we stepped outside for the first time after leaving the Wuhan airport, the very first thing I noticed was the palpable density of the air. I could feel myself breathing in chemicals and smog for the first few minutes. Throughout our first night before my body adjusted, the feeling was indescribable. I could also see a difference in the air; it appeared as though the city of Wuhan existed under a cloudy haze. Nightfall in Wuhan was when I could visibly see the greatest impact on the atmosphere as we strolled around downtown. After this initial adjustment there were two periods in which I noticed air improvement. (1) When we reached William's camp at the foot of the Great Wall, and (2) the second I stepped off of the plane back into Vermont.
