The Diaries

June 22, 2009

Goodbye Dinners

Posted by Joe Burke

In the U.S., a massage is a pleasurable experience where someone gently kneads your muscles and it feels so good you just drift off into a light sleep. In China, a massage is a small Asian woman violently jamming her thumbs and elbows through your muscles as you squirm on a table in a room with 4-8 other people. Ok, maybe it wasn’t that bad, but I am still pretty sore from the experience. I feel so violated…

We also hosted our going-away American barbeque for our Chinese classmates last night and it went really great. All the food was really good and reminded me a lot of home but I think my favorite was the apple crisp. I really couldn’t help but laughing and taking a few pictures some of our guests that, understandably, didn’t quite understand the concept of American outdoor cuisine. After several of our guests poured baked beans and potato salad on top of their burgers, I decided it might be wise to make an example platter of the dishes and offer myself as a buffet advisor. It was also quite funny to see many of our friends eat their baked beans individually with chopsticks. After a little while though, we all adjusted and everyone was shoveling food into their mouths with hands and spoons in true American fashion.

Following dinner, I gave a quick demonstration on the American tradition of roasting s’mores while camping and at outdoor events. I think the s’mores got a mixed reception: some of our guests went back for seconds while I think one bite was plenty for the others. From my own experiences with real Chinese food and after seeing many of our guests enjoy an after-dinner cucumber instead of an American sugar bomb, I really understood that sweets are not a central part of Chinese cuisine. It was also quite funny to see one of our guests try to squeeze the cheese out of the plastic wrapping on an American single. It also really highlighted our reliance on packaged and processed foods. Again- more tasty in my biased opinion, but definitely less healthy.

We followed the dinner with more group pictures than a high-school prom. I think we really took some good ones which I will really be glad to have years from now. It wasn’t long before we got out the cards and the beer and started with some drinking games. Luckily, our Chinese friends had to be in their dorms before they were locked out at 10:30, so they were spared the majority of our corruptive influence. In the meantime, the Chinese coordinator of our program showed me some basics of martial arts, which was very interesting. He probably at least as old as my parents, but you would not want to tangle with this guy! I think he could have an American twice his size on the ground in a couple of seconds, probably minus a wrist or two.

It really was a great experience. Maybe it was the American food, eating outdoors on a perfect night, our copious amounts of Tsingtao (our favorite brand) pi jiou (beer), but I felt really happy to be in China with my fellow students, faculty and new Chinese friends. It was really great to see students and teachers from both cultures sharing a meal, playing drinking games (students) and chatting about curricula and world events. It was a great ending to our time here in Dalian which makes me a bit reluctant to leave.

Today and tonight will be a busy 16 hours indeed. I have our final class at 10:30, my final suit fitting at the tailors at 4, a goodbye-banquet from our hosts at 6, followed by my last appearance at English club at 9. After that, I will begin packing my things for Beijing. The rest of our group will fly to Shanghai early Wednesday morning for the long-haul flight back to Chicago. I will stay behind in Dalian and board the 9:30 overnight train to Beijing, arriving about 8:30 Thursday morning, where I will meet up with Jon, Scott, Josh and the rest of the Sheller Clan to begin the second phase of my travels in Asia. I really can’t wait, but as I said, it’s a bittersweet departure. Hopefully, I’ll get some final thoughts in another blog before leaving…

June 21, 2009

Culinary Hijinks and other Tom Foolery

Posted by Joe Burke

So I think I have mentioned how I like the Chinese style of eating better (ala-lazy susan, chopsticks, slow eating, etc.) But maybe haven’t commented much on the food itself. It’s good…in its own way. First, it’s all very wholesome. The amount of bread and grains in their diet is limited- as is the meat- and a large amount of vegetables, peanuts and other interesting tidbits like sprouts make up a large part of a typical meal. They usually make quite good use of spices and other sauces like soy and vinegar to add a lot of great flavor with very little fat or sugar. Despite eating such small amounts of food because of my slow chopstick pace, I always feel that I have quality, high-octane fuel pumping through my veins. Good food makes good fuel. However… I have come to find out that whether we are spoiled with it or whether it has just become my cultural preference, we have a great deal of variety in the United States. We really have no “national” cuisine. Instead we are masters at taking the food our great grandparents brought with them from all parts of the world, putting a slightly American twist on it, and calling it our own. The hamburger? German. Pizza? Italian. And so on and so forth. But the Chinese have a strong cultural history and its people have enjoyed their national foods for hundreds of years. And it is delicious- but I find myself craving some of my American variety (read: sugar, fat, grease, salt, artificial sweeteners, etc. etc.) The Chinese have a word for this kind of food which literally translates to “garbage snack.” Probably accurate.

Anyway, you all read about my McBinge. They happen every so often. In fact, during one of my most recent American expeditions, I forged a trail to yet another Mecca of Americana: Subway. A journey across the Great Subway Pass is indeed long and arduous, but the effort is well rewarded when I sink my teeth into a foot long steak and cheese drowned in southwest sauce. No shame. I was also able to accomplish the nearly impossible task of getting some chips and salsa. But after a hearty garbage snack, I have to say that I really do feel like, well, garbage. I feel sluggish, tired, and generally in a bad mood. This is not because the food was made in China; I actually feel this way in the US after a fast food meal. So while I sometimes get tired of yet another variation of veggies and meat, I understand that we pay a pretty hefty price for some of the poison we eat in the U.S. It’s immediate gratification versus long-term well being; yet another manifestation of the differences in our cultures.

Free time update: Two nights ago the students took us to a Chinese disco. I wouldn’t really know how it went, because I think John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever went in my place. After enough pi jiou (beer), anyone who attended my sister’s wedding will attest that I quickly forget what a bad dancer I am and really let loose. Don’t worry family- it wasn’t THAT big of a disco inferno- but I did have a good time. It really was quite the club with go-go dancers, a huge light show, booths- etc etc. Probably the nicest club I’ve ever been in-- and yet something I never would have expected before coming to China. What’s more, we probably spent collectively (8 people) what a similar night would have cost for 2 people in a U.S. club. Nice.

I also got up bright and early this morning at 5:30 to learn Tai Chi with some Chinese senior citizens in the park. Or maybe I should rephrase that: I went to go learn Tai Chi in front of experienced Chinese senior citizens while they politely grinned at the awkward and clumsy American trying to balance himself like a drunken chimp. The master also found it necessary to stop class and help me with my movements while the entire class watched on in delight. It was actually a pretty great experience though and I’m glad I got to do it. The only two college girls in the class took me out to breakfast afterwards too. Poor uncoordinated American…I’m sure he’d rather be eating. It was great talking to them though and despite my sore muscles, I’m glad I got both opportunities to see more Chinese culture and people.

Getting a full body massage tonight. One hour for under ten dollars. Honestly, why am I not living here? It will be much needed though, because I have a ton to do between now and when I leave Dalian. Tomorrow night, we are putting on a full-spread American meal for our Chinese classmates: cheeseburgers, potato salad, s’mores, apple crisp, and baked beans. I really can’t wait. As we came back from the foreign grocery store (quite a cab ride away), we had to put all the (rare) ingredients into the hotel’s fridge. Of course, we got permission beforehand, but the cooks lounging in the kitchen didn’t know that as the Meh goa ren (Americans) stormed through the kitchen with about 50 lbs of exotic rare ingredients like they owned the place. By the looks on their bewildered faces, we might as well have been from Mars. We continued loading our goods into their fridge as they protested in Chinese. With a calm look on my face I just pointed at the whole scene and said “Good. Good…very good” in Chinese, as if that would cleanly explain the obviously insane white people invading their sacred kitchen. In the end, we assumed that my thorough explanation took care of everything while the bewildered cooks followed us out of the kitchen mumbling their final protests in Chinese.

Still a ton to do before I leave for Beijing. Get a haircut, pick up my suit (hand tailored for 50 bucks!), take my Chinese final, and spend some final time with my Chinese friends. In many ways, I wish I could stay at DNU and really become a student; live in the dorms, take classes, and really get to know what college life is like here as a DNU student. But I am very lucky to have gotten the opportunity to know what this would be like without actually having to enroll here. As much as I’ll miss the friends and experiences I’ve had here, I am ready for a change and excited at the next phase of my travels through China and SE Asia. I think the time I spent here has prepared me well for the challenge to come. More on preparations and final thoughts from DNU in my next blog…

June 17, 2009

KTV, McBinge, and the World's Workshop

Posted by Joe Burke

Karaoke. In the U.S., its you and a DJ named Steve during a slow night at some dive bar. In China, Karaoke is practically a national pastime. Imagine, if you will, a building the size of a small hotel and similar in many respects. After entering the "KTV" (its a chain) building lit ala-Vegas, you go up to the front desk and check out your room. Yes, your own room. Then you take the elevator to your room because there are about 5 floors of karaoke rooms as Chinese pop music blasts from the muzak speakers all around you. But wait- you should probably pick out your refreshments. After all, I can't sing to save my life- so a little liquid coaxing is in order. But don't think you will have to brave the Dalian streets to get the right treats either. All it takes is a visit to KTV's mini mart adjacent to the front desk where you simply point to all the booze and munchies you could want while an attendant follows you around, placing them in a basket.

Fast forward to upstairs. Now you enter your room, with a full wrap-around leather couch, big screen TV for lyrics and the accompanying early-90's music videos, and your own private bathroom so you never miss out on your "These boots are made for walkin'" solo when nature calls after pounding back a few Tsingtaos. Speaking of which...where are they? Just before you can finish that thought, the aforementioned and neatly-dressed attendant marches in with the basket of goodies you picked out in the mini-mart and promptly pops the top on every beer for you! Well, now we will just have to drink them all... but the mood will not be quite right for "If you wanna be my lover" until we fine tune our lighting into a nice love-pad red- with maybe a touch of strobe. If that wont get a tune out of you, you must be made wound up tighter than a Chairman Mao watch. I believe KTV has not heard the last of my golden vocal chords. How are these not in U.S. college towns?

In other news, I finally broke today. I made the mistake of noticing the location of a McDonalds near campus while out on a stroll. I was so happy with the Chinese food we had been eating so far. It was healthy, delicious, and eating with chopsticks really did away with our usual style of American eating (shovel food down the hatch till you explode). I was feeling good about being culturally immersed and healthy. But the golden arches beckoned me. They whispered to me like in Lord of the Rings. The grease-lust was in my American blood and I had to obey. I must have got a few looks from the students as I carried my oversized McDs bag across campus. I'm sure I got a couple chuckles of "Mei goa ren" (American) as I took my walk of glutenous shame. I took off half my sweaty clothes from the day, sat in bed, turned on the tube ate fast food as I watched TV: A traditional and culturally authentic meal from the Motherland. I felt pretty gross as the cholesterol coursed through my veins afterwards, but brother let me tell you... it was so worth it. Just tell me where the embassy and McD's is and I can get through any adverse travel experience.

Earlier today, we toured a textiles plant where mens suits are made for the British department store Marks and Spencer as well as for the Chinese military. Wow. It is one thing to flip the tag on your clothes and other products and see "made in China." It is an entirely other thing to walk down the production line and meet face to face the actual people making the products you and I take for granted. It was amazing how quickly these people did the same repetitive task for 8 hours each day while making less than 3 or maybe 4 dollars per hour. I almost felt guilty- walking in and taking pictures of them doing their work like some privileged ass.

No one really smiled or payed much attention while we walked through. We got our usual stares for being American in China, but it seemed like the workers had a look on their face like, "I'd ask what the hell you are doing here, but frankly, I don't have the time or the energy." And I don't blame them. They were all working so hard. It actually made me feel very guilty. I probably had a suit made just like this at home. I loved the low price on the label and knew that it was made in China by hard workers making little money, but I never saw their faces. It was an abstract idea to me until you actually met the people at the other end of that sale.

I had to remind myself though that there was nothing wrong, per se, about this situation. In fact, less than 100 years ago, it could have easily been a scene played out in the textile mills of New York or the coal mines of Pennsylvania, where women and children worked and died in conditions much worse than this. Each country goes through its own industrial revolution- and China is in the midst of incredible growth. To be sure, it is a cycle. And 100 years from now, maybe these workers will be unionized, become too expensive, and their jobs will be exported to another country that is a little farther behind the curve. It was us then and it is them now. I suppose I just wish they could enjoy a better quality of life in the meantime. I suppose it is something to consider the next time I make a purchase or consider all the great opportunities I have.

June 14, 2009

Settled in Dalian

Posted by Joe Burke

So we have been in Dalian just over one week now and I have finally had a chance to settle in. However, our schedule remains quite busy. Between breakfast, classes and city excursions, we are usually booked solid from 8 to 8 each day which doesn’t leave much time to study my Chinese and take care of other school obligations- let alone communicate with home (sorry Mom). Things will get done just as they always did at home though and likewise—usually last-minute.

Attending college in China is extremely interesting. I’ll start with the differences. First, showers are not in the dorms. There are buildings centrally located near the dorms in which students can take their showers, but only during a roughly one hour window. Hot water is also not in the dorms and there is a central building where students fill giant thermoses with hot water for the day. In fact, laundry services are located in a central building on campus as well, though most students wash their laundry by hand and hang it outside on public clothes lines (imagine that at UNI!). Students sleep four to each dorm room, which are at least twice as large as our dorm rooms in the U.S. and having the opposite sex in the dorms is strictly forbidden. This contrasts sharply to the relative luxury we have been enjoying in the hotel located on campus which includes most amenities you would find in most hotels.

I wonder how our Chinese classmates feel when I describe college life back home. In my apartment (and in most dorms), I had multiple TVs, air conditioning, couches, and my own washer and dryer. But in many ways, I feel that life is better here. The students here might not have all the nice “stuff” we have in the States, but it is unbelievable the amount of time they spend together outside of the classroom. The basketball courts are packed and I see many people walking and talking with their friends until twilight. Kids talk while they hang out clothes or go to get hot water. They gather outside the gates of the university to buy fruit and snacks from street vendors because they don’t have mini-fridges and microwaves in their dorms. Couples go for a stroll in the parks instead of sitting on a couch watching a movie. There is such a sense of community here that you just don’t find on an American campus. In many ways, I believe it is part of their group-centric culture, but in others, I think it is because they are not distracted by having to maintain so much “stuff”. Quality of life is certainly not measured in material possessions. It would be an adjustment, but I would happily go to school here without the conveniences.

I have also noticed that the Chinese are extremely dedicated to their studies. As I write this blog, I am in a packed library full of students, each with (literally) piles of books diligently studying away. And it’s a Sunday. According to our classmates, they spend a good portion of the weekend studying, whereas in America, we spend a good portion of our weekend getting drunk. However, the focus of American academics is to pass, and there will be many other ways you can differentiate yourself in the job market. But opportunities are more closely guarded in China, and getting an opportunity—whether it be a job or entrance into grad school—is based largely on academic results and dedication. I still believe that American colleges offer a better education, but as far as the quality of students is concerned, China has some of the most dedicated students I have ever seen. What’s more, each and every one is grateful for the opportunity to learn. Sadly, I can’t say that about the U.S. We have been able to take some of the students out for a good time when Friday night comes (we go easy on them), but you certainly can’t fault them for wanting to study. It’s the norm here instead of the exception, like in the U.S.

However, I find that there are similarities between us that must be universal of all college students. All students get tired of the food in the school cafeteria. All students procrastinate. All students have pulled a “What!? We have a test today!?” Many of the 4th year students are worried about getting a job, are uncertain about the future, but are defiantly optimistic. I originally thought that many of the Chinese would be given jobs by the government or told what to do after graduation. However, most must send out resumes and go through second and third interviews, hoping for a break. A large portion have very specific plans that are very independent and even risky-- and remind me of my own plan to move to Boston without a job. I was surprised to see these traits in my Chinese classmates.

In class, we took electronic personality profiles with Eastern and Western perspectives on both ends of the spectrum. When we charted the results on a graph, the Chinese students were all over the map. To me, it meant that today’s Chinese students are very independent and free-thinking; keeping the valuable pieces of their culture and perhaps changing or disposing of those that no longer make sense to them. So while our nationalities cause us to think almost completely opposite at times, I find so many similarities that are universal to our generation. I’m continually surprised at how many ways a 22 year old can be the same no matter where they’ve grew up. Many of their stories are the same as mine, with just a slight cultural twist. It’s a very “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” feeling.

Chinese girls also seem to like us guys quite a bit. It’s adorable how sweet and innocent they can be. Evidently, the laundry ladies dressed up a little nicer when I came to pick up my clothes because they wanted to take a picture with me, and on the way back, some girls shouted hello to me from their dorm window. I shouted a “Ni Hao” back, which caused them to quickly duck inside and set off a storm of giggling. Another time, at our hotels front desk, the girl told me “You have the most beauuuutiful eyes!...” I think I’m going to like it in Dalian. Of course, any flirting on my part is simply just part of being a charming ambassador of our country.

Of course, there are differences. The Chinese are very subtle in expressing their feelings and work to avoid conflict at almost any cost while interacting with others. Whereas in America, we openly voice our opinions and decisions are reached based on a civil conflict of ideas. It can sometimes be very difficult to interpret what our friends “really mean” when we have a discussion, try to make plans, or correct a conflict. Sometimes, I think—“ok, can we drop the polite formalities and just be relaxed and selfish for awhile? But no way of doing things is “better” and I constantly remind myself that the purpose of this trip isn’t to become frustrated that we don’t think the same, but to try to incorporate some of their philosophy into ours and vice versa. I can imagine how useful this experience might be when I find I need to handle a conflict or situation very delicately back home.

The Chinese food is delicious but I would sell a kidney for a bratwurst with potato salad.

Well, this is getting quite long, but I have heard from back home that many people are checking my blog and I have neglected to post one for some time. I will try to post every 2-3 days, but it could be up to 4 as we are so busy. Maybe I should try to write a blog instead of a novel next time and it will be easier. In the meantime, thanks for checking and check back soon.

June 9, 2009

Hosting 101

Posted by Joe Burke

So Beijing, with all its history and mix of old and new, is now behind us. Our overnight train to Dalian was very interesting as I have never had sleeping accomodations on a train and I was also able to preview the "hard sleeper" class section of the train, which I will probably take on my return trip. One thing is for certain, I will definitely be much more "among the people" on the way back.

Our welcome in Dalian was enormously impressive. Our hosts, including several students, met us at the train station where we immediately took a picture with a special banner they had made welcoming us to their city and gave us a great introduction on the way to campus. Once we arrived, we also noticed that the building we were staying in also had a customized banner welcoming us to the global business program. Just when I thought that they couldn't be more thoughtful, we entered our room to discover a plate of cookies and fresh fruit on our end table, along with a place card next to our beds, individualized with our names, welcoming us yet again to our new home.

I have to admit, I had never received such a sincere and comprehensive welcome in my life. It confirmed much of what I had read about how the Chinese highly value personal relationships. It seems that in the U.S., we are so concerned about "getting down to business" that we are too rushed to spend the time and money required to show this amount of consideration to our own partners. I had not even begun studying here yet, but I already had a great feeling about the facilities and the people I had just met. Surely, this will positively affect my attitude towards learning and making friends with my Chinese counterparts in the coming days. In going to such great lengths to welcome us, our hosts laid a very strong foundation to build a long-term relationship on. I think we have a lot to learn from the Chinese about shifting our focus from short-term gains to long-term goals. Just look at our economy and how we got into that mess. There is a Chinese saying that if you give a Chinese a dollar, they will spend 70 cents, but if you give an American a dollar, they will spend a dollar fifty.

After thinking about this, I also became a bit concerned. They had obviously spent months planning our arrival and were extremely excited. They also spoke our language and had done everything possible to make us feel welcomed. I thought about how rushed I was before arriving in China and had neglected to shop for any special small gifts to give our guests (which is customary here) or taken the time to learn a small amount of Mandarin. I began to worry that we would not be as good of guests as they were hosts. However, I have found that these concerns make me want to try harder than I normally would to be a good guest and do everything I can to make sure our presence here is mutually-beneficial. Again, this only highlights for me the wisdom of spending so many resources on a simple welcome. It has set the tone for the entire program.

I have already become good friends with one of our Chinese classmates, Cindy. We share a striking amount of similarities, including being very independent and worrying about finding a job after graduation. We all agree that perhaps against our first expectations, we share many more similarities than differences. I've become extremely impressed with how hard working the Chinese are when it comes to reaching their goals, a trait I believe, sadly, our country is beginning to forget. I also expected them to be quite reserved, but in fact they are probably more friendly and outgoing than we are. Cindy has helped me quite a bit with my pronunciations and we are planning to study together soon.

I wanted to focus mainly on the welcome we received, but soon I hope to blog more about our Chinese friends here and how college life in Dalian can be very different, yet shockingly similar to my own U.S. experiences. I will have to wrap up this blog, as we have class tomorrow. Most days, we have 2 hours of oral Chinese class followed by another 2 hours of global skills theory. After lunch, we usually tour some sort of facility or company operating in the Dalian Free Trade Zone, which is really a marvel in itself and will deserve its own blog soon. In the meantime, keep checking for updates...

June 7, 2009

The Unspoken China

Posted by Joe Burke

After a long day of touring, we are on our way to Dalian, China—about 150 miles east of North Korea. We spent much of the day visiting the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City and the scale and level of craftsmanship for both complexes was unbelievable. In my last blog I wrote about how the history of the East and West has been divorced for so long, and this became even more apparent as we toured these two sites. For instance, we heard the story of a Chinese empress who started out as a 5th class concubine and eventually worked her way into the top power position in China. In my mind, it was more impressive than stories such as the struggle between Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, which most Westerners are familiar with.

Our final stop was to Tienanmen Square. Evidently, we were nearing the 20th anniversary of the Tienanmen Square massacre. Our group passed through an airport-style security checkpoint where even the bottled water was being sniffed by guards but for some reason, our American tour group was allowed to pass though without any scrutiny. Once in the square I immediately noticed a strong military presence including guards stationed about every 50 square yards and squads of about 20 or so soldiers marching around the square. Between them and the security checkpoint, I already felt a bit uneasy. Whats all this for? The Olympics are over, right?

As we toured the square our guide rattled off many interesting facts about the square’s history and importance as the center of Beijing in addition to how Chairman Mao was a skilled tactician and probably could have been a poet if he really wanted to. And that was it. Really? Are we not going to address the white elephant in the room? What about the massacre? The demonstrations. The man standing in front of the tank. I don’t even care if you put a pro-government spin on it—at least acknowledge that something significant happened here!

As it became apparent that there would be no mention of what we all knew damn well happened there, I felt a very strong need to pose the question to our tour guide. After all, the incident is not taught in their textbooks and most Chinese citizens, including our guide, were fearful of talking openly about it. As a result, many Chinese my age and younger have no idea of the poignant and tragic event that happened in the square I was standing in. As a tourist, I have a certain amount of leeway in what I can say in China, and asking that question would certainly not land me in jail or even risk deportation. In some ways, I felt that not asking about the massacre in that square while being in a position to do so only made me part of the problem.

In the end, I decided not to ask. It wasn’t just a question of my own ideals. Forcing my tour guide to confront the issue in an open place could have been potentially harmful to her if she decided to answer the way I had hoped and I didn’t want to put her in a position she had no choice in. But as I left the square, I kept to myself as I began feeling profoundly upset. I am someone who is willing to speak my peace regardless of the consequences and for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel at liberty to say what was on my mind—especially against something I knew was wrong and suppressive.

Later, our teacher questioned the tour guide on the reasoning behind the high levels of security and she became visibly uncomfortable as she struggled for the “right” answer. She finally gave a non-answer that any career politician could be proud of. In some ways, I lost respect for her but I also understood she had little choice. In the end, I knew I made the right in protecting her by not confronting her on the subject when I learned that at any given time, nearly 2,000 plain-clothes police officers patrol within the square, and I have a feeling they are tasked with monitoring the citizens as much or more than foreigners. Maybe nothing would have happened, or maybe she could have lost her job, but it wasn't fair to put her in that position-- which angered me even further.

The experience still unsettles me. I have never completely bought into blind or fervent patriotism for my country, but I have to say that until I felt that my freedom to express myself freely was taken from me, the concept of freedom was just an abstract concept. I think now I have a small taste of what it is like to live without some of that freedom.

However, this shouldn’t be considered my complete attitude on China. Just today, we arrived at Dalian Nationalities University and were warmly greeted with some of the finest hospitality and consideration I have ever experienced in my life. Just another example of how China is a model of surprising contradictions. Hopefully more on our wonderful hosts in the next couple of days…

June 5, 2009

Swine Flu-a-palooza!

Posted by Joe Burke

Finally made it to China after a thirteen hour flight, which was interesting to say the least. We encountered some pretty significant turbulence coming off the mountains when we landed, and quite a few people got sick- which did not reassure the health inspectors. Thats right- health inspectors. Upon landing, we were required to fill out a form detailing any potential flu-like symptoms we were experiencing in addition to whether I had "had contact with pig in last 2 weeks." I decided it wise to omit the fact that I was traveling from a state that probably has more swine than people.

Upon landing, we were boarded by a squad of lab technicians and greeted with a "hello" or "ni hao" depending on our nationality. Then an infrared laser was pointed like a gun at our forehead! Welcome to China! Before getting to the immigration station, we passed through a multitude of passive infrared heat detectors to see whether we had a fever. Although I think the swine flu has been blown far out of proportion, I suppose it makes sense to do all you can to contain a disease when you have a population as dense as China's

Since arrival we have had a real cutthroat schedule. Yesterday we climbed the Great Wall, visited the largest of the Ming tombs, learned about tea at a local tea house and have had some incredible multi-course feasts for each meal. I have to say I am 100% sold on the "lazy-suzan" style of eating, where a number of dishes are placed on a rotating table and you transfer portions to your own small plate and eat with your chopsticks. It is much more fun and discourages overeating. But I digress...

My first impressions of China are somewhat what I expected, although there was no way to imagine exactly what it would be like. In many ways, it reminds me of Hungary, which was also in transition to a market economy. There is such a juxtaposition of old and new, rich and poor, tradition and outside influence. Stand ten seconds on a busy street in Beijing and you will see drably-clothed workers riding their old rusted bicycles to work, mixed in with others dressed ala-MTV and driving luxury cars. In the downtown, a shining new sky scraper with four, four story jumbo-trons stands next to communist-style concrete apartment blocks. A woman walking down the street is dressed in the best business clothes and texts on her blackberry, but believes strongly in the Chinese zodiac and wears a jade bracelet to promote luck and long life. Not to mention all the Olympic structures and improvements.

In many ways, it feels like China is both unsure of how it will integrate all these new influences into its longstanding culture, but still extremely confident in its traditions- which are wonderfully rich. When I first visit a country or city, It seems I quickly get a "feel" for its personality- the underlying attitude behind the things you see and experience. I get that immediately here as well, but unlike Europe, off whose own culture ours is based, there is very little I can empathize with. Our histories and their influence on our cultures are mostly separate. The result so far seems to be a focus that in many ways is 180 degrees from western mentality, and I expect sorting out the similarities and differences will be both exciting and very insightful. The details are still filling in...

The language barrier is also much more formidable. At least in Europe, I could decipher some of the language and writing, but here all I know is "hello" and "thank you," which makes me feel really ignorant when I try to communicate. I hate not being able to at least express myself on a very basic level in their own language and hope to try to learn some mandarin in the coming days and continue when I return home. We'll see if I actually stick to that...

In the meantime, we have another very full schedule today. So full, in fact, that we are checking out of our hotel this morning, touring all day, and loading onto the overnight train to Dalian and sleeping through the night, where we will immediately arrive, check into Dalian Nationalities University and be the guests for a large formal banquet. I am actually pretty anxious to begin studying there since finishing school.

June 1, 2009

It's Finally Sinking In...

Posted by Joe Burke

Wow. We're leaving in two days. Usually by now, the suitcases would've been packed and waiting in the living room, snacks picked out for the long overseas flight, and I would've already googled every detail of my trip down to seat assignments in hopeful anticipation. Not the case on this trip.

Don't get me wrong- I'm extremely excited to go- but I feel that I have been almost too busy to really stop and think about actually being in China. Besides this China tour, I have virtually graduated and been pretty consumed with a comprehensive job search in Boston (www.burkeswork.com). To boot, I spontaneously decided to remain in Asia about a week ago and tour some of the SE Asian countries with friends who will just happen to be in China when this course ends. That sets in motion an entirely separate set of last minute planning, packing and logistical considerations. Between the job search, planning for this course, and planning for the SE Asia tour, I've hardly had a thought to myself.

But at T-minus 2, I am finally allowing myself to anticipate what lies ahead. I've backpacked parts of Europe, so new cultures are a real passion of mine. The best part about travel is being pulled out of your comfort zone and being forced to adapt to a new rulebook on how to interact and behave. But compared with Europe, Asia is a whole new ballgame. US culture is based off European culture. But from what I know, the mindset, priorities and viewpoints of Asian cultures are almost 180-degrees from ours and the language barrier is much more formidable.

I am a bit apprehensive about the huge amount of adaptation that will be required to interact with my Chinese classmates and their city. Yet at the same time, it is extremely exciting. Both my Chinese business course and exploration of SE Asia will be travel at its best. I'll be taken completely out of my element and forced to consider different viewpoints and live with very few traces of my own culture, which makes the potential for learning and adventure that much greater.

Keep checking this blog for updates. Hopefully, I will continue blogging once the course ends and I begin exploring the rest of China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand but of course, this will depend on my access to internet and initiative.

China Diaries

Kelly

China Tour

Samantha

Nick

Stewart

Joe

Alex

Faculty Members

Christine

Gordon

David

Map of China

June 22, 2009

Goodbye Dinners

June 21, 2009

Culinary Hijinks and other Tom Foolery

June 17, 2009

KTV, McBinge, and the World's Workshop

June 14, 2009

Settled in Dalian

June 9, 2009

Hosting 101

June 7, 2009

The Unspoken China

June 5, 2009

Swine Flu-a-palooza!

June 1, 2009

It's Finally Sinking In...

Syndicate this site (XML)