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The World Is A Small Place Pierce Schiller
My expectations of China were based solely on stereotypes and media
propaganda. Kung Fu movies rapidly flashed through my mind as the
17-hour flight to Beijing transpired. My expectations never materialized.
I did not expect to come face to face with the 21st century in such an ancient land. The paved roads were pot hole free. I witnessed the shrubbery and landscaping alongside the main road to be manicured with hand clippers. Citroens occupied the roads, just like in France. I was surprised to see as many cars as I did, however nothing could compare with the sight of the masses of bicycles that overwhelmed the sidewalks. Beijing University was much more than a learning facility. Its expanse was greater than I could have imagined and living on the campus seemed like I was living in a miniature community comprising of shops, restaurants, and dance halls. The university students were extremely shy and timid and yet, they would easily pass for American students based on their appearance and attire. Incidentally, much to our surprise, we lost pathetically to a group of Chinese university students when we challenged them to a basketball match! Chinese customs played an important role in our day to day lives in China. The pitcher of steaming hot water for tea in our dormitory rooms was a reminder to me that I was not in Queens any more. General Tsao Chicken, Won Ton Soup and Pork Fried Rice were not on our dinner menus! I was shocked to discover that Fortune Cookies do not exist in China! Instead, we feasted on delicious authentic Chinese cuisine. Mouth watering, sizzling meats appeared on our dinner tables, adorned with tofu dishes that I had never before eaten. (I have to confess that I preferred the Peking Duck served in China to the dish offered at my local neighborhood Chinese restaurant.) Chopsticks became second nature to me and I even opted to this utensil over a fork when given the choice. The I yuan (I 2 U.S. cents) fudge-cicle ice cream sticks of China were the best I had even eaten! Shopping in China was a real experience. I had been told prior to our trip that Chinese merchandise was cheap. But I did not anticipate what "cheap?' really meant. Everything is negotiable in China. The average rule of thumb for shopping in China was not to pay more than one third of what was being asked. Sometimes that was even overpaying. Bootlegged merchandise was rampant throughout the Chinese market and it was very difficult to distinguish the real McCoy from an imitation. An amazing sight to behold in China was the Summer Palace, which I could view (depending on the smog situation) from my dormitory window in Peiking University. Sitting on the peak of a steep hill, the Summer Palace was an enormous accomplishment during the Chinese Jin Dynasty (1100s). It was just unimaginable that the earth on which the Summer Palace was erected, came from the excavation of the man made lake that it overlooks. The lake captured the reflection of the grandeur of the Summer Palace. It was really spectacular and by far was my favorite palace in China. Standing among the terra cotta Warriors, I felt transformed back into ancient time. It was awe inspiring to see the masses of these 6 foot tall figures. No two faces were the same on any warrior. I felt quite small and insignificant. It was like being a grain of sand in a sea of stones. Nature was at its best in the Grasslands. The horizon seemed endless. There was such beauty and silence in nothingness. Living in the Yurts gave me a true insight into the culture of the grasslands and the Mongolians who lived there. My travels in China were truly a remarkable and positive experience. It was only weeks after the closure of the trip that I realized where I had actually traveled and what I had actually done. My experiences enriched my understanding and acceptance of people and customs, and have definitely changed my outlook on life. China seemed so unreachable before this trip but now I know that nothing is out of my grasp. Through this trip I realized that no matter how far apart and different we may seem, the world is really a small place and its people are all more the same, then different. Thank you for the experience.
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