Ten Days, Four Cities, 4,000 Miles

The Entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing 

Well, I decided I better write a blog before I get too far behind. The last time I wrote, I just got back from Shanghai for a weekend trip. This time, I am writing after returning from my Spring Break. I’m about to go through 10 days of my life in a little post so get ready for some word vomit! Ha..

We started off with the whole group flying to Beijing to do a three day scheduled group weekend. A flight from Hangzhou to Beijing only lasted about 2 hours. After landing, we met up with our tour guide, Crystal, and headed into the city. Expecting to be choked by smog – I was pleasantly surprised that we didn’t experience a ton of smog! Only at night, when temperatures dropped, the smog fell into the city. Either way, it was nice not having to wear a mask. 

Ryan, Kristin and I at Tiananmen Square....such an eerie feeling to be there

We hit up every single big ‘touristy’ thing in Beijing such as the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, 798 Art District, Tiananmen Square and of course the mighty Great Wall of China. The Great Wall was definitely breath taking. I still can’t believe I was there and I walked up and down a section twice! After three days with the group, Ryan, Kristin and I ventured off by ourselves and got a separate hostel to start off our Spring Break. Highlight: eating cat, dog and snake at a street market near our hostel. Is it bad so say that dog and cat were extremely good? Snake tasted,..well,..like what you would expect snake to taste like. Yuck.

Our last day in Beijing we went to a street market and got some pretty cool deals on some scarves, small nick-knacks and other random things. In all honesty, I have never felt so uncomfortable in my whole time in China than I did at this market. We were basically the only white people in a very large yet cramped shopping area. We had pick-pocketers following us the whole time, sellers dragging us into their stores, and locals were staring at us at all times. I’m not sure why I felt so weird but I didn't like it at all! I am glad to be back in my safe home in Hangzhou(:

Because a jumping picture is always necessary

Making our way to the train station, I realized how alone you really are in a foreign country. Not speaking a lick of English, most people in the Beijing train station couldn’t help us when we needed to find our train terminal. It is a fun game, really though, because I love searching for what we need. Xi’an was our next destination and a 13 hour overnight train ride was standing in the way. In a train of over 500 people – we were the only Americans. Two other girls from Britain eventually showed up which rounded the grand total of five white people,…haha. 

Surprisingly, the train ride went extremely fast and I loved every minute of it. Six bunks in one cubicle with three stacked one on top of the other. To picture it,…imagine a train car and put in about 48 beds in one side with an isle and one fold down chair next to the other window across from the beds. An excuse to sleep for 10 or so hours? I’ll take it!!

Xi’an is located in western China and is one of the oldest cities in the country. We arrived at about 10am and went straight to our hostel. I saw the real China. By real China, I mean poor, run down houses, way more beggars on the street than normal and just…extremely dirty. I thought I was going to hate this place but it turned out to be my favorite by far. 

We met up with two other group members and we went to old temples, biked eight miles around the whole length of the 3000 year old City Wall, experienced REAL open air markets and saw the amazing Terracotta Warriors.  

**Disclosure** What I mean by real open air markets is taking all USDA standards and throwing them out the window, stomping on them, kicking through a tunnel and burnt on the street. And then probably spit on and burnt again. Cow eyes, heart and liver next to lettuce, leaks and onions? Sure, why not. .. .. . 

Anyway, I enjoyed the Warriors but my favorite place we went was to an Islamic influenced market where we got to try foods from all across Western China and the far east. I absolutely LOVED seeing this new culture and I never wanted to leave.  I am not ashamed to say that I went back to the market at least five times in four days because it was just that cool. The people were awesome, the food was spicy and the culture was so fascinating. 

Xi'an Clothes Market

Islamic Influenced Market!!

What made Xi’an my favorite, however, would have to have been the people we met at our hostel. We met people from Canada, Germany, Britain (those girls from the train station), France, Australia and of course, China. I made so many connections and I now have several Chinese students’ emails and have been talking regularly since I returned to Hangzhou. Most of them have never talked to a foreigner before; I feel honored. Hostels are so much fun and I recommend them to anyone. If I didn’t stay at the one in Xi’an then I wouldn’t have a connection to go fishing on a sail boat on Vancouver Island in Canada. Anyone wanna come?!(:

Xi’an was an unexpected beauty and I will return someday! After leaving Xi'an, we flew back home to Hangzhou. Our flight was at 7:50am so we had to get to the airport at about 5:50am which required us to leave our hostel at 4:45am! Two hours back home, I was asked by the Experience China Program to travel to Shanghai to pick up one of our professors coming to Hangzhou from River Falls to teach. So, by the time we arrived home, I was on a three hour shuttle to Shanghai. After about 22 hours of traveling and being up - I finally made it back home with the professor safe and sound. 

First solo traveling experience: Check. First solo traveling experience in the worlds largest city: Check. 

That's all for now.  I will leave you with a picture of me and the gang in Xi'an. So many good memories! I had an amazing time and I am excited to leave for Guilin tomorrow for a 22 hour train ride to visit the rice terraces in Southern China. Guilin is 'magical' said by everyone who has visited. We will have to see(: 

Peace, love and high fives, 

Tyler

Shanghai in 50

I have been in China for about a month now and time is really starting to fly by. Now that I am getting settled in to my environment, learning the language and successfully navigating the city, I am realizing that my time here is too short. However, I am just happy that I have this chance to be in Hangzhou and learning new and life changing things. Today in our lecture about family life and cultural customs within China, our professor reassured us that we made the right choice of coming to China. "Chances like this only happen once in a lifetime and you all made the best decision of your lives to come to such a diverse and interesting culture." It really made me realize that I am actually in China and that I need to really start taking in every single second of my time here.

This past weekend, we traveled to Shanghai and it was absolutely amazing! Leaving Hangzhou early on Friday, we arrived in Shanghai, 120 miles away, in 50 minutes! Our train was going over 190 miles per hour!! I was blown away at how fast, easy and smooth the trip was. At the train station, we used the metro system to get to our hostel. If anyone has experienced metro or subway systems in the united states - come to China! They are so easy to understand and you can literally get anywhere you want or need to.

While being a part of the 24 million population, I really soaked up the culture and scenery! The pictures below are some of my favorite highlights.

Looking at the Bund from a boat on the Huangpu River! 

Shanghai is such a beautiful city at night!!

As a group, we went to a Jade Buddha Temple and got to see this religion in real life! It was all so interesting and I went crazy taking pictures. This picture of a god is my favorite; we also got to see the Jade Buddha but I couldn't take any pictures in the room. 

I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my camera with me at all times!

Shopping in the old part of Shanghai

This blog is fairly short because I experienced so much I have no idea where to start or what to talk about. Either way, I had a great time and I can't wait to go back! This weekend we are going to Beijing which kicks off our spring break. The real adventure starts then when I will be backpacking from Northern China back to Hangzhou. I can't wait!!

Sending love to all at home! I will write in two weeks when I return from this huge adventure. I'm sure I will have lots to share!

Bye for now!

Like always,

Tyler

An American in a rainstorm

In America, rain usually has a negative attribute associated with it. Either people complain about not having enough or having too much. However, in China, rain is an important and positive symbol in the Chinese culture. Often associated with the Dragon image, rain represents health and a bountiful harvest in the Fall. Hmm,..well I would guess that the Chinese are pretty optimistic about this next harvest because it has been raining a lot. A LOT..

Since arriving in Hangzhou, I have never truly been in the city by myself. At least, not until this Saturday. Some would say that traveling by oneself in a foreign country is scary, weird or even dangerous. However, without a doubt, if you want to do solo traveling; come to China! I've never met such loving, caring and helping people in my whole life. Whenever you are lost or need help with anything, you don't have to look far for a local to come help. They love foreigners and will go to all measures to help us! I've never felt so safe in a city - and this is the largest I have ever been in.

Today, even through it was pouring, I wanted to go find the only Catholic Church in Hangzhou. Named Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, it was built in 1659 by Italian Jesuit, Martino Martini. After being converted to a Buddhist temple a few years later, the emperor Kangxi ordered to restore it back to a Catholic Church. Destroyed by fire twice, it was once again restored to today's current state and is gaining respect and popularity among foreigners and locals.

At 355 year old this place is still beautiful!

In China, the best way to get around the city is either by walking or by bus. I've talked about the bus before, but today was interesting in itself because I was by myself and not with my group. You don't realize how much you stick out until you are totally by yourself in a bus full of Chinese people. All eyes were on me...at all times. Kids would squish their way through everyone to get a closer look, girls in the back would look and whisper, the boys seemed to always look at my shoes and point and the adults did subtle stairs in my direction. Awkward. Soooo awkward for the whole 20 minute bus ride to Wulin Square.

Sidewalk above the Highway!

In terms of size, I guess Wulin Square would be equivalent to Times Square in New York. After I squeezed off the bus, I was smack dead center of this huge shopping and entertainment center of Hangzhou. Huge skyscrapers, restaurants lining the streets and people everywhere; you would think this would be the last place a 355 year old Church would be. But sure enough, after a short walk away from the main road, I came across the church.

The Only Catholic Church in a city of 8 million! 

Because I attended an English Mass, I was joined by other foreigners. Most of them were from Africa with a mixture of families from Israel, France and Russia. It was so interesting hearing all the different accents even though all of the white people looked similar to me. Surprised by the amount of Chinese people in the congregation, I couldn't help but constantly look around at everyone. We all came from different places around the world, spoke different languages but all attended the same Mass. Interesting thing to wrap my head around.

After Mass, I made small talk with a few members and wandered off back into the rain. If it was Mom and Dad or some unseen force that granted me the sense of good direction - thank you. Haha, thank you so much! Even though I have never been to that particular square before, I used the tallest building, the highway and other random landmarks to get myself back to the bus station. While walking back, I noticed that more and more people were staring at me. I thought that since I was in the downtown area, the locals would be used to foreigners? Either way, I know what it feels like to be somewhat of a celebrity. It's the culture, I know, but lately I just want to be a, you know, just an American in a rainstorm. Not some person on show the whole time - but it's still an interesting feeling. I'm sure I will both get used to it and witness more of it as the weeks go on.

Tower and street lamps in downtown Hangzhou

I hope to travel more independently while in the city. I have already grown more independent and I will always use this skill in my future. The only person you can truly rely on while abroad is yourself. It makes it even more complicated when you can't understand the language. The people you meet, make friends with or merely communicate with for twenty seconds all make differences in your life. This definitely has been a learning experience. I love it!

Like always,

Tyler

Oh, and by the way, I went to a bamboo forest last week and I got to hug a 1,000 year old tree...it was so big!

This tree saw so much history in it's lifetime...I wish it could talk!