我们在长城走路了 (We Walked on the Great Wall of China)
Big group photo with all the NSLI-Y scholars heading to Chengdu, China and the Chinese AFS staff.
Me at the Great Wall part one.
Me at the Great Wall part two.
Me at the Great Wall part three.
Today was our first full day in China! After waking up at 5:00 am, I rolled out of bed, completed a quick jump rope workout, and headed down stairs for an extravagant breakfast. There were even more dishes compared to the night before. There were simple dishes of cantaloupe, watermelon, oranges, hard boiled eggs, vegetables, and different types of bread, and then there were steamed buns, fried liver, fried rice, fried waffle looking crisps, cold vegetables in a clear sauce, and green cookies covered in sesame seeds. I even saw sausages, cereal, and baked beans that looked a bit more Western style. After breakfast, we headed to the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) for more orientating. We learned a little bit about Chinese culture and the Chinese language, as well as information about emergency contacts and AFS staff, and then we headed to the Great Wall after a brief lunch of Subway sandwiches (globalization at its best). After a crazy two hour bus ride, we arrived at the Great Wall and were greeted by the stares by a good number of the Chinese population. Our tour guide, a short lady in a "Super You" t-shirt with a stuffed lizard on a stick, led us up the Great Wall, and then we were free to continue onward and take copious numbers of photos, such as those above. After climbing up the steep and winding Great Wall, we headed back to a restaurant near our hotel for Peking duck among a mass of many other dishes. Once again, the lazy Susan was stacked high with vegetable dishes covered in clear sauces, spices, and peppers, meat dishes with beef, duck, and chicken, yellow, orange, and brown sauces, sticky rice, and watermelon. Although it seems that Chinese restaurants provide much more food, the plate and bowl they provide are much smaller than American versions. In addition, no ice water was given; only hot water and tea was provided. Two new and notable experiences of the day for me include using a squatter toilet and having my picture taken with a random Chinese man. Many Chinese people at the Great Wall were interested in taking pictures with us and of us. Some stealthily video taped us as we walked by, and others asked us to take pictures with them. I think that they are very interested in foreigners because we look so different from the general Chinese population. In regards to the squatter toilet, I must say that I think it's better and more sanitary than western toilets as of so far. They certainly are different.