This weekend I experienced Tianjin on a totally new level….I was fostered by a Chinese family!  On Saturday, all of the UNA students went home to spend the night with a host family.  At first, I was a little nervous to be staying with people I did not even know, but I soon gave into the idea that this would be a great story to share with my grand-kids one day.  I had two girls, Mindy and Fiona, pick me up at the school.  Then, by subway, met Hailey at Culture Street.  After I spent the day learning the history behind Culture Street, I went home to stay with Hailey and her family.  As soon as I arrived to her home, Mr. and Mrs. Lee welcomed me with opened arms!  It was a little dose of southern hospitality minus the southern drawl.  For dinner, they wanted to teach me how to make dumplings from scratch.  Mrs. Lee, even though she could not speak much English,  made sure to show me all the steps to create the best dumplings.  After dinner, we took a walk along the river, where they had a huge display of fireworks at the Eye of Tianjin.  When we returned home, Mrs. Lee, Hailey, and I exchanged pictures of our friends and family with each other.  Hailey, also, taught me some Chinese calligraphy to put on my postcards.

On Sunday, I woke up to her family preparing me a traditional Chinese breakfast.  It included a Chinese hamburger, which was great, but nothing like an American burger.  After breakfast, we met back up with Mindy and Fiona at the Cultural Center, which is a place with several different museums.  For lunch, we ate at a hot pot.  A hot pot is like our version of the melting pot, but with other ingredients, such as, tofu, bamboo, and duck’s blood.  Yes, I said duck’s blood! And they love it, me not so much!  I had a great time with these girls and the Lee family.  I learned so much from them, everything from how to make dumplings to how to write Chinese calligraphy to how NOT to eat duck’s blood.  But the most important thing I learned was that two people do not have to speak the same language to communicate hospitality and graciousness.

Mrs. Lee teaching me how to make dumplings.

Mine and Hailey’s dumplings.

Mrs.Lee, Me, Hailey, and Mr. Lee at the Eye of Tianjin.

Hailey, Fiona, Me, and Mindy spending the day at different museums and lunch at the hot pot (the chocolate cube things are actually duck’s blood).

Chelsea Hughes

I graduated from UNA in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications / Theatre and a minor in Geography. After my first Geography class, I fell in love with the world. I found myself wanting to soak up as many cultures as possible and the best way to do this was to TRAVEL! In 2011 I was able to study theatre in New York City. I lived there 3 months and met people from America, England, Paris, and New Zealand. Our friendships opened so many wonderful doors, one being my first trip out of the country. In 2012, I got the amazing opportunity to stay with a friend for two weeks in London. All of these experiences not only have made me a better actress, but a better human being. Follow me on my next adventure of learning and exploring this beautiful world, and remember: “Not all who wander are lost.”

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