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culture

This tag is associated with 16 posts

A Warm Cup of China

I love coffee shops. I just love them. Whenever I travel, I always make sure to visit as many coffee shops as possible. It’s just my thing. So you can imagine my joy when I discovered that there was a coffee shop on the campus we are staying at.   Walan Coffee Shop has Western food and music and some amazing coffee. I came for many meals, coffee breaks, late night chats, and just to hang out and find peace in the midst of a busy trip.   Although it was fairly dirty and the service was terrible, we all … // Read more

People’s Park

    People’s Park is a very famous park in China, but I have learned that people in China say that everything in China is famous. I have figured out that famous might just mean popular. Anyway, the park is incredible. Gorgeous scenery and very peaceful.   The first time I went, there were not many people there– only a few people doing some Tai Chi and calligraphy and some men offering boat rides. However, my next visit included hundreds of people dancing, singing opera, playing instruments, doing Tai Chi and doing calligraphy on the streets.   Two little old … // Read more

Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here

      Two words: Mt. Tai. I have never seen something so astonishing in my entire life. Climbing Mt. Tai was hands down the most phenomenal experience of my twenty years on Earth. That is not an exaggeration.   It was such a challenge and such a struggle to climb up 6,500 steps, but when I finished, I felt like I could conquer the world. We all encouraged each other and pushed ourselves. We even made some Chinese friends along the way! We kept asking how much further and someone finally answered us in English! She told us we … // Read more

True Cultural Experience

Call a cab in New York and call a cab in China and let me know what you think. It is quite a feat to get a cab in the middle of Tian Jin–far more difficult than getting a cab in New York City. With some help from a girl from Florida State University, we finally got a few cabs for our first night out on the town. Only four people can ride in a cab so we all had to split up.   It is hard to even explain the traffic in Tian Jin. There are basically no road … // Read more

Toe Up About Confucius

     Confucius is one of the most well-known philosophers in history, and we got the privilege of touring different areas related to his life. It was incredibly interesting to see the history all around me. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous.   Aside from the gorgeous scenery and fascinating history around me, all I could think about was the toe I stubbed the day before. My poor little pinky toe was in so much pain. (I’m a baby, I know).   It started pouring down rain, and I had forgotten my rain jacket. After getting soaked, I remembered that I … // Read more

Fine China

  After arriving in Beijing, we took a bus to Tian Jin Foreign Studies University (TFSU). As the bus drove through the city of Tian Jin, we were all in amazement. It is like nothing I have ever seen. I immediately fell in love with the city.   The university is its own little town. It is absolutely beautiful, and I felt right at home. The dorm rooms are incredibly nice, and there is even a television with a few American channels that I never even wanted to turn on and watch. There was too much fun to be had … // Read more