Study Abroad with UNA
China
Twas the Night Before China
Packing, trying to stay awake so I can sleep on the plane, and fighting off a virus: that’s what I am doing as I prepare to leave America and travel to China. I am a terrible packer because I bring way more than I will ever need, but I used vacuum pack bags in order to bring plenty of clothes. I am apparently a very high maintenance traveler, but I’m okay with that. I woke up this morning with a terrible stomach virus. That’s just my luck, by the way. I hope it isn’t an omen of how the trip … // Read more
Confucius says…-Chelsea Hughes
Well I am back, so YES, I survived Mt. Tai! I am not going to lie though, there were some definite touch and go moments! But once we all reached the top, the view made every exhausting step worth it. Yesterday, we took a tour of the home and temple of Confucius. We had a lovely tour guide, John, who spent the day sharing his knowledge of Confucius and love for China with us. These past two days have been amazing. We have soaked up so much Chinese culture and even walked the same grounds as ancient Chinese philosophers. I … // Read more
Welcome to China-Chelsea Hughes
Ni Hao, ya”ll! We have officially been in China for three days now and are having an amazing time! On Tuesday, Tianjin University welcomed us with open arms and presented us with a feast fit for a Chinese emperor. Yesterday, we spent the day touring the Economic Museum and CultureStreet. Culture Street is a great little market where you can use all your bargaining skills. Today was our first official day of class, which, for us theatre kids, is rehearsal. Our rehearsal space is outside in the University courtyard, so we had plenty Chinese students stopping to watch us perform. Tomorrow, … // Read more
Ready or not here I come!-Chelsea Hughes
Ni Hao, ya’ll! So I have gathered all my things needed for my newest adventure: Clothes-check, Shoes-check, Toiletries-check, Hair stuff-check, Camera-check, Essentials to Chinese Travel-check, Script-check, Lines memorized-well…that’s what the 13 hour plane ride is for, right? Ready or not China, HERE I COME!
Week 2 in China
Week two in China has been great! It started off with us visiting a local high school and talking and answering questions the students had. The visit to the school was definitely a great comparison as to how different our education system in America is to that of China. Each classroom had about 40-50 students in it, all crammed into a small room with no air conditioning. It was about 85 degrees the day we visited, and it felt like 95 in the classroom. The students gave us a presentation about Chinese culture, dance, and food. After they did the … // Read more
China week 2
Week two in China has been great! It started off with us visiting a local high school and talking and answering questions the students had. The visit to the school was definitely a great comparison as to how different our education system in America is to that of China. Each classroom had about 40-50 students in it, all crammed into a small room with no air conditioning. It was about 85 degrees the day we visited, and it felt like 95 in the classroom. The students gave us a presentation about Chinese culture, dance, and food. After they did the … // Read more
Tofu’d again
One of the benefits of our group doing self guided tours in China is the choice to dine where we want. With the help of our professor/translator, Mrs. Chen, we’ve been able to sample a number of chinese foods, some of which could only be best described as authentic. Before our group ever departed on its trip, we were warned to avoid street food venders. The first thing one is likely to encounter along the streets of China is some sort of skewered critter over a flaming grill, flanked by vegetables. Sidewalks are lined with carts of cooking meats, … // Read more
China- week one
It’s difficult to believe a week has passed since our group landed in Shanghai, China. Were it not for lack of computer and up-to-date browser access, this blog would be quite a bit more interesting at this point. That being said, I will do my best to briefly recap our trip. Though our group is staying in Nanjing during the majority of our time here, we did spend two days in Shanghai, a huge, smog-filled metropolous. Having been sheltered by the quiet and mild city of Florence, AL. my whole life, it is safe for the reader to assume the … // Read more
Mount Tai
Yet another day of fantastic site-seeing here in China. We had an elaborate breakfast provided by the hotel we stayed at last night, then it was off to Mount Tai. At Mount Tai, you have two options: you can ride the cable car up the mountain (which takes about five minutes) or you can walk up the 6000+ steps to the top. We decided to walk up the steps, which was crazy! It took about two hours to get up to the top of the steps. Along the way, many Chinese citizens wanted to stop and take pictures of the … // Read more
Confucius Say?
Man, where to begin! Woke up at 5am to get ready for our excursion to Qufu, which is where Confucius lived throughout his life and is buried at. It took about six hours to get there from Tianjin, and I slept most of the way there. (Sleeping is real hard to do in Tianjin. The city is loud with horns and people yelling all night long). Once we finally arrived in Qufu, we got lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. It was very fancy and they served us food like we had at our welcoming banquet a few days ago. … // Read more
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