Subject: Beijing Huanying Ni...

So I'm heading off to Beijing in about 9 hours - we're heading out on an overnight train (which should be an adventure in itself) and then spending the week seeing and enjoying what the city has to offer. We're also going to make the most of traditional Chinese "things," including already-ordered tickets to the Beijing Opera and a Chinese acrobatic troupe performance. My goal is also to go to a Cultural Revolutionary themed restaurant for dinner one night - everyone dresses in Mao garb so it is Mao central. One of my Chinese professors at Midd said how interesting that was - so I can't wait to go. I am also, along with another psych buff from Smith!, going to visit a recently- graduated Middlebury student's volunteer job. She works for an "autism company" at its teenage group home. The program also sponsors a kindergarten - so we're going to try and see what that is like too.

I'm actually really excited to see what this is all about - because I really think China is on its way to a greater understanding of what autism is, although it still has a long way to go. Last week we were at lunch talking about what our plans were for fall break and I mentioned that I was going to an autism "clinic" (as you can see, I'm not really sure how to describe what the place is). This was at what we call Chinese Table, so my newspaper teacher, as well as the academic director, were eating with us. My newspaper teacher started explaining characteristics of the autistic child of a friend of his. As he explained all the symptoms, the academic director started laughing. It at first made me frustrated, because these children have no control over what their lives are like, but then I realized the reaction is mostly just a problem of consciousness. I would assume that the US 10ish or more years ago was also more or less ignorant about autism, and I think China is slowly making inroads. I also wonder if this is my "calling" - to spread autism awareness to China. While I'm not so sure about that yet, I am excited to start the potential process by going to this school on Monday.

Other than that things are pretty good. I find myself getting a little burnt out with all the Chinese - but I'm working on just pushing past it and keeping it going. We talk a lot about it here and I also realize that sometimes I feel like there's the "English Elise" and the "Chinese Elise," because it's hard to put all of your personality (esp. my dry sarcasm) into a language that doesn't understand the concept of sarcasm. So this week, due to the added stress of midterms, it was especially hard to just keep the language going. But I figured I'd have some weeks like that.

Oh and also, as usual, still no facebook or blog so send me an e-mail! I should be checking e-mail a few times (our hostel has an internet cafe) during the week. As always, love and miss you all!