Monday, December 28, 2009
Your Patience is Appreciated..
Just a quick note to say my final blog is coming, I promise. I don't know how many people haven't given up on my getting it out there but I am here to say it will be released sometime this week. Happy holidays! It's great to be home.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
So I just ate my first piece of chocolate from my advent calendar, (thanks Mom!) which means it's December. Now wait a second, what?! That means I have been in China for over three months, am finished with finals in a week and a half, and about two weeks away from traveling to China's hot spots with my mom. How in the world did time fly by that fast? While I am desperately missing home and am excited about heating, salads, and other American amenities, I am beginning to realize how much more I wish I had time to explore Chinese culture and everything else about it. Sometimes it takes the kick in the butt that time is almost up to realize what an experience you really had, eh?
Before some more reflections on Chinese society and the people in it, I figured I would talk about how I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home in China. Our residential director spent a lot of time trying to find us a real Thanksgiving dinner, but seeing that Hangzhou is relatively small in terms of ex-pats and that eating at one of the places that actually was serving a Thanksgiving dinner would cost 300 rmb (about $50 - which is a LOT), she settled on a beautiful restaurant a little bit outside the city. Before eating and in honor of one of America's traditions, we had a little football game: Middlebury students vs. Non-Middlebury students. The weather was pretty great and it was fun to all be together making up ridiculous plays and just enjoying each other's company, which is what I always take out of Thanksgiving experiences. After that we ate. While there wasn't traditional American food we did get really good mango smoothies, China's version of BBQ chicken, and this really amazing toasted "tower" of bread with ice cream on top that slowly melted through. While you may have the same reaction as my parents (WHAT?! That does not sound good at all!) I will tell you first hand that it was fabulous. I am also going to take Mom there when we're in Hangzhou so I will have her tell you herself how magical two such simple ingredients are together. We finished up with a mini dance party at which we turned on the Christmas music, FINALLY. Although I will say I miss 97.1 FM's 24/7 Christmas music. I'm getting by. So, while definitely not the traditional Thanksgiving and feast, I had a good time. No tests on Friday meant we could just relax and have a good time - which might be one of the greatest starts of the Christmas season I could have asked for.
Next exciting thing of last weekend: KTV! Which I'm pretty sure translates to karaoke television. Basically it is a Chinese college student staple, and had been on my list of things to do before I left Hangzhou - check! At our and many other colleges, the dorms lock at 11:30. So if students want to go out at night they can't get back into their rooms until around 6:30. And since KTV has discount 6 hour passes from 12-6 am, many students go to KTV at night and stay there til morning. Our roommates were talking about how they would sometimes rent bigger rooms, sing for a while, and then pass out on the coaches. We had 13 people or so - mix of Chinese and American, so we alternated with English and Chinese songs. For English we sang a wide variety, including: Spice Girl's Wannabe, Madonna's Like a Prayer, Ting Ting's That's Not My Name, as well as many others. It was also great because a lot of the English songs didn't have the real music videos, and instead had what looked like home made videos around various farms and lakes. Visually stunning. I will add though, if you think you have a decent voice don't put your microphone volume all the way up and start singing, because you will realize you don't. Before I knew it we had been in there for over 3 hours and I am so glad I got a chance to do it. It's so nice to just be a fool and dance around for a few hours - EVEN if there are videos of your singing that will most likely be posted on facebook in the near future.
Now for the blogly (like biweekly... get it?!) reflection of Chinese culture. Today in Classical Chinese we finished early so we were chatting "suibian" (casually - but not the most perfect translation - arghh -- better get used to that switch back to full English - it has been about 6 months of Chinese, and only Chinese, and all the time). Our teacher, who looked about to cry, started talking about how much she envied our freedom and our ability to: study various languages, study and work at what we wanted to, among other things that I have taken quite a bit for granted. She said she wanted to maybe go to the US, but she thought she'd be lonely and didn't know what to do. I and others were saying she could teach classical, find a job, etc. Basically, "we think if you want to do something you should go ahead and give yourself the opportunity to do it." She started talking about how there was no way her parents would approve, as she was already nearing the age that she should be married (30). She said her mom was already distraught enough about how she was away from her family studying in Hangzhou - and didn't know how she could do that to her family. She then went on to say that she felt very trapped in Chinese culture - because there isn't that much room to do what you want to, and just little mobility in general. Even though she studies classical chinese for her own enjoyment - she seemed deeply upset at seeing us have opportunities that she may never have dreamed of.
I found in reading over my last few blogs that I have very cautious to express a definite point of view about Chinese society - saying things like "Well, I don't know quite yet.. but..." and I've decided that that isn't necessary anymore. My thoughts about Chinese culture and its structure are mere thoughts and understandings and as a disclaimer are in no way critical of the society, or at least that's not how they should come off. I felt after class a very unnerving sense of guilt about the kinds of opportunities I have been given/have had. I can go to Middlebury, study abroad, and study what I want to. After class I was discussing this with a friend and she was saying that while there was no reason I should feel guilty , she understood. I forget sometimes how lucky I have had things. This also doesn't discount any of my hard work - but seeing people like my classical teacher who despite all her hard work and aspirations can't move anywhere within her locked society is quite guilt provoking. After class my friend and I were also talking about how hard it is to make a move (like go to America, in essence turn her back on the traditions and way of life she knows) if very few people around you are doing so too. I feel like a lot of our roommates are special kind of people - they are all eager to go to graduate school outside of China - but I wonder how many others are like them and sadly, if they will succeed in fulfilling all their aspirations. Sometimes the circumstances we find ourselves in just do not seem fair.
So that's my reflection, for now. As always, love and miss you all.
Before some more reflections on Chinese society and the people in it, I figured I would talk about how I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home in China. Our residential director spent a lot of time trying to find us a real Thanksgiving dinner, but seeing that Hangzhou is relatively small in terms of ex-pats and that eating at one of the places that actually was serving a Thanksgiving dinner would cost 300 rmb (about $50 - which is a LOT), she settled on a beautiful restaurant a little bit outside the city. Before eating and in honor of one of America's traditions, we had a little football game: Middlebury students vs. Non-Middlebury students. The weather was pretty great and it was fun to all be together making up ridiculous plays and just enjoying each other's company, which is what I always take out of Thanksgiving experiences. After that we ate. While there wasn't traditional American food we did get really good mango smoothies, China's version of BBQ chicken, and this really amazing toasted "tower" of bread with ice cream on top that slowly melted through. While you may have the same reaction as my parents (WHAT?! That does not sound good at all!) I will tell you first hand that it was fabulous. I am also going to take Mom there when we're in Hangzhou so I will have her tell you herself how magical two such simple ingredients are together. We finished up with a mini dance party at which we turned on the Christmas music, FINALLY. Although I will say I miss 97.1 FM's 24/7 Christmas music. I'm getting by. So, while definitely not the traditional Thanksgiving and feast, I had a good time. No tests on Friday meant we could just relax and have a good time - which might be one of the greatest starts of the Christmas season I could have asked for.
Next exciting thing of last weekend: KTV! Which I'm pretty sure translates to karaoke television. Basically it is a Chinese college student staple, and had been on my list of things to do before I left Hangzhou - check! At our and many other colleges, the dorms lock at 11:30. So if students want to go out at night they can't get back into their rooms until around 6:30. And since KTV has discount 6 hour passes from 12-6 am, many students go to KTV at night and stay there til morning. Our roommates were talking about how they would sometimes rent bigger rooms, sing for a while, and then pass out on the coaches. We had 13 people or so - mix of Chinese and American, so we alternated with English and Chinese songs. For English we sang a wide variety, including: Spice Girl's Wannabe, Madonna's Like a Prayer, Ting Ting's That's Not My Name, as well as many others. It was also great because a lot of the English songs didn't have the real music videos, and instead had what looked like home made videos around various farms and lakes. Visually stunning. I will add though, if you think you have a decent voice don't put your microphone volume all the way up and start singing, because you will realize you don't. Before I knew it we had been in there for over 3 hours and I am so glad I got a chance to do it. It's so nice to just be a fool and dance around for a few hours - EVEN if there are videos of your singing that will most likely be posted on facebook in the near future.
Now for the blogly (like biweekly... get it?!) reflection of Chinese culture. Today in Classical Chinese we finished early so we were chatting "suibian" (casually - but not the most perfect translation - arghh -- better get used to that switch back to full English - it has been about 6 months of Chinese, and only Chinese, and all the time). Our teacher, who looked about to cry, started talking about how much she envied our freedom and our ability to: study various languages, study and work at what we wanted to, among other things that I have taken quite a bit for granted. She said she wanted to maybe go to the US, but she thought she'd be lonely and didn't know what to do. I and others were saying she could teach classical, find a job, etc. Basically, "we think if you want to do something you should go ahead and give yourself the opportunity to do it." She started talking about how there was no way her parents would approve, as she was already nearing the age that she should be married (30). She said her mom was already distraught enough about how she was away from her family studying in Hangzhou - and didn't know how she could do that to her family. She then went on to say that she felt very trapped in Chinese culture - because there isn't that much room to do what you want to, and just little mobility in general. Even though she studies classical chinese for her own enjoyment - she seemed deeply upset at seeing us have opportunities that she may never have dreamed of.
I found in reading over my last few blogs that I have very cautious to express a definite point of view about Chinese society - saying things like "Well, I don't know quite yet.. but..." and I've decided that that isn't necessary anymore. My thoughts about Chinese culture and its structure are mere thoughts and understandings and as a disclaimer are in no way critical of the society, or at least that's not how they should come off. I felt after class a very unnerving sense of guilt about the kinds of opportunities I have been given/have had. I can go to Middlebury, study abroad, and study what I want to. After class I was discussing this with a friend and she was saying that while there was no reason I should feel guilty , she understood. I forget sometimes how lucky I have had things. This also doesn't discount any of my hard work - but seeing people like my classical teacher who despite all her hard work and aspirations can't move anywhere within her locked society is quite guilt provoking. After class my friend and I were also talking about how hard it is to make a move (like go to America, in essence turn her back on the traditions and way of life she knows) if very few people around you are doing so too. I feel like a lot of our roommates are special kind of people - they are all eager to go to graduate school outside of China - but I wonder how many others are like them and sadly, if they will succeed in fulfilling all their aspirations. Sometimes the circumstances we find ourselves in just do not seem fair.
So that's my reflection, for now. As always, love and miss you all.
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