Unfortunately internet access is spotty where I’m at so I’ve been slacking with these blog posts; it’s also been a whirlwind of a week. I have so many relatives I can’t keep track of them all - not only names but who’s related to who in what manner … it’s all a big blur. It’s been great though, even if I’m not sure who I’m talking to at any given second ;)
The comment I’ve gotten over and over is: “My goodness! I remember the last time I saw you … you were tiny!” [while motioning with their hands my apparent size when I was 2]. My mom warned me that I was by far the tallest girl in the family, but she definitely didn’t tell me that I was going to be taller than at least three-quarters of the men too. Well, there goes my dream of being six feet tall…
The Beijing environment and quality of life has many similarities to how I grew up in Canada and the U.S., but Hailin really is another world. The most common mode of transportation is a type of automobile with three wheels. It’s this bizarre mix of car and motorcycle that I can’t quite wrap my mind around. Every once in a while there will be a donkey that makes its way across the road or a tractor that comes chugging around a corner - it makes me realize what a sheltered life I’ve led.
This past week I’ve been staying with my aunt, my mom’s oldest sister. Both her children are married now - one is 24 and the other 29 - so she loves having someone around again. I really haven’t done much other than visit family, but there’s plenty of time for that because I’ll be here for another two weeks. More to come soon, hopefully I get to see a little more of the area!
Monday, June 6, 2011
5/29/2011 - Touring Beijing/Sleeper Train to Hailin
This very second I’m somewhere in northeast China en route to Hailin, Heilongjiang Province. This sleeper train is definitely an experience, to say the least. It’s eerily similar to the Hogwarts Express (yes this is a Harry Potter reference). I’m currently on hour 9 of a 20-hour train ride that will take me from China’s capital city to Heilongjiang Province - the place of my birth and where most of my extended family lives. This isn’t a trip for the weak-of-heart: overall it’s pretty uncomfortable, but this is the same route my parents used to take when they lived in Beijing and went home to visit their parents. Though I’m sure much has changed in the 15-20 years since they took this route, it’s generally the same sort of experience.
Yesterday though, I got to tour a few places in Beijing with my cousin, her husband, and one of my cousin’s relatives who is about my age.
First stop: Jing Shan
Jing Shan is a park/small mountain right outside the back entrance of Gu Gong, or the Forbidden City. From the top of it, you get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City that lets you take in and appreciate the breadth of it. It’s really quite pretty and worth going to before touring the Forbidden City itself. At the top of Jing Shan, there a few vendors who offer to let you dress up in the imperial manner for a small fee. I was convinced to do this…
Second stop: Gu Gong (Forbidden City)
This place is gigantic - it’s hard to imagine how all the rooms could have been put to use. We entered from the back gate and worked our way to the front, navigating through massive tourist groups from around the globe. What struck me the most is how massive everything was: in particular, one building was described as “the emperor’s dressing room” - it was easily the size of my house. What’s bizarre is realizing that someone occupied the Forbidden City just over a century ago - these aren’t historical relics, they’re the realities of a distinguished group of people only a few generations prior.
Third Stop: Wangfujing
Yesterday though, I got to tour a few places in Beijing with my cousin, her husband, and one of my cousin’s relatives who is about my age.
First stop: Jing Shan
Jing Shan is a park/small mountain right outside the back entrance of Gu Gong, or the Forbidden City. From the top of it, you get a panoramic view of the Forbidden City that lets you take in and appreciate the breadth of it. It’s really quite pretty and worth going to before touring the Forbidden City itself. At the top of Jing Shan, there a few vendors who offer to let you dress up in the imperial manner for a small fee. I was convinced to do this…
Second stop: Gu Gong (Forbidden City)
This place is gigantic - it’s hard to imagine how all the rooms could have been put to use. We entered from the back gate and worked our way to the front, navigating through massive tourist groups from around the globe. What struck me the most is how massive everything was: in particular, one building was described as “the emperor’s dressing room” - it was easily the size of my house. What’s bizarre is realizing that someone occupied the Forbidden City just over a century ago - these aren’t historical relics, they’re the realities of a distinguished group of people only a few generations prior.
Third Stop: Wangfujing
We left the Forbidden City from its front entrance, which led us directly into Tiananmen Square. I didn’t see much of it though, by that point we were so hungry we opted to head directly to Wangfujing, the street known for great shopping and also considered a must-see for foreign tourists. It’s also home to one of Beijing’s most popular huo guo (hot pot) restaurants. Hot pot is a lot of fun, basically they give you a huge pot filled with broth that’s set over a burner at your table. Then you order various meat, seafood, and vegetables that you cook quickly in the broth immediately before eating. I’ve had it before at home but this was a million times better (sorry mom!). After we left the restaurant we took our time strolling along Wangfujing, stopping here and there to sample various street foods and Beijing specialties.
Fourth Stop: Hu Tong
Last stop of the day was the small streets of old Beijing, with structures known as hu tong. These are the small huts and narrow streets of more than 50 years ago which are slowly disappearing as Beijing continues to pride itself on being an up-and-coming city. Some of these areas have been preserved and converted into specialty shops selling the handiwork of its few remaining residents. It’s really interesting to see - and this place has some of the best food I have ever had in my life - who knew?
Friday, June 3, 2011
5/27/2011 - Arrival
And just like that - poof - I’m on the other side of the world.
After a 14-hour plane ride from New York, I wandered clumsily through customs, pushed my way to baggage claim, and ended up in a sea of smiling Chinese families … but who was I looking for? The thing is, the plan is that I would stay with one of my cousins, “Xiao Xue,” who just got married last year. What’s the problem you might ask? Well, the last time we saw each other was AGES ago: I was two and she was eight - its not an exaggeration to say that we’ve changed a good bit since then.
So luckily for me (though it was kind of embarrassing) they had a huge sign with my name on it, as well as a “Welcome to China!” Anyways, crisis averted. I’m now happily typing away at their apartment in Beijing, surrounded by an adorable puppy named “Da Tou” (translates to “Big Head”), a moody but beautiful ivory kitten, two tiny box turtles, and two aquariums full of pet fish. Now before I get distracted, I’m going to take a quick second to throw out some first impressions:
1. Since when does KFC have egg custard tarts?
2. Peking International Airport is AMAZING. America, you’re being majorly outdone. Time to step it up.
3. Surefire way to look like a foreigner: Put on a seatbelt when you get in the taxi.
4. My spoken Chinese isn’t as bad as I thought it was …. maybe I will survive this summer ;)
5. Apparently my feet are mutantly large in this country, hmm.
On the agenda for tomorrow: Tiananmen Square, Gu Gong (Forbidden City), and Wangfujing (major shopping mecca)!
After a 14-hour plane ride from New York, I wandered clumsily through customs, pushed my way to baggage claim, and ended up in a sea of smiling Chinese families … but who was I looking for? The thing is, the plan is that I would stay with one of my cousins, “Xiao Xue,” who just got married last year. What’s the problem you might ask? Well, the last time we saw each other was AGES ago: I was two and she was eight - its not an exaggeration to say that we’ve changed a good bit since then.
So luckily for me (though it was kind of embarrassing) they had a huge sign with my name on it, as well as a “Welcome to China!” Anyways, crisis averted. I’m now happily typing away at their apartment in Beijing, surrounded by an adorable puppy named “Da Tou” (translates to “Big Head”), a moody but beautiful ivory kitten, two tiny box turtles, and two aquariums full of pet fish. Now before I get distracted, I’m going to take a quick second to throw out some first impressions:
1. Since when does KFC have egg custard tarts?
2. Peking International Airport is AMAZING. America, you’re being majorly outdone. Time to step it up.
3. Surefire way to look like a foreigner: Put on a seatbelt when you get in the taxi.
4. My spoken Chinese isn’t as bad as I thought it was …. maybe I will survive this summer ;)
5. Apparently my feet are mutantly large in this country, hmm.
On the agenda for tomorrow: Tiananmen Square, Gu Gong (Forbidden City), and Wangfujing (major shopping mecca)!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Leaving Tomorrow!!
Goodbye Virginia. HELLO CHINA.
... I hope they don't think I'm the rude Americanized cousin....
... I hope they don't think I'm the rude Americanized cousin....
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