- Smelled Cherry Blossoms in Japan
- Tried Japanese sushi
- Went to a traditional Tea Ceremony
- Ate raw Horse meat
- Watched a Kabuki play
- Learned to like white rice
- Came face to face with a sumo wrestler
- Wore a kimono
- Came face to face with an Amur Tiger
- Rode a bullet train
- Looked into an active volcano
- Sat in a hot spring
- Climbed Mt Fuji
- Went to a Japanese Hospital
- Had my palms read in china
- Laid out on the beach in Hong Kong
- Road a (Purple) Double Decker Bus
- Became a street performer
- Saw Giant Pandas at the only Panda Reserve in the world
- Danced at a preforming arts school in China
- Saw the biggest Buddha in the world
- Saw the terracotta soldiers
- Climbed the great wall
- Survived Beijing traffic
- Survived Beijing smog
- Learned to Barter (and kinda kicked ass)
- Time Traveled
- Snorkeling in Oahu
- Cut my knee on a coral reef
- Eaten Fresh Pineapple in Hawaii
- Went on a date in Waikiki
- Became a total beach bum
- Traveled for 24 hours strait
- Made friends with locals (Everywhere!)
- Traveled around the world in 80 days
Because of East Asia Term:
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TODAY’S THE DAY. The moment of truth is upon us and the question everybody is asking will be answered… Can I dance?
Yes. Barely… but yes I can. We were definitely the most American act, I must say, but I’m really impressed with so many of the other acts by the students at this school. There were dancers and singers and all kinds of other performers. There were acts that were in traditional Chinese form but other more western twists like a group who did a song from the Sound of music or even a girl who sang an Avril Lavigne Song! Classic angsty songs to girls EVERYWHERE! ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I have ever had on the trip happened today. Me and a very small handful of students got to go to a small village about 2 hours out of Wuhan. It was really eye opening. The village was small (and I mean SMALL) the total population, 20 people. Most of them family in one way or another. That’s another thing entirely that I learned; the Chinese know their family tree like nobody’s business. Its scary impressive how well they know that shit. Our tour guide was originally from this village and showed us his old house where members of his family still live today. He also showed us his mother’s house in another village and told us the story about how she and her mother built it with their own two hands. I really enjoyed seeing this part of life in Chinese culture because, although this trip is so well rounded and diverse, we do just mostly spend it in the major cities, which is so incredibly different than the lives of the people in the cities. It is true, that many people are trying to move out of the country and into a city either to find work or just to get away from farm life. It is mostly the younger generation that have this mentality but there are some older folks that just need the work. But still, there is a huge population that still lives in the conditions of a small town And as different as it was, I was really happy I got to see it the way I did. I don’t know if I described it well enough but even if I didn’t, I don’t really know if I ever can. I think it’s just one of those things people always told me about, that have changed me. Thank you so much four our tour guide for helping us and bringing us into his private world. By the way, did I mention that our guide’s name was Wu, Dr Wu. (That’s pronounced, “who”) But wait, There’s more! I don’t know if I have mentioned this yet but throughout this trip 2 of my fellow classmates I have been working on this dance…We are all in a dance group over on campus and there is an opportunity in a few days to perform in this talent show type thing. So we are. One person choreographed and the other two are trying to learn it. (namely, me) One of the hardest parts is trying to not only find time to practice, but a space. With cramped hotel rooms and quiet hallways taking up much of our live it doesn’t leave us with much. Here in Wuhan we have resorted to practicing in the park along the river walk along the hotel. It definitely makes us work hard NOT to mess up because not only is our ever critical choreographer watching, but also everyone who passes us in the park. I want to say we can gather up a crowd of 30 or so. It hasn’t occurred to us until now that we should have been leaving out a hat for money.. at least we could have strung ourselves a little CASH!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!! That’s right, I didn’t forget! And even though my internet connection is terrible here I will find a way to tell you!! And while my family parties it up back at home, I will be visiting a college campus today! It is called Normal University and it is a really really cool place. The campus is modern but has some really traditional features that makes it really different from anything we back home. I also made a new friend today. We got split up into groups of 3 and got a student to show us around. Our student was a girl named Anne and she is really nice and sweet. We talked about a lot. We also hung out with another girl who was also very nice but she talked more to the rest of our group. I really hope we stay in touch, I’d like a friend when I go back. (hint hint) I DON”T KNOW IF I SHOULD be feeling more than I am right now… but I’m not. We just had a factory tour and so many of my classmates had really strong reactions to it. They felt sad and mad about working conditions of these people in this local shoe factory. Honestly, I didn’t think it was that bad. The factory was clean, light, smelled fine (a little like old leather but hello, shoe factory) their pay didn’t seem that bad to me either. Yes, it was a lot less than anyone in America would make but the standard cost of living here really isn’t that high. A lot of kids also got super upset over the fact that these people get paid by the shoe, not hour. But that I thought was just dumb, a lot of jobs in America are paid by commission. I have almost always gotten paid by commission. Whatever, they snub my views but it didn’t stop a lot of them from buying shoes at the shop by the entrance. Hypocrites.
P.s. We also got to go to a Coca-Cola factory which was defiantly prepped and ready to give tours. CAN YOU SAY 5 STAR HOTEL BITCHES!!! Because I can! That’s where we are staying now that we are in the wonderful City of Wuhan. Today was a pretty stressful travel day for me (not really sure why) but it was really getting to me. Probably because of the OVERNIGHT TRAIN! Luckily I have one of the best roommates in the whole world who knew exactly how to calm me down… talk about photography and Mumford and Sons.
P.s. Wuhan is kind of really shady… at least in this area… the river walk is gorgeous though, especially at night. There are a lot of lights and pretty colors. So many people and a stage for performers. I like it a lot. |
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