Visiting a Local University
Today I visited Hunan Agricultural University. I was picked up by an English teacher that I met at the welcome party. The welcome party was very sweet. However, it mostly consisted of me nodding and smiling at my guests who only spoke Chinese and eating a lot of interesting foods that they offered and expected me to eat. Even though I am a huge fan of Chinese food and drink, I am not the biggest fan of their sweets, at least not yet. Anyways, it was very embarrassing at first when this teacher picked me us because I thought this girl was a student until we got into the class! The classroom was large, but not as huge as I imagined it would be. The students seemed very similar to those in my classes, many came in late and many seemed very absent minded. The teacher wanted me to just speak to the students, saying I could ask and answer any question I want too. The students asked me questions about myself, my family, the culture in America. They all seemed very interested to hear everything I had to say, even though the teacher had to translate for most of the students to understand. One of the most surprising things I heard was that in China parents pick their child’s major. They were all shocked when I told them I decided for myself and that my parents are happy with whatever I choose. Afterward many students flocked around me; I am the only American any of them had ever spoken too.
We then went to a market for some brunch. They offered me noodles with veggies and sauce, and also bubble tea from a place much like the Tea Garden back home. It was delicious, even though the food was quite spicy. Everyone laughed when I said it was spicy because my noodles did not even have the chili powder in it like theirs did. Thank goodness because even so my eyes were watering. It has been raining here for the past 24 hours. The rainy day makes the water and the plants look even more vibrant against the dark gray sky. I will be sure to post some pictures in the near future. Later today I am going play ping pong and pool with some of the students I met in the English class. I am very excited to be meeting new people, even though I cannot pronounce or remember any of their names. I hope I will get the hang of it soon!
Every Day Chinese Traditions
Yesterday had even more in store for me. Four students and Lan (the English teacher) came by to visit me. I was surprised to find that they were all much easier to understand then anyone I had talked to in the past couple days. It was refreshing to be around people closer to my age. After three epic ping pong tournaments I was exhausted but very happy because I won two, a personal best. After I ate dinner which consisted of rice, chicken and vegetables I started up to my room to lie down. On my way up the stair a girl who looked about my age introduced herself as Jane. She told me that she wants to apply to go to college in America and needs to practice her English in order to pass the test. She then asked me if I want to be her friend, and if I would like to go with her and her family to get massages. I agreed so she grabbed my hand and started walking down the stair, I soon found that she meant at that moment. She had already called my supervisor and everything! Anyways, it was my first massage. It was a very nice place and very relaxing. Jane told me that they went to this place all the time, just to relax. They would not let me pay, but I don’t think I want to know how much this massage cost them.
Not letting me pay has become a common theme here. No matter how much I offer and try to convince they do not budge. Today I went with one of the graduate students to make a traditional Chinese meal. We went to the market which had a lot of different foods than in America. The atmosphere was bustling and rather pushy but the food all looked delicious and fresh to me. All except for the live frogs, snakes and piles of pig fat. The grad student and her three roommates all pitched in to help prepare the meal. It was very good, even though it was quite spicy. These four students were all very nice even though we could not understand each other very well. I lost track of the amount of times they told me that I need to learn Chinese, and quick! I do not think they realize how hard this language is for me to learn, all the words mesh together into a big sticky blob and I seem to forget words as soon as I finish saying them. I am going to start spending my nights practicing, but I am very overwhelmed because thus far I know only two words, hello and thank you. I am not off to a very good start. Language barrier aside there is really only one other small problem I am having. I have mosquito bites from head to toe. Every single night I lay awake trying, and failing to resist the urge to scratch them. I guess it’s the price to pay for such beautiful weather all year round. Even so, when I apply 20 squirt of bug spray every day, I did have hopes for a little bit better results. Still the sun is shining. And tomorrow I get to go shopping which I am really looking forward too. So, all is well.
Not letting me pay has become a common theme here. No matter how much I offer and try to convince they do not budge. Today I went with one of the graduate students to make a traditional Chinese meal. We went to the market which had a lot of different foods than in America. The atmosphere was bustling and rather pushy but the food all looked delicious and fresh to me. All except for the live frogs, snakes and piles of pig fat. The grad student and her three roommates all pitched in to help prepare the meal. It was very good, even though it was quite spicy. These four students were all very nice even though we could not understand each other very well. I lost track of the amount of times they told me that I need to learn Chinese, and quick! I do not think they realize how hard this language is for me to learn, all the words mesh together into a big sticky blob and I seem to forget words as soon as I finish saying them. I am going to start spending my nights practicing, but I am very overwhelmed because thus far I know only two words, hello and thank you. I am not off to a very good start. Language barrier aside there is really only one other small problem I am having. I have mosquito bites from head to toe. Every single night I lay awake trying, and failing to resist the urge to scratch them. I guess it’s the price to pay for such beautiful weather all year round. Even so, when I apply 20 squirt of bug spray every day, I did have hopes for a little bit better results. Still the sun is shining. And tomorrow I get to go shopping which I am really looking forward too. So, all is well.
Life at "The Center"
Here at the center a large amount of the people are from Africa. I love this because they all speak very good English. I am the only Caucasian person here, and also one of few females in the program. Needless to say I stand out quite a bit. The people here are very friendly and welcoming; they ask so many questions and are very caring towards me, making sure that I am doing alright. It came as a surprise to me when I got a knock on my door today. I was not expecting anyone for another half an hour and when I opened my door someone I had been eating dinner at the same table with for the last few days was standing there. His name is Joseph and he is from Liberia. He told me he heard me singing, and despite my embarrassment he continued. He asked me if I am a Christian, I said yes and he told me he is too. I did not know this but there are several Christians at the center, we are starting morning devotion from 6:30 to 7 every weekday. This is a very painful time of day for me because not a single molecule of me is a morning person. However, I think it will be well worth it to as a great opportunity to meet and have fellowship with some people from the center. I am very much looking forward to it, despite the amount of sleep deprivation it will cause.
Enjoying Entertainment of All Types
A few days have passed. It is now Saturday, but even so I did not get to sleep in. Not so luckily for me the person who is in charge of morning devotion comes and knocks on my door every single morning. It is my habit to wake up five minutes before things start, slap on some clothes than rush down the stairs. Joseph does not understand this at all, he woke me up with his knocking at six o’clock, then again at ten after six. The food here is just getting better and better. There is a lot more variety available the past few days. Yesterday I got to enjoy another delicious new fruit and chicken feet (nails and all). No one else at the center seems too impressed by them which is fine, it just means more for me.
Two days ago I got to meet Yuan Long Ping, the celebrity of this center. Everyone in all of China knows his name, because he is the “Father of Hybrid Rice”. This man has saved millions of lives because of his work in increasing the yields of rice through cross breeding and other methods. He is a very old, nice, active man who enjoys swimming and volleyball. After meeting me he invited me to join in playing volleyball, he said they meet every day at 6 pm. People of all skill levels and ages can play this game together. It is a lot of fun, great exercise and very competitive at times. Everyone was very willing to let me play. I actually did quite well. However, I am over a foot taller than most of the people playing which gave am a huge edge. I also learned how to play batmitten (not sure how to spell it) but this is another very popular sport at the center.
Many people at the center are very athletic, no matter what age they are. This is one thing lacking in the US, many older people will no longer join in the games but here they play more than young people do. This makes it very hard for me to tell how old people are. I do not feel too bad though because many people here have problems figuring out my age and where I come from as well. actually I have been asked if am from Russia at least six times, and people have guessed that I am anywhere between 25 and 18 years old.
Two days ago I got to meet Yuan Long Ping, the celebrity of this center. Everyone in all of China knows his name, because he is the “Father of Hybrid Rice”. This man has saved millions of lives because of his work in increasing the yields of rice through cross breeding and other methods. He is a very old, nice, active man who enjoys swimming and volleyball. After meeting me he invited me to join in playing volleyball, he said they meet every day at 6 pm. People of all skill levels and ages can play this game together. It is a lot of fun, great exercise and very competitive at times. Everyone was very willing to let me play. I actually did quite well. However, I am over a foot taller than most of the people playing which gave am a huge edge. I also learned how to play batmitten (not sure how to spell it) but this is another very popular sport at the center.
Many people at the center are very athletic, no matter what age they are. This is one thing lacking in the US, many older people will no longer join in the games but here they play more than young people do. This makes it very hard for me to tell how old people are. I do not feel too bad though because many people here have problems figuring out my age and where I come from as well. actually I have been asked if am from Russia at least six times, and people have guessed that I am anywhere between 25 and 18 years old.
Today is Sunday, when I woke up in the morning there was a man outside doing a type of martial art with a sword. He could not speak much English but he told us using hand signals that he would teach us the moves tomorrow at 7, which is right before breakfast. I am very excited to try, even though martial art is not a strong point of mine.
Today at two Lan and some of her students came to pick me up to bring me to karaoke. Though they had almost no songs I knew it was a really good time. I wish that karaoke was as popular where I live! Tonight I went to the University to watch an English competition! Groups of students from many different classes acted out different American films. It was so fun to watch, I applaud them for being so good at speaking. I have been really trying to catch on to some Mandarin, I am slowing picking up a few words, but I am still struggling with the very basics. When I arrived (late because I had to eat before hand), they announced my arrival in front of the entire gathering. Then Lan asked me to speak after they had all finished their performances, I just briefly congratulated them on their hard work and encouraged them to continue studying English. However from the amount of applause, you would think I gave an inspirational speech! That is the Chinese way, everyone is so encouraging, which is the only reason I agreed to go up in front in the first place. After the competition we went to a photo booth that was much bigger an with many more options than I had ever seen before. It was a great time. Some things do not need to be communicated, such as the humor involved with photo booths. Tomorrow I start my work in the lab. I cannot wait to get started!
