China.

So... I'm in Xiamen, China.

And I'm enjoying my trip more and more with each passing day. I miss you all back at home, and look foward to seeing you when I get back, but I really am loving it here.

There's things that you can only learn by getting away: seeing and thinking about issues from an outsider's perspective allows you to become so much more aware of your own biases and inconsistancies in your thoughts, beliefs, and motives.

China is a perplexing place, And i won't understand it all by the time i get back. This was my goal before coming here for the semester: to see and understand this place that is becoming more and more involved in everyone's lives.

What is happening, however, is that i'm becoming more aware of the mystery and complexities that is China. In the same breath, i'm realizing issues that i never had before. I'm starting to develop a mindset that will hopefully shape my thoughts in a global perspective rather than an American or even Western one.

And this is my goal now. To begin to become aware. To realize that this step will last the remainder of my life. To allow Truth to transform me.

And i think i'm ready.

Quanzhou: Port of the World

This Shaolin temple was awesome to see! It is the home of Southern Shaolin KungFu, and taking pictures with this monk was pretty sweet...

This place had a remarkably different feel than that of Xiamen, even though the cities are only a two hour bus ride away from each other. In Xiamen, honking and motorcycles are not allowed, however, people seem to make up for it in Quanzhou. The frenzy and bustle of this place, though, is only just an echo to the port city that it once was: the greatest and most important on earth.

Whereas the silk road traveled through western China, across deserts with nomadic peoples, the maritime silk road began in Quanzhou. Because of the massive trade happening in this city, people from all over the world made Quanzhou home, bringing their lifestyles, customs, and religion with them. Quanzhou was the melting pot of the world in the early 1400s, having a population of over 1 million people. Meanwhile, Europe was relearning how to tie their shoes after recently emerging from the dark ages. Marco Polo allegedly came here during this time, journaling about things he saw. Polo referred to the city as "Zaytan," which is where we get the word "satin" from.

Zheng He, the legendary eunuch Chinese explorer/trader in the early 1400s sailed through this city, making stops at the many Islamic mosques before sailing on to Malaysia, India, the Middle East, and eventually down the coast of Africa. His fleet, often numbering over 60 ships and 25,000 men, traded for Persian spices and herbs used for Chinese Medicine and exotic animals like giraffes, exchanging them for silks and porcelain. The treasure fleet opened ports near Sumatra and gained nominal authority of "all under heaven" for the Dragon Throne of the Ming Emperor. This picture roughly shows the size of one of the main Treasure Fleet vessels. The other ship is Columbus' Santa Maria.

More Pictures! Yeah, I know...It's Been a While.

Matthew and I decided rent some bicycles last Saturday afternoon and try to explore the island. We figured out the price was 5 Yuan per hour, per bicycle, with a 200 Yuan deposit each. We started to ride down the island ring road, which follows the coast. We later decided that it would be good to turn around and go explore downtown for a bit. On our way there, the chain on my bicycle broke, debilitating the machine. We were close to the rental store and managed to walk the bike there. They fixed the chain, and we were on our way again. After exploring downtown for a few hours, during which we stumbled onto Sun Yat Sen Park...super cool, we realized that we were lost, it was getting dark, and we didn’t know when the rental shop closed. We needed to get a taxi. After no driver would take two people and both of their bicycles, we each got a cab. The driver was rather rough with my rental transportation, forcing it into the trunk. After we arrived and the taxi left, I noticed that the “derailer” of the chain had completely broken off of the frame and was dangling, helplessly.

I carried the bike to the store front, and, for the second time today, pointed at the mishap. He halfway concealed a concerned look, and began working on the bike. It took several minutes to fix, and I was sure they would not be as forgiving the second time around. The woman asked for 35 Yuan, and I began asking how much the repair fee would be. This took quite some time, and I began to get frustrated by the fact that she wasn’t even beginning to understand what I was asking her, even with my seemingly obvious hand motions. I eventually asked for a pen to attempt to write the price down. She brought back one and also their business card, circling the phone number. She wasn’t trying to charge me any more but was only eager to get our business again.

I was getting upset at my lack of being able to communicate such a simple topic, while I couldn’t understand what she was trying to convey either. It was such a surprise to not be charged extra for breaking their bike... twice. Also, they allowed me to wash my bike-greased hands in their personal bathroom, which was above and beyond what I expected from them. Even though I am a foreigner, who is often treater better than locals, I have been completely blown away by the hospitality of the people here. It has been very refreshing to begin to feel exposed to this culture. I think about my first China trip so often, and it was only for three weeks. I am positive that this semester will change my outlook on how i view other people as it already has. It is always a good thing to take a step back from things and put yourself in different and bending ways. These frustrating circumstances and ocurrances don't make you act a certain way, they just reveal what you really are like. Its uncomfortable to be confronted with buried aspects of yourself, but its good also.

Ni Hao Typhoon

So we're about to get demolished...
not really, but its really windy and we're supposed to get rain for the next few days. We were planning on going to the Buddhist temple near campus today, but it might have to wait.

Our lecture went really well this morning. Our professor was an older man that studied at Cornell and also was sent to the countryside during the cultural revolution. Very interesting to hear him talk-some guys and I are planning on eating lunch with him sometime to talk some more.

There's a restaurant on the second floor of our dorm AND THEY DELIVER, so right now we're waiting on our lunch.

For all those concerned, we're not drinking any milk and/or baby formula.

The history presentation I am going to give in a few weeks is about "When China Ruled the Seas." It follows the story of the explorere, Zheng He, and discusses his travels to Africa 80 years before De Gama. So that should be interesting.

Lunch is here. Hope you are doing well. I got some Skype money, so if you message me your phone number, I would like to call you.

-Park

Xiamen Daxue (Shah! Men? Dah shweigh)

The group made it to Xiamen on Saturday evening and started official class on Monday morning. Classes have been going well. Its interesting to listen to our teachers' accents; you can tell where they learned English : from either Australia, the UK, or from the states.

Our group is staying on the third floor of the international students dorm and from the top floor you can see almost the entire campus, which is really pretty and well kept.

We've been trying out the local restaurants around campus and have found some good ones nearby. My favorite thing to get currently is Ji Rou Jaozi (chicken dumplings).

Its been good to finally be able to settle in: buying some much needed groceries like coffee, tea(xiamen is a famous exporter of tea) anime coffee mugs, and some asianish wall posters.

We had the first English corner last night. They're kind of awkward and I was apprehensive about going, but after getting swarmed as soon as we got there, the whole thing was pretty enjoyable and 2 hours went by without me realizing it. Some people and I are planning on talking more on Friday when the next corner is.

We found the underground pirated DVD market today; it was awesome. We walked down this back alleyway where there was an unmarked door. Inside were two completely filled rooms, one of which the ceiling was so short i couldn't stand all the way up. I wanted to take some covert pictures and videos, but couldn't. I will the next time I go, which will be soon.

I'm taking pictures of the campus and around the area. I will upload them soon.

Zaijian,

-park