In all honesty, right now I'm feeling pretty cynical. The day rushed by in a blur and I can't believe the speed at which we zoom through things. So here goes the day: woke at 6 30 to the subtle roar of the Beijing commute, scampered down to a unique breakfast: veal sausage, dried tofu strips & congee (also a kelp salad which was pretty good though the deep green strips were thicker than I expected); continued on to Tian An Men Square to be accosted by less-than-honest people (selling fans at 50 yuan a piece, or 8 USD for poor quality souvenirs), saw Mao still exalted on the famous gate and meandered into the fabulous Forbidden City. While inside, magnificent palaces with intricate blue, teal, and emerald designs across elegant pagoda roofs grace the eyes; and there are photo ops galore. We were even invited for a shot with the natives! The greatest disadvantage was background. A few exhibits were scattered throughout and I simply could not fathom their importance. For example, while brass statues of ancient deities, with impeccable detail are delightful, I lack the knowledge of what each god & goddess meant to the people. After encountering an alluring stone hill upon which the emperor's mistresses lived their lives, we headed out to lunch. This meal was the second to be served in a lazy-susan-buffet style. Vegan entrees included a cucumber-kelp concoction, fried eggplant, American fries with ketchup and a fourth utterly immemorial dish. As this was a tasting of China's bland fraction of their typically decadent munchies, a Luna Bar saved the day (and my stomach) once all restaurant staff were sufficiently out of sight and I was in the cushioned comfort of People to People's designated bus. Another slow-moving journey through Beijing's traffic left us at Beijing's culinary school for high school students (their official name has been omitted due to security and memory issues). Escorted by our amiable tour guide Jack, we were greeted indoors by a banner and message board welcoming our group to their school, a jaw-dropping awe-inspiring sweet gesture. Snapping a few photos as we strolled, we joined three women dressed in traditional Chinese blouses, shaded in pinks and greens; a tea connoisseur, who also appeared to be the fashion it-girl; and smart-looking management, who assumedly runs the school. Four teas were downed in twelve sips (traditionally in China, one drinks tea in 5 mL gulps as this was proven to be the way to obtain the most nutritional value from the tea), which was pleasantly interrupted with two graceful tea ceremonies performed by the students. Although I believe such ceremonies would be tedious in an everyday setting (as was likely only possible for emperors), the blatant elegance and masterful execution of this ancient tradition -tea culture goes back 5000 years!- is humbling, while provoking a certain little green monster in the mind. In order, our delegation was presented with Dragon Long (insert rest of name here) tea, which is the most popular in China and possesses a subtle flavor; followed by black tea, a crowd-pleaser among Americans, the strong tea was less bitter than I find similar types in America to be; oolong tea was next, a light tea I purchased and is the favorite tea of our tea connoisseur; last was jasmine, a flowery tea that frankly had a better scent than taste but was nonetheless quite tasty. Chef mania followed, and our group split into two (divided odds and evens), one learned the art of miniature dough roses, while mine rolled dumplings. While the miniscule task may be simple to the Chinese, I personally experienced difficulty gauging proper amounts of filling. The carnivores devoured their mid-afternoon snack and the bus departed for dinner. Upon arrival, Jack explained in detail the Chinese zodiac. Shockingly, he informed us that names are used more commonly in Chinese matchmaking than zodiac years, though both are used. Consuming a bit too many oil-soaked vegetables, we finished dinner and returned to the comfortable four-star Ariva hotel to have my patience tested by two of the slowest, yet most appreciated Macs computers I have ever been cursedly blessed to know. Here are some general cultural realizations:
Q: Do the Chinese have dogs?
A: Yes, indeed, they walk them along the sidewalks of Beijing.
Q: Do the Chinese own guns?
A: No, guns are illegal; even cops don't carry any, such weapons are locked away in their arsenal.
Q: Do the Chinese have parasols?
A: Yes! Including gorgeous umbrellas with embellishments that shimmer in the sun.
Biggest mistake: Clothing. Beijing's women are fashionable!
Funniest character: male vendor bouncing bouncy balls while singing "one dollar to one dollar"
Best experience: Tea time
Lots of love to home,
Sydney <3
