Making the Most of this Trip

Since this trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I really want to make the most of this experience. The way to do this is to step outside of my comfort zone and really try to experience the culture first hand, not just by listening to the tour guide. I know that we will separate off into smaller groups so as to get a more personal experience, but it is truly up to me to decide if I have that experience or not. If I wanted to cheat myself of this experience, I would cling to the group, talk to my American friends, and avoid all unnecessary contact with people outside of my group. Well, I don’t want to cheat myself out of this experience and so I will be talking and interacting with those around me despite the language barrier. To learn more facts about the culture I should stay focused during tours. I will also attempt to connect with Chinese people to understand not only the facts but also the opinions and views of these people.
What I do during the tour is just as important as how I prepare for the tour, so I am going to learn as much about their culture as I can here so I will already be somewhat comprehensive about what we will be seeing in China. I should also try to learn as much as I can about their language, which may be severely lacking but will still probably aid me in some way on the trip.

Once In a Lifetime...

All I can say is, wow. Honestly, I am still in shock about being able to participate in this opportunity. I almost did not go for the obvious financial reasons and quarreling parents, but the one thing that kept me from giving up and forgetting the matter were these words: a once in a lifetime experience. That is truly what this trip means to me. Traveling to a place so different from your own surroundings will sweep away any preconceived notions and assumptions about the world. I have always wanted to see things for what they truly are, see past whatever people tell you and find truth. That’s why I am so interested in other cultures. I want to see how others live, what their perception is in order to form my own views. The only way to truly experience these cultures is to get absolutely immersed; trust me, this is no job for a textbook. And how many more opportunities will I have for an experience like this? I will never be able to have an experience exactly like this one ever again. Not only that, but I also love learning different languages. I am taking Spanish at the moment and I am going to take French and possibly Mandarin next year as well. A study abroad also stands out on a college application, which was the main selling point for my parents.

What I am most looking forward to on this trip is the Terracotta Warriors. We touched briefly on them in World History but they absolutely fascinate me. What really intrigued me was how much time and effort was put into making each of the warrior’s faces unique and original. To me the whole story sounds like something from a book instead of true history. I mean, who really finds a giant cavern full of masterpieces when digging a well??! What I most fear about the trip would be the drinking water. I heard that it could get you very sick because of sanitation or different bacteria that we don’t have immunities against. I would really hate to be in China but too sick to enjoy it!

I hope to discuss not only the cultural aspect of China, but their political state too. I understand the differences between our two countries, but have never been able to truly know what effect that has on the people. Is their living really that horrible? Or is that just propaganda from the U.S.? I want to see the situation from their point of view before making any assumptions.