The last blog about China! I guess it
means I must finally move onto another topic. Luckily I have some fun blogs
about interviewing, traveling to L.A. this semester, vacationing in Costa Rica,
and getting ready for Brazil! Fun times. Anyways, China, I loved you!
Tianjin Week #6
This was our final week in China so we had to take final examinations. They ended up not being very hard and I got A’s in all my courses (yah!). I was also getting sick from my lack of sleep/continual partying in Sanya so I slept quite a bit on Monday and Tuesday. Thursday was my last day of classes so things got real wild from that point on. Then on Saturday I took the train to Beijing and flew out Sunday morning. Here are some interesting points though:
I worked out in China as many weeks as I was there. For me this is a really small amount of time, but it was also difficult to get into a gym. What was cool in Tianjin was that we met a guy who loved America. Loved it! And he worked at a gym so he would take us there occasionally to work out. In the last week I was able to hit the gym three times and I think it definitely helped me not get too sick.
We all knew we were leaving China soon so everything became, “we have to go buy this… it will be our last chance!” This meant we did a lot of things that I had done earlier, but with some finality in it. We did get to go to one last karaoke bar. This was really awesome. All American songs and everyone was having a good time. Eventually those of us who knew how to party made our way to a club, but everyone else went back. Twas a good night!
Beijing, Tokyo, Chicago, and
Toledo???
Saturday I took the train to Beijing. I went with my two of my friends. Knowing it was my Birthday on Sunday I really wanted to have my first legal (for U.S. standards) drink in my favorite Australian Bar in Beijing – Ned’s. I was given a house beer – Vb – and then had a Jack Daniel’s and Coke. What’s surprising is that I didn’t drink anything besides that. I guess I figured that I really had my twenty-first birthday three months early when I stepped off the plane in China. What I did do was stay up all night with my friend walking around Beijing so I could get my sleep schedule on track for the time change. This was definitely challenging without alcohol but we succeeded.
I got on a plane Sunday morning and flew to Tokyo. I then had a 23-hour layover in Tokyo so the travel agency got me a hotel room. I walked into the room at 2 PM (Tokyo time), laid down, and slept until 5 AM the next morning. Yes, I realized that this means 14 hours of my 21st birthday were spent sleeping. It was still a pretty interesting birthday though. I woke up was when an earthquake hit Tokyo and my hotel was literally swaying back and forth. Luckily, nothing broke.
Monday morning I flew to Chicago. Because I slept fourteen hours the night before I didn’t sleep on the plane at all. This was a problem because I watched “17 Again” twice, and that movie does not deserve being watched once. Also, just to keep timing straight, I flew out of Tokyo at 11 AM Tokyo time (10 PM Sunday night E.S.T.) and arrived in Chicago at 9 AM Chicago time. I then had another small layover and we flew towards Cleveland.
Well, a flash flood hit Cleveland and we had to divert… to Toledo. It was horrible. After fourteen hours on a plane the only thing I didn’t want to do was circle for an hour, sit at an airport, and wait to get back. But eventually the storm passed and we made it back safe and sound. I then met mom at the airport and went home.
In my final comments on China I would have to say two things: first, study abroad and get out of your comfort zone. This is one of the most important things in my entire life. I know a lot of people go to Western Europe here at Miami and, although that is studying abroad, I don’t think it gets you out of your shell. You know you are fully immersed in a life changing experience when you are finding you way in a foreign place, a foreign language, and no one speaks your native language at all. It makes on edge, nervous, and more alert than you have ever been in your life. It’s a rush like getting a tattoo or winning a championship.
The second comment I would say about China is to watch out. I know it has been said again and again, but China is the country of tomorrow. They are dedicated, focused, ascetic, and intelligent. In an age where information is the most important commodity offered, China is slowly developing one of the largest supplies in the world. At the same time I am also pretty sure that the moment we all realize China has become a tour de force, America will also realize it cannot “speak softly and carry a big stick” because will no longer have that big stick. China will. And that might be the biggest culture shock America has ever seen; I hope it doesn’t start a war.
Well that’s all for now, I have finals starting somewhat soon so I may post one more blog before then, but probably not. For now, Zaijian and ate logo!
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