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| Jonathan Michael University of Louisville |
By Jonathan Michael, Class of 2013
Boy, does time fly when you are having fun! I have always heard that expression, yet I don’t think I have ever experienced it as much as I have during our trip here to China. It feels like we arrived in the country yesterday, but by this time tomorrow I’ll be heading to the airport for my return home to Louisville.
Beijing has lived up to its hype, yet it is uncannily different than the other cities we have visited. Unlike Shanghai or Xi’an, there is a peculiar feeling in the air that you cannot shake off – and I’m not talking about the terrible pollution. It is much more evident here in the capital than any other city that we are in a country that is controlled in every aspect...
One thing that I would like to briefly address is the fast food industry here in China. Beijing, like several of the other cities we have visited, provides fast food services from all around the world, most notably, of course, from the United States. Yum! Brands, which is headquartered in Louisville, has a major presence not just in every city, but (it seems) in every corner of each street. KFC and Pizza Hut are among the important restaurants here in China and, the funny thing is, they are completely different than what we have at home. Walking into one of these restaurants seems like a terrible idea because we have them at home and shouldn't pass up the opportunity have genuine Chinese food; yet, when you walk into one, you can instantly tell that you are not in Louisville (or anywhere in America for that matter).
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| Pizza Hut in China is considered a high-class dining option with its array of silver and crystal bowls. |
Pizza Hut is the chain with the most radical differences. Unlike the ones at home, Pizza Hut is actually considered a high-class dining option. You are seated by a hostess, silver and crystal bowls are filled with fruit throughout the restaurant, and fancy chandeliers and decorations make the experience seem like you are going to pay $100 for a piece of pizza. When you see the menu, you are reminded that you are at Pizza Hut as all the traditional (American) pizza selections are offered here. A separate menu section offers traditional Chinese food options, freshly squeezed juice drinks, and even a dessert section. Employees wear formal attire to serve their customers. Like I said, not the typical Pizza Hut at home.
That is just one of many things that we have learned about this country. Even though our time is up here, we will be leaving with a different view than we came with – in all aspects imaginable. China is growing at a rapid pace and is on the road to become a stronger superpower than it is now. But as we have been learning about throughout the last five weeks, it is still a fragile superpower.
By the grace of God I have been given an opportunity of a lifetime. I am very thankful for everyone that I have met, everything I have learned and everything that I have seen and done here over the last five weeks. There is no way to thank the McConnell Center for incorporating such a trip into the scholarship program and for allowing us to expand our horizons.
Thanks for the memories, China. I will see everyone back in Louisville in a couple of days.
Jonathan Michael, from Louisville, Ky., is a senior McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville and is currently studying in the People's Republic of China. He is majoring in psychology (pre-med) with a political science minor.