.png)
 |
| Jonathan Michael University of Louisville |
Greetings from Xi’an! It is hard to believe that three weeks of our trip to China have already flown by; we are discovering and learning new things about the country every day. The magnitude of this experience is becoming more visible as we continue on our journey, whether it is evidenced in the culture, language, or the traditions and viewpoints of the students with whom we interact.
We have spent the majority of the last three weeks in Shanghai, which is generally referred to as the “New York of China.” I have not been to New York myself, but, with the amazing number of malls, skyscrapers, restaurants, vehicles and universities, I would assume that the two cities are very similar. One thing to note about the features mentioned above is that they are not concentrated in downtown but blend into almost every corner of the city. Even though Shanghai is a buzzing metropolis full of every modern aspect of city life, it is surrounded with the history that has carried this nation throughout the years. As many students and professors have constantly reminded us, China is not just “any” nation – it has over 5,000 years’ worth of history and tradition, which shadows even the strongest of countries such as the United States with its seemingly tiny 236-year history.
The biggest adjustment so far has been eating with chopsticks and getting used to the food in China. After a week of practicing with chopsticks, we are slowly becoming professionals! Every day we find a new dish try, which inevitably presents a new challenge to try to eat. (We thought we had tried most Chinese foods two weeks into the trip!) So far the class’s favorite dish is dumplings from the northeast part of the country; they are superb!
Xi’an is much smaller than Shanghai yet does not disappoint in terms of places to see, people to meet and things to do. The most important part of Xi’an is the site of the Terracotta Warriors. This magnificent wonder was found by farmers digging for a well in March of 1974. The warriors were built for the burial site of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, in the 3rd century B.C. Over 2,000 warriors, chariots, horses, and other life size sculptures have been discovered and there are thousands more that yet to be unearthed. Even though our time is short here in Xi’an the city has added a new appreciation for Chinese history and culture.
Talk to you again in Beijing!
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 minor in political science.
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 minor in political science.