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Itinerary

Alma College

Student Reflections

Jeremy Benton:

After being in China for a little over one week I have begun to realize some cultural shocks. Probably the most interesting of these is the fashon in which they dine. when Chinese people eat they use a saucer for the dinner plate. To many Americans, including myself, this is extremely different. It has taken me many meals to become accustomed to this form of dining. As I look ahead to the following weeks I can only imagine what other shocks I have yet to experience.

On the 13th we all visited the mausoleum for Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. This memorial was located at the Purple Mountain in Eastern Nanjing. The memorial was composed of three buildings upon many stairs leading to the location of his tomb. The 392 stairs contained ten flights. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I could only see the stairs and not the flights. However, looking from the top, I could only see the flights. This was said to have symbolized Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's habit of never looking down upon anyone. Aimply visiting this location allowed me to realize this man's importance to the history of China.

Elke Betz:

China is nothing that I imagined. I came here expecting to see traditional architecture, men pulling carts, and small houses lining the roads. At least that is the picture painted to us in the United States. While the men ride bikes now, and the houses are still small I am surprised and excited to see that China has grown so much more than I thought. The cities we have already visited are very different, but one thing is for sure China is moving forward. The pace may be slow, but progress is being made. The skyscrapers of Shanghai are incredible. They are more beautiful and intricate than any I have seen in the US. The people here are poor, but to them that is just the way of life. To wash your clothes in a dirty polluted river in Suzhou is normal-it is just water. The people here are kind, they are excited to see us. The language barrier can make for a few awkward moments and their laughter can make us feel a little intimidated, but it is probably all in fun. I am glad to be in Nanjing now, the chance to sit back and take a break from all the traveling is nice. We can become familiar with the city and all that it has to offer. For me, I am so glad that I came here and have the opportunity to learn the realities of the very misguided picture I was painted of China.

We had another action packed day. The morning started out on a more somber note. We visited the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. From what I remember it was built not too many years ago. The stones represent the bones, grass represents life, and the pigeons represent peace. We walked throgh the memorial and saw lots of photos and memorabilia, but the real impact was the video. Seeing footage of the actual violent acts was unforgettable. The Rape of Nanjing was like a Chinese Holocaust. 300,000 people were murdered in just six weeks. The partially uncovered mass burial site gave me a chill and can serve as a constant reminder. I think it is a good thing for the Chinese to preserve this part of their history as painful as it may be.

Jon Davenport:

The differences that I have found between China and the United States are stunning. I knew there would be differences in food and culture but I never expected to find so many similarities and differences in the people. The people are always surprised to see a group of young Americans, but they have been very nice and try to work through the language barrier. Anywhere we go we become the center of attention especially in cities that have very little tourism. This means we are scrutinized by everyone, and we have to be careful not to offend people. Life here is similar for Chinese people as it is for Americans in basic ways. People here just tend to be more frugal with spending because there is not as much money. There are many changes happening in modern China with its new Capitalist ideas and its older socialist programs. There is increasing division of wealth within the country that will cause problems in the future. China is striving to make changes to better itself but it has a long road ahead.

Today in the free market at Confucius Temple in Nanjing we saw both old Chinese markets combined with the tourist industry. There was a massive variety of goods for sale, everything from trinkets, handicrafts and art to pets and bulk food. Both local Chinese and tourists use the market for shopping. The experience to bargain for the best price and the always smiling faces of the Chinese shopkeepers will always be in my memory of Nanjing.