Rodrigo Cortez

Before China

 

          Just days before going to China the emotions and feelings were indescribable. We already had some meetings to discuss what we should expect to see in China, but the anxiety to start the trip was wiping out our brains. Going for the first time in my life to Asia will open my mind about the eastern traditions. In addition, I think that going with a group and in a study abroad program was going to allow me to have a better understanding of Chinese culture, problems related to China, and Chinese architecture.

            China has a totally different culture if you compare it with western culture. The differences between them go from their food to their behaviors and relations. I expect to eat authentic Chinese food. I heard from people that went to China that ‘Chinese food’ in the US is not authentic Chinese food. It is a different version that satisfies American’s taste. In addition, I am very interested in having the experience of eating with chopsticks every single day. They use chopsticks instead of knives and forks, which I find really hard to do specially when you eat rice. Going to China will give me the opportunity to learn about the Chinese manners. I understand that Chinese has less physical interaction than western cultures. When I came to the US, I noticed that Americans did not have as much physical interaction as Latin people. Chinese culture has less physical interaction like Americans, so I want to see their behaviors in different occasions such as greetings.       

          One out of seven people on earth are from China. If someone wants to take an average person on earth, it should be a twenty-eight years old Chinese man. When my friends asked me what I am expecting from China, my first answer is overpopulation. China has a serious problems related to overpopulation; they are dealing with it in different ways such as the one-child-policy. Due to overpopulation, I expect to see very crowded public areas. I am very excited to take Beijing’s subway in a rush hour to experience it myself. I also think that because of the number of people living in Beijing, there should be a large number of buildings. I expect to see a lot of cranes in Beijing. I want to see how Chinese deal with the demand of new buildings and the technics that they use to build them. In my first trip to China, I also expect to see a well-known issue in China, pollution. I understand that there is a high level of air pollution in Chinese big cities. We are going to Beijing, a very polluted city; therefore I expect to see most of the people covering their mouths and noses with masks.

            The architecture in the East has its own style and history. I do not want to see only structures and buildings, but their background and history. China has well known buildings and sites that represent its culture worldwide such as the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, or the Forbidden City. These buildings were made in different dynasties to please the emperor or to show the world how big and strong China was. I really want to see them myself, so I can experience the greatness of China and the power of its old civilization. My favorite and probably most impressive touristic site in China is the Great Wall of China. After seeing the Great Wall, I expect to have a better understanding of how Chinese wanted to be seen. I heard that it is the only human made structure that could be seen from space, a fact I consider extraordinary. In addition to the Great Wall, there are two more impressive sites that we are going to visit: the Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City. Both sites have surprised the world because of their magnificence and devotedness to their emperor. I think that I will be surprised about the complexity of the Terracotta Warriors. It is very impressive just to hear about them. I believe that going to see them will let me understand the commitment and devotedness of Chinese people during the dynasty times. I think it is unbelievable how people could make every single warrior with such precision, unique facial expression, and color.

            Without question China will be an unforgettable experience for me. I hope it will open my mind to understand life from a different point of view. I am doing a China countdown to help me calm down my anxiety. I also started reading “China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power”; I personally think that it will give me an idea about China and how Chinese people see life. Santa Fe gives me this opportunity, and I want to take advantage of it.