My week off from school has gone by too quickly--as they always do. The trip to China was terrific. I was so surprized about China. It was not what I expected. It's modern, capitalistic, and much freer than I thought it would be. The people were friendly for the most part. They are very different from the Koreans. They don't mind the sun. Koreans are the yuppies and Chinese the blue collar workers. I'm sure that's way too simplistic, but Koreans do love their fashion and big cars. Both live in modest homes. The Koreans keep their traditions of no shoes in the home, sleeping and eating on the floor at low tables--the men in both countries smoke and drink alot. I felt more at home in China. I don't know why. It was easy to get around. Names of businesses were in English as well as Chinese. We found Bibles at the bookstore and a fully operating Catholic Church. A bride and groom were having pictures taken out front. What's wrong with this scene?? I had a whole different picture in my mind. However, Facebook and some news items were blocked on the internet.
I saw the most magnificant palaces, temples and architectual feats--The Great Wall was "fantastique" as discribed by a Frenchman coming off the wall. We also saw the jade factory, the silk factory, the pearl factory, a Chinese doctor who prescribed herbs for our ailments and visited the inside of a Chinese home in a hutong in old Beijing. Oh yes, and the pandas in the zoo!!
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