Very fitting for those away from home...
九月九日忆山东兄弟
（唐） 王维
独在异乡为异客，
每逢佳节倍思亲。
遥知兄弟登高处，
遍插茱萸少一人。
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
水长城 (Water Great Wall)
Today, my friend Jason Field (another ACC student who stayed in Beijing post the program) and I took a trip out of Beijing to the Water Great Wall! It took us about 3 hrs to get there and another 3 hrs to get back, but it was well worth it! Jason and I often joke around and say that we're like the same person. He's currently doing research with a PKU professor on HIV and AIDS in China (having to do more with the social side of the issue) while I'm doing environmental stuff also at PKU. We have a lot in common (interest in social work, China, preferences and humor)and it's so great to have someone to bounce ideas off. We also share shamelessly a love of pop music (especially divas like Brittany Spears, Christina Aguilera, Fergie, and etc). He introduced me to various gay pride activities in Beijing while I'm going to take him with me to help out at the organic co-op at Xiangshan. :D
In the next week or so, I plan on moving to a location closer to him and other friends coming in from Yale on the eastern side of town.
The dam that greeted us as we entered into the area. It was actually a very lovely piece of architecture and you could cross it either on top or through a tunnel at the bottom, behind the water.
From behind the dam
How it got its name--Water Great Wall. It has numerous parts that break up into segments near the water, giving the illusion that parts of the Great Wall continue underwater.
A man helping his girlfriend get down from the top of one of the towers. What a strong man!
Us being all awesome in the tower
We weren't really suppose to be at parts of this section...you can see that the path wasn't always very clear...不用担心妈妈, I know, 探险不要冒险！
Me! (and a very long and steep portion of the wall)
In the next week or so, I plan on moving to a location closer to him and other friends coming in from Yale on the eastern side of town.
The dam that greeted us as we entered into the area. It was actually a very lovely piece of architecture and you could cross it either on top or through a tunnel at the bottom, behind the water.
From behind the dam
How it got its name--Water Great Wall. It has numerous parts that break up into segments near the water, giving the illusion that parts of the Great Wall continue underwater.
A man helping his girlfriend get down from the top of one of the towers. What a strong man!
Us being all awesome in the tower
We weren't really suppose to be at parts of this section...you can see that the path wasn't always very clear...不用担心妈妈, I know, 探险不要冒险！
Me! (and a very long and steep portion of the wall)
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Another crazy Saturday
Today, I went to the Bejing Botanic Garden...sounds pretty safe right? Wrong? It was the recipe for another ridiculous/weird/FUN! encounter!
I'll explain with the subsequent pictures...
Welcome to Beijing Botanic Gardens--which like all Beijing parks once again remind you that yes, it is the year of the rabbit! Happy Zodiac Year, mom!
Found guy making cool things out of bamboo. Bought myself a cool Praying Mantis (we're just kindred spirits, really).
my pretty praying mantis
I start posing with my new "pet", making everyone jealous
Then some girls dressed in traditional Han costumes (fashionable from like 1000 years ago--it's the equivalent of finding people in Victorian dresses strolling through Central Park.) invited me to their tea ceremony. So of course, I acquiesced (don't worry mom, I started talking to them first). One of the people in the group also played a flute like instrument called the "xiao". One of the xiao was handed down to him from his grandfather and dated back a hundred years ago to the Qing Dynasty.
When I asked them about their backgrounds, it turned out that 3 of the girls were also in college. They had met through an online forum. The lady in the blue organized this event and is a devout Buddhist(interesting fact, Beijing has a lot of Buddhists and Christians). From what I gathered, her full occupation seems to be the promotion of traditional Chinese culture from traditions to costume. She regularly organizes tea ceremonies (and a lot of them, like this one are free. Other are just based on donations. The costumes these girls wore were all free and borrowed by her from one of her friends in the area) Another one of her friends (I'm assuming this is some larger Buddhist network) also donated to her a plot of land on 香山, which she has promised to turn into an organic community garden. She invited me to their work day tomorrow, but I declined because I'll be climbing the Great Wall. But I'm pretty excited to check out their other events (Don't worry parents, I'm being cautious with strangers).
We go on a walk!
Me trying my best to look elegant and demure, but it doesn't come too naturally to me...
Adios wonderful day!
I'll explain with the subsequent pictures...
Welcome to Beijing Botanic Gardens--which like all Beijing parks once again remind you that yes, it is the year of the rabbit! Happy Zodiac Year, mom!
Found guy making cool things out of bamboo. Bought myself a cool Praying Mantis (we're just kindred spirits, really).
my pretty praying mantis
I start posing with my new "pet", making everyone jealous
Then some girls dressed in traditional Han costumes (fashionable from like 1000 years ago--it's the equivalent of finding people in Victorian dresses strolling through Central Park.) invited me to their tea ceremony. So of course, I acquiesced (don't worry mom, I started talking to them first). One of the people in the group also played a flute like instrument called the "xiao". One of the xiao was handed down to him from his grandfather and dated back a hundred years ago to the Qing Dynasty.
When I asked them about their backgrounds, it turned out that 3 of the girls were also in college. They had met through an online forum. The lady in the blue organized this event and is a devout Buddhist(interesting fact, Beijing has a lot of Buddhists and Christians). From what I gathered, her full occupation seems to be the promotion of traditional Chinese culture from traditions to costume. She regularly organizes tea ceremonies (and a lot of them, like this one are free. Other are just based on donations. The costumes these girls wore were all free and borrowed by her from one of her friends in the area) Another one of her friends (I'm assuming this is some larger Buddhist network) also donated to her a plot of land on 香山, which she has promised to turn into an organic community garden. She invited me to their work day tomorrow, but I declined because I'll be climbing the Great Wall. But I'm pretty excited to check out their other events (Don't worry parents, I'm being cautious with strangers).
We go on a walk!
Me trying my best to look elegant and demure, but it doesn't come too naturally to me...
Adios wonderful day!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Thinking about the future...
Tonight I watched the movie "The Social Network" (yes, I might be a bit tardy in jumping on this bandwagon), which interestingly enough got me thinking about what I wanted to do post-graduation. I have a few plans drawn out, but for the most part, they resemble my arrangement of potential summer plans. It goes something like: I don't necessarily know what I want to do, everything sounds pretty good, but nothing ultimately stands out. But, that's not how I want to approach my future career. In this regard, I really envy my good friend from junior high, Erika(shout out ;)) who is currently double majoring at MIT. While she would probably disagree with me (after all, no one our age has everything figured out), I feel like she, who has always had a passion for math and engineering, has a clearer idea of the kind of work she wants to pursue. At the very least, it will be science-y and something related to engineering/computer science. I also at times envy my pre-med and investment banking friends, who are on a course as set as graduating from high school and eventual matriculatoin into college.
On the other hand, I have a handful of special skills that I know are unique, but I'm not sure how to market. I think my biggest fear is that I know that I won't be unemployed, and so I don't worry about not finding A job, I worry about not finding the RIGHT job, or a job that makes me happy. I know that I can make a lot of money if I wanted to, but my character won't allow it. It's been too brainwashed by Californian hippie doctrine to let me sell my soul to an economics major and a summer internship in private equity. Sometimes, I wish I could reverse this brainwashing. At least then, I might have devoted myself to a clearer pursuit.
My biggest dilemma is that I know that I can do something great (haha, perhaps my problem is high self esteem?), but I'm afraid of falling short of my full potential. I'm also afraid that even though I am in a position to CHOOSE my path, I might choose one that does not make me happy. It's like our summer internships. I KNOW that I will eventually land one--but whether or not I will like it is another story. What if, it is like my internship at REC, which I thought was perfect for me, but ultimately ended up falling short of my expectations?
After watching The Social Network, I had an epiphany. I want to be an entrepreneur and I want to start my own business! When people ask me what I want to do in the future, my answer (even though I pretend it's a joke) is that if I could have everything my way, I would be an inventor. In my ideal, I would invent something simple yet wonderful(!) that while benefiting the world in some way also at the same time generates enough royalties for me to live comfortably forever. Preferably, there will be enough cash for me to start my own foundation/grant the rewards kids for public service and sustainable entrepreneurship.
To invent the perfect invention might be a little bit difficult, but there is nothing wrong with inventing my own "company". I'm a smart kid, I've got some ideas, and I think that if I really cared to pour my heart into something, I can make it work, EVEN if it is through pure determination. Hey, is that my traditional Chinese education kicking in-- 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针?
I just need to settle on an idea...
On the other hand, I have a handful of special skills that I know are unique, but I'm not sure how to market. I think my biggest fear is that I know that I won't be unemployed, and so I don't worry about not finding A job, I worry about not finding the RIGHT job, or a job that makes me happy. I know that I can make a lot of money if I wanted to, but my character won't allow it. It's been too brainwashed by Californian hippie doctrine to let me sell my soul to an economics major and a summer internship in private equity. Sometimes, I wish I could reverse this brainwashing. At least then, I might have devoted myself to a clearer pursuit.
My biggest dilemma is that I know that I can do something great (haha, perhaps my problem is high self esteem?), but I'm afraid of falling short of my full potential. I'm also afraid that even though I am in a position to CHOOSE my path, I might choose one that does not make me happy. It's like our summer internships. I KNOW that I will eventually land one--but whether or not I will like it is another story. What if, it is like my internship at REC, which I thought was perfect for me, but ultimately ended up falling short of my expectations?
After watching The Social Network, I had an epiphany. I want to be an entrepreneur and I want to start my own business! When people ask me what I want to do in the future, my answer (even though I pretend it's a joke) is that if I could have everything my way, I would be an inventor. In my ideal, I would invent something simple yet wonderful(!) that while benefiting the world in some way also at the same time generates enough royalties for me to live comfortably forever. Preferably, there will be enough cash for me to start my own foundation/grant the rewards kids for public service and sustainable entrepreneurship.
To invent the perfect invention might be a little bit difficult, but there is nothing wrong with inventing my own "company". I'm a smart kid, I've got some ideas, and I think that if I really cared to pour my heart into something, I can make it work, EVEN if it is through pure determination. Hey, is that my traditional Chinese education kicking in-- 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针?
I just need to settle on an idea...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Touring Beijing with Mohan
Tiananmen week 2! This time with real friends, lol
Mohan with guard on one side and Mao on the other
epic LED screen showing epic movies at Tiananmen Square
Revisiting the old guy once again :D
MOST fascinating part of the day! See all of these middle age folks? Guess what they are doing. I bet you'll never guess. They are advertising their kids for marriage! It's kind of like the morning market, except everyone has a piece of paper with them with their son/daughter's gender, age, qualifications, and descriptions of what they are looking for in their future spouse. It's like match dot com, but with your parents! Once you get over the initial shock of it all, it really makes a lot of sense. In China, I would argue, having your family like the person that you're going to marry (and having your two sides of the family like each other) is probably as important as you liking that person. So instead of having to introduce whoever to your parents, your parents introduce them to you--it's just a reversal of usual procedures, but ultimately the same end I think. Because I was with Mohan (aka Marianne), some people approached us asking us if she was interested in finding a Chinese husband...to which we responded with firm no's and hurriedly walked away.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
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