Hello all you wonderful people! For those in college, how is your summer going? For those in lower grades, "Ha-ha! Losers!" For those who have jobs and lack the leisure-time to sit down and write blogs, what are you doing? Shouldn't you be working?
In a little over a week, I will be leaving for DC, then Beijing, China to begin my study abroad adventure. My initial excitement is tempering into a calm anticipation of sorts as the weeks pass and my departure crawls near. This dampening is not due to aversion to culture shock, the inevitable numerous mis-communications ahead, nor impending traveler's runs. No, what I dread most is the 14-hour flight--not because I dislike long flights in any particular way or fashion, but rather, am wary of being sardine-packed into a cylindrical, metal tube hurdling through the sky at velocities and heights that laugh in the face of practical thought over a distance that is very much unimaginable. Also, I might have been lying about disliking long flights.
Seriously, though, they kind of suck.
You're cramped, there's literally no comfortable position to be found (at least in economy), the food is horrifying, you are at risk for deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to top it all off, you are constantly getting nuked by cosmic rays.
**On that note, my physics professor this past semester at WVU enlightened me to some interesting research on how jet lag is caused (or at least made worse) by an induced electro-magnetic field created when our bodies interact with the natural magnetic field of the earth. That feeling often described as "'I want to die'-ness" is basically the result of the polarity of the molecules in our bodies getting jumbled-around like a Nokia cellphone in a blender (my bet on the Nokia phone to win).
The trials of airplanes aside, I'm pretty freaking pumped. I can't speak for anyone else, but when I'm embarking on some big, new endeavor, I can't help but try to absorb as much information as possible. I've been reading and re-reading the student handbook and doing personal research, and have found some interesting things. Here's a list:
...So that's that. I get to study a language that I'm totally digging at this point in my life in a completely immersed environment. And while there, I can expect to dodge, not only cars, but renegade loogies as well. All while being aware of this "sexual activity" I've heard so much about. If I could take a bunch of people with me, I would. Sounds like a regular gas.
One last thing. I'll be living at a home-stay during most of my time in Beijing. I'm supposed to buy some gifts for the family members who are so graciously affording me housing and meals. The gifts should obviously not be things easily-obtained in China (we all know the immediate difficulty of that task) and should be representative of our home country or state and/or should be meaningful to me. So I inquire to you, my dear readers, what should I obtain/purchase for my host family? Let me know your ideas down below.
I would also love it if you'd subscribe to this little growing work and share it with cool people. I'm totally open to feedback as well. Please? Pretty please? Here's some incentive:
In a little over a week, I will be leaving for DC, then Beijing, China to begin my study abroad adventure. My initial excitement is tempering into a calm anticipation of sorts as the weeks pass and my departure crawls near. This dampening is not due to aversion to culture shock, the inevitable numerous mis-communications ahead, nor impending traveler's runs. No, what I dread most is the 14-hour flight--not because I dislike long flights in any particular way or fashion, but rather, am wary of being sardine-packed into a cylindrical, metal tube hurdling through the sky at velocities and heights that laugh in the face of practical thought over a distance that is very much unimaginable. Also, I might have been lying about disliking long flights.
Seriously, though, they kind of suck.
You're cramped, there's literally no comfortable position to be found (at least in economy), the food is horrifying, you are at risk for deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and to top it all off, you are constantly getting nuked by cosmic rays.
*If you have any tips for surviving this journey, please tell me in the comments. I'd really appreciate it. After doing reading, I'm not completely beyond wrapping myself in a suit of tinfoil.
**On that note, my physics professor this past semester at WVU enlightened me to some interesting research on how jet lag is caused (or at least made worse) by an induced electro-magnetic field created when our bodies interact with the natural magnetic field of the earth. That feeling often described as "'I want to die'-ness" is basically the result of the polarity of the molecules in our bodies getting jumbled-around like a Nokia cellphone in a blender (my bet on the Nokia phone to win).
That's... that's impossible... (also, caution: mild language toward the end of the clip)
The trials of airplanes aside, I'm pretty freaking pumped. I can't speak for anyone else, but when I'm embarking on some big, new endeavor, I can't help but try to absorb as much information as possible. I've been reading and re-reading the student handbook and doing personal research, and have found some interesting things. Here's a list:
- The typical schedule of language instruction: 20-30+ hours per week
- Students are expected to uphold a strict language policy that permits English only in times of emergency.
- Foreigners often receive stares in less-metropolitan areas because they can be a spectacle (not a problem for me... however)
- Pedestrians are not given the right of way.
- Chinese drivers can be accurately described as "aggressive" compared to Western standards.
- Spitting in public is commonplace (at least up until recent years where it is beginning to be perceived as rude behavior).
- All participants in the CLS program are recommended to bring a supply of condoms from the US whether or not they plan to engage in sexual activity.
...So that's that. I get to study a language that I'm totally digging at this point in my life in a completely immersed environment. And while there, I can expect to dodge, not only cars, but renegade loogies as well. All while being aware of this "sexual activity" I've heard so much about. If I could take a bunch of people with me, I would. Sounds like a regular gas.
One last thing. I'll be living at a home-stay during most of my time in Beijing. I'm supposed to buy some gifts for the family members who are so graciously affording me housing and meals. The gifts should obviously not be things easily-obtained in China (we all know the immediate difficulty of that task) and should be representative of our home country or state and/or should be meaningful to me. So I inquire to you, my dear readers, what should I obtain/purchase for my host family? Let me know your ideas down below.
I would also love it if you'd subscribe to this little growing work and share it with cool people. I'm totally open to feedback as well. Please? Pretty please? Here's some incentive:
...Please? Cat in cup gives me 'four-paws-up' so you can scratch his tummy. Source.
Until then, (I'm off to the beach tomorrow! Woo-hoo!)
Stay in touch and do good work...
-Joseph
I don't know about the gift, but about 10 hours into my 17 hour flight I went to the bathroom about every hour. Not because I had to pee, usually, but because I HAD to stand up. So I'd use the bathroom time for doing stretches and a 30 second jog of sorts to get a little more blood flow to my feet. I also tried to choose times when lots of people were in line so I'd have longer standing time to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to Taiwan a couple years ago, I sometimes took little trips to stare at the people sleeping in first class. The stewards didn't like that much...
DeleteGoing under the cover of going to the bathroom is pretty good though! I'd be a little concerned that the people sitting next to me will start to think my bowels are highly questionable, however. =/
Hi, Joseph. My name is Annaken and I will be going to Beijing with you this summer. I'm 19, can see the Washington Monument from my house (such a trip next week), and this will be my first time abroad. I'm so nervous I almost don't want to go anymore! I only have two years of Mandarin under my belt at the University of North Dakota which, coupled with being one of the youngest recipients, means I will be wide-eyed and lost in translation for the entire duration of the trip.
ReplyDeleteGift-giving has me perplexed as well. So far I have two items for my host family: a blanket and chocolate. The blanket is of the nice, $40 variety with Virginia landmarks woven in. The chocolate is because a Chinese friend told me nice, brand-name chocolate is an expensive delicacy in Beijing and will be well-received. When I walk around DC with another CLS Beijing participant (Kelly Donovan) on Wednesday, I may look for a few DC trinkets to throw into the bunch.
我等不及认识你! ^_^
Annaken
Hi, Annaken! 我也很興奮喔! (I'm really excited too!)
ReplyDeleteNo need to feel that nervous... It's going to be an experience unlike any other so far... but I guess you were aware of that. You're too humble (太謙虛了!). You're gonna be great.
Thanks for the advice! I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some Ferrero Rocher chocolates and some memorabilia from my university. My school *is* famous for its outlandish partying, however, so maybe giving them something to search the internet and discover its evidence for infamy isn't the best idea... Anyway, I look forward to meeting you in DC! See you in (wait for it) 2 days!!!
加油!
Joseph
lol.
ReplyDeletefunny.
ReplyDelete