- April 1, 2014
- 1:27 am
- Mary Ann McGrath
- no comments
IMBA Students Explore China
We are into our second week in this special place and have had a wealth of experiences in such a short time. In Beijing we have explored historical and modern sites. We smelled the aromatic offerings to Buddha at the Lama Temple, walked through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, enjoyed the beautiful gardens of the Summer Palace while riding a Dragon Boat across the lake and witnessed the magnificence of the Temple of Heaven. We have negotiated at the Pearl Market and tried many ethic cuisines both near campus and around the city. Oh, yes — we also have class.
One of the most notable and observable behavior changes has been adapting to Chinese breakfast. Our hotel offers a daily morning buffet which at first brush seems like having dinner for breakfast. Sweet potatoes, eggs boiled in tea, corn-on-the-cob and dumplings filled with vegetables or meat are daily fare. Tea has substituted for coffee, although our friends at the Beijing Center are gracious hosts and provide coffee for us before our morning classes. Here is a picture of my breakfast this morning. I have neglected to include a bowl of porridge which is made with rice or millet. Notice the glass of leaf tea, which we have learned to sip through our front teeth to filter the leaves.
Over this past weekend we visited the former capital, the old city of Xi’an. A highlight of any visit to this city is a trip to the tomb of Emperor Qin and a visit to the excavation of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Our visit was informative and visually stunning. Here is a picture of our group along side some of the famous Warriors. Although I have been to this site many times, it is always a treat to return, as careful exploration and discovery is constant. Emperor Qin’s tomb has yet to be opened and probably will not be for many years.
This golden day in Xi’an was one of the best ever. Dire predictions of rain never materialized and we left the Warriors to enjoy a traditional lunch that included 18 different types of dumplings. These are often formed in the shape and color of their contents. Delicious! If that were not enough, we worked off some of the calories by taking a 10 mile bicycle ride around and atop the Old City Wall. The views were spectacular as was the ability to have some quiet, reflective time in relative solitude in this bustling, heavily populated country. We are off to the Great Wall on Thursday, so we have had a bit of time to savor some of the treasures we have experienced.
Mary Ann