Our final week of classes in Nanchong ranged from Chinese demographics, to traditional medicine, music and calligraphy. During the afternoons we continued reviewing for our Thursday language exam. Although we took no pictures at the lecture on traditional medicine, it was one of the most interesting lectures we have had. …
On Oct. 6, we undertook a miscellany of cultural activities in Nanchong. Andrew S.’s host brother met us in Beihu park for some very public tai ji. Not only was the China West student film crew back with us, but a good-sized crowd of morning park visitors surrounded us as…
Another day, another trip: Oct. 5 found us headed to Jincheng Mountain. We wound along through many small villages and farm compounds. Every once in a while we would pass a concentration of new homes being built—evidence of China’s efforts to “build a new countryside”. The narrow roads and switchback…
On Oct. 4, we took a day trip east to Guang’an, the birthplace of influential Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997) who led China into the era of “Reform and Opening”. The China we are visiting today might look very different had Deng not charted the course he did. A large…
On Oct. 2 we boarded a bus for a 2 ½ hour trip to Langzhong. In existence for more than two millennia, the small city has a picturesque, preserved/restored old quarter that attracts many visitors. The city is deemed to have an ideal feng shui location, nestled inside a meander…
This week we’ll document Monday’s introduction to taiji, a form of exercise that many Chinese people engage in regularly. Passing through parks or other public spaces, our morning landscape is populated with groups or individuals moving through one of several popular series of motions generally described as taiji. Many practice…
A cold snap had many of us shivering for most of this week. Language teachers helped us learn weather-related terms that distinguish among degrees of weather (rain shower, heavy rain, thunderstorm, etc.). The week’s lectures had us thinking about everything from education to geography to rural/urban issues in the New…
We started out last week with an introduction to Chinese folk songs. After helping us practice two songs, we got to hear other songs performed by several highly-talented CWNU student singers. Other lectures this week covered the role of women in Chinese society, contemporary Chinese history, and an introduction to…
Our first week of classes went by quickly. Rain brought a welcome break in the extreme heat of our first days here. We meet in the main classroom building on China West Normal University’s decade-old “new campus”. Most of us arrive by public bus, usually a 20-35 minute ride. Most…
We’ll start back with a few pictures from our Sept. 4 train ride from Chengdu to Nanchong. After passing the security checks at the entrance of the train station, we funneled into the waiting area designated for our train. There Becca seized an opportunity for cross-cultural learning and got a…
