WLE Newsletter February - April 2001
Forbidden City
On April 15th, Sunday, the warmest day so far in Beijing this year, World Link's 4 week, 8 week and 12 week students went to one of the most famous tourists sites in Beijing - the Forbidden City (the Palace Museum). Even after the late outing on Wang Fu Jing Street the night before, the students still had the energy to get up early in the morning!
The day was so nice, people everywhere wore shorts and t-shirts, just as they would in the summer. Our English-speaking guide, Paul, was great. He had a rich knowledge of history and with his vivid descriptions, the Forbidden City's lengthy history became easier to understand. It is in this Palace that 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties ruled China for almost 500 years. The imperial reign ended in 1924 with the eviction of the last emperor, Pu Yi. The students walked through the Palace and marveled at the ancient architecture of Chinese buildings and tried to imagine what it was like to live during those exciting times.
The trip took longer than our usual weekend tours, but considering the size and richness of the Forbidden City, it was easy to understand. Some students even stayed behind and visited the parks that border the Palace walls.
Night on the town
Friday the 13th, considered an unlucky day by many Westerners, turned out to be a good day for our new 12 week WordLink students. Our new students are as diverse as ever. We have students from Australia, England, USA, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Hong Kong and Finland. First, they had the customary KaoYa Welcome Dinner, where the students were awed with the remarkable tea pouring ability of the waiter as he poured boiling hot water from a spout 80 centimeters long. Then, the 12 week students were joined by the 4 week, 8 week, 1 semester and 1 year World Link students for a "Night on the Town". They began their night at Durty Nellie's, an Irish pub located on the southern end of San Li Tun, famous for it's bustling string of bars and restaurants. After getting a taste of the expat life and listening to a live Chinese cover band, the students headed over to the dance club Vic's. While some students choose to go home early so they could get up for a BLCU trip to the Great Wall, most students choose to stay and socialize with new friends.
Wang Fu Jing April 14, 2001
Cocoons, scorpions and grasshoppers - oh my! Sounds like an entomology class, but no, this was World Link's weekend excursion to the infamous Wang Fu Jing night market. It is here that both local and tourists alike mingle as they marvel at the variety of different foods that can be put on a stick. Called "chuan" in pu tong hua, or "chuanr" if you a Beijinger, these bamboo skewers hold a culinary expedition for those brave enough to venture near it.
Lucky for us, World Link students are brave souls. Mimi Stansbury (Indonesia, 1semester) ate everything from the deep fried cocoon to the little birdie on a stick. The most sought after chuan though, is the scorpion. For 15 kuai you can get three tiny little morsels of these crisply fried, lightly seasoned arachnids. Kheng Se Be (USA, 1 semester) and Li Peng Choong (Australia, 12 week) compare eating them to eating crisps or chips. There really is no flavor. It's just crunchy. Then, if that were not enough, there is one more specialty that only a southern Chinese person could ever delight in - chou do fu, literally translated as stinky tofu. These little black squares of fermented tofu have an odor only a mother - or a southern Chinese person could love. Lightly fried, then seasoned with a chili sauce, when you take a bite of this pungent stuff you instantly love it or hate it. People have compared the odor to really strong blue cheese or really bad smelling feet, either way, walking past this particular stand at the market is just another part of the Wang Fu Jing experience.
April 8th
Sunday morning, April 8th, another lovely spring day in Beijing. The weekend excursion this time was the famous Antique Market, Liu Li Chang, near Qianmen Street. This street used to be the most famous Art and Antique market during the Qing Dynasty with several well-known old stores. During the Qing Dynasty Liu Li Chang was the tile-making district, and the street's name still reflects its origins. It is still an attraction with traditional-style Chinese architecture lining both sides of the street. The street consists of a long series of curio and bookshops and teahouses with hawkers selling their wares to unsuspecting tourists.
The new 4- week and 8- week students joined us on the trip. Guided by our semester students they avoided the pitfalls of every newcomer - overbidding. They got some really good bargains! After shopping, the students went to a local Beijing noodle restaurant and enjoyed the Beijing "zha jiang mian"!
Sand Storms
The sky is yellow and hazy, wind pounds against you like a hammer, tiny grains hit exposed skin like darts. What is this? It is what the Chinese call Sha Chen Bao, the sandstorms. In what has become a seasonal occurrence, sand clouds sweep from the northern and western desserts of China hit Beijing like a monsoon, showering Beijing in a layer of sand. The origins of most of the sandstorms have been identified as the deserts in the Republic of Mongolia and those in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia. Observations by meteorologists from Inner Mongolia also pointed the sand origin of most of the sandstorm to the 300,000-square-kilometre wide area of dry land in Alxa in western Inner Mongolia, where decades of overgrazing and land claiming have nearly depleted the vegetation.
In Inner Mongolia, overgrazing diminished the natural prairie by at least 30 per cent during the past 50 years, while livestock in the region doubled in only two decades. Statistics from the State Forestry Administration also indicated that an average of 2,460 square kilometers of land turns into desert annually in China.
China initiated a large-scale reforestation project in northern China in the 1980s and intended to build a green "Great Wall" across northern China to stave off the sandstorm attacks. But inefficient reforestation and human destruction have caused the project's outcomes to be less than stellar. As showcased by the increasing force of the sandstorms.
People in Beijing react to the storms in many ways. Dotted about the yellow cloud of sand you can see heads wrapped in brightly colored scarves, wrapped tight to keep the tiny grains from abusing the face and eyes. The sand is so invasive opening your mouth to talk is like licking a sandbox. During the worst of the storms, people seek shelter inside local shops. They wait until the worst of the storm blows by, and then they continue about their day.
March 31, 2001
World Link students spent a tranquil Saturday afternoon at the Lao She teahouse watching and participating in a traditional tea pouring ceremony. Lao She teahouse is one of Beijing's more well known teahouses.
During the tea ceremony, we were taught the correct way to make tea. First you must boil the water, then using the hot water, you must rinse the teapot and tea cups. (The full flavor of the tea is enhanced when the cups and the tea are at the same temperature.) Then you add the tea leaves to the pot. Rinsing the leaves with more hot water. After pouring out the water, you add hot water once more, this time, letting the tea steep. Then you pour the tea into the cups. Holding the teacup with three fingers, your bring it to your mouth, taking small sips and enjoying the flavor of the tea.
Not only are we served tea and some light Chinese snacks but we also watched a performance of some traditional Chinese entertainment. There was a Chinese opera singer, musicians who played classical Chinese instruments, voice artists who mimicked birdcalls, and a Chinese storyteller. One of the more favorable performances was the mask-change dancer from a minority area in China. His talent was to change his masks in split seconds. In five minutes he changed his mask at least twenty different times. All he had to do was pass his hands over his face, and Voila! a new mask, a new face. Definitely a delightful way to spend the afternoon!
Movie Night at Cherry Lane Movie Theatres
This weekend, World Link students went to Cherry Lane Movie Theatres at the 21st Century Hotel to view the Chinese movie "Invisible World" or "Hei Yan Jing" by director Chen Guo Xing. The movie, with English subtitles, tells the story of a blind girl who becomes a world-class runner despite her handicap. The story becomes complicated by a love triangle involving herself, her coach and his girlfriend. In traditional Chinese style, the differences in their worlds keep them apart. An ambiguous ending left many students unsatisfied, regardless, it was a great way to spend a Friday night.
Old Summer Palace II, March 18
Though many students went out to celebrate St. Patrick's day late into the night before, they valiantly made an effort to get up and join WLE for the weekend excursion to the Old Summer Palace. The trip to the Old Summer Palace could not have taken place on a better day. The sky was clear and the temperature very mild.
The Old Summer Palace was built during the 12th century by the emperor Qianlong. Qianlong commissioned the Jesuits to build him a palace based on European architecture and baroque stonework. The palace was built into as series of interlocking gardens with ponds and lakes. During the Second Opium War, the palace was destroyed by French and English troops and its imperial treasures sent abroad. Though much of it is still in ruins, there still much beauty left.
The vast garden also houses even a stone maze, rebuilt like the original, that visitor's can walk through. It was a wonderful way to spend the lovely spring day.
Basketball competition
Little did we know that lurking underneath very studious natures, our World Link students are secret Basketball Warriors! In a weekend competition, our World Link students took over the BLCU basketball courts and wowed everyone with their amazing basketball skills. The mixed tournament, arranged with the help of Jonathan Taing (CL1Y) brought everybody out to the courts. With eight teams, the three on three tournament lasted two hours and in the end, the team of Jon Taing, Peter Frithioff (MA1Y), and their friend Katherine prevailed.
Valiant efforts were made by everyone who participated, most noteworthy, Glennalee Owens (CMA1S) for her team spirit, taking her team to the final showdown with Jon, Peter and Katherine. Katie McIntosh (CCB1S), Luki Kurnaisari (CL1S) and Julia Brandes (CL1S), also put on a good show.
If the draw of the game was not enough to bring people outside, we were also lucky to have great weather for the game. A mild day, with sunshine, clear skies, and a slight breeze, heralded the beginning of spring.
Sunday, March 11th, Silk Market
World Link students went to the famous Silk Market near the embassy area on this week's weekend trip. It is here that one can find bargains on things such as "not quite real" Northface, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger and Polo merchandise. Of course, there are silk accessories such as ties, scarves and nightgowns to be bought too, but getting them at a reasonable price is a lesson in international negotiations. The students then had lunch at a Hong Kong restaurant nearby, where price and quality were reasonable enough to the hungry bargainers.
The students showing off their trophies at the table!!
March 2, Friday afternoon, World Link Xian Trip
World Link students set off for their first monthly trip of the season, destination - Xi'An. Some students experienced their first journey on a train-taking the hard sleeper with the local Chinese people. For a thirteen-hour train ride it was not bad!
We arrived in Xi'An early in the morning when it was still a bit chilly, but the weather warmed throughout the day. As we reached the famous terra cotta soldiers of Xi' An, our first destination, the sun was shining brightly in the azure blue sky. What a nice day to spend looking at a piece of Chinese history! After lunch, we visited the famous Hua Qing Hot Spring Garden, built for the favorite concubine of an emperor in Tang Dynasty. The spring is at the foot of Li Mountain, which appears in many ancient poems. It was said, in winter, the steam rising from the hot springs blankets the mountain in a mist making it a perfect place for fairies and wild imaginings.
This is the same place that General Chiang Kai Shek chose as his vacation home and office when he was in Xi'An. It is here that the infamous Xi'an Incident took place. In this well-known coup, General Chiang Kai Shek was put under house arrest for refusing to cooperate with the communist against the Japanese. Therefore, Li Mountain and the Hua Qing Hot Springs is a place of double meaning to the Chinese people.
The last stop of the day was the old city wall. In ancient times, many large cities were enclosed in city walls to protect the inhabitants. Today, only a few cities have these walls intact. Xi' An's wall is most impressive. The wall no longer keeps people out, and the city expands far beyond the boundaries that the wall once marked. However, people may still climb the wall and walk along to take a look at the city. It was a beautiful place to watch the sunset.
The second day's trip was shorter, we went to Xi'an History Museum, Big Wildgoose Pagoda, and the Muslim street, where we had local food--Jiasan Dumpling as our lunch. Then of course some time for shopping before getting on the train!
February 24, Summer Palace
World Link students, from the February class, went to the well known imperial garden - the Summer Palace, as their first weekend trip on Saturday Feb 24th. It is a replication of the southern imperial gardens and was built as a birthday gift to the mother of Emperor Qian Long during the Qing Dynasty.
Tour-guide, Fey, led the students around the garden as they explored the wonder of the Summer Palace. The garden was also the former residence of the Empress Dowager, whenever she felt like escaping hectic court life, she would move to the Palace to rest. There are still buildings remaining from her residence over one hundred years ago. Most impressive is the Long Corridor. Painted in a multitude of colors, its panels depict stories from famous Chinese novels or historical events.
Luckily, the weather was amazingly good. The skies were sunny and cloudless. The view of the icy lake against the clear blue sky and majestic mountains was a pleasant contrast to the bustle of Beijing - just outside the garden walls.
Beijing Duck is a specialty of Northern China. The duck is slowly roasted over an open flame, then, when the skin is golden brown and the meat just done, the duck meat is cut by a man specially hired for the task of carving the duck. The meat is placed on a plate with a dish of thinly sliced green onions, fresh cucumbers, dark hoisin sauce, and paper-thin crepes. To eat the duck, one must first spread on a little sauce by dipping the cucumber in the hoisin, then adding a little onion and finally a few pieces of the duck. Wrap the crepe carefully into a small tasty packet and pop into your mouth! After learning this procedure to eat the duck, the students all helped themselves to the delicious dish.
After a filling dinner, we proceeded down to San Li Tunr Jiu Ba Jie, or, "bar street", as it is known by locals for a little unwinding after a hectic week. We started the night off at a pub called Tanewa, where the music was cool and the pool table was free. After a few games of pool, new student Derrick Wee showed everyone his impressive skills and wiped the pool table clean within a few shots.
The next spot was Vic's, where those who wanted to, stayed until the wee hours of the morning dancing their cares away. However, many students called it an early night, and went home for some rest before heading off to the Summer Palace early the next morning.
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