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May - June 2006
Inside this edition:
Jiang Hu Cai – A Bit of Everything? Yes Please
Something you learn quickly living in Beijing is that this is a city with a real soft spot for food. In fact, in this city it’s almost an obsession. It seems like Chinese people are in their element the most when they are at dinner, sharing stories, food, and drinks. So when World Link presented the opportunity to visit a Jiang Hu Cai restaurant I couldn’t resist.
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| Jay, In and Brian loved the huge variety of dishes |
Beautiful Jiang Hu Restaurant Decoration |
Kristen and Sabine pause for a pic |
Jiang Hu Cai is basically a mix of all of the best dishes from all the different provinces and regions of China, sort of like the A-list of Chinese cooking. Whereas you could go to a Sichuan restaurant or a Dongbei style restaurant for specific dishes, this one brings together all the different regions of flavor: the sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.
About 80 people attended the dinner at this huge restaurant where World Link organized a cornucopia of different selections for our taste buds. Many of us brought our language partners along (Chinese locals who are English students), which made it a really great and fun atmosphere to practice our Chinese. Our Chinese friends showed us a thing or two about how to enjoy a great meal with some great conversation. It was a very genuine and interesting evening.
We got to try famous dishes from all over China including Gong Bao Jiding, spicy chicken with peanuts from Sichuan province, Guo Bao Rou, sweet and crunchy pork slices from Dongbei, and He Tang Xiaochao from Jiangnan. All were incredible and were a great way to dive into Chinese food for a beginner like myself. |
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| A view from the second floor |
There isn’t much in Beijing that can spark better conversation amongst the Chinese and foreigners than food. This dinner was a real slice of Beijing culture, and it weren’t no pizza slice neither. It was some of the best food I’ve ever tried. World Link made it totally easy to jump into Chinese food with this dinner in my first weeks in Beijing and also to jump into real Chinese conversations using the language I’m learning.
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| Jesper and Kristen with their huge array of Jiang Hu food |
Traditional Jiang Hu clay pots |
Fentress Stephen Christopher and Christophe ate for hours |
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| Jonas and Samantha both loved the spicy food |
Old storage pots still in use |
Brodrick Daniel and Devin getting to grips with their chop sticks |
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Inner Mongolia Trip – A Unique Experience
I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to do a lot of traveling while I studied here in Beijing, but World Link made it easy with this great weekend trip to Inner Mongolia. With all the transportation and accommodations planned out, before I knew it, I was getting off a bus at the Huitengxile Grasslands of Inner Mongolia and being sung to as a welcome from the locals. Such hospitality I am not used to, but could grow quite fond of. The train on the way out was one of the best parts of the trip, getting to practice some Chinese with other Chinese tourists and travelers riding China’s rails; very interesting.
We proceeded straight to one of the main events: horseback riding across the grasslands, a totally serene and idyllic experience under the clear skies and crisp air of Mongolia. We visited real Mongolian houses and watched their age old activities of horse racing and Mongolian wrestling. Some of the students even participated in the wrestling; suiting up in full wrestling gear and having a go with some of the locals. They were all taught a lesson. But there is nothing like sport to spark spirited conversation amongst foreigners and locals. It was a great opportunity to practice some Chinese and share some opinions with Chinese speakers.
That Saturday night we had a giant banquet feast where an entire lamb was roasted for us. It was a great chance to sample food and drink from a culture I knew nothing about only a day before. Dinner entertainment was a group of local Mongolian musicians and dancers who showed us some of their unique moves. It was riotous good fun for the whole group, and eventually the party moved outside to a bonfire and went quite late for some of the real revelers.
Sunday morning we headed straight out to the Xiangshawan Desert for as whole series of activities that were incredible. The view at Xiangshawan was incredible; beautiful blue skies with the occasional massive white cloud and sand dunes as far as the eye could see. I had never seen a desert before so I thought that riding a camel while I was there might be something to try. We all did, it was a real laugh. Then some of us headed out to do some desert motorcycle riding while others went to do some sand dune sliding on special desert sleds. An exciting and incredible day in what felt like the middle of nowhere in the middle of a vast desert. The whole weekend was a truly unique cultural experience, plus we were all back in time for school on Monday!!!
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WLE Trip to the Great Wall - Jiankou Section!
The common saying goes: “If you don't climb the Great Wall, you are a wimp!” (bu shang changcheng fei haohan). Hiking the Great Wall for the first time and standing on the old parts of this great piece of world history was, for me, one of the greatest experiences I have had in Beijing!
This section is one of the oldest parts of the Great Wall, built in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty. Students standing on the top of the Jiankou Great Wall experienced different scenes in all directions regardless of the hour, season, or weather.
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| Students ready for their 1 hour accent up to the Jian Kou Great Wall |
Jane and Xu Xuan |
Helen leads the way untouched parts of the Great Wall in the distance |
More than 60 Chinese students, foreign students, and English teachers escaped Beijing’s rain for one day to experience the Great Wall’s surroundings of nature, mountains, silence and fresh air. We forgot the clouds and pollution, and welcomed a sunny and warm day in the middle of nature! Not as well-known as Badaling, Mutianyu or Simatai, this section of the Wall can be described as a secret part where we had the chance to be the only visitors! What a dream to have the Great Wall for yourself for an entire day!
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| Students and LEPs stop for a picture |
No better place for a rest than this Great Old Wall |
A centuries old Guard Tower we found |
This visit would not have happened without the help and organization of our guide Wang Xiao Chen who lead us up the Great Wall for a 3 hour hike. Hiking up to the old section was quite a challenge but well worth it! On top, we enjoyed the incredible view from the enemy observation tower known as "The Eagle Flies Facing Upward".
This observation tower appears extremely high as it was built on a mountain which forms the highest site of this section. As lunch time arrived, we found a very old tower where we could sit and rest all together, gathering and sharing lunch with our Chinese friends. During this hike, we had the great opportunity to exchange in both Chinese and English about our own various experiences.
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| Wang Jian reaches the top and stops for a picture |
CJ helps fimd the way through the thick forest |
Another beautiful place for picture, the Great Wall running over the mountains behind |
The challenges of this hike not only helped me overcome being a wimp, but also helped me create new friendships with all the students and progress my Chinese skill!
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| Wang Jia Li Wen Xi were in no hurry to get through the forest |
Our students discover an old guard tower unchanged for hundreds of years |
Making our way back down was slow and careful work |
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"Real life and Business in China" Mr Laurentius Metaal, Lehman & Co.
At recent WLE business seminars, students heard from speakers who discussed a range of topics, such as the legal sector, the Chinese media and the challenges faced by the Human Resources department of Siemens in China. One of the most memorable seminars was presented by Laurentius Metaal from Lehman & Co. Over 50 of WLE Chinese and English students attended and took great interest in this presentation.
This seminar introduced the legal and investment services in China. Over one and a half hours, Mr. Metaal gave an informal introduction to the legal sector and his own perspective about managing in China. Mr. Metaal has already lived in China for more than a decade, so he not only spoke about business but was able to share his experiences of life in China. He was a knowledgeable speaker, yet also very humorous and witty in his accounts, giving us more insight into managing as well as training in China.
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| WLE Business students and local young professionals are listening carefully |
Caroline and Arthur talk to Laurentius about local business interests |
Laurentius Metaal adressing the students |
The aspects and necessary skills of doing business in China, including agendas, patience, face, and overall cultural understanding, were all explained and supported by good examples. Thanks to his real life experiences, students are now able to better understand how business in China is operating. In particular, it was greatly appreciated when Mr. Metaal took the time to answer various questions and impart valuable knowledge to WLE students. In just under two hours, the students all learned a great deal from Mr. Metaal’s ten years of experience of working in China.
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Student Interview: Luke Chernosky
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 Name: Luke Chernosky
Country of Residence: USA
Citizenship: American
Profession: Student
Educational Background: Asia International Studies and Economics
Brief Work History: Internship in financial firm
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Chinese
Hobbies: Sports, piano
Is this your first time in China?
Yes.
Why did you decide to participate in the Chinese Language and Internship Program?
WLE was recommended to me by Key Abroad. On the website I discovered the possibility to combine Chinese language classes and an internship. I thought that this program would be interesting because it would provide me with international experience and would be a good preparation for marketing myself after my graduation.
How are you finding your studies in China?
My studies in China are great. I already have a strong background in Chinese. I think that the classes are excellent for what I need to grow my Chinese skills at this stage. Besides, the teachers care a lot about our learning and are very helpful.
Have they been what you expected them to be?
I am at an intermediate level and the class is very small. To my mind, small classes are the best way to learn Chinese.
How do you like Beijing?
Beijing is a really interesting city. Living in Beijing is a great experience even if sometimes it can be somewhat culturally challenging.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
The most interesting part of Beijing is taking the time to have some contact with Chinese people. Indeed, I love that I can interact in Chinese with locals and learn from their own experience and perception of life.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing/China?
One of the most memorable experiences in Beijing was trying to order some food in a Chinese restaurant when I couldn’t read the menu. During one of my first days in Beijing some friends and I tried to order soup. This soup turned out to be chicken feet soup! Quite unusual for someone who is used to living in United States.
How has your experience in China changed you?
Living in Beijing for several months has given me a lot more life experience and the opportunity to open my eyes to another culture. When you are living in a foreign country you need to rely on yourself more and that brings maturity in a shorter period of time.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
I really enjoy speaking and practicing my Mandarin with my Chinese friends as well as everybody you can meet in Beijing.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
Yes. I hope to come back for something work related but not immediately - maybe in the next 5 to 10 years.
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
I would say that having a basic understanding of some Chinese words especially about food, will make the first weeks more comfortable. But the most important thing is that everybody needs to be aware that when you get to a foreign country you have to adjust yourself to the culture where you are living.
After graduating university, what do you plan on doing?
After graduating I see myself going working in investment banking in United States for 2 or 3 years. We will see what happens after that….
Tell us about your internship and how you hope it will help you in the future.
I’m having an internship in the bank and finance field, doing some research for a few companies. I’m really pleased about my internship for several reasons: it is related to finance and I will have plenty of opportunities to speak Chinese at work with my colleagues. Working in a different environment is always a good experience and will allow me to learn a lot about the business culture in China. I really see this internship as being very helpful in the future. On my resume this experience in China will let future employers know that I’m a flexible, dynamic person who can adapt quickly to a new and international environment. This is important for promoting myself to companies back in United States.
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