This summer, 10 students and two faculty members are traveling to China to enhance their Chinese language skills while experiencing the country’s vast and diverse cultural landscape. Please enjoy this next blog post below from Ava ’27 where she shares about a full day of learning and adventure—from breakfast conversations with her host mom to mastering the metro, navigating dumpling orders, and conquering her fear of heights at the iconic Pearl Tower.
老师们、朋友们和妈妈爸爸，好！
Today officially marks a week since our arrival in China, and I can’t believe all we have achieved up until this point.
My day started off with a late wake up of 7:45 where I hurried to get ready for school keeping in mind to leave time for breakfast. Each morning, I spend breakfast engaging in conversation with my host family-learning more about the culture and what everyday life looks like for them. This morning was spent with my host mother as I sat at the table eating 包子 along with various types of fruit as I listened to her plans for the day. Before heading out the door to begin my trek to school I say “Bye-bye,” as I’ve come to learn that despite having a word for goodbye my host family prefers to say it in English.
I have become practiced in navigating various public transportation methods, with my personal favorite being the 地铁 (metro). This newly developed skill is one I’m extremely grateful for as it’s something I will continue to carry with me and it gives me another insight into everyday life. Around 8:50 I arrived at school and waited in the classroom for Ella and Oscar to arrive (don’t worry they were on time). Our Chinese class is filled with the sound of our pencils scribbling away in our notebooks attempting to capture everything 宋老 says before she moves on to the next topic. During our short breaks we spend our time playing 钓鱼 (go fish), strictly in Chinese, or asking 宋老 for different 推荐 (recommendations) on stores and restaurants to visit in the area.
For lunch Ella, Oscar, and I had a mission-to refill our school cards with money. Along the way we picked up Brandon who had been left behind to his own devices (which, knowing Brandon, is never a good idea). Under two umbrellas, the four of us walked over to the closest dining hall where we thought we could refill our cards; little did we know we were completely wrong and were supposed to go to the same dining hall we go to every day. So, we opened the umbrellas back up and continued our walk, once we arrived in the correct dining hall we walked around trying to figure out where we could add the money to our cards, before just asking a kind and patient employee where to do it. Ella and I immediately headed towards the two drink lines for some 奶茶 but being indecisive, right before ordering we changed our minds. Giving up on trying to pick drinks ourselves we based our order on what other people were drinking. We settled on chocolate coffee and a creamy frozen berry drink. We then ordered the same dumplings we have been eating practically every day since our arrival 猪肉和白菜饺子 for Ella, and 鸡蛋和白菜饺子 for me which then get drenched and soaked in various sauces and oils.
After lunch we headed back to class before the departure for our afternoon activity. Following one long bus ride spent looking at photos, we arrived at the famous Pearl Tower. We entered the building and began heading up to the highest lookout point where we spent some time wandering around the sphere. Almost all members of the group found a shop selling Pearl Tower shaped ice cream and we delighted over the unique shape and nice flavor. When all popsicle sticks were successfully in the trash we moved on to another area where the floor was completely transparent and we were tasked with completing pushups on it. Clutching the railing and walking strictly on the support beams I made my way into the middle of the glass without letting go. After a little bit of convincing from other group members and plenty of deep breathing, I completed a push up and immediately got off the platform. Once everyone was done, we descended further down the tower stopping at a display depicting the completion of the pearl tower and then a wax museum showing the history of Shanghai over the years. Ms. Kelly bought us White Rabbit candy, a very famous milk candy from Shanghai.
We spent the bus ride back eating candy and listening to all different kinds of music: from One Last Breath by Creed to Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers amidst laughter and snores. It wasn’t until around six in the afternoon that we finally arrived back on campus and had to head right back home for our curfew at seven. Ella and I rode the same train for one stop until we had to part ways, and I walked the rest of the way home. I was exhausted after our long day of exploration so tonight’s dinner consisting of 豆腐 and 茄子 was a bit quieter than usual. I find myself learning the most during these dinnertime conversations, picking up bits of the language unique to Shanghai such as 当心 instead of 小心 as well as learning about eating habits like not drinking with their meal. After dinner, my host sister and I finished watching Zootopia together and started watching one of her favorite Chinese movies before she had to finish up her homework and I went right to bed.
That’s all for now. Luvilu, Ava
