China

I have spent that last 9 days in Beijing, China. My mother and sister came to Korea and toured for a week. Then all three of us met my father in Beijing. To most it might not seem like that big of a jump of cultures between Korea, but it was a bit of a culture shock for me.

First of all Beijing is a huge city and there were tons of foreingers and tourists. That was one of the first things I noticed, is that there were a lot more people that looked like me. In Daejeon I could go a whole day only seeing the foreingers I worked with and on the street only Koreans.

The second thing was, I couldnt read and speak anything. I had come to the point in my Korean language skills to not worry. I could ask questions about directions or read the menu and understand. In Beijing we were lost on multiple occasions because we couldnt read or speak. Plus ordering was a bit of challenge and limited us to restaurants with English menus only.

I didnt really ever think that I would miss things about Korea, but I have to admit that I did miss the food. I saw a couple Korean tour buses and some Korean restaurants. I acutally thought, more than once, about eating there or at least asking for a little kimchi (pickled cabage).

Other than my adjustment period of leaving Korea and entering China, I enjoyed myself. It was a nice change to all of my 5 senses. We went to a Chinese opera and had our ear drums blown away by the wailing of a male trying to sing as a female. And almost lost our hearing because we sat next this wooden block intrustment which I think should be outlawed.

I tasted the best food every - mixed vegtables and nuts in a pumpkin - to the worst tasting food every - a strange type of pear with vinegar and a repulsive black sauce on top. I even tasted the famous Peking Duck - it was made of tofu but looked identical to a duck. (ill send pictures later)

I saw the great wall of China -twice. The first time we climbed up 888 meters of irregular steps and over a couple hundred sweaty tourists. The second time we took up a cable car and walked along a part that is a 5 kilometers long over jagged mountains. Then my sister and I took a sled down the biggest slide I have ever seen.

I felt the cacoons that make silk and the softest silk ever. I felt the petals of lotus flowers. I felt the heat, sweat and grime that builds on someone walking through Beijing. I felt the bumpy roads of the old courtyard distrcit from the back of a rikshaw.

I smelt the scents coming from a traditional chinese medicine shop. The different herbs they use to treat everything are smells that are unforgetable.The restaurants are filled with aromas that are completly different from everything in Korea and a pleasing change to not have the only spice be red pepper.

We were very busy the whole time and saw so many sites. I wont begin to explain them all here. I will send around the pictures so you can see for yourself.

I am currently in Bangkok now. My mom and dad are here. Lisa returned to Vicotria, Canada to study bass for another summer. We arrived here yesterday and are heading up north to Chaing Mai tomorrow very early. I wont mix the countries and will describe

Thailand in another email. Hope everyone finds themselves safe and sound. Laura

P.S if you are every planning on coming to Bangkok we splurged here and are staying in quite possibly the best hotel i have ever or will ever see, so let me know and ill fill you in on the details.