Markets and Media in 21st Century China

It is my last day in China and I’m ready to go home. This has been the greatest experience of my life.

I walked into this trip dreading the idea that I would be surrounded by a culture that I have been avoiding for my entire college career. It made me a bit apprehensive about actually going on the trip. No, I’m not talking about China; I’m talking about Washington & Lee’s social culture.

After this trip, I feel I can graduate with no regrets. I am happy that I came to China with this group of people. Being in a foreign country has forced me to interact socially with W&L students that I had never met before and had never even bothered to notice. Although I am elated to leave China and go home, I am sad to leave my newfound friends. Like Ryan said in a previous blog entry, we have become a very tight knit family.

The people on this trip have made my last days as a student the most memorable days of my life and I am thankful for each one of them. I will cherish the memories of each person on this trip for years to come.

Even if I can’t remember all the names of the places we visited here, I will never forget the 19 people that made this trip the climax of my college career. If I had not come to China, how would I have ever known Caroline’s free spirit, Momma Katie’s helpful hints, Danner’s inner child, Ryan’s hair toss, Bryce’s chatty side (only in certain situations), Amanda’s connection to a family friend, Alex Kraus’s paparazzi-like photo skills, Alex Webber’s famous line “Hey baby,” Taylor’s love of basketball, Jess’s sincere concern for anyone that she meets, Maggie’s love for Australia, Kristin’s sarcasm, Melissa’s love for mothering, Sarah’s beautiful voice, Thomas’s awesome dance moves, Professor Luecke and Alisha’s love for personal guided nature walks, and Professor Pirkle’s adoration for our favorite tour guide Philip. And to my favorite roomie ever, Christina Dixon, I love the feisty personality that is hidden by your innocence.

I am going home to graduate with no regrets. And thanks to the China ’07 group, I will leave campus with nineteen new friends!

With Love,
Cami Morrison
Minister of Hotness for T.I.C. (This Is China)
Washington & Lee University ‘07

Posted by China Traveller at 2:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Good-bye blog. We've had a good run at it. Our relationship probably wasn't as good as it could have been seing that this is only my eighth posting, exactly the number we are required for class. Maybe blogging just isn't my thing, but you did help me get out my most interesting moments in China to the entire world. So all those always anxiously awaiting to hear my gripping Chinese tales, this is the end and I bid you farewell for tomorrow I head off into the Chinese sunset. Or maybe it's the sunrise, I still don't really understand that whole time difference thing. I've come so far since first setting foot in the great city of Shanghai where it took me a good half an hour or so to cross the busy streets and where I paid more than double what I should have for a fake Polo. I'll miss the wonderful countryside of Henglu where I met my other Chinese half in a young girl named Jenny, who might be the kindest soul I've ever met. I honestly can't say much about Hangzhou and Wuhan because honestly I really just didn't like those cities. Sorry to all you Hangzhouinians and Wuhanites -- it's nothing personal, your cities just aren't that much fun. Beijing, however, has been phenominal to me and I hope to return. I am finally able to cross the road at my leisure like a pure blood Chinese, my haggling skills have improved significantly and I've even made some close friends in this crazy adventure that has been China. I definitely will miss this exotic country, but I certainly will not miss this blog nearly as much. Perhaps I will return some day and if you are lucky maybe I will blog about it, but don't get your hopes up. So signing off from China....

Your Favorite Blogger,

Matt Danner

Posted by China Traveller at 3:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As our final day in China comes to a close, I cannot help but be so unbelievably SAD. Although I cannot wait to breathe fresh air and see all those left behind in the States, I am not yet ready to leave China. This experience has been an unforgettable one from the cruise down the Yangtze to the 9-mile hike on the Great Wall. I'll really miss the crazy bikers, yummy food (well, if Pen-Pen orders), Chinglish, designer everything (believe it or not, there is a whole floor in the Silk Market dedicated to Dolce and Gabbana undies...weird, huh?), and everything else Caroline mentioned. I'll also really miss bargaining for a 5 Yuan reduction in my silk robe, only to walk away 2 minutes later and realize I just bargained over a measly 70 cents. Hey, that’s China for you.

It cannot wait to get back to W&L and the speaking tradition, and not have to worry about “hello” being misunderstood for, “hello, please tell me your life story.” One must be careful in China of saying “Neeee haooo” to a stranger. If that stranger knows English, beware, they will follow you and ask you endless questions in an attempt to strengthen their English. Oh China, how I love thee!

These 5 weeks have been an experience that will be difficult to match. How often do you get to travel for an extended period of time to a country half way across the world, while studying what you love? I’d say not very often. I am so glad this opportunity presented itself, and will always hold a special place in my heart for China and the members of this trip.

Going to miss the Ni Hao's,
Kristen Krouchick

Posted by China Traveller at 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bargaining. That is one of the things that I will miss the most about China. It is exhausting, yet very invigorating to bargain someone down to 2 American dollars for a t-shirt. Yesterday was our big day to show off our bargaining skills. The bus dropped us off yesterday afternoon at the Pearl and Silk Market which is conveniently located a few blocks away from our hotel. This place is ridiculously overwhelming. There is floor after floor of anything you can possibly imagine. Pearls. Silk. Chopsticks. Paintings. North Face. Polo. Suitcases. Purses. Jewelry. You name it and you can probably find it there. I set out for the essentials...pearls and silk. Amanda and I finally found the pearl section. Amazing. We finally found a booth that we were pleased with. We ended up buying ten strands of pearl necklaces with matching dangle earrings and we paid a GREAT price for them. It turned out to be about $6 a set. And the best part was that Rose, the shop owner, made them while I waited. Yes, it did take up a half hour of my time, but she was great to talk to. I met all of her friends in the surrounding booths that were very envious of our large purchase from her and then I ended up meeting her boyfriend of 5 years. After the half hour I would say that we are friends...quite close friends. Since I was such great company, she gave me two free pairs of studded pearl earrings and her email address so that we can keep in touch. So in the end I not only got a TON of pearls, but I made a very nice friend. All in all it was a TERRIFIC afternoon of bargaining and friend making.

I truly will miss this place. I can't believe we leave to go back to the States this time tomorrow. Five whole weeks have passed in what seems like only a few days. We have travelled so much and met so many great people that it will be very tough to leave behind. For me, this won't be my last time in China.

Till then,
Melissa Ginder

Posted by China Traveller at 6:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Translation: I love China. China do you love me too?)

As you can see, my language abilities have become increasingly advanced during our 5 weeks here in China. Not only have I mastered the "I love you, do you love me too?" phrase, but almost-fluent-in-Chinese Bryce taught me the all-important phrase "do you have a girlfriend" today while we were waiting for an hour to cash our traveller's checks in the Bank of China.

Language mastery aside, I thought I would take a leaf out of Katie's book (coolest roomie ever) and create a list of some of the many things I will miss most about China. I can't write them all, but if you're lucky (like Professor Luecke... haha lucky, Luecke) you can read the complete version in the back of my China journal.

What I Will Miss Most About China 2007:
1. Using chopsticks every day
2. Ridiculously cheap meals
3. Ridiculously cheap everything
4. Getting excited by anything remotely Western
5. Being a celebrity/having your picture taken at all times by the Chinese
6. Mi fan (fried rice)
7. Never being quite sure of what I'm eating
8. Sketchy internet cafes
9. Club Bonbon/Windows/I Heart Shanghai
10. Chinese music videos
11. Chinese "bathrooms" aka squatters... NOT
12. Becoming a professional haggler
13. Ding dong ditching
14. Never really figuring out how to pronounce the Chinese word for bathroom
15. Talent shows in every city/town
16. Dumpling contests
17. Three Gorges/Great Wall sunsets and sunrises
18. Moped rides with random asians (don't worry Mom)
19. Owen
20. Lazy susans
21. Karate move pictures in the Forbidden City
22. Taking a picture in front of every Starbucks
23. Tossing out the peace sign in every picture
24. Playing ping pong against the mayor of Henglu
25. Wearing the same outfits for 5 weeks in a row (and being able to predict everyone else's outfits)
26. Katie's ridiculous haggling abilities
27. Peace sign pictures/7 hug days with Christina
28. Katie and I going to jump on Bryce and Danner's beds every day
29. Cami's obsession with Oreo's
30. Every Chinese girl hitting on Bryce

Those are just a few of the many things that I will most definitely miss about China 2007. There are countless more... but these are merely a handful of favorites that came to mind. I think back five weeks earlier to a fourteen hour plane ride where I was wondering what my China experience would entail. Who would have guessed I would have made so many close friends? Who would have guessed I would have tasted cow tongue, conquered the Great Wall, and learned how to bring a fake Gucci bag down from 600 yuan to 60, to name a few.

To say China has changed us all would be an understatement.

Coming back as soon as I can,

Caroline Davis

Posted by China Traveller at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Blog,
I don't think we should see each other anymore. I know this hurts, but we both knew it just couldn't last. Look, it's not you, it's me. I'm getting on a plane and going back to America tomorrow, and I just don't think there's a place for this relationship in my life at home.

We had some good times. Remember when I got scammed by those "art students" on the Nanjing road, or that time I got so lost in Wuhan? Wow, that was really crazy. But we were just kids back then. Now I think we both need to grow up, just let the past be the past, and cherish the fond memories for all that they're worth.

I know you helped me overcome my art addiction, and I'm really thankful for that, but that doesn't change the fact that I have to go back to America. Don't act like you didn't know exactly what you were getting into when we first met. All good things must come to an end, even trips to China. As Bob Dylan would say, "The times they are a changing." I think we both need to take those words to heart.

So, thanks for the good times, but it's time we both moved on--me to my internship in DC, and you . . . while I guess this is pretty much the end for you. Such is life.

-Alex Weber

Posted by China Traveller at 5:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As we prepare to leave China on Wednesday we can't help but be a bit nostalgic about our five weeks here. After all, This Is China. Here are a few of my favorite moments from each city we visited during our journey:

Shanghai: To commemorate our last night in Shanghai, our group ventured to a club called Bon Bon. At first a bit apprehensive to follow Taylor's directions once again, we wound up at a great spot with a million-mile tall doorman. We all enjoyed a fun night with an enthusiastic DJ and vivacious atmosphere. The most memorable moments of the night included a crazy bathroom where the water in the faucet came from the ceiling, a dance contest featuring Caroline and Cami, a VIP table complete with addictive dice games and music from America. It was a night when all of us were together and justly represents the fun of Shanghai.

Henglu: Henglu was all about the people. The village was such a culture shock and the best part for all of us I think was getting to interact with all of the kids that lived there. My favorite part of the weekend was Saturday night: dumplings and the talent show. Competing with 10 other people for a bowl of dumplings, chopstick against vicious chopstick in the bowl, was both hillarious and exhausting, and ultimately very satisfying. The talent show, where Caroline, Cami and I performed My Girl, was really fun and the juxtaposition of American culture, like the theme song from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Chinese culture was depictive of the cultural differences in a fun way.

Hangzhou: After hearing about it from everyone we talked to, we finally got to see West Lake. It was absolutely beautiful, with lush gardens and beautiful architecture. Matt, Cami, Caroline and I enjoyed overpriced tea and delicious noodles and fried rice (two helpings) overlooking the lake. While we never found the peony garden we had been searching for, we encountered several photo shoots and even some peacocks.

Wuhan: Wuhan was a fun city with great shopping. A personal highlight was the tshirt I bought that reads Big Mac and then Attack underneath it five times in different colors. As a group, we all really enjoyed the Wuhan Institute of Physical Education. Getting to see the gymnasts train was an awe-inspiring sight. Also, talking with the students was exciting because they were all so enthusiastic about talking with American students. It was yet another opportunity to exchange emails and further the America-China network we've seen growing since we've been here.

The Splendid China: The cruise was fantastic. Actually going through the Three Gorges Dam was something I'll always remember. I think my favorite part of the cruise was the talent show. Our dance to the Jock Jams Mega Mix was so much fun to prepare and even more fun to perform. While part of me didn't want to satisfy the boat director Linda by entering the talent show, it was definitely worth it for our great costumes and creative dance moves. Yet, I'm still a little bitter that they started our music too softly at first and we had to skip a couple of the best moves, but Bryce still had his solo at the end which was a vital part of the routine. Also, as posted earlier, gua sha was awesome.

Beijing: I slept on the only man-made structure visible from space. Camping on the Great Wall of China is quite possibly the highlight of our entire China trip. We actually got to see stars in China and instead of being woken up early by Linda's voice, we were woken up early by the sun. Using my cell phone on the Great Wall of China was also an interesting mix of old and new aspects of China's culture. One thing I don't love about the Great Wall is that there's nowhere to go to the bathroom and drinking water requires the decision between being thirsty, having to hike down to use the bathroom, or having to hold it all night. Being slightly uncomfortable was definitely worth sleeping there, and it was somewhat alleviated by delicious Oreos, which from now on will always make me think of Cami. Also in Beijing I bought a sword, and I'm really excited about that.

Coming home soon and back here eventually!
Katie Simpson

Posted by China Traveller at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)