Bucknell Women's Rowing Abroad

Bethany is on a field excursion without access to internet. Check back in next week to see what she has been up to!

你们好！

Before arriving to China, the preconceptions I had were drastically different than what I have found to be the reality. From my experiences in the United States and Peru, I believed the Chinese to be in general, very private and closed off people. It seemed as though they were reluctant to engage with me and skeptical of my inquiry, however the interactions I have had thus far are quite the opposite. On the plane to Beijing, I sat next to a Chinese woman and man who spoke English, they were both extremely eager to share tips and suggestions with me and we even exchanged emails. I thought that perhaps they were exceptions because they had traveled to the United States frequently and spoke excellent English, little did I know that this is the way the majority of Chinese would be interacting with me. Upon arrival to Kunming and throughout the course of this week, I have found those that I interact with to be exceptionally kind and eager to share their culture. My experience in China has already begun to change my perspective.

Another facet of my experience in China thus far that has struck me with admiration is the richness and depth of the history and culture still evident in today’s modern world. I have read stories like The Good Earth and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan which discuss traditional Chinese livelihoods, but I did not expect such elements of the culture to be so prominent today, especially in the city. Walking down side streets and alleyways, you can still find traditional architecture, often times preserved to its original variation of colors. The rituals of drinking tea and practicing Taiji are also present in nearly every street corner. What is most astounding is the age of these traditions. The culture, like many of the temples still standing, date back to time periods stretching over a thousand years ago. When I think of something in the United States as being historical, it is often just over a hundred years old, but to see glimpses of a past that came and went so long ago is breathtaking.

Every moment I have experienced thus far is quite amazing, I am excited to see what lays ahead!

Elizabeth

Can’t believe the cuteness of every child here!

We went to the largest mosque in Kunming, even the kids were dressed in traditional clothes.

We traveled to the outskirts of the city to one of few Christian communities.

The pigs came running to the door in hope of an early dinner.

Some local cows wondering what stranger is passing by.

The traditional dress of these women and their spinning of yarn brought back flashbacks of being in the Andes of Peru.

Hello again from the beautiful city of Edinburgh! This week I stayed in the lovely city, exploring some local shops and settling into taking classes again. This semester I’m taking three classes– British politics, Scottish politics, and Scottish Society and Culture. Exactly what one would expect to prepare for an internship with the Scottish Parliament, right? I’ll be taking these classes for five weeks before settling into an internship with an member of Scottish Parliament for the remaining ten weeks.

Last Sunday I got to know some of my new flatmates a little better by climbing up Arthur’s Seat at sunset with them. Arthur’s Seat is a small mountain that lies just beyond Holyrood Palace at the foot of the Royal Mile. It’s a dormant volcano that overlooks the city of Edinburgh and the surrounding towns– from the top you can even see all the way to the bridges that span the Firth of Forth to the Kingdom of Fife! It really is a magnificent view for a relatively short hike.

This week has been pretty chill; as I’ve said, I’ve taken to exploring the streets of Edinburgh when I’m not doing school work. Even without visiting major monuments, there’s plenty to see just wandering the streets surrounding my flat. The streets of the Old Town are very picturesque, with buildings that rarely are taller than five stories and cute boutiques and cafes and brightly painted storefronts and pubs that seem reminiscent of the 17 & 1800s.

 

Edinburgh’s other claim to fame is being the city where JK Rowling wrote the beginning concepts of Harry Potter. Many cafes lay claim to this honor, most notably the Elephant House. Others, however, were so quiet (and nice to write in!) that they closed long before Harry Potter became a global success. Places all around the city are said to have provided her inspiration for her influential novels.

Another highlight of the week included a tour of the Scottish Parliament building where we’ll be having our internship in a couple weeks. The building (it was raining so I didn’t stay outside to take pictures of the outside!) is incredibly unique as far as government buildings go! It’s very new– it opened in 2004. That’s because the Scottish Parliament itself is still relatively young– it was reformed in 1997 with a referendum after being disbanded in 1707. The British Parliament in Westminster still controls many issues concerning all of the United Kingdom, but with the creation of the Scottish Parliament certain issues came under Scottish control, such as sports, art, healthcare, and other domestic issues. Other things, such as law and education, have been under Scottish control since 1707, despite being part of the United Kingdom.

This morning my flatmates and I went out to a couple farmers markets! Vendors come and set up tents and sell local Scottish goods, everything ranging from produce to leatherworks to vinyl albums to cashmere scarves. It’s a great way to sample local food– I had a delicious cup of hot chocolate and an award winning mutton pie all for under 5 pounds.

That’s all for this week! I hope to get out some more and see some more famous sights that Edinburgh has to offer!

-Kim Winter