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Friday, June 15, 2001 4:10 AM
ok, so i mentioned that we were to go to a water
irrigation project today, right? well, so i have this
picture in my head of a wide open field, maybe some
rice paddies, and some people digging a ditch a-la
peace corps. well, this is china! the irrigation
project was a 1000 year old dam that was build to
prevent the chengdu valley from flooding and so that
the crops would prosper. it had a mountain view of the
river, complete with gift shops and the like. then,
there was a suspension bridge that you could take
across the river. it was all very breathtaking!
have i mentioned anything about driving here? well,
although the chinese drive on the right side of the
road, there are no rules. some traffic signals are
obeyed, but it depends on the area. plus, you have one
road that is populated by pedestrians, bicycles,
buses, cars and some old farm type traditional
vehicles. lots and lots of bicycles! and lots of
honking. this honking isn't hostile like our honking.
it is courtesy honking so that these people on bikes
and farm equiqment know you are coming up to pass
them. and crossing the roads, that's a whole other
story...!
so, tonight some of the students want us to go to
kareoke. i am not sure i will go since i have to pack
up and work on my journal that is due tomorrow as we
board the plane for xi'an. (yes, this is a class,
remember!) plus, kareoke does not really appeal to me.
i will miss being in china, but will be glad to go
home. coming here has been such an amazing experience.
especially here in chengdu, where we have been
spending time with students and living more like them
rather than tourists in a hotel. i had many
stereotypes about chinese culture (not necessarily
bad, but we americans do get a version of asian
culture through different channels), but now i am a
little more informed (like for instance, soy sauce is
not chinese! don't expect it at your dinner table
here, even though you have gotten it at chinese
restaurants at home). i have been learning about the
subtle difference between taiwan and hong kong, as
well! i have only gotten a glimpse and i know i have
only seen things as an outsider, but it sure beats
experiencing a culture just through movies and books!
anyway, hopefully i will be able to send a quick note
in xi'an. if not, see you all when i get back! take
care!
love,
ingrid
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