So this month signalled the end of my adventures in Ningbo. I finally finished my exams and promptly left the university campus two days later. It was quite sad, saying goodbye to some people who you realise you might never see again.
So last Sunday I headed to Shanghai with another friend who was then going on to Vietnam. This was the third time I had visited that city and I love that place more and more every time I go. For anyone that hasn’t read any of my earlier blogs, Shanghai is one of the most metropolitan cities in the world, with some amazing buildings, restaurants and markets.
My friend was with me for one night and I spent a night by myself before Khilna, Millie and Janki arrived.
I took the high speed magnetic train to the airport to go and pick the girls up. This train reached speeds of about 450km/h and was another testament to Shanghai's modernity.
I’ll sum up the rest of the Shanghai visit in a few lines. Most of the time was spent shopping (which was driving me mad after 3 days in markets with girls), eating, going out as well as a visit to an arcade and the Jade Buddha Temple. The Jade Temple was not as crowded as last time, and we were privileged to see a live ceremony by the Buddhist monks and some people painting Chinese paintings.
The highlight of my visit was going to a club there and seeing the self titled “Chinese-American rapper, Jin the Emcee. It was even funnier finding out that he didn’t know how to speak Chinese. Anyway, I got to have a chat to him which was quite cool. I also managed to find a California Pizza Kitchen in China which I love, and we went back up the Grand Hyatt to see the views of the city.
From Shanghai, we took the overnight train to Beijing. Those of you who read about my last experience on a Chinese train will recall that it was a pretty bad experience. So I had low expectations for the sleeper train – however, I was pleasantly surprised. The journey lasted for around 13 hours and we were assigned bunks of three. I was on the top bunk, and despite hitting my head on the ceiling countless times, I managed to sleep well.
As much as I love the girls, I was glad to finally have some male company when we met up with three of my mates (two from UNNC, one from Notts) in Beijing. I had already been to Beijing once before with Mum and Dad, but again, this proved to be a different experience.
We went to the Summer Palace on the first day, and this time, we hired pedaloes which was quite fun. The following day, we went to the Great Wall, in spite of the 35 degree heat.This excursion to the Great Wall was not so good, because we had chosen to visit on a Sunday, when you couldn't move for Chinese tourists.
The following day, we visited the Forbidden City (again my second time visiting). I had said that the first time I visited the Forbidden City, I got frustrated by the number of tourists there, and this overshadowed my experience. This time, however, our visit fell on a Monday, and having hired a guide, I was able to actually appreciate the Forbidden City. I still question its authenticity, but the symbolism and history behind the buildings is incredible.
Seeing buildings like this makes you realise that there many countries have a rich history and culture outside of the Roman/Tudors and Stuarts/ World War 2/ American history that we learn. Whilst most of my learning about China has been with regards to its more recent history, seeing buildings like this has increased my fascination for Chinese philosophy and mythology.
Needless to say, Beijing wasn't completely a culturally enriching experience, and we did find the time to go to a couple of clubs, watch some Sopranos (even more amazing than ever in its sixth season) and do some shopping.
This afternoon, we arrived in Xi'an. I will keep you posted with what's going on in a while.
Take care all,
See you in two weeks,
Nihal
P.S. Millie (and Khilna) wants to write a short message:
just thought we would answer the question everyone's been dying to know...
Nihal does infact now smell and look like a chinese man..
Ni-hao and Zaijian
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Sunday, 10 June 2007
A Long Awaited Blog
Hi Guys,
Its been ages and ages and ages since I last wrote to you guys. Since then, I've started exams and am now over half way through.
Last week was hectic with four exams in four days. As you can imagine, I was moody, stressed and not sleeping properly. Thankfully, those exams went well, and I've now got just two more modules to look forward to.
I finish exams on Friday and this basically signals the end of my time at UNNC (University of Nottingham, Ningbo Campus). As my various friends have finished their exams, they have started leaving the campus so a very strange atmosphere looms over the place. Some of the people I have gotten to know come from places as far away as Thailand, Australia and Hong Kong. There's a good chance that I won't see many of these people ever again.
Funny how quickly four months can pass, eh?
Now, I have told you lots about my travels and exploits during these four months, and given you a little bit of background about Ningbo and China, but I have rarely been personal with you.
I don't know if its just the sombre atmosphere of the place hitting me but I want to make this blog a little different. I know that most of the readers of this blog happen to be my good friends and family (despite the fact that many of my so-called "good friends" barely find the time to read it), therefore, I feel comfortable writing like this.
I had previously spoken to you of the visible poverty in China with the beggars and whatnot. However, I watched Hotel Rwanda last week (great film by the way) and one line struck me. The Western camera man said that poverty and warfare in the Third World will make people stop for a couple of seconds, say "what a shame", and then just carry on with their dinner.
I suppose the same can be said about when we see beggars on the street - we stop for a minute, and then its forgotten about a minute later.
Anyway, I realised that many of the Chinese students at this university were quite well off - their parents had probably been recent beneficiaries of China's economic growth.
These kids are much like us in the UK except maybe a bit more naive, and some of them go a bit more wild when let off the leash from their parents. They will go out, drink too much and fail their first year exams, soon coming to the realisation that they need to work.
Back to the original topic - contrast this to the staff at the University:-
Every day, I eat in one of the three campus restaurants, and inevitably, I've gotten to know some of the staff here very well - well enough to call them friends.
And this is where the sadness comes from. These staff are the same age as the students (19-23) and many of them can speak English as well as, or even better than these students.
However, the Chinese students won't give them the time of day.
Being a waiter or waitress is one of the worst regarded jobs in China and their wages come to around £60 per month. Here we are, supposedly the friends of these staff, spending £1-£2 a time on Western beers and Western foods, while these guys are looking at us and thinking "what are they doing spending money like this?"
You can say that this is a sad inevitability of life, that it should teach us the value of money, that we can't do anything about it and this is all true.
On the other hand, I compare China to a place like England and unlike back home, there is very little opportunity for advancement for these staff.
I've had many chats with these people (people my age), asking them that now their English has improved, do they not want to look for another job. They assure me that it is not that simple.
China may have advanced economically, but a meritocratric system is still not fully in play.
One waitress I met, a twenty year old girl, speaks nearly perfect English. She has moved away from her family to come and work at the university, and she is using her wages to put her sister through university. This undoubtedly clever girl has sacrificed her own education to pay for that of her sister's.
I can see people reading this and saying "that's a sad story, but there's millions more stories like it". This is true. But the point I'm making is that Nottingham University as a brand is worth millions of dollars. Instead of providing a rich Chinese kid's playground, why not offer a few scholarships to children with less resources. In this way, I can say that we're lucky to live in a society like England, where, despite there not being a totally level playing field, children from any background have some chance to advance themselves.
I wonder how long it will take before this happens in the developing world.
For now, I'd love to keep in touch with the staff that I've met here and find out how their lives develop. The main thing that they have, that a lot of my friends don't have, is a degree of happiness and willingness to accept anyone. It hurts me deeply to hear how the Chinese students won't give them the time of day - it just shows how money changes people.
Much of these sentiments were brought out by like-minded idealistic people around me. Back in Nottingham, I think that I'm going to go back into my routine of going out once a week, doing a bit of work, and playing Pro-Evolution Soccer on the PS2. I hope that I can fit some time in for something more meaningful and hope that I can involve reading for pleasure in my life once again.
I never read my blogs again once I've written them (that's the reason for my many mistakes) and I don't intend to read this one again either but I can't picture whether my slant is positive or negative.
Sorry for depressing/boring you all,
See you in a couple of weeks,
Nihal
Its been ages and ages and ages since I last wrote to you guys. Since then, I've started exams and am now over half way through.
Last week was hectic with four exams in four days. As you can imagine, I was moody, stressed and not sleeping properly. Thankfully, those exams went well, and I've now got just two more modules to look forward to.
I finish exams on Friday and this basically signals the end of my time at UNNC (University of Nottingham, Ningbo Campus). As my various friends have finished their exams, they have started leaving the campus so a very strange atmosphere looms over the place. Some of the people I have gotten to know come from places as far away as Thailand, Australia and Hong Kong. There's a good chance that I won't see many of these people ever again.
Funny how quickly four months can pass, eh?
Now, I have told you lots about my travels and exploits during these four months, and given you a little bit of background about Ningbo and China, but I have rarely been personal with you.
I don't know if its just the sombre atmosphere of the place hitting me but I want to make this blog a little different. I know that most of the readers of this blog happen to be my good friends and family (despite the fact that many of my so-called "good friends" barely find the time to read it), therefore, I feel comfortable writing like this.
I had previously spoken to you of the visible poverty in China with the beggars and whatnot. However, I watched Hotel Rwanda last week (great film by the way) and one line struck me. The Western camera man said that poverty and warfare in the Third World will make people stop for a couple of seconds, say "what a shame", and then just carry on with their dinner.
I suppose the same can be said about when we see beggars on the street - we stop for a minute, and then its forgotten about a minute later.
Anyway, I realised that many of the Chinese students at this university were quite well off - their parents had probably been recent beneficiaries of China's economic growth.
These kids are much like us in the UK except maybe a bit more naive, and some of them go a bit more wild when let off the leash from their parents. They will go out, drink too much and fail their first year exams, soon coming to the realisation that they need to work.
Back to the original topic - contrast this to the staff at the University:-
Every day, I eat in one of the three campus restaurants, and inevitably, I've gotten to know some of the staff here very well - well enough to call them friends.
And this is where the sadness comes from. These staff are the same age as the students (19-23) and many of them can speak English as well as, or even better than these students.
However, the Chinese students won't give them the time of day.
Being a waiter or waitress is one of the worst regarded jobs in China and their wages come to around £60 per month. Here we are, supposedly the friends of these staff, spending £1-£2 a time on Western beers and Western foods, while these guys are looking at us and thinking "what are they doing spending money like this?"
You can say that this is a sad inevitability of life, that it should teach us the value of money, that we can't do anything about it and this is all true.
On the other hand, I compare China to a place like England and unlike back home, there is very little opportunity for advancement for these staff.
I've had many chats with these people (people my age), asking them that now their English has improved, do they not want to look for another job. They assure me that it is not that simple.
China may have advanced economically, but a meritocratric system is still not fully in play.
One waitress I met, a twenty year old girl, speaks nearly perfect English. She has moved away from her family to come and work at the university, and she is using her wages to put her sister through university. This undoubtedly clever girl has sacrificed her own education to pay for that of her sister's.
I can see people reading this and saying "that's a sad story, but there's millions more stories like it". This is true. But the point I'm making is that Nottingham University as a brand is worth millions of dollars. Instead of providing a rich Chinese kid's playground, why not offer a few scholarships to children with less resources. In this way, I can say that we're lucky to live in a society like England, where, despite there not being a totally level playing field, children from any background have some chance to advance themselves.
I wonder how long it will take before this happens in the developing world.
For now, I'd love to keep in touch with the staff that I've met here and find out how their lives develop. The main thing that they have, that a lot of my friends don't have, is a degree of happiness and willingness to accept anyone. It hurts me deeply to hear how the Chinese students won't give them the time of day - it just shows how money changes people.
Much of these sentiments were brought out by like-minded idealistic people around me. Back in Nottingham, I think that I'm going to go back into my routine of going out once a week, doing a bit of work, and playing Pro-Evolution Soccer on the PS2. I hope that I can fit some time in for something more meaningful and hope that I can involve reading for pleasure in my life once again.
I never read my blogs again once I've written them (that's the reason for my many mistakes) and I don't intend to read this one again either but I can't picture whether my slant is positive or negative.
Sorry for depressing/boring you all,
See you in a couple of weeks,
Nihal
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