The Great Wall

I have begun to count down the days. I have 9 left, as a matter of fact.

The weekdays fade into obscurity as I look to the weekends to shake things up and even beyond them to my return home.

This past week that Cheng jammed a q-tip a little too deep into his ear. We were watching a movie, getting ready to call it a day and all the sudden he bolted into his bedroom not to be seen again. When I awoke in the morning I found him walking around the apartment far later than usual. When I inquired as to what was the matter he picked up an ear plug (which he frequently wears while sleeping) and it was lined with blood. He said the previous night he had the q-tip in his left ear while he was doing something else. He abruptly turned his head into the nearby wall, driving the q-tip into his ear. Followed by a tremendous headache he took some Advil and went to bed. He woke up to discover the blood on the ear plug and began swabbing the ear for more blood. He had no way of notifying his parents (he leaves his computer, therefore Skype, at work). I told him to text Rachel (because I can't) and tell her I was going to stick around long enough for Cheng to get situated. Long story short, she told me to take the day if Cheng needed me... So I did. He's fine. Blood never ran from his ear and once he quit poking it-- out of sight out of mind.

We tried out a new bakery in the mall near our house. It wasn't bad, but I can't say that I've ever been to an actual bakery in the US. Doughnut and kolache shops are one thing, but a bakery? I don't even know where the nearest one is. Panera Bread- if that counts. I tried an assortment of products. Attempts at a kolache, what I thought to be a blueberry jelly filled concoction- turned out it had blueberry flavored breaded inerts. I didn’t understand. End result- the bread was mostly coated in an odd tasting butter or glaze that took away from it all. I miss American food, but I don't miss it enough to continue to suffer these feeble attempts at American food.

Enough of the boring stuff:

The Great Wall. It is, well, great. I was in awe -- In awe at how many people were there -- In awe of the man-made creation. In awe of God's hand on the landscape. We went with a friend from the company. He was briefly a tour guide, but he was mostly a great resource in navigating the subways and buses to get there.

We left the house around 7 but didn't reach the wall until about 11. The bus ride took forever due to the amount of traffic heading the same direction. The section we visited was marred by vendors and stalls leading up to the wall. Also, proudly displayed over the entrance is a highly Communist/Socialist/New World Order-ist mantra, "One World, One Dream." I am immediately amused -- Too much filth and peddling going on.

Once we hit the Wall it took awhile to snap out of the avoidance maneuvers. I mentally had to separate the image of on what I was currently standing and what I had to walk through to get there. I understand it, but it is a shame that such a travesty is allowed. I don't remember such at the Grand Canyon and it’s probably for the best because I would be appalled. I was hoping to visit a less touristy section of the Wall, but this one, Badaling, is the easiest to reach. Walking the Wall had its strenuous moments. Steep pitches, clumsily placed rocks, old people and children to avoid. At first glance the handrails seem tacky, but once the need for them kicks in they suddenly become a nice addition.

I couldn’t imagine building the Wall. Much less walking up the 70 degree pitches lugging a giant stone with me. I can see how bodies ended up buried within. The view was astounding. The weather turned very favorable for us. The early morning was overwhelmingly humid but the Wall was pleasantly dry with a slight breeze. This marvel is forever long. It sprawls and crawls in every direction, over and around mountains. The pollution haze lingered around the foot of the mountains and the menacing rain clouds and grey clouds met them at the mountain caps. I wish I would've had one of those fancy-pants cameras (like the Asian tourists in America do) to better capture this sight.

Cheng & Song kept a pretty brisk pace but I made them wait on me so I could enjoy it on my own terms. We managed to fly the A&M flag and the Texas flag a few times. Each time we pulled them out everyone, Asian and not, stopped and stared. All the gazes and looks gave the impression that this was a nearly unheralded move. What do I care? I'm a Texan. Thanks & Gig 'Em.

Despite the amount of people, there was a resounding peace to being in the flourishing green mountains. This was the image of China I wanted, not the pollution ridden cities; but the rolling green landscapes that dominate the countryside. I want to go back again before we leave but I'm not sure it will come to fruition. I have a friend heading this way from S. Korea this weekend and I think some people from Cheng's office want us to get together. I'll see what I can do. I would love to get back out there and see another section of the Wall. I'm not much into hiking and climbing- but I wouldn't mind this at all. It was invigorating to be standing on one of the Seven Wonders.

From the reaction of the Chinese on the Wall you would've thought I was the 8th Wonder. I took 4 or 5 photos with the Chinese. I wasn't even the only white guy, but I was the only one in a China-man-rice field-hat. If I ever am compelled to visit China again, it will be solely for the Great Wall and the food. I don't even know that I would care to stay in the city. I strongly implore anyone that has the chance, to visit the Great Wall. Words don't describe the magnitude of this place. The Wall itself with gun-holes every 5 feet to the Posts/stations every 200 yards- it ceases to amaze. It is a shame the A&M email client only allows me to attach 8 or so pictures. I have plenty more and would love to share them if requested to do so.

Song spent the night twice. We had Korean BBQ one night. It was pretty similar to a hibachi. You sit around a table that has a burner with a glass top. A fella comes by and drops raw meat onto it and everyone gets to sit and watch it cook. I don't know why I've just determined it, but the meats here are typically pretty bland. They don't use rubs or marinates (foreshadowing). Flavors emanate from the sauces. I do miss the marinated and rubbed meats. Some of the sauce was overbearing, but without it there is nothing real special about the meat.

Luckily, we had a chilled pumpkin soup (which I thought was sweet potato at first) and I resorted to dipping my pork in it. It was delicious. We had pork (thick bacon slices), beef and the 3rd meat was a "New Orleans beef," which had dry seasoning! Once fried up it was utterly delicious and a taste for sore taste buds (I tried...). At this same joint, if you don't ask for an official receipt, they give you a free 1 liter Coke. I think it has something to do with them not having to claim taxes? Sounds like Congress would have a field day with this country. Too bad Congress is, in a roundabout way, owned by this country. I can't much wrap my mind around it. They want to be us. We have it fantastically in comparison with these people, yet they own us? I guess when a nation doesn't fully re-distribute the wealth it accumulates from the people, it has the capital for such ventures.

I digress; on the way back to the subway station, Song's girlfriend pointed out a cart with English books in it. I ended up buying one for RMB15~ $2 US. The book, retailed at $17 US is apparently a copyright infringed version. Song said paper is very cheap here so they just infringe upon the copyright laws and every ounce of order and hierarchy to bring me a $2 book.

Most of the time when Song is around I spend the time listening to his and Cheng's conversations. I understand Chinese pretty well at this point, but speaking it isn’t my strong suit. I'll usually take pop-shots to Cheng, say something of merit that Cheng will translate, or if I think I can muster a quality sentence I'll let fly. Song said I use good grammar (which I'm pretty sure I don't) and that he thinks I understand the language pretty well. I guess I'm finally hitting my stride in time to leave. Oh well.

This might prove to be my last installment of the Beijing Chronicles, depending on what goes on this weekend there might be another edition next week. We'll see. In any case, I truly appreciate ya'll making this journey with me. Your responses and comments have been greatly and graciously received. Ya'll bring me a little bit of home and the Western world. I hope ya'll have enjoyed these rather lengthy rants, raves and attempts at sharing my accounts.

Random notes and observations:

Cheng was told that wearing his favorite green hat symbolized the public announcement that his wife is cheating on him. Similar to a Scarlet Letter, I guess.

Potted cacti here are believed to absorb the radiation from the computers.

I've never seen the movie 2012, but I think it’s about the world coming to an end in some form or fashion- anyways, it seems every ounce of this population believes it. If that's the case, I'm glad I've spent all my time in school...

I tried explaining avocado/guacamole to a Chinese girl... Note that if you ever have this opportunity- skip it.

Double parking, apparently, is perfectly normal. As is driving in the bike lane and ignoring all traffic lights...

The clipper guards at the hair salons here are numbers 3, 6 and 9. Why, you ask? I'd like to know as well. The thing is, the 3 here is like a 1 back home. So what does that make the others? I obviously wasn't all that curious.

Rollerblading is huge here. HUGE. Everywhere I go there are rollerbladers. I guess they didn't get the memo that rollerblading went out in like '99.

Until next week, maybe,

Craig

P.S. If anyone has any first hand experience with San Francisco and what tasks/sights might be feasible to accomplish/see in a 6 hour layover (would have to include travel and going through security again) please let me know! I want to see some of the city and would love a few suggestions.