Things About Today

This past weekend was probably my favorite travel that I've done.  And I'm not going to write about it right now.  HA.

This morning for IR we went to a class at Qinghua University (the best university in China), broke into groups and talked about IR issues between China and America.  I was with my friend Alyssa and three Chinese students.  We made a list of the issues which included trade/currency, human rights, environmental issues, Taiwan, Tibet, N. Korea, relations with SE Asia, media, and more.  It was so interesting to hear the Chinese perspective on these issues.  Most of us agreed that trade and currency are the most pressing issues in China/US relations right now.  Perhaps the most interesting part for me was figuring out how to answer some of the questions that the Chinese students posed to us, including things about gun control and American political awareness (or lack thereof).  I think what it came down to was explaining how Americans in general don't believe one thing universally, because of things like geographical differences and our multi-party system and free speech.  It was an awesome way to spend class!

The other random event of my day was when I stopped in a tiny clothes store by my house to see if they had any fleeces (they didn't).  However, the girls working in the shop struck up a conversation with me and we managed to have a basic conversation in Chinese!  I of course heard their giggles as I walked out of the door, but that's nothing new, and I appreciated that they initiated the conversation with me.  It was pretty fun.

Really, that's it.  Exciting to me and no one else is that a new noodle place opened up right near campus, and I can get a hefty portion of delicious mian for six kuai a five minute walk from campus.