From Brie Katzianer

I can’t believe it’s here. The end, I mean. Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, three cities in three weeks, one incredible experience. The last English Corner was amazing, I talked with at least 10 different students by myself for 2 hours. Hanging out with the Chinese students this last week was so much fun. Staying out late (thanks for lifting the curfew!) with the students was all part of the cultural experience. Just when I started getting comfortable with the city (and the cab rides), we have to leave. I don’t want to. This whole experience has been so eye-opening. We’ve been halfway around the world for almost a month, and it feels like a lifetime. To me anyway. This trip has made me realize how big the world really is and has given me the opportunity to see just a little part of it. It’s also made me realize everything I love about home. The entirety of the culture shock — the language barrier, the mannerisms, the food — really shows how different things are. I’ve loved every single minute I’ve been in China, but I love where I’m from. I’m going home to the states with hundreds of pictures and even more stories. The friends I’ve made here, both from home and from China, will be people I will never forget, and now I can literally say I have friends all over the world. This whole experience has been one huge adventure, and the memories I’ve made here will last a lifetime, as cliché as that sounds. And I can’t even count the regrets I have on one hand because I don’t have a single one. I climbed the Great Wall of China, I saw the panda bears, I SANG for the first time in front of an audience, I walked millions of miles across this campus and I danced to Lady GaGa with Chinese students. I couldn’t have asked for anything more and I just really can’t believe it’s over. I hope everyone had an amazing time, have an awesome summer and I’ll see you in September!

From Sethany Nuth

My experience in China can be described as graceful, pleasurable, and amazing. Throughout such a great time, I have never regretted taking part in the CTBU Study and Culture Tour. Before visiting China, I didn’t know that China is such a strong and growing nation, especially Chongqing. Chongqing’s fast growth is leading Chongqing itself to become one of the most attractive cities for tourism. However, I see that not only the city but also the University itself is one of the fastest growing parts in China. Throughout my stay at CTBU, I have seen that the relationships amongst CTBU’s students and faculty, and us, the exchange students, are very strong. Because these friendships became stronger and stronger each day we stayed, I never saw myself as a foreigner. The volunteer students have taught me so many aspects of life that I would never have learned at home in United States. I admire their strong self-encouragement, self-satisfaction, and companionship. They gave me what I think a real friendship is. Yes, it is true that friendship can be made anywhere we go; however, this friendship in CTBU is unforgettable. Throughout this trip, I have learned more about Chinese people and their culture. I learned how to adapt to such a new and different environment from home. I learned what real friendship is. I am looking forward to coming to CTBU again in the future.

From Rachel Weller

May 28, 2010

It is hard to believe that my time in China is already coming to an end. This journey at CTBU has left me with wonderful memories and insights into the Chinese culture and also the culture of the other countries that had exchange students in the program. I remember at the opening ceremony to the Culture Tour, Paula telling the audience, "Every year I leave with a group of students who fell in love with China." When I first heard this statement I wondered if my feelings for China could ever be that strong. However, after completing this tour, I can say I am one of those students. Perhaps it was the friendships I have made through countless outings to historical sites, delicious dinners, or just simply hanging out in the dorms playing cards with the partners that made me truly appreciate the Chinese culture. Yesterday evening I attended a birthday party of one of the CTBU students. Being a part of her birthday celebration made me realize the great friendship we have formed. Before I came to China I was told numerous times how nice the people are to their guests. Now that I have experienced China for myself, I must say those words could not be more true. As I prepare to leave this Culture Tour, I will take with me the vivid images in my mind of Jiefangbei lit up at night, the deep green mountains, the smell of the food stands lining the streets, and most importantly, the image of smiling Chinese friends. This trip has been incredible experience that I will treasure.

From Christine Scanlon

May 27, 2010

As our time in China is coming to a close I cannot help but think about the amazing time I have had. Despite the initial struggles and challenges I have had an absolute blast and could not have asked for a better cultural experience. I had the chance to be completely submerged into a new culture, and experience different foods, customs, and ways of living. This trip has really made me think about and reflect on my own life at home. I feel as if I take a lot of stuff for granted at home but this trip has made me realize and hopefully change that. Being at English Corner one night and hearing some Chinese students tell me how they pick their major based on what their parents thought was shocking to me. I feel like they do not have the same opportunities I do in life. In my life as in most American students' lives we pick the major we want and our parents support that decision.

I tried thinking about my favorite part of the trip and have a very hard time coming up with one activity that I found to be my favorite. I thought the social work trip to the museum and “haunted” town was awesome. Despite getting lost it was amazing to see the mountain and farm landscapes. We had the chance to drive up and down mountains, which provided beautiful views. I will never forget this trip. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had in life.

From Brittany Master

May 27, 2010

I cannot believe that our trip is over in two more days. The time flew by without anyone noticing. We have all had a great time so far and have learned so much. Since my last blog we have done so much. A place we traveled to was the Dazu stone carvings. It was a bit of a drive but it was well worth it. It took us almost an hour to walk around the entire place. Each of the carvings was different and unique in their own way. They each made up a large mural, which not only showed the Chinese characters that you could read but the carvings told a story. The stories were of the culture and their beliefs, which I found extremely interesting. It must have taken the artists that made them a long time because there were a lot of small carvings that made up the large ones. Another great place we got to experience was the teahouse with the tea demonstration. We learned five different types of teas and what made them up, such as roots and herbs. They not only are refreshing but each had their own meaning such as healing or relaxing. We learned all the equipment it took to make these teas and the proper ways to drink them. We all enjoyed the demonstration and even though I don’t like tea I still tried it and enjoyed what we learned. We experienced so much on this trip such as the different foods, culture and the Chinese way of life. It has taught me a lot about the people of China and also myself. I am going to take everything I have learned from here home with me and always remember this awesome experience for the rest of my life. I am grateful I got picked to come on this trip because it was a life changing experience.

From Leo Hussey

May 24, 2010

Unfortunately, our time here in Chongqing is coming to an end. Just like many people had told me, these days here flew by so I did my best to cherish every moment of it. In my time here I can honestly say I learned many things, met many great people, and I also learned a few things about myself. One thing that surprised me so far is that Jes and Brie didn’t kill each other rooming together. I guess they had too many other events and activities going on to even get in each other’s way. Another pleasant surprise I received at CTBU was the extent of students’ kindness. I was told how excited these students were for our arrival, but I had no idea how literal to take that. While I was in Beijing, I had one personal interaction with a Chinese man. I would say this was a good icebreaker for me to prepare myself for what type of questions the students would probably be asking me. The man from Beijing, Kevin, scared me a little because he was very personal and “in my face.” When we arrived in Chongqing a few days later I was a little more nervous to meet the students because of my experience talking with Kevin. The fear inside me left the moment I saw a group of Chinese students wearing red shirts holding a Widener University sign. As I recall, I was leading the pack of Widener students and faculty toward the CTBU students. I was met by a smiling, pretty girl who was smiling and waving frantically at me and directed me toward the side so we could gather everyone. It was also nice to see Rod waiting for us in the airport. His presence, in my opinion, made everyone feel a little more comfortable because we knew he would be able to bridge any opening language barriers. To my surprise, these students spoke almost perfect English! After maybe 30 seconds of sitting on the bus I was already in my first full conversation. Lou and I sat with a CTBU senior named Julia. The three of us chatted the entire bus ride to CTBU’s campus. It was such a relief that I could have a comfortable conversation that easily. I don’t think these students could have made a better opening impression to us. I remember laying in my bed that first night thinking about how great this experience was going to be. Even though my body was extremely tired from all the traveling, my thoughts where racing as I skimmed over our three week agenda. I also don’t think I could have been matched with a better CTBU partner. Sharoe was extremely kind and comforting when I first met her. I found it funny when she kept trying to carry my bag that probably weighed as much as she did. She even called my room phone that first night around 11:00 to make sure I was comfortable and to see if I needed anything else!

I would have to say that our initial arrival to CTBU was probably one of my favorite moments here. These students made us feel so special and welcomed. I hope I can return this same feeling to some of the CTBU students who will be attending Widener in the fall. The most important aspects of my learning here have been about the Chinese culture and Chinese way of life. The people and the students here are extremely hard working. I am not comparing this to the American work ethic, but it is very easy to note the extreme dedication to hard work and perfection within the people and especially the students here. For example, on Wednesday Sharoe has classes from 8:00 in the morning until 9:00 at night! I thought she was going to have a heart attack when I told her that on Wednesday I had a class at 9 then a class at 2 and that was it. The volunteers for this program also make it very clear how dedicated they are to the success of this program. Some students have told me that they have to sacrifice classes and take off of work at times to attend events that needed their assistance. From what I have gathered as well, the work wage here in pretty low, so it seems some people work longer, harder hours to obtain the luxuries they desire. With that being said, everyone person I have met is also extremely happy to be who they are and they pride themselves on their hard work and what they have accomplished. This is also evident in the students here who have a passion for basketball. These students know more players’ names and stats then I do and they love the game deeply. On many occasions I’ve seen students play nonstop for hours! One student, Cooper, told me that he trains his body everyday, whether that means playing basketball or just running the track. I saw him last night at about 9:45 as he left his final class. He told me that he was on his way to the track so he could run his two miles and make it back to his dorm before his 11:00 pm curfew. I was amazed by his dedication. He didn’t even have time to change his clothes so he just ran in the jeans and clothes he wore to class.

These students amaze me more and more everyday. Although college students here rely heavily, financially, on their parents’ aid, they are very independent in other aspects. For example, one night here a group of senior girls came over to my dorm room and cooked hotpot for Lou, Jermaine, and myself. I thought they were crazy when they said they would. It seems so difficult from my experience having hotpot in a restaurant. Much to my surprise they arrived with bags from the supermarket and went right to work. These four girls had a meal ready before I knew it! The hotpot was bubbling and they had arrangements of even more dishes than the restaurant did! This just goes to show one example of a cultural difference between us American students and some Chinese students. I feel that American students act much more mature than most students here and are much more independent in aspects like working and finances, but the students here show great strength in aspects like organizing this program and cooking. It may just be my opinion, but I feel like these students have organized this entire program by themselves! Every time we have an event I see the volunteers giving orders and getting people where they need to be. I’ve even seen a couple incidents where a student was telling a teacher how something needed to be done.

Overall, this culture has treated me with extreme kindness and a new understanding of myself. Whether talking about my partner, the Chinese family I spent the day with, or several people I met on the street I always felt very warm and welcomed. At one point I made the mistake of telling my partner I hadn’t eaten lunch yet and she began to divide a portion of her lunch for me. Spending the day with a Chinese family really gave me the inside view on this culture. I saw great respect shown for the grandparents of the family. While preparing lunch the chain of events went extremely smooth and it seemed everyone had an unspoken job that they immediately accomplished.

It makes me happy at events like English corner where I can return the favor to some of these students. I love getting to freely converse with them and allow them to learn from me and give me the chance to welcome them. Most importantly, this culture has taught me about myself. I have learned not to judge without understanding first. I realized in my stay here that people are people. Whether Chinese, American, Canadian, it doesn’t matter once the initial differences are passed all that is left are people. I also learned how to open my mind to a wider array of thoughts, ideas, and ways of thinking. This experience has changed me in a positive way and gave me the opportunity to meet some extremely interesting people and make a few nice networking connections.

From Ryan Holowach

May 24, 2010

As I enter my final week in Chongqing and I reflect on my experiences thus far, I can say I have come a long way since I got here in various activities like eating food and enjoying the culture. Since I have arrived I have tried various new things that I now look back on and could say I would never have imagined myself eating. So far I have tried exotic foods like pig stomach, ox stomach, duck intestines, and snake. All of these foods were presented to me at a traditional dinner in Chongqing known as “Hot Pot.” This is when there is a boiling pot in the center of the table and we cook the food that we want. This is where I was able to try new various foods and got to experience the spicy food that Sichuan Province is known for. Yesterday was a special Hot Pot because I got to meet my host family who were wonderful people and accommodating. We were able to relate with our similar home situations. This was very cool for me because I got to see what it was like to be in a Chinese family’s home and experienced their everyday activities. I got to talk to their eleven year-old son who reminded me a lot of my own brother. He is a boy who lives in a very different situation compared to my family, but in reality he is just a regular eleven year-old boy who loves sports. This trip so far has taught me a lot about China and the Chinese culture. As I embark on my last week in China I hope I can learn as much as possible before I have to go home.

The photo posted is of me with my host family.

From Heather Hepbron

May 24, 2010

Yesterday I hung out with my Chinese host family. I had a mom that worked as an English teacher at the university, and her husband teaches Physical Education, and spoke very little English. Their daughter is 12 years old, and for some reason she did not like speaking English, and was also very shy. After the opening ceremony, we went to a temple that was about a half hour away. There we met with the students from Thailand and their host families. We saw disabled artists who wrote calligraphy and made artwork with needles and thread.

The man who was making the calligraphy gave me a free script. The English translation says “good morale brings happiness to the world.” I think this is a very important message, because if someone can enter a bad situation with a positive attitude it can help make the situation better. I noticed that the Chinese have all had a pretty good outlook on life no matter what their situation is, and I think that is a big cultural difference from Americans. Being here has made me realize that Americans take a lot for granted and maybe we should work on teaching a more positive attitude for future generations.

From Jessica Abraguin

May 23, 2010

Ok we have one week left and I finally feel like the time is flying. Everyday feels like a circus full of different adventures and I never know what could possibly happen. During this time I have made a lot of new friends from many different countries and I love it! We all speak English, Spanish and I’m even learning French. It’s crazy how we communicate within the group. My other new buddy is Taz, and he is a 12-day baby puppy that was found by one of the faculty members. I pretty much adopted him as my baby boy and I’ve been learning to take care of him because he is so young, he needs special care. The things I’ve learned this week have been so much fun. I love spending time with my baby boy and the other international students are a good time. The time I’ve enjoyed the most with them is when we just played cards in my room and talked about everything for hours and it really shocked me how different every single one of us is. Every person in the room at that time was representing a different country and it was awesome. Meeting people like this and learning so much in such a short amount of time just really excites me for my future traveling experiences. I’ve had such an amazing time so far I look forward to seeing what each day holds. The next event I’m super ready for is the evening party coming up this Wednesday. And tonight was a lot of fun trying to figure out how to make our dance work. Just a few more days to go, who knows what could happen.

From Louise Calise

May 24, 2010

This trip has been amazing so far and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to fully describe everything and accurately describe this trip, but I will attempt to do my best. The first few days were exciting getting to meet people from CTBU and also from other foreign schools. On the first night we had a chance to hang out with a student from the UK and one from Canada. Combined with our American backgrounds it made for some interesting conversation. Within the first two days I had made some form of contact with all of the school members and many of the partners. It was very exciting to talk to the CTBU students because they are so interested in our well being. I have become good friends with many of them and hang out every night with some of the students.

During the first English corner which was amazing: I was surrounded by five Chinese students and at times more, who where asking me constant questions to help them learn a little more about America and also practice their English speaking skills. After that some other of the students and I were asked to dinner by our partners and their friends for hot pot. Chongqing is known for its spicy food and hot pot is known as the spiciest and the most closely related food to Chongqing culture. In the hot pot we had many things and CTBU students were worried that we could not handle the spicy food. Even though some of the food did make me tear up I was able to eat it all and most of it was delicious. The craziest thing that we ate was cow belly and it was ok. I could eat it, but it wasn’t my favorite dish.

The next day we toured the city some more and saw some of the technological advances that China is making. The rate at which China is developing is quite amazing and it looks like within the upcoming years they will continue to grow, as shown by the constant construction throughout the city. Later on that night we got a chance to get a massage. A student that we met on the trip arranged our trip and it was the first massage, and it was the best one I ever had. From the look of the place outside you would not expect how nice the inside was. We were able to learn and play a popular Chinese game mahjong and have some free tea while we waited for our massage. It was almost to the point where it would hurt but I ended up feeling so relaxed after.

The next day we had a day of all childhood games. All the international students and the volunteers were split up into four teams and competed against one another. I had a fun time and competed in four of the five games. The one I had to bounce on a ball across the gym which was hard because I couldn’t get low enough to bounce. The second was a mother hen and her chicken game, where I got to be the mother hen and try and block the other team from capturing our players. I also played a traditional Chinese game where we had to roll a ring up and down the gym and also pop a balloon. Finally we had a tug of war contest—the only event our team won. Overall it was a good time because we got to bond with our partners and other students.

We were lucky enough to get the chance to go to Chengdu our first weekend. We were able to see a panda resort and see how calm the pandas can be. We also got a chance to see Du Fu’s home (a famous Chinese poet) where he and other poets went to write poetry. The city of Chengdu was a good time. We were able to stay at a four star hotel right in the center of the city. On the trip our tour bus driver’s name was Kevin and by the end of the trip we became good friends with him and we plan on watching a basketball game with him sometime this week. When we returned on Sunday a few others and I went to Chinese corner: A place the opposite of English corner were we could talk Chinese. However, we got there a little late and there were not many people left. We were able to practice some Chinese but we also met some Americans and the DJ for one of the bars who is also the DJ for the CTBU evening party. It was a good contact that we made and he set up a table for us one night at one of the local nightclubs and we plan on doing our performance with his help. So far I have been constantly moving around and have not had much rest but I think it's well worth it since I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to be in China and I want to experience every aspect possible.

From Andrew Goodman

May 22, 2010

Saturday was a good day. Jermaine and I were assigned to the same family, which was an English teacher named Joanna. Although she was an upper-level English teacher, she was not totally proficient. As we were walking to her apartment, she kept telling us about her 14-year-old nieces who were excited to meet us. I was a little worried, because I was not so sure I’d have much in common with a 14-year-old Chinese girl, let alone two of them. When we got to the house, we realized that her nieces were actually nephews; she just had the word wrong.

At their apartment we made dumplings and played ping-pong, but Jermaine and I both noticed that everything we did was a suggestion, not an order. It has been like that since we got here. All that has been said to us is “maybe you should be downstairs at 9:00am,” “Maybe we will have a sporting activity,” “Maybe I am an English major.” We aren’t sure if this is just a translation error or if the locals are just afraid of giving us direct instruction, but one of our professors said that this is most likely because the host tries to provide the answer that we want to hear, not necessarily the correct one.

From Kaitlyn Gardner

May 21, 2010

This past weekend we went to Chengdu to the panda reserve and went to a few other sites but the "panders" were my favorite. I probably took 100 pics of the pandas because they were just too cute. We also saw red pandas, which I felt bad for because everyone thought they were ugly because they kind of looked like raccoons, I didn't love them, but the black and white pandas were my favorite and just so adorable. While we were in Chengdu a few of us went out to celebrate Jess Capaldi's birthday and that was so much fun. When we were out you would have thought we were celebrities but I had a good time with everyone and being out in China is similar to the US because they pretty much play all American music. The weeks at school have been jammed packed with activities and today we went to the Dazu Stone Carvings, which were very interesting. The detail on the carvings was amazing to look at. So far this trip has been more than what I expected it to be, in a good way. There has definitely been some unnecessary drama amongst a few people but that typically happens with any group. After our Chengdu trip I ended up getting sick but got better in a few days. That is when I really started missing home, I mean I missed it before but being sick when I am on the other side of the world from my family wasn't exactly fun. I am feeling better now but I can't wait to go home and just have some wawa, pizza, cheese, and hot sauce. I never realized how much I take for granted the little things that I have when I am home, but now that I am here and they are taken away from me, I appreciate them a lot more. We have about a week left in China and I am most excited for this week because the activities they have planned seem to be the ones I am most looking forward to, such as the night cruise, and the family stay. I am excited for this week but I am missing home and excited to see everyone soon!

From Samantha Fouhy

May 21, 2010

Hmm well my feet hurt from blisters, I've seen the sun about twice since I've been here, there is pointless drama, but I am still managing to have a wonderful time in China. I have met some people that I don't think I will ever forget. In Chengdu, the pander bears were so adorable, except the babies, they look like little rats. I have noticed more and more the way our cultures are different. I absolutely love English corner. The students are so nice and just love to talk. I noticed that asking about girlfriends and boyfriends causes complete shyness. They laugh so easily and you can talk to them about almost anything. The food fair was a blast, and I think that Brittany did a fantastic job at putting everything together. The Chinese students were like vultures to our hot dogs and baked beans. They were coming from all angles to grab our food. I guess they liked it. Visiting the stone carvings was interesting minus the bus ride with Jermaine leaning on my arm. The carvings each told a story and were really interesting to look at. I have been noticing more and more how lucky I am to have what I do at home. Not having to walk up hill, having Wawa, pizza, cheese fries, toilets, and the simple little things have made me really happy to have what I do. I really like China, but I can say that in the past week I miss home more than I have the entire time I've been here.

From Jessica Capaldi

May 21, 2010

Well it's day 16 in China! Everything has been pretty crazy since we've arrived here, in Chongqing. I've been seeing and experiencing so much more than I ever thought I'd have the chance to! In the last few days this week, I haven't been able to do too much. I was pretty sick for three days at the beginning of this week. Finally got rid of my fever and got to hang with the Widener, Chinese and other exchange students. Since I've been in Chongqing, I've made a few good friends from CTBU. Everyone here, including faculty, has been more than great.

I actually had my 20th birthday here in China this past weekend. It has been the most amazing birthday I've had yet! That was also the weekend we went to Chengdu and saw the Pandas! Seeing such beautiful animals really made the weekend and was so far, the highlight of this trip! Even though the bus ride there wasn't so pleasant, it was more than worthit.

Well long day tomorrow, we're visiting our local families for the day. I'm kind of nervous about the experience just because I'm not sure what to expect and not sure if it will be awkward or not. Although, I'm pretty excited and glad that we will get the chance to experience a regular day with a local Chongqing family.

From Sethany Nuth

May 17, 2010


This is my 12th day in China. It has been a sweaty blast. I learned many great experiences throughout this first half of the trip. One of the most exciting adventures was the flight situation. I was separated from the group because I did not make it to check-in on time. I had to fly in another flight at the later time. During the flight I met a few travelers who have the same flight situation and they were very friendly and helpful. I met one Chinese student who is also from the United States. He was very helpful. He helped me with the translation at the Beijing airport and even helped me to find the hotel where everyone stayed. My adventure was not as easy as I thought because of the language differences. Without him I would not know how to get to the hotel. However, from this experience, I learned that friends can be made everywhere and generosity can be found in every person.

At first I have a little hard time with hanging out with people that I haven’t hung out with before. I was homesick because I felt I’m so far away from home. The contact network was not convenience. However, this feeling began to fade away as soon as I stepped in CTBU. Students and faculty in CTBU are very friendly and concern. They make me feel like I’m living at home. They are very pleasant to be around. The contact network is also convenient at CTBU, which made me feel even closer to home. I enjoyed hanging out with my classmates and other foreign students including CTBU students. I’m having a great time right now. I hope it will stay like this way or even better for the second half of our stay at CTBU.

From Brittany Master

May 19, 2010

I have had a great time so far. It is a bit of a culture shock but it is good to experience other things in your life. It teaches you not to take things for granted at home. I have learned that I am grateful for everything my family does for me and I am very fortunate to have what I have. We went to Chengdu this weekend on a bus, which was a long ride there. It was worth it to see the pandas because they were an amazing sight. You see them in books or on TV, but seeing them in person is completely different. They are very interesting animals. I really enjoyed seeing them because they were a once in a lifetime event that I will probably never see again. They do not have a lot of pandas in the U.S.A. so I am glad I got to see them. This trip is nearly half way over and I think I have already experienced a lot of Chinese food and culture. I am excited to learn more and grow as a person in this environment that none of us are used to.

From Jermaine Hartsfield

May 18, 2010

“A glass that is full cannot be filled.” This is a phrase that remained with me throughout my experience in China. In order to have the greatest experience possible a person must be open and willing to accept a culture that is completely different from his or her own. My time spent in China has been overwhelming thus far. Prior to coming to China I thought I knew a lot about Chinese culture. Now, having stayed in China for more than a week, I realize that I knew only a small fraction of Chinese culture. China is one of a kind. Out of all the countries I have traveled to, China is the most unique. Chinese culture is so traditional, but yet mysterious. I have so many questions about Chinese culture but I am quite certain that many of my questions may not be answered because China has such a vast history. It is nearly impossible to know the entire history of the more than 4000-year-old country. This trip has opened my eyes and for the remainder of my stay I will make it my duty to inquire as much about Chinese culture as possible.

From Brie Katzianer

May 18, 2010

Thirteen-hour flight, check. Conquering China’s capital (and the Great Wall), check. Seeing the pandas, check. Tim capturing awkwardly candid moments on video, check. China has been a blast so far. I had the time of my life in Beijing, and visiting the Panda Reserve in Chengdu and exploring the Chinese nightlife there was incredible. Everyone enjoyed our short adventures in Beijing and Chengdu, I’m sure; but the activities that have been keeping us so busy in Chongqing are equally refreshing. I have loved interacting with my CTBU partner, and she has been more than accommodating. I’ve also been enjoying the food, believe it or not. I’m addicted to the greens, ask Kaitlyn. And spending virtually no money on dinner, I could get used to that. The only thing that has been difficult is communicating with people who are outside of the university. Although it doesn’t pose a huge problem, it’s a strange feeling being on the opposite end of a language barrier. It also doesn’t help that I keep responding to Mandarin with Spanish. Being out of my comfort zone is uncomfortable sometimes, as I’m sure it is for everyone, but it’s also been a hugely liberating experience. I feel like I’m on a never-ending adventure, literally. I feel like we’ve already been here for a month and it’s only been 12 days. The students here are so sweet and they really do love being around us, which is an awesome thing. One student, William, even said I look like Beyonce. And with so many Chinese staring and pointing at me, then whispering to each other (I’m certain it’s about my height), I really do feel like Beyonce. The whole rock star thing is pretty cool.

Even though the driving here is terrifying, the city is beautiful and I’m enjoying every minute of it. The walk along the river downtown the other night was awesome, the skyline was gorgeous. I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks and the only unsettling thing looming (quite literally) in front of us is the trek through this hilly campus. I am loving my time in China and I know that I’m going to go home wanting to use chopsticks and eat the chrysanthemums out of my tea. I think I’m going to return to the States having left my heart in Beijing.

From Rachel Weller

May 18, 2010

Since I landed in Beijing, China on May 5th, I have been having an amazing time. Beijing looked much like New York City. It was filled with shops and restaurants. My favorite part of our three days in Beijing was the visit to The Great Wall. The view from the wall was breathtaking. Climbing up the wall was strenuous because of the steepness, as well as each step being a different size with rigid surfaces. The architecture in China is more beautiful than anything I ever imagined. Much of the architecture is extremely detailed with carvings and art. In Chengdu, we went to see a Chinese Opera. The show was marvelous and filled with funny antics, extravagant costumes and make-up, and impressive singing, acting, and body language skills. The Chinese people have a true appreciation for art and nature. At CTBU, the landscape is filled with thousands of deep green trees and plants. Not only is the landscape spectacular, but so are the people. Everyone is really kind here and my CTBU partner, Jesse, and I have been having a lot of fun exploring the campus, playing games, and making new friends. So far this trip to China has been incredible with new adventures and knowledge gained everyday.

From Leo Hussey

May 17, 2010

At the moment, I’m in the midst of my first adventure to China. Since this is my first time ever really traveling to another country, I expected to experience a variety of emotions. The first rush of emotion came for me on May 5th, while I was waiting with my luggage in the parking lot behind Bruce Hall. This emotion was excitement. As soon as I saw the Widener luxury bus turn the corner and approach the lot, I felt butterflies in my stomach. The reality was starting to sink in that by the end of today I will be half way around the world. I greeted my fellow classmates and my smiling teachers then we all excitedly boarded the bus. I could already tell this was going to be an experience that I will never forget.

Although I was extremely anxious and excited, the bus ride from Widener to JFK airport felt like five minutes. Unfortunately, once inside the airport we quickly learned our flight was delayed an hour! This minor detail didn’t break any spirits, but gave us all more time to share our excitement with each other. As time drew nearer for us to board our flight, our fearless leader, Paula, broke the news to us that Sethany’s seat on the plane was given away because she didn’t check in on time. It was reassuring to know she was given a seat on a later flight, but I still wish she was on our plane. After many phone calls, Paula and Sethany worked their details out and gave us the green light to board the plane.

Although I haven’t been on many flights before, plane rides do not scare me. I was excited for the thirteen-hour journey to Beijing. The Widener population was scattered all throughout the plane. I luckily had some friends seated nearby and I had a window seat, so I was sitting pretty for this half a day’s flight. Flying Air China gave us our first taste of Chinese cuisine. We were served two basic Chinese meals, both of which I thought were delicious, but I knew I had many more interesting meals to come. I also got my first taste of Chinese beer, Yanjing. Finally, after about thirteen hours and a few scattered naps, I had arrived at my destination.

Although I should have been extremely tired because of my long day, I felt the exact opposite. My adrenaline was through the roof as I grabbed my belongings and headed toward customs. The Beijing airport was much smoother then JFK and before I knew it we were on another bus that would take us to the North Garden Hotel. The weird thing was that even though I was excited and had just made a long journey, it still didn’t hit me yet that I was in China and my adventure had begun. That feeling came the next morning when I awoke. After settling my things and hanging out in Beijing for a little the first night, I woke up my first morning in Beijing at seven o’clock to traffic honking in the street. I got out of my bed, walked over to the large window of room 603 and took in a deep breath of Beijing air. At that moment butterflies filled my stomach and I knew my cultural experience had begun. I would be lying, though, if I said I wasn’t scared. A very, very, small part of me did contain fear of being submerged in a foreign culture. I attribute my fear being minimal to how well-prepared I was prior to the trip. Paula, Colette, Pat, and many others prepared us all extremely well to handle the cultural shock, so I thank them for that.

We had limited time in Beijing, so we made the most of every minute. We gathered early that first morning and shuffled onto a bus to take us to the Great Wall of China. This was easily the most magnificent sight I have ever seen in my life. The history behind it is fantastic, but the wall itself is indescribable. The further I traveled along the wall, the more impressed I became. I was determined to travel as much of the wall as possible and I accomplished this alongside Colette, Pauline, and Jess. As I traveled the Great Wall I remembered how rich in culture China is. This experience continued the following day while in Tiananmen Square.

The most amazing part I feel I gathered from Chinese culture so far is that everything has meaning. It seems that every symbol, picture, sign, color, action has a distinct meaning and reason for existing. The people of this culture also seem to have so much respect for their culture and customs and they’re so proud to talk about them. Beijing was an amazing experience. I got to travel the beautiful city, use my limited Chinese to bargain in the streets, enjoy the Beijing nightlife, and enjoy some delicious food.

From Heather Hepbron

May 14, 2010

I did not fully realize that I was coming to China until I was on the plane flying here. My biggest fear was flying since I was only on one other plane when I was younger. When I realized that all Widener students were not sitting together, and I was seated next to two men, my fear grew even more. It wasn’t until halfway through the flight that I realized that one of the men spoke English, and was actually from Beijing. I started talking to him, and he told me the other man was from Chongqing, but didn’t speak any English. This made my flight a lot better, because I could actually talk to someone and learn new things, and the men were extremely nice.

The first night when we arrived at Beijing, I was panicked because I could not get my phone to work and I needed to call my mom. I am extremely close to my parents and I’m used to talking to them frequently. After I got my phone taken care of I was in a better mood, and was ready to take on the Great Wall.

Another challenge for me is some of the culture and social changes, a huge one for me is the personal space issue. I’m not used to people standing so close to me or bumping into me. Another is the bathrooms, which for the most part I have adjusted pretty well to. One thing I do love is that the students and younger Chinese people are very helpful and will do anything for you. The food is another challenge for me, due to my stomach, but I want to fit in and not be the “sick” girl, because I am having some trouble fitting into our own group of Widener students.

One huge positive is that I have started to come out of my shell a little and I am becoming more out-going, hope that continues to go well.

From Christine Scanlon

May 16, 2010

I am going to start with I do not think I could ever have imagined the experience I would have in China. So far it has gone very fast. It was frustrating initially not being able to communicate with my family. Phone calls are very expensive, and logging into the internet is very difficult at times. It has been an eye opening experience, and shows just how much college students in America depend on constant connection to the world. I think I can speak for everyone in the frustration with lack of communication availability. The students here at CTBU are very accommodating and willing to help us with any problems we have. It is awesome to see the cultural difference. The students here are very sweet, helpful and polite. Going to the Great Wall was awesome. As well as going to the panda reserve. It was something that not many people get to do, and I cannot believe I had the opportunity. I still cannot believe that I am actually in China. I miss my family a lot, and have already realized how much I take for granted at home.

From Ryan Holowach

Ryan Holowach
May 14, 2010

When we first got here Beijing was a lot of fun because I learned a lot of culture and I got to visit great places like the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Getting to Chongqing has opened up all sorts of new doors for the students of Widener: for example interaction with the students, the spicy food, and a whole different view of China that is very different compared to Beijing. For starters, Chongqing is a beautiful city that is on a great rise. The city of Chongqing is prospering at a high rate of speed. Yesterday we got to visit a Bio-Medical facility that implements technology to destroy tumors. We watched a lady give us an example with the laser that they use that cuts through glass but would not affect the human’s skin. This new technology allows for the patient to have the surgery without a big incision. I found this area of Chongqing to be very beautiful and I could tell that it was growing. At the outset the nation of China comes across as a place that suffers from pollution and poverty, but the experience that we had yesterday allowed us to see how China is growing economically. Above is a picture of Chongqing.

From Andrew Goodman

May 14, 2010

China has certainly been an interesting experience so far. Spending the first few days in Beijing made the transition to the Chinese culture very easy for me. Where we stayed in Beijing reminded me of Times Square, with the exception of the people walking around eating starfish off of sticks.

Climbing the Great Wall was an accomplishment for me, and I was happy that we had the opportunity to do so. Also we were fortunate enough to make some great friends at a small bar in Beijing. They were extremely accommodating and made sure we had umbrellas and makeshift ponchos from trash bags when we got stuck in the rain. Many of the Chinese have gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome.

Now that we are here in Chongqing, our role has switched from tourist to guest. All of the students at CTBU are elated that we are here. Last night, we attended an event called English Corner, where the students congregate to practice their English skills. We were honored to be their guests this week, and the students were equally as excited to be able to speak with us. I spent over an hour talking to different students about music, basketball, spicy food, pandas, and whatever else they could come up with. Until next time…

From Samantha Fouhy

May 10, 2010
Let me start off by saying I miss my family. I talk to my mom everyday sometimes twice. Now I don’t have the Internet yet to email her so it’s really hard. Beijing was absolutely beautiful and when Paula said that Beijing was our vacation she was not lying. Chongqing is completely different. I was miserable the first night, which was last night. I was hot and tired and it was raining. Our partners are super nice and accommodating but I am not a touchy feely person and I don’t really like having someone always in my face asking what I need. But I am so grateful for having them here because they help order food, and do anything we need. The language is so difficult I wish I knew it already. I went into a little store earlier and I was trying to ask to see a pair of earrings and the women said something in Mandarin. I just stared at her. I felt helpless and it is extremely frustrating. Overall I am already realizing how lucky I am to have the things I do have and the living conditions they have are so much different than I expected. We have really nice dorms compared to what I have seen during the drive here. I am excited but nervous for this experience. It’s hard when you don’t know what to expect as a whole. But I am learning as I go, it’s all that I can do!

From Kaitlyn

Coming to China was something that I was unprepared for and definitely an experience that I am so excited for. At our stay in Beijing it was awesome and I did a lot of things that I never thought I would do. When I found out we were climbing the Great Wall of China and doing all the historical sites I was excited because I never in my life expected to do any of those things. On our free time in Beijing a lot of us walked around and experienced the bargaining and shopping aspect of Beijing, which was an experience in itself but something I will never forget! Now that I am in Chongqing, Beijing feels like a vacation because here at the university it is a little overwhelming and I am still warming up to the idea of this city because it is so different than Beijing and I felt like I was just getting my bearings in the city. The people here are more than accommodating to us and it is something I am definitely getting used to because I am just not used to it. I am starting to miss my family and everyone at home, though a little more than I was before, but I am just glad we have internet now so I can get in touch with everyone! This exchange program has just started and I don't have much to say about it yet except I am really excited to participate in it and experience this because I have heard nothing but amazing things about this trip!

From Jessica Capaldi

Wow! I’m actually in China and it really hasn’t hit me yet. I feel like I’m just in a very large city with many Chinese people that don’t speak much English. We spent the first four days in Beijing, which was amazing. I would have to say I really loved it there. Everything was at the tip of your fingers, a walk away. There was a bit of a culture shock to me when I had witnessed certain types of “food” being cooked in the vendors on the streets of Beijing. Things like, bugs, sharks, starfish, and testicles. Although, while in Beijing, we had made the most amazing friends at a local café, who were more than accommodating. We actually got caught in the rain and they had ran around the corner to bring multiple umbrellas to our rescue. They had also supplied us with trash bags to wear home in the rain. These new friends of ours, honestly has been the high point of the trip so far.
Now we’re in Chongqing, which is much different. I can’t really describe why it’s different but the vibe of the city gives a dissimilar feeling. The campus is so beautiful and substantial in size. Much more than I ever expected. The students and faculty are open with arms. I can’t wait to make great friends with everyone here at CTBU. I feel like this experience will leave me with lifelong friends. Well, that’s all for now!

From Jessica Abraguin

A week has gone by and I feel as though I’ve been in China for a month. So much has happened that trying to look back on these past few days becomes difficult. Everything is so overwhelming it’s hard to grasp everything in detail. I’m a person who likes to feel every minute of every situation but so much goes on here that I feel out of my element. I’ve had a great time without question, but what sticks out most in my mind was my adventure in Beijing on my own. After the group and I visited Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, I saw a temple on a hill that seemed to have a great view of the Forbidden City so I decided to go. I had asked if anyone still had the energy and the legs to climb our way to the top, however no one wanted to go so I asked Paula if I could attempt going on my own. She gave me a map in Mandarin to find my way back to the hotel and I was off. Without question I was scared thinking if I would be able to find my way. I let the nerves drive me and even with all the pain and soreness in my legs from the previous activities, I managed to find my way to the top of the mountain where there was a beautiful temple with lots of flowers that overlooked the Forbidden City. The view was priceless and the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. But that was only the beginning, now I had to find my way back to the hotel. It took a lot longer than I would have expected. I wasn’t sure if I was going the same way, the names of the streets didn’t match the ones on the map, and the chaos with traffic, I almost got run over. My heart was beating a million miles an hour. Besides the “I’m lost” feeling, I was also starving and the time limit Paula had given me to get back was running close. To make it short, I did make it back, I ended up in a small grocery store, which is where I got my lunch, and I ended up getting back to the hotel before the entire group got back. My stomach was in knots the entire time, but I had the guts to take off on my own without knowing anything but “hello” and “goodbye” in Mandarin, and I found my way home. I set a goal and I succeeded, that feeling I will never forget. One adventure down with many more to come in the next 20 days, I can’t wait!