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.