World China Hebei Qinhuangdao

Gis & Joan back in China

June 30, 2010 Jun 29, 2010

We head back to Canada tomorrow. What an adventure we have had. China is a study of contrasts. There are the ancient sites that are older than we can imagine and the bustling construction unlike anything we have ever seen. There are deformed beggars and world class laboratory research. There is the bone chilling April weather in Qinhuangdao and the breath taking heat of Beijing. But all around is the kindness and generosity of the Chinese. We are glad to have had the time in Beijing. It feels like an intermediate stop between where we have lived for three months and the western world that is beckoning. We hopped on the subway on Sunday to visit the Summer Palace. It is on the northern edge of Beijing and would have been a welcome respite from the heat in ancient times. We could imagine the Emperor walking the paths in the shade of the trees. In vivid contrast to Sunday`s outing we spent Monday at the Beijing University of Science and Technology. Sixteen professors from there studied English at MHC several years ago and were anxious to show off their work. Most of the sixteen showed off their particular areas of research, including structural designs to withstand some of the massive earthquakes, real road simulations to increase road safety and recycling of e-waste. The 2008 Olympics badminton venue is located on campus and continues to be used by staff and students and the public. The gold winner in women`s badminton was a student from this university. One of the sixteen is going to Columbia for a year as a visiting fellow. We were taken to lunch by the group where there was a great deal of discussion about one dish. They eventually settled on squirrel but it turns out it was called squirrel fish. Then there was the frog soup and, despite all the coaxing, Gis refused to sample. One of the professors took us out for dinner after a quick stop at the Silk Market. What a place that is! People were grabbing my hand and pulling me into shops. The place was packed with foreigners and fake products. Gis is becoming the master bargainer. One girl said he was killing her. I suspect that is a big compliment! Gis went on his own to the military museum yesterday. It was huge with full tanks, aircraft and a ship.

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