family planning.
As beautiful as China is, every cloud has a dark lining. The family planning practices of the country is distorted by the inhumane family policy trajectory. The Chinese are up against a few population woes that includes an “out-of-control” fertility rate, a growing aging population, and a gender imbalance. For more than 30 years, the implementation of a one-child policy has been the accepted medium of birth control. Families are only allowed to have one child, but in observance of the traditional preference of boys, families in rural areas are permitted to have two children, in case their first born is a girl.
The grotesque reality of this policy rears its ugly head when injustices such as kidnappings occur at the municipal government level. It is reported that local officials confiscate children from house-holds that breach the policy. This practice began around 2000, “illegal children” are snatched from their families, put in orphanages, and put up for adoption. Micro levels of the planning include women aborting their female fetuses or families putting little girls in orphanages or up for adoption themselves. Though the government and its family planning policy cannot take full responsibility for the callous practices inflicted upon China’s most vulnerable population, the new leadership of the country, which is due to take over soon, should reevaluate the consequences of the policy and come up with a more humanitarian approach.
a shoe in.
The Diplomacy Delegation takes a site visit to the Children’s Village, a special service of the Shaanxi Provincial New Life Research Society, an independent and nonprofit charity. The Village is a safe haven for children that are abandoned as a result of the one-child policy, jailed parents, and a host of other unfortunate situations that may create orphans. The Village operates on a few principles that they hope will set their children on a prosperous path. They are as follows:
o Povide moral teaching and help children to complete
elementary school so that they may grow up healthy
o Conduct proper management to ensure a healthy life for the
children in the village
o Create opportunities to carry out research on the education
of the children and prevention from juvenile delinquency
On our visit, we toured the living quarters of the children, including their cafeteria, bedrooms, play areas, and resource center of the Village. It is evident that the Village does its best to create a cozy place for the children to learn and grown. Though it is located in a remote area outside of Xi’an, it is evident that the caretakers do the best they can to make the children feel like normal, everyday kids, despite their circumstances.
Other sources:
Xi’an City Travel Service. (n.d.). Society of Xi’an. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.chinauniquetour.com/xacity/service.asp?id=35
Chan, Z. (2011, October 24). Aiming for the ideal-sized Chinese Family. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.ecns.cn/in-depth/2011/10-24/3240.shtml
The Economist. (2011, July 21). China’s family planning: Illegal children will be confiscated. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/18988496
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wonderful
a wonder of the world.
The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago under orders from the aforementioned Emperor Huang. Snaked like a never ending dragon, the Wall was built in the 5th century BC as a protective barrier from various northern nomadic groups, such as the Mongolians. The Wall has been rebuilt and maintained across dynasties including the Qin and Ming empires. The cultural relic is reported to be 5,550 miles long from Hushan Great Wall in Liaoning and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu, down to the Wall in Beijing. According to newly acquired data, the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is made up of:
o 3,357 wall platforms,
o 723 beacon towers,
o 7,062 lookout towers,
o and 1,026 other ruins
The magnificence of the Wall can be heightened or dampened by the characters that you can encounter. It is an injustice to group the Chinese culture with one adjective because they are plethora of many, just like all others. But if there were a few attributes, they would definitely encompass pushy, funny, peculiar, and charming behavior. Fellow sight-seers are not the ones you should be weary of however; it is the vendors and marketers that pose a harmless yet annoying threat. Some of them have shops set up at the courtyard area of the Wall at Beijing and others stake claim along the wall, beckoning you to purchase their products. It is also worth noting that people who dwell in the country sides of China (and a considerable amount of city dwellers), act fascinated with people of color. While you marvel at the grandiose sight of the Wall and try to take as many photos as possible, people will either hop in your photos or insist that you take one with them. The word “no” must be foreign because it does not go over well!
Amid the vendors, scores of sight-seers and never-ending stretch of stone is a magical atmosphere that engulfs every spirit that is open to experience the enchantment that takes place from enjoying the simplicity of nature’s beauty as it collides with the brilliance of manmade conception.
reflection.
I have to take a moment to give a personal reflection about my experience on the Great Wall of China. At this point, I had been in Beijing for a few days and I was in complete awe of my surroundings. I am a city girl from the States and I could have never fathomed the idea of visiting one of the seven wonder of the world, I feel truly blessed. The air on the wall is lighter, things that meet the eye seem more vibrant, and the walk seems effortless. Seeing the world through a new lens, I have to give thanks to my Savior everyday for the opportunity. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind in summation of this occurrence.
Other sources:
Travel China Guide. (n.d.). How Long is the Great Wall? [web]. Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/facts/how-long.htm
The Great Wall was built over 2,000 years ago under orders from the aforementioned Emperor Huang. Snaked like a never ending dragon, the Wall was built in the 5th century BC as a protective barrier from various northern nomadic groups, such as the Mongolians. The Wall has been rebuilt and maintained across dynasties including the Qin and Ming empires. The cultural relic is reported to be 5,550 miles long from Hushan Great Wall in Liaoning and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu, down to the Wall in Beijing. According to newly acquired data, the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is made up of:
o 3,357 wall platforms,
o 723 beacon towers,
o 7,062 lookout towers,
o and 1,026 other ruins
The magnificence of the Wall can be heightened or dampened by the characters that you can encounter. It is an injustice to group the Chinese culture with one adjective because they are plethora of many, just like all others. But if there were a few attributes, they would definitely encompass pushy, funny, peculiar, and charming behavior. Fellow sight-seers are not the ones you should be weary of however; it is the vendors and marketers that pose a harmless yet annoying threat. Some of them have shops set up at the courtyard area of the Wall at Beijing and others stake claim along the wall, beckoning you to purchase their products. It is also worth noting that people who dwell in the country sides of China (and a considerable amount of city dwellers), act fascinated with people of color. While you marvel at the grandiose sight of the Wall and try to take as many photos as possible, people will either hop in your photos or insist that you take one with them. The word “no” must be foreign because it does not go over well!
Amid the vendors, scores of sight-seers and never-ending stretch of stone is a magical atmosphere that engulfs every spirit that is open to experience the enchantment that takes place from enjoying the simplicity of nature’s beauty as it collides with the brilliance of manmade conception.
reflection.
I have to take a moment to give a personal reflection about my experience on the Great Wall of China. At this point, I had been in Beijing for a few days and I was in complete awe of my surroundings. I am a city girl from the States and I could have never fathomed the idea of visiting one of the seven wonder of the world, I feel truly blessed. The air on the wall is lighter, things that meet the eye seem more vibrant, and the walk seems effortless. Seeing the world through a new lens, I have to give thanks to my Savior everyday for the opportunity. Breathtaking is the only word that comes to mind in summation of this occurrence.
Other sources:
Travel China Guide. (n.d.). How Long is the Great Wall? [web]. Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/facts/how-long.htm
Steel Compass
architecture.
In the United States of America, there is impressive infrastructure like the sky scrapers in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Ingenuity from the best entrepreneurs, engineers and architects (and nature in the Canyon’s case) created iconic structures that tourists from far and wide spend their pensions, life savings, and vacations on witnessing. America isn’t alone however; there is:
o Eiffel Tower in Paris,
o the Colosseum in Rome,
o the Taj Mahal in India,
o and the Temple of Heaven in China
Speaking of ingenuity and China, dramatic modern buildings designed have created a thrilling vanguard for thematic cities, majestic innovations, and ingenious—beyond artistic novelties, that has transformed the land mass into a futuristic nucleus of renowned vision and ambitious style. Even the ancient Chinese architecture that have stood the test of time that feature timberwork, stone carving, intricate artistry, and infamous multi-inclined roofs that have flat or cone-like finishes that jut into the atmosphere at the sides. Even transportation is peaking in Chinese cities. Right now, Shanghai has the fastest train the world. The invention, a high-speed magnetic levitation, train is called the Maglev. The intriguing oriental-industrial presence of the old buildings, coupled with the effervescent dominance of the newer structures and plethora of technological advancements has made city life in China a hot commodity.
all hail the bird’s nest: olympic stadium
It seems that it was designed with the creatures of flight in mind. The super stadium is perched upon land that stretches long and wide to accommodate the 90,000+ people that’s sure to be in attendance at the 2008 Olympics. The grid like dome resembles the placement of branches and twigs, woven to immaculate perfection. Herzog & de Meuron is a Swiss architect firm behind the grand construction (amongst other stakeholders). Though the Olympics are a figment of Beijing’s past, the creation is still used for local, national, and international entertainment and sporting purposes.
a grim past: the terracotta warriors museum
In 1974, a handful of farmers happened to stumble upon a discovery that would make the history books and establish a placid museum. Despite the toe tag attached to the body of knowledge that these excavators unearthed, the Terracotta Warriors Museum is yet another notch on China’s belt. The excavation happened to uncover three pits of some 8,000 horse and soldier figures belonging to Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The story the tour guide gave entailed an account of the Emperor’s personality and reason for this grand gesture. Huang was insecure about dying and being alone in the afterlife, therefore, he had his whole army replicated to be buried with him. There is even a rumor that Huang had all of his concubines buried as well, only, they were buried alive. Though the legend behind the museum is a little dense with uncertainty, the Chinese honor the late Emperor, and tourists from far and wide come to witness the colossal pits, and engage in the other festivities that take place in the park.
Other sources:
China’s Museum. (n.d.). Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.chinamuseums.com/qinshihuangt.htm
Reena, J. (2005, December 23). China’s New Architectural Wonders. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com//innovate/content/dec2005/id20051223_903049.htm
Gluckman, R. (n.d.). Flash City. [web]. Retrieved from http://www.gluckman.com/ShanghaiArchGeo.html
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Shanghai Maglev Train. [web]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train
China's claim to Flame
authen-ci-tacious: the act of being authentic, extremely charming, and tasty.
The deep fried egg rolls and soy dense fried rice served in American-Chinese restaurants do authentic Chinese food no justice. During our stay in China, our travel guides escorted us to many restaurants boasting the “lazy Susan” dinner setting, with countless dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken, pepper pork, sugar snap peas, flavored sticky rice, and of course a cup of soup to start you off and end your meal. The “lazy Susan,” which is a circular rotating tray that sits atop a table, aids in the smooth distribution of the colorful dishes around tables that seat 8-10 people.
Authentic Chinese cuisine is fresh, it bursts with many different flavors, and each dish possess textures that blend perfectly to produce a taste-bud inducing thrill that makes you forget that food is about nutrition and not pure satisfaction.
o Crunchy vegetables,
o chewy clusters of meat,
o crisp nuts, creamy curds, and
o smooth sauces
are combined to create sensational dishes that trump your local take outs’ beef and broccoli combination platter any day. This is why it comes with great surprise that most Chinese dinner concoctions are healthy. For starters, the sweet and sour, general tso, and sesame sauces that Americans love over chicken pieces, are often tossed with fried mushrooms instead, in some authentic Chinese restaurants. Creams, butters, and cheeses are rarely used in preparing meals and other methods of cooking such as:
o braising,
o double boiling,
o poaching,
o sautéing,
o scalding,
o shallow frying,
o smoking, and
o blanching
produce many varieties of titillating dishes. The Chinese are not only good at preserving their health with delectable dishes, they are also conscious of their environment. The Chinese use chopsticks made out of bamboo instead of plastic utensils or forks or knives, which were anciently considered weapons. Though there has been some speculation as to how the production of chopsticks harms forestry in China, they are ubiquitous as ever with the people because bamboo products can be sanitized and reused!
fast food.
The purchasing power of the average Chinese consumer, market share for multinational food chains, and operating profits are all idioms that are constantly swished around in the conversation about the emergence of fast food restaurants in China. American chains such as McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut (owned by Yum Brands), Subway, Dairy Queen, and even Taco Bell have taken up residence in the large land mass, accounting for over $303 billion in 2009. The numbers are only expected to rise in the future.
While it is impressive that China is capitalizing and making tons of revenue off of their pre-mature fast food market, the importance of it all relies on how well these restaurants are run and of course the quality of the greasy goodness. The “golden arches” in China have vegetables such as corn and green beans on the menu and finger favorites such as crispy wings. Their McCafe are actual cafes poised in cozy corners of the establishment and amenities such as free WiFi are soon to follow; this alone allows them to reign supreme.
Other sources:
D’Altorio, T. (2011, Feburary 14). Fast-Food Culture Grows in China [web]. Retrieved from http://seekingalpha.com/article/252667-fast-food-culture-grows-in-china
The deep fried egg rolls and soy dense fried rice served in American-Chinese restaurants do authentic Chinese food no justice. During our stay in China, our travel guides escorted us to many restaurants boasting the “lazy Susan” dinner setting, with countless dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken, pepper pork, sugar snap peas, flavored sticky rice, and of course a cup of soup to start you off and end your meal. The “lazy Susan,” which is a circular rotating tray that sits atop a table, aids in the smooth distribution of the colorful dishes around tables that seat 8-10 people.
Authentic Chinese cuisine is fresh, it bursts with many different flavors, and each dish possess textures that blend perfectly to produce a taste-bud inducing thrill that makes you forget that food is about nutrition and not pure satisfaction.
o Crunchy vegetables,
o chewy clusters of meat,
o crisp nuts, creamy curds, and
o smooth sauces
are combined to create sensational dishes that trump your local take outs’ beef and broccoli combination platter any day. This is why it comes with great surprise that most Chinese dinner concoctions are healthy. For starters, the sweet and sour, general tso, and sesame sauces that Americans love over chicken pieces, are often tossed with fried mushrooms instead, in some authentic Chinese restaurants. Creams, butters, and cheeses are rarely used in preparing meals and other methods of cooking such as:
o braising,
o double boiling,
o poaching,
o sautéing,
o scalding,
o shallow frying,
o smoking, and
o blanching
produce many varieties of titillating dishes. The Chinese are not only good at preserving their health with delectable dishes, they are also conscious of their environment. The Chinese use chopsticks made out of bamboo instead of plastic utensils or forks or knives, which were anciently considered weapons. Though there has been some speculation as to how the production of chopsticks harms forestry in China, they are ubiquitous as ever with the people because bamboo products can be sanitized and reused!
fast food.
The purchasing power of the average Chinese consumer, market share for multinational food chains, and operating profits are all idioms that are constantly swished around in the conversation about the emergence of fast food restaurants in China. American chains such as McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut (owned by Yum Brands), Subway, Dairy Queen, and even Taco Bell have taken up residence in the large land mass, accounting for over $303 billion in 2009. The numbers are only expected to rise in the future.
While it is impressive that China is capitalizing and making tons of revenue off of their pre-mature fast food market, the importance of it all relies on how well these restaurants are run and of course the quality of the greasy goodness. The “golden arches” in China have vegetables such as corn and green beans on the menu and finger favorites such as crispy wings. Their McCafe are actual cafes poised in cozy corners of the establishment and amenities such as free WiFi are soon to follow; this alone allows them to reign supreme.
Other sources:
D’Altorio, T. (2011, Feburary 14). Fast-Food Culture Grows in China [web]. Retrieved from http://seekingalpha.com/article/252667-fast-food-culture-grows-in-china
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Pleased to Meet You
no fear of flying.
Flying had been an elusive concept for me before attending Howard University. At age 18, I hadn’t been outside of the state of Florida, which is my birthplace. Acceptance into Howard has not only gotten me on planes, but it has gotten me on planes to Atlanta, California, Boston, and even China!
As one of 100 students in the International Relations and Diplomacy delegation, I was the pick of the litter from students around the world that got the opportunity to travel to China with the International Scholars Laureate Program. Our select group of accomplished scholars experienced special access to the people, places, and perspectives behind China’s emergence as a global superpower.
The Diplomacy delegation includes sitting in on lectures by leading Chinese diplomats and foreign policy experts, visiting key embassies, attending China’s most prestigious universities, and most importantly, receiving a microscopic look at the lifestyle of the indigenous people compliments of China International Travel Service.
The very moment I de-boarded the Cathay Pacific flight in Beijing, it became evident to me that China is like a world all its own. From the majestic mountains that can be seen from anywhere in the country, to the omniscient military presence that hangs thick in the air; I knew that China had a story to tell and I was more than willing to pull back the folds.
The culture is a breath of fresh air, the technology is different, and the people are receptive and inclusive all at the same time. My first time abroad was spent in the past, present and future of China, a.k.a. Xi’an, Beijing, and Shanghai. I immediately became fascinated with the sights and sounds of the region. The buildings are taller, the food is tastier, the attractions are richer in culture, and you can consume the history of the people through your very lungs because it is embedded in the air of every city.
getting there.
On May 29, 2011, I found myself rushing against time to get to the charter bus that would deliver me to New York. Tears and sweat streaming down my face. I was literally weighed down by a 40 pound suitcase, a filled to capacity duffle bag cutting into my neck, a passport that would be devoid its possibilities if I didn’t make it to K Street NW at 2:30pm.
Dragging my belongings from Union Station to K Street should have been a small task; but I was weighed down by much more than physical baggage. I found myself carrying the weight of uncertainty and restlessness up the streets of D.C. while I openly cried my way up four blocks at 2:15pm when I had a bus departure in fifteen minutes.
Relieved, at 2:27pm I was entering the gates of the Mega Bus parking lot. My white t-shirt had become transparent from my sweat and my blazer was stuck to my body like sugar on cookies. I was hot, thirsty and exhausted but I had made it. As the bus pulled up to load the passengers’ belongings, I had resolved that I was going to sleep the whole three hours to New York.
Flying had been an elusive concept for me before attending Howard University. At age 18, I hadn’t been outside of the state of Florida, which is my birthplace. Acceptance into Howard has not only gotten me on planes, but it has gotten me on planes to Atlanta, California, Boston, and even China!
As one of 100 students in the International Relations and Diplomacy delegation, I was the pick of the litter from students around the world that got the opportunity to travel to China with the International Scholars Laureate Program. Our select group of accomplished scholars experienced special access to the people, places, and perspectives behind China’s emergence as a global superpower.
The Diplomacy delegation includes sitting in on lectures by leading Chinese diplomats and foreign policy experts, visiting key embassies, attending China’s most prestigious universities, and most importantly, receiving a microscopic look at the lifestyle of the indigenous people compliments of China International Travel Service.
The very moment I de-boarded the Cathay Pacific flight in Beijing, it became evident to me that China is like a world all its own. From the majestic mountains that can be seen from anywhere in the country, to the omniscient military presence that hangs thick in the air; I knew that China had a story to tell and I was more than willing to pull back the folds.
The culture is a breath of fresh air, the technology is different, and the people are receptive and inclusive all at the same time. My first time abroad was spent in the past, present and future of China, a.k.a. Xi’an, Beijing, and Shanghai. I immediately became fascinated with the sights and sounds of the region. The buildings are taller, the food is tastier, the attractions are richer in culture, and you can consume the history of the people through your very lungs because it is embedded in the air of every city.
getting there.
On May 29, 2011, I found myself rushing against time to get to the charter bus that would deliver me to New York. Tears and sweat streaming down my face. I was literally weighed down by a 40 pound suitcase, a filled to capacity duffle bag cutting into my neck, a passport that would be devoid its possibilities if I didn’t make it to K Street NW at 2:30pm.
Dragging my belongings from Union Station to K Street should have been a small task; but I was weighed down by much more than physical baggage. I found myself carrying the weight of uncertainty and restlessness up the streets of D.C. while I openly cried my way up four blocks at 2:15pm when I had a bus departure in fifteen minutes.
Relieved, at 2:27pm I was entering the gates of the Mega Bus parking lot. My white t-shirt had become transparent from my sweat and my blazer was stuck to my body like sugar on cookies. I was hot, thirsty and exhausted but I had made it. As the bus pulled up to load the passengers’ belongings, I had resolved that I was going to sleep the whole three hours to New York.
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