Sayonara Tokyo, Ni Hao China

I just realized I completely forgot to tell everyone what I actually did in Tokyo...so here is the low down. The day we arrived, we flew into Narita, which is about an hour from Tokyo. We took a really expensive cab to the hostel, not reading all the tour books nor taking any advice specifically saying, "Avoid taking cabs from Narita to Tokyo, they are very expensive." When we got to the hostel, some 20,000+ yen later, we unpacked and settled down. It took us longer than we had expected to arrive and our flight was delayed a little bit, so we were lucky enough to have good enough weather to walk around the neighborhood. Our hostel was located in Asakusa, one of the neighborhoods of Tokyo. Right down the block was Sensoji Temple, the largest temple in Tokyo. We looked around there for a while, but everything was closed, so instead we headed into a small restaurant and ate some food. We enjoyed a light snack of miso soup, delicious peanut broth noodles, and other Japanese food.

The next day, we woke up early and were out of the hostel around 9 am. That was one of the smartest things we did, because by noon we had already done tons of stuff. We began by walking through the Sensoji Temple Market, which was right by our hostel. We took a subway to Shinjuku where we went to the Sony building and saw all of the latest technology being created by Sony. It was really cool to check it out and to see what's out there. I'm pretty sure that the coolest thing there was a decent sized flat screen that was 9.9 mm thick. Thats about a 1 cm thick TV that plays crystal clear images without losing the quality of the picture. We walked around the area more and stumbled upon some pretty busy parts of the city. We stopped and ate some deliciously fresh sushi that was taken from the Tsukijishijo fish market. That market, besides being a mouthful to pronounce (no pun), is where the locals go to action off fish. Unfortunately, we never got to make it, but they have hundred kilogram tunas for sale that cost thousands of USD. The restaurants around the area are known for having the freshest sushi in the world. Anyway, our sushi was delicious and we got our first taste of the slurping habits of the Japanese. If you're really enjoying your meal, slurp your noodles up, the louder the better.

After lunch, we headed for Shibuya, the largest pedestrian crosswalk in the world. During the day, the amount of people didn't look that much different than a busy New York day, but when we went back that night, it was a swarm of people. There were so many, it was like being lost in a sea of people, when you looked up, all you saw were the black hair of Japanese for blocks. The Sibuya area has a lot to do, so we walked around and explored things to do. We eventually made it over to Harajuku where we browsed some of the punk rock shops and people watched. The girls in the Shibuya area were well dressed, fashionable and the such, but in Harajuku...they dress like little Bo Peep, gothic, punk rock, and all sorts of craziness. We didn't run into too many people that were really crazy, until we went back to Shibuya. One girl looked like she had cotton candy hair that was half white and half pink. It was pretty cool to see. After Harajuku, we went back to Shibuya, ate at a sushi bar where the track is constantly running and you pull sushi plates off as you wish. I've seen them in the US, but it was fun to eat at one in Japan.

The next day we woke up early once again and walked through the Sensoji Temple Market to buy some things. We headed to the electronics market in Akihabara afterwards and ate a quick meal. Tokyo is also home to the Mega Mac, which is an exclusive, four patty McDonalds burger that we only saw at one McDonalds in Tokyo. In Japan, the McDonalds salt and pepper their burgers. Overall, I think I like Chinese McDonalds better, but Hong Kong had the Big 'n' Tasty, which has been discontinued for years in the US. We didn't eat at the McDonald's for lunch, but John did eat the Mega Mac for dessert (it was delicious). Back to the electronics market, this is 6 floors of every possible electronic device you could ever wish. Toilets in Japan are an experience by itself. In the Sony building, we were first exposed to the Japanese toilet. They plug into the wall, first of all, which should give you a good head start in the direction I'm going. I'm talking about heated seats, high power deodorizers (that turn on or off), temperature adjustments, flush levels and power controls, and of course, a water cleaner and blow dryer. Kind of like a bidet, there are different sprayers that have different water pressures, but the best part was the blow dryer. The whole point of telling you this, was at the electronics market, they sold the same crazy toilets for your personal home. And you can even get one that detects you coming and lifts the lid for you. Most Japanese already have these toilets in their homes, but I think it is something that America seriously needs to take into consideration.

After Akihabara electronics we headed to Roppongi for dinner. We made reservations at a Teppanyaki restaurant and reserved the cook's table. We walked down to the Tokyo tower, which is like the Asian version of the Eiffle tower. I love architecture like that and skyscrapers, so I was pretty bummed when I saw the line to the observation deck winding around and around the lobby. I remembered waiting in line to get to the top of the Eiffle tower, and I knew we wouldn't have time to make it to the top. We took our pictures and headed back to the restaurant. Near our restaurant, there was a free observation deck, but that line was also too long, so we gave up looking for a view of the Tokyo night lights. Tokyo really doesn't have a skyline anyway, so I figure we didn't really miss out on much. The Teppanyaki dinner was delicious. I had a red snapper fillet drizzled in a tomato oil and pesto sauce, with roasted vegetables, miso soup, and a delicious drink. The cook prepared our food in front of us and we toasted to our last night in Tokyo.

After dinner, we walked down to one of my favorite experiences in Tokyo. The Absolut Ice Bar Tokyo. This bar was ridiculous. Chilled to a sub-freezing temperature of 23° F, you are only allowed to stay in for 45 minutes. The bar can only occupy 50 people at a time and later in the night you are only allowed in by reservation. The pricy entrance fee was worth it, plus it included a complementary drink. The glasses weren't really glasses, but actually ice cubes with cylindrical holes cut into them to pour the drink. They are imported from Sweden, where the original Ice Bar was founded. We drank among the ice sculptures and sat on reindeer skins to keep our bottoms from freezing on the ice chairs. There were two groups of Americans already in the bar when we arrived, so it was nice to have contact with the outside world. It really made me excited to head back to the USA.

The next day was an early wake up call. We had planned on going to the fish market, which opens at 5 am and closes at 8 am. We had a 10:30 am flight out of Narita, so we knew we had to hurry to the fish market. While we were planning our trip the the market, Devon stumbled across something that sounded like tons of fun. Every morning, the Japanese sumo wrestlers practice from 6 am until 9 am. Well, if we're getting up for the fish market, we might as well squeeze in the sumo practice too. We were already in Japan, so why not make the most of our last morning? The fish market was closed on Sunday so those plans fell through and we ended up getting to go to watch the sumo wrestlers practice. Big men in little clothing, what more can I say? It was really fun to watch, and I wish I would have known a little more about the technique and rules of sumo wrestling, but I think I got the jist of it.


Heading to the airport was a fiasco. As you can see by the subway map, trying to navigate the Tokyo subways isn't the easiest thing in the world (and you thought New York was confusing). We were constantly buying the wrong train tickets to begin with but with limited time we really didn't know what to do. We caught a local when we should have been on an express and then we transferred to another train and did whatever else we did...but somehow we ended up at the airport 30 minutes before take-off. Well, of course, running through the airport is my favorite thing to do. Just like missing my flight to Hawaii and going to the wrong train station in Paris, I have gotten quite well at missing transportation. Luckily, the Japanese check-in was very helpful and got us booked, through security, and on the flight back within the 30 minutes. We made it back OK and now I'm done with school. My last final was yesterday, I just have to write another paper by Thursday and prepare for my Chinese oral examination on Friday. I started packing my stuff and I said goodbye to the people who cut my hair. I gave Kefeng, the young guy who works at my favorite dumpling place, a Fordham banner that Devon had brought but never gave away. Well, that was a long post but I'll put up pictures sometime before I leave.

A Cultural Revolution

I'm back...well, from Tokyo at least. Devon, Jim, John and I got into Beijing Sunday night after almost missing our flight...I'll get to that later. What can I say? I really, really, really liked Tokyo. I am pretty sure I liked it more than Hong Kong, but then again, Hong Kong was an amazing city with great opportunities. Japanese culture is very different from Chinese culture. In fact, to be honest, I loved the Japanese lifestyle. Let me do a quick compare and contrast from what I've been experiencing here, and what I experienced in Japan. China is a very traditional country. For the most part, they have strictly controlled who comes in and out of their country, who they trade with, where they invest and who they invest in. This has had profound effects on Chinese culture. Because the government regulates so many parts of Chinese life (TV, radio, newspapers, businesses, post offices, health care, electricity, water, trade, transportation, etc.), the Chinese are limited in their exposure and expression of pop culture.

From what I've seen, there are limited TV shows that are broadcasted that aim directly at the Chinese youth. Comparatively, the youth in America are pulled in every direction when watching TV and have the option of watching any type of TV show with various subjects, whether they are considered good or bad, conservative or liberal. Futher, turning on the radio, the music streaming from the speakers ranges from urban hip-hop, R&B, oldies, rock, pop, and so on. The commercials alone, on any station, have enough force to influence American youth. I feel that in China, these influences are by far not as powerful or widespread. Chinese youth, although shifting more towards Western influences, are still considerably more conservative and traditional than American youth. Take for instance my previous blog post about the college life of a Chinese student.

Japan on the other hand, after having six years of allied occupation (I believe occupation began after WWII in 1945 and the allied nations included the US and Britian), was exposed to Western influences far before China. China, in fact, loosened its foreign trade policies in the late 1970s, while Japan was forced to open trade during occupation. Today, Japanese culture has evolved into a Western like culture while still retaining many of its old traditions and ideology. The youth of Japan have uncomparable freedom to choose their lifestyle compared to Chinese youth. They have J-pop, a plethora of Japanese pop artists that, much like the entertainers of Hollywood, influence fashion, music preferences, and other pop culture. Japanese youth are bombarded with name brands. Photos of their favorite celebrities are plastered on billboards and the radio is constantly playing the newest jams. Unlike the Chinese youth, many of which focus on school rather than keeping up to date with pop culture, Japanese youth are listening to music, watching TV, going to the movies, heading out to the clubs, buying the newest iPod, upgrading their cell phones, tracking current events, and making the most of their young years.

I'm not saying that I don't love Chinese culture. It has obviously interested me enough to keep me wanting to come back to see more, speak more, and learn more, but I can't help thinking to myself how much more fun the Japanese have. They have a culture that is as distinct as and is as much a part of their society as American culture. People don't know America until they come to America, just as the Japanese culture needs to be experienced first hand. They are much more than Anime cartoons and sushi, although they do have plenty of both, and they are still as traditional as the Chinese. They wear masks when they are sick, they are very polite and kind, and they bow as a sign of respect. I could go on about all the differences between Japan and China, but my main point is that I wish China could capture their culture, put it in a machine, and make it fresh, fun and accessible, so that the Chinese youth have something to harness and take off with. If China is about to enter into the 21st century, they need to get with the times, and the times call for big screen TVs, blaring music, and self-expression. The Chinese youth are inching towards this notion, little by little (and pushing the envelope of the government at the same time), but those that stand out in music, fashion, and ideology, are still few and far between. I'm sure within the next 10 years, China's pop culture will have sprouted, and with it will be a wide variety of options for the youth to take on.

Hello. My Name Is...

My Name is Regis. What's yours?

Salad? Rain? Echo? No, try again...

Dreamer? China? Krithy? No, not quite...

Dong Dong? Yo Yo? Maybe not...

Alta Vista? Definitely Not.

Those are just a few of the many interesting and (How do I say this?) unique, names our Chinese friends have introduced themselves as. There isn't much we can do to help them. In a country where people are named anything from Snow White (雪百）, Fog Between the Mountains (岚), Striding Over Mountains (迈岭), and other honorable names, it would probably be too much to expect regular English names from all 1.3 billion people. Ironically, in America, Native Americans often associate names with honorable characteristics. Swift Wolf, White Lily, Brown Bear, Shining Star, and other names are given to children for many reasons. A child's name could also hold with it the weight of parental aspirations. For example, in China, a female receiving a male name, (such as Brittany's name- Su Hai -苏海), the daughter is expected to be very successful in whatever she wishes to do, especially business or politics. A parent may name a child and, coincidentially, their personalities may match their given name. There are so many meanings that are associated with a person's name, that you can learn so much from a person having just heard their name. Jimmy, my roommate, is James L. III. His name has been passed on for generations. Other people, such as my friend Skippy, have names stemming from friendly nicknames. Skippy, who's real name is John, doesn't even go by John at home. In fact, Skippy goes by Charlie (Charles), which is his middle name.

A person's namesake is an integral part of a person. Not only does it identify and distinguish one person from the other, but your character and personality can influence the way a person thinks about a name. Everyone can always remember the name of their arch enemy and often times people tend to associate that name with a negative connotation. There are some names we love, some names we hate, some names that are just too weird, but the fact of the matter is, we all need one. The Chinese names, although unique, have a special meaning in my opinion. For many of these people, this is their first time giving themselves English names. This is a huge step forward in terms of cross-cultural integration and in terms of cultural discovery. I was lucky enough to be given my name from my Chinese professor in college, taking the burden of decision off my shoulders, but what would you do if you were suddenly asked to give yourself a name in another language? Where do you begin? And how would you describe yourself? When it comes to Chinese names, we can't sit back and just laugh at their naïvity. We can and we do, but really. What are they trying to say about themselves? Rain, Echo, Dreamer...and even Salad too, chose their name for a reason. Whatever reason that may be deserves our respect and reverence. I mean, for most of us, picking our name wasn't even our decision, so we're stuck with what we've got, but if worse comes to worse, they can always change their poorly choosen name to whatever they want. As for me, Zeng Li (曾力) will always be my name, what's yours?

Picture This! Again

River rafting, Mud caves and Dazhai Village School. Enjoy!

Yulong River Rafting

Mud Caves

Xiaozhai Village School

The Inside Dirt About Dirty China

I hope everyone is enjoying some of the great stories I have to tell about China. If it wasn't for modern technology, I don't know how I would keep in touch with everyone. I'm really lucky to be able to log on whenever and tell you about my adventures. But, China isn't all fun and games right now. Actually, we've all been discussing some of the things we could really do without while we're here in China. First, the public bathrooms. Often referred to as squatters, these bathrooms are just holes in the ground. Porcelain holes, but still holes none-the-less. Mostly a problem for girls, the squatters usually don't have toilet paper and are sure to have waste all around the floor near the hole. It's really not that awesome to use, especially to someone who doesn't have the coordination and balance to use them properly. Some of the squatters are so rancid that the smell literally feels like it burns the inside of your nose. Sometimes, you'll be surprised to enter into a bathroom and find no walls between squatters. But this is of no concern for the Chinese, simply life.

Speaking of toilets, the potty training is quite interesting here in China. If you haven't noticed in some of my pictures, some of the children are wearing pants that do not have a crotch area. This is so that they can be potty trained easier. Simply lift the child over a trash can and let them go. Or, if you don’t want to lift them, you can certainly just have them squat and relief themselves. Usually it doesn't matter where they go and places include but are not limited to the train (in between the lower bunk beds while the parents just watched and mopped it up with a towel before it ran into the luggage), the train station (right next to the seats where we were sitting), or even randomly on the street. Most of the time, honestly, I think the pants are amusing. I mean, I can't help but laugh when I see a little kid run by and the next thing you see are little butt cheeks peeking out of the bottom. Or when someone is holding their kid and they turn around and you just see the crack of their behind resting on their parents arm. It is a little weird, a little unsanitary, and definitely different than the United States, but it is one of the most common sights among Chinese children.

The pollution in Beijing is far worse than any other city we've been to. Shanghai was mostly clear, Hangzhou and Suzhou were too small to have pollution problems, and Qingdao had the sea breeze to keep the air clear. Although Beijing really isn't that bad, the hazy days are few and far between here. Especially now that the weather has cooled off the haze has mostly disappeared. But that still doesn't stop the Chinese from developing some wicked coughs. Now, imagine that you are peacefully enjoying a walk down the street and from somewhere near behind you--from deep within the bowels of whoever--a long powerful hhhhhhaaaacccccckkkkkk disrupts your peace. You wonder what is that noise, just to quickly hear the spit land on the blacktop some distance away. Yeah. It's that bad. The worst is when you turn around and it is a woman. That really grosses me out. It seems that every man, woman and even child has developed this unbreakable habit to hoc a luggie wherever they go, whenever they need to. The cab drivers do it while driving, the chefs do it while they cook for you, and of course the strangers on the sidewalks all spit their hearts out, every day, all day. There isn't any escaping it and now I really don't bother to turn around to see what's going on. Sometimes, they noises are so loud, that I'll be sitting in my room, doing homework (naturally), and from outside my window, I hear a pedestrian spitting. I wouldn't quite compare it to birds and chirping crickets, but sometimes I fall asleep to the relaxing hacking noises from my Chinese neighborhood.

Deodorant is impossible to find. Ask Jimmy, he forgot it on the Silk Road trip and on our trip to Qingdao. It was pretty funny when we went on a massive scavenger hunt to find it in Jiayuguan. Walking into random shops, applying invisible deodorant and having the locals laugh at us and hand us a travel size of roll on with a mystery odor for Y50. Jim was forced to buy it and we're still not sure if it worked or not but at least it kept him from smelling. (Just kidding).

There is another slightly interesting cultural difference in China. This has to do with the younger social interaction. Walking around campus, down the street, or in the subways you'll see a lot of girls walking hand in hand, leaning on each other or holding each other around the waste. In China, this is perfectly normal. Girls often have these types of relationships with their best friends, it's not big deal and perfectly acceptable. Even so much that it isn't completely limited to girls. Guys can also walk around with their hands on each other’s shoulders or holding the forearm. It's a little weird at first, but it's apparent that they are just platonic. The sense of personal space is very small in China. Yet again, we have nothing to do but laugh when a Chinese friend invades our American "personal space" bubble. The Chinese just have their ways.

One last cultural difference before I head off to bed. American college students live in heaven compared to our Chinese counterparts. In China, the Chinese students have the same size room with not one roommate, or two, but 4 other roommates. If you do the math, that's 5 people living in the same room. I couldn't imagine the frustrations I would have not being able to have a single moment of privacy. It gets better. They have to be in by 11:00 PM. Weekends included. If they aren't inside, they might as well book a hotel room for the night because they'll be locked out. And the power goes off at 11:30 or something. Oh, and their bathrooms. They don't have showers in any of their buildings so the students at UIBE have to walk to the next building over to take a shower. I think they have squatters on every floor, but our friend Li lives across from them and says he can't leave his door open because they smell so terrible. If any of these things happened in the US, I'm sure college admissions would dramatically drop and there would be a student riot.

That's all I've got for now. I'll keep you guys up to date this week with what's going on. Tomorrow, I think we're going to go get some custom made coats from the Wool Market in Beijing. After that, we have to work on getting our visa changed so we can leave the country. We're trying to get to Tokyo and Hong Kong by the end of the semester but the visas are once again confusing all of us and giving us a headache so we won't know for sure what's going on until we actually get the visa.