November 21, 2010 - Beijing, China

"Many times I've lied

many times I've listened

many times I've wondered 

how much there is to know..."

~Led Zeppelin, Over the Hills & Far Away, Verse III

Although we feel safe at our new hotel, there is also a feeling of awkwardness.  Each year HanBan Confucius Institute brings educators from around the world for exposure to China and the Mandarin language.  Last year 400 U.S. educators and administrators attended this institute.  This year international educators from every country were invited to apply, except from the United States.  Since the Advanced Mandarin Language Center was not where we should be placed, we requested a more appropriate setting.  The Confucius Institute is where we landed.  We've noticed a feeling of resentment by the educators from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Poland, U.K., Ethiopia, Kenya, and...  A stereotypes perseveres - typical American's make demands until they get what they want.  We are not helping our country in the international relations department.

At one point in the day an Australian woman approached me, stating she was under the impression that the U.S. doesn't care about foreign languages, and why we were in China.  I often practice my most important U.S. Right - Freedom of Speech, by often questioning and condemning my countries practices.  Now it was time to defend my country.  Most states require students to graduate with at least 2 years of a foreign language and later in the day, I learned that there are over 1,020 U.S. colleges teaching Mandarin.  Life doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you need.  Possibly, our destiny was to "accidentally" attend the Confucius Institute in order to inform educators from around the world that the U.S. does care about international relations.

This trip is a combination of opposing forces. 

Yin - Yang

Light - Dark 

Advanced Mandarin Language Center - Confucius Institute Professional Training.

Mountain - Water  

Sun - Moon

Longmi Hotsprings Hotel - Yi Hai Business Hotel

Heaven - Hell

If I could change anything from this week it would be balance.  The Advance Mandarin was beyond my ability level and the Confucius Institute is offering little in the way of language development.  I'm reading for the next step in learning Mandarin.

Spending the majority of our day at the Beijing Language & Culture University, we focused on Chinese Arts - calligraphy, painting, folk paper cutting, dumplings, and Tai Chi.  In the afternoon, all the foreigners wanted to go shopping at the Silk Market.  Not a fan of buying knock-off products made by slave children and also in need of some solo-time, I walked to the Ancient Observatory (Guguanxiangtai).  Rarely visible in Beijing is there a clear, blue sky.  Kublai Khan, the Mongolian ruler, built Beijing's first observatory to make astrological predictions, observe astronomy, and assist in seafaring navigation.  The Chinese originally believe the the Earth was the center of the universe and orbited by celestial spheres.  The present observatory was built in 1437 with instruments for measuring astronomy including an ecliptic armilla, a theodolite, a sextant, and a dragon quadrant.

For dinner Haidilao Hotpot.  Although yummy and fun, last summer's Shanghai Hotpot was better.  I've become a Hotpot snob.

Although a long day, once again, it felt good returning to a hot shower and warm bed.