I came to Sichuan University because I wanted to do more than just travel. I wanted to live and study in a place so unfamiliar to me that it would challenge not only my previous views of China, but also my conceptions of my own capabilities. When I received the Chinese Ambassador Wyoming Scholarship to come to Chengdu, I knew that I would get the challenging experience I had always hoped for.
Chengdu is a thriving city of 14 million people, making it one of the largest cities in western China. To a person from an Alaskan town of 32,000 people, this can be quite overwhelming. When I walk down the street, there is a constant drone of taxis, buses and electric scooters. They speed by me in a surprisingly organized, yet chaotic road race. A race where driving on the ‘wrong side’ of the road is allowed! At times, I feel like I am risking my life when I choose to cross the street.
With all these people, you might think that blending in would be a simple task; however, this is anything but the case. I am an average of six inches taller than everyone. When I pass, locals point at me and make remarks such as “laowei,” which means foreigner. Blending in is literally impossible.
When I arrived in China, I had no previous study of the Chinese language except for “hello” and “thank you.” As such, everyday communication — which we so easily take for granted — becomes an epic journey, a journey with on-the-spot improvisation, confused parties and a lot of blank stares. When I am unfortunate enough to get a menu without pictures, ordering a meal becomes a game of Russian roulette. The infamous local seasoning ‘huajiao’, a spice that simultaneously burns and numbs your mouth, may be lurking in any dish. When dealing with the unknowns of everyday life — and the constant confusion of Chinese — I discovered it is best to simply take it as an adventure, laugh it off and find someone who seems to know what they are doing.
Despite the bustle of city life, just beyond the borders lie staggeringly beautiful mountains adorned with ancient carvings and traditional temples, all enshrouded in bamboo and pine forests. In contrast to the bustling drone of the city, the mountains provide a quiet refuge, where car horns are replaced by song birds and where mists envelop the skies instead of smog. Hiking the mountains of Sichuan is truly spectacular. It is difficult to describe the feeling I get when, after clamoring up thousands of stairs, the fogs unveil a massive golden shrine or monumental statue of Buddha that was carved from mountain rock centuries ago. It feels as though I am glimpsing into China’s past, as though I am walking through a history book. A China untouched by Western civilization or the materialism that has become a modern obsession. It is China in its raw, ancient, natural beauty.
During my travels, China has taught me a great number of things. It has taught me that it is important to explore the cities, but also to understand the mountains. That I can fit anything onto my scooter with a few sticks and a piece of rope, that I will never be able to buy woman’s clothes here, I should always walk slow, hospitality is non-negotiable and patience and concentration should never be undervalued.
Study abroad is not always easy. It challenges you in ways you could never have previously imagined; it is a life changing opportunity that everyone should experience.
Photos courtesy: Shelby Oelklaus
