Recap of a Student Asia Trip ~ Good Memories
Here’s a recap of our student trip to Asia before COVID. Dr. Craig Dunning and I were able to host a trip to Asia to introduce students to China. That trip was five years ago this week. Out of that trip, I wrote a number of very interesting blogs. I was reminded of those this week and offer them to you as a good review. I present them in links in the order they were written.
TRIP TO ASIA – DAY FIVE [LINK]
We did not find anyone who was less than kind the entire trip. Yes, the taxi cab driver trying to rip us off at the mall wouldn’t fit in this category; however, the average citizen was delightful. I would have never considered it, but it fits their traditional cultural beliefs. In each of the Chinese traditional religions, kindness is valued highly. The people also value respecting others. These things were evident throughout the trip.
After a crazy time getting over here, China has not disappointed our group. On our initial travel, we experienced two cancelled flights, luggage difficulties, and a shortage of hotel rooms. However, the team responded incredibly well to those challenges. Furthermore, the second delay may have helped us more than hurt us for getting rest. This day’s post shares our excursions through Beijing, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and other details from our surprise trip to Beijing.
TRIP TO ASIA – INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO THE MARKET [LINK]
Today in Asia we introduced students to the challenges of shopping, preparation, and cooking of food. We got them up early and in the market to buy our food for dinner. What a crazy but delightful place to pick through, barter for, and purchase today’s food. Although this was the first engagement by the students in the marketplace, Dr. Dunning and I have been visiting the market place over the past week regularly.
In this post, there are some great pictures and it describes a fun night with our friends.
TRIP TO ASIA – THE RELIGION [LINK]
As our students toured China, we interacted with various influences of China’s religion – the primary three are Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Historically, China’s people celebrate various folk religion such as worshiping ancestors and local deities. The officially recognized religions of China include Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, a form of Catholicism, and Protestantism (as an officially recognized church). The communist party though is officially atheist. Over 75% of the Chinese people fall into the categories of Confucianism, Taoism, Chinese Buddhism, and ancestor worship.
Regarding our experience of the Chinese culture and religious practices, we toured two temples and observed practices all over the culture. You’ll enjoy these pictures and explanation – plus it will burden your heart for these people.
TRIP TO ASIA – THEY GET THIS RIGHT [LINK]
Over the two weeks in China, I spent many hours engaging the public, watching people, having as many conversations as possible, and making observations. As it is here, it is summer there and vacation season. Plus, we spent over half our time in Dalian which is a tourist hot spot. As a modern and beautiful sea-front city, people travel to Dalian from all over Asia and beyond. We met people on vacation from all over China plus many other nations, including Russia to the north, England to the east, and Canada to the west. In observing the vacationers and engaging the locals, this is one thing they get right – emphasizing extended family.
In this post, I make four observations regarding family life in China.
TRIP TO ASIA – THE GREAT WALL [LINK]
The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s most known landmarks. Throughout my early years, I saw pictures of the Great Wall and often wondered what it looked like, what was its actual purpose, and where it was. On this trip our group took the opportunity to explore a portion of it. We were not disappointed in any way.
This was a special day for our group. You will want to take time to read through to the bottom of this post to see a special moment in our two weeks together.
TRIP TO ASIA – THE BEST PART [LINK]
I saved the best for last! What was the best part of the trip to Asia? Without doubt, the people. Over the two weeks our group met so many people. People of every kind. We met marketplace people, business people, white-collar people, blue-collar people, older people, very young people, and everyone in between. These people were the highlight of the trip.
This final post of our trip summarized our week and made some important implications for us.
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