Student Journals: AIFS in Nanjing, China

Rebecca Vescera
James Madison University
Nanjing University, Nanjing

First few weeks in Nanjing
We are in our dorms at Nanjing University. This city is smaller than Shanghai, but still 7.5 million people. My window has a view of the Nanjing city skyline. There are beautiful mountains all around us. Nanjing itself is very nice. It has tree lined streets with Chinese style houses and gates all around. At the same time it has 3 main shopping areas (oh lord please help me!) which include all the regulars: Gucci, Fendi, Coach, and more... ;-). There are little restaurants and shops all around my dorm. My dorm feels like a hotel. I'm on the 12th floor, we have a tv, our own bathroom, and the view i could have never imagined. I'm still trying to get used to the time difference, since it is 5:30am and I am wide awake with excitement. I think I am going to like Nanjing, a lot better than Shanghai which was extremely crowded.

I just had noodles for dinner and did some browsing at the night market. China is so different and unique and I feel amazed I have this opportunity to come and live here. People in the states have such a negative connotation about China and its ways, and I have to say, a lot of these beliefs are turning out to be false. Yes living here is very different, especially getting used to the ground toilets will be difficult, however, people are so happy here and enjoy living in China. They are so proud of their culture and history and morals instilled in them for thousands of years. It is interesting how the Chinese treat foreigners here. We pretty much could be royalty here for all I know, since they are always giving us free drinks and food. It is amazing how some of these people have so little and yet are willing to give so much to us. The foreign student's dorm is probably the best example.

Our dorm has heating and air conditioning, running water, tv, refrigerator, double or single rooms, and great ammedities such as a restaurant on the first floor, a maid service, and laundry services. The chinese student dorms are just the opposite, with at minimum 6 heads to a room, no private bathrooms or running water, and no heating or air conditioning. However, these students never complain and are in fact used to these conditions. It made me realize that the culture is only different, not inferior to mine. I am getting used to ordering food and speaking Chinese to people that cannot understand English at all. Today was my first day of classes. I had Chinese international relations today. I think I am really going to enjoy this class, especially because our professor, Qing, has so much experience with foreign relations. He can speak very well English as well. He told us that at one point of his life he went to West Africa (Sierra Leon) with the United Nations to help make peace during the civil unrest there. That is an incredible thing he did and I think I could learn from him a lot.

My Chinese language class is beginning to become more intense. It is four hours every morning (including Fridays) and the teachers speak Chinese to us the entire time. I'm hoping I will pick it up fast. My other classes are very interesting. I'm starting to get to know the streets of Nanjing, although I still feel somewhat lost in some areas. The subway system is very simple (one line) and can get you to most big spots in Nanjing. This weekend I'm going to purple mountain to either hike or take a cable car up to the top and see the view. I'm meeting so many people from all of the world and it's great to see that many of them are just like me. We have a lot in common (all studying Chinese, and a lot of international affairs majors) and it will be cool to have people to visit from all over the world!