We are boarding our plane tomorrow, and it has still has not sunk in that we are actually going to China. No one in my family has ever been to Asia, so I really don't know what to expect; I just hope to make the best out of it.
Right now, I'm with the group in Michigan for orientation. Because of Berkeley's late schedule, I actually had to take a final during this period in Ann Arbor. During my three hours of examination joy, the rest of the group went to a Chinese restaurant and tried frog legs, intestine, blood tofu and even duck tongue. Thankfully, they saved some food for me. Trying these "unique" dishes will definitely make my culinary adventure in China all the more exciting and daunting.
Besides food, I'm looking forward to working on my Chinese. I have taken a semester of Mandarin; but at our language lesson two days ago, I realized how much I had forgotten (basically everything). Figuring out how to get around and feed ourselves will be an experience to say the least.
I'm a little apprehensive about working in a professor's lab and navigating the city. I have no idea what I'm working on, for how long, with how many people (if anyone), and am worried that I'll find myself lost in Beijing--hopefully getting cell phones will solve this last one.
Going back to Michigan. I have spent the week with the other 11 travelers + Justin, several instructors and our commander-in-chief, Professor Coppola. It's been a great couple days; everyone is from all over the country and seems to have an interesting story about them. We have done several workshops which were helpful mostly as another way to bond and open up the idea that we were going to Beijing as a group, not as a bunch of individuals. This is important in that we will all be in a new country, and having a support group will help our transition into the lab, university and city.
Additionally, I have had the chance (instead of studying) to play basketball here in Michigan. It was great to actually stretch my legs and do something besides eat, study and move which had been my schedule for the couple weeks prior. Also along the sports trend, a group of us watched the Champions League final yesterday--poor Terry :-( .
Overall I've had a great experience thus far. I decided to go on this program to get a chance to actually see the world and try a type of research that I had not before. I'm looking forward to learning, trying, and seeing whatever I can with the China 12.
