H-24 about to enjoy some white water rafting!

“On Monday the 9th, we started our first full week of classes here in Hangzhou, China. In one week, we collectively spoke more Chinese than we ever have in our lives (which, quite frankly, is not hard to do living in the States). Other than the joys of class and homework, the week was rather uneventful. Many of us were too busy and or tired to carry out any major tomfoolery. On Friday, however, we had a massive thunderstorm go through Hangzhou. The storm raged for hours, going from roughly 6 to 9 pm. The water easily reached the high sidewalk, turning the road into what looked like a giant four-lane swimming pool. Traffic was backed up for miles, buses were unable to run their routes, and many had abandoned their cars, pulling them over to the side of the road. The stranded people tried to call for taxis, but they had absolutely no luck, as even the taxi drivers were trying to get home. So, many of them just waited out the storm in local shops and restaurants. Many of our group just stayed indoors, however, there were three (Paxton, Marquisha, and myself) who were at our new internship. Due to the storm, we did not get back to campus until almost midnight, and were sufficiently soaked from the journey.

The week of Monday the 16th brought our group to the first major holiday celebrated in China, the Mid-Autumn festival. The festival was on Thursday, which meant that we did not have any classes Thursday or Friday. It is celebrated with fireworks, eating many moon cakes, and many marveling at the bright and full China moon. Most of our group went to Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake); a picturesque body of water with countless small island outcroppings interspersed throughout.  It was a really gorgeous lake.  Upon arrival on Thursday, we were given a choice of itineraries. We could either go and do a five hour tour group of the Lake, or we could go white water rafting. We chose the latter. Professor Lin also mentioned that we could hit up an oxygen bar, before the rafting, and we all were interested in going. However, when we reached the oxygen bar, our group was shocked to find that an oxygen bar was a little different here in China than it was in the US. In the US, an oxygen bar is like a normal bar, but instead of alcohol, you hook up an oxygen mask of sorts, and breathe high concentration oxygen, usually with aromatherapy scents added in. In China, we found ourselves in a forest-oxygen bar, which I guess is Chinese for a hiking trail. Outside of the initial confusion, we ended up really enjoying the great views offered.

China has many picturesque water-feature locations, such as the Thousand Island Lake and the Grand Canal (pictured here)

Then, we went white water rafting, which was an absolute blast. As we waited to get onto the river, we were mixed in to a group of ten or twelve Chinese people around our age. As we got into the rafts, we were given life vests, oars, and a plastic hardhat helmet. After getting into the raft and being pushed off, we reached a wider, slower area of the river. There, some of the aforementioned Chinese kids had taken to filling their hardhats with stream water, and pelting friends in other boats with the water. So, naturally (in our attempt to assimilate into Chinese society), we jumped into the firefight, pelting the nearest boat with water. They then threw water at us, and something akin to World War III started. As we reached the tunnel that ran through the majority of the course, we found ourselves in a closed in water fight. The battle ebbed and flowed through countless ceasefires, mutinies, and the like, until we reached the rapids. After getting off the lake, we all laughed at ourselves, high-fives each other and enjoying our childishness. If only all international conflicts were fought in this manner.  None of us were anywhere near dry until we got back to campus.

Coming up, we soon have a trip to Xi’an, but I’m sure that will be discussed in great detail in the next update.

-Ethan”