The mountains, the city, the Great Wall and a Ball
It’s a new month so this calls for another day trip, of course. The mountains (山) seem to be a popular choice for us, as I must admit it is nice to get a break from the busy city that we live in. Although, the drive up the mountain was like being on a rollercoaster, thankfully we made it. Despite the freezing temperatures we had a lovely day out at Bashai Mountain. Step by step we made our way up the mountain with a beautiful (漂亮) continuous changing view. We could see for miles on end. After this relaxing (yet tiring) day away, we were ready to get back into the swing of things and study (学习) for the approaching final exams.
We are very lucky in Tianjin as we have many places we like to eat (吃) for dinner that are very cheap, which is always a benefit as a student. One of my favourite places to go is the food court as there is a wide variety of choice, such as Thai, Indian, Japanese and of course, Chinese food. There is a true atmosphere here, we’ve even made friends (朋友) with our favourite chefs. Also, everything is cooked fresh right in front of you, simply delicious (很好吃). This also gives me a good chance to practise my Chinese as the chefs will help me to pronounce the names of various dishes, and even recommend their own personal favourites. Many of us enjoy going to our local food market after classes to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables, and many natural ingredients, much cheaper than in Scotland!
In China there are many traditional dishes that we are lucky to try. For example, for breakfast (早饭) in China we eat a variety of things. My personal favourite is a baozi (包子), a steamed stuffed bun. Baozi can be stuffed with various meats and vegetables, so you can choose whatever one you like. Baozi are very common in the North of China and were in fact first eaten by the Chinese military as they’re filling yet quick and easy to make. Jianbing (煎饼) is another popular choice for all of us as it’s similar to a pancake. The main ingredients are egg, wheat and flour. The pancake is fried and topped with different fillings such as baocui, coriander and chili sauce and there is an optional chili topping for those who like a little spice. It is then folded up and eaten generally as street food.
Tianjin is a beautiful modern city with a population of over 15.9 million. Luckily for us this means there’s something here for everyone. There’s an enormous shopping mall just a ten-minute walk away from us and of course, the beautiful water park (水上公园). The water park is a popular tourist destination in Tianjin but as I like to call it, my back garden. Many Chinese people visit the water park on a daily basis to enjoy some tai chi, play Chinese chess, practise musical instruments and dance together. As a nation I find China to be very sociable, at all ages, especially the elderly as I see groups of friends gathering together to sing (唱歌) or dance (跳舞) just simply to enjoy each other’s company. If you take a stroll through the water park any day, you may be led to believe there is a festival taking place as there are so many people in the park, but no this is just a day in the life of China, yet it still feels rather spacious and like a breath of fresh air in the heart of the city (城市).
It’s my roommate Harriet’s 18th birthday (生日), so I think it’s fair to say, this calls for a celebration. What better way to spend the day than to go to Shanhaiguan to see where the Great Wall (长城) meets the sea. Not many people can say they spent their 18th birthday on the Great Wall of China. We took the high-speed train to Shanhaiguan which takes only an hour and a half from Tianjin. When we arrived in Shanhaiguan our Mandarin truly did come into practise when asking for directions and bus numbers and for recommended restaurants (饭店). I can’t believe how easy it is to make friends here in China as the people are extremely kid and helpful to all of us and for that, I am grateful.
The Great Wall was as grand and majestic as I remember it. However, slightly more picturesque with a gorgeous beach right beside it. For a moment I didn’t feel like I was in China anymore, more like the Maldives. China never fails to amaze me with its never-ending list of beautiful places to visit so close to home (天津). Despite the cold-water Harriet still managed to make it into the sea for a little paddle, she’s braver than me clearly.
It is getting much colder here in Tianjin now. The temperature is sitting around -10 throughout winter (冬天), just a bit lower than Scotland. The local lakes and rivers are frozen over but not to worry every cloud has a silver lining, as people can ice skate everywhere now! We now have a shortcut being able to walk over the rivers and lakes to the market every day. Now the city is frozen over, it feels a bit like a winter wonderland putting me into the Christmas spirit.
Speaking of Christmas spirit, we were honoured to attend the St. Andrews ball in Beijing (北京) to celebrate St. Andrews day. We had a wonderful Scottish meal including some of our favourites from back home. My personal favourite was of course, the haggis. Afterwards we watched a short clip about Scotland which made me feel just a little patriotic and reminding me just how beautiful my home country (国家) is. Throughout the rest of the night there was ceilidh dancing and we literally did dance until we couldn’t anymore. As a group we all agreed this was just what we needed to make us excited for Christmas as it truly was like a hug from home. I am looking forward to spending my first Christmas away from home, but for now I am away to study as my final exams (考试) are approaching.
