First day

My first day in Beijing was quite an experience! It was like being in a different world, a culture shock, filled with many new things ranging from architecture to cuisine. I think the biggest challenge was trying to adapt to such a populated and busy city. I learned many things and got a much better idea of how people in China live, stereotypes aside. I really enjoyed learning about the rich and ancient culture. This is a country that holds pride and national patriotism in very high regard. We visited the Forbidden City, which I thought was an amazing experience as well, unlike anything you could find in America. I found the detail in the architecture and painting very fascinating, asking myself the question, "Why would anyone take this much time to re-paint such an enormous monument?" Answer: Pride in their country and preserving their culture. I also learned how to do little things such as use chopsticks, which I am still horrible at. Sitting down and eating an authentic Chinese meal was also very interesting, and much different than what we presume "Chinese" food to be in America. Today was just the first day of a great experience and I look forward to the days to come.