Exploring the Environment of China 2011
Beijing Food
by Erin Nichols
When I first heard about the trip to China, I was surprised that there was a study abroad program that would be not only be an amazing experience, but would also count as credit towards a science degree. The majority of study abroad programs I had heard of only counted towards programs such as theology or business. Also, most study abroad programs were to Europe, and traveling to China seemed like it would provide a greater culture shock.
Almost every site we visited in China could have been applicable to any science major, such as visiting the Bayer Company, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and the Gaobeidian Sewage Treatment Plant. The site that reflected my professional interests the most was the visit to the Gaobeidian Sewage Treatment Plant. Being an environmental science major, I am greatly interested in water conservation and water treatment, so I found the Plant to be educational and compelling. The other sites that we visited that I found to be the most interesting were the Great Wall, the Olympic park, and the wildlife park. It was incredible to see such historic and famous places in person.
As a result of traveling to China, I am academically stronger than I was before. I have a better idea of the different technologies and techniques that are available and are used in countries other than the United States. The trip also provided me with more respect and admiration of different cultures, particularly the differences in medicine.
Another major difference that became apparent quite suddenly on the trip was the differences in food.
Contrary to American belief, "real" Chinese food is not the same as what is available for take out in the US. The difference was noticeable even though some of the hotels attempted to provide a somewhat western array of food. The first hotel we stayed at brought out a plate of french fries with the dinner, the only familiar food other than the rice at that point. It seemed that Chinese food had much more spices and seasoning in the dishes than American Chinese food. Vegetables were also used more than expected, with eggplant and cabbage being popular dishes by themselves. There were also many different kinds of meat during a single meal. At the restaurants we went to, it was common to have chicken, pork, duck, and sometimes steak all during the same meal. Another major difference between the food served in the US and China was in breakfast foods. A traditional Chinese breakfast consisted of soup, rice, and boiled bread, whereas in America breakfast usually has many more components. It also seemed as though Chinese food was not intended to be "low-cal", or especially healthy, as it is in some areas of America.
Not only was the type of food different in China than in the US, but it also differed in the way it was served. At just about every restaurant we went to each table had a large Lazy Susan in the middle, which the dishes (usually around ten different dishes) were placed, and each person had a single plate the size of a salad plate. Each person just chose however much he or she wanted from any of the dishes and placed it on their plate. This took a few meals to get used to, considering in the US everyone orders their own individual meals at restaurants.
Overall the trip turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, and something that I will never forget. It would be great to go back in a few years and to see how much China has changed and advanced.
