Exploring the Environment of China 2011
China in Person
by John F. Stolz
Director, CERE
As director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education, I had heard many things about the previous trips to China. So it was time for me to find out for myself, what this trip was all about.
I was excited at the prospect of seeing the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta soldiers, but I also wondered whether I could survive sixteen days away from home, the lab and office. It didn't help that the morning we left, I was unable to access my email. But once on the plane to Shanghai, I let go of the strings tying me back to home and the office and resigned myself to what lie ahead. On the plane I finished reading The Emperor's Tomb, an espionage thriller about China and oil by Steven Berry. The author had never been to China, although the book was well researched, so I was anxious to see the tombs.
The next two plus weeks were a blur. I kept a diary, writing down as much as I could recall the day's events each evening or the next morning. By "Day 4" I couldn't remember what day of the week it was, and after a week I realized I had added a day to the diary. It seems we packed in more than was possible for a 24 hour day.
In the end, I had seventeen type-written pages! And it's hard to say what I enjoyed most: seeing the cities of Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi'an, the adventures on the night train from Shanghai to Xi'an and then Xi'an to Beijing, the Horticulture Exhibition and the Emperor's tomb in Xi'an, walking the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. There was the visit to the Karate school, the paper maker, and the artist's studio; tea tasting, the wild animal park and playing B-ball in front of the water cube at the Olympic village. And, of course, the acrobat show (where Oliver became part of the knife thrower's act) and the opera. I particularly liked the mountains both in Xi'an and Beijing as the ecology was very different and it was nice to get away from the smog of the cities. The arduous climb to the Buddhist temple inspired me to write a short story. Fortunately, I've forgotten most of what was unpleasant, even the rock hard mattresses, gastro-‐intestinal distress, and the Chinese traditional lav.
Most of all, I enjoyed the people. Watching the students interact with each other and with the Chinese students. Our hosts, Raymond, (very famous) Alex, Ma Jing and Sun were wonderful. Greg was a true trooper especially during crunch time. And what can I say about Ed other than what you've heard is true. He cares about the students and keeping the experience real. I know several of the students made life long friends and have a different understanding of China.
I did get to use the internet and was able to keep up with work issues (like a last minute grant snafu). I was amazed to see commercials on the state TV (a clear sign of capitalism!). I even got to play a piano (Young Chang) made in China and didn't mind the extra day when our return flight was canceled. Oh, and about the Emperor's Tomb. Berry made up most of it (like the size of the bronze chariot). That's why they call it fiction, and why it's even more important to travel and experience things yourself.
