Dunhuang: Where Desert Sands Meet Timeless Culture
Nestled at the edge of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang is a place where history, nature, and culture converge. Known as a key stop along the ancient Silk Road, this small town is a treasure trove of experiences, from breathtaking desert landscapes to rich cultural heritage.
Xiahe in the Fall
Staying in Xiahe in the colder season added a beautiful, if bracing, layer to the experience. Xiahe County, located in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province, China, borders Qinghai province to the west. Upon arriving at the Baoma Hotel, where I stayed for two nights, I was greeted by crisp air and temperatures that hovered near freezing.
Xi’an as The Palette of Life
“If you want to witness China’s 500-year history, go to Beijing. If you want to witness China’s 2000-year history, go to Xi’an,” stated my tour guide. When I landed in Xi’an after a lengthy overnight trip, I was greeted with a steaming breath of summery wind in the midst of a gorgeous, blossoming metropolitan surroundings.
East to West: Experiencing China for the First Time Through the Silk Road
Over the course of about 10 days, we traveled well over 4,000 kilometers from Beijing all the way to Kashgar, stopping at many places along the way and seeing a variety of cities, landscapes, and cultures that I never thought I would get to experience.
Painting Snuff Bottles in the Beijing Hutongs as an American
Painting snuff bottles was one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable experiences I’ve had in China. Many of the excursions and activities I have been able to do through TBC are very famous, like the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace, so I have known what to expect and to be excited for.
TBC Welcomes Fall Semester Students
This week, TBC was pleased to welcome Fall Semester students Mars, Jen, and Thomas! We are thrilled to have them join us this fall as they embark on an exciting academic journey in Beijing.
Chinese Roommate Experience: Livia Li
Four months later, as winter had gone and spring came with roses in full bloom, our relationship blossomed similarly.
MAKING NEW FRIENDS ON CAMPUS
Thankfully, everyone here is very nice and like anywhere else, some students are reserved and may not approach you first, but others will approach you first. You can choose to be the ones to initiate or not but either way finding something you guys can mutually do, like playing sports, is the first step. From there, friendships blossom.
MEAL COSTS IN CHINA AS A TBC STUDENT
One of the many perks of living in China as an American is the price of day-to-day living. At my home university, Seattle University, I may have to spend $10-$15 for a single meal, I can expect to pay $1 to $2.50 per meal at one of UIBE’s four canteens. Most frequently, I eat at the International Plaza canteen which is conveniently situated in the basement of the dorm building where all TBC students live. Another one I frequent is the halal canteen which is not too far away from my dorm building and has two floors. Occasionally I will go to the first canteen which has four floors and the second canteen. All canteens at UIBE have a variety of foods to eat and choose from so that I never get sick of eating the same thing every day.
NEVER WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE READY: AN INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI IAN MCMATH
Ian is a film director and producer from New York who first came to China for a year-long exchange program at TBC in 2014. After graduating from university, he returned to China and founded his own media production company. During his time in China, he filmed a documentary about No Dogs Left Behind, an animal rescue organization. In this interview, Ian shares his initial intentions of coming to China and his rich experiences in the country.
SHARING IS CARING: A TBC LOVE STORY
It’s been twelve years since Chris Roithmayr and Kasia Kordas went on their first date in the Spring 2011 semester at TBC, although the two of them disagree on which meal they shared for it. Now married for over five years and with two children, Chris and Kasia Roithmayr chatted with TBC about their study abroad experience, their love story, and their passion for food.
“CHANGED FOR THE BETTER”: A TBC LOVE STORY
TBC Spring 2016 alumni Meili (nee Burns) and Dominic Van Dyke tied the knot in June 2022, embarking on a lifelong journey that found its roots in their shared time abroad. Both graduates of Loyola University Chicago, Meili studied biology and is now a student at the Illinois College of Optometry. Dominic studied political science and international studies with minors in history and Chinese Language, and now works as a business intelligence analyst in cybersecurity.
FROM DEVELOPING EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOPING NATIONS
What have you done that changed your life?
Recently, TBC sat down with Fall 2007 alum Meagan Breidert, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and Indiana University, to talk about her experience during and after The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies. After a ten-year career as a management consultant, she is currently working to lead Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts for a company. She is based in Washington, D.C., and attended the August 2022 Washington, D.C. TBC Alumni Meetup. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
TIPS FOR LEARNING MANDARIN CHINESE AS A BEGINNER
Learning a new language is a challenge, and I speak from my own experience. My native language is Spanish, and I also speak English and a little French. I have been learning English since I was a child and French, in some ways, is similar to Spanish. However, in my opinion, Mandarin is another world.
HOW MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY LED ME TO BE INTERESTED IN WORKING IN CHINA
Why did I, Teresa Paniagua Sanchez, end up doing my internship in China as a Spaniard? That’s a good question.
Several aspects have influenced my professional path and have made me choose to do my internship at The Beijing Center (TBC) this summer.
DISCUSSING MULTICULTURAL COMPLEXITIES WITH TBC STUDENT JOYCE FU
On a cold Beijing afternoon, I sat down with Joyce Fu, a current Fall 2020 American Pathway Program student, who, despite the ongoing global obstacles, has managed to remain optimistic about her academic future and has found the opportunity for personal and academic growth at TBC this semester.
DON’T MISS OUT ON A BETHEL SERVICE TRIP
“Ok! We have to stop playing with the kids now. If we stay any longer the kids will be TOO EXCITED to go to sleep tonight.” Try to imagine making someone this happy – so happy that they can’t even fall asleep. This is what we were told right before we left the Bethel Foundation in Beijing last Saturday.
THE TRUE SILK ROAD EXCURSION BIBLE
THE SILK ROAD – the most famous, by far the LONGEST, and arguably the most influential trade routes in the history of the world. Just let that sink in for a minute, and then you can go ahead and keep reading.
GUBEI WATERTOWN
If you’re looking for an escape from the city, spend a weekend in Gubei Watertown. Located just a two-hour drive from Beijing, the town is made up of traditional architecture, greenery, and not to mention an endless number of doorways to take photos in. While in Gubei, hike up to the Mountaintop Church for a view of the city and a coffee to start your day. Once down the mountain, take in the view from a boat for only 80RMB.
HOW TO NAVIGATE THE MARKET
1) Make a list of items you want to purchase beforehand
Don’t make the mistake of leaving with items you don’t need. The salesmen are excellent at enticing you to buy their products if not for you, as gifts.