I'm going to be quite sad that I won't be able to go again this year, having been to China through this "Root-seeking Summer camp in China" program (Although it's always Winter when I go haha) 3 times already, I have always enjoyed it every year. I wasn't even meant to be going to this years Dec-Jan 2010 China camp because I'm over the 18years age limit but I think it was because of the organiser and her son. She wanted her son to go again (for the 6th time... That's way too much in my opinion). Him also being overage, it would not look too out of place were someone like me being overage were to also go on the camp trip and since my brothers are going and the organiser being fond of us Lam brothers it would be fine. I remember clearly talking to a particular friend about China camp, me mentioning that I wasn't going to go because I was overage and that I wanted to go to be able to stay in China for a longer duration then the usual 2 weeks and a bit in China. Not long after receiving a text that I was able to go! I was so shocked and didn't know whether I should go on the camp or not. I decided that this would most definitely be my final time going and I should enjoy it to the fullest.
China camp is a really great experience that all people of Chinese descent, whether you are full-Chinese or part-Chinese. FOr the first time I've known, two people this year went on the trip having the appearance of Caucasians yet were both half-Chinese. The camp really brings the heritage and the vibrant culture of the oldest surviving empire in the world right to your feet. Experiencing things such as the traditional dancing and singing such as the famous Beijing opera in the concerts we experienced this year. Traditional instruments are also used to bring the melodies and tones to our ears. Classes are made for us to learn Chinese for everyone whether you are a beginner or more advanced in Mandarin Chinese. Lessons in Kungfu and dancing are chosen by the students of the camp to participate in. For me I've done Kungfu for the past 2 years and decided I'd try dancing, something completely different to what I usually do. I can definitely say that dancing is not as bad as it seems, it is quite intense and it is a lot more enjoyable than Kungfu in my honest opinion.
We spent a day sightseeing around the city of Chong Qing, we visited Ci Qi Kou and ancient town in ChongQing, visited a famous courtyard area that resides by the intersection of the Yangtze river and another river (that I forgot), we were able to fly the biggest kites you will ever see, they weren't just a tiny kite attached to the end of a string, but a gigantic one that goes literally 200m into the air! We visited the Chong Qing musuem, it displayed the old Chong Qing history and culture before what it is today, the traditional clothing of the men and women, the hardship during the world war when the Chinese capital was taken over and temporarily Chong Qing was the capital.
Although history isn't my kind of thing, hence a little bit of mucking around at the museum it was still a nice change from my constant shopping that I do when I get the chance to haha.
We also boarded a small cruise for sightseeing along the Yangtze river. It was an interesting experience to see the many buildings all lit up and seeing the night life of Chong Qing. The Chong Qing zoo was another nice experience, seeing a Panda for the first time ever, Hippos, Lions and also Tigers.
On the day trips we visited the Jin Dao Gorges, home to the thousand steps of agony. No, I just made that last bit up haha, about teh agony bit not the thousand steps though... o.0
It was a damn long walk down the steps, it doesn't help that the steps were all uneven, so some would be higher and some steps would be lower than normal, AND it was even worse because it was raining! So it made it more dangerous as you could slip. Quite a few people did that and slipped haha. I was with my friend Ying, half the time assisting her down those steps, it was like she was about to have a heart attack from looking down from such a high height XD
Once down the steps, the massive chasm or gorge or whatever you call it, was just amazing, spectacular to behold. A nice scenery of the forest and hillside attached to the gaping hole of that chasm with it's stone walls surrounding us was quite amazing. The gorge went on forever and ever like there was no end to it. There were many natural pools within the gorge and a small lake that we crossed by a small canoe, again those were also quite a nice scenery. I can see why it was a day trip because it takes so long to travel through the gorge. Like 3 or 4 hours. It was great though, totally worth it :)
Every China camp there is some kind of performance by the schools and universities that we go to, also including performances by camp members. This year there was the New Years eve performance and us New Zealanders decided to do a mash up dance of popular Korean songs and a Backstreet Boys' song haha. Seeing that we arrived in China on the 25th and only knowing about it the day after, we pretty much had 4 days to learn everything (in our case, as much as we could haha :P). I seemed to have become the leader of the group for it because I taught them half or most of the whole routine (since I already knew one of the dances haha). It was a great effort by us in my opinion, not like we would be real professional but do it for fun and show we had the effort to do so and tried our best :) Watch the video below for a good laugh :D
The best thing about being in China is of course the shopping! :)
Compared with where I live and pretty much everywhere in the world, China has the cheapest things although a lot of the items the quality is quite average, if you know your stuff then you will be able to find high quality gears for a really low price. Also renowned as being fake central for its imitations of branded items, it's quite hard to tell what's real and what's not, like my leather Converse shoes I bought from GuangZhou last year, 60yuan, equivalent of NZD $10-12, the difference in quality between that and real leather Chucks is very subtle and hard to define. The MinShan Hotel we stayed at, was only 5mins away from the shopping area in Chong Qing which was really awesome for when we were allowed out to go shopping there, and also for us to just go out by ourselves haha :P
What I have noticed (Don't know if it's just me or not) is that China is becoming more westernised.Well of course it is with all its communications, exports and imports to the western society but how within China it's slowly becoming more economical and modern. The shopping area near our hotel was massive. It consisted of around 5 large buildings and a big central courtyard with a small river and waterfall. It was just so modern and architectually astounding that you would not think it was China. I have seen many times the poor parts of China and it is quite sad to see the state some areas are, but I have noticed changes like areas in Guang Zhou where 4 years ago it seemed quite drab and dreary but coming back roads are significantly cleaner, less poluted than before and an increased number of new modern buildings. Seeing areas like this change for the better assures me that China is slowly changing for good :)
Lots of shopping was done during the camp trip, the shopping mall sold a lot of real branded stuff like your typical Nike, Adidas, Converse products. Also of notable mention is Jack&Jones where I bought heaps of stuff from, quality is great and got it at a cheap price, such a great outlet store! There were other shops not so famous but the quality was good, I bought a black winter coat for insanely cheap price were I to buy it in New Zealand, it would have cost me at least $100 compared with the $35ish were I to get it here.
What was random as was two girls, one from Jack&Jones and from the Converse place, when we were browsing they both hit on me =.= asking questions about me which I did not know and had to have my friend translate for me lol... no wonder she wanted to leave. And the lady from Converse asked me for my MSN lol! XD It was hilarious when my friend asked the girl if she had Facebook, she looked down in nodded slowly, my friend waddled his finger and said "Tut tut, not good, going on Facebook" ahahahaha ;D
The main card that draws me everytime is the people. The members of that camp from all parts of the world such as Peru, Mauritius, Australia, France, Korea all come together for this camp. This year in my group was Chile, Panama, Fiji along with us New Zealanders. It is the people that creates the great atmosphere that makes China camp all the more worthwhile and compelling, every year is a different experience and has been for the last 3 years I have gone. This year I have made many new friends, us New Zealanders aren't afraid of doing anything which makes us stand out from the other groups (in a good way :D), in my opinion we were the comical country of the camp haha. Many new friends and quite close to some, right now I really miss the whole thing, because the way I see it you can be free, free from all the hardship of work, free from the studying at school, free from being your normal teenage self and express yourself in a way that you could not do in a Western society like New Zealand. China(and China camp) is on a whole different spectrum to NZ. Like I have mentioned I really miss the atmosphere of camp, I miss even more the people that went on the trip and had a blast with one and another hence (I'm sure) many sleepless nights for a lot of people :D
The last day is always the hardest, it really is sad to see everyone off. Heading back to their home countries or heading to another city in China before heading back. Tears will roll down, man or woman. I'm not afraid to admit that on the plane back to China, only then did I really feel the full impact and shed a tear. Just a tear ^.^ But yes it was a tough moment, it always is.
China camp WILL be I cannot stress enough one of the best experiences ever and everyone of Chinese descent must attend at least once. The people, the food, the accomodation, hospitality and performances all add to create this awe-inspiring camp experience like no other. I can definitely say, it is one of the best experiences in my life so far.
As I said just a few hours ago on Facebook:
New friends are made,
To reminisce the memories, set and laid.
Forever keep it close, if it's the last time ever,
Keep hold, till the day new memories are made together ♥
To reminisce the memories, set and laid.
Forever keep it close, if it's the last time ever,
Keep hold, till the day new memories are made together ♥
It is sad to say that many of the people I have met I will not see for a very long time or ever. The memories of each and every single moment and every single person I care and love, I will hold onto forever.
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| Great friends like these are ones we wish to be with forever |
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