My Semester Abroad

Local college students — from the Puget Sound area or studying at a Puget Sound university — are traveling the world as part of their studies; several are sending dispatches about discovering their corner of the globe. They welcome your comments and questions.

Editor's note: Thanks to all the students who shared their experiences on traveling and learning. "Semester Abroad" is being discontinued.

All blogs and discussions:

June 21, 2006

Calligraphy by the lake

Posted by Alyssa Thornley at 02:41 PM

Today we went to the Forbidden City and to Bei Hua Park. The Forbidden City was mostly under construction for the Olympics, but it was phenomenal nonetheless. Bei Hua Park surrounds a very large lake (which I think would be very good choice for a regatta). WeiWei said it a popular place for kids our age to go on dates--they go rent paddle boats and walk around the park.

On the north side we saw a man painting Chinese characters with a giant homemade calligraphy pen. He let us try writing our Chinese names and told me I looked funny when I wrote with my left hand. I think it is great how leisure and recreation are so important here, how they dedicated this beautiful and scenic lake--which reminds me of Lake Whatcom--entirely to leisurly activities. In one of the gazebos along the park we saw a man playing folk songs on the er hu (a two-stringed instrument similar to the violin) and other adults would stop by and sing along.

Today was EXTREMELY hot and humid, but we still hiked up the summer palace and it was most definitely worth it. After that we went to the zoo and saw pandas. More later.

Jennifer Henrichsen
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