5th Sino-Singapore Exchange Programme 2008

看舞台剧uuu 的故事…---婉琪

2008-06-22T22:21:00.001+08:00

逛了一天人民大学的校舍(放风筝、参观人大的“世纪馆”、“校史馆”、“博物馆”、“明德堂”和“法学图书馆” （若没记错的话，分别是人大的体育馆、人大建校历史的展览馆、中国原始至清朝出土文物的展览馆、大讲堂和法法律系的图书馆），其实我那天已经挺累了，坐在“明德堂”里时，有那么舒服的座位和冷气，我都不想动了，哈。

但听说就在我们参观人大的那天是一场辩论大决塞，也有一出学生所办的舞台剧，怎么也得去看看。机会是偶然的。就那么巧，就在我们在人大逗留的那么仅仅一天。也很感谢人大的同学们很愿意地带我们去。[我是去看舞台剧，听说辩论塞也很精彩，可以问Wenqi等人=）]

《楼ooo梯的故事》，（“楼”字要拉长 ‘ou’音来念，哈，当时剧前的介绍者真是这么念的。），讲述的是住同一个小社区的几家人之间的关系。背景应该是二、三十年代的欧洲。男女主角分别住地层及楼上。年轻时，他们相恋，但时过境迁后，他们最终嫁、娶的却不是对方，而是剧中的另两位角色。原因是男主角太一事无成，而当时暗恋女主角的人物（过后是她丈夫）比男主角更稳重、真诚。结果是这两对夫妻之间有了芥蒂。有尤其是在男女主角坦言嫁娶的不是真正所爱后，两家的隔阂更深了。天意弄人，他们的子女竟然爱上对方。是要为他们父母再续这段缘分吗？还是又一次的错误？这楼梯好像没止尽。

老实说，我不是很喜欢《楼梯》的结居。似乎太仓促了，也有些简化了之前所制造的冲突。我起初以为女主角嫁给了一个更爱她、更有责任感的人，是明智之举，必定比嫁给男主角会来的幸福。但看到他们四人之后的冲突、后悔与埋怨，难道嫁个自己所爱，却无法给予保障的人会幸福吗？爱与被爱，当只能二选一时，你会选哪个？我只是为那一直付出的丈夫感到有点难过。造孽。人事的变迁往往是当事人无法控制的。很无奈。

不过，我还是很享受这舞台剧。《楼梯》的全程制作，从策划到表演，都是学生一手包办的。演员们都是即将毕业的同学，可以说是他们在校的最后一次演出，所以意义重大。在那陈旧的礼堂里，旧式的lecture-style木椅，又长又沉甸甸的灰色落地窗帘，给人一种很old-school的感觉。那盏旧式的街灯、旧式的脚车（人大的同学还真是神通广大）、服装、至他们的精彩演出（是真枪实弹：真的火柴，是那种非安全，在任何粗面一划就着的火柴；真香烟；真抽）还真怕会把礼堂给烧了（哈，可能是我新加坡的想法吧，大惊小怪）。很令人难忘。我仿佛被带到了六、七十年代的学生生活。

再来，演员的演技都很精湛。女主角丈夫的妈够泼辣，她哥够窝囊，男主角的儿子够（小孩子得）令人讨厌。当然还有女主角婉顺，让人怜惜。最令人吃惊的是，男主角的真实身份是个女的！我们当观众的都混然不知。直到策划同学致谢时，我们才恍然大悟。
这次在人大看话剧让我大开眼界。很感谢带我们去的人大同学（丛林，不知写得对吗？）。下次有机会，我要去看辩论塞案=D！

中国情 - Tan Wenqi

2008-06-16T22:59:00.000+08:00

对于一个每天清晨起来都得喝杯咖啡的我来说，两周的中国之旅，差点就要了我的命。因为中国没有我所谓的咖啡。犹记第十一天行程在上海旅馆里看到一壶咖啡时，几进雀跃万分因为已有好些时日没喝着了，然而雀跃的心情很快就蒸发了，因为喝过以后才发现它更似咖啡口味的中国茶。虽然这是在这旅途中一个小小的不方便，但它体现出的确是一种隔阂。身为华人的我虽然在外表和语言上都和正统的中国人一般，但是在某些生活习惯上却和它们有着相当的不同，就连早晨的饮料我也偏向西方的咖啡而不是那一杯杯令人神怡的中国茶。可见虽然根还是一样的，然而由于时间分隔之长久，地理位置距离之遥远和政治体制分别之巨大，同样的一种人也会慢慢演变成似两种有着不同习惯，不同情操的族群。

除了感受到两个国之间相近相远之处以外，我身为一个政治科学的学生也体会到了许多在课本中谈及的中国发展成就和问题。到了繁荣的上海，目睹了"宝钢制钢厂"的庞大规模和"大众汽车厂"的先进技术，我不禁咋舌于中国自改革开放以来的巨大改变，也再次肯定了在当今国际社会自由经济为一个国家所能带来的富裕和民生所能带来的改善。不过，此行一游三个省份，也同时让我们体会到中国土地之辽阔与管辖之困难。感觉上不同地区发展得不太均匀，北京虽是政权的中央，然而比起上海的经济步伐仍然略显缓慢。不过这也可能是政府为了要保留北京这个文化古城和政治中心的缘故，而并没有积极开发，建起摩天大楼的关系。相比之下，山东济南给人的感觉便是一个刚刚开始发展的地带，不过从导游口中和山大教授的演讲中，我们也得知济南的IT业和农林牧副渔业发展得相当可观。即便现在发展还不太均匀但照目前情况来看，整个国家的全面发展也是指日可待的事了。

最后，这次行程最大的收获便是那一份份真挚的友谊。虽说中新交流已画上了一个十分完美的休止符，然而一篇篇崭新的篇章也在尾声中徐徐地被掀开，仔细地在记载着可能是一生友谊的点滴。。。

Visit to Universities in Beijing - Shane Yan

2008-06-16T01:05:00.000+08:00

The China leg of the Sino-Sing exchange began with our visit to Peking University affectionately known as ‘yi ta hu tu’ or ‘一塌糊涂’ by students from 北大. The reason for the name is because the university is known for its ‘ta3’ （塔）or pagoda, its ‘tu2’ (图) or library and its ‘hu2’ （湖）or lake. Taking a tour around the school, we were mesmerized by the presence of such beauty that lay within the premises of the university. As we walked along the lake (未名湖), we were also told that this was the very place which inspired many literary works and it would be highly possible that any one of the older gentlemen by the lake is a pronounced poet. Such culture, heritage and beauty…many of us commented that if we had this in our school, it would definitely be one of the best chill out place be it to hang out with friends or to sit under a tree to study. But of course, when one considers the weather that Singapore has, such a thought would need much reconsideration.

Unlike our visit to Peking University, we had the luxury of time at Ren Ming University. The most memorable of the visit to the school was the kite flying activity held at the stadium. As many of us had not flown a kite before, we were filled with excitement. Within a few minutes of presenting us with the beautiful kites, students could be seen running across the field in all directions trying to get their kites into the air. After many desperate attempts at trying to get our kite into the air, Darren and I gave up and went to join others (who had also failed in getting their kites up into the air) in chatek which was short-lived because we soon grew interested in the taiji class that was happening on the track. To the embarrassment of the teacher in charge who suddenly found that there were over 10 pairs of foreign eyes watching him, we spontaneously stood at the back of the class and made fools of ourselves trying to follow the teacher’s actions or the actions of the Chinese students in front of us. The lesson was very interesting and it made me realize why such a sport, as with other things like tradition, is kept burning brightly in China while it is in danger of extinction in Singapore. In Singapore where physical exercise (PE) lessons are about running or playing ball games of some sort, taiji is seen as an exercise for elderly people and it would not have crossed our minds as plausible for students to be learning it in school. Pondering on it, I think teaching students taiji would certainly give them a headstart and provide them with an activity to occupy themselves in future. Ostensibly, what goes into a curriculum is very important for inculcating or preserving values or skills in people.

Anyway, back to kite-flying. We finally realized that it wasn’t that we were horrible and kite flying but rather, it was because the kite we had originally was faulty and could not fly. Borrowing another group’s kite before we packed up to move on to our next activity, we took less than a few seconds to get our kite soaring in the air. It was an achievement.

Something else that really impressed me that day was the quality of the acting skills of the graduating students. We had the opportunity to catch a drama performance; ‘Staircase’ by a group of graduating students who came from all fields of life but had a common interest in acting. Although the script was passé, the acting was fabulous and was much better than any of the university productions I have ever seen back in Singapore. The facial expressions, the emotions, the confidence, the intonations…the entire package was a show worth remembering. Perhaps it was because of the language that made the performance even more heartwarming. After spending time in China, I have grown to love the language and realize that there are things that when said in Chinese, sounds a whole lot nicer, more sincere and harmless than when it is expressed in English. It also creates a more intimate feeling between people.

China, with its rich heritage, culture, scenery, language and of course the many friends made, you really cannot help but fall in love with it.

小叙中国两周...--- 林建裕

2008-06-15T23:15:00.000+08:00

仅仅半个月前, 还依稀记得我们兴奋不已地踏上了为期两周的中国之旅。岂知只一瞬间，长达两周的旅程已告一段落了。俗话说：“读万卷书不如行万里路，” 相信每一位同学都无疑获益良多，不虚此行。与此同时，如陈教授所言，此行本着三大前提：一，亲睹中国的经济文化发展，体会古老文化；二，亲历人民生活习俗，传统文化；三，促进彼此的来往与了解。

此趟行程事迹多不胜数，恐怕三天三夜也说不完。可是有一点是可以肯定的。中国同学的热情款待不在话下；尽管学业繁忙，几位同学还是抽出时间，不计劳苦地充当导游，介绍当地小吃、观光等，让我们不胜感激。

在短暂的日子里，我们一起探访了三大城市、四所大学；北京大学、人民大学、山东大学与交通大学。在北京，我们参观了古色古香的历史古迹，例如鼎鼎有名的故宫博物院、颐和园、北海公园等，当然不忘了“不到长城非好汉”的万里长城。整个城市都因为2008北京奥运会的来临而感染了气气氛。更难能可贵的是我们不仅参观了北大美不胜收的校园，也受人大同学的邀请，观赏了学生舞台剧，体验了多姿多彩的学生生活。

接着，我们起程到了山东，参观了著名的“一山、一水、一圣人”之中的趵突泉、大明湖、和孔老夫子的故乡，曲阜。在山东大学内宾，我们还上了一场精彩的讲座，从中进一步地了解了山东农林牧副渔业的经济动脉。

然后，到了上海现代都市，不禁有了些许的亲切感，毕竟上海与新加坡多方面都很相似。在交通大学同学的陪同下，我们进行了有趣的竞争游戏，同时也参观了阔广的校园。在交通大学的安排下，我们也得此机会参观国际公司，Volkswagen, 在上海设立的“上海大众汽车”的制车厂，与中国企业，“宝钢”的制钢厂。

经过紧凑节目的两周后，此中国之旅终于落幕了。同学们彼此之间建立了友谊。对我们一起度过的时光有些留恋。带着依依不舍的心情返回了新加坡。此行不仅见证了两岸同学的友情，也提供了新加坡学生一次难得的机会，亲自考察了中国历史遗迹，了解了许多历史人物的遗闻逸事，和风土人情，更开阔了眼界，扩大了胸襟。

Thousands of miles from China, Building a bridge across cultures - Shamantha Yan

2008-06-11T14:01:00.000+08:00

Being in one province of China is not adequate for one to say that they have seen China. This is one nation that captures the essence of heterogeneity within homogeneity. Every province shows different aspects of China, the historical, sociological, political, cultural, geographical etc. It is hard to embrace the grandeur of China in one visit because there is simply too much to see, to know and be a part of. This trip is of no exception but the span of two weeks enabled understanding to trickle bi-directionally between Singaporeans and the Chinese, igniting sparks of friendship (both internationally and intra-nationally) that can only strengthen with time. Here begins the magical feeling of connection, the appreciation of a different culture, and history.

With this trip, I must say that I’ve begun to appreciate and treasure the beauty of the Chinese language even more than before. I think the way the language has been used has given it a very soothing and melodious touch, such that it always sounds so polite. It’s really refreshing and fascinating to listen to the conversations of the Chinese! Some phrases in hanyu pin yin includes “Xin ku ni le”, a phrase that is used to show one’s appreciation for the hard work of another; “zhe4 bu4 hao3 ban4”, a phrase that is used when they want to let you know that something cannot be done, and even the simple “hao de, wo zhi dao le”, a phrase to inform you that one understands what has to be done. It’s also interesting to note the differences in the way Singaporeans end their questions as compared to some of the Chinese (I’m not sure if I can generalize this). An example of how Singaporeans may ask a question is “You want this hor” versus “Ni yao zhe ge shi ba”. That aside, there are so many different accents in China and it really takes time to get used to it. The profoundness of the language is something else and it is indeed a good time for us to be reconnected to our roots and a reminder to some of us that there is certainly plenty of room for improvement in our command of the Chinese language.

The Chinese has such a rich history and culture that it is certainly not hard to see why they are so proud of their nation. Such pride can only truly be understood if you are there to see it for yourself. And this is also coupled with the rapid changes that are taking place in China. From an outsider perspective, it’s really remarkable to witness how fast things change in so short a period of time. Then again, Singapore has also a very short history… Well, that aside, our Chinese friends are really warm and make really good hosts. It almost feels like they’d go all out to help you in anything and in anyway that is within their limits. They took time out to plan and anticipate where we would like to go, to bring us to the local places to try the local food, to care for the well-being of every student; it’s amazing. Is this what guanxi is all about?

The Journey Matters - Joshua Sim

2008-06-10T17:40:00.002+08:00

An account of the 5th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange for NUS would not be complete without recounting the many stories on the way to everywhere.

Like all good stories, I think it started with a joke. Fun man's joke. And while it was extremely science-y and difficult to comprehend, it spiralled into a lot more. Impromptu Karaoke sessions, purple cider and bargaining stories are just a few more prominent ones in everyone's mind.

But I guess it wasnt what was said that made everything seem so strangely nostalgic now. Rather, somewhere between standing before everyone and singing 'wonderwall', I think everyone felt a certain sense of trust in our friendship. An understanding that it is alright even if we were off key just like it was alright even if Fun man's jokes weren't always understood. It was alright perhaps because we've learn to trust each other despite our short friendship.

My father once told me that in life, its always the journey that matters. In some ways I guess, this has been true for us on this trip to China. Anyone could have taken the same flight, visited the same places and seen the same sights. But it was only on the 5th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange, on the buses, planes and paths that we took, that truly made the journey memorable. Afterall, I guess It would be a long time till I'm able to sit beside one of the most soulful song writers on my generation or to scare someone with scary stories about planes from fight club or to steal small little flight pillows with.

Perhaps the exchange has ended, but I guess in a way, the journey never will.

'The Bund' by Joshua Sim

2008-06-09T16:16:00.000+08:00

My room mate has an unhealthy obsession with the Bund in Shanghai. He wanted to go there to visit the sunset and sat around till it was late. It was easy for us to joke about his obsession until I was there myself. Perhaps now I have an unhealthy obsession with the Bund too.

The Bund felt oddly familiar. Before it reaches midnight, the Bund is bustling with businesses of every kind. Ice cream, coconuts and sausages were on sale almost everywhere. But when the night came and the crowd dispersed, the Bund became something else. It was to me, a symbol of aspiration.

As I gaze upon the skyline, the first thing that struck me was how the skyscrapers appear to reach out upon an impossible aim. To touch the sky. In its many lights, it almost looks as if some of the stars have been plucked from the sky in Shanghai's economic aspirations. The city portrayed its many achievements, its conquest over the night, height, distance and imagination. As the lights glittered rebelliously at the night, it was to me, a reflection of the city's desire to ever reach for the skies.

As I switch my attention to the people around me, it occured to me that such aspirations was not only symbolic, but also personal. Couples sat by the Bund perhaps making promises to each other, gazing upon the night sky. And my room mate too, walked around, with a sense of aspiration in his eyes.

As we snapped our last photos at the Bund, it seemed to me that the magical pull of the Bund is perhaps, our common desire, to reach for the very heavens. And it was this universal desire, that is so alluring, so beautiful.

'China: Three Cities, One Heart' by Tan Guowei

2008-06-09T16:09:00.000+08:00

China is indeed a place rich in culture and history. From Beijing to Jinan, each city has its own cultural identity. Beijing, being the capital city of China for several dynasties, coupled with its fast pace of modernization, gives one the feeling of being in an ancient town within a modern city. On the second night of our stay in Beijing, six of us from NUS went out on a night run from the hotel to Tiananmen Square at 12 midnight. The night breeze that blew gently on our faces was cool and rejuvenating. On our way to Tiananmen Square, we were greeted with curious stares by the locals whom we approached to ask for the way to Tiananmen Square. The roads were still dotted with cars even at that hour. Uniformed policemen guarded the perimeters of the Square. It was as if we were running through the passage of time as the landscape transits between the modern and the ancient within the thirty-minute run.

What left me with a deep impression in Beijing is the trishaw ride from the gate of Beihai Gongyuan to Hutong. It was drizzling. Ruizhong and me got onto the trishaw belonging to this Shifu in his sixties (Shifu is a term used to address drivers in China). Once we got onto the trishaw, Shifu draped a cloth across our feet and said, “In case you get wet.” I looked up, realized that he is not wearing a rain coat like other trishaw riders and asked him, “What about you Shifu?” His reply was, “Not to worry, this rain will stop very soon.” At this moment, I felt embarrassed because as young men in our twenties, we were ferried around in the trishaw by this man in his sixties. Shifu, despite his age, was strong and ferried us around as fast as any other younger trishaw riders who ferried ladies who are much lighter than us. I am filled with respect for him.

Of course, our stay in Beijing is never complete without our friends from Peking University and Renmin University of China. Thanks to all of you for bringing us out for supper almost every night, despite that it is so near your examination period. The friendship forged in Singapore was further reinforced during our short stay in China. Selina, Wanqi, Chengkai and me had a really good chat with Zhang Hao and Yawen on our last night in Beijing at that small eating house along Ghost Street. That gathering was really memorable. Sixty of us tried to squeeze into the small room at 11pm, overwhelming the staff of the eating house.

Jinan, Shandong province, is the hometown of the renowned Chinese scholar, Confucius. As a Chinese Literature student back in my secondary school days, Jinan allowed me to relate to what I have learnt from the textbooks. We had a great dinner reception at Shandong University on 19th May and I made some great friends with the students from SICA. Thanks to everyone, NUS, NTU, SMU and Shandong University students and teachers for making my 24th birthday a most memorable one. It was very sweet for all of you to specially prepare a birthday cake for me.

Thanks to the Shandong University students who specially came down to our hotel to send us off.

Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city. I saw European tourists along the street and hear South Korean tourists chatting beside me as I walked in the shopping malls. With its high rise commercial buildings and comfortable subway trains, it is easy to mistake Shanghai for Singapore’s Shenton Way. Shanghai Jiaotong University had organized the most interesting activities for us. One of the highlights was to make dumplings, called “jiao zi” in Chinese. It is a Chinese tradition to make dumplings during the Chinese New Year as it symbolizes reunion, called “tuan yuan” in Chinese, which literally means “coming together in circles” since dumplings are round in shape.

We had a good glimpse of the car manufacturing process at Shanghai Volkswagen. In anticipation of the F1 street circuit in Singapore in September this year, we were treated to the excitement of racing in the Shanghai F1 circuit.

Thanks to the Shanghai Jiaotong University students who came down to the restaurant and took bus with us all the way to the airport to send us off.

Let us not forget that many people are still mourning the deaths for their family members who died in the Sichuan earthquake. I pray that all of you will recover from the pain and emerge stronger. What struck me during this trip is that from the Beijing students who initiated fund raising efforts for the earthquake victims to the taxi driver who tune in to the radio for the latest reports on the earthquake to the youths in Shanghai rallying for the Beijing Olympics and the Sichuan earthquake victims, is that the Chinese are very united and passionate about their country. I really admire their love for their country.

To all our Chinese friends, I’m sure the friendship forged in the short 4 weeks that we spent together in Singapore and China will go a long way. We will see each other again!

'Of Little Things in Beijing' by Joshua Sim

2008-06-09T11:57:00.000+08:00

As I sat down attempting to recollect my most cherished memories of the 5th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange, it struck me that it was the little things that I remembered most. It was the unique taste of the Chinese Barbeque in Shanghai, the odd smell in my hotel room in Beijing and the sight of cherries in Jinan which I most associate with the Cultural exchange. But most importantly, it was the people and the conversations that we had.

I've been to Beijing on a study trip a year before the 5th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange. Thus, I have already seen most of the tourist attractions and heard the stories by the tour guide. But this trip felt special. It felt different in the most subtle of ways. Perhaps it was the way in which we rush into every photo or the way in which we attempted to take 'jumping' photos at the forbidden city. I can't really tell. But it felt different. There is a sense of longing, even now, to want to stay at that same spot for a little while longer. Perhaps to finish up a conversation or perhaps to start a new one.

What I do know for sure about Beijing is that the places didnt change. The Great Wall still felt as majestic, the Summer Palace as beautiful and the Tian Tan as awe-inspiring. Everything looked the same.

But what was different this time was the little things that we talked about as we went to these places. The story of the Pink Bear by Shamantha, my discussion of philosophy with Wenqi, hunting for ice cream with Genevieve, complaining about the odd smell with Brandon... For me I guess, the Forbidden City was no longer just the Forbidden City, but the place with the best ice cream.

It is these little things which made the trip all the more memorable, for it was not just an attempt to know another country, another culture and another world. What mattered most is the people who opened their hearts on this trip, sharing their lives and experiences, and in doing so, also share their world with me. For me, this cultural exchange was not just one between our Chinese friends and us, but also between ourselves. A cultural exchange is afterall an attempt to bridge that impossible gap between two individuals. The attempt to share a piece of ourselves with others. Whats a better what to do that, that through little things such as ice cream and pink bears.

To these little things, I forever hold you close to my heart.

'I Could Vividly Remember' by Fung Fun Man

2008-06-09T10:32:00.000+08:00

I could vividly remember....

That the 5th SINO-Singapore Undergraduate Exchange Programme kicked off brilliantly in March 2008 at the ministry of education headquarter building in Singapore. I recall the ballroom which hosted all our Chinese friends, dressed mostly in formal black suits occupying one side of the ballroom while the Singaporean students, on the other hand, were in office-wear. I remember thinking to myself, "we appear under-dressed".

As the programme began, we seized the opportunity to make friends with our counterparts from China. As we began the cultural exchange I recalled how these first conversations were personal and enlightening and I was awed by the sheer eloquence of our Chinese friends. This intangible sense of friendliness and warmth left a deep impression on me.

There were no barriers in the way we interacted, sharing our delightful events in Singapore, and at the same time, listened to their own fascinating stories about student life in China. In a certain sense, we felt bonded by the common experience of University life and its preoccupation with project datelines and examinations.

There were however some differences in the way we conducted our lessons in Singapore. For example, the school library in china resembles an examination hall, complete silence, zero discussions,no sights of any water bottles or snacks. During class, they would fill in the seats nearest to the professor and no one touch their bags until the lecturer announces " thats all for today's lesson" . These signs of respect for their teachers in such a manner really put a contrast in our own way of giving respect for our teachers in Singapore. It appears that lecturers in Singapore prefer the more open approach of having questions raised during the lessons, albeit interrupting the speaker. However, in China, it is deemed rude to do so, even if we had much thoughts about some theories in our text at that instant. I was extremely excited when we had the opportunity to experience the classroom life of our Chinese counterparts when we were in Jinan, Shandong which allowed me to see for myself these slight differences in the ways we conduct our classes.

As I sit by my computer attempting to recall the details of the 5th Sino-Singapore Undergraduate exchange, it was less of the places we've been and the things we've seen which left a deep impression on me, rather, it was their generosity which really touched me. I remember how every single night in Beijing was filled with excitement as our friends took time off to show us their nightlife. Despite being in the midst of their mid terms our Chinese friends sacrificed their sleep and studying time to show us around ourside of the stated program.

In Shandong, Zhang Xiao even went as far as to show us his home coupled with an all nighter KTV session. I felt taken care of by our Chinese friends to the most minute details. When some Singaporean students had sunburn due to the unforgiving blaze of the Shanghai sun, our Chinese friends bought us moisturiser creams and sunblock lotions. When I was down with a flu and sore throat, they gave me medicine to pacify the illness.

In Shanghai, they brought us all the way to the taxi-stands and watched us getting on the cab safely, before sprinting back to the MRT to catch their last train back to their hostel. The sight of seeing the four of them, Xu Chen, Chen Naya, HanQi, and Walkie running back to the same MRT which we exited to rush for the last and only train back locked vividly in my mind, and I could not help but feel a tinge of warmth and sweetness at the thought.

As I close the pages of our cultural exchange, I cannot help but feel that these chinese friends that we made over the past few months will be our friends forever. I admire the intelligence, hard-working nature of our new found friends. Personally, I feel a greater sense of respect for many of them as they are not just academic achievers but social ones. Many of them hold chairperson position in clubs and activity groups in their school.But what impress me most about my new found friends is how mature they are despite being younger than us. It is thus that I feel I've gained so much more from them than I could have reciprocrate and that this cultural exchange will never end as we continue our journey to learn more from and about each other.

'Friends of China' by Low Jinrui

2008-06-09T10:27:00.000+08:00

There was so many activities planned for us in the 5th Sino-Singapore Exchange that every single day was packed! There is simply too much of China for us to experience - the people, the history and culture... the entire country as a whole. I recall the fatigue of rushing from place to place and experiencing new things every moment. Despite that, it was a truly enriching experience.

In our short stay in China, we visited three renowned cities of China namely Beijing, Jinan and Shanghai. The three cities each have their own flavour. Beijing is infused with a long political history, Shanghai on the other hand is the major economic centre of China while Jinan is the cultural hometown of Confucious. As we visited the cities and explored its beauty, we also explored the Universities which hosted us for the cultural exchange.

We were warmly welcomed by the students of the various universities in every visit. For me, these University visits painted many happy and beautiful memories together. I can still vividly remember how some of them took time off their studies to meet us in the evening to bring us around in Beijing or how we tried kite flying in Ren Min University or how we learnt about Confucianism in Shandong University. Often, leaving a city meant leaving friends who have had made special connections wtih all of us. As we moved from city to city, I cannot help but wish for more time with these new friends.

A particularly memorable experience for me during the trip included picking cherries at Shandong (Jinan). For me, it was a truly enlightening experience to be on the fields picking cherries, thus experiencing what it was like to be a cherry farmer. Moreover, the journey to the cherry fields were punctuated with scenery that was truly breathtaking. The mountain ridges and the cool breeze made me wish I could live there forever. In that moment, I could almost feel one with nature and it was then which I could fully appreciate the significance of mountains in China and how they were considered sacred sites.

Apart from visiting our friends from the various Universities, we also visited local tourist attractions. For me, this part of the trip enabled me to understand and experience the rich historical treasures of China. Or at least (if you would permit a cynic) what is officially preserved. The critical side of me made it an interesting experience to see how China presented and portrayed its history.

One of the thoughts that struck me was how the imperial sacredness of The Forbidden City has been lost. The Forbidden City, which used to be the sacred place reserved only for the emperor and his royal subjects, is now open to hounds of visitors all year round. Previous coats of paint has been replaced by new coats of colour, alluring to the photo-snapping tourists. Rooms along the side of the palace are now replaced by gift shops, refreshment shops selling all forms of merchandise. The imperial silence of the Forbidden City of the past has been replaced by the endless commotion of tourists and peddlers.

The same can be seen for the Imperial Garden (御园) and the Summer Garden (颐和园). From its former majestic and revered sanctuary, it now appears more like a public part than its historical intentions.

Even religious places such as the huge temple Cheng Huang Miao (城隍庙) in Shanghai have rooms that were occupied by hundreds of stalls. "Chinese” goods such as fans, ink seals, paintings were abundant at these tourist attractions. There is even a Starbucks outlet located right smack in the centre of the temple.

As I reflected upon China as a place of great tradition, history and culture, it scares me to think that perhaps the exposure of tourist attractions might negate the significance and grandeur of Chinese culture.