Week Four

Monday

- Revision for common test

Tuesday

We had an IS lecture on chinese traditional thoughts by the so called 'director' of the school of foreign language. We were taught on confucianism, taoism and buddhism. For the whole lecture, we have discussed mainly on the history of different dynasty. China have a whole lot of different dynasty in different period of time. For example: Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Song ,Yuan, Ming , Qing.

I have learnt that for every dynasty , there will be at least a historical story. The most famous ones will be the warring states period and the spring and autumn period. Also, the very famous and large project in china, The Great Wall of China, began in the Qin or Ming Dynasty. I feel that the concept of the mandate of heaven, which can also be known as divine right ,is very interesting. The emperor of the dynasty often think that being an emperor is a job given by the heaven. They have the divine right in which he thinks that everyone should listen to his words or orders. Emperor known themselves as '天子' (Heaven's Child).

In china, there are many legends. One of the legend i have listened from the lecturer is the one on the great wall of china. 孟姜女 cried down 800 li Great Wall for his husband. She waited for him for ten years and when she finally reached the great wall ,she then realised that her husband was dead. So, she cried and broke the great wall. I think the most beautiful part of china is all the myths and legends in the different towns.

In the later part of the lecture, confucius, mencius and their philosophy were also taught. What are the difference between this two great man in china? Confucius has many ideas that are not explained clearly and leaving a great deal of room for different intepretations. In the other hand, the idea in mencius are more articulate. Humans always have this problem of choosing between the good side and bad side. For me, i believe that the nature of human is good. It is their decision to pick their own path. They can choose to become a saint or evil person. I think that all it takes and need is the determination.

Also, i think that 道 is a part of us. The ideas of taoism is somehow related to our daily life. It is best for us to have the Dao De (道德）, Dao Yi（道义）values and to Xing Dao（行道）. If we are able to do so, then we will be able to restrain ourselves from going to the wrong path.






In the afternoon , we went for an industrial trip to coca cola. Coca Cola company is one of the very famous production company for beverage. We managed to visit the production line and the machines to produce the drinks in either aluminium cans or bottles. I can roughly know the procedure of producing the drink. Example: Melting of sugar, packaging of the drink and etc.Coca Cola is an international brand and what makes it famous is the carbonated and sweet taste of the drink that makes it addictive. The Coca Cola company claims that the beverage is sold in more than 200 countries and we will definitely see their products in any local supermarket. Furthermore, Pepsi drink has many commercial with popular artists around the world. This industrial trip gives me a clearer idea of how a manufacturing factory produce goods in a day and how advanced the technology are today that makes work much easier for the workers.

After the industrial visit, we had our common test at around 6.30pm in a classroom at the school of foreign language. It was a very very bad experience to have a test there as there were many insects flying in from the window and we girls in the room are shrieking like mad. I think i have wasted 10 minutes just to kill the insects and then to concentrate on the test paper.

Wednesday


Early in the morning, we had to wake up and headed for the OBS training. There are a number of activities we need to participate and challenge ourselves with the heights . The activities include rock climbing, trust fall, Broken Bridge and a role play skit. Normally I would have hate such activities but i did enjoy the whole session today.

We started off with forming the 4 groups and that we had to use newspaper to create our own unique uniform. It reminds me of my secondary school days when i used to do all this stuffs during the orientation camp. So, i am in the same group with jerry, jolene, kian meng and the others. We had to come out with a group name and the guys named us as '鹿鼎记'. Lu Ding Ji is a story focusing more on Wei Xiao Bao and his seven wifes. Concidentally, our group had 7 girls so it totally fits the storyline. We girls named ourselves as the ‘包子‘ of Wei Xiao Bao(Kian Meng). I was told to be the Xiao Lao Bao and we ended the first activity of the skit which was very funny and enjoyable. The second activity was the Broken Bridge. I am quite afraid of heights and it was the first time i challenge it. I had my try and was able to cross from one side to the other side of the broken bridge, It was incredible and i was challenging myself to pick up my courage because it doesn't really look very high from the bottom but it was especially high looking from the above.







The last activity was rock climbing. This activity trains our perseverance and how high we can climb. I managed to climb for 8 boxes and had no more energy to climb any further. The experience was not very bad and if i have any chance to challenge it again, i will try to reach the top .It may not be easy but i believe that if i have the determination and perseverance to accomplish it, i will be able to succeed.

At the end of the day, I have noticed that the activities(e.g. trust fall) done today have made us more bonded in a special way and i will not mind attending such trainings again although i am still afraid of the heights. In wuhan, i have many 'first time' experience here and i believe that all these experiences(e.g. courage, teamwork) will be able to help me in the future.

Thursday
-Lessons whole day




At night, the university had a celebration for the national 60th birthday. They organised a mini concert infront of the admin school. I did not join the fun but i heard some of the details from isabel and xianhui. They took pictures of the event and showed me. They met a new china friend there whom i was told by them that she is a very friendly,sociable and pretty girl when isabel and xianhui approached her to take a picture together.

There was a lot of people gathering around the stage and i feel that china people really love their country and felt a responsibility to their country. Singaporeans do love their country but they do not really show it out. We seldom have such big celebrations with the many prepared performances in school during the national day. I like how china people celebrate their special occasions. They respect it and unlike in singapore, they can play with fireworks freely. The Central People's Government passed the Resolution on the National Day of the People's Republic of China on December 2, 1949 and declared that October 1 is the National Day. The National Day marks the start of one of the two Golden Weeks.

I wonder what will be the difference if singapore allows us to play with fireworks freely. Will the atmosphere be different and better on the national day?

Friday

I had 9am lesson in the morning and felt sick because i had flu. Initially, i intended just to have a nap during the break in our hostel room but never did i thought that i had a slight fever and headache. So, i skipped afternoon lesson and had a good rest. Isabel and Xianhui took care of me and treated me like as if i am their daughter. They seemed like they are very worried that i may feel worst again and i realized that when one is weak, he or she will be homesick. That afternoon i missed my parents and felt the importance of them in me. Maybe i'm still a baby girl and maybe it is time for me to grow up and be independent here in wuhan. I should be able to take care of myself and don't let my parents worried about me. I guess i finally know the reasons why initially my parents objected the idea of me going to china for this immersion programme.

However, i still feel that i'm lucky to be here to able to experience a life in china for 6 weeks.

At night, we headed for KTV outside the school campus with gladys, jiahao and the rest of the people. It was the first time going for karaoke in china. I thought that there will only be china chinese songs only but to my surprise, i think that the karaoke room here is even better in singapore. Furthermore, it has all the popular chinese songs available for us to sing. The price is very reasonable($6/hr).

In singapore, you can never find such cheap price rate for karaoke.





Saturday

Early in the morning at around 6am, we bused down to Wudang Mountain. We had our lunch first at a restaurant and headed to visit the 太子坡. Wudang mountain is a small mountain range in the hubei province of China just to the south of the manufacturing city of Shiyan. In years past, the mountains of Wudang were known for the many Taoist Monasteries to be found there, monasteries which became known as an academic centre for the research, teaching and practise of mediation, Chinese Martial Arts , traditional chinese medicine, Taoist agriculture practises and related arts.






Reaching up at the mountain, we visited multiple temples of taoism gods. Up at the mountain, it really felt like i am at a heavenly place as you can see clear clouds and the temperature is so low. It is a very good place for mediation and for anyone who wants to stay out from temptations. The monasteries and buildings were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

We have also visited Purple Cloud temple but arrived too late to watch the Taoists performing their famous martial arts. It is a pity as i am interested on martial arts and often wonder if those scenes in film of which the martial arts are really so powerful that may kill someone.




I feel that those taoist who decided to live their whole life in Wudang mountain would have took them a lot of courage to do so. Wudang mountain is so far away from the city and a trip back to town will take alot of time. They have to restrain themselves from entertainment and temptations. I don't think i can even do that for a few weeks. To me, i think that to decide on such decision are really difficult and noble.

Sunday

We woke up in the morning and prepared to conquer the wudang mountain. Yesterday was just a trial. The majority of us climbed the stairs to reach the top of the mountain. We had to climb for about 2 to 3 hours to reach the top. The Wudang mountain seriously cannot be compared with our Singapore Bukit Timah Hill. Wudang Mountain is so much taller and the scenery is beautiful. The whole journey of climbing the stairs to reach the Golden hall was crazy and tiring. Golden hall which sits on Tianzhu Feng, highest of Wudang's 72 peaks (1,612m/1 mile high), is part of the 15th-century Taihe Gong (Palace of Supreme Harmony) complex. Its two-tiered roof, covered in gilded bronze, is, naturally, best viewed on a clear day when it sparkles.

During the whole journey of climbing up the thousands stairs , i have the thought of giving up but i didn't want to be someone who gives up easily. I kept telling myself that i will be reaching the top soon and i am young and i should be able to reach the top. When i am old, i may not even have the chance or energy to climb up the stairs anymore. I climbed the mountain with jolene,kianmeng,angela and daphne. Jolene and kianmeng are the happy campers and our motivator.

At times ,i felt terrible and wanted to vomit. Jolene took care of me and motivated me to keep on flying. I envy their stamina and suddenly felt like i am an old woman who climbed the mountain slowly and panting at the same time. After 2 1/2 hour, we have finally reached the golden hall. Initially, i regretted for not taking the cable car but when i finally reached the golden hall, i felt accomplished and achieving. I conquered the hundred stairs and the wudang mountain. It was unbelieving and felt like a dream.






It was the motivation and determination that kept me going to reach the top of the mountain. I think all we need is perseverance. We have to believe that we are able to do it. We are able to climb up the mountain when we have healthy working legs.

After this trip to wudang mountain, i think that nothing will knock me down anymore. Nothing is more scary than climbing up the thousands stairs to the golden hall of Wudang Mountain.

Before returning back to car and headed back to wuhan, i went to the 转运殿. They said that if you walk one round in the temple, good luck will come to you. However, if you do not believe in taoism , it is better not to do so. Although i am a buddhist and not any of my ancestors are from taoism, i think it is alright to respect other beliefs and pray to their god. It meant no harm to us and we have to respect all the religions even if we do not believe in it.

We reached the hostel at only around ten plus. It was a fruitful weekend at wudang mountain and an experience which i will never forget for life because of the long journey up to the top of the mountain. The sweats, panting and our pale face while climbing the stairs will not be forgotten easily.



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