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August - September 2004
Inside this edition:
New Academic Year – September 2004
First Week and First Impressions
The new WLE fall classes in Beijing were heralded by blue skies and warm September sunshine. WLE students descended into Haidian qu (the university district of Beijing), all eager to embark on their studies and become oriented to new surroundings and the local Chinese culture. The first day is always a whirlwind of events including orientation, language proficiency testing, obtaining course text books and sharing a scrumptious Chinese lunch together, all directed by the onsite WLE staff.
Great Wall Adventure – Climbing to New Heights in China
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 When coming to China to be immersed in Chinese language and culture, what better way to experience the history of the country than to visit some of its renowned landmarks and ancient sites.
On a dry, warm Saturday after the first week of classes, a bus filled with lively WLE students set out for Mutianyu, a well-preserved section of the Chang Cheng (Great Wall). There are other sections but Mutianyu was chosen because it is a beautiful portion of the Great Wall, yet not too far from Beijing and not as crowded as some other sections. WLE Student Hannah Joy from Hong Kong/Australia tells the story:
Once out of Beijing the bus followed winding roads lined with gently sweeping willow trees. When we knew that we were coming closer to the Great Wall we all were straining our eyes to catch the first glimpse. It is one thing to see pictures of the Great Wall in magazines but to actually see it in person for the first time is magical. The fact that this structure has been standing for 1000s of years is just hard to imagine! Our tour guide was excellent, providing us with interesting historical and physical details all along the way. I was struck by the fact that thousands of people helped to build this wall, carrying stones two at a time each weighing about 22 kg! It is not known exactly when the Great Wall was constructed but it is thought that it was originally begun to help protect China’s borders during the Zhou dynasty. Between 770 BC and 476 BC greater structures were built for further protection but it was not until the Qin Dynasty that the separate walls were constructed by the states of Qin, Yan and Zhao kingdoms and they were connected to form a defense system by Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Once out of the bus we headed for the gate considering our two options for reaching the wall – either taking a cable car or walking up a steep staircase on the hillside. Several of us opted for the climb and once at the top we knew that every step was worth the view. Amazing and breathtaking is how I would describe what I saw – miles of trees, wilderness and serene mountain ranges stretched out before us. We walked for about 2 hours along the wall before making our way down by way of an exhilarating toboggan ride. Our last stop was at the markets to search for some memories to take away from our experience here. Maybe someone would describe this as a once in a lifetime visit but many of us reflected on how we are now addicted. We were left with a sense of awe – we knew we had been to an inspiring place and I certainly wanted to come back more than once in a lifetime!
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| Tinnapat, Jim, Surachai and Enrique stop to take in the view |
The Great Wall at Mutianyu |
A group photo on the ancient wall (Nina, Eugene, Christopher, Lena, Lorna, Terrence, Jinnapat, Abdul, Treena, Leah, Tiffany and others) |
Business Onsite Study Visit
Dragon Seal Winery - 16 August 2004
The Business course offered by WLE in Beijing is a short intensive course that provides valuable insight into China’s current dynamic business practices and economy. In August, our WLE students had the opportunity to visit the Beijing Dragon Seal Winery and were hosted during their visit by a French wine expert, Mr. Jerome Sabate, who himself has been living in Beijing for some years. The WLE business students were interested to receive first-hand knowledge about how to operate a business in China but also to gain a more personal insight into their host’s experience living and working in China.
Dragon Seal Winery was established in 1987 as a subsidiary of Beijing Winery with the goal of incorporating the art of French winemaking into its products. The first bottle of Dragon Seal was corked in 1988 – the year of the dragon according the Chinese lunar calendar. Each student had an abundance of questions for our host, who himself demonstrated such an enthusiasm for his profession and product. Learning about target markets in China, challenges faced when doing business in this country, production goals and production information was what was foremost in everyone’s mind and this onsite visit certainly proved to be a profitable experience.
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| Touring the Dragon Seal Facility |
Gathering information about winemaking in
China – Noa, Matt and James |
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| Jerome Sabate imparting his expertise |
Tasting the wine |
Shaolin Trip – 17 September 2004
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Most people may know the Shaolin Temple as a famous ancient center of Chinese kung fu, but they may not know that it is considered to be the birthplace of Buddhism. In 527 AD an Indian monk called Bodhidharma, brought Zen Buddhism to the Shaolin Temple and later this sanctuary became a leading holy place in the area.
Built originally in 495 AD and situated in the exquisite Songshan Mountains, the Shaolin Temple is just over 50 miles southwest of Henan’s provincial capital, Zhengzhou.
One of WLE’s most popular excursions is to the Shaolin Temple, especially for the Martial Arts students who look forward to the opportunity to view the Shaolin monks in training and even demonstrate some of their own skills next to the monks. During one of the weekends in September, a group of WLE students traveled to this sacred site. After an overnight train journey and then a hovercraft ride on the second largest river in China, the Yellow River, the students spent some time exploring Kai Feng, one of the six oldest capitals of China.
Sunday was spent at the Shaolin Temple. Not only is the architecture breathtaking but also impressive is the history and lifestyle of the monks living within this sanctuary. The highlight of the trip was definitely viewing the skills and techniques of the monks and then training with them!
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| Danielle and Leah having a great time on the hovercraft |
A butterfly settled on the autumn flowers in Kaifeng
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Rosmari riding on the small island in the middle of the Yellow River |
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| Enrique from Mexico showing excellent form |
Annika from Germany standing on the steps of the famous site in Kaifeng
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A place of reflection |
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| Daxiong Baodian in the Shaolin Temple |
WLE group at the Shaolin Temple
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Terrance (USA) is a mirror image of the wushu master |
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| Enrique, a perfect pillar of strength |
Elaine (USA), Annika (Germany) and Ola (Sweden) talking about the magnificence of the Shaolin Temple |
Beijing Heats up with the Asia Cup 2004 Soccer Final
The fever of the Asia Cup Final swept over the city of Beijing on 7 August – a sweltering Saturday evening this summer. China’s own team led by Coach Arie Haan was up against Japan, with local fans stirred up by the excitement of the event and also by their own passionate rivalry against the Japanese team. A group of WLE sports enthusiasts did not want to miss this unique moment in local football history so we bought tickets for the match.
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| Anders and Ginny showing their support |
The best goal of the evening – China’s!
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Ginny, Julia and Janalyn surrounded by a crowd of fans |
Trying to access the road on the north side of Gongrentiyuguan (Worker’s Stadium) where the momentous match was taking place, was an adventure in itself. A sea of fans all waving vibrant red flags and sporting the national colours, was eagerly moving toward the stadium. This unique congestion forced the taxi driver to deposit us a mile from the stadium leaving us to join the excited throngs on the streets.
With the kickoff at 8:00 PM fans found their seats early but the energy was already rumbling across the 60 000 seats in the massive sports arena. Every seat was filled and not one fan was without a flag, or “bazooka” or red bandana wrapped around their forehead. The animated buzz of the crowd was overwhelming – everyone hopeful for a great victory for China at the end of the evening. Over 250 million people in China were watching or listening to the game either live, or via televisions and radios on the streets, in local bars and cafes, or at home.
Japan scored the first goal of the evening causing the local supporters to sing and cheer all the louder for the China team , chanting "Zhongguo, Zhongguo" (China, China) and "jiayou!" (go team). We were rewarded by a sweeping shot made by Li Ming in the 37th minute of the game bringing the score to a heated 1-1.
After Japan scored two more goals the crowd started to accept that a Chinese victory might be out of reach for the 2004 Asia Cup. The evening ended with a third Asia Cup win for Japan with a final score of 3 to 1, a sad loss for China but a game well-battled. There will be another year for China, and for the WLE international students we will never forget the energy, the excitement and the masses of fans rallying for their national team.
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Elective Highlight – the Ancient Art of Traditional Chinese Massage
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For Total Program Students WLE offers electives in order to provide an introduction into various aspects of Chinese tradition and culture. One of our most popular electives is the Traditional Chinese Massage class taught by Paul Lan, international lecturer and local practitioner.
Laoshi (teacher): Paul LAN
Background:
- Specialist Degree from Beijing Acupuncture University 1991
- Lecturer at the Beijing Acupuncture University from 1991 to 1997
- Lecturer/ Teacher Beijing Chinese Medicine University from 1997 to 2003
- WLE Lecturer Traditional Chinese Massage from 1998 to present
- Medical staff – Chaoyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
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| Lan Daifu |
Lan Daifu presenting the fundamental theory behind TCM |
Head massage demonstration |
Interview by Simon – WLE Beijing Staff member
How long have you been teaching at WLE?
I started in 1998 when I was a medical practitioner at the Chaoyang Traditional Chinese Hospital. Currently, apart from practicing domestically, I also teach Chinese medicine and massage abroad.
In which countries have you taught?
Every year I teach at an institute in Sweden. Besides that I have also taught in France and Russia.
Why is traditional massage such a sought-after treatment in China?
Generally speaking, the Chinese traditional massage treats deep conditions within the human body and that is why it is so multi-functional as a treatment
When did you begin your TCM career?
From my last year at university in 1991.
What interests you most about your profession and TCM?
The fact that TCM is so closely embedded in Chinese culture and is such an important traditional subject for the Chinese
What is the difference between European massage and Chinese massage?
In a more general sense, European massage can be viewed as a method of relaxation, but Chinese massage is primarily used for medical treatment.
When teaching the WLE students what is their favorite topic?
They are very interested in the techniques of traditional massage.
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WLE Business Seminar Highlight
Siemens – 22 September 2004
 The WLE September Business program started with a seminar presented by Robert Tanner from Siemens Ltd., Beijing. With an impressive background and over 10 years of personal history working and living in China, Mr. Tanner offered a multitude of insights into doing business in this country, including some of the pitfalls and challenges, in addition to the rewards. An MBA graduate from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Mr. Tanner began his career in China supervising operations at Baskin-Robbins International in Beijing. This experience offered an excellent introduction into the challenges of customer training in China, introducing new products into a new market and managing brand in relation to the market.
Subsequently Mr. Tanner has worked with Anderson Consulting, eBay, and eSamsung on China strategy, and presently is a Division Head at Siemens Ltd, China, managing technical and marketing sales for Beijing and Shanghai. Students were eager to ask questions and obtain first-hand knowledge of the market, cultural differences between the east and the west and managing projects in this local environment. Students came away inspired and having gained valuable information pertaining to a personal and practical approach to living and working in China.
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Student Interview: Noa Simmons
 Name: Noa Simons
Country of Residence: USA
Citizenship: American
Profession: Marketing for Educational Services
Educational Background: B.S. in Political Science
Brief Work History: Five years at Summit Educational Group doing tutoring, client services, curriculum development, and most recently marketing.
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Hobbies: Horseback riding, cooking and studying Chinese.
Is this your first time in China?
Yes
Why did you decide to study Chinese Language and Business?
I would like to work internationally, ideally in China.
How are you finding your studies in China?
The business program is phenomenal. It provides an overview of China 's political and economic history as well as real-life, present-day perspectives on the challenges and rewards of doing business in China .
Have your studies met your expectations?
My language classes have mostly been great – my Chinese has improved dramatically. The student body at World Link Education is more diverse than I expected, which is a real asset to the program.
How do you like Beijing?
Beijing has its pros and cons. It is a large city in a developing country that is growing by leaps and bounds every day. As the 2008 Olympics approaches, the city is becoming more cosmopolitan, although one still sees remnants of its roots – like donkeys pulling carts of fruit in the bicycle lanes of major roadways in the Haidian district.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
The contrast between the old, the Communist, and the new presents a fascinating juxtaposition in a country that is changing so quickly. The communist influence is evident not only in the numerous square brick buildings that don’t have much personality but also in the plethora of Mao-worship paraphernalia. Walking down the local hutongs (narrow, winding streets with courtyard houses and shops) affords unique insights into the lives of urban Chinese. Looking up at a 100-story new, all-glass skyscraper right next to the hutong offers a glimpse into where China is headed. China’s unique combination of ancient history and expansive growth is most interesting to me, especially as reflected in everyday life.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing/China?
Living with my host family is a great experience that I will never forget – how do they take showers in such a small area?
How has your experience in China changed you?
This experience has helped me to expand my perspective on the world significantly. It has also helped me to be more flexible in my expectations.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
China is a fascinating place to be right now. Everything is changing so quickly, especially in the cities. My favorite thing about Beijing is transportation around the city. The traffic patterns are something to behold - it’s quite amazing to see the cars, trucks, buses, bicyclists, tricyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and donkeys working things out so that everyone manages to go where they want to go with minimal damage done! It’s like an intricate dance that they know so well.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
Yes, without a doubt.
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Be prepared to be flexible, probably in ways you can’t anticipate – China’s culture is very different from the West. |
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