Hungry for Chinese

JohnPaul Bennett is having the adventure of a lifetime during his 2007-08 academic year studying abroad in China.

The rich history of China is apparent everywhere, from visiting ancient temples to walking on the magnificent Great Wall.

Thanks to the national Freeman Awards for Study in Asia, Bennett is one of 12 U.S. students awarded the grant that is allowing him to study at the Beijing Central University for Nationalities and the Shanghai East China Normal University. He’s taking classes to help him adapt and understand an entirely different culture, but he’s also traversing the ancient landscape, gazing at wonders of the world, and reliving the past in a very historic region.

What was your initial reaction arriving in China? Describe how you felt.

When stepping off of the airplane and walking through customs I just kept going through the motions—it hadn’t hit me—I just flew 13 hours on my first flight ever and to China! A hundred people with signs who were yelling out names met me as I entered the waiting area. I felt like a celebrity. I didn’t grow up in the city so driving through Beijing seemed as if it was never ending. I assumed China wasn’t as modern and industrialized as the United States, so I was shocked when I saw all the development and progress being made.

Why China?

I’ve always wanted to travel. No SU student had traveled to China in several years so I wanted to go even more to learn about the language, the lifestyles and the food. Traditional Chinese food is completely different from Chinese food in the States and it’s even more delicious. Plus the food is cheap here: beer is 20 cents and a full course meal for 10 adults is only $10.

I have been able to witness how a completely different society and culture operates in their daily lives and see change happening all around me. I’m very excited about studying in Shanghai for the spring semester and trying to find a way to stay for the Olympics.

How did you overcome the language barrier?

By practicing and practicing I’ve been able to overcome the initial barriers. Learning Chinese is a very challenging and gradual process; sometimes going slow is going fast. I enjoy writing the characters and I have regular tutor sessions that are very beneficial. I know enough I could survive and not go hungry – but I’m far way from having an intelligent conversation with my professors.

You mentioned you visited places like the Great Wall and many other spectacles. What were your most memorable trips?

Our first trip was to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The Forbidden City was magnificent and it was awesome to think I was walking in the same footsteps as the emperors who ruled here. The architecture was beautiful, the detail was amazing and to think it was all done by hand is mind blowing.

The Temple of Heaven looked as if it was a picture painted in time. While standing on the Taiji Stone at the Circular Mound Altar I felt like I was reliving history of the emperors who stood on the very same stone. The most fascinating area of the Temple of Heaven was Echo Wall. We were told if one person stood on the east side of the circular wall and another on the west side and whispered they would be able to hear each other. Of course we didn’t believe it. To my amazement it actually worked.

The Summer Palace was absolutely beautiful, surrounded by mountains and a lake. Its construction began under Emperor Qinglong as a gift to his mother for her birthday — I’m sure my mom would love a present like that.

The most memorable experience and most magnificent was the Great Wall. The massive size was breath-taking and it was hard to believe it was made by hand, stone after stone. At some points on the wall you would be walking straight up, holding on to a railing so you wouldn’t tumble down. I reached the highest point of the wall and the view was gorgeous.

Most of these trips to the historical sites and the two week excursions were sponsor-ed by our program, but on weekends my friends and I would travel around the city exploring new sites and getting as much as possible out of this phenomenal country.

What kind of things do you and your friends do?

I’ve taken trips to the White Cloud and Lama temples, the future 2008 Olympic Site, and the Happy Valley Amusement Park, which is seriously the happiest place I’ve ever been.

Usually on the week days I’m practicing the language by going through tutor sessions or exploring the city and talking to the locals but on the weekends we search for local bars, stores and restaurants that we’ve never been to.

Shopping has never really been my thing, but shopping in China is completely different because of the madness of markets. The salespeople will hit you, yell at you, and call you names — and you can do the same thing back to them. It’s great fun. My bargaining and haggling skills have improved dramatically. I’ve been walking away with clothing worth $100 and only paying $3.

How are the people? Did you make any friendships with any of the citizens there?

I’ve really enjoyed meeting kids from all over the world — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Italy, France, Mongolia, Japan, India, Canada, and England.

Meeting the families on the two-week excursion was very memorable because we stayed in their homes and helped them out around the village. On one of the excursions to Qinghai and Gansu provinces, we lived with nomads and farmers who had never seen foreigners and they were very excited. One elderly woman broke down in tears of happiness and kept screaming in Tibetan and hugging and kissing everyone.

Everything I ever learned in a world history class seemed to be unfolding in front of me. Being with other people who lived there and seeing the areas I learned about gave me a different perspective than simply reading a textbook.

What are some of the everyday problems about staying overseas that you go through? Maybe some minor problems most people wouldn’t think about?

I’ve had to adjust to the amount of pollution, which is unfortunate. I remember distinctly the taste of the air in my mouth when I first arrived in China.

Bathrooms are another problem. There have been plenty of days we weren’t able to take showers because the building had no pressure to pump the water to the higher levels.

Being immersed in a completely foreign culture that is quite different from ours and learning how to deal with these differences is all part of studying abroad.

One thing I thought would be a problem was being treated as a foreigner, but it hasn’t been that way at all. Americans are definitely accepted and I have felt safer here sometimes than I have back home.

I’m having a blast.

How has Shippensburg University prepared you for this adventure?

I went into the trip fully prepared for the educational material. The university also helped me learn that life is full of constant, unexpected, changes and it’s all about how you deal with the opportunities that change brings to make the best out of the situation you’re in—something I frequently have to do while living in another country. I am very honored to have received the Freeman-Asia Award.

So this really is an adventure for you then?

This is the biggest and greatest adventure of my life so far. It’s been very exciting experiencing a lot of firsts for me. I took my first flight to get here, and my first taxi, and my first subway ride. I got my first cell phone and apartment, and I experienced what it was like eating dog for the first time, too. I have seen and done things I never dreamed possible.

Matthew McKeague, a graduate assistant in the Office of Communications and Marketing, contributed to this article.

Johnpaul Bennett ’10

Hometown: New Cumberland

Major: Finance, international studies minor

Campus activities: Track and Field, Honors Society, Rotaract.

Hobbies: Basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, running, calligraphy, wine tasting.

Future goals: To work in international real estate professionally and make presentations about the importance of studying abroad.