A Chinese Amusement Park: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

While in Dalian, Chip and I spent a day at Discovery Kingdom.  We both love roller coasters, but in our nine years of dating and marriage, we have never been to an amusement park together.  Some friends of ours recently went to a Chinese amusement park and had a great time, so in spite of some minor hesitations, we decided to experience our first theme park together in China.

 

Why would going to a Chinese amusement park be a bad idea, you ask?  

For two main reasons:

1.  China has 1 billion people.  At an American amusement park you can easily get frustrated with long lines, so you can imagine that being even more true in the most heavily populated country in the world.

2.  China is not known for quality products (they export the good stuff and create cheaper knock-offs to be sold in their own country) thus bringing in the question of safety.  When you are flipping upside down at great heights, you want to know that ride has passed every possible safety check.

Aware of those concerns and with adjusted expectations, we went anyway and experienced the good, the bad and the ugly side of a Chinese amusement park.

 

 The Good

It was a great day.  Sunny but not too hot.  Never rained (contrary to the weather report).  And as soon as I walked in the gate, I got the same excited feeling I had as a kid when I went to Six Flags over Texas.

It was also relatively inexpensive.  We paid for tickets and transportation to the park for much less than the price of one ticket to a big amusement park in the states.

 This was our first ride of the day.  It was a good one to start us off--super high and gave us that airy stomach feeling.  And early in the day, we never waited in line more than 15 or 20 minutes.

 There were some big roller coasters and the pretty typical "what you'd expect at a theme park" kind of rides.  There was even a 4D Ice Age movie-clip complete with 3D glasses, jolting seats, and occasional water in our faces.

The park was pretty clean and well designed.  As we walked to different themed areas, I was impressed with the quality and authenticity of each scene.

The Bad

 We got arrested and locked in the stocks.   ;)

Chip eating star-shaped chicken/seafood nuggets

 The food wasn't great.  Like any amusement park the food was overpriced and junky.  Unfortunately, it was was not American junk food like funnel cakes and lemon ice; it was Chinese hot dogs, dried seafood, and instant noodles.

There were also some lame rides.  On one "ride" we sat in a pitch black room wearing headphones and listening to "scary" computer animated sound effects.

We also rode one called the Fly Trap where we hung upside down for a long time spinning.  It just made us feel sick.

 By the afternoon, the lines for the big rides were LONG.  The sign posting the length of wait from this point says 2.5 hours.  But I really wanted to ride the roller coaster where your legs dangle below. . .so we waited.  It turned out to be almost 3 hours.

The Ugly

There was really just one particularly ugly aspect--something that drove both of us to almost lose our patience.  Chinese people do not know how to wait in line.  It's true anywhere--getting on a bus, buying groceries, purchasing train tickets--if you leave a gap or turn your back or don't push and shove, someone will get in front of you.  It was particularly frustrating in a context where we were all waiting for the same ride for a long time.  Sounds a little trivial?  If it had only been a couple times, then we would not have minded, but it happened time and time again.  Other Chinese people appeared frustrated too, but rules are not regularly enforced in China so, because it is normal, they shrug their shoulders and let people pass. There is genuinely nothing anyone can do--especially us, the foreigners.  Everything in our American minds wants things to be fair, but much of the world is not fair--they do not even expect it to be.

All in all, though, we had a fun day together at Dalian's Discovery Kingdom.

Dalian Days

 

We spent a view days in Dalian, a seaside city in the province south of Jilin where we live.  We are grateful for this summer in China, but we were feeling a little antsy here in Changchun and needed to go someplace different for a few days.   

Most Chinese beaches stay pretty busy, especially this time of year, but we found this one recommended because it is a bit more secluded (i.e. hard to find) and not crowded.

Our LONG hike to the more private beach

 

The water was icy cold which kept us on the sand reading and napping but did not stop kids from going in for a swim.  On our end of the beach, it was mostly Russian families, a few Chinese, and lots of brides and photographers.

Wedding photography on the beach

 On our way to the beach, we rode an overnight train.  Before going to bed on my top bunk, me and this little guy became buddies.  He showed me photos and videos of himself on his mom's phone, gave me hugs, and called me 阿姨 (auntie).  When I went to the bathroom, Chip said he wondered where 阿姨 had gone.  When it was time to go to bed, he begged and begged to stay up and play with 阿姨.  I took this as my cue to head up to my bed.  And in the morning he was happy to see me come back down.  I love how easy it is to make friends on Chinese trains.

Our hostel in Dalian

Western architecture

 People say Dalian is the Hong Kong of the north, and while we have not been to Hong Kong, we imagine this means cleaner, wealthier, and more Western in style.  For the most part, Dalian looked like most other cities we have visited in China, but there were definitely parts of the city that revealed wealth and Western influence. 

Dalian is also very hilly, so our legs got daily workouts while we were there.

Dalian is a port city which means more foreigners.  As a result, Dalian has some good Western restaurants.  Since we have not been home to the states in a year, we were due for some good Western food.

This is the Olive Garden, not the American one, but a pretty descent knock-off.  The food was delicious, the meal was candle-lit, and the server was diligent, so while it cost more than we anticipated, we decided it was worth it (and still less than $20USD).

Dalian also has a Dairy Queen so we stopped in and split a coffee blizzard.

Eating ice cream-topped waffles at a more Chinese-ified Western restaurant

And to top off our American experience in Dalian, we ran into some American presidents!

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We met this guy on Dalian's light rail system.  His English name is Glory (named after a character in World of Warcraft).  He asked to take a photo with us, and then we got into a long conversation.  He had been looking for someone to practice English with and was so thankful to meet us. 

 As he chatted with Chip, I wrote down some of the things he said on a scrap piece of paper.

Glory: "My dreams came true.  I finally met a foreigner to speak English with me."
"Today I have a new favorite friend--you two."
"It's so exciting.  I know I can't sleep tonight."

The next morning, we both had friend requests from Glory on 人人网, China's facebook.

*****

 While we were in Dalian, we decided to go to a Chinese amusement park, and well, it was definitely a cultural experience and worth a post all it's own.  Coming soon. . .A Chinese Amusement Park:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Canaan Land Cafe

This week we have been helping our friend, Chen Rong, fulfill a dream.  She is opening a coffee shop/cafe/English tutoring school as a way to share hope and love with people in the community.

Serving cookies to the guys who hung the awning 

In English, the name of her shop is Canaan Land Cafe.  Some friends from her fellowship helped her paint the walls and ceilings.  She and her parents have worked hard to clean, prepare, and advertise for grand opening.

The front entry counter

 She even has a kid room with a foam-tile floor.  In the this photo, Chip and friends are helping decorate the walls with stickers.

This week I helped Chen Rong as we experimented with making a few different kinds of pizza (different crusts, different toppings, etc.) and cookies.  She wants to have some Western food at her cafe likely because it attracts foreigners and Chinese young people.  Her dad came in out supplying us with things we needed.  I asked him if he likes pizza.  He said he'd never tried it.

 Chen Rong ordered sauce, cheese, pepperoni, etc. from an import store.  When the delivery arrived both she and her partner were confused about the contents.  They weren't even sure which of the things in the box was cheese.  We were happy to help clear up the confusion.

Chen Rong and her business partner baking chocolate chip cookies

                              

Many of the things she did were not "normal" to me in terms of opening a cafe by American standards.  For instance, she was learning to make pizza and cookies less than a week before she opened, she had never used an oven before, and while it is a coffee shop, she only has one average-sized French press and two bags of coffee because she imagines most of her customers will want instant coffee or tea.

And as thanks for all of our help, Chen Rong's mother made us a TON of shrimp-filled dumplings.

Me and Chen Rong's momma outside the shop for the Grand Opening

 Friday night was the trial opening just for family and friends.  Guests mingled in and out trying pizza, cookies, sushi, meatballs, and fruit.  People really seemed to enjoy the food, even the American pizza.

Cute kiddos eating their snacks outside

 Chip and I talked to these boys and their moms for a long time that night.  They are in high school and were eager to practice their English (or at least, their moms were eager for them to practice).  We also got in a lot of Chinese practice communicating with all of the guests.

I am hoping in the fall to volunteer at Canaan Land Cafe at least a few hours a week.  I told Chen Rong that I could even come and just do the dishes--something she and her business partner vehemently opposed.  So I will probably do some baking or help with English tutoring--whatever I can do to help her share light and hope in this city.  Be asking that people will feel His love when the enter, and if you are in Changchun, you should definitely stop in for some snacks and conversation.

A very successful first day at the cafe!  Trusting for many more to come.

Chip's Chewable

It has been a while since I have posted a Chip's Chewable...so I am going to to post a grab bag of links that I have read recently that I find interesting about the Chinese people and their culture.

The first article is titled, "Second thoughts on College in China." This is an interesting article about some of the issues China's higher education faces.  As a future teacher at a Chinese university, this article is especially thought provoking for me. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/06/29/second-thoughts-on-college-in-china/

The second article is about China's major smoking problem.  The article is titled, "Smoking habit may cripple China social security." I have always been puzzled by the Chinese's insatiable desire to smoke; and yet, the Chinese are very concerned about their health. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7874051.html

The third article hits on the morality debate in today's Chinese culture. China's morality or lack there of has become a "topic of widespread concern," according to the article. The title of the third article is "Toilet Paper Abuse Prompts China Morality Debate."  (Funny side note:  Mallary and her friends have created a 5-star rating system to rate Chinese bathrooms. Each of the following are worth one star:  running water/sink, soap, toilet paper, hand dryer, and smell/cleanliness. In my experience, most public toilets in China average 1.5 stars.) 
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/07/10/toilet-paper-abuse-prompts-china-morality-debate/

The fourth and fifth articles report on a touching story about a young Chinese girl who was abandoned because she has "fur" and spots covering the majority of her body. As a result of the first article, attention was raised to her condition and now she is receiving medial care in order to give her a more normal life.
http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/pictures/furry-child-chinese-girls-body-covered-by-black-spots-fur.html
http://www.chinasmack.com/2012/features/fur-child-lili-in-shanghai-visitors-friends-and-hope.html

When is a Chinese Beach Too Crowded?

 

Never!  There's always room for more people.

I took these photos at the park/lake （南湖）near our home.  We frequently walk at this park, we ice skated on this water in the winter,  and we have had many a picnic here.  It is a happening place, but never as busy as we saw the beaches this past week. 

 

And did you notice. . .

• Hardly anyone is wearing a swimming suit?  Small children swim nude or in their undergarments and parents wade out in their casual summer clothes.  Older men tend to wear Speedos and swim at a different part of the lake.
• The tents pitched everywhere?  People want to be outdoors in the summer, but they don't want the sun on their skin.  Sun screen is not a household item in China, but summer gloves, parasols, and long-sleeve shirts are worn all through the summer.  The tents are relief and protection from the sun for a country of people who are dark-complected but wish they were pasty white.
• The water quality?  Well, it's not too clear in the photos, but you can take my word for it, this is "dirty, polluted, be careful not to get any in your mouth" water.

 We haven't pitched a tent or hopped in the water. . .yet.  If it gets hot enough, we might find ourselves mingling in this China beach crowd.

China Through Their Eyes

 Here's one last post about mom and dad's time with us in China, but this time, from their perspective.  Purple text means mom said it, green text is dad, and black text is me. 

What most surprised me about China?

How long it took to do everything (transportation, ticket-purchasing, shopping, climbing six flights of stairs to our apartment)

What I most liked about China?  Seeing my daughter, of course.  I also liked getting my hair washed, blow dried, and straightened for a few bucks.

Mom getting her hair washed, blow dried, and straightened for about $2.50USD at the hair salon around the corner from our apartment where I have gotten all of my haircuts over the past year.The guys here are super nice, and while they look young, they have a lot of experience.

How is China different than America?

China has so many more people, a lack of courtesy for waiting your turn (due to there being so many people--you have to push or cut in line to get a chance), US efficiency/organization of processes and tourism, cleaner in the US, cleaner air in the US, housing is all high-rise apartments in the city.

Squatty-potty (and really a pretty clean one)

Most difficult in China?

No toilet paper and dirty public bathrooms in China--Pollution--So many people--Crowded--The food--Transportation/travel--Not clean--Trashy streets--Visa card not accepted many places--Government-controlled-Internet--Being stared at because we were foreigners

A Chinese Wal-mart:  The name is familiar but nothing inside is!

Seeing Mallary and Chip with the people in China was amazing.  YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB RELATING TO THE PEOPLE!  Tom and I loved being with you and seeing what your life is like in China.  Thank you for sharing China with us and helping us see the real China.  --Mom

I was pretty impressed by mom and dad's chopstick skills.

Tom’s Reflections:  This was mine and Lou Ann's third trip to China together. It has been the most challenging physically (we are older) AND the most rewarding mentally and spiritually. Mallary and Chip provided us with a real cultural experience – we had many – as she immersed us in the culture of NE China and their lives there. All of our time was spent in Jilin Province. We learned Chinese characters and tones and pinyin. We ate Chinese food in small restaurants and from street vendors…most were people Mallary knew…some were new adventures!  LA liked a chicken dish which contained small pieces of white chicken, carrots, and peanuts in a fairly sweet sauce. I liked the Three Treasures dish （地三鲜 di san xian) that is one of Mallary’s favorites – potatoes, onions, green peppers.  Chip ordered some meat dishes for us to try – no dog meat (狗肉 gou rou) – primarily pork in this province.  Despite the heat and humidity in the summer, the restaurants served a pot of hot water to drink.  (We wanted cold，bottled water!) People were friendly and stared at us foreigners (美国人 mei guo ren, American ) a lot! 

If they can stare at us, we figure we can take their pictures.  (We did ask this young girl for a photo and she agreed.)

“It’s a small world.”  In 24 hours you can take four plane flights and be on the other side of the world in a city of 7-8 million people… a place I had never heard of until one year before when our daughter Mallary and her husband Chip moved there to study Chinese. (I do excel in world geography and place names!)

It is a BIG world as well!  There are so many people, so many places, and so many things to do! In just one province of China, there is exploration enough for a lifetime. Building relationships with people – which grow out of our relationship with the Father – is a fulfilling, messy, and essential part of our lives. We met many people on this trip because Mallary meets people so easily, naturally, and lovingingly! (Who can resist that beautiful smile?!) We do not remember their Chinese names but their English names – Maria, Stella, Elizabeth, Stephen and faces stay with us.  And there were American friends – Gabe, Marty, Lauren, Shaunda, Jess, Mark, Dave, Jason, Stephen… Even the Elmores from Pine Bluff, AR! These people are good friends of Mallary and Chip in China with their organization. They scatter all over China both before and after language school.

 

1.    Surprises—China’s explosive growth and economy
2.    Like most—The Chinese people
3.    Different – The eastern mindset differs from the West—longer history and traditions
4.    Difficult—I like the old saying, “There are no foreign places – only the traveler is foreign.”  What appears difficult – food, language, customs – can be a great opportunity.  I like the challenge… 

Cute Chinese kiddos with split pants for easy bathroom stops

Dad (in orange below) practicing TaiChi with the old folks in our apartment complex.  Dad said they were happy he joined. Mom and I watched from the window and were very impressed with his skills. (I hope he won't be embarrassed that I posted these!)

A few more shots and thoughts from our week together. . .

These green beans were RIDICULOUSLY hot.  We all tried a bite and then drank water and ate rice and still couldn't get the heat off of our tongues.  Chip insisted on eating them, so as not to waste, until his face was red and his mouth was on fire and then he just gave up.

Mom and dad were really troopers when it came to the food.  While we have grown to enjoy many dishes, it was new and strange to them but they still gave everything a try.

拔丝地瓜 Candied sweet potatoes

Dad and mom with Chairman Mao

We attended a packed three self church (Chang Ping) where the worship and singing was vibrant, the teaching was sound, and the people were hungry and thirsty for truth.  This love and energy is impacting and reaching people in China. I sensed a real need for hope and joy and peace. We enjoyed this social interaction with their friends and acquaintances in China. 
We will think of them often and hold them in our thoughts.