Yesterday I had the honor of
walking around the Dazu Stone Carvings and learning about the Buddha. I was
amazed at the size and details of these stone carvings that were carved from
the mountainside. I think that this was the highlight of my trip because while
visiting The Great Wall and The Forbidden City were marvels to me, I found that
learning the history and the meaning behind the religion practiced in this
country. I love learning about other religions and as I was born and raised in
a Christian home, this experience opened my eyes a great deal. It was
awe-inspiring to see the amount of dedication that it had taken to carve such
magnificent stories into the side of the mountain.
I have been experiencing a bit of
culture shock while being here in China because everything is so different
here. Not just the religion, but also the fashion, the food, even the
bathrooms! I think the thing that has shocked me the most is the way that the
Chinese people react to the sight of foreigners. They stare and take pictures
of me all the time. I think that Black skin and kinky hair is an anomaly here.
Several times people have attempted to touch me and touch my hair. I have
gained appreciation for the way that the United States is such a melting pot of
colors, people, and languages. It is not strange for us to see people who look
different from us because we all look different. I am thoroughly enjoying
myself and being in the mountainous city of Chongqing has seriously sculpted my
legs: so much walking! I am looking forward to the upcoming events on campus
and especially looking forward to going to Xi’ an to see the Terra Cotta
soldiers.
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