An Odyssey to China

by Monica Islam

I had not boarded a plane and travelled out of Bangladesh for a decade now. Therefore, when the opportunity to travel to China on a short study tour was offered to me by the Confucius Institute at North South University, I immediately accepted it.

This travel jinx was finally lifted off me and I was overjoyed. Equipped with only two phrases – Nihao and Xiexie, I went aboard the China Eastern Airlines. The flight to Kunming in Yunnan took only two hours. The trip to China has left me enthralled about its culture and it entices me to form a bond between the Commonwealth nations and China.

Food

Meals are usually presented on a common rotating table-top, demonstrating the collective quest for sharing every morsel of food. Tea is the most popular beverage, which is served at every meal and is deemed as a strong part of Chinese heritage. There was another drink which I quite enjoyed. It was made of coconut and mango that was just thirst-quenching and irresistible. I also relished Kao Ya or Roasted Duck and a salad of prawns with fruits.

Yunnan cuisine had distinct flavours of sweet, sour and spicy. I also tried Hot Pot which is like a live barbecue station—you take the raw ingredients and place them in boiling and simmering water in the centre, and wait for the ingredients to be cooked.

Dress

Some Chinese women wear certain ethnic dresses which are similar to our traditional Bangladeshi attire of shalwar kameez. These are woven in intricate thread designs on delicate cloth materials, such as silk and velvet, and are vibrantly-coloured.

Shopping

The Shun Cheng Shopping Centre is an elite square, housing many shops which cater to every need of the people, from fragrant perfumes such as Christian Dior’s J’Adore to cute fridge magnets on display.

Education

Every chilly morning, we had classes on Chinese language and civilization. This was the most arduous part, but I was left thoroughly engaged by our amiable teachers. My most favourite lesson was about brewing and serving the traditional drink—tea!

Scenic Beauty

Yunnan has every kind of landscape but what I liked most was the serene and majestic Dianchi Lake as well as the province of Jiangsu.

Religion

The people of China are deeply spiritual and they respect places of worship, even though they do not follow any specific religion. This resonated with me the most and I deeply cherish such honourable and tolerant thoughts. Buddhism and Taoism are widely practised here.

Conclusion

One of my Pakistani acquaintances had said once, “China has left behind the world,” and after visiting China, I can only agree and I would recommend Commonwealth nations to actively build ties with this spectacular country. The Confucius Institutes in the different parts of the world would do well to create more such exchange programmes so that the youths can see for themselves a different corner of the world.