Keegan, Jian, Cathy, Jill, Peiyi, and Carmen were apart of Thursday's round. Our resentent and frustrations were brought to the table Keegan brought a lot of heat along with Jian and myself. We have several concersn that have caused us unecessary stress
1) The Visa (obtaining the correct visa aka "X" visa for students)
2) segregation of Shaoyuan from real Chinese dorms.
Tian's laoshi's response for most questions was 'lack of funding'. We thought it was political. Also PKU has always housed internationals students in Shaouan
3) no communication to international students about on campus events
4) even when we do find bbs.com, the site is still difficult to navigate if one doesn't understand Chinese.
Whenever Tian Laoshi would interrupt our reasoning's it was really condescending. "NO listen to me". Clearly you don't listen to us. Keegan got really heated. I tried to kick him under the table, but that didn't work. I didn't want to kick him again because I think he would've told me to go bugger off.
From lunch back to Shaoyuan's 5th floor. The grim grey afternoon covered the Beijing sky. Christian and Taylor joined the discussion. We've come to realize that although CIEE strives to promote improve Chinese language, they do not cater to our wants and eperiences that we'd like to have at Peking University, which is considered to be the highest ranking university, the "Harvard" of China. Sadly there needs to be improvements on the this campus (which I will discuss soon) 1) our language pledge is not enforced at all 2) we rarely see our adviser 3) were surrounded by Americans rather than Chinese roommates. Then again would I want to suffer in a 4 bed cramped dorm room and a stinky public shower just to improve my Chinese? As long as I get hot water then YES.
My scholarship money is really being used. Disappointing. This is especially disappointing to the classmates who spent 13-20,000$ USD for studying at the prestigious Peking University. Not exactly getting a bang for our buck here.
Plus, direct enrollment is only $3,000 USD (excluding rent and such). What I couldn't stan most is understanding the logic of PKU. Only reason why we can't room with Chinese students or lie with people in the other Shaoyuan buildings (which have international students) is because PKU over-enrolls. They've reached maximum living accommodations, yet they continue to allow students to study. When they can't fit anymore people on campus they arrange people to stay at the PKU 'Global Village' or tell my friend Jane, "well tough shit find your own place."
Here's what it boils down to; money.
To relieve Keegan's frustrations I proposed a cool down walk. Christian, Taylor, Keegan and i went out towards the Haidian sports center, and we discovered this public park that reminded the boys of something from the sci fi world. We then noticed a few local old men were throwing birds into he air and through a pipe, they shoot something into the air, finally the birds swoop it midair and land back down kamikaze style.
Down the hill we stumbled upon a playground. China has erected many outdoor excercise machines for poeple young and old to enjoy. This was to promote healthy lifestyles and to tell Chinese citizens to 'get out of the damn house'. Most appreciated by the Municipal government of Beijing. P.S You are fat. Get that Big Mac out of your face you rotten 12 year old.
Afterward we dived into a second hand dusty bookshop where the guy manning the counter was watching the Godfather on his computer. Of all places per guardare il film "God father". che madonna.
