XCE Beijing Shang Hai

Shanghai 

After several weeks in Beijing, the entire XCE Beijing team took an overnight train to Shanghai where we would spend the next couple of days touring around the economic capital of China. The overnight train was a totally unique experience. It was my first time to sleep inside a train. Although quite tight and packed, it was comfortable. It was moving quickly but you can barely feel the rustle and bustle of the train. Smooth... 

The long train ride gave me the chance to hangout and interact with some of my batch mates. I also had a good conversation with Mr. Aragon. We talked about a variety of topics including college. This small conversation could ultimately be the swaying factor in choosing my future alma matter. Nothing really beats having a fruitful conversation with people I respect and admire.

Upon arriving Shanghai, we went to our hotel. We were billeted in the Greenland Jiulong Hotel. Our room was the biggest and the scariest. It had poor lighting and the window is as small as an air vent. Although the view was pretty atrocious, the small window made it seem like we were living inside a haunted mansion.  One consolation though is that the door doesn’t mysteriously open by itself like the room we have in Huawen. 

Our first stop was the Shanghai Urban Planning and Exhibition Hall.  We were given a glimpse of the different systems and plans  implemented in Shanghai and what the future lies for this city. It was an opportunity for us  to learn new and interesting things in a very interactive manner through an assortment of games and cool presentations. 

After that, we walked a couple of meters to visit Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum. There, we had the opportunity to take our pictures with the live-size replicas of some of our favourite well-known celebrities.  Finally, I got to block Yao Ming! I would never have had an opportunity like that in real life.  

 Our next stop is Nanjing Lu, Shanghai’s version of Beijing’s Wangfujing. It was a very wide shopping district which houses a variety of different brands and nothing beats ending the day with a visit  to the biggest Nike Store in Asia. 

Our second day started with us headed to Zhouzhuang village or also known as the Venice of China (Though honestly speaking, I find it  very far from it). We walked around the village and saw the different small settlements. The supposed-highlight of that visit was a Gondola ride.  

After lunch, we headed to the Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower. It was indeed a sight to see. It’s tall, elegant and unique structure towered above the different skyscrapers of Shanghai. Upon reaching  the top, we had a ton of photo opportunities with the brightly-lit Shanghai scenery as our background. Several floors below the top view deck was the glass-enclosed deck where you could actually walk ‘outside’ the structure and see the Shanghai landscape below encapsulated in glass. We had  fun taking pictures and poking fun at the people who were afraid of the height. It was truly fascinating to see and experience Shanghai’s grandest buildings. 

Our third day in Shanghai started off with a visit to the Bund. We took pictures on the paved road beside Shanghai’s most essential and important river with the Shanghai skyscrapers as our background. Afterwards, we headed over to Paul XuGuangQi’s tomb and ancestral home. It was a great chance for us to visit the person to whom our school’s name was taken from. 

After hearing mass, we went to one of Shanghai’s shopping districts.  Aside from shopping, I was able to taste the Da Long Bao, a bigger Xiao Long Bao. The taste is basically the same except that there was a lot more soup. 

Our last day in Shanghai started off with a talk inside the main headquarters of Oishi. We were all looking sharp on that day as we had to wear our business attire consisting of a long-sleeved polo shirt, tie and leather shoes. Ms. Marissa Go of Oishi gave us an insightful talk on how Oishi was doing in China and why it decided to pack its bags and set up their main headquarters there. We were able to learn a lot of new insights on how business is done in Shanghai and how it is to run such a big company as Oishi. Ms. Go also answered a lot of good questions raised by the students. Our host was also very generous  and gave us a loot bag, consisting of a variety of Oishi products, as souvenir. 

Later in the afternoon, we visited one of the top high schools in Shanghai. The students from both schools shared different things about their respective countries and schools. Different games were played, different performances were presented  and what better way to end the interaction than through a basketball game. The game ended in a draw after the Xaverians caught up from a deficit in the first half. (The officiating CLEARLY favored the local Chinese. I even had to remind the referee that we too were Chinese - Overseas Chinese) 

In the evening, we embarked on our journey back home to Beijing. It was a reminder that we had three weeks left in this city. 

TALKS (Atty. Richard Alianan of Baoshutang Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. and Mr. Benjamin Lim Thomson-Reuters Reporter of the Year 2011) 

Experience is the best teacher. 

We were very privileged to be able to listen to great people talk. These people took time out of their busy schedules to accommodate us and shared their stories of success. It’s not everyday that you get to interact with people who are successful and we, the participants of Beijing XCE 2012, looked forward  and made the most out of it. 

Thursday, November 23, we visited the Baoshutang Pharmaceutical Company plant and met  2009 Xavier School Outstanding Alumni Awardee Atty. Richard Alianan. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to host the event. Atty. Alianan gave us a plant tour and briefly explained to us how their products were formulated, packaged, and sold. We also got  a free sample and some ice cream. He shared to us his story and how he decided to move to China 10+ years ago for a better life and for better opportunities. He also shared to us the different challenges of running a business in China and how he and his company tried to provide their customers with the best products at the lowest cost. 

Saturday, November 25, we had the rare privilege to meet and interact with Mr. Benjamin Lim, Thomson-Reuters’ 2011 Reporter of the Year. Also a Xavier alumnus, he welcomed us with open-arms in the reception area of his office and gave a very interesting talk with insightful and rich answers pertaining to Chinese history, culture, economics and politics. Opportunities like these don’t come very often. We made the most out of it by listening and asking good questions. I hope that I will be able to absorb all the things they shared and apply everything I learned. 

Notes: Hohai challenge tomorrow! Let’s go Team Ello Pakyu! 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 14: November 11, 2012 - Sunday

Day 14: November 11, 2012 - Sunday

Theme parks have never been my cup of tea. I’ve always been afraid of those loops, those fast rides and just the thought of it makes me nauseous. What I didn’t expect was that there were several people who were just like me. People who I thought were ‘man’ enough, turned out to be the same scaredy cat as I was. I was not alone. 

As a reward for our good performance throughout the first two weeks of this trip, we trooped to Beijing’s Happy Valley. The name of the place in itself suggests a sense of thrill, eagerness and fun. This is the place that a lot of my friends would look forward to. On the contrary, I had mixed feelings. I conditioned myself that I wasn’t going to ride those frightening rides. I would just enjoy the scenery and take a lot of pictures for Instagram. But when I knew that there were people who were as scared as I, or even more afraid than I was, it gave me a sense of belonging. I became a part of this group where we had something in common---fear. No one had the right to make fun of the other because we were all scared. 

We formed a group called Teacups, from the famous Disney ride where you just had to sit on spinning cups and saucers (How exciting can that get!) The name suggests our "weak"  hearts but it never undermines our spirit and enthusiasm. It was a group filled with a bunch of scared teenagers. Some were more eager  while the others continued to hold back. We had the day to ourselves to ‘conquer’ our own fears. I tried a variety of rides that I knew I wouldn't have tried alone. We encouraged each other to do it together. We had each other.

The highlight of the day would have to be the 90-degree spinning wheel ride, very similar to Anchor’s Away. I’ve rode on a bunch of tough rides but nothing compared to this. Never in a million years would I have imagined myself lining up for my death sentence. It is a ride which silences its patrons. I wanted to leave the line. I wanted to turn my back on the waiting obstacle. I just wanted to watch on the sidelines. 

No! 

I couldn’t allow myself to be a coward again. I didn’t want to turn my back on a challenge. It was time to change things! I forced myself to ride it. I had to toughen myself because this is simply just a test of how far I can push myself. How can I challenge my body and do things I only dreamt of doing? As I sat with all the buckles on, I probably did the sign of the cross multiple times. And as the ride started, everything slowed down. The ordeal was beginning---my life was hanging on the balance. 

On top of countless gagos and expletives, the ride was actually fun. It was surreal to be able to soar to those heights and fall down gracefully. It is something I will never forget but at the same time think twice on doing it again! I may still be afraid of theme parks and roller coasters but this is a monumental step. The anticipation is always the worse feeling. Fear of the unknown paralyses the body and uncertainty makes the heart beat doubly hard. But if you try to set your mind to something, your body will submissively follow. 

I am very fortunate to be able to face one of the things I’m most afraid of but what’s better is that I was able to do it with friends that had the same phobias as I did. We did it TOGETHER.

Notes: All the roller coasters and water rides in Happy Valley were closed today probably due to the strong winds. As John So would say: “The scammiest theme park in the world.” 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 8: November 5, 2012 - Monday

Day 8: November 5, 2012 - Monday

Back to reality...

Classes, here we go!

The Beijing boys went back to class today.  Vacation is up and it’s time to get back to the books.  We are really finally here is Beijing.

Our group, Team Luceat Lux, won the Group of the Week award.  We may not be the best but we make it a point to give 100% in everything we do.  Our team is composed of different personalities and each member contributes significantly. This is what sets us apart from the rest.  The group shines as one cohesive unit and we bring out the best in each other as a family.

There is still a lot of work to be done but that doesn’t stop us from reaching excellence.  There will be a lot of challenges along the way but these will strengthen our bond as a team.  Excellence and growth is what we are after.

“Ohana means family; and family means no one gets left behind.” - Lilo (Lilo & Stitch)

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 7: November 4,2012 - Sunday

Day 7: November 4,2012 - Sunday

Snow.

Words can’t describe the feeling when you’ve realized that snow fell to the ground.  The utter excitement of your childhood dreams to actually experience, see and feel snow.  It’s surreal! It is a childhood dream come true.

Snow angles, snowball fights -- just wait.

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 6: November 3, 2012 - Saturday

Day 6: November 3, 2012 - Saturday

The rain was relentless, unforgiving and oh so cold! 

The wind was violent, pounding and knee buckling!

That’s how it was for Team Luceat Lux for our first ever team exploration. This is a privilege given to Xaverians which allow us to create our own itineraries and roam around the city freely. Today, the Xavier teachers were the ones who decided where we will go but gave us the freedom to go wherever we wanted after.

Commuting through the busy transit lines of Beijing, we arrived at China’s National Museum. This beautifully engineered structure is one gigantic space which houses different artifacts pertaining to Chinese history. The building appears relatively new with tight security features. It is filled with interesting artifacts dating back from the different dynasties of ancient China to the present. It is elegantly presented in pristine clear glass displays which further entice the different on-lookers.

Afterwards, our team decided to go to Quan Men(I think), the old Chinese version of Wangfujing. There, we were able to freely loiter around and have an opportunity to go do some shopping.  I had no choice but to buy a jacket  as I left mine back at the dormitory.   Soaking wet, I can’t help but hear these words in my head: “Always bring your jacket with you.  It’s better to be safe than sorry.”  I know mom but still ... 

The rain kept pouring throughout the day. It never seized in making us shiver to our bones. What’s worse is that this is just the first week of our trip and harsher weather conditions are to be expected.  

We’re all tired and we deserve a break. Tomorrow’s the Lord’s Day and it’s time for us to get some sleep.

Notes: The rain was really cold and unforgiving. No words to describe it. 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 5: November 2, 2012 - Friday

Day 5: November 2, 2012 - Friday 

Let’s take it outside the classroom. The XCE Boys had a great opportunity today to interact with Mrs. Julie Upton-Wang and the different people from The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu. This local and vibrant community practices a concept called sustainable development. Later in the afternoon, we climbed the Mutianyu side of the Great Wall of China. 

The Schoolhouse at Mutianyu is one of the cleaner and unique communities outside the city of Beijing. After an hour and a half drive, we were greeted by the cold and windy air of the province as well as the beautiful landscaping design of the ‘school’. It isn’t a school anymore but rather a restaurant in the heart and center of the community. There, we were able to hear the stories from the barefoot doctor as well as the accountant of this beautiful village.

The story of the barefoot doctor is one filled with perseverance and great fulfillment. A 64-year old woman introduced herself to us as the doctor of the village. She has been serving this community for 37 years, from the time of Chairman Mao to the present. Her dream was to become a teacher but because of the cultural revolution in China, her dream was shattered. In the year 1964, the Chinese government ordered the smartest and the brightest people from every village to be trained to become a doctor, more specifically a field doctor. It was their job to immediately tend to the needs of the villagers because of the absence of hospitals and good infrastructure. That was where the term barefoot doctor came about because they walked from place to place to tend to the different needs of the villagers. 

On top of being a doctor, she was forced to work in the fields as a farmer. It had no added benefits. She was paid 70 points or less than one kuai. Although she didn’t enjoy her job, this didn’t stop her from performing her duties and she pushed herself to become a great doctor.

She was responsible for everything in the community from first-aid to delivering babies. She was proud to note that she had a 100% success rate and that she was able to deliver 70+ babies successfully. All of them are now doing well. That was one part of the job she enjoyed the most, that she was able to play a big part in the lives of every person in the village. From the time they leave their mothers’ wombs, she was there helping them in every step of the way. Her job took its tolls on her: barely able to eat, sleep, and always on the move. Her life was difficult but she said something that struck me: “It was a job I HAD to do but HARD to do.” 

After a shattered dream, this woman was able to find her purpose in life. She found her niche in society; a way for her to make a difference. She understood the sacrifices she  made and the villagers recognize her efforts and reward her for her selflessness and dedication to the community. She has now been elevated to the rank of Village Clinic Doctor and she has no plans of stopping unless she is told to retire. 

Great Wall 

In scaling the Great Wall, one is given choices on how to do it. You can pay and take the cable car going up or do it the old fashioned way---walking. On the way down, you also have a choice of taking a toboggan, something that is similar to a luge but uses a lever to break and go forward, or again walking. 

I took the “cheap” way up, which is to walk up the countless flights of stairs. Walking up not only tests my physical limits but also my mental toughness. How much farther will I endure? Should I push myself to reach the top?  I thought that walking seven floors to reach my room on a daily basis is enough to prepare me for this.  But more than a thousand steps on a cold afternoon proved to be a real challenge. The journey was difficult but the end result was self-gratifying. 

Upon reaching the top, you are captivated by the scenery. You are intrigued by the architectural prowess of the Chinese but also come to realize the amount of punishment taken to build this magnificent wonder of nature. The Great Wall is the largest cemetery known to man.  Buried here are the millions of Chinese responsible in making it. Their efforts are seen but never credited. 

Taking the toboggan down is one hell of a ride. It is something I highly recommend to every one who visits the wall from the Mutiyanyu side. Exhilarating! The one-word to describe this beautiful invention. 

Scaling the Great Wall is just like how we conquer life and its problems. Going up is difficult and we must push ourselves beyond our limits because that’s the only way we can succeed. Arriving at the top allows us to see the fruits of our labor. Going down is something which humbles us and says, our time is up. 

This too shall pass... :) 

Notes: Getting colder day by day. The same school where we study now is moving to another location by next year. It is a wide property and an architectural masterpiece. There will be a library, indoor swimming pool, indoor basketball court, and an Olympic-size track. 

XCE Beijing 2012 Day 3: October 31, 2012 - Wednesday

Day 3: October 31, 2012 - Wednesday

It’s back to reality for the Beijing boys. The sembreak has abruptly ended and we’re back inside the classroom. This time, not in those plastic blue seats and plastic furnished desks but inside a big auditorium with sofa as a chair. 

It’s hard for us to accept it. Things were bound to return as they were before we left. Waking up early, attending a variety of classes, and dreading about the work we had to accomplish. It isn’t easy but it’s all going to be worth it. 

Our teachers have promised us that the classes we are having are going to be something special. It isn’t going to be a sit down discussion but something rather unique. It is something more out of the box. We are the ones that have to find the answers. We are the ones who are to feed our mind’s curiosity. 

Today was also our first day of Chinese classes though luckily today was just full of introductions and the getting to know you part. Typical first day class orientations; nothing out of the ordinary. 

Nothing happened too much today but that most significant thing we can get out of it is the fact that we are already in Beijing. Gone were the days where things are constantly being given to us. This time, we work for them and it isn’t easy. The freedom given to us is a product of the trust of our teachers. We shall not let them down. 

Beijing has yet to be explored but it’s important that we condition our minds that we are here to learn and not to have a vacation. We should be open to whatever this vibrant city has left in store for us and it is our duty and responsibility to take those and bring it back home. 

Notes: Finally have internet.