Sarkis, Rob, and Jonathan accompanied one of the Chinese students who spent last Spring at MMA to their home in the city of Lin Hai, Zhejiang Province. They took a 5 hour bus from downtown Shanghai. Upon arrival in Lin Hai they enjoyed a dinner of typical Lin Hainese dishes primary of seafood. An early morning wake up led to a two hour drive to Kuocang Mountain for a hike to the top and back down.After completing the 1,000 meter ascent to the top the group enjoyed a meal with food that was caught, raised, or grown on the mountain top. After returning to Lin Hai in the evening the group shared a meal with the Chinese students family while trying to learn the Lin Hainese dialect and teaching the father how to read his English version of Chinese Rules of the Road book. The next day the group traveled with the family to witness the Chinese Tomb Sweeping ceremony. This annual tradition includes visiting the graves of your ancestors bringing food, wine, and paper money!
Fireworks are lit off symbolizing the abolishing of evil spirits from the tomb. Following the ceremony the group walked the Great Southern Wall of China. Built thousands of years ago its purpose was to protect the city from flooding and enemy ethnicities from attacking. Every large city in Ancient China built a wall to protect its people but an ancient dynasty required many of them to be demolished once the country was unified. Lin Hai was allowed to keep theirs due to the flood protection it provided. The Lin Hai trip was a very adventurous and an enjoyable trip for the students as they traveled far from the city streets of Shanghai.
Submitted by 2/c Jonathan White
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