Orange, blue, red, yellow signs touting the taxi cabs, the restaurants, the money changing stations lined the airport terminal. The air, an acrid, foreign aroma filling my lungs, left me with an indecipherable wonderment at being 7,000 miles from home in the heart of a country I had only read about in the context of Mao, the “Little Red Book,” and the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. My Chinese teacher tried to prepare us to encounter a world that in so many ways was so far from home, but riding our little bus through Beijing left me shell-shocked and baffled.
The huge apartment buildings, the towering advertisements, the confusingly hectic driving habits, all of it shockingly bathed in color and giant characters. The first day I was a sailor on land after a months-long voyage — unsteady on my feet, looking for something familiar. I managed to spot a Pizza Hut sign, one for KFC, the Michelin Man, the occasionally baffling English advertisement. At three the next morning, thanks to my constant companion jet lag, I was gazing at the skyscrapers from Beijing’s Foreign Studies University, marveling at the underground walkways and the diversity I, frankly, was not expecting. Chinese hipsters slouching with funky haircuts, riding miniature bikes, laughing on the sidewalks — it answered the question every foreign language teacher I’ve ever had asked — what do teenagers do for fun? It’s the same everywhere, whatever seems fun. Comforted, I slept, ready to awaken and look for the differences.
I found them, in abundance. Walking to the grocery store, I wanted to photograph everything, even the puddles forming next to the sewage grates seemed better, more interesting somehow, than American puddles. Running my hands along fruit with red skin, white flesh and black speckles, the strangely-flavored chips, the cartoon candies; never noticing the disinterested stares of the regular customers wondering how a 5’9, blond girl managed to appear on their grocery run.
I saw the tourist sites, the Summer Palace, the literally breathtaking Great Wall, even the Marco Polo Bridge. I spent innumerable exposures trying to take pictures of our favorite lions, only to realize that each was different, and there was no way to get all of them on film. I concentrated on hearing my teacher’s voice through the curved and nail-less wall at the Temple of Heaven and walked through the Forbidden City, past the numbered golden tiles ready for repair, counting the rows of knobs on the enormous red doors. I climbed the steep inclines of the Great Wall at Badaling and admired the enormous statues of camels, elephants, the lion-like dragons.
But after everything was taken care of on the agenda of must-sees, I remember climbing the stairs into the market to get presents for everyone at home. I opened that door to a different place where everyone was vying for my attention, yelling in English, French, Russian, things I barely recognized. I loved trying to buy a backpack and letting the salesgirls speak English, but responding in only Chinese, gaining a little respect with each question I answered right. After I had bought the bag, I spoke to the girls about where I was from, and I asked them questions. I felt more at home than I had the whole time when I was with my American schoolmates.
I began to feel that in some subtle way, though I was further from home than I had ever been, home was closer than I fathomed possible at first encounter. Everything became both more intriguing and more familiar at the same time. I realized Beijing was another microcosm; the same way every culture makes us realize, through its unique differences, the omnipresent humanity that binds us all together.
Elisabeth Moore of Richmond, Virginia won Honorable Mention for this essay.
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John, glad you liked the story. This park is in Ohio where the weather can be unpredictable! It’s warmest between late April and November, but even April has the risk of some snow. If you’re camping with kids, the safest bet is June to August, because it’s warmer and there’s little rain. Enjoy your trip.
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It’s truly magical being there. I love the art this country offers. Their wall arts and crafts are just lovely.
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The history of Cuhahoga valley national park seems interesting and must be a new experience when we observe scenes of National park from their scenic campgrounds.
which season do you think is the best time to visit this national park?
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Hello Michael, glad to hear your family is interested in a dude ranch holiday.
Since your kids are older and, hopefully, everyone in the family rides, you have lots of options. The Dude Ranchers Association is a really helpful resource in sorting through the many types of ranch vacations. For example, you can go here: https://duderanch.org/by-activity-amenity and search for ‘Advanced Rides’ and “Cattle Drives’ and that would get you some real working ranches that would have more of the lifestyle you seem to be looking for. One of our authors recommends the Hideout in Shell, Wyoming for this type of trip.
Looking for a real ranch experience with horseback riding (lots of it) and time in the open air with my son (15) and daughter (12) and my wife (49). I am 62. We live in NJ, my children have been sheltered but I grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. I want my children to see another side of life.
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Of course, you can do travel freely and easily through these two countries yourself, but I enjoyed having the trip curated for me, including well-chosen local guides, comfortable transportation on call and some superb private tours, such as a Khmer cooking class or historic walking tour of Saigon, with flexibility in the itinerary for our group of five to follow their own paths, such as making an emotional detour to the moving Genocide Museum housed in the old S-21 jail in Phnom Penh.
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For Richard re: dual citizenship US-Nicaragua… can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
Hi Richard, In our travel experience, this type of document should work well for your travels, but if your wife is available, it can’t hurt to download the sample forms we have online and also have her fill out and notarize one for your trip with your child. The agency responsible in your case will be the carrier — we assume an airline — and if they can make a note in your travel record that they have approved the Nicaraguan documents you should be fine on both departing and entering.
Safe Travels!
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As a signal parent, your life, world, actions are based on your childs well fair. Not your happiness or anything that has to do with you.
It should list where they are going, the dates that they are allowed to go and grant your permission for that trip. You want to include your address and phone number and probably the contact info for the adult traveling as well.
The grand archways and the paintings of Lord Krishna and his cows are a visual treat. Wander through areas opened for tourists and you shall witness the impressive aura and architecture of the Royal state of Rajasthan.
Thanks for Sharing
Hello guys my wife and I have dual citizenship US-Nicaragua, I’m planning to travel to the US with our son also dual citizenship for 3 weeks, with a Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) from Nicaragua, can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
Congratulations to the winners! A question to all the professional travelers here, how are you planning the route ant the places to see while visiting a new country? As for me I just google the most touristic and popular places. It works mostly, but there were a few times when I realized that I have seen only some the places this country or city is famous for, and that’s sad. On my last trip to Armenia, I decided to take a tour and it was quite productive. It’s much more informative when somebody is telling you history and some interesting facts. If someone wants to save their time – make sure to ask them to help if you’ll ever be there.
Curitiba é uma lugar lindo, além de ser considerada uma das melhores cidades para se morar em Brasil.
Realmente a muito o que conhecer por lá, como também diversas outras belezas do nosso brasil.
Principalmente as praias do Brasil que são muito procurada por inúmeros turistas internacionais e nacionais.
As Praias do Litoral Paulista, divididos entre Praias do Litoral Norte e Litoral Sul.
As mais conhecidas são as Praias de Ubatuba com mais de 100 belas praias no litoral norte paulista.
Já no litoral sul, a região mais procurada são as Praias de Guarujá, a região conta com 23 praias de pura beleza e preservação ambiental.
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Was an honour and pleasure to host you both in the Maori Whakata/Welcome to Wanaka. Welcome back anytime to this wonderful part of the world.
Kia Kaha/Stay strong
[http://www.wanahaka.co.nz]