Submitted by Samantha Scharf on the 2016 winter session program in China sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice..
It is hard to believe that my first week in Beijing is coming to an end. I have been dreaming of coming to this historic capital for many years, but even as I look out my window and see the dozens of buildings covered in Chinese characters, it’s hard to believe I’m actually here.
During my first week in Beijing, I have had many wonderful expereinces. I have gotten to see many historic sites such as Tiananmen Square and the Emperor’s Palace. I also had a chance to meet many students that are studying here in Beijing.
One of the most unbelievable experiences thus far on the program has been climbing the Great Wall of China (here just referred to as The Great Wall). It was a fairly difficult climb to the top. The freezing temperature and thin air made simply being outside at that altitude a challenge. The climb itself was also very difficult. Many areas of the wall were extremely steep and difficult to navigate. I am in fairly good physical shape, but I still found the journey to the top to be extremely tiring. But of course, even when I was exhausted and thought there was no way I could keep walking, all I had to do was lift my head out and look at the beautiful landscape that surrounded me. It was not only a breathtaking view, but also served as a reminder of the incredible history that I was immersed in.