Liz Braccia, May 19

Liz Braccia, May 19

Since the beginning of this week, we have been spending time learning about and experiencing Chinese cuisine. Although we have been eating a variety of different Chinese foods since we arrived in Beijing, we had the opportunity to see how the unique foods are prepared. On Tuesday, we went to a culinary school close to CTBU. We split up into two groups. The group that I was in began by watching one of the chefs prepare a couple typical Chinese dishes. One of the things I noticed was that oil was the ingredient to grease the pan and sauté the meat and vegetables. There were also many spices used to add flavor to the dish, such as MSG and pepper. After watching, each of us paired up with a chef and we were able to have a one-on-one cooking experience.




We were then taught to make dumplings and were able to make our own. Finally, there were long tables set up for us to try our creations.


Wednesday was the day of the food fair. This was a very special event in the CTBU study and culture tour. Every University from all the different countries had a tent set up with a dish specific to each culture. Students and faculty visited the tents to try foods from around the world. Our school made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pasta with a tomato sauce. Eight pounds of pasta was cooked and it was devoured within an hour. I was able to try a cold ginger drink and a meat dish from Botswana. I also tried a signature dish from Thailand. I am so happy that this event was held and that I got to experience it. It was amazing to see at least five countries come together and spend time together as new friends to experience each others’ culture.

There was some pasta and sauce left over that was not cooked. After the festivities of the food fair were over, a couple of our Widener students cooked a typical Italian-American family dinner and we all ate together. It was a great chance for us to all come together and enjoy a home cooked meal.


The morning before the food fair, a couple of us woke up a little earlier than normal and went for a hike on one of the mountains on the CTBU campus. There was a cleared path to go up and down the entire mountain. The different views were amazing. We were able to see all of the CTBU campus and many buildings in Chongqing. It is very common for people to scream and yell as they climb the mountain. It signifies how high they are and the large open areas around them. I also found it amazing that at a couple different points on the mountain there were people selling fresh goods and different vegetables. Climbing that mountain is a typical and daily routine for some of the residents in the area. I am very glad that I got to experience the University from that perspective and I hope to do it again while we are here.