VENTURE FOWARD
vo l u m e 1 Beijing, China
Inside this Issue A u t h o r ’s No t e
PAG E 1
The No odle A ssa ssin of B eijing
PAG E 3
Guan Yu
PAG E 6
The Hanging Temple of Hengshan
PAG E 7
北京市
Beijing
AU THOR’S
NO TE
I
n this issue of Venture Foward tells the story of Rasha Abulhaj who studied abroad in China for a summer semester. As someone who is fascinated by Chinese culture and language, Rasha decided to study abroad in Bejing, China in the summer of 2019. While abroad, Rasha explains, “everyday is an adventure.” Whethor is was walking down the street for breakfast or traveling to the country side, Rasha explains Whethor that be walking down the street to eat some breakfast or taking the train to the expereinces.
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Beijing
THE
NOODLE A SSA SSIN OF BEIJING
I
had just arrived in Beijing, China, the city I would call home for the next 3 months. I was beyond excited for my adventure on another continent thousands of miles away from home. Finally settled into my new home, I just ran out the door. With no idea or notion of where
I was going - my feet walked me out the door. I quickly stumbled into a little restaurant that was a minute walk away from my new home. The place was packed ensuring I had a delicious meal ahead of me. I walked through the door and was immediately greeted by the long line. The aroma swirling around the room reminded me of the smell that makes my tummy rumble after walking into my grandma’s kitchen. The sounds of happy diners, “ssslllllluuuurrrrrrrpppppppp”, echoed throughout the restaurant. I looked around the room entranced as people were ferociously devouring their noodles like the world was about to end within the next six seconds. Anxiously waiting in line, I practiced saying my order in my head hoping the cashier would be able to understand my Mandarin. I took a deep breath and slowly articulated my order, “
” (“Hello, may I please get one cold
Coca-Cola and one bowl of LanZhou beef noodles?”) The cashier informs me how much money is due and hands me a ticket to take it to the noodle station. As I walked to the noodle station and closer to my nirvana, the corners of my lips turned upwards. The cashier and I were able to communicate in Mandarin with ease. I come to fruition. I handed my ticket to the worker at the noodle station, and he stacked it on top of the mountainous pile of previous tickets. The chef was standing in front of a stainless-steel pot around the size of a barrel, gently stirring the broth. Behind him were two other chefs, the folded the dough like a rope, twisting and turning as two ends meet. He separated the strands music. The chef then adds the hand pulled noodles into the simmering stock. On the other side of the pot, the chef added fresh noodles into a bowl, sprinkled on lustrous chili oil, and placed the bowl on a tray alongside my chilled Coca-Cola. I held my breath as I carried my tray to the nearest unoccupied seat making sure not to spill a single precious drop. Thick, fragrant, gray steam rose from my bowl dancing into the air, unleashing aromatic fumes.
sluuuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppppppppppppppppppppp broth snuggled my stomach, enriching my very essence vivacity. The noodles had a subtle -
mingle of the slightly sweet noodles, savory beef broth, and heat from the chili oil encircled true harmony with the bowl of noodles.
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A BOWL OF BEEF NOODLE AT MU DE LOU RESTURSNT IN BEIJING, CHINA
Beijing
GUA N
Y U
[The name Guan Yu is ancient, Sword is long, Beard is long, The name Guan Yu is mighty, The Green Dragon Crescent Blade still protects, Lord no myth, The God of War, The Saint generals - Chinese proverb)], The Hero from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Protector of the Country and Defender of the People, Heavenface, Embodying loyalty, righteousness and trustworthiness, The God of Wealth, Bringing peace, prosperity and protection, The Holy Ruler Deity Guan, The Immortal of Chongning, A name that hangs through the ages.]
Beijing
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7
THE
H A NGING
TE M PLE
OF
HENGSH A N
I
t was 6AM, on a crisp morning, I tiredly headed to the bus surrounded by my classmates. Too tired to ask where we were going, I leaned my head against the window and began to get some beauty sleep. What
me. I had been transported to what seemed like another world separated from the hustle and bustle of urban China. I felt as if I was a tiny speck surrounded by immense mountains surrounding me, having skipped breakfast I was reminded of a tiny cheerio on the bottom of a bowl. The scenery was unreal, I had to question if I was somehow still sleeping on the bus. I gazed at the vista of mountains encircling me. I was in awe taking in the sights of the mountains piercing the heavens loftily rising above the clouds. I could hardly believe my own eyes as I looked straight up at the sky trying to grasp how enormous the mountains were. Far above mountain. Amongst the sandy colored rocky mountain, the temple glowed golden (yellow) and burgundy. Underneath the temple, stood a tall white stone with red engraved traditional Chinese characters stating, “ I traveled alongside my roommate, ZeChen Yu. Propelled upwards by the view and our wonderment we quickly ascended. The temple was masterfully constructed and the details in architecture and colors was nothing short of sublime. Written on the gate in traditional Chinese, “
” (“Hanging Temple”).
The temple didn’t appear to be hanging too high in the air from afar, but as I approached the entrance my nerves began to tingling; still, like the tiny cheerio on the bottom of the bowl. The mountains encircling me made me feel embraced as I slowly walked through the temple. The shrines at the temple cherished Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism sculptures, the three ancient religions were considered the three pillars of ancient Chinese traditional culture. The detailing of the architecture was staggering. The temple’s structure was
up the shrine I was admiring. The shrine had sculptures of Buddha, Lao Zi and being worship together opened my eyes. I realized that the universe will never let a deed go unrewarded. and outer beauty and tranquility. The beauty and grace of the temple and mountains exhibited the requirement of nature for enlightenment and transcendence.
“I had been transported to what seemed like another world separated from the hustle and bustle of urban China” Hengshan
JINGSHAN PARK, BEIJING, CHINA
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TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, BEIJING, CHINA
Beijing
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Hengshan