ldmook

by Lee Mook
“There are two surefire things that unite people: war and sports. We come from all over the world–China, Korea, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Japan, and the US–but out there we will play as one team, and we will win.” My Chinese soccer coach’s rousing speech was met by a roar of excitement from all my teammates and me.
We stood on the “battlefield” (Beijing 80’s soccer field) with the wind whipping at our legs, prepared to face our opponents. Our team had been put together three days earlier, and we were to play our school’s rival in a friendly game of soccer. Although we had never practiced together as an official team, we had all spent various lunch periods, breaks between class, and afternoons playing pick-up soccer together.

The other team had practiced. A lot. The whistle blew and within 15 seconds (and a couple of bobbles by our defense) […]

by Lee Mook

Holidays are always welcome, of course, but after five months of intense Chinese classes and English tutoring, this particular winter holiday was especially welcome. China’s winter break is a full month surrounding the Spring Festival, a holiday equivalent to Christmas and New Year’s Day, but involving many more dumplings.

To start winter break, I traveled with the rest of the students in the NSLI-Y program to Nanjing for a week of volunteering.

First, we visited a home for the elderly. Chinese culture holds very high respect for one’s parents and the elderly. One is expected to support one’s parents in their old age, so elderly homes, while rare in China, are typically lively, social, and well-maintained.

The residents and we volunteers prepared a number of performances for each other. My favorite was a dance their all-woman dance crew put together. I couldn’t help but smile as they launched into their […]

by Lee Mook

China is a nation of extremes. It is an incredible example of a nation developing while retaining its rich cultural and historical identity. Mile-high glass skyscrapers tower over traditional, stone, single story housing complexes. I witnessed firsthand the two different, equally endearing sides of China’s development during my week-long tour to Shanghai, Wu Zhen, and Hang Zhou.

Shanghai’s modernity is unparalleled in China. Skyscrapers fill Shanghai’s skyline unceasingly. Car, buses, and trollies pack the streets. Busy people bustle on the streets, occupy the shops, and fill the restaurants. Ads for beauty products, cars, and beer control every available spot in the city, posted on buildings, buses, and humorously even on napkins. Shanghai’s immense population and pace of life remind me of New York City on steroids. However, under the skyscrapers that sparkle like jewels in the sun are the ubiquitous, Mao-era, three-story housing complexes. With diminutive and bland […]

by Lee Mook

It is not every day that one becomes an overnight Chinese boy band sensation. I would imagine, furthermore, that becoming a boy band sensation typically entails some degree of planning. That wasn’t the case for me.

As my friends and I stood center stage in the dimmed lights awaiting the bright flash of the spotlights and the Chinese woodwind music to start, I cast a quick glance out into the audience. The massive, two story LCD screen behind us cast an orange hue on the auditorium, so that in the dark expanse I could make out the first few rows of bright red velvet chairs. I saw expectant listeners and competitor boy band members anticipating our performance.

“Remember to smile! And do not worry! They will love you,” my teacher had said in Chinese right before I walked on stage. She was absolutely right, we had been practicing for the […]