Bryan Kinane shares his insights on China-

Sometimes it’s too easy to not fully appreciate the moment, be it where you are, what you’re doing or how far you’ve come. Now that we’re just over half way through our internship I just can’t help but compare the city I left behind to the one I now find myself fumbling through.

On May 19^th I boarded a plane at Heathrow airport, 10 hours, two meals and an unprecedented amount of crosswords later, I found myself disembarking at Chengdu, Sichuan. The plan, carry out stereotypic, personality and maternal care research on the behalf of PDXWildlife at Bifengxia, everything in-between, a challenge and a mystery. I wasn’t sure what to expect, or if I would ever be able to enjoy living in a city as much as I do living in London. On numerous occasions I’ve heard boisterous Londoners, me included, proclaim ‘the world is your oyster card’. I mean why wouldn’t it be? You can cruise down the Thames, wander through the back markets of Camden town, see a family of glow worms illuminate High gate cemetery or gaze back across the skyline from Primrose hill. It has it all, and yes my affinity for London is no secret.

Wu Jun happy as can be at Bifengxia

So, now that I’m settled can I see myself living here? Well, it already feels like I do. China is every bit as enjoyable as the UK, and coincidentally almost as rainy. Amongst the locals, Ya’an is known as the rain city. In fact, while writing this post we hit 72 hours of consist downpour. The one thing I didn’t plan for however was the Chinese and how they’ve truly captivated us all, despite the language barrier and our poor attempt at Mandarin.

Take for example their ability to count to ten with one hand, their compassion for one another’s children or even the little boy and his friend on a push bike who stopped us mid pace, arms aloft as he shouted ‘welcome to china!’ at us.         If that doesn’t intrigue you, what about the chop sticks, the culinary implement used to bridge plate to mouth is also an Instrument for measuring a foreigners ability to integrate. I can’t possibly tell you the amount of times I’ve been given air demonstrations by an amused onlooker from the across the restaurant.  In turn that brings us to the food; in the west we’ve pretty much simplified Chinese food down to Chow Mein and boiled rice but what about the morning Jiaozi, Fan qie chao dan or Huiguorou, how will I ever survive with my weekly fix?

I’m 400 words in and I haven’t spoken about the noisy Cicadas, tea houses, temples, mahjong halls or even their crazy rule less roads but I think, I’ll save that for next time. I can’t explain how happy I am to be here and to be part of this amazing team, well maybe I can, I’m this happy.