Xi'an at Night

Following dinner and shopping on our second day in Xi'an, Kim, Roy, Maria, and I went to find a park and a tea shop. The park had activities for every age such as little children's rides, plazas for dancing, tables for playing games, and a roller skating rink. Again, as it was in Shanghai, there was greenery in the big city. The roller rink, provided by the government seemed really fun for youth and college students to participate in. Seeing these city dwellers enjoy themselves really made me realize how happy and content Chinese citizens are; they do not give the impression of being an angry or mean race. Even during traffic whenever horns are honked, it is not as rude and aggressive as American drivers are. Along with this at-ease attitude, Chinese people are very serving. Everyone is very attentive and has a strong work ethic. Seemingly, this style of living is a part of their culture and something natural that they practice. For example, when we found our tea shop, Ten Fu's, the four of us sat down to sample green tea while indulging in tea foods and candy. The young woman waiting on us continued to make pots of loose-leaf tea as long as we drank in and talked. I imagine very few people in America who would act such a way without complaining and getting irritated. While being in China it is easy to become swept up in the excitement of going on various excursions with the city or buying presents, but if I slow down to reflect and observe people, interesting comparisons can be made between the United States and China.