Throughout history people around the world have celebrated the harvest on a special day. For the Chinese the celebration happens during a full moon. This year it was on September 27th. Back home cross-country season has begun and people are racing in the crisp fall air. Maybe not to celebrate the harvest, but I’m still a little jealous. In China, in my village, there’s also a distinct vibe of restlessness. A need to move. Or at least to shoot fireworks.
Here are six remarkable things from my Mid-Autumn Festival.
#6. It’s not vomit.
I am learning how to cook! Broiling, boiling and full of who knows what. I swear I didn’t just throw up and eat it. It’s a type of potato and tomato stew made in a rice cooker. It wasn’t good at all. Nothing a sizeable brick of Velveeta wouldn’t change, though.
#5. Mooncakes.
Around dinnertime I had a visit from the president of my college. It was a formal affair and I made sure to clean up my apartment for once. Official pictures were taken and gifts were given (to me).
A box of chocolate and a bigger box of mooncakes.
Mooncakes are important. During the Mid-Autumn Day Festival the full moon rises to welcome the harvest. Throughout China people eat these somewhat bitter tasting cakes during this day. And then they stop for the remainder of the year.
I don’t blame them. They are kind of nasty. I’m not sure what to do with the rest of my box…
#4. The harvest.
I had heard of banana hammocks before, but a banana house?! Upon closer inspection they weren’t actually bananas. It was corn. For a moment I was back in the Midwest!
Fact of the matter is, people in my neck of the woods in China work hard. Hanging them up to completely dry out before shucking them. Beach goers in France could learn a thing or two here, I think,
#3. Children learning.
There was nothing corny about this girl. She was intensely practicing Chinese characters (known as Hanzi) while her mom shucked away. We passed through numerous small villages while were hiking in the morning.
After a while we ran into a group of about fifty elementary schoolers who were also hiking. We could hear them long before we saw them. They were eager to catch a glimpse of the ‘foreigner’ as we passed by. I made sure to high-five them all!
#2. Mountaintop experience.
A little view of my site, Chengxian. It looks like people are building a temple or something, brick by brick, at the top of this mountain.
It is Fenghuang Shan. Exactly one mile in elevation above sea level, it provides a complete overlook of my place in China.
#1. Making new friends.
There’s a local hiking club that I hiked with. It was hike-tastic.
I think we will hike together again in the future. Hopefully at least one more time before it gets too cold. We also plan to eat hot pot and go rollerblading, of all things.
All in all my Mid-Autumn Day was great. I’m thankful for the experiences I had and the people I met. I hope to hike many more mountains in my area soon.
Originally posted on an old blog.
My Peace Corps timeline of service.
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