A Full First Week

Steve arrived in Beijing a week ago today. Qiang and several grad students from Tsinghua met him at the airport and whisked his groggy, jet-lagged self back to the university to get settled in his apartment where he'll be Qiang's roomie for the next five weeks. Then off they went to meet one of the art professors and some of the graduate students he'll be working with while he's at Tsinghua.

Steve and Qiang Flanked by one of the Tsingua Professor and Art Grad Students

This cordial meeting, where Steve got to test out his nascent Mandarin (apparently to the delight and giggles of those around him. Xin, our Mandarin tutor, would be proud of him.) was followed by a meal in one of the many student dining rooms. I wish we had a Chinese restaurant in Madison like this:

Yum!

This was followed by several shots of a fiery Chinese liquor called, Guaidon, which, after sampling it at a dinner in Madison, I have affectionately dubbed "Draino".

Our friends, Laurie and Joe Dennis, have assured us that it is not a sign of dishonor for a woman to decline shots of Guaidon. However, men aren't so lucky.

The next several days were a blur of activity, including meeting more professors and students, touring artists' studios, touring the art building, touring one of the art districts in Beijing and a tug-of-war between two groups of art students (not sure if this was designed for Steve's entertainment, or simply something the students do from time to time to maintain their arm strength).

One of the Tsingua students with his work

Greeting of the Masters

Hallelujah! at the Art District

Some kind of fun

Over the weekend, Qiang's father traveled 12 hours by train from his province in the northwest of China so he could spend a couple of days in Beijing to meet Steve. Pretty cool. At the end of their time together, they were calling each other "brother". Steve and Qiang also got to watch the Badgers in the Final Four at an Ethiopian sports bar in Beijing, where they were joined by other Bucky alumnae and two Kentucky fans. 

A brother by another mother

A spate of red in China, but not for the reasons you might think

Okay, almost done. This week began with a 20-course (or some crazy number like that), four-hour meal, preceded by a tea ceremony (one of the professors invited Steve and Qiang to join her at her club)....

Tea and more tea

Food and more food

....and, a lecture and the art students receiving their first assignment from Professor Steve (more on that as work progresses).