Mel and Wes Stories: Great Wall of China

China: The Great Wall

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Lesson: The Great Wall of China Setting the scene: Previous guides, Mister Ching and Mei, accompany the family on a side trip to the Great Wall of China. The family later travels to Shanghai for two days. The morning sky contains a sprinkling of clouds at high altitude. Birds chirp and flit from trees in a park near the family's hotel. Mei walks ahead of her uncle to greet the family. People in This Story: Ching (old man); Dad; Mei (guide); Mom; Mel; Wes Brand Name or Company Name item is in green. Slang terms are linked to the Slang Dictionary. Click on the term to view its meaning. "Speed Talk" is in pink; meaning is in [brackets]. Story: Mei: Good morning. I hope you had a pleasant night's rest. Are you ready to see the wall now? Wes: You bet! Let's get it on. Mei: Get it on? Do you mean to get dressed? I do not understand your slang. Mel: [Laughing] Wes, you shouldn't try to snow Mei. She's not used to much of our slang. Wes: I'm sorry, Mei. I forgot. Sometimes it's tough to clean up my habit of speaking in slang and idioms. Americans usually talk this way. So, maybe this is a good chance for you to practice hearing it. Mom: A little practice is fine, son. But too much can be an overload. You should watch it. Ching: Good morning to you all. Our vehicle is parked near here. We should leave now. Dad: Good Morning, Mister Ching. Looks like we're ready to go. Ching: Very good. I made arrangements for your visit to a very popular location on the wall. It also is a beautiful place. [They arrive at Mutian Ravine. People ride a gondola to reach the wall.] Mel: That was a fun ride. Do we return the same way? Ching: No. On the return, you must ride a one-person tobaggan. It has wheels and a brake, so you don't go too fast down the mountain. Wes: Count me in! That'll be a blast! Mel: Right! Last one down the mountain is a rotten egg. Mei: [Laughing] You say such strange things. But we Chinese have funny sayings, too. Such as: "It is difficult to pull a cow up the tree." Another is: "Let the dragon out to sea." Mom: What do they signify? What do those sayings mean? Mei: A cow doesn't climb, so it means: "You cannot force someone to do something that they hate." Mel: That makes sense. But why the dragon and the sea? It's kinda [kind of] strange. Ching: It represents a person who is free to do something that normally is not allowed. Wes: Something like Mom letting Dad eat junk food whenever he drives us on a trip? Mei: Yes. That's a good comparison, Wes. Dad: Back to the Great Wall. We should start climbing before we run out of time. Mel: Don't get bossy, Dad. We still have a few hours to go. Mom: This is beautiful! Mister Ching, have you ever visited the Li River? I would enjoy seeing that area. Ching: Yes, many years ago. It truly is lovely, with pointed mountains and reflecting water. Unfortunately, it is very far from here. [The family continues to walk along the wall before returning to Beijing. They later visit Xi'an, where emperor Qin Shihuang was entombed--along with 7,000 clay characters and horses. Click here to see the following story: Terracotta Warriors.]