Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Our Great Wall Journey
Tomorrow we may think the wall conquered us, today we think we conquered the wall!
Jami
Jami
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday
Ni hao!
On Tuesday we visited the Changan Middle School in Changan County. It compares with our high school. Students are ages 16-18. The school has 3600 students, most of them boarding there. There are 230 teachers, with approximately 56 students per class. Since most students live on campus, they get up at 6 a.m. and have a reading class before the 8 a.m. school day starts. They have 5 classes in the morning, 40 minutes each. 4 more classes in the afternoon until 5:30. After dinner, they have two evening classes since they are living there! Yes, quite a full day of studying. The classroom teachers move from room to room. The students stay in the same classroom all day. Students have two months vacation in the summer and one month in the winter.
We visited several classrooms and students all study English so they could ask us questions. Some of the questions:
What did you think of the Olympics?
Do we speak Chinese?
Do we teach Chinese in our schools?
How long is our school day?
Who is our favorite basketball player?
Their school has had a partnership with Lee's Summit High School in Kansas City since 2005. They are working on curriculum reform, hoping to gain ideas on how to enhance creativity in teaching and learning.
On Tuesday we visited the Changan Middle School in Changan County. It compares with our high school. Students are ages 16-18. The school has 3600 students, most of them boarding there. There are 230 teachers, with approximately 56 students per class. Since most students live on campus, they get up at 6 a.m. and have a reading class before the 8 a.m. school day starts. They have 5 classes in the morning, 40 minutes each. 4 more classes in the afternoon until 5:30. After dinner, they have two evening classes since they are living there! Yes, quite a full day of studying. The classroom teachers move from room to room. The students stay in the same classroom all day. Students have two months vacation in the summer and one month in the winter.
We visited several classrooms and students all study English so they could ask us questions. Some of the questions:
What did you think of the Olympics?
Do we speak Chinese?
Do we teach Chinese in our schools?
How long is our school day?
Who is our favorite basketball player?
Their school has had a partnership with Lee's Summit High School in Kansas City since 2005. They are working on curriculum reform, hoping to gain ideas on how to enhance creativity in teaching and learning.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Weekend Highlights From All
We started this weekend by visiting the Xi'an City Wall. They were starting a marathon when we arrived. There was much activity, with music and dance. We then visited the Muslim Quarter, an open market area filled with the sights and sounds of a busy city of 14 million residents. Sunday the ant bus delivered us to the Terra Cotta Soldiers and then on to Huaqing Pool, a gardens and hot springs region at the foot of the mountains which was the temporary residence of Chiang Kai-shek in the 1930s. We asked everyone to reflect on one highlight from the weekend:
*The detail and technology of ancient civilization.
*2,200 years is a long time.
*It was interesting and also relaxing, a chance to see what I think the local people go to see as well as tourists. (There are approximately 60,000 tourists at the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum each day). It is also interesting that the Chiang Kai-shek exhibit/palace just opened in 2005.
*The artistry and detail of the Terra Cotta Soldiers was far beyond my expectations. The detail of the sole of a general's shoe...amazing.
*Calligraphy is an art/emotion.
*Terra Cotta Soldiers were simply amazing. Surreal. It doesn't seem possible they could be preserved that long.
*Ding Ding hao
*Mao's calligraphy at the Huaqing Pool was beautiful, the translation of a lost poem.
*In awe of knowledge skills and artistry that this civilization had 2,000 years ago.
*Contrasts: we are staying in modern (technology park) section of the city and a few miles away people are living a much more primitive lifestyle.
*Libraries that are being built have always been pointed out by the tour guides. They are large buildings with beautiful architectural designs. Be still my heart!
*It's sunny!
*Amazing because of the ancient culture we experienced. We see a building in Boston from 1648 and think "Wow!" We think that it's old - no - not even close.
*How the Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum has changed since 2001 when I last saw it. Now the entrance looks like a shopping mall.
*The sights, sounds, colors and faces of the Muslim Quarter.
*The detail and technology of ancient civilization.
*2,200 years is a long time.
*It was interesting and also relaxing, a chance to see what I think the local people go to see as well as tourists. (There are approximately 60,000 tourists at the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum each day). It is also interesting that the Chiang Kai-shek exhibit/palace just opened in 2005.
*The artistry and detail of the Terra Cotta Soldiers was far beyond my expectations. The detail of the sole of a general's shoe...amazing.
*Calligraphy is an art/emotion.
*Terra Cotta Soldiers were simply amazing. Surreal. It doesn't seem possible they could be preserved that long.
*Ding Ding hao
*Mao's calligraphy at the Huaqing Pool was beautiful, the translation of a lost poem.
*In awe of knowledge skills and artistry that this civilization had 2,000 years ago.
*Contrasts: we are staying in modern (technology park) section of the city and a few miles away people are living a much more primitive lifestyle.
*Libraries that are being built have always been pointed out by the tour guides. They are large buildings with beautiful architectural designs. Be still my heart!
*It's sunny!
*Amazing because of the ancient culture we experienced. We see a building in Boston from 1648 and think "Wow!" We think that it's old - no - not even close.
*How the Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum has changed since 2001 when I last saw it. Now the entrance looks like a shopping mall.
*The sights, sounds, colors and faces of the Muslim Quarter.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Lost in Translation
How do you do? (ni hao!)
So, what do you get when you put a group of fairly confident educators in a room, and make them students of the Chinese language? A group who giggles, looks to one another for reassurance, and feels very good, when their professor says “Excellent Chinese” (even though we think he may be fibbing just a bit).
We were a bit tardy in getting to our lesson, as our morning visiting the museum of Xi’an Jiaotong University took a bit longer than we thought. We are curious creatures, so when we see something that is new it captures our attention, like the rows upon rows of thermos waiting for hot water (as this was explained to us, students don’t have hot water in their rooms, so they need to get some for their day) and watching the badminton games were going on in the park across from the classroom. We quickly were ushered into the room, to greet an excited teacher, Mr. Zhou.
Our language lesson was a lesson in many things, mostly humility. We did try, every phrase he put to us. Mr. Zhou was patient, kind, enthusiastic (say it louder, he said over and over again) and encouraging as we went through the morning together. As a group we practiced our phrases, such as how are you doing? Are you busy? Glad to meet you? I am an American? Each time Mr. Zhou would model the phrase, break it down for us, so we could phonetically spell it out on our papers (Mary and I would check with one another numerous times…to see how to do this), repeat the phrases, ask us to recite and then practice with one another. Each time, one of us would “solo” as a group we would applaud the attempt…or laugh with one another as our mouths, lips and tongues tried to form the words which seemed to elude us. As soon as we though we had gotten the phrase or word, we would ask one another again, is that wo (tone going up) or wo (tone going down). You got called upon by Mr. Zhou, not because you raised your hand, alas, you were making eye contact (as the phrases got harder, most of our eyes, looked away). As we were leaving our class, we all commented upon how fast the time had gone, and made promises to try some of our phrases as we spent the next week and half in China.
Here are some of the things we learned…
• Chinese has 4 tones (-, \, U, /)
• Ni hao (how do you do) common greeting
• Zaoshang hao (good morning)
• Wanshang hao (good evening)
• Ni hao ma (how are you?)
• Zaijian (Good bye)
• Laoshi (teacher)
• Meiguoren (American)
• Zhongguoren (Chinese)
I am sorry, I don’t know how to put the Chinese tones above the words so here is a link for you (those who want to practice) that will help you with this…and trust me, we will be more than happy to demonstrate our mastery! It was a great day, full of learning and again, having us think about how much we don’t know and need to learn about our hosts. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language)
Sue
So, what do you get when you put a group of fairly confident educators in a room, and make them students of the Chinese language? A group who giggles, looks to one another for reassurance, and feels very good, when their professor says “Excellent Chinese” (even though we think he may be fibbing just a bit).
We were a bit tardy in getting to our lesson, as our morning visiting the museum of Xi’an Jiaotong University took a bit longer than we thought. We are curious creatures, so when we see something that is new it captures our attention, like the rows upon rows of thermos waiting for hot water (as this was explained to us, students don’t have hot water in their rooms, so they need to get some for their day) and watching the badminton games were going on in the park across from the classroom. We quickly were ushered into the room, to greet an excited teacher, Mr. Zhou.
Our language lesson was a lesson in many things, mostly humility. We did try, every phrase he put to us. Mr. Zhou was patient, kind, enthusiastic (say it louder, he said over and over again) and encouraging as we went through the morning together. As a group we practiced our phrases, such as how are you doing? Are you busy? Glad to meet you? I am an American? Each time Mr. Zhou would model the phrase, break it down for us, so we could phonetically spell it out on our papers (Mary and I would check with one another numerous times…to see how to do this), repeat the phrases, ask us to recite and then practice with one another. Each time, one of us would “solo” as a group we would applaud the attempt…or laugh with one another as our mouths, lips and tongues tried to form the words which seemed to elude us. As soon as we though we had gotten the phrase or word, we would ask one another again, is that wo (tone going up) or wo (tone going down). You got called upon by Mr. Zhou, not because you raised your hand, alas, you were making eye contact (as the phrases got harder, most of our eyes, looked away). As we were leaving our class, we all commented upon how fast the time had gone, and made promises to try some of our phrases as we spent the next week and half in China.
Here are some of the things we learned…
• Chinese has 4 tones (-, \, U, /)
• Ni hao (how do you do) common greeting
• Zaoshang hao (good morning)
• Wanshang hao (good evening)
• Ni hao ma (how are you?)
• Zaijian (Good bye)
• Laoshi (teacher)
• Meiguoren (American)
• Zhongguoren (Chinese)
I am sorry, I don’t know how to put the Chinese tones above the words so here is a link for you (those who want to practice) that will help you with this…and trust me, we will be more than happy to demonstrate our mastery! It was a great day, full of learning and again, having us think about how much we don’t know and need to learn about our hosts. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language)
Sue
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Today is the day why a group of Nebraska educators feel they came to China – to visit schools, talk to teachers, learn about the Chinese education system and most importantly see classrooms with children! Today we visited four schools all affiliated with Xi’an Jiaotong University. We were guests at the kindergarten school of 1400 students. We saw and heard 5 – 6 year olds singing, dance and speak perfect English. We then went to primary school, grades 1-6, of over 1200 students. We walked into a class of 64 (count them 64) happy, smiling second graders.
We hopped on the bus again and took a 15-minute ride to the most prestigious high school in Shaanxi Providence, affiliated with Xi’an Jiaotong University. Over 2200 students, grades 10 – 12 attend this beautiful new campus that includes over 16 science labs, an under construction sports complex, and even a dormitory that houses 1000 students.
Our final school stop was the middle school. We arrived after 5 p.m. and saw their students body energetically involved in their after-school clubs, athletic teams, dance teams, ping-pong, English clubs, and robotics club. We then observed a teacher led discussion with approximately 50 8th graders. The discussion centered on decision-making and moral judgment. We even took part!
Our day concluded at a local restaurant hosted by our new friends who we met during the day. Through interpreters we had great discussions about the current state of education in our two very diverse countries and educational systems. We talked about assessment, teacher evaluation, curriculum reform, parent involvement and even the use of cell phones.
We enjoyed the interaction and realized the importance of creating strong, professional relationships in this global society. When you see us, ask us about the Fox and the Grapes…it had a very different ending in Xi’an!
Bill
We hopped on the bus again and took a 15-minute ride to the most prestigious high school in Shaanxi Providence, affiliated with Xi’an Jiaotong University. Over 2200 students, grades 10 – 12 attend this beautiful new campus that includes over 16 science labs, an under construction sports complex, and even a dormitory that houses 1000 students.
Our final school stop was the middle school. We arrived after 5 p.m. and saw their students body energetically involved in their after-school clubs, athletic teams, dance teams, ping-pong, English clubs, and robotics club. We then observed a teacher led discussion with approximately 50 8th graders. The discussion centered on decision-making and moral judgment. We even took part!
Our day concluded at a local restaurant hosted by our new friends who we met during the day. Through interpreters we had great discussions about the current state of education in our two very diverse countries and educational systems. We talked about assessment, teacher evaluation, curriculum reform, parent involvement and even the use of cell phones.
We enjoyed the interaction and realized the importance of creating strong, professional relationships in this global society. When you see us, ask us about the Fox and the Grapes…it had a very different ending in Xi’an!
Bill
Friday, October 31, 2008
Day 3
Day 3 started a little before 4:00 in the morning Xi’an time for me. At breakfast I learned that the majority of my colleagues were also suffering from jetlag. Some chose to walk the halls and stairwells of the hotel for exercise. I played on my computer to see if I would be able to contact friends and family using Skype which is free software used to video conference (free of charge) and to make phone calls (for a minimal charge). It is amazing how well you can hear and see the people with whom you are visiting and has serious potential for classroom use.
Xi’an Jiaotong University was where we spent the morning. Professor Jiangyao gave us an outline of China since 1949 that included history, economics, customs, geography, etc. It was incredible to hear how China has changed in the past 50 years. I learned that there are many more similarities in our cultures than differences, and that China is facing many of the same challenges the United States has. In the beginning of his lecture, Professor Jiangyao tested our knowledge of Chinese history and culture. He knows much more about our culture that we do of his and it was evident that our two hours together was not enough time for us to catch up. The good news is that we get to go back next Monday to see him again.
After the lecture, Jane (a former Southeast student…imagine that) joined us for lunch. Dean Kostelnik knew she was here and brought her a care package of Halloween candy. I sat next to her at lunch and asked as many questions and I could think of, and am sure I wore her out. She is here on a scholarship, working on a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and plans to study in Xi’an for the next four years. She attends classes from 8:00-12:00 that focus on Chinese grammar, listening and speaking. She breaks for lunch until 2:30, then attends pronunciation class until 4:30. On the weekends her friends like to go to the arcade. From what I understand there is a DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) game there which is much more challenging than the ones in the States as you not only move your feet, but also your arms to earn points.
After lunch we visited the History Museum of Shaanxi Provence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaanxi_History_Museum ) and the Mural Painting Storeroom. Our guide took us on a tour of the museum and explained the importance of each dynasty and made sure we didn’t miss any of the national treasures kept in the museum. Even more spectacular than the museum itself was the Mural Painting Storeroom. Murals from the tombs of emperors that have been robbed by grave robbers have been rescued and preserved at this museum. When the grave robbers open the closed tombs, the colors of the murals disappear because they have not been exposed to air or sunlight for thousands of years. In order to preserve the murals, they have to be moved to the storeroom for protection. The murals are covered when not being viewed to protect them. It was a very special part of the tour. Our guide told us that only very important people (like President Clinton for instance) get to see this part of the museum.
There is so much to see and do here that we return to the hotel each night exhausted from all of the new information, sights, smells and sounds. On the bus we have to be careful not to get whiplash from turning our heads back and forth quickly, looking out the bus windows, and trying not to miss out on anything. The herd of goats walking down the street, followed by a goat herder with a long skinny stick, smacking them on their rears if they stopped was the big one for me yesterday. By the time I could get “Hey Sue, check out those goats” out of my mouth we were passed them.
I look forward to another great day tomorrow. We will have an opportunity to take a Chinese class at Xi’an Jiaotong University. I can’t wait!
Jami
Xi’an Jiaotong University was where we spent the morning. Professor Jiangyao gave us an outline of China since 1949 that included history, economics, customs, geography, etc. It was incredible to hear how China has changed in the past 50 years. I learned that there are many more similarities in our cultures than differences, and that China is facing many of the same challenges the United States has. In the beginning of his lecture, Professor Jiangyao tested our knowledge of Chinese history and culture. He knows much more about our culture that we do of his and it was evident that our two hours together was not enough time for us to catch up. The good news is that we get to go back next Monday to see him again.
After the lecture, Jane (a former Southeast student…imagine that) joined us for lunch. Dean Kostelnik knew she was here and brought her a care package of Halloween candy. I sat next to her at lunch and asked as many questions and I could think of, and am sure I wore her out. She is here on a scholarship, working on a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and plans to study in Xi’an for the next four years. She attends classes from 8:00-12:00 that focus on Chinese grammar, listening and speaking. She breaks for lunch until 2:30, then attends pronunciation class until 4:30. On the weekends her friends like to go to the arcade. From what I understand there is a DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) game there which is much more challenging than the ones in the States as you not only move your feet, but also your arms to earn points.
After lunch we visited the History Museum of Shaanxi Provence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaanxi_History_Museum ) and the Mural Painting Storeroom. Our guide took us on a tour of the museum and explained the importance of each dynasty and made sure we didn’t miss any of the national treasures kept in the museum. Even more spectacular than the museum itself was the Mural Painting Storeroom. Murals from the tombs of emperors that have been robbed by grave robbers have been rescued and preserved at this museum. When the grave robbers open the closed tombs, the colors of the murals disappear because they have not been exposed to air or sunlight for thousands of years. In order to preserve the murals, they have to be moved to the storeroom for protection. The murals are covered when not being viewed to protect them. It was a very special part of the tour. Our guide told us that only very important people (like President Clinton for instance) get to see this part of the museum.
There is so much to see and do here that we return to the hotel each night exhausted from all of the new information, sights, smells and sounds. On the bus we have to be careful not to get whiplash from turning our heads back and forth quickly, looking out the bus windows, and trying not to miss out on anything. The herd of goats walking down the street, followed by a goat herder with a long skinny stick, smacking them on their rears if they stopped was the big one for me yesterday. By the time I could get “Hey Sue, check out those goats” out of my mouth we were passed them.
I look forward to another great day tomorrow. We will have an opportunity to take a Chinese class at Xi’an Jiaotong University. I can’t wait!
Jami
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Things I've Learned
*I'm tall here.
*Everyone we meet wants to make sure we are comfortable.
*Xian is over 5000 years old.
*Xian residents still are not happy Xian is no longer the capital (and have not been for many years).
*Noodles are very important in the diet of any tourist in China. They come in all shapes and sizes and textures..and are all very delectable.
*We feel safe.
*Being American = eating at a buffet.
*Bicycles in China come in all shapes and sizes and carry a variety of people and things (we wish we could have taken a picture of the man with a giant stack of styrofoam. There's no way he could have seen behind or around him. He had to trust that none of the many, many buses or taxis would run over him). Yes, it is a very trusting society!
*A group of well meaning adults who truly want to learn the language, are not always successful in their attempts to master tones and words. But we tried and our instructor was very, very kind and patient.
*Street sweepers are not big machines, but people with brooms made of trees (they look like branches from an evergreens). They wear bright orange vests so that again, no bus or taxi will run over them!
*Xian is a gray city. There is much concrete. The buildings are gray, the sky is gray. Sometimes the sun burns through in the afternoon, but not often. Is it smog? Pollution? A cloudy day? We are in a valley which doesn't help with the haze.
*At 10 a.m. each day at Jiaotong University, as students leave their classes, loud music can be heard throughout the campus. It is time for exercise. Everyone is expected to start moving. Luckily, we were walking briskly, so we fit right in!
*A Southeast High School graduate is attending Jiaotong University. She is a freshman and luckily she was willing to spend some time with us telling about her first month's experiences.
*We have quickly learned from our Chinese hosts and guides that we have many more similarities than differences.
*Everyone we meet wants to make sure we are comfortable.
*Xian is over 5000 years old.
*Xian residents still are not happy Xian is no longer the capital (and have not been for many years).
*Noodles are very important in the diet of any tourist in China. They come in all shapes and sizes and textures..and are all very delectable.
*We feel safe.
*Being American = eating at a buffet.
*Bicycles in China come in all shapes and sizes and carry a variety of people and things (we wish we could have taken a picture of the man with a giant stack of styrofoam. There's no way he could have seen behind or around him. He had to trust that none of the many, many buses or taxis would run over him). Yes, it is a very trusting society!
*A group of well meaning adults who truly want to learn the language, are not always successful in their attempts to master tones and words. But we tried and our instructor was very, very kind and patient.
*Street sweepers are not big machines, but people with brooms made of trees (they look like branches from an evergreens). They wear bright orange vests so that again, no bus or taxi will run over them!
*Xian is a gray city. There is much concrete. The buildings are gray, the sky is gray. Sometimes the sun burns through in the afternoon, but not often. Is it smog? Pollution? A cloudy day? We are in a valley which doesn't help with the haze.
*At 10 a.m. each day at Jiaotong University, as students leave their classes, loud music can be heard throughout the campus. It is time for exercise. Everyone is expected to start moving. Luckily, we were walking briskly, so we fit right in!
*A Southeast High School graduate is attending Jiaotong University. She is a freshman and luckily she was willing to spend some time with us telling about her first month's experiences.
*We have quickly learned from our Chinese hosts and guides that we have many more similarities than differences.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Day Two
Did you know the national flower of China is the peony? That's one of the many, many things we are learning!
We started our second day in China with an early flight from Beijing to Xian. It was quite mountainous as soon as we left the ground in Beijing. By the time we arrived in Xian, a two hour flight, we were once again on flat land that looked much like the farmland of Nebraska. The airport is quite a distance from the city because we passed a great deal of rural land before arriving in the heart of this city which many here consider the "cradle of Chinese civilization."
We are staying at a new hotel which just opened in October. In fact, this is the "soft" opening, meaning that they are not advertising yet. It is a lovely hotel with lovely windows, marble and many mirrors!
We were warmly welcomed in an official opening ceremony at Jiaotong University. Dean Kostelnik's remarks reflected our appreciation for this opportunity to learn more about the culture of China. We then toured the university, guided by student volunteers. They were wonderful, answering all of our questions and giving us their thoughtful perspectives on many subjects, including what they hoped to gain from their educational experience in Xian.
As we were eating lunch about 1:30, we saw many parents taking their children home from school on the backs of their bicycles. Some were sideways, some were backwards and all were very, very cute! We look forward to our school tours on Friday. That is also when we will have the opportunity to meet with several middle school administrators to discuss the every day lives of their students and teachers.
Our evening meal (yes, we eat often!) was hosted by our Jiaotong University hosts and was family style (my term for it). First we had a variety of appetizers that were put on a large, large glass (much like a lazy susan) in the middle of the table. It continued to turn so we could experience all of the different items. Then, more food was added but none was taken away. There was pork, duck, pumpkin, fish, cabbage, dragon fruit and much, much more. The dinner was over when no one had the energy to turn the glass anymore!
It was a grand first day in Xian!
We started our second day in China with an early flight from Beijing to Xian. It was quite mountainous as soon as we left the ground in Beijing. By the time we arrived in Xian, a two hour flight, we were once again on flat land that looked much like the farmland of Nebraska. The airport is quite a distance from the city because we passed a great deal of rural land before arriving in the heart of this city which many here consider the "cradle of Chinese civilization."
We are staying at a new hotel which just opened in October. In fact, this is the "soft" opening, meaning that they are not advertising yet. It is a lovely hotel with lovely windows, marble and many mirrors!
We were warmly welcomed in an official opening ceremony at Jiaotong University. Dean Kostelnik's remarks reflected our appreciation for this opportunity to learn more about the culture of China. We then toured the university, guided by student volunteers. They were wonderful, answering all of our questions and giving us their thoughtful perspectives on many subjects, including what they hoped to gain from their educational experience in Xian.
As we were eating lunch about 1:30, we saw many parents taking their children home from school on the backs of their bicycles. Some were sideways, some were backwards and all were very, very cute! We look forward to our school tours on Friday. That is also when we will have the opportunity to meet with several middle school administrators to discuss the every day lives of their students and teachers.
Our evening meal (yes, we eat often!) was hosted by our Jiaotong University hosts and was family style (my term for it). First we had a variety of appetizers that were put on a large, large glass (much like a lazy susan) in the middle of the table. It continued to turn so we could experience all of the different items. Then, more food was added but none was taken away. There was pork, duck, pumpkin, fish, cabbage, dragon fruit and much, much more. The dinner was over when no one had the energy to turn the glass anymore!
It was a grand first day in Xian!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Day 1
Day 1….
Sunday or Monday…. hard to tell. I wanted this magical line on the map we watched as we were flying to mark the International Date Line…and alas it didn’t. We did see the North Pole and other cities were marked as we watched our journey start. The flight from Chicago to Beijing is a little over 14 hours (for those who wanted to know); in essence we skipped a day (although we will make that up on the back end of the trip, when we relive Saturday…twice). Our flight path took us North from Chicago, over Canada and following the curve of the earth, over Siberia finally to China. As we were landing, those sitting on the left side of the plane could see the Great Wall. Wow…what a visual as we arrive. Much has changed in the last 8 years in Beijing as they prepared for the Olympics. The terminal we arrived at is the new international terminal, and we were greeted with this amazing architectural wonder…and made our way to the ‘foreigner’ line at immigration. As I (and others looked around) time initial impression that China makes on the world, is quite a statement…one that wants everyone to know, they have arrived.
We did arrive without incident. One of our group had a slight problem in Lincoln, but swore to us that was all of the bad travel karma we would have (this would later be tested). Met up with our colleagues and soon friends from Scottsbluff. The flight really is a test in personal endurance…between wanting desperately to sleep, watching current movies, reading & getting up every so often so the swelling in your legs was minimal. As one did laps in the plane you would meet up with others begin to chat and find multiple reasons people travel to China. We arrived in Beijing about 4:00 p.m. on Monday and for the fact that most of us did not sleep much on the plane, we weren’t too tired at all. Our tour guide gave us some random factoids about China…so here your new learning for today.
• Current population in Beijing…40 million (documented or recorded as residents of Beijing), although they figure the population is really around 90 million.
• Beijing’s name was Peking, but changed when the revolution occurred in 1949.
• Roads…I am sure it makes sense if I were to see a map, but Sarah (our tour guide) kept talking about 8 rings (roads) that circle the city…starts in the center, with the Forbidden City and work outward…
• 3.4 million cars in Beijing
• Known as Bicycle Kingdom – about 10 million bikes
• Average size of an apartment in Beijing about 60 square meters…
Our initial impression is one of amazement, bewilderment and awe. For such a large city, it is very well organized, quite clean and very friendly. Our day ended with a dinner in the hotel and early to bed for most of us (except Matt who decided to venture to the “street” to find some “street food”…everything you could possibly want, on a stick!). Looking forward to new experiences, new learning and a better understanding of China, it’s people, culture and how we can bring this back to our students.
Sue
Sunday or Monday…. hard to tell. I wanted this magical line on the map we watched as we were flying to mark the International Date Line…and alas it didn’t. We did see the North Pole and other cities were marked as we watched our journey start. The flight from Chicago to Beijing is a little over 14 hours (for those who wanted to know); in essence we skipped a day (although we will make that up on the back end of the trip, when we relive Saturday…twice). Our flight path took us North from Chicago, over Canada and following the curve of the earth, over Siberia finally to China. As we were landing, those sitting on the left side of the plane could see the Great Wall. Wow…what a visual as we arrive. Much has changed in the last 8 years in Beijing as they prepared for the Olympics. The terminal we arrived at is the new international terminal, and we were greeted with this amazing architectural wonder…and made our way to the ‘foreigner’ line at immigration. As I (and others looked around) time initial impression that China makes on the world, is quite a statement…one that wants everyone to know, they have arrived.
We did arrive without incident. One of our group had a slight problem in Lincoln, but swore to us that was all of the bad travel karma we would have (this would later be tested). Met up with our colleagues and soon friends from Scottsbluff. The flight really is a test in personal endurance…between wanting desperately to sleep, watching current movies, reading & getting up every so often so the swelling in your legs was minimal. As one did laps in the plane you would meet up with others begin to chat and find multiple reasons people travel to China. We arrived in Beijing about 4:00 p.m. on Monday and for the fact that most of us did not sleep much on the plane, we weren’t too tired at all. Our tour guide gave us some random factoids about China…so here your new learning for today.
• Current population in Beijing…40 million (documented or recorded as residents of Beijing), although they figure the population is really around 90 million.
• Beijing’s name was Peking, but changed when the revolution occurred in 1949.
• Roads…I am sure it makes sense if I were to see a map, but Sarah (our tour guide) kept talking about 8 rings (roads) that circle the city…starts in the center, with the Forbidden City and work outward…
• 3.4 million cars in Beijing
• Known as Bicycle Kingdom – about 10 million bikes
• Average size of an apartment in Beijing about 60 square meters…
Our initial impression is one of amazement, bewilderment and awe. For such a large city, it is very well organized, quite clean and very friendly. Our day ended with a dinner in the hotel and early to bed for most of us (except Matt who decided to venture to the “street” to find some “street food”…everything you could possibly want, on a stick!). Looking forward to new experiences, new learning and a better understanding of China, it’s people, culture and how we can bring this back to our students.
Sue
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Ready for China
Greetings,
The LPS group traveling to China as part of the Confucius Institute study, will be leaving on Sunday, October 26th.
We will share our cultural experiences with you.
Learn more about the Confucius Institute.
The LPS group traveling to China as part of the Confucius Institute study, will be leaving on Sunday, October 26th.
We will share our cultural experiences with you.
Learn more about the Confucius Institute.
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