Pioneer in China

Fulbright-Hays Application Suggestions

2007-11-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars for Educators

The Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminars are managed by the Department of Education and a public agency of the participating country. The program provides short-term study and travel seminars abroad for U.S. educators in the social sciences and humanities for the purpose of improving their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries.

Online information and application: http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/elsecseminars.html

Applications are submitted online and include:

Four Essays:

Curriculum Vitae

International Experience

Demonstrated Need

Project Plan

Three references, including at least one from an administrator, are also required.

Selection Criteria:

100 total points are divided between the essays (20-25 points each) and the references (10 points each). Applications are evaluated using a rubric format and the applicant is notified of approval status by April. Evaluator’s comments and suggestions are sent along with the approval status.

Writing Hints:

Write professionally, edit and re-edit. Have a trusted friend/peer critique your essays more than once.

In the Project Plan include the various ways that your project ties into specific EALR’s and GLE’s. The inclusion of key concept questions and interactive instructional strategies is useful. Graphic Organizers are also helpful. Be sure to include assessment tools.

The Demonstrated Need essay should focus on how the seminar experience will benefit your students and the community through cross-cultural awareness presentations and activities.

Be sure to include reference to any awards, honors and/or extra-curricular activities you have been or are currently involved on the Curriculum Vitae.

Project Implementation Requirements:

The curriculum project/unit must be submitted online along with a seminar evaluation within 90 days of the seminar’s end. Community and peer presentations are highly encouraged.

Faces and Places of China

2007-11-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

Curriculum Unit Outline

As a school librarian I am responsible for inspiring students to become lifelong learners. To promote this inspiration I have developed this research-based Faces and Places of China project including the step-by-step implementation guidelines. The goal of my project is to encourage cultural awareness, appreciation and respect through the discovery of cross-cultural connections. This will be accomplished by utilizing information literacy research skills. The end products will be oral presentations and visual displays of students’ discoveries. It is designed to educate elementary-age students as well as community members about the cultures and customs of China by utilizing the information and resources gained through my travel experiences made possible by the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Project.

My project will be implemented during the daily enrichment program that I conduct for students in grades four and five. I instruct groups of 15-20 students thirty minutes each day for a period of six weeks through an enrichment rotation schedule. The focus of instruction is on cross-cultural awareness through the use of communication and information literacy skills. I integrate social studies concepts of geography, history and civics into the daily lessons. For example, a Mexican folktale unit I have developed has provided a deeper understanding of the Mexican culture in my students. Many of the students in the Sunnyside School District have ties to Mexico and it is a natural cross-cultural springboard. Knowing that students will be living and working in the 21^st century global society now taking shape, I realize that they also need to be cognizant of cultures and customs in more distant parts of the world.

Grade Level: fourth and fifth grade students

Focus Question: What are some connections and contrasts between cultural aspects of the United States and China?

Guiding Questions:

What and where is China?
What are some aspects of the Chinese culture?
How are the cultural aspects you have identified in China similar to or different from comparable cultural aspects practiced in the United States?

EALRs	Objectives
Geography 1, 3 Information Literacy 1	Locate China on a map and identify significant demographic and landform features.
History 1 Information Literacy 1, 2	Learn about important cultural aspects practiced in China.
Civics 1, 2, 3 Information Literacy 1, 2, 3	Compare, connect and contrast the cultural aspects practiced by people of China and the U.S.A.

Time Frame:

30 minutes daily for 3 weeks.

Assessments:

Students will be able to identify China on a map, as well as locate the major cities and landforms.

Students will present their findings of an aspect of the Chinese culture. In small groups they will design and present a visual display illustrating some connections and contrasts between the identified cultural aspects of China with a comparable American cultural aspect. A rubric will be used to score the presentation.

Students will have a greater understanding and appreciation of the lives and culture of people in China. A ‘Know-Want to Know-What I Learned’ chart will be utilized as the assessment tool. A double-bubble graphic organizer completed by the students will highlight connections and contrasts between China and the United States.

Week 1: What and where and is China?

Introduce China on a world map and globe. Discuss similarities and differences between China and USA (i.e.: size, population, major cities, types of government, landforms, etc.). Begin a ‘Know-Want to Know-What We Learned’ (K-W-L) chart to document the information that the students already know about China and would like to learn about China. Focus on the guiding questions for the unit.

Present DVD photo-essay documenting sights, sounds and music of China that I experienced during the Fulbright-Hays Seminar. Set up a visual display of artifacts. Share and discuss seminar highlights. Add to the K-W-L Chart.

Students work on small (3-4 students) group maps to identify China and locate the major cities, landforms, and famous landmarks.

Share Asian literature (See bibliography). Conduct literature-related discussions and activities highlighting the cultural aspects of China. Again, add to the K-W-L Chart.

Week 2: What are some aspects of the Chinese culture?

Research project (in groups of three-four students).

Choose an aspect of Chinese culture; i.e. language, food, music, arts and crafts, traditional celebrations and religious practices, historical landmark, folktales and education. Using both print and non-print resources, research how and why the aspect is practiced or used in the country. Do people in the U.S.A., have a comparable aspect in our culture? If so, what is it? What are some connections and contrasts between the two aspects?

Design a visual display; i.e. map, cookbook, travel brochure, newsletter, descriptive book or poster highlighting the connections and contrasts you learned through your research. Be prepared to share your findings with your classmates.

Week 3: How are the cultural aspects you have identified in China similar and/or different to cultural aspects practiced in the United States?

Through the sharing of student research presentations, discussions, books and online sites, guest speakers, and sensory perceptions compare, connect and contrast cultural aspects of the countries. Use a ‘double-bubble’ graphic organizer for contrast and comparison statements.

Return to the K-W-L chart. Share and add to the learned portion.

Fulbright-Hays Seminars Summer 2008

2007-08-04T12:28:00.000-07:00

FULBRIGHT-HAYS SEMINARS ABROAD PROGRAM

Summer 2008

Closing Date: September 13, 2007

The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides opportunities for overseas experience. The program is open to educators and administrators with responsibilities for curriculum development in fields related to humanities, languages, and area studies. Topics and host countries of the seminars vary from year to year. All seminars are in non-western European countries. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country (ies). The program is geared towards those educators with little or no experience in the host country (ies) who demonstrate the need to develop and enhance their curriculum through short-term study and travel abroad. There are seven seminars being offered for Summer 2008 with 16 positions per seminar, subject to the availability of funds. Seminars take place from late June to mid-August for a duration of four to six weeks.

Country seminars to be offered in 2008 include:

Elementary/Secondary Secondary/Postsecondary

☼ India- Math & Science ONLY Bulgaria & Greece

India & Sri Lanka Korea

Mexico & Peru Morocco

South Africa

Terms of the award include: ▪ round-trip economy airfare ▪ room and board ▪ fees ▪ program-related travel within the host country (ies). Participants are responsible for a cost share, $400.00. Updated application forms are now available. The Summer 2008 application and reference form deadline is September 13, 2007.

☼- Open to Math & Science Educators ONLY

Those Qualified To Apply:

Elementary School Teachers in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages
Middle or High School Educators in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages
Administrators or Curriculum Specialists who have responsibility for curriculum in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages;

· Librarians, Museum Educators or Media or Resource Specialists who have responsibility for curriculum in the fields of social sciences, humanities, including languages; and

Faculty or Administrators from public or private, 2- or 4-year institutions of higher education whose discipline is related to the social sciences, humanities, languages and/or area studies.

Basic Eligibility Requirements:

· Citizenship - must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident.

· Academic Preparation - must hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

· Professional Experience - (1) must have at least 3 years of education-related full-time experience - by the time of departure for the seminar- (2) must be currently employed full-time in a U.S. school system, institution of higher education, Local Education Agency, State Education Agency, library, or museum.

· Health -The candidate must be physically and psychologically able to participate in all phases of the seminar. Award recipients must provide a physician’s statement to reflect participant’s readiness for travel.

· Those individuals who have participated previously in short-term (under two months) Fulbright awards such as the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program, the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program, or the Fulbright Memorial Fund Program, may become eligible to participate again two years after completion of a previous program. Please be sure to check with the Fulbright-Hays office concerning your eligibility.

Application Inquiries: Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program, U.S. Department of Education, International Education Programs Service, 1990 K Street, N.W., 6^th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8521

Website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/index.html

Program Officers: Gale Holdren: gale.holdren@ed.gov; Michelle Guilfoil: michelle.guilfoil@ed.gov

The application package is available, you may apply online at:

http://e-grants.ed.gov/

China STarbucks

2007-08-02T12:45:00.001-07:00

Lydia, These are for you. Hope they help.

In Beijing Central. This one opened at 10:00 AM daily.

This is the front of the Forbidden City Starbucks. We wandered across it on a rainy day and were glad of the coffee. The workers wouldn't let us take photos inside and the outside of the building fit in with the other Forbidden City buildings. This one closed down a few days later...not just cause the Americans found it. : )

Home Photos--Sunrise

2007-07-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

Miko says, "Do I have to share? Really?"

A view to the northwest at sunrise.

Mika enjoying a chew in the morning.

Even Hermione, my witch cat, was happy to see me home.

A view to the south at sunrise.

Good Coffee!!

2007-07-29T05:39:00.001-07:00

Finally did make it home Saturday evening, thanks to many people as you will read. Had a great reunion with Mika and Miko and my cats...Cap't Jack has a head wound, a puncture wound, but it appears to be on the mend. He was happy for the doctoring and stayed close to my pillow last night. After 30 hours without any sleep, although lots of sitting, I crashed last night with the sun. And now at 5:00 AM am enjoying some Good Coffee and watching the sunrise.

It's weird how in China the sun rises and sets at about 7:00 every day. It was dark by 7:30-8:00 every night. Here, the sun went behind the mountains at almost 8:30 and will be rising here before 5:30. ??

On to my travel stories from Seattle to Sunnyside yesterday. So, it took me 15 hours, and two plane flights, to go about 7000 miles from Shanghai to Seattle. It took me 7 hours to travel 180 miles from Sea-Tac airport to home with a mountain stop, several mini-crises and surprises on the way... ; 0

Luckily, Becca and Michael were flying to NYC just as I was getting into Seattle, so our loving parents (Thanks Mom & Dad!) kindly delivered them and picked me up. But, no time for a lunch break, we had to get to the cabin in Cle Elum to meet up with Kristi and/or Matt to get me the rest of the way home. Mom & Dad wanted to spend the night at the cabin. I, on the other hand, was most antsy to get home to my own home & hearth.

It was very lovely up at the cabin, enjoyed the warm sun (not hot or muggy), fresh air, blue lake and sky. Anyway, about 4:00 we decided to meet Matt at Thorpe because Kristi was still out hiking somewhere...

...Now here's where the craziness starts...As Dad & I are driving through Cle Elum, Matt calls saying he has car trouble up wherever he is in the mountains. As he is trying to figure out the problem, Kristi calls to see if I'm going to get the dogs out of the kennel so she can stay for dinner at the cabin. Dad wants to stop for JC food, I want to get Mika out of the kennel, Matt is supposedly stranded on the road somewhere, Kristi's in no hurry to leave the mountain air for the valley heat.

Dad & I stop at Safeway, I pick up a few essentials, Matt's still working on his car & Kristi finds some kind friend to get the dogs out of the kennel before 6:00 PM. Dad & I are trying to get to Matt to figure out what to do next, he calls & says 'I shifted and it stopped.' What, the car is dead? 'No, the noise stopped, I'll see you at Thorpe.' Ok, great, another crisis solved and/or averted.

At Thorpe, I'm picking out some corn and who shows up? None other than best friends Gail, Gary and Kevin (with Kevin's newly-bought car!). So, there I am meeting friends and family in the middle of small-town USA, still wondering if I was going to get home by dark (it's about 4:00 PM by now), but at least I had all bases covered somehow; Mika is getting home, got groceries, corn and more than one way to get back home thanks to the timely meeting with Gail. : )

Dad goes on his merry way back to the cabin with plenty of corn for dinner, Matt and I (with Gail's cell number) head east for home, knowing that Kevin will be happy to give us a ride if Matt's car goes weird again. After a Big Miner stop, Matt and I arrive home safe and sound about 7:00 PM with a burger for Mika and Miko as well. I made it home!! Again, no small thanks to my Budda protector (God) and lots of great family and friends.

The end of my tale, but photos of home, pets (and probably China) will follow.

Thanks to all for following my travels, hope you enjoyed my narratives. I can see my entire blog now easily, so post comments or questions and I can easily send up responses.

Steph

Saturday, July 28th x2

2007-07-29T05:01:00.001-07:00

Saturday #1:

Shanghai: Hot, muggy, smoggy, crowded. Using my Chinese crowding skills to squeeze up to the front of the check-in line, though throngs of Chinese with stacks and stacks and stacks of luggage filled with shoes (!,yep, shoes, Off to some kind of shoe convention in Las Vegas apparently). After coffee and fruit I head off through lax security, change my $$, email home and catch a 12:00 Noon flight to San Fran.

Saturday #2:
I get off the plane at 8:30 AM (yes, 4 hours before I flew out of China) and I'm on standby for a flight to Seattle, hoping that someone will get me home from there. At 12:00 Noon on Saturday July 28th, I get off the plane in Seattle! (Yep, the same time that I (think?) I flew out of Pudong in Shanghai!

Maybe I never really was in China? Maybe it was all a dream and I was just on a short seminar about China in San Fran??

Well, for some reason it is really wonderful to see blue sky and green trees! It's wonderful to breathe fresh, clean mountain air scented with pines and drink crisp, clean well water from the tap! It feels good to hear English everywhere and not be jostled around walking through the airport. It's good to see a fairly orderly flow of traffic (it is Seattle still : ) using the roads and freeways without playing at bumper cars. I do feel blessed to be a US citizen AND I give credit to my Buddist birth-year red agate protector for the lucky and safe travels, hmmm, I must have been in China then, cause I didn't know about this protector in June....

Next: How I get home from Seattle....

Flight Home

2007-07-27T02:05:00.001-07:00

Had enough. Today I changed my flight back for Saturday, 28th. I've just had enough pushy crowds, melting humidity, dirty air, filthy water and Chinese, chinese food. The extra charges are a wash with three extra days in a hotel, food, taxis and spending $$. I will have to re-book to Seattle from San Fran tomorrow, but that's OK, I'll be on the West side : ) Closer to Mika darling, Cap't Jack and of course, you Matt.

Anyway, my flight to San Fran is United #858 leaving Saturday at 12:30 PM and arriving in San Fran at 8:30 (I guess on Sunday morning? or maybe Saturday morning?, not sure) I'll call when I get into the airport. I am trying to check out Alaska Air for flights to Seattle from China end, but of course, as always, there are technical difficulties, ie. the site is blocked.

Tonight I'm staying out here close to the Pudong Airport, there is a shuttle that will bring me back, I think about 10 minutes away. It's called the Jinjiang Inn Star Pudong Aiport Hotel, at Jinjjiang Zhixing, Qihang Lu 8. Phone number (just in case) is 021-6835-3568.

The airport is about an hour from the Bund and the Pearl, I didn't want to mess with it in the morning. I took a shuttle bus out here just now for $2.50 vs. a taxi for something around $20.

Matt, I will probably be calling you for a ride from Sea-Tac, but I have to get the flight set first. I'll let you know ASAP. Thank-you, (chee-chee, Chinese for Thanks)

Talk w/ You Saturday, Steph

Starting Eastwrd

2007-07-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

I'm leaving Xiamen shortly back to Shanghai. I get so confused about directions! I keep thinking I'm looking west when I look at the ocean, but I'm really looking east. And when I head back home, I won't be flying west like I'm used to but flying east, at least until I pass the International Date Line.

I've been walking around the city and the beaches as much as I can, but by about 2:00 PM it is too hot and humid to do anything, but take a nap until 5:oo or so, so I'm pretty rested up from the fast pace we set with the group. Last night I had dinner with a couple from Canada. They have an architect firm in Montreal and in Shanghai. We ate on the rooftop restaurant here in the hotel. I'll send photos up when I get to Shanghai. Hope everyone has safe and fun travels to Mexico, NYC, the mountains and the beach. The nice cool mountains and ocean breezes of WA STATE sounds pretty nice to me right now. Matt, how's things?? I'll write from Shanghai,

Steph

For Fulbrighters

2007-07-24T06:05:00.001-07:00

Hi to All,

Steph's Blog:
In China:

http://pkblogs.com/pioneerinchina

In USA: Well, I'll have to send it to you from there, because I cannot get even the link posted from here. I'll try from a straight email.

email contact: hutchsj@mindspring.com

Well, I am in Xiamen tonight. The trip to the airport, flight and hotel reservations went as planned. I like the area where I am. Xiamen is smaller than any other city we've been in together, only 1 million people and I am located right at the harbor and old downtown area, close to the ferry and the beaches. It's hot, but there is a slight breeze from the ocean. Tomorrow I think I'll head over to Gulang Yu, the small island a very short ferry ride across from the harbor. There are lots of colonial structures, gardens and overlooks as well as beaches there.

Ming and Prof. Rick, sorry I didn't get a chance to say 'so long, farewell and goodbye'. I do thank you both for all you've done to help make China special and a friendly place to travel for us all. Thanks to all who saw me off this morning at breakfast. Sue, the water bottles came through just fine. The airport security made me open my carry-on bottle and take a drink from it, but were very friendly about it.

Nicole, check out the photos of how to do a salad bar at Pizza Hut! I went there tonight for dinner and watched several people making a watermelon wall and filling in the center with lettuce, dressing and whatever else was there! Some of them had watermelon towers at least 10 high in a circle on their salad bowl! They spent at least 15-20 minutes building this creation and carefully carrying it to their tables! And then, as I was getting a meager lettuce salad (on my plate instead of the bowl)
they came and told me to use the bowl! : 0

Thanks Nicole for the books,I will use them the next few days, hope your plane trip home went well. Also, the best to everyone else in Hong Kong, Vietnam and China. Hope to hear from everyone on the US side!

Steph

Xiamen

2007-07-24T05:40:00.000-07:00

Across Xiamen Harbor to Gulang Yu, cat photo and my own room!! It's very nice.

Old Town Xiamen and the Pizza Hut salad bar watermelon tower.

On My Own!

2007-07-23T03:50:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed our last lazy susan meal together today at lunch. The way a lzay susan works is that the dishes are put on there and then you just turn to the dish you want. Of course, the susan is filled with many dishes, vegiies meats, soups, rice, fruits, etc. It's pretty slick. Today I tasted the dragonfly fruit. It's sliced like a watermelon, but it is white with small black seeds in it. I don't know what the rind looks like. It's really good!

Anyway, we said our goodby's as a group. I leave first thing in the morning for Xiamen. Jeff is heading off by train to Vietnam and then to a rickshaw race in India. Clare met up with her husband and brother today, they are traveling around China for a couple more weeks. Nicole is heading back home tomorrow and the rest of the group is going on to Hong Kong. Oh, Ming is leaving for Beijing and home tomorrow.

I am glad to know that everyone is fine at home and my cats and dogs are doing OK without me. My countdown has begun now, 9 more days (that's including two Tuesdays, the day I fly back home. I bought a birth year protection jade necklace today at the Shanghai City Buddist Temple. Prof. Rick (born the same year) says that as it is our 'year of the Pig' this year, we need extra protection from unpleasant (or worse) events. This piece of red jad (agate) has my yearly protector (a general of some sort), so I will be able to travel even more safely now : )

So, a few of us are heading out for a nice dinner somewhere for our last night. I can tell you it will NOT be Chinese food! Maybe a soup and sandwich place, pizza or an Irish pub...not sure. I will write from Xiamen.

Steph

Thanks Matt for taking care of the house and the yard this weekend...write to me!! Mom

More Photos

2007-07-23T03:39:00.000-07:00

The famous Shaghai dumplings, and I can't remember what else I uploaded, Oh, maybe the big city of Shaghai..

The old and the new in Shanghai. Sue and Denise sweltering and shopping in the market, Rick and Ming saying goodby.

Cathy D

2007-07-22T06:58:00.001-07:00

Cathy,

Thanks so much for writing! I am torn between coming home (which I wouldn't mind)..and being on my own for a while trying out my poor skills of navigating in China. It's been a wonderful trip, but as always with a group, it's nice to have time on your own as well.

Not sure if you will get this as there are many technical difficulties when using computers in China. Nothing like Europe or the States, even Mexico is easy to get things posted and connect with people.

So tomorrow is our last full day with the group and then some of us head off on our own adventures. I am off to see the South China Sea, hoping for a nice cool swim in the ocean. China can get brutally hot and humid in the summer in the Eastern cities.

Steph

Pudong

2007-07-22T06:56:00.001-07:00

Well,

We had a great day today. Started and ended at the Bund and in between we went to the Shanghai Museum, Urban Developemnt Museum and the Children's Palace. Also included some shopping at the Forien (sp) Language Bookstores, I picked up several titles to use for my project.

The Children's Palace was really good. It's an after-school facility started in teh 1950's by Sun Yat-Sen's wife, providing cultural opportunities to the children of Shanghai (that can pay for it). It's housed in a 20-story building, most floors devoted to classes in computer, dance, music, arts, sciences, etc. One of the photos I posted is with a girl who goes here several times a week during the school year for enrichment activities. This is similar to the kind of things we provide for under-priviledged kids at the schools in the States and that middle-class families provide for through private lessons. It's so amazing to think that these children have no concept of the couhtry-side or small town stuff. Everything is done in huge, I mean HUGE, high-rise buildings.

I found cherries on the street today!!! Don't know from where, but they were really decent cherries, fresh, but expensive. Something like 50 yuan ($7.00) for 1/2 kilo! See the posted photos.

The Pudong area and "pearl of teh Orient" is really quite stunning from the Bund side. We stopped by tonight after dinner for a photo opp. Crowds and crowds. We left all important things on the bus. Did I tell you about the B&B I'm staying at in a few days? It's quite nice and comfortable, a quiet residential area, but still eaty to get to other places by cheap taxi.

So tomorrow we head out to the Old City, final shopping for some, I am mostly done. BTW, Krist, i am sending everything to your place....DO NOT OPEN!! or not, I forgot already what I have sent. Tomorrow is mostly books and things for my unit.

A final lunch with all of us tomorrow. Some go to HonkKong, some back to the States, some to other places in Asia. Hope all is well at home. Do Mika and Cap't Jack know I wil be home in less that ten days now???? w/ love, Steph

Shanghai Photos

2007-07-22T06:31:00.001-07:00

On the Bund, cherries in the city of 17 million and the ballet class at teh Chilren's Palace.

One of these is the meltdown I had at the Hagendaas. It was beastly hot and I finagled my way into an empty chair where I nursed this Mango Milkshake for an hour or so cooling off in the AC. The others, I think, are from the Bund. I can't see the photos themselves, so I forget what I have sent up. Sorry.

Melted in Shanghai!

2007-07-21T17:36:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I melted in Shanghai. It was sooooo hot and humid! We had a free day,
so I used it to get oriented in the city. I found the little B&B I'll
be staying in the last few days before coming home. It's in a really good area,
right around the corner from the Hilton. Nice shops around and an attached restaurant
that serves 'fusion-style' food. A mixture of East and West.

I went to the Best Buy today because the group has been trying to figure out a nice
gift for Prof. Rick and Ming. Most thought that a GPS similar to mine would be
great. Some of them say it's a 'guy-magnet' : ) In Guiyang, people
were always asking what the elevation was. It's really nice here in Shaghai
as well, because I can know which is N, S, E or W to figure out which side of the
road to go to get a taxi. Well, anyway, even here in Shanghai, they don't have
anothing similar.

Taxi's are really the way to go here in Shanghai. I read about a man who got
crushed to death on the subway a few days ago, because the doors were not closing
correctly, so I don't think I want to give that a try. You see, the Chinese
do not know how to line up in an orderly fashion. Once a month, they have an 'orderly
queu day', it's on the 11th of every month I think. Well, even then, they
don't....they always want to push to the first and front of whereever, and us
Americans are shoved and pushed to the back of the line. It's pretty weird,
really. Cause most times, they push up to the front of whatever and then have to
wait...anyyway, taxis are cheap and fast, I took four taxis today for a total of
about 80 yuan (about $10). A couple of drivers tried to sucker me, one asked for
200 yuan to travel probably less than 2 miles. You have to make sure they start
the meter and then always get a reciept when you pay, and there's no tipping.
It works
well, you just have to get the place you want to go written down in Chinese. I
have a book that has the Chinese words written so I did OK.

Also, today I went to the Old City to see the Yu Gardens, typical Chinese-style
gardens, surrounded, of course, by commercialism. I wormed my way into a tiny HaagenDaas
when I was about melted to the size of a Chinese child and nursed a mango milkshake
for an hour in the AC. I have a really good photo of it, but as usual I am experiencing
technical difficulties. I will try to get some photos posted by tomorrow night.
My earthlink won't come up here in the room, but will come up down in the business
center. But this hotel charges alot to use the internet, so I have to go in an
be really prepared to get things done quickly. I'm writing this from Yahoo
and will send it to my Earthilink, upload to my blog and try to upload a few photos
quickly.

Finished my last lecture yesterday!!! : ) The people going on to Hong Kong have
about 5 or six more lectures to look forward to, but the rest of us gave a "BIG'
hurrah at the end of the last one yesterday. Tomorrow we visit the new Shanghai
Museum which is supposed to be really good. yesterday, we visited the 'Pearl
of the Orient' and did the museum on the history of Shanghai. Very well done,
it was. Also, tomorrow we visit the Bund and, I forget what else. So I will send
photos when I can. Hopefully, I won't melt away completely, but dang, it is
HOT!!! Looking ofrward to lots of swimming soon! I probably will not get out of
the pool for days!!! Remind me next January how hot I was in Shanghai...

Hope everyone is well...Matt...write....Give Mika and Cap't Jack a hug for me...Love
Steph

SHANGHAI

2007-07-19T06:54:00.001-07:00

Nihao

Well, here we are in Shanghai. We just arrived at dusk (7:00'ish) and did our recon of the area where we are staying, by the Main train station. We have located the China Post, KFC, McDonald's & Starbuck's. So we have all the necessities of good ole American life.

Quite a heat spell going on. The next few days will be hot, hot, hot! Highs in the upper 90's with possible thunderstorms in the afternoons! Tomorrow we have a packed day, lecture in the morning and then some sights in the afternoon, dinner with some business big-wig of one kind or another. The next day is a free day! And the days after that are mostly sightseeing and free time!

Thanks, Kristi, for the update on the animals! Maybe I can bring you back a Chinese baby girl as a gift ; 0 hope everyone is staying cool, take many swims for me, please!!

Steph

Goodby Guiyang

2007-07-18T05:09:00.001-07:00

So, tomorrow we leave Guiyang for Shanghai. We had a long bus ride today! Over three hours one way, luckily, it was a most beautiful drive through the mountains, I'll upload some photos. The end destination, though, was a huge dissapointment! We end up in the hills at what is supposed to be an authentic Maio village...The whole village is there to greet us & welcome us with rice wine. They play some music, dance a couple of dances and then surround us (literally...surround us!) with their baskets of trinkets for sale! It was really bad! We even had to pay to use the bathroom! I did not buy a thing & didn't even use thjeir facilities! As we were leaving, a couple more busloads of tourists were being warmly greeted into their lair.

Again, it's the way things are done here. The local tour guide is supposed to arrange the things that you wish to see, BUT...inevitably, they have their own agenda and places that they want to take you8. Prof. Rick was discussing lunch options for tomorrow and it was a major accomplishment to get KFC take-out instead of sitting down for a full meal at a restaurant of the guide's choosing! And you wouldn't believe how tiny she is! I think I have a photo of her.

Yes, the Pizza Hut pizza was just like at home to me. Tonight, I'm staying in and blogging, then while I'm packing up for tomorrow I'm going to splurge on a room service hamburger! It is such a waste of time to sit down for an hour or more for both lunch and dinner every day! Lunch I have to, because we're out and about somewhere, but dinner is optional. Not that I don't enjoy tasting the foods (some of them) and talking with the group, but time is a precious commodity.

I really enjoyed being able to see some of the countryside the last few days. It's nice to be out of the cities for a while. If I had lots of money and was going to live in China, I'd probably live up here in the countryside, it's cool & green and pretty. The only problem is some people around here eat dogs!

Let's see, today our lecture was on the Economic Development of the Guizhou Economy. The speaker talked of opening up more villages like we were dragged to today as tourist draws, developing more roads to connect the province with the coastal regions and turning over the lumber industry to the individual peasants to develop and maintain!! So, it sounds like within a few years, there may not be much beauty left in the province...all in the name of $$ and capitalism. The Chinese have overlearned the concept of capitalism, I tell you!

Well, tomorrow we will be learning some things on the Long March and visit a Research Center for Nature Protection and Community Development to hear their message. I wonder how it will compare to today's lecture? Tomorrow afternoon we fly to Shanghai. Hopefully, the hotel will have a good business cetner like this one so I can easily keep up on my blog etc. We even have one whol, entire free day in Shanghai on the 21st, I think. I'll be figuring out how to get to the airport and the hotel I'll be at for the last two or three nights on my own, without Ming or Prof. Rick to help me.

Hope everyone is doing well and that my animals are doing fine as well. Matt...write...

Steph

Guiyang Photos

2007-07-18T04:40:00.000-07:00

At the Maio Village...

Village and Countryside sights.

At the Huagguoshu Waterfalls

Pizza Hut!

2007-07-17T16:53:00.001-07:00

We had Pizza Hut for dinenr last night!!

It was delicious!

Today we are driving out to a small Mioa village, a minority group here in the Guizjo (sp) Province). I will try to get to the computer tonight to upload some photos and tell you about our days here in Guiyang. Tomorrow afternoon we fly to Shanghai.

Steph

Guiyang

2007-07-16T04:19:00.001-07:00

Nihau,

We are back in Guiyang tonight after spending the last couple of days up in the beautiful moutainside exploring waterfalls and village life. It's very beautiful up in the mountains, the photos show only a small taste of the hills and the terraced rice and corn crops.

Unfortunately I can't upload photos of the village life because my camera needs to be recharged...sorry (always something isn't it? I got some great photos of the village kids today, though it was a kind of touristy village. That's how things work in China. We have Prof Rick, our scholar-guide, then we have Wei-Ming, our assistant guide (he does the logistical planning, etc.). At every city we also have city guides who travel during the day trips with us and do the city plans, etc. Also, today we had a village guide who showed us through her village, up to a Buddist Temple, lunch and a short village opera. At every single sight we must walk through the gauntlet of souvenir shops. The Chinese have wasted no time in learning that capitalistic art...even to the extreme. Today, one of the gals tried to buy a corn-on the cob for, maybe 1.50 yuan (not even .25 cents). Well, she only had a 5 yuan bill (about .80), the sellers (old lady villagers) wouldn't give her change, but forced two more corns on her! Prof Rick & Ming had to intervene and track down the culprit to get her a refund!

You should see the look on the Chinese when they hear Prof. Rick speak Chinese! It's really funny. he looks like a regular white American & they don't realize that he is fluent. When he speaks, they 'bout stop in their tracks! It's like when John talks to strangers in Mexico : )

Well, the Huangguoshu Falls walk was really gorgeous, walking through the countryside & seeing mountains, water and green forests on every side. It was even pleasantly not-too-hot, as it was up about 3500 feet. Anshun, where we stayed last night was up to 4500 feet. I really liked being up where it was cooler...

Tomorrow we go back to lectures and a tour of a college (I think) for a couple days before we fly out to Shanghai Thursday afternoon. Kristi, thanks so much for taking care of the cats, Mika and Miko. I wish we could tell Mika that I'll be home in a few days, poor girl. we are in an area of China where they do eat dog meat. I haven't seen any that I know of, and don't want to. I have seen a few dogs around, pretty mangy looking, though. And only a couple of cats. The Chinese are not into pets much as far as I can see, except for maybe a cricket or a goldfish or two.

OK, I go for now. Will write again before I leave our fancy Hoard-Johnson Htel here in Guiyang. There is even a pool here! I am going out for a walk in the nearby park before I splurge on a Hawaiian pizza here at the hotel...really I had to, I had to.

Matt...write...love Mom

Guiyang Photos

2007-07-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

Photos of Huangguoshu Falls, the hiking trail, through many tight spaces, the 365 day walkway, and one of the falls itself. I will send more when my camera is charged.

Beutiful hills of Guizhou Province.

We are in Guiyang

2007-07-14T02:37:00.001-07:00

...And it is very nice. It is about 3500 feet high in the hills of southwestern China, it is the captial city of the province of Guizhou. AND we are staying tonight at the downtown Howard Johnson's Hotel with a good computer and internet!!! So I thought I'd take this time before dinner to write and try again to get up some photos. I am right now getting them backed up onto my flash drive. Before we leave here I hope to get them copied onto a CD also.

Anyway, this was our first China flight. It was about an hour and a half flight from the city of Xian. Tomorrow we head out for a two day sight-seeing trip into the hills. We will be visiting a famous Chinese waterfall (starts with an H). The next day we visit a small village school to meet with the teachers and the students before returning back here to Guiyang for a couple more days.

Yes, I am able to get your comments through my email. I can't seem to view them directly from the blog because of the Chinese monitoring system (I think). Well, I just got some photos loaded of hour time in Xian, visiting the Bampo Archeological Museum and the Terra-Cotta Warriors. When I come back to Guiyang, I will send up some photos of our days in the hills.

I see it is still very, very hot at home. Kristi, do you think you can get a chance to empty and refill the dog pool so the cats can have some fresh water? Also, there is more dog and cat food in the shed and in the house also. Has Katie been staying over? I bet you all are enjoying the pools alot! We sure could have used a good swim in Xian and Beijing! But, now in Guiyang ( it's called the Spring City) it's a bit cooler and pleasant, though they are expecting some thunderstorms later in the week.

What else?? Any comments or questions I can answer? I am practicing my Chinese some, trying to get around in the taxis. But I practiced on Rick and he had a good laugh at my tones. Chinese is a tonal language with four tones (up, down, up-down and normal). You need to use the correct tones to say the correct meaning. For some reason, I always have a Mexican accent... : )

Well, I must go now. I am so glad to be able to use a decent computer and get some pics up. Please write back and let me know how things are. Matt, Hope you're doing well, I do miss you!

I'll write in a day or so!! STeph

Photos

2007-07-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

This wwas the Summer Palace of the Emperors outside of Xian. It's also the location of the Xian Incident, when Chaing Kai Chech was captured by the Red ARmy in 1936.

A fierce-looking Terra-Cotta Warrior!!

The Terra-Cotta Warriors. They were pretty spectacular! It was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty who had the warriors built and entombed near his burial site so he could be the emperor at his new place. They were made about 220 BC. He was the emperor who first united seven provinces of China.

Here's some cool pics of the burial sites in the Banpo Museum and Sacajawea, the Banpo Water girl with me.

Our bus and front of the hotel in Xian. They were doing some work on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. The breakfasts here were good (cereal w/ milk, good coffee, omelets, fruit and breads.

This is a map of the ancient village of Banpo, outside of Xian. There have been people lviing around Xian for thousands of years. This is one site that has been excavated and turned into a museum showing how the people lived.

Xian

2007-07-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

Nihao,

We have been really busy here in Xian visiting a high school, a language university and a computer school for migrant workers. Today we spent the day doing the sights. We, of course, went to the Terra-Cotta Warriors. I am trying to upload a picture or two for you to see, but the computer is not being very co-operative. I may have to wait on that.

I have very little time now, as I'm using Prof. Rick's computer while everyone is having dinner, then I have to get packed and organized for our flight tomorrow to Guajo (spelling is not right, I don't have my itinerary with me). Even Prof. Rick has not been to this part of China before. We will be seeing a village school as well as doing some sightseeing in the area.

I wish I had time to tell you more and upload pictures for you. It's really frustrating that I can't use the internet places in the city to upload pictures, but it's not allowed. The gov't and even the people can be very controlling..

Nope, I've tried 5 times to upload a photo and con't. I can't even view my own plog right now. rick's family is calling so I must go now. Will write more when I can.

Steph

Wang Fei Ran

2007-07-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

Nihao to my new friend in China: Wang Fei Ran and her family,

I stayed with them a couple of nights ago and enjoyed them very much. Wang Fei and her family are so friendly and hospitable. Wang Fei, I will post pictures of my stay when I can have more time, but thank you so much for the visit.

I am in Xian now. All the group is pretty exhausted from the home visit, the train ride and our day in Xian, so I came down to this internet place to post a letter. Hopefully, while we are here I can get to a group computer to post photos. At least here, I did not have to show my passport, but it is so dark in the big place I can't see a thing. Today we visited the 'Forest of Stele", old books in stone from thousand of years ago, quite a heavy library, I tell you. We also had a nice lunch buffet and then visited the Shanxi Historical Museum.. We were less than impressed (and very hot and tired), so we headed back to our hotel for a siesta.

Tomorrow we visit the NW University and willhear some talks on the history of Shanxi and the development of the Western Provinces. It's hot here, but drier. After that we will do some sightseeing of the 'Terra Cotta Warriors' and the HuangPu Springs and the Banbo ?? something... I forget.

Kristi, Thanks so much for the update on Mika, I do miss her so. I'm glad you're looking out for her. Has Katie showed up? She should be at my house this week and through the month. How's Cap't Jack? Matt, when will you write to me?... Oh, I can't view any comments from the blog, but I do get them on my email...damn Chinese Gov't. They are soooo invasive into people's personal lives, you really couldn't imagine.

Gail, yes, thanks for writing. I'm glad to know that people are reading what I'm writing. It's really interesting to finally understand the long history of China and how the culture has developed so differently from our own. We, in the US would NEVER allow the gov't to control our daily personal lives like people do here. Though, I think things will be changing with the next generation. The personal freedoms of the US and Europe are becoming more and more pervasive. Hopefully, the young people will be able to make a change in their society. What is left of the history is being preserved more and more, though alot has been lost during the 20th century. CHina is in quite a flux, I do tell you.

Anyway, I must find my way back to the hotel now and get ready for the next few days. Check back in a couple of days for some more photos. Kristi, thanks again so much. Give my darling girl a kiss and hug for me. Matt, WRITE to me!!!

Love, STeph

Home Stay

2007-07-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

WangfuJang Street, the 'Times Square' of Beijing.

The young man who tried to scam us for $$ for his supposed trip to the US next month.

The Great Dragon Wall in Beihai Park. A really great park across the street from our hotel.

Bridge at Beihai Park.

Great dumplings for lunch.

We couldn't stomach scorpions and sea horses for lunch, though.

This was a wonderful library at the Center for foreign Studies.

Starbucks in Beijing. They don't open till 10:00 AM, so we don't get to have our morning coffee very often.
Nihau to all,

Last night we went to a wonderful acrobatic show! The acts were really amazing, way better than you would see in the States. Let's see, most of this week has been spent in lectures and driving around on the bus going to different restaurants. Today we are packing up for an evening home stay. I'm taking a personal day tomorrow (we're allowed one during the trip), After my home stay, I'm going out to the Summer Palace instead of a day of lectures. Tomorrow night we take a night train to Xian. Prof. Rick & Ming are not sure about internet connections in the hotel, so it amy be a couple of days before I can write more. I am ready to leave Beijing, it is really interesting, but now it's time for a new place. One night a few of us went out for Outback cheesy fries ( I know, I'm weak), then we walked around Tianemen Square at night, very cool, lots of fountains and lights. Of course, I forgot my camera!!!

Yesterday we had a free afternoon and a few of us went to the 'Times Square' of Beijing. We had a nice walk around, saw some kids on a field trip enjoying a McDonald's lunch, and I had a scrumptious frozen berry ice cream sundae at Haagendaas! We thought about a snack of deep-fried scorpions, but decided to pass that tidbit up.

While we were looking for a taxi, we got scammed by a student artist. He was very friendly and personalble, talked with us for several minutes and then invited us to see his art at the exhibit. We went and looked, he asked which we liked the best, etc.. We knew we were being scammed when another young man came in with another group of tourists and started the same spial. We high-tailed it out of there pretty fast.

So, I will write when I can with more photos. Matt, still waiting to hear from you. Kristi & Dad, Thanks so much for taking care of Mika and the cats!! It helps to know that they're doing OK. I do miss them...and all of you also.

Steph

Dandelion Middle School and Chicken Heads

2007-07-05T03:03:00.000-07:00

Traffic is bad in Beijing, we spend too much time on the bus. Oh, well...

One cook with three helpers cooks lunch in this area for 500 kids.

The library!!!

Typical of the poor cats I've seen around the city.

Again, the library...

Students from Dandelion Middle School.

This is where the students stay during the school week. They go home Friday evening, but many return on Saturday for English classes.

Chicken head lunch

Sue is the brave one.

This is Clare & Nicole. We are at the Silk Market enjoying a coffee and people watching.

Well,

A very interesting day today...we had chicken with the head still on for lunch (they did, not me) and then went to Dandelion Middle on the outskirts of Beijing. This is a school for migrant worker kids. There is a very strange system in the Chinese schools. When a child is born they are registered in the town or village wheree they were born, they have rights to a free public education in that town. But if they leave or move to another place, they are 'migrants' and are not entitled to the 'compulsory' K-9 education in that area unless they pay a fee, which most of them cannot do because that's why they moved in the first place. Their parents are doing the construction (lots in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics), working in the fields or other menial labor that city people don't want to do.

So today we visited this migrant school that is run on charity & donations. You can see how poor it is, but the students were delighted to see us. The two boys were practicing English and asking me about where I lived, what I did, etc. The teachers and principal are angels. They work in overcrowded, very, very hot conditions, with students who are very low academically ( smart, but little education in their background). They also live at the school and get paid very little. Angels, I tell you!

We ran into the Chinese Language Fulbright group at the school and spent a few minutes talking with them before the lecture and tour. When we left on our bus, we all applauded Prof. Rick and Wei Ming, because Prof. Rick is so much easier and much more democratic when it comes to making decisions..." OK, it's time for a group decision". And he is teaching Wei Ming these elements of participating in group decisions, rather than, 'Count off, one, two, three...Let's Go, hurry, hurry, etc., etc".
We all feel very lucky, though we will see in a few minutes, we have a group meeting....maybe someone will get voted off tonight!!!

So anyway, I skipped another Chinese meal to do this, but must go attend the group meeting. What else? We went to the Olympics Planning Building today & learned about the preparations for next year's games. Tomorrow, we learn about Chinese Art and ...something else... must sign off for now..

Please post comments.....

Steph

Happy 4th

2007-07-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

Hope you're all hanging out by the pool and staying cool. Can someone please check on my tomatoe plants in the back & make sure they have water? There's cat & dog food in the shed and also in the house. Katie should be coming to stay on Monday, but I'll email her today to make sure. How's Mika darling doing? I hope she's hot & tired so she staying close to Kristi's.

Let's see, Professor Rick let us sleep in today! We are leaving in a couple of hours for a lectue on the Beijing Olympics coming next year. Yesterday we had a lecture on the serious environmental issues in China, Water, air & too many people. Then we went to the Beijing Capital Museum and out for another big meal! But I don't like alot of it so I'm not eating all that much. We all had a free afternoon and evening the other day, guess where everyone stopped for dinner? McDonald's!!

The bus guide yesterday was giving us info about property and one child policy yesterday, just briefly, if a couple has one child and then the wife is expecting another, if she keeps the child, she can lose her job!! It's that controlled.

About the land, all land is owned by the gov't. People in the cities can lease their apartments for 70 years, but soon, the gov't is going to impose a property tax on them, even though they don't even own the property! She was pretty ticked about that one! They are so controlled and restricted...it's just really wierd for us.

Anyway, be careful with the fireworks. Matt, enjoy your nice Seattle day off today & write to me!! Kristi & Dad: please take a peek for my cats and the garden.

Oh, the comments: Sign in as an anonymous commenter. You should get a verification screen that shows a password, this protects from lots of spam. Be sure to sign your name at the bottom of the comment so I know who is writing.

Till next time,

Steph

Photos

2007-07-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

Rick and Ming tobogganing down from the Great Wall.

Dinner with Wu Ching, the political activist for women's rights in China. We all hung onto every word she had to say.

Tianemen in the rain!

Tianemen with no rain.

Famous Mao photo hanging at the gate of the Forbidden City in Tianemen Square.

A martial arts demo at Peking University. This is David M., who has kindly shared his computer to get these photos up.

Peking University Campus.

Getting ready for a lecture at Peking University.

This is the Olympic Stadium for 2008 under construction. It's known as the Birds Nest.

Hiking at the Great Wall.

And this is one of their pet crickets!

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The older man in the back is the hutong home owner who invited us to share lunch in his home. He was very pleased to have us.

A Hutong Home where we were served a wonderful lunch. The best food I'd had since being here!

Beiging hutong area where many poorer people live. This is taken from the Ancient Drum Tower.

This is the lake down the street from our hotel. Lots of little shops around it and a park area where people hang out and do ballroom dancing in the evenings.

The Starbucks in the Forbidden City...we were so lucky to find it!

Wet and wandering in the Forbidden City. This is where the Emperor and his family lived and were catered to.

The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven, where the emperors would go to pray for good crops.

Professor Rick and WeiMing, our Chinese guide. We are at the Ministry of Education

Happy Birthday, John

2007-07-03T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hi John and all,
Hope you have a good birthday and 4th of July. Well, we finally have a free afternoon and everyone has gone their own ways, some shopping, some to massages, some to who knows where. So, I was able to finagle a computer from the group. I hope to add some photos to this post.

Last night we went out to a Peking Duck restaurant (Yuck! and it was), all I could eat was some shoestring fried potatoes and sweet potato fries. They brought out a cooked chicken still with the head on : (, gross. I am getting pretty good with chopsticks, though I cannot figure out how to eat a soft-fried egg with them. But we did have an excellent speaker, Wu Ching. She is a 70 year old activist for women's right and minority rights here in Beijing. She spent her early years in the US, but she did live through the Cultural Revolution and remembers the horrors of that time. Her mother is a famous Chinese author. She was fascinating. I'll post a photo of the group sitting spell-bound listening to her insights on the country.

This morning we spent the morning at Peking University. We had an intro to Chinese martial arts with a charismatic young man who has spent many years studying the art and has also traveled to Canada, so he spoke English very well. This afternoon we went to the American Embassy and were able to ask questions about the relations between China and the US.

Thanks, Matt, for writing!! I'm glad to hear that the animals are all well. Kristi or Dad, can you make sure they have plenty of fresh water and that the cats have food on the deck and in the shed, please? Katie should be there on Monday, but I know it's going to be very hot there this week. It's so muggy here! The temp is up in the 90's and today it's spitting rain, which I really prefer to the blazing hot sun.

So, I'm going to try to post some photos. let me know what you think or if you have any questions.. Steph

great Wall

2007-07-01T16:49:00.001-07:00

Hi All,

Thanks for the emails! It's nice to hear from everyone. Matt, where are you?? Glad to hear my animals are all good. Looks like it will be hot there for the 4th! Very hot and muggy here yesterday and today after the big rainfall. Yesterday we went to the Great Wall and spent several hours hiking around it. Lots of vendors as you're going up to it from the small village. Even worse than Mexico!! I have some neat photos and now that the computer people in the group are up I should be able to post photos soon. Last night we went to the Peking Opera for a show, fabulous costumes and singing, though I don't know what they said.
Today, we are on our way to a teacher college to meet with people there & this evening we will be going out for Peking Duck (Yuck!). Tomorrow afternoon & eveing is free, so I hope I can sang a computer in the evening and figure out how to upload photos.

Nic, thanks for the info. I'll use it if I need to. Gail, thanks for writing, you can checkout my blog at http://pioneerinchina.blogspot.com, should get some photos up soon.

We are a pretty cohesive group, everyone is very helpful and friendly and Prof. Rick is great. check back soon for more updates & keep writing, OK

Steph

pkblogs

2007-06-30T03:57:00.001-07:00

I figured it out! I checked out the Blogger troubleshooting and found that in China blogger.com blogs are mirrored so they are not blocked by the gov't (for now anyway). So, (hopefully they won't read this) but I just type in http://pkblog.com/name of blog and it will get through the &&&^^$% firewall or whatever it is. Now I just have to figure out how to upload photos. But I think I can do it using one of the David's computers...we have three of them all with Macs. We'll see. Anyway, I will keep posting to my blog & some peoples better be writing to me soon....

Steph

Forbidden City

2007-06-30T03:30:00.001-07:00

Hello there,

We had a really good day today, though it rained & rained. I didn't mind at all because I had my Keen wet shoes & my umbrella. We first toured the Temple of Heaven and the surrounding park. This was just inside the old city wall and where the emperor would go twice a year to talk with heaven & pray for a good crop. Now it is surrounded by a huge park where you can see people doing their tai chi, etc. in the morning.

Our next stop was Tianamen Square, but by then it was raining. We got off the bus & were surrounded by hawkers selling umbrellas for $1. As we walked through the Square (huge!) the rain came down in buckets, we were sloshing through the rain! It was great!, but others didn't agree. We went down into the pedestrian underpasses and waited for a few minutes with many, many Chinese, really interesting & I do believe they found our group really interesting as well.

When it slowed a bit we continued on to the Forbidden City. At first I was not really impressed. The first two palaces or gates were covered in green scaffolding (cleaning up for the Olympics). & I thought I would be disappointed...but no...walked through another gate to the servants quarters and it became more impressive, though another gate to the emperor's private buildings and Wow! It went on and on and on. I wish I could show you photos!!! When we get some free time, I will see if I can use one of the guys computers to upload some photos for you.

Maybe Matt, I will send them to you a couple at a time, and have you upload them to my blog. Would you mind? I'd really like to share some with everyone.

Anyway, it was still raining, though not as hard. After a short rest at the hotel we went to the Drum Tower and the Old Hutong area. Fascinating! We got to take a pedicab ride through the hutongs (old small alleys filled with homes). AND THEN..we got to have a meal at one of the homes of a family! They were so so friendly, the little old man talked and talked (In Chinese, Prof. Rick translated for us) about the changes in China in the last few years and how good it was for the country. His daughter and son-in-law cooked a great spread for us (I actually liked almost everything!) and showed us around their small home. It was, of course one of the better homes as they have this little tourist business going on. I will send photos!

And all through the rain, we were all drowned rats all day, but I didn't mind, it's really warm anyway. So now, Denise and I went to a different internet cafe. It's huge! And much cleaner than the one I was at yesterday. Lots of young people playing those internet games. You have to show them your passport and pay three (sahn) yuan ( about .50 cents ) for one hour. It seems to work really well. Except, of course for my blog. I have a couple of ideas to try, but am not optimistic. We will see. We think our gov't is 'Big Brother', nothing like here!

Tomorrow we go to the Great Wall. A ski lift to the top and then toboggan back down when we're done. In the evening, we go to the Peking Opera. Now this is travel! Thanks Taxpayers : )

Love ya, Steph (Mom)

Somebody...write to me!!!

Blog doesn't work!

2007-06-29T03:28:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Hey, my blog doesn't work over here! I can go in and make new posts, but when I try to view the blog online, like to see if anyone has written anything., I can't view it! Not good! So, I will post to it from my email, but I can't add photos or see what you've written.

So, I must resort to email, and even that is not too consistent. I do have a yahoo mail that seems to work more conistently. It is librarysteph@yahoo.com
Use either that one or this eartrhlink one. OK?

I may try to email Matt some pictures and see if he can post them to my blog, that way I don't have to try to send out lost of photos through email, which is slow and takes up email space. But first I need to have time to figure out how to do that on these computers or from one of the other participants. Hey, I am going to send out a group photo that one of our people took and emailed to us. It's from San Fran.

Tomorrow we go to the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. It'll be nice to get some sightseeing in of all the places we've been learning about. The next day we go to the Great Wall. Right now, I'm on my way to meet up with the group at a Muslim (yes, Mom) Muslim restaurant. It's one of Prof. Belsky's favorites. I really don't like the food at the hotel, we ate there last night and for breakfast. Too much meat and fish lots of the veggies are different, too. Not too worry, I won't starve, there's always rice, bread and McDonald's.

Today, we sat at the Ministry of Ed and listened to talks from high officials about the ed system of China. I caught up on my journal and practiced my Chinese language words. Anyway, I must go now. I will get some free time tomorrow or the next day & will write more. Hope everyone is doing well. Oh, the weather here is not too bad, really muggy, but today it rained a bit, so the temp was only in the low 80's. Let me know, Matt, how all my critters are when you get home Saturday, please.

Love to all, Steph

Culture Shock!

2007-06-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

We are here after a long plane ride & got to our Chineses hotel. Culture Shock! We are in an interesting area of the city. Lots of local Hutongs (small alley ways, etc.). I Can't find an internet cafe yet & we are off to the Ministry of Education this morning, so I just don't know when I will be able to really sit down and tell you about things in a more detailed way. There are five people with computers & they are kind to share, but I hate to be on here for very long. Anyway, I am fine, hope everyone is OK & my cats have food & water. I will write longer as soon as I get a chance.

Steph

Nihao (Chinese Language Lesson)

2007-06-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Nihao (Hello),

Nihaoma? (How are you?
Wo hau. Ni ne? (I'm fine. And You?)
Wo jiao Stephani (My name is Stephani)
Xinghui (Nice to meet you)

Cesuo zai nar? (Where is the bathroom?) Very important one!

xiexie (Thank you!) Also very important, it's said [sheshe] short e sound

Zaijan (Goodby)

I also learned the numbers, but have no more time right now. Hopefully, at the airport or in China I will have more time to work on this blog. Now I am an expert on Chinese history and geography. We've had several really wonderful speakers this last two days, long listening days though. We pack up and leave Vallhambrosa Retreat tomorrow by 8:00 AM & fly out to Beijing at 11:00. The flight is about 12 hours, we'll be in Beijing the afternoon of the 28th.

The group is really interesting, a good mix and Dr. Belsky will be a really good scholar guide. He knows China & the language very well, but is calm and laid back "No Worries, Mate" I think, should be his motto. When I have more time, I will pop up a photo of the group that we took today. We went out for a Chinese meal this evening, I think I will pick up a couple of plastic forks, because using chopsticks is really frustrating!!

I have lots more to say, but I am using one of the group members computers & must end for now. Zaijan!!!

Home

2007-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos of home and the animals that I can look at when I'm lonely.

A gift from France

2007-06-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

N 40° 40' 20" ; W 74° 2'42.4" This Wonder nomination was a gift from France to another country. It was designed and built in Paris and then shipped across the Atlantic in crates. For newly-arriving immigrants this statue was a symbol of hope and opportunity.

European Wonders

2007-06-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

1. N 51° 4' ; W 1° 48'. Look at the low longitude co-ordinate. Also, there is a replica of this wonder in the Columbia River Gorge near the Maryhill Museum.

2. N 48° 51' 32" ; E 002° 17' 45". This one has a low longitude number also, but it is to the east of the Prime Meridian, instead of the west. It is named after the person who designed it and it's in the center of the European 'city of love'.

3. N 47° 44' 00" ; E 10° 19' 02". This building is in the beautiful Bavarian Alps and is one of the most photographed buildings in Europe. It was designed by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria.

4. N 41° 53' 24" ; E 12° 29' 31": Gladiators, Christians and lions. Need I say more?

More Info: S 33° 51' 35" ; E 151° 12' 50"

2007-06-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

This Wonder nomination is in the Southern Hemisphere (big hint). I was there when I was on a year-long teacher exchange program and lived in Naracoorte.

Latitude and Longitude Lesson

2007-05-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Taken from: http://life.csu.edu.au/geo/coord.html

Degrees/Minutes/Seconds

New 7 Wonders

2007-05-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Great Wall of China is one of the 21 nominations for the New 7 Wonders of the World. Of the Seven Ancient Wonders, only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing, so now it's time to choose the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Anyone can vote, however, there are only about 40 more voting days left. The winners will be announced 7-07-07 in Portugal. Click on the link to the right to find out more.

The list of nominations includes the Statue of Liberty, Angor Wat, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and many other monuments, religious places and ancient cities around the globe. It's fun to learn about the places on the website and see the different projects that have been done by students around the world. Today I noticed that they now have a 'New Wonders' song and a shopping site for memorabilia. Of course, I had to buy. I bought a pin for each of 8 places that I personally have been to or will be visiting before the end of '07, including my December trip to Cancun and, of course, my China travels. 7 Ancient Wonders

So, here's my location question for this post. Who can name the 8 wonders that I personally have seen (or will see within the next 6 months)?
AND: Of those, which two will I see this year (haven't actually been there yet)?

Here are the coordinates:

N 40° 40' 20" ; W 74° 2'42.4"
N 51° 4' ; W 1° 48'
N 48° 51' 32" ; E 002° 17' 45"
N 37° 7' ; E 107° 5'
N 20° 40' ; W 88° 32'
N 47° 44' 00" ; E 10° 19' 02"
N 41° 53' 24" ; E 12° 29' 31"
S 33° 51' 35" ; E 151° 12' 50"

Pioneer

2007-05-17T18:55:00.001-07:00

Definition of: Pioneer
(courtesy of http://www.thefreedictionary.com/)

pi·o·neer (p-nîr)

1. One who ventures into unknown or unclaimed territory to settle.

2. One who opens up new areas of thought, research, or development: a pioneer in aviation.

3. A soldier who performs construction and demolition work in the field to facilitate troop movements.

4. Ecology An animal or plant species that establishes itself in a previously barren environment.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of early settlers: the pioneer spirit.

2. Leading the way; trailblazing: a pioneer treatment for cancer.

v. pi·o·neered, pi·o·neer·ing, pi·o·neers

v.tr.

a. To open up (an area) or prepare (a way): rockets that pioneered outer space.

b. To settle (a region).

2. To initiate or participate in the development of: surgeons who pioneered organ transplants.

v.intr.

To act as a pioneer: pioneered in development of the laser.

[French pionnier, from Old French peonier, foot soldier, from peon, from Medieval Latin ped, pedn-, from Late Latin, one who has broad feet, from Latin ps, ped-, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots.]

So my journey actually begins as a Pioneer. Why would I choose that? Because for me it is a pioneering journey? Yes, I've never been to China or any country in Asia, so it is a new territory for me. Because my family were early settlers to the Valley where I was raised? Yes, they were farming pioneers from the mid-western states. Because I am a peon with broad feet? Yes, that I am, thanks to my Native American background (the broad feet part).
All of those and perhaps even another reason (mentioned in the previous post) as to why I would choose "Pioneer in China" as the Blog name. Here's some co-ordinates to use:
46 18'57.28"N; 119 59'32.88"W. Two more clues: I'm not in China yet & 'Lincoln'.

What do you think? Post your ideas and comments.

The Trip

2007-05-17T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm set! I've sent in my passport for Visa stamps, taken care of government paperwork, booked my rooms and flights. Now, I focus on packing and thinking about my project.

Since this is an educator seminar (Fulbright-Hays) I am required to design a project for the enlightenment of my students and the community where I live and work. I am doing a 'Where in China' project. Using a GPS I will post co-ordinates of different places that I visit with a clue about the place or city. You (and my students) can use the information to figure out where it is. On the following post I will give more information and pictures of that place.

So, how did I get involved in this? I'll post more on this later...