We are in Guiyang

...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

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

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

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

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

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

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