Bridge China Families,
Get ready! Just in from the Bridge China Group is March’s free-writing style blog update for Xian, Pang liu village family homestays, and the first couple of days of our earthquake service project in Cheng du.
Hi everybody! Okay! Here’s the rundown on the trip since Beijing:
Xian
…arrived in the hotel after a long train ride…same day had a wonderful time out at the terracotta warriors…students loved it…the whole time in Xian was great…kids got to walk around the city and pick and choose their own food…ordering for themselves always… leaders loved to see everyone getting comfortable with the new surroundings…lots and lots of fun biking the city wall…some students were so happy, they rode two circles around the city…group found the best beef noodle place in town behind the calligraphy market…inexpensive and good…Xian was a wonderful time…kids also got great deals on paintings at the calligraphy market…oh almost forgot! our mmt was a success! kids completed nearly every task assigned to them…the Muslim quarter was a hit…spent time exploring there three days in a row.
Village Homestays
…on the 16th we travelled to Pang liu village for our homestays… it was also Joelle's birthday! leaders got her a cake and the group celebrated in the village…when we arrived, all the local kids were at the school to welcome us…the scene was truly heartwarming.
…our stay in the village was eventful…all the families were truly wonderful, and all our kids loved their host families…the bond between our kids and our host families could easily be seen…we learned calligraphy, chinese chess, and majiang…the group fell in love with chinese chess! chinese chess, or xiang qi, truly became a big part of our group culture…many students bought chess sets and the group is still playing the game as we speak.
…we worked really hard in the village…our kids worked in the watermelon patches…we worked with corn and helped out our host families with their daily chores…just about everyone cooked an American dish for their host families…we played a lot of ping pong.
…a group of kids from Tianjing also came to the village…we spent some good time with the Tianjing group…our kids sang “I'll Make a Man out of You” from Mulan and “I Believe I Can Fly” at the village farewell ceremony…Sebastien juggled ping pong balls! Brandon and Harper did the Soulja Boy dance for the village…that was a hit! on the last day, all the village kids and host families were there to see us off…nobody wanted to leave.
Cheng du/Earthquake site
…our train ride to Cheng du was fun…the kids talked politics the whole way…we bonded on a completely new level…some played cards…some played xiang qi…some just chilled…Tanisha and Daphney got everyone's attention by braiding hair…the train crew gathered around Tanisha as she proceeded to braid Daphney's hair...nice spontaneous cross-cultural exchange…got some much needed rest when we arrived…basically chilled for one day…Cheng du was cool because it rained that morning…group called home and we went out that night to get a taste of Cheng du street food…WE LOVED IT…really spicy, the really good kind of spicy…next day our group went to see the earthquake site…extremely rare opportunity as we had connections with local officials who led us into the site…our kids were completely shocked by what they saw…totally blown away, all of them…the long ride back to the hotel was filled with silence as the kids came to terms with what they had just seen.
…at evening meeting our students expressed their thoughts on what they experienced at the earthquake site…everyone said they realized that they were taking everything they had at home for granted…they were truly shocked by what they saw…some voiced amazement at how nature makes what we call human achievements seem insignificant…some wished their families could be there to see what had happened near Cheng du…everyone was thinking of their loved ones…the leaders told the group that they wished for everyone in the group to take stock, and to truly love and appreciate themselves, their families, their lives, and the vast potential that all their futures hold... the group had a wonderful evening meeting…the kind that only a trip like this can generate.
…the next day we went to one of the best schools in the city called De Yang… our students spent the whole day with the Chinese students there…then the leaders allowed the students to explore that area of town in small groups of three or more...this was a true testament to all that our kids have learned up till now…they all came back on time, happy, with many wonderful stories to tell…they earned it!
…overall, everybody, the group is doing great, and the trip has been awesome! We can’t wait to head to Hong Kong on Wednesday!
OK! That’s it for the general trip update. Student Notes to follow.
Student Notes
Daphney is a wonderful person. She is the person you want to talk to or be with when you are not feeling your best. She'll find a way to lift your spirits. Everyone just loves her personality. She is always looking for gifts to buy for her family!
Tanisha is really nice and cool. She is very kind and honest. The boys treat her as a sister. She is hard working. Even when she isn't feeling her best, she is able to give her best in the field. She’s a solider.
Joelle is a gifted Chinese learner. She always finds Chinese students to talk to. She is doing well with the fact that she is a vegetarian. She is always there when the leaders need her, and she always offers a helping hand to her fellow group members.
Harper loves hanging out with everyone. She is always with at least 3 or 4 other kids. She loves to play all the new games she is picking up on the trip. If you need someone to start an activity or lead a fun game, Harper is the person you want to ask!
Sebastien is a very smart person and a truly gifted ping pong player. He was finally defeated by a Chinese boy from the Tianjing group. He picked up Chinese chess very quickly. Within a week, he beat March! Sebastien is a really fun person to be around.
Jacob is a really helpful guy all around. The leaders love him—he always wants to help out with anything that needs to be done. He’s energetic, like the energizer bunny. He never complains about anything!
Alex is truly a wonderful person. He is always interested in learning new things. He is a very thoughtful young man. He has already been able to process and internalize much of what he has learned on this amazing journey through China. He was very moved at the earthquake site.
Brandon is a wonderful person. He’s like the leader’s third hand! He woke up early to help the leaders get the group moving so they could catch the train to Cheng du. He has been there for us so many times we’ve lost count! He had to make many adjustments coming to China, and we simply have to say he has done a great job.
Cole is a real trooper. He was under the weather for several days, and we were amazed at the maturity with which he handled the situation. He never complained! Cole is truly mature beyond his years. We can't thank him enough for the positive attitude which he has maintained throughout the entire trip. And one more thing about Cole that just happened today—a bunch of Chinese girls fought over who got to sit next to him during lunch!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Update from Xian and Pang Liu
The group has been busy going from Beijing to Xian to a small village called Pang Liu. The students took an overnight train from Beijing to Xian and immediately jumped into life there. They visited the Bai Hui Market where the local youth gather and shop. It is known to have every kind of normal and strange shop imaginable, with Chinese food and culture abounding. They also took a bike tour of the city, visited the local art market, and saw the Terracotta Warriors.
The next adventure had the group traveling via bus to the Pang Liu Village to begin their homestay portion of the trip. The students have spent the last few days getting to know their host families and the rest of the villagers, helping them plant crops, and teaching English at the local school. Each day the group had meals with their homestay families and evening activities with the local children and even learned some Majiang. Today was their last full day in the village and included a Majiang tournament, more volunteering at the local school and prep work for the village farewell party. Tomorrow the group will say goodbye to everyone and pack up for Cheng Du!
There are some great pictures from Beijing and Xian posted in the slideshow in the right hand column. Remember, you can click on the picture to view larger versions of them all.
The next adventure had the group traveling via bus to the Pang Liu Village to begin their homestay portion of the trip. The students have spent the last few days getting to know their host families and the rest of the villagers, helping them plant crops, and teaching English at the local school. Each day the group had meals with their homestay families and evening activities with the local children and even learned some Majiang. Today was their last full day in the village and included a Majiang tournament, more volunteering at the local school and prep work for the village farewell party. Tomorrow the group will say goodbye to everyone and pack up for Cheng Du!
There are some great pictures from Beijing and Xian posted in the slideshow in the right hand column. Remember, you can click on the picture to view larger versions of them all.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Week Two Update!
Chinese Classes:
We concluded our Chinese language classes last Friday and everyone did a great job on the final exam. No one received lower than an 80 on their overall score. Their success is surely due to their hard work and dedication. Brandon came to the leaders for help with the lessons both before and after every class. Daphne just arrived a few days ago, but worked hard and caught up in record time. Even our teacher, Wu Lao Shi, remarked at how quickly Daphne has caught on. Cole consistently put forth a great effort and ended up as a bit of the teacher’s pet – funny since he is home-schooled. Harper and Joelle have been taking private lessons from March during the normal class time and also helped to teach the others. On the last day of class Amy and I asked the teacher to continue with the lesson until the last minute. The purpose of this was to show the students that learning is a life-long activity – you don’t stop learning just because a class or even a school year is over. We wanted our students to understand that learning takes a lifetime and in order to get to the desired end, you must work hard and enjoy the journey. At the end of the course, the teachers from Beijing Normal had a farewell lunch with us and passed out certificates to congratulate all our students on a job well done. During the lunch everyone was emotional and the teacher hugged everyone, cried, and took lots of group pictures.
Adventuring and Exploring:
During our second week in Beijing, we explored this amazing city even more and had a great time! Our sightseeing spots included the Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Olympic Green, Pearl Market, Xian Shopping District and the Temple of Heaven. The Bird’s Nest is the colloquial name for the Beijing National Stadium, where the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held. It is the largest steel structure in the world! Likewise, the Water Cube is the National Aquatics Center used for the ’08 Olympics. Both are part of the Olympic Green – the area where most of the Olympic events were held. The group was able to wander and around the Green and take lots of pictures. Many of the Chinese people there turned their attention to our group though; they all wanted to take pictures with us! Tanisha and Alex, in particular, draw a crowd wherever we go. The Bird’s Nest is actually in the process of being converted to a shopping mall! Our kids thought it was a shame that they are taking the place apart. The Water Cube was awesome! Everything was sparkling and the place was simply amazing!
The Pearl Market was great and everything was so beautiful. The Xian Shopping District is where the Chinese youth do their shopping, so everything was very age-appropriate for our group. As we shopped and explored, Jacob and Brandon continued to work their bargaining magic. Harper and Tanisha bought Chinese silk dresses and four people got laser pointers. The laser pointers are very cool, military grade and can point up to 5 km. After playing with them for a bit, we (the leaders) eventually had to take them up as they became a bother and a bit hazardous. Sebastian bought a toy helicopter and Tanisha got some stuffed animals. The students also bought some cool magnets. Brandon and March got Manga-related items (a type of Anime). At the center of the shopping district was a restaurant where we had a hot pot dinner (there is a boiling pot of broth in the middle of the table and everyone gathers around to boil their own food items in the pot (such as beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and tofu). Our students had a great time with the hot pot and we all ate a lot of food that night – so delicious!
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings in the Xuanwu District of Beijing. The Temple was constructed between 1406 and 1420 and was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The Temple was amazing to see but one of our more difficult trips. We arrived a bit late and it was raining. However, we decided to keep going and we ended up touring the Temple for about an hour and a half. We learned about the Emperors and the history of the Temple. We also saw many elderly Chinese people playing games, singing songs and playing cards all over the Temple.
Another highlight was our Peking Duck dinner. March and Amy’s family invited our group to have dinner with them at a fancy restaurant. The group thought the duck was amazing and delicious! Even Joelle, who is a vegetarian, liked eating the Peking duck. Daphne tried the duck eyeballs and Harper ate some duck brain! That was certainly a fun dinner….!
The Group:
The group is rocking it, they are really close and there really aren’t any problems. Our students are working well together; they stick by each other and always offer a helping hand when someone is in need. The only concern March and Amy had was with the laser pointers – since they have now been taken up, everything is going smoothly.
Tanisha set a great example of generosity the other day when she offered to give up her lower bed on the train to a Chinese lady who had back problems. That was so great of her! Tanisha is often admired by the local Chinese – they want to take pictures with her and often offer her candy and other types of food. It was great to see her giving back to the community. Alex, Brandon, Jacob, Cole, and Joelle did a great job of helping the leaders carry the extra weight during our train ride. It’s been great to see everyone helping each other out. Alex taught the game Mao to our group and we have been playing it ever since – it is getting intense! March taught everyone Chinese poker. He still wins about 60% of the time, but the students are having a fun time learning and practicing their card skills. The students are all taking their safety and responsibilities seriously – they can already take cabs and navigate the area in small groups without March or Amy. Joelle and Harper have very strong linguistic skills and are great about helping other members of the group with the language when necessary. Jacob absolutely loves basketball – he played for four hours straight last Thursday! The leaders are just amazed by his level of energy!
Student Blurbs:
Joelle is a total “A” student in the classroom. She learned so much from the teacher and leaders. She is a real student and her thirst for learning is admirable. Joelle can always be counted on; she is responsible, strong, and not afraid to share her inner thoughts and feelings. Joelle is someone who you want as a friend. She is always there for everyone. We love her energy and drive!
Harper is fun and loving. She never complains and we love her sense of humor! She participates in every activity and is just simply cool. She will thrive when she gets to college. Harper was able to help teach Chinese to other group members during our classes. She is a great person to go shopping with and she’ll help you bargain mercilessly. Our group has greatly benefited from having her with us.
Tanisha is loved by all. Chinese people are drawn to her, she makes friends with ease, and strangers often walk up to her and begin conversations. Tanisha is well liked by everyone and contributes so much to the group. She loves to read and is very strong in the classroom – the teacher often asked her to solve some of the more difficult problems.
Daphne is a wonderful person. She is always cheerful and nice to everyone. Just having her around will put a smile on your face. We wish she was here from day one! The group loves hanging out and talking with Daphne. She is not afraid to tell you what she thinks and always has amazing stories from back home that will draw you in. Daphne is adjusting to Chinese food and is making a great effort to try new things.
Jacob is in love with sports. He is fit and strong, funny and smart. His Chinese is improving rapidly and he can hold a conversation in Chinese on his own. Jacob is simply a nice and fun person to be around. He always offers to carry the extra weight – like 15 extra bottles of water for the group on our train ride. He also once played four hours of basketball and became more energetic afterwards – amazing!
Sebastian is the brain of the group. He knows when to have fun and when to be serious. He is cool and has a great sense of humor! Sebastian is also really good with the Rubik’s Cube. We are all amazed as he continues to solve them on a regular basis! Sebastian is teaching March how to work through the cube as we speak. He is also the king of ping pong and can beat just about anyone. He did a great job during Chinese classes and is loved by all.
Brandon is still the king of bargaining. He is nice and always watching your back. Brandon would go a long way for anyone in the group and is always there for his group members in times of need. He is a person you can call a true friend. He loves is family and is always trying to get gifts for them. Brandon is simply great to be around. He is adjusting to Chinese food and having a great time with all the new experiences.
Cole is one of our teacher’s favorite students. She loves to give him hugs and praise for his efforts. Cole is very smart and money-savvy. He is catching on to Chinese poker and Mao very quickly. He is a cool kid who brings so much to the group. Cole loves laser pointers and is trying hard on the ping pong table. He never complains, knows the group well, and loves to try all the different kinds of Chinese snacks.
Alex is cool and collected. The group can always count on him to come up with a fun game. Mao is our new group obsession and we have him to thank for it! He is really good and soccer and very personable. Alex is always approached by the Chinese because, according to them, he is very photogenic. Alex is an understanding and caring person who everyone loves being friends with.
We concluded our Chinese language classes last Friday and everyone did a great job on the final exam. No one received lower than an 80 on their overall score. Their success is surely due to their hard work and dedication. Brandon came to the leaders for help with the lessons both before and after every class. Daphne just arrived a few days ago, but worked hard and caught up in record time. Even our teacher, Wu Lao Shi, remarked at how quickly Daphne has caught on. Cole consistently put forth a great effort and ended up as a bit of the teacher’s pet – funny since he is home-schooled. Harper and Joelle have been taking private lessons from March during the normal class time and also helped to teach the others. On the last day of class Amy and I asked the teacher to continue with the lesson until the last minute. The purpose of this was to show the students that learning is a life-long activity – you don’t stop learning just because a class or even a school year is over. We wanted our students to understand that learning takes a lifetime and in order to get to the desired end, you must work hard and enjoy the journey. At the end of the course, the teachers from Beijing Normal had a farewell lunch with us and passed out certificates to congratulate all our students on a job well done. During the lunch everyone was emotional and the teacher hugged everyone, cried, and took lots of group pictures.
Adventuring and Exploring:
During our second week in Beijing, we explored this amazing city even more and had a great time! Our sightseeing spots included the Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Olympic Green, Pearl Market, Xian Shopping District and the Temple of Heaven. The Bird’s Nest is the colloquial name for the Beijing National Stadium, where the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were held. It is the largest steel structure in the world! Likewise, the Water Cube is the National Aquatics Center used for the ’08 Olympics. Both are part of the Olympic Green – the area where most of the Olympic events were held. The group was able to wander and around the Green and take lots of pictures. Many of the Chinese people there turned their attention to our group though; they all wanted to take pictures with us! Tanisha and Alex, in particular, draw a crowd wherever we go. The Bird’s Nest is actually in the process of being converted to a shopping mall! Our kids thought it was a shame that they are taking the place apart. The Water Cube was awesome! Everything was sparkling and the place was simply amazing!
The Pearl Market was great and everything was so beautiful. The Xian Shopping District is where the Chinese youth do their shopping, so everything was very age-appropriate for our group. As we shopped and explored, Jacob and Brandon continued to work their bargaining magic. Harper and Tanisha bought Chinese silk dresses and four people got laser pointers. The laser pointers are very cool, military grade and can point up to 5 km. After playing with them for a bit, we (the leaders) eventually had to take them up as they became a bother and a bit hazardous. Sebastian bought a toy helicopter and Tanisha got some stuffed animals. The students also bought some cool magnets. Brandon and March got Manga-related items (a type of Anime). At the center of the shopping district was a restaurant where we had a hot pot dinner (there is a boiling pot of broth in the middle of the table and everyone gathers around to boil their own food items in the pot (such as beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables, and tofu). Our students had a great time with the hot pot and we all ate a lot of food that night – so delicious!
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings in the Xuanwu District of Beijing. The Temple was constructed between 1406 and 1420 and was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The Temple was amazing to see but one of our more difficult trips. We arrived a bit late and it was raining. However, we decided to keep going and we ended up touring the Temple for about an hour and a half. We learned about the Emperors and the history of the Temple. We also saw many elderly Chinese people playing games, singing songs and playing cards all over the Temple.
Another highlight was our Peking Duck dinner. March and Amy’s family invited our group to have dinner with them at a fancy restaurant. The group thought the duck was amazing and delicious! Even Joelle, who is a vegetarian, liked eating the Peking duck. Daphne tried the duck eyeballs and Harper ate some duck brain! That was certainly a fun dinner….!
The Group:
The group is rocking it, they are really close and there really aren’t any problems. Our students are working well together; they stick by each other and always offer a helping hand when someone is in need. The only concern March and Amy had was with the laser pointers – since they have now been taken up, everything is going smoothly.
Tanisha set a great example of generosity the other day when she offered to give up her lower bed on the train to a Chinese lady who had back problems. That was so great of her! Tanisha is often admired by the local Chinese – they want to take pictures with her and often offer her candy and other types of food. It was great to see her giving back to the community. Alex, Brandon, Jacob, Cole, and Joelle did a great job of helping the leaders carry the extra weight during our train ride. It’s been great to see everyone helping each other out. Alex taught the game Mao to our group and we have been playing it ever since – it is getting intense! March taught everyone Chinese poker. He still wins about 60% of the time, but the students are having a fun time learning and practicing their card skills. The students are all taking their safety and responsibilities seriously – they can already take cabs and navigate the area in small groups without March or Amy. Joelle and Harper have very strong linguistic skills and are great about helping other members of the group with the language when necessary. Jacob absolutely loves basketball – he played for four hours straight last Thursday! The leaders are just amazed by his level of energy!
Student Blurbs:
Joelle is a total “A” student in the classroom. She learned so much from the teacher and leaders. She is a real student and her thirst for learning is admirable. Joelle can always be counted on; she is responsible, strong, and not afraid to share her inner thoughts and feelings. Joelle is someone who you want as a friend. She is always there for everyone. We love her energy and drive!
Harper is fun and loving. She never complains and we love her sense of humor! She participates in every activity and is just simply cool. She will thrive when she gets to college. Harper was able to help teach Chinese to other group members during our classes. She is a great person to go shopping with and she’ll help you bargain mercilessly. Our group has greatly benefited from having her with us.
Tanisha is loved by all. Chinese people are drawn to her, she makes friends with ease, and strangers often walk up to her and begin conversations. Tanisha is well liked by everyone and contributes so much to the group. She loves to read and is very strong in the classroom – the teacher often asked her to solve some of the more difficult problems.
Daphne is a wonderful person. She is always cheerful and nice to everyone. Just having her around will put a smile on your face. We wish she was here from day one! The group loves hanging out and talking with Daphne. She is not afraid to tell you what she thinks and always has amazing stories from back home that will draw you in. Daphne is adjusting to Chinese food and is making a great effort to try new things.
Jacob is in love with sports. He is fit and strong, funny and smart. His Chinese is improving rapidly and he can hold a conversation in Chinese on his own. Jacob is simply a nice and fun person to be around. He always offers to carry the extra weight – like 15 extra bottles of water for the group on our train ride. He also once played four hours of basketball and became more energetic afterwards – amazing!
Sebastian is the brain of the group. He knows when to have fun and when to be serious. He is cool and has a great sense of humor! Sebastian is also really good with the Rubik’s Cube. We are all amazed as he continues to solve them on a regular basis! Sebastian is teaching March how to work through the cube as we speak. He is also the king of ping pong and can beat just about anyone. He did a great job during Chinese classes and is loved by all.
Brandon is still the king of bargaining. He is nice and always watching your back. Brandon would go a long way for anyone in the group and is always there for his group members in times of need. He is a person you can call a true friend. He loves is family and is always trying to get gifts for them. Brandon is simply great to be around. He is adjusting to Chinese food and having a great time with all the new experiences.
Cole is one of our teacher’s favorite students. She loves to give him hugs and praise for his efforts. Cole is very smart and money-savvy. He is catching on to Chinese poker and Mao very quickly. He is a cool kid who brings so much to the group. Cole loves laser pointers and is trying hard on the ping pong table. He never complains, knows the group well, and loves to try all the different kinds of Chinese snacks.
Alex is cool and collected. The group can always count on him to come up with a fun game. Mao is our new group obsession and we have him to thank for it! He is really good and soccer and very personable. Alex is always approached by the Chinese because, according to them, he is very photogenic. Alex is an understanding and caring person who everyone loves being friends with.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Group Update from Beijing:
General Trip Report
The trip is a blast! The kids love it! On their weekly evaluation, everyone said they are having enough food, sleep, rest. They want more snacks! But that is up to the student leader of the day, so we will fix it. We are having so much fun meeting Chinese people around Beijing.
Basketball and ping pong have been really fun! We have played both just about every day. We are doing great on the court. Joelle and Harper and Tanisha are awesome. Brandon is the star. Jacob is really good too. They attract many by-standers everytime they are in the game. Alex and Cole are good too. I guess actually everyone is good! Cole made many game-changing shots for our team. He is money!
Forbidden city was wonderful - we also went to the clock exhibition and the students were amazed by the Chinese/European clock work. One clock had a Chinese man writing calligraphy on a piece of paper every hour. One clock was an elephant dragging a chariot and every hour the elephant would blink its eyes and wag its tail. The elephant would drag the chariot (which had soldiers on it) around the room. The clocks at the Forbidden city were simply amazing!
Qianmen and Tiananmen Square were wonderful as well. Harper was able to bargain T-shirts down from 50 to 15 yuan. That was truly great! Brandon is a real hero - he even got a discount on a bottle of juice. He got it for 3 yuan while everyone else got it for 4. That was amazing!
The Great Wall was simply wonderful. Our group made it to the top and we all sang songs while walking down. That was one of the highlights of our trip so far. Everyone was so tired, but we had so much fun there. Alex was so cool. He stayed behind to walk with March and Joelle. At the end we had lunch on top of the Great Wall, wrote postcards home and took pictures with Chinese children. It was such a wonderful day. We also had a movie night. After tutoring, everyone gathered in the girl's room to watch Role Model and eat Chinese noodles. That was totally great!
Chinese Class Report
Chinese class is great! Our teacher is funny. She's really nice and the kids love her. We have learned a lot in the past week--we do about a week worth of regular class in a day. The kids are fantastic. Tanisha, Sebastian, Alex, and Jacob have a real gift for picking up Chinese quickly. Brandon is the hardest worker: he comes to tutoring session right on time and leaves late. He is always there and comes to March and Amy before class for help. Harper and Joelle are super-awesome in Chinese class. They already know some Chinese, and are completely willing to help the other kids with their Chinese. They are truly great and really go out of their way to help others. Cole is rock-solid and working hard towards mastery. We are really having an wonderful time, and can't wait till Daphne joins us.
Overall, the group is really bonding. Kids have no problems with each other. We are open and kind towards each other. Everyone is living up to the Full Value Contract (WM note: an FVC is a group-generated social contract that attempts to elucidate all the things that group members want to be part of the group culture, for instance, "We will strive to be open and kind towards one another," etc...). We are always on time and doing great! We always eat together. Even after March and Amy give the group the opportunity to eat on their own, the group choose to stick together and have dinner all together. The group has started to order their own meals in restaurants. The students write journals, wake each other up in the morning, remind each other to go to sleep at night, carry the medical kits, monitor the Full Value Contract, help lead the daily activities, and figure out directions for the group. These kids are doing a lot of wonderful work. We just can't wait for Daphne to get here...!!!! WE ARE ON TARGET!
Shopping Report and Slick Bargaining Story
Okay, Brandon got a Rolex watch for 100 yuan. Then Cole borrowed that watch to go to the next store, where he told them his friend got it for 50. Therefore the store gave him the same watch for 50. Then Brandon brought Cole back to the first store and told them what happened. The store was then obligated to give Brandon another watch for free!! Brandon's general bargaining strategy is: if the money can cover up the object, then it should be able to buy that object (WM note: if anyone has any idea what that means, please fill us in). Jacob also got a nice pair of Jordan 11's for 14 USD!
Student Notes
Brandon - Master shopper. He can get everything cheaper than everyone else. Even March and Amy are amazed. This kid has got talent. By the way, he is really good at basketball too.
Jacob - Fit and energetic. Never tires at doing anything. He can go with the group all day and play 3 hours of basketball at night and then come to the tutoring session. He is funny and everyone loves him. He loves laser pointers
Cole - Brandon's partner in crime on the shopping scene. Great at getting things cheap and can make shots when you need him to on the court. Kind and nice to everyone. He is the brother you wish you had.
Sebastian - Cool sense of humor. He is so serious sometimes but things coming from him just put a smile on everyone's face. We just wish we had met him earlier in life. Great person all around.
Alex - Really really cool kid. He is so considerate of other people's feelings. He is always helping out. He never avoids work. Chinese people think he is Michael Jackson. A lot of them want his picture. Everyone loves Alex. He is the glue that holds the group together.
Joelle - Strong, intelligent, and adventurous. She is not afraid to go after you on the basketball court. She can hit her shots and is really nice to everyone. She often helps others during Chinese class. Her love for learning is truly admirable. She can carry heavy loads.
Harper - The nicest person you'll ever meet. She is super cool and super nice. Everyone loves her. She is not afraid to speak her mind but understands kindness and honesty. She is wonderful and helped the leaders out a lot during the ice breaker games and the early stages of our group's development.
Tanisha - Beautiful and smart. Chinese people can't get enough of her. Had one Chinese lady offer her son to her in marriage. Random Chinese people walk up to her and tell her she is beautiful. Tanisha is now officially the most photographed person in China. She is gifted in Chinese and a killer on the basketball court.
That's the update for now, it sounds like the Bridge China group is having a fantastic time! And check out the pictures from the Great Wall, first week of Chinese class, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. The slide show is a bit small - just click on the picture to see a larger view.
The trip is a blast! The kids love it! On their weekly evaluation, everyone said they are having enough food, sleep, rest. They want more snacks! But that is up to the student leader of the day, so we will fix it. We are having so much fun meeting Chinese people around Beijing.
Basketball and ping pong have been really fun! We have played both just about every day. We are doing great on the court. Joelle and Harper and Tanisha are awesome. Brandon is the star. Jacob is really good too. They attract many by-standers everytime they are in the game. Alex and Cole are good too. I guess actually everyone is good! Cole made many game-changing shots for our team. He is money!
Forbidden city was wonderful - we also went to the clock exhibition and the students were amazed by the Chinese/European clock work. One clock had a Chinese man writing calligraphy on a piece of paper every hour. One clock was an elephant dragging a chariot and every hour the elephant would blink its eyes and wag its tail. The elephant would drag the chariot (which had soldiers on it) around the room. The clocks at the Forbidden city were simply amazing!
Qianmen and Tiananmen Square were wonderful as well. Harper was able to bargain T-shirts down from 50 to 15 yuan. That was truly great! Brandon is a real hero - he even got a discount on a bottle of juice. He got it for 3 yuan while everyone else got it for 4. That was amazing!
The Great Wall was simply wonderful. Our group made it to the top and we all sang songs while walking down. That was one of the highlights of our trip so far. Everyone was so tired, but we had so much fun there. Alex was so cool. He stayed behind to walk with March and Joelle. At the end we had lunch on top of the Great Wall, wrote postcards home and took pictures with Chinese children. It was such a wonderful day. We also had a movie night. After tutoring, everyone gathered in the girl's room to watch Role Model and eat Chinese noodles. That was totally great!
Chinese Class Report
Chinese class is great! Our teacher is funny. She's really nice and the kids love her. We have learned a lot in the past week--we do about a week worth of regular class in a day. The kids are fantastic. Tanisha, Sebastian, Alex, and Jacob have a real gift for picking up Chinese quickly. Brandon is the hardest worker: he comes to tutoring session right on time and leaves late. He is always there and comes to March and Amy before class for help. Harper and Joelle are super-awesome in Chinese class. They already know some Chinese, and are completely willing to help the other kids with their Chinese. They are truly great and really go out of their way to help others. Cole is rock-solid and working hard towards mastery. We are really having an wonderful time, and can't wait till Daphne joins us.
Overall, the group is really bonding. Kids have no problems with each other. We are open and kind towards each other. Everyone is living up to the Full Value Contract (WM note: an FVC is a group-generated social contract that attempts to elucidate all the things that group members want to be part of the group culture, for instance, "We will strive to be open and kind towards one another," etc...). We are always on time and doing great! We always eat together. Even after March and Amy give the group the opportunity to eat on their own, the group choose to stick together and have dinner all together. The group has started to order their own meals in restaurants. The students write journals, wake each other up in the morning, remind each other to go to sleep at night, carry the medical kits, monitor the Full Value Contract, help lead the daily activities, and figure out directions for the group. These kids are doing a lot of wonderful work. We just can't wait for Daphne to get here...!!!! WE ARE ON TARGET!
Shopping Report and Slick Bargaining Story
Okay, Brandon got a Rolex watch for 100 yuan. Then Cole borrowed that watch to go to the next store, where he told them his friend got it for 50. Therefore the store gave him the same watch for 50. Then Brandon brought Cole back to the first store and told them what happened. The store was then obligated to give Brandon another watch for free!! Brandon's general bargaining strategy is: if the money can cover up the object, then it should be able to buy that object (WM note: if anyone has any idea what that means, please fill us in). Jacob also got a nice pair of Jordan 11's for 14 USD!
Student Notes
Brandon - Master shopper. He can get everything cheaper than everyone else. Even March and Amy are amazed. This kid has got talent. By the way, he is really good at basketball too.
Jacob - Fit and energetic. Never tires at doing anything. He can go with the group all day and play 3 hours of basketball at night and then come to the tutoring session. He is funny and everyone loves him. He loves laser pointers
Cole - Brandon's partner in crime on the shopping scene. Great at getting things cheap and can make shots when you need him to on the court. Kind and nice to everyone. He is the brother you wish you had.
Sebastian - Cool sense of humor. He is so serious sometimes but things coming from him just put a smile on everyone's face. We just wish we had met him earlier in life. Great person all around.
Alex - Really really cool kid. He is so considerate of other people's feelings. He is always helping out. He never avoids work. Chinese people think he is Michael Jackson. A lot of them want his picture. Everyone loves Alex. He is the glue that holds the group together.
Joelle - Strong, intelligent, and adventurous. She is not afraid to go after you on the basketball court. She can hit her shots and is really nice to everyone. She often helps others during Chinese class. Her love for learning is truly admirable. She can carry heavy loads.
Harper - The nicest person you'll ever meet. She is super cool and super nice. Everyone loves her. She is not afraid to speak her mind but understands kindness and honesty. She is wonderful and helped the leaders out a lot during the ice breaker games and the early stages of our group's development.
Tanisha - Beautiful and smart. Chinese people can't get enough of her. Had one Chinese lady offer her son to her in marriage. Random Chinese people walk up to her and tell her she is beautiful. Tanisha is now officially the most photographed person in China. She is gifted in Chinese and a killer on the basketball court.
That's the update for now, it sounds like the Bridge China group is having a fantastic time! And check out the pictures from the Great Wall, first week of Chinese class, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. The slide show is a bit small - just click on the picture to see a larger view.
Monday, June 29, 2009
And They're Off...!
At 12:10 this afternoon Continental flight 89 took off for Beijing, China. Aboard the flight was the Windsor Mountain Bridge China group. They have officially begun their month-long cross-cultural odyssey! The group is scheduled to land in Beijing at 1:30pm, June 30 - that is 1:30 am our time. After meeting up with co-leader Amy and co-camper Sebastien, the group will head to Beijing Normal University to get some sleep. The students will be calling home between 7:30 and 10am (Eastern Time) tomorrow to say a quick hello and let you know they arrived safely.
Over the next few days the group will go through trip orientation and begin their Mandarin language classes. Other exciting activities include visiting the Beijing Museum, local silk market, historic Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (the Emperor's Palace), and Quianmen shopping district. They have a busy and exciting week ahead of them!
Over the next few days the group will go through trip orientation and begin their Mandarin language classes. Other exciting activities include visiting the Beijing Museum, local silk market, historic Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (the Emperor's Palace), and Quianmen shopping district. They have a busy and exciting week ahead of them!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Hi From Your Leaders
Hey everyone, this is March. We are about to depart in a week, wow! I can’t wait to meet everyone at the airport. Again, I must say PACK LIGHT! Make sure you don’t bring anything you don’t need. I have led 5 trips to China and my co-leader has spent almost all of her life in China. We are extremely confident in the fact that our trip will be nothing but a total success. With that said, I have never been on a trip where everything went according to plan. On our program, you will learn the true meaning of flexibility. And have a lot of fun! If you are on facebook, I'd love to be added as your friend. Just type in Yi Peng March Wang and I’m the Chinese flag guy. I hope you're getting excited for the trip. See you soon!
Hello, I am Amy and I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you! I am flying to China on Friday to work on trip set up. So I'll be at the airport to pick you up when you arrive! Sebastian, I will be picking you up first! Please look for a girl in a gray Windsor Mountain T-shirt. My picture is also posted on this blog. Oh, and everyone please remember to wear something warm on the plane, we don't want anyone to start off sick! I can’t wait to meet all of you and share my experience. I wish you a safe journey.
Hello, I am Amy and I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you! I am flying to China on Friday to work on trip set up. So I'll be at the airport to pick you up when you arrive! Sebastian, I will be picking you up first! Please look for a girl in a gray Windsor Mountain T-shirt. My picture is also posted on this blog. Oh, and everyone please remember to wear something warm on the plane, we don't want anyone to start off sick! I can’t wait to meet all of you and share my experience. I wish you a safe journey.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Leader Pictures
Greetings from Windsor Mountain Student Travel!
Angus, Neesa, March and Amy are busy preparing for the great adventures that are about to begin. It's hard to believe Bridge China leaves in just 9 days!
We have posted pictures of the trip leaders below so your child can know who to look for at the airport.
We hope everyone is getting excited for the trip!
Angus, Neesa, March and Amy are busy preparing for the great adventures that are about to begin. It's hard to believe Bridge China leaves in just 9 days!
We have posted pictures of the trip leaders below so your child can know who to look for at the airport.
We hope everyone is getting excited for the trip!
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