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Virtual China - Itineraries of Xi'an Group #1

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Virtual China - Itineraries of Xi'an Group #1
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From: "HKIS Middle School (General Account #1)" 
Author: Gary Chan
Date: March 18, 1996
Activity: Afternoon itinerary

        After getting a chance to try our bikes, we rode through the
city.  For lunch, we went to a local Chinese restaurant that was pretty
nice.  We ate soup, fried rice, beef with cucumber soaked cabbage,
scrambled eggs, and some funny fizzy orange drink.  After lunch we biked
for about one hour to the seven star Craigs.  In the seven star Craigs,
we climbed up to a "lump" of a mountain.  Mr. Zahn, our leader said that
whoever could guess the number of stairs that he counted would get a
prize.  As we were climbing up, many people would slip on the rocks that
were made into steps.  When we got to the top, Mr. Zahn said that we had
climbed a total of 695 steps.  Then when we were climbing down, five of
us got lost, we found our way around, zig zagging up and down until we
met with four other lost people.  Together we slowly made our way own the
mountain and met up with our teacher.  After the seven star Craigs, we
got up on our bikes and biked for about one kilometer to our hotel, which
is called Sang Tao hotel.  It is located on the outsides of Siu Hing in
Zhao Quing.  Here, we loaded our bikes back onto the truck and checked
into our rooms.
----------------------------------------
Author: Kevin Chan
Date: March 18, '96
Location: West Street to Scholars Street
Activity: Afternoon Itinerary

        Today we went from the Bell Tower Hotel to Scholars Street via
West Street, West Wall, and South Wall.  During the walk on the West
Street, we noticed that a lot of dust blows into your eyes all the time.
We mostly enjoyed all the people and vehicles passing by, and even tried
to practice our Mandarin on them.  A lot of people wanted us to buy
things from their shops.  We liked all the shops, especially the ones
with swords and Chinese instruments.  We enjoyed watching the old Chinese
men play games on the pavement.  Some of these old men even encouraged us
to play with them!  Unfortunately, we didn't know how to play these
games.  As we approached the West Wall, we took some pictures with the
Quick Take camera.  As we entered the wall, we enjoyed walking up dark
stairs.
        Our walk on the wall was very tiring.  We met a lot of people and
spoke to them, and they actually understood, and tried to speak in
English.  We talked a lot and fooled around a little.  We also took lots
of pictures.  During the walk on the West Wall, there wasn't much to do,
but on the South there were more exits.  On the South Wall, we saw kites
of all types, and to the end of the wall, some souvenir shops.
        On Scholars Street, we walked and bought more and more
souvenirs.  We had only one stop in the street, but after having one
stop, we did more and more walking and shopping.
--------------------------------------------
Author: Stella Chan
Date: March 18, 1996
Location: Xian, China
Subject: Afternoon Itinerary

        After we had our large and terrible lunch, we met downstairs with
the whole Xi'an group and talked about walking from the West to South
gate.  When Mr. Lane (our leader) finished, everyone started off to the
West gate; except us.  Three of us had to go to the bathroom and by the
time we got out everyone was gone so we hurried out of the hotel.  As we
walked along the streets of Xi'an we saw a lot of interesting shops.  One
of the shops we saw the most was shops that had Chinese instruments and
Chinese festival things.  Soon we got to this alley and went in.  There
we met this nice old woman who we talked to.  We were going to take a
picture but she didn't want us to.  So we went further into the alley and
met a 51 year old candy-seller.  We interviewed her and took a picture of
her and gave it to her.  Then we bought some candy and gave it to the
kids around to share.  After we came out of the alley we saw the people
on bicycles, they were so good at riding them.  It was like they'd been
riding bikes since they were born.  We walked along and saw some more
shops.  Then we met this old woman with her grandson.  We took a picture
of them and gave it to her.  On our way to the West gate, we saw this man
selling this sweet thing.  We bought two and everyone tried some.  Soon
we saw this group of old people playing this game with big cards.  We
again took a picture of them and gave it to them, they were really
happy.  For the rest of the way to the West gate we gave out our candies
to children.  We soon got to the West gate.  At first we weren't sure
where it was but then we saw the tour guides.  They were waiting for us
because we were the last group.  We started up the dark stairs and onto
the West gate.  We started a hour long, hard exhausting walk.  We thought
we were the last group but soon we saw another group.  We quickened our
pace and finished first.  While we waited for the rest of the group to
catch up we bought little pieces of jade for our families.   After they
had all arrived, we hurried to Scholar Street.  The thing we saw was the
tower with Scholar Street written in Chinese at the top.  It was very big
and well decorated.  Soon we started to shop in Scholar Street.
-------------------------------------------------
Author: Charles Cheung
Date: March 18, '96
Location: West Street to West Wall to the South Wall and Scholar Street
Activity: Afternoon Itinerary

        Today we went to the West Street to the West Wall.  At first, we
saw lots of shops that sell swords, drums, and many other Chinese
instruments.  I didn't really want to go in because it was really dirty
and dusty.  After walking around the shops, we went to the West Wall.
There wasn't much to do in the West Wall but walk.
        The wind was blowing pretty hard along my face.  Dust was
everywhere, even my eyes/  The view was great.  I could almost see the
whole city up on the wall.  In the middle of our walk, there was a
Chinese man who wanted to take a picture of  him and Karyn.  Actually, I
was not surprised that he wanted a picture with her because many people
were staring at us and and they were smiling like they wanted to be our
friends.  A few minutes later, we reached the South Wall.  There was this
little shop on the end of the wall.  It wasn't very clean, but a lot
better than many other shops.  I saw this beautiful jade abacus for forty
dollars.  I tried to bargain and I also walked a way, but still it was
useless.  Forty dollars seemed to be a reasonable price, so I bought it
anyway.  After buying the abacus, we went down to Scholar Street.
        Scholar Street sold many interesting things.  I wanted to buy all
of them, but I couldn't.  I went in many jade shops, and saw many
beautiful carvings.  I didn't buy any carvings, but instead a small brown
jade pendant in the shape of a dog.  Also, I bought three small rings.
One ring was for my mom, another for my grandma, and the last one for my
aunt.
----------------------------------------
Author: Melaine Moore
Date: March 19, 1996
Location: Siu King to Yui Gu
Morning itinerary

        We got up at 6:30 am this morning (a late start). At 7:30 am we
ate breakfast which was western style.  It consisted of french toast, egg
role, bread eggs, oranges and warm milk!
        The weather was cool.  Every once in a while you felt a rain
drop.  There was even a slight wind.
        After breakfast we were bused to high way 324 where we biked for
about 5 km.  There was a lot of rice farms along the side of the road.
China is behind in farming and technology.  All the farming is done by
hand and ox to pull plow.  You don't see many machines.
        After we met with the whole group we went to a construction
site.  They were building a new school because the old one was too
small.  We interviewed the workmen and left.  It was very dirty and muddy.
        We then visited a market where we bought a sweet bun, a bread
filled with sliced meat.  We then wandered around to see the other things
they sell.  There was hair bands, brushes, mirrors, shoes, lucky money, etc.
        The market did not stink as bad as some others.  It was fairly
clean, the things there were very cheap.
        We then biked to the restaurant to have lunch.
-----------------------------------------------
Authors: Jaymee Reyes, Jaimee Lee
Date: March 19, 1996
Location: Xi'an, China
Subject: Morning Itinerary

                        Big Goose Pagoda
        After eating in a very nice, cheap, sidewalk restaurant we
continued walking towards the Big Goose Pagoda.  It was cold and rainy.
Cold, wet hair was dripping on my cold cheeks.  My feet were getting
cold; my hands were getting colder, and I felt as if ice was forming on
my nose.  We still kept on going.  We walked....and walked.....and walked
until we saw this beautiful Chinese building.  At least, it was the Big
Goose Pagoda.  The pagoda was so beautiful.  It was surrounded by these
trees, bushes, flowers, photographers and lots of lots of people wanted
to see it.  Big and small, blond and brunette, local and foreigner, you
name it they were all there.
        After walking for a short time we also took some pictures.  I
mostly liked the Cherry Blossom so I took it's picture.  The Cherry
Blossom tree has light pink flowers which look really pretty.
        After taking pictures, we went inside the pagoda.  It was dark
and cold inside the pagoda.  I looked around and guess what I saw.  I saw
nothing.  I just saw cracked walls, old chairs, windows and the stairs
going up to the seventh floor.  We didn't think it was a good idea
because as you can see the pagoda is probably eight stories high or
more!  Anyway, we agreed to go up.  Floors 2 to 7, boy, that was high!
Finally we made it up to the seventh floor, I really couldn't believe
it.  It wasn't actually that fun and it was really tiring.
        After that, we went back to the hotel and rested.
-------------------------------------
Author: Leslie Chen
Date: March 19, 1996.
Location: None given.
Activity: Afternoon itinerary

Today was our first day in X'ian, which is a city in the Shaanxi Province
in China. After we went from the west wall to the south wall, we headed for
Scholar's Street, which is a street filled with small stores and people
selling things. When we got to the beginning of the street, there was a
big, colourful sign that had Chinese characters that said, "Scholar's
Street" in black. When we entered Scholar's Street, there were many stores
and people selling things on both sides of the street. In the beginning,
most people were selling decoration tea sets, jade necklaces and pendants,
decorations, old coins, and some other things. Further along, we saw people
selling chops, animal furs, and sand decoration balls. The necklaces had
pendants that were jade. There were many different shapes, including the
Chinese zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse,
sheep, monkey, hen, dog, and pig), hearts, locks, and keys. The tea sets
came in many different designs. There were some painted colorfully, some
with Chinese characters, and some with many designs. Some of the jade had
holes in them. We could watch the people carve the chops for us too. Chops
are Chinese stamps. At first, they are just a block of jade or rock, then
people can carve your name on them. Scholar's Street was fun and also
interesting, and I am glad that we got to visit some of the shops there.
----------------------------------------------------
Author:  Catherine Chen
Date:  3-19-96
Location:  (not indicated)
Activity:  Afternoon Itinerary

        Our afternoon started off at the Great Mosque.  Our group was
already tired after the walking and the rain.  The exterior of the mosque
was decorated with carvings and other different decorations on both sides
of the gate.  When we entered, the yard seemed widespread and had
different temples.  We took a lot of pictures and we looked around.
There wasn't much to see and it was so quiet.  In the distance, we could
hear chanting and many moslems walked around looking and smiling at us.
I said Hi to one of them and they smiled back.  I felt good about that.
As the Moslems walked away, I caught sight of a temple.  It looked very
ancient and dusty.  I didn't want to go in since I thought I couldn't.  I
walked on by and took photos of this and that.  Just that moment, we had
to leave for the Moslem section of Xi'an.  There were many different
shops and many souvenirs to buy.  The vendors were friendly and offered
us a lot of stuff.  They were selling things like wall hangings, mirrors,
jewelry, artwork etc.  We went to dinner afterwards and later we show a
show called the Tang dynasty.  It was really bright when we first entered
the theater but when the performance began, the lights went out and it
was so dark.  The performances were colorful and were accompanied by
Chinese music.  Some of the performances were almost the same thing, so
it became a little bit boring.  I thought the best part of this afternoon
were the performances because there was a variety of Chinese dance and
music and it was interesting to hear about that.
--------------------------------------------------
Author: Ricky Fok
Date: March 19, 1996.
Location: Muslim Section, X'ian, China.
Afternoon itinerary

Today we went to the Great Mosque.  In front of the mosque was a large
wooden arch.  All the buildings in the Mosque had green roofs like all
the ones on Chinese pagodas.  In the mosque were many pagodas.

There was this pagoda in the middle of the Mosque in which you could go
into.  There were no windows, but you could feel the cold air breezing
in.  Other buildings, stone sculptures, and a round design kneeling place
surrounded the pagoda.

There were various gate entrances.  In the mosque are four courtyards.
We had to pass through them in order to get into the prayer hall at the
back.  There were bowls for incense, stone carvings, and small pagodas.

I saw some people who went into the Mosque.  They went past all the
courtyards, kneeled on the round design on the floor in front of the
prayer hall.  The Muslim people then went into the prayer hall.

We also walked along the Muslim streets which surrounded the Great
Mosque.  There were lots of small shops on the streets which sold gifts
like jade products, books, glass jars, abacuses, drawings, etc.  There
was also food like meats, bread, bones, candy, and drinks on sale in the
Muslim Streets.  Vendors on the streets were shouting for people to buy
their products and food was being cooked.  The streets were crowded by
people ringing bells on their bikes and cars sounding their horns.

When we approached the vendors, they shouted to us and pointed towards
their store.  They knew that we were going to bargain, so they took out a
pad and pencil.

I think that we have experienced a lot by going to the Muslim section of
X'ian.
----------------------------------------
Name:  Jennifer Cheung
Date:  March 19, 1996
Location:  From Yiu Gu to Long Shan
Afternoon Itinerary

We started off the afternoon with a lunch that included fish, eggdrop
soup,  taro with meat, sweet pork ribs, and vegetables. (A typical
Chinese meal). Then we were bused from Yiu Gu to Sun Hing. In Sun Hing we
got off at a hotel and unloaded our bikes from the lorry. Then it started
to rain. So we put on our rain gear and biked through a very crowed
market street. The hawkers were selling food, clothing, trinkets,
mirrors, clothing detergent. The roads were very, very busy. We almost
got run over by a lot of big lorries on the roads. After we passed the
marketplace we passed a country side area where there was a lot of farms.
The farmers were farming rice, cabbage, bokchoy, and other vegetables. We
stopped by a factory. The factory was called the 3A Enterprise. It was a
really cool stainless steel factory. First some of the workers take
really big sheets of the steel, and use a machine to punch holes in the
steel. The round pieces of the steel are taken to some other machines
where the ladies put them on big compressing machines. The machines come
down on the steel and form it into pots. Then the pots are taken to have
an aluminum plate put on the bottom. Then the pots are welded and
smoothed down. After that the pots are polished to a very shiny surface.
Handles are put on them. Then they are packed and shipped away for export
out of China. The workers safety precautions only include scarfs around
their mouths, aprons, and gloves. The people aren't safety conscious, for
example, when the people were welding, sparks were flying everywhere, and
workers didn't wear safety glasses. After we left the factory, we went to
a small village. In the village there was a cute little girl who we took
a picture with a polaroid camera. When we gave them the picture, the
uncle of the girl, had all of the village people come and look at it. The
little girl looked like she was about to cry, and we felt sorry for her.
We rode on, and it started to get windy and cold. We stopped and visited
a fish farm where people were counting the fish to sell. Here there were
some little kids around, and we gave them some crayons. They were really
exited. We biked about 7 kilometers to our hotel where we took showers
and ate dinner. Then we went to our rooms and are now writing to you.
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Jim Zahn
Date: March 19th, 1996
Location: Overnight ferry, nearly 3 hours after departing Hong Kong,
bound for Siu Hing, China.
Activity: Overview of evening departure activities.

        I'm sitting in the restaurant of the ferry, sharing the room with
a group of five young men playing cards and two others having tea. It
will be another 8 and 1/2 hours until we arrive at Siu Hing, an estimated
200km up the Pearl River from the South China coast. After bussing from
the school to the ferry terminal in Kowloon and dropping our backpacks we
had our first meal as a study group learning about the people and culture
of China -- Mc Donalds!! Well, Hong Kong can be very cosmopolitan, but
from here on we'll be busy experiencing typical Southern Chinese cuisine.

        The trip up the Pearl River will be made in darkness, but about
6a.m., an hour before arrival in Siu Hing, I'm told the river narrows and
the shoreline becomes small "mountains" providing some interesting and
beautiful geography.

        Our group information session was held on the dock of the ferry,
a full 95 paces from the bow. Nearby was the 2nd class sleeping
accommodation room where 36 beds were half occupied by groups of elderly
individuals playing "Mah Jong", a very popular Chinese table game using
tiles.

        The students are all in their rooms now. Anywhere from 4 to 6
bunks are in those higher priced rooms which vary in size from
approximately 8' times 12' for smaller ones to 8' times 16' for the
larger ones. The late hour provides time for all to finally settle down
after a hectic day of preparing and packing for the trip. "Student
Expectations" one of their journal activities for the day, indicating a
good deal of excitement and anticipation mixed with some uncertainty. It
looks like the students have a very good attitude as we start our trip.
-------------------------------------------------
Author: Nicholas Smoll
Date: March 20, '96
Location: Market outside the Terra Cotta Museum
Activity: Morning Itinerary

        After the Terra Cotta museum, we departed to go to the flea
market outside the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum.  On our way, we had to
look for Mr. Lane, our teacher for the Quick Take 150 digital camera to
take pictures for Virtual China.  As we walked through the museum's
gates, we were ambushed by peddlers trying to sell miniature Terra Cotta
Warrior figures.  We found Mr. Lane and went to take pictures at the
market.  The first noodle man wanted us to pay him 1 RMB for a picture of
him.  We went to the next guy and took gladly a picture of him.  Next, we
pulled out our Polaroids and everyone wanted a picture.  Some were so
desperate for the picture because of advertising reasons or just for
themselves, that they would give us food for a picture.  Next we walked
further down the street to the fur sellers.  The fur part smelled like
dead animals.  The fur sellers were very aggressive and would not let you
go until you bought something.  One time, my friend, Mark Stuart bought a
fur and got ripped off.  He didn't get the right amount of change.  While
Mark was getting things sorted out, another friend was getting ripped
off. As I was watching this, I was watching this and I was eating a nice
hot yam potato.  Next it was on the bus to see the hot springs near
Xian.  After all, it's about 2 degrees Celsius outside.  BRRRRRR!!!
----------------------------------------
Author: Sarah Fullerton
Date: March 20,'96
Location: NOT INDICATED
Activity: Afternoon Itinerary

        This afternoon, around12:30, we went to the hot springs.  They
gave us two choices: either climb a mountain for an hour and a half, or
just walk around and see the hot baths and shops.  I chose to see the hot
baths and the shops.  There were a lot of shops, but most of them were
selling pretty much the same stuff.  All different sizes of Terra Cotta
soldiers, bags, and pieces  of small cloth with designs on them.  They
also sell blank tapes, film, disposable cameras, Chinese writing brushes,
etc.. The shops have a  lot of stuff, different stuff than what you can
buy in Hong Kong. It's easier to bargain here and the stuff that you buy
is pretty cheap.  The best way to bargain (I think) is to ask them how
much it  costs, and then tell them that it's too expensive, and they'll
ask you how much you want to pay them and if they think it's too low,
they'll say no, meanwhile start walking away.  Then they'll probably come
after to work out a good price, and then you can buy it.  I found it fun
talking to them in Mandarin, but also it was a challenge.
-----------------------------------------
Author: Keiko Silberstein
Date: March 20, '96
Location: Near Huaqing Hot Springs
Activity: Afternoon Itinerary

        This afternoon, at around 1:00, the Xian group went to Huaqing
How Springs.  There is a building that is a little like a hotel near the
springs, where Chiang Kai Shek has stayed.  He had gone there to have a
meeting with his generals.  It was important that he do this because at
that time, the Communist party led by Mao Tse Tung had armies fighting
Chiang's own Nationalist armies.

        In the early morning of December 12, 1936, Zhang Xue Liang, a
general of Chiang's, who wanted Chaing to stop fighting the Communists and to
start defending China against the Japanese, had a few of  his troops try
to capture Chiang, and kill his body guards.  Chiang Kai Shek awoke and
heard the sound of bullets on his windows, so he jumped out of his window
to try to escape.  There was snow outside and he was still only in his
sleepwear, so he must have been very cold.  He started to climb along
the side of Black Horse Mountain, which is located directly behind the
Springs.

        After climbing for a while, he came to a large rock that was on
the side of the mountain.  He saw a small crevice on the side of if, and
he climbed up and tried to hide.  Eventually, he was found and captured.
------------------------------------
Author: Wei Lin Wong
Date:March 21,1996
Location: Tai Shan
Morning itinerary

This morning,  I was wakened by pounding on my door.  After a quick
shower and breakfast,  our group headed out.  We bused to a cookie
factory,  but it was closed!  Instead,  we headed over to a factory where
people made cans. They showed us how they made the tins and I got one!
After another bus ride,  we got to our starting point.  At the starting
point,  there was a thousand year old egg factory.  We learned that the
eggs were only put in the ground for twenty days to make them look old.
We biked for a while and then stopped where a bunch of people,  who were
very good at playing volleyball were playing.  I asked them a few
questions and soon, we were in a really great conversation.  They even
showed us (very proudly) their second place volleyball banner.  We got a
great picture as you can see below.  After our good-byes,  we biked over
a construction area.  It was like a dirt bike race course.  We (my
group)  arrived at our destination one hour early!  It was one of the
best mornings of this whole trip.
----------------------------------------
Author: Jeanette Mok
Date: March 21, 1996
Location: Tai Shan
Afternoon itinerary

        My group and I arrived at the meeting place (a bridge).  an hour
early, so we stopped and had a snack.  We got bored after about fifteen
minutes, so we biked back to a clay pot factory.  Wei Yin and I talked to
a man who worked there and he allowed us to look around, but we weren't
aloud to take pictures.  There were only a few workers, and all the work
was manual, there was a huge kiln where the pots were filled. The man
explained to us how the pots are made and processed.  He was friendly and
helpful.  Afterwards, we biked back to the bridge, where people were
fishing for clams.  There were mountains of clam shells at the bank of
the river.  When all the groups got there, we biked to the restaurant in
the city.  It was so hard to get through! There were a lot of trucks,
cars, and people that congested the whole city.  We ate lunch at 2:30
pm.  For lunch we had sweet and sour pork, some vegetables, fried rice,
and egg drop soup. During our lunch, and elementary school of about 2050
children, all dressed in uniforms gathered outside the restaurant to
watch people fish by a river.  After lunch we laid our bikes down and went to
the hotel  by foot, checked in and started to work on Virtual China.
----------------------------------------
Author: Chantelle Luk
Date: March 21, 1996
Location: rural village, enamel ware factory
Activity: Morning itinerary

Ring! Ring! "Hello?" "O.K." "Bye"
It's 7:00 and we have to go to the rural village at 8:30! But first we have
to eat breakfast at 7:30. I'm so tired. At breakfast Sarah, Nick, Keiko,
Natalli and Chrissy were so tired! All of us were sitting at a table dazed
out. All I ate was fried rice and bacon because all the rest of the food
wasn't that great. When Chrissy and I were finished with breakfast we went
back to our room and got ready for to go to the rural village. When it was
8:30 we went down to the lobby to find our group leader and go on the bus.
When finally found Chrissy and I found Mrs. Liang and we waited until the
bus came to pick us up. When the bus came everyone went on to the bus that
was assigned to us. When all of us got on, Cookie (our tour guide) started
telling us about the rural village it was sort of boring but it was O.K.
After she finished Chrissy and I were reading Seventeen. It was very
interesting. We got to the rural village at about 9:30. We first went to
this farming place. It smelled so bad from the cow manure, I felt like I
was going to barf. We walked around after seeing the people and everything.
The streets were so muddy. Luke (by accident) stepped on my jeans and it
made them so dirty. Well, on the way we stopped by this house. We went in
and there was this really nice couple that was living there. We asked them
questions and we got to look at there house. It is so weird. There kitchen
is separated to their house. They even raised their own chickens. After we
went back to our bus. On the way, the old lady of the house liked Sarah so
much that they held hands until Sarah went on the bus. When the bus started
leaving almost the whole village waved bye to us. It was so fun.
---------------------------------------
Author: Janet Yeung
Date: March 21, 1996
Location: Enamelware factory........ Xi'an, China
Morning Itinerary

The enamel ware factory is a really big factory. Their goods usually export
to Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and some other parts of India. They
produce mugs, plates, bowls, and other toilet tools. Their workers usually
work usually by hands. They usually paint 5,000 mugs a day, using 21
people. They paint the tools that have figures by using a steel thing to
put on top of the tools that you spray colors on it. And toast to dry.  The
mugs are to be painted by hands. Some workers are responsible to paint the
inside part and some are to paint the outside part. Some people are to
brush off the paints out of the parts that shouldn't be painted. Each
worker are required to wear uniforms to be aware of cuts and acid liquids.
In that big factory, there are almost about 2,000 workers working there.
They usually work there for their whole life. But they don't get much
salary. And they only have about two dollars for salary.
That are what the workers and how the factories work!
-----------------------------------------
Author: Wai-Yin Lee
Date: March 21, 1996 (traveling with the 1st group to Xi'an) Location:
Xi'an, China
Activity: Afternoon Itinerary

Message:
We started this afternoon out by eating at this restaurant in the Orient
Hotel. They were serving Chinese food which tasted kind of good. We then,
left the restaurant and took the bus to a middle school which we were going
to visit. The trip took about 10 minutes to arrive at the middle school.
When we got off the bus we were welcomed by all of the students which were
from that middle school. While we walked into the middle school the
students from that school were waving at us as if we were famous people.
When we got in we were then guided to this room which had lots of seats. We
were told to sit down. A few minutes later the students from the middle
school came to sit with us. A few minutes later the teachers sat down and
then the principle from the middle school started talking about how happy
they were to meet us. The principle then showed us some of the talents that
their students had by showing us a talent show. Some of the people were
dancing some Chinese dances and Western dances and some of the people were
singing English songs and Chinese songs. There were three very cool talents
which I was amazed to see. One was the person who played the flute. That
person was very skilled of it. He sounded like an expert. The second is the
person who played the accordion. The accordion was a musical instrument
which you push in and out and press buttons to play music. The third was a
person who played with a musical chines instrument. I am not sure what the
instrument was called because it was an old Chinese instrument but I know
how it looks. It looked like a flat piece of wood with strings stuck on it.
People pluck on the strings to play it. The person who played with it was
very good at it. They were very very fast at plucking the strings. After
these amazing talents we then toured around the whole school. The school
was separated in two floors, the first floor has has the girls dormitory
and the second floor has the boys dormitory. Then we went to their
playground to dance. The dances were very very interesting. Then we
socialized with the other students. We had a great time there buy it was
time to leave so we gave them our post card and said bye to them. Then we
went back to the hotel for an hour and then we went to this Chinese
restaurant to eat dinner. They mostly served Chinese vegetarian food but
they did feed some meat. Then we went back home to the hotel.
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KIDPROJ Information Contact: Patti Weeg pweeg@shore.intercom.net

KIDPROJ WWW Contact: Grant Dougall dougallg@indigo.quadrant.net