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Footsteps in China Intro or Index
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November 25, 2000 Realized I haven't written in several days and must try to remember what we did so I won't forget to put it in here. We caught an early flight to the Shandong Province then drove two hours to Zouping. We ate every meal at the hotel. Before dinner, a small group of us (teachers, Cally, Autumn, Emily, Olivia, and I) walked into town. It was a very dirty place, high air pollution, hard to breathe.
Our first activity after checking in to the hotel was to eat lunch and rest before we visited a local high school. The high school is the best in the area, and many children from further away board at the school. Most classes were at least full of sixty students. They were for the most part very shy. We split up into groups to play them in basket ball and volley ball, but before that could happen, the entire student body rushed out in ordered lines to do exercises that happen several times throughout the day. After the exercises were over, they went back to class.
While the games were being played, Caroline, Olivia, Isla, Christy and I went to an English class to speak with students. The other four sat up at the front of the classroom while I shared a very narrow and uncomfortable bench with two girls. For the most part, a few boys dominated the questions, asking us about U.S. basketball stars, Jackie Chan, and what we thought about China.
They asked us to sing. We sang two songs, "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "Auel Lang Syne" for them (not my choices). One kid gave me his email address so I could write to him and him me. An Australian teacher named Kathy coordinated most of the talks and questions. I felt like a celebrity. Not just the students but everyone stared at us.
Later that night, most of our group met downstairs at the karaoke bar. We sang and drank and had to get Forrest to work out an arrangement since we didn't realize there was a cover and cost per song. Five young Chinese ladies were there whom I think were prostitutes. We all danced a little, including Forrest, who also slow danced with me.
We all retreated to Kelley's and Laura's room where Mike and I proceeded to get sloshed and talk about all sorts of things. Drank some thoroughly disgusting local liquor with Sprite; had my mind reeling as I went to bed. Had a great deal of trouble getting up to see a TVE (township-village enterprise) the next morning. Bonded with Mike, I think. Next: China gets decollectivized, rural farmers, and Chufu's night market. |