Sealth students & Ms. Orrock in China :: The Blog

April 12, 2008

Ni Hao Again!
I can't believe we leave China tomorrow. It has also been awhile since my last blog. The last week in Chongqing was very busy. To mention a few experiences: Students who had never learned to play were taught mah jong, the chinese tile game. We enjoyed the city lights of Chongqing with friends. This included the Three Gorges Dam Museum where the National Treasures exhibit was on display. We were able to see one of the famous terra cotta soldiers without having to travel to its home city of Xian.

The following weekend took us all in different directions. Some students met to karaoke, others went tomb sweeping as it was the national holiday for this custom.

Pictures here include students rehearsing for the acrobatic competition, learning Chinese martial arts (Margo making a valiant attempt with hand still in cast) and creating hand made t-shirts as all Nankai students were making this month. We turned the dumpling party into a birthday party for Julia at which we devoured amazingly scrumptious dumplings that we didn't have to make!

Thursday it was a tearful goodbye to friends as we headed to Beijing. Jin Li, Robin, Mr. Tien and others send their hellos to friends at Sealth. This is a world class city to which I plan to return. I look forward to following the Olympics it will host this summer. Climbing The Great Wall was fulfillment of one of my lifelong dreams. I think I speak for most of the group when I say it took our breath away...literally and figuratively. A full day at the never-ending Forbidden City followed some time at Tianamen's Square. As a history teacher it was a surreal moment to be standing in front of the huge painting of Chairman Mao. Pinch me, is this real!?

So, tomorrow we load up and head east to return to the west. This has been an amazing experience but I sense that the students are weary and most of the students are ready to come home. They miss friends and family, familiar meals, and are even willing to trade the shopping bliss for a western toilet. Me, three weeks and I'm just getting started. Mr. Boyd, send money and I'll stay. Well, on second thought it would be great to see my husband, cats, my students, and my lunch mates. I guess I'll just have to come back!

April 2, 2008

The reports are in and everyone had a nice weekend. Everything from bowling and ice skating to a trip to Chengdu were experienced by various Sea Hawks. Monday we toured a water treatment plant, a Ford automobile plant and a beautiful museum. Weary from touring, we caved in and treated ourselves to Starbucks. (So much for my quitting coffee. Who would have thought I'd start drinking it again in China!). Today was the acrobatic competition, a Nankai tradition but now also a China Exchange tradition. Our group's selection was a three song performance of Thriller by Michael Jackson, Walk It Out, and the Cha Cha Slide. We got an honorary mention and An wowed the audience with a krump (or is it krunk)-like dance. I must say the team pulled it together in just one day. Their team work and cooperation was admirable.

Jackie has become quite a competitor on the basketball court. She plays on the boys' teams because the girls "don't play that hard". NBA is huge here and everyone wants to know if we know Houston Rockets Chinese player Lao (spelling?) Everyone has discovered the bakeries which are sprouting up here rapidly so the longing for bread has been satisfied. The food is great and adventurous.

Tomorrow we will learn to make Chinese dumplings, try Chinese painting and students will conduct scientific field research on a near by pond. That's all there is to blog today. Stay tuned, Seattle.

Ms. O
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March 30, 2008

Shanghai was a whirlwind. Our day was full with a visit to sweeping views of the massive city of skyscrapers, each trying to out-do the other. We enjoyed a tea tasting, a silk production demonstration, a pearl harvesting demonstration, a tour of two temples, a garden, and of course, a visit to shopping area, complete with a Starbucks. That evening we enjoyed an acrobatic show that amazed the audience.

Arrival in Chongqing was very heart warming. All the students who visited Seattle greeted us at the airport. We arrived at Nankai Middle School to a warm welcome and met our host students. We were greeted by the Vice Principal who came to Seattle in 2001, Mr. Tien. We toured the campus and later met our host families. Everyone has wonderful family members who are treating us so well.

The next day Sealth students attended classes, shopped nearby, watched some Nankai basketball games, and had a Chinese music lesson. Fun!

As has become tradition with the program, we went away overnight to visit the Stone Forest, Black Forest Valley, and a rural elementary school. This was a true highlight for our group...except maybe Betelihem, Nancy, and Jackie who got quite wet on the floating foot bridges that sat on top of river rapids. An led the group in a 'dance party' at the hotel and everyone tried the official dish of Chongqing - hot pot. We got to know our Nankai guides (not to mention the doctor, administrator and two security personnel that went with us). We felt like movie stars!

Back to Chongqing students are enjoying various activities this weekend with our host families. It has been an amazing adventure, learning about Chinese history, culture, and education. Can't wait to see what next week will bring us.
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Ni hao,
We are preparing to leave Shanghai today and head to Chongqing. It has been a fast trip here. We arrived in the evening and had a full day out in the city. Some of you may have heard from your child as some were more successful at getting online in their rooms as others. Mostly adapter and inconsistent working lines made it difficult for computers to charge and connections to be made. An was able to get his working and I'm sending off a quick note before we head to Chongqing where we hope to buy better adapters and try again.

This city is amazing. Massive buildings make me think that Texas has it wrong, everything is not bigger in Texas, it's Shanghai! Visited some temples, parks, look out points, acrobatic show, and shopping. Pictures and another update to follow.

Everyone is fine, well fed and rested. No worries parents.

Until soon.