Chris Simpson: We started the morning at the High School of the Kunming High Tech Zone, where we toured, attended English and Chemistry Class, played a game of basketball (yes, the US did lose). We had a wonderful Western Style lunch in the canteen. In the afternoon we attended the High School affiliated with Yunnan Normal University where we attended English classes, toured the school, played table tennis and then, best of all, had an overnight stay with Chinese hosts! Our hosts are from the different schools in Kunming that we’ve visited and many of the host students will be visiting us in July. Today. Lizzie from Brattleboro will describe the day and give feedback on the homestay from her classmates.

Lizzie:
You can think you’ve been to China if you’ve seen the Great Wall, however, you can’t really say you’ve been there until you’ve spent time in a Chinese school or home. Today, we got a chance to do both.

When we woke up, the usual Kunming sun wasn’t shining; instead, we woke up to a lovely spring rain. Though this was a bit upsetting, we knew there was a great day waiting for us. Our first destination of the day was a beautiful, busy school. Once we had been welcomed and introduced to a few of the school's students, we exchanged gifts of songs and music. The first classes we visited were English and chemistry. A few of the AACE students took part in English lessons about food and healthy eating. It was very interesting to see the same learning tactics being used for learning English that we use for learning French.

After we watched the morning exercises, we ventured to a large lecture hall, which was of University quality. After a few presentations about our high schools and our state, we went to take part in yet another American Students vs. Chinese Students basketball game. Unlike yesterday, today’s score was much more in favor of the Chinese students. Teachers from both schools as well as students joined in to make the game a celebration between our countries.

With that game out of the way, we moved on to lunch. Much to our surprise, we were offered Chinese food, but also pizza, onion rings, sandwiches, and Coke. Our hosts had gone to extraordinary lengths to make us feel special and comfortable.

After saying farewell, we took a quick trip back to the hotel to pack up our belongings for the evening and went to another school. This school was called the High School Affiliated to YNU. It was another brand new school with many white buildings, sports fields, basketball courts, a lovely greenhouse, and long corridors. In small groups, we attended English classes again. This class was very different from the other English classes we’d visited. There were more students than the other classes, and they were all very focused on our presentations and asked great questions. We joined our fellow students in an art class and learned a very important lesson. If we want to make beautiful paintings, first we must make beautiful lines. After class, we exchanged songs again, before playing table tennis with the students. Though we were not very successful, it was still a great time.

As we were playing, most of us met up with the students we would be staying with for the night. Each student pair took a picture, and then ventured our own ways into the buzzing city of Kunming. We all had very different, but exciting experiences:

“Making dumplings was the best part for me. I got to be a part of the cooking team, and got to see the process of making a traditional meal!”—Meg

“I had so much fun staying up until 1am just talking with my new friend about everything we like to do when we’re not in school.” -Asya

“When I walked in, everyone in the house wanted to say hello and get a chance to meet me. I felt beyond welcomed.” – Nicole

“I got a chance to eat beef tongue. It was amazingly good. It was great to get a chance to try a new food.” – Matt

“My friends mother was very polite, but getting to drive through Kunming traffic was a great chance for me to see another side of her. It was good to know that she had that assertive side!”- Stacy

“At first I was very worried and nervous. But after a while, we started playing card games and computer games and that helped bring us closer!”- Alyssa

“I felt at home. The moment I walked in I knew I was welcome and it was just great to take in my family’s lifestyle.” –Silvana

“Looking at baby pictures was amazing. If I were to take my baby pictures out to show her, I’m always in the same, usual children’s clothes. But my friend’s pictures had her dressed in her traditional clothing. It was just amazing.”- Tiffany

“Going out to night tea was exciting. We walked and tried lots of new foods that I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to try.”- Jordan

“Just walking in the door to see a lovely home was very exciting for me. It was great to see the New Year’s wall hangings and all of the tea sets and decorations.”- Lizzie

“Eating a home cooked Chinese meal tasted great! I was thinking I would get much of the same foods I had gotten on the trip. It all tasted amazing!”- Gus

“When I was getting ready for bed, I was watching TV and my friend told me to go and wash my feet in a bucket of water. It makes sense, I just had never done it before. It was kind of cool.” -Paxton

Mary Greene presents a gift to the headmaster of the High School affiliated with YNU

In this art history and calligraphy class there were 80 students, plus 18 visitors from the US. The teacher did an excellent job of keeping the class focused and we all got the chance to complete some traditional Chinese Art. Meg is working on her calligraphy.

Gus and Lizzie showing their PowerPoint and telling chinese students about their schools in the US.

Tiffany checks the lab results with her Chinese counterparts.

A bird's eye view of the campu of Yunnan Normal High School.

During the day Chinese students take a break for eye exercises. Here Jordan joins in.

Lizzie, our correspondent for today, trying her hand at making beautiful lines.

This student leads the whole school at High School of the Kunming High Tech Zone in morning exercises.

The headmaster of the High School of the Kunming High Tech Zone presents Mary Greene with a jade sculpture that celebrates the agriculture of Kunming

Mariha leads the class in a rendition of “These Green Hills” and the High School Affiliated with Yunnan Normal University.

An English class, being led by one of the teacher’s that will form the delegation visiting Southern Vermont this July. Notice the student standing to respond to the teacher, AACE students are sprinkled throughout this class and answered questions from students.

Asya is up there at the dais, with a full crowd of students watching as she teaches about Vermont.

Forget Air Paxton- The Skawsinator’s (Ms. Skawski) in the house! (above).

To the left: This physics teacher from the High School of the Kunming High Tech Zone shows that what goes up, must come down! Please note that Stacy, pictured left in the blue shirt, was our high scorer for both games. She’s got an eye for the hoop!

A student does an impromptu demonstration of the Peacock Dance during our visit.

Megan shares contact information with new friends. Many students have already struck up email correspondence.

Ping pong was fun, although the Chinese students had all the moves.

"Hmmm, I can't read Chinese, or I would tell you what is in these chemistry bottles", says Stacy.

Matt getting ready to leave for his homestay with his Chinese friend and family.