Holly, the writer for today: Today we went to visit two more schools in Kunming. Even though we were all exhausted from the previous two trips we managed to make our way through the crowded city and to the Yunnan Nationalities High School. We all had to say goodbye to our home-stay families and thank them once more for being so kind as to let us stay in their homes. The father of my home-stay dropped me off and waited for others to arrive. I tried to give him my thanks but he was unable to speak English and I was unable to speak Chinese. However I still think that he understood me. It is amazing to me how people can still communicate even though they do not speak the same language.

One thing that is the same about all the schools we have visited is our reception. When the American students arrive at the school we are always greeted with warm smiles and a lot of generosity. We are often presented with gifts representing their enthusiasm for our visit to the school. The students’ curiosity and interest and the level of student involvement at these schools appeals to me. This behavior is much different from American schools where interacting enthusiastically with visitors is rare unless students are persuaded and pressed forward. When walking down the halls it is nearly impossible to remember how many people greet me, ask for my e-mail or even ask to take a picture. Some seem nervous but their curiosity overcomes that factor and soon I can hardly keep up with all the questions that they ask me. I get the sense that the Chinese are striving along with the Americans to have a strong relationship. Most people come across stereotypes as false information that rate other races and cultures. Here we are invited in with open hearts and minds as friends and all stereotypes are put aside.

Everyone at the schools that we have visited has presented us with some form of outstanding performance. Many of the students present a talent that they have as an individual. Some choose to sing or dance while others choose to play a musical instrument. I was so impressed at how amazing and wonderful all of those performances were and at the age they found their talent. This was spectacular to me because the performers were so young and performing solos which would have been unthinkable to me at that age. It still amazes me now how people have their own unique talents. Each of the performances young and old proved to me that the Chinese really cared and they wanted us to enjoy our day. It was heart-warming to know that these took the time out of their day to prepare and present for us. All of their time and effort paid off with a huge round of applause and ooos and aaahs!

Minority High School welcoming our group wearing their traditional dress.

Henry visiting the school's TV studio.

A hula demonstration at the Minority High School in honor of their American guests.

Mary Greene receives a beautiful horse statue, the horse is the school mascot, from the principal.

Jackie giving a baton twirling lesson to a new friend.

Jared gives one of the minority dances a try with a little help from a friend.

And then a ping pong game with integrated teams.

It's a fast game, good thing Eric, Scott and Jared are along on this trip. All three play basketball for Twin Valley's varsity team.
Basketball is a favorite of Chinese students as well as American, so here's another game played at the Minority HS.

A number of dance performances were given by the Experimental HS students.

A different dance performance

Art Exhibit for Celebration of the Arts that was held last week. This is at the Experimental High School.

Learning calligraphy.

<--Right: A lovely minority dance performance.