Trip Daily Diary - 04/19/05

2005 CHINA TRIP - DAILY DIARY

4-19-05 - The Foreign Language School and Yunnan Normal Middle School

Driving up to the Foreign Language school was amazing. We were greeted at the gates by the student council clapping and displaying a huge banner as we drove up. Then, after rounding a corner, we got out of the bus and were greeted by several students dressed in minority clothes and a brass band. Each of them greeted us, and presented us with a beautifully colored vest and hand bag, along with sixteen pink and red roses. After an unforgettable welcome, the students escorted us up seven flights of stairs to a auditorium. When we entered, the applause started. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I don't think any of us could believe this was really happening because none of us expected anything like this.

Once we were settled in out seats, the speeches started. First, the school officials, then Mrs. Greene, then Jenna got up and made a very nice speech about us students being there and thanking the school for making this happen.

After the speeches, we watched the students perform for us many different dances and musical pieces from minority cultures in China. About half way through, we were asked to get up and sing "These Green Hills" for the school (the Vermont State song). I think we did a very good job and we were all blown away at how thrilled the audience was to hear us. At the last performance, we all got up and participated in a minority culture dance. We all had a blast learning new dance steps and trying to keep up.

Afterwards, we had our pictures taken at least ten times with several different bunches of students. Then, we were broken up into groups and lead around by the students. It was so much fun, and it was overwhelming (in a good way) for all of us. We were all asked a lot of questions about our lives, our families, our school, and our country everywhere we went. We all gave our e-mail addresses out at least one hundred times and we all got so many gifts from the students. They were all extremely friendly, willing to listen, and starving for attention from all of us.

Once our tour of the school was done and lunch was eaten, we had an hour rest (typical for the Chinese student day) and went back to different class rooms and preformed our presentations for our new Chinese friends. I think we all did well, Jenna and Brian were in the same class as Katlyn and I and we all had a blast. We presented on Maple Sugaring and they presented about American Breakfast Foods. Then we got to sit among the students and listen to a Chinese presentation. I sat with five boys my age, and I now have five new best friends! They were all very sweet and respectful towards me. They asked me a lot of questions about my home and my life, and they weren't shy about telling me that I was beautiful and funny. I was very flattered to say the least.

We all felt like super stars that day. We were all treated like royalty and made to feel like we were very special. I think we all realized how special our visit was to these Chinese students, and we were more then happy to answer every question and talk to every person, because, not only did we see the joy it brought, but I think it brought us even more joy. It was an experience none of us will ever forget. It will stay with us forever.

Each of our students was dressed in a minority culture vest, given a bouquet of 16 roses, and a shoulder bag with the name of the school embroidered on it. This picture shows Katlyn and Kate beaming as they wait for the speeches to begin in the auditorium filled with students and teachers.

Many student performances followed the welcome speeches.

Yang Tao, a UVM visiting scholar last year, was our host.

Katlyn giving out her email address to future
keypals.

Basketball always offers a way to communicate.

AACE students organized an impromptu rehearsal of "Lean on Me" during our lunch rest time, which they then performed that night for teachers and administrators.

Note the marching band to the left, and colorfully dressed students in minority cultural costumes greeting our students. What a reception!

After short welcoming speeches by the superintendent, Mary Greene, and our friend, Yang Tao (a UVM visiting scholar last year who teaches at the school) Jenna gave the student welcome.

Ryan shows skateboarding and snow boarding prowess helps master the stick dance. The two fellows on either end of the sticks clicked them together in a syncopated rhythm that one had to match jumping in and out of the spaces. This was one of 3 pairs of sticks.

These two young women played a duet on traditional Chinese instruments.

This is only one of dozens of group pictures taken. We are the first foreigners to visit this school and they went all out to make our visit memorable for us as well as themselves and they certainly succeeded!

Just in case you didn't know...this is how Mary Greene keeps all those "plates in the air": she power naps (on this occasion during our lunchtime "rest period")

Next we were taken around to classes where we tried the activities the students had arranged for us, and the AACE students did their presentations on American Culture (which were a great hit). Here, Katlyn is working on a paper cutting.

AACE in the spotlight performing "Lean on Me" on stage at the restaurant where had the banquet with administrators, teachers, and students after our incredible day at the Foreign Language and Middle School.