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Things Are Happenin’
With everyone settled in at their place in Hohhot, the kids are preparing for their upcoming performances and spending time with the
Mongoloian students. Tom writes:
We're at the Arts College in Hohhot. Kids are downstairs with about
40 Mongolian/Chinese performers and teachers working on collaborative
pieces. Unbelievable! Tom
and . . .
We have a performance of the Leland and Gray production at the National
College in Hohhot tomorrow to about 1,500 people; one at the Foreign Language Academy of Economics and Trade on the 18th to an audience of that size or larger.We then have a performance at
the Hong De School to an even larger audience on the 20th. Our final performance and then a collaborative one with our hosts will be on the 22nd. Then it's off to Beijing for our final
performance on the tour. Tom
And here’s Kestral’s report on the adventure so far:
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REPORT 14 -- Kestrel, April 13, 2002
HOHHOT, INNER MONGOLIA, PRC We have arrived in Hohhot and it feels as though we
are in a different country. Rugged mountains have faded into desolate flat ground from which this small industrial city rises. While from a distance our surroundings look bleak and gray,
once upon the street, life and laughter light up the dirt sidewalks. Compared to Beijing, Qufu and Xi’an, this is definitely the most underdeveloped and isolated place we have
stayed. Our bus full of American kids is met with staring eyes, hesitant “hellos” and eager smiles.
This morning, Ashley, Aubrey, Julia and I went for a walk. We followed
the sound of lively music to a storefront where people had gathered to celebrate the opening of a hair salon. When we stopped to enjoy the band, we were immediately surrounded by curious
spectators. The employees of the salon ushered us inside and sat us down for tea. After the camera flashes wore away, Ashley and I decided to let them have a go at cutting our
hair. The room began to fill with on-lookers as we were lathered up with shampoo. After much deliberation about the style of our cuts (They know no English an we no Chinese or
Mongolian) scissors began to snip as Ashley and I relinquished all control and put our trust in the agile hands of our stylists. They refused to accept money and so we sang them a
song. Two hours after our arrival, we emerged onto the dusty street (I looking like a brunette Bette Davis (not to worry, Mom and Dad, a shower fixed everything).
This afternoon
we went to the Inner Mongolian College of the Performing Arts to lay the ground work for the collaborative performance which we will present at the end of our stay. Upon first
introduction, I immediately sensed a warmth among the Chinese and Mongolian students from which instantaneous friendships spring. Within minutes, the room was filled with laughter and
conversation which quickly lead to songs, dances and instrument playing from both their group and ours.
After spending two hours with the Chinese and Mongolian students, I am struck by
how different the Mongolians are. They possess a soft, free quality as though the boundaries between their bodies and their environment are undefined. When they speak and sing,
their voices seem to rise from their hearts and effortlessly spill from their mouths. Their physical features, warm, soft-spoken personages and traditional folk songs remind me of
the American Indians.
It feels good to settle down into a semi-permanent home for a while. I have no idea what the next ten days will hold, but judging from the people I have met
today, they will be exciting and rich.
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