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Pizza Anyone?
Oh boy! We have lots of stuff today. This is great!
This is going to be one busy week for these kids. The kids have
been performing with students from the Honder School. Tonight they have a farewell banquet in and tomorrow they leave for a fast and furious
finish in Beijing. We were promised a load of photos and they delivered!
Before we get into Tom’s lengthy update on the group’s activities, we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone involved in the phone tree.
This has been such a critical component during the trip. Knowing the group has arrived safely at their next destination means so much us. So, thanks to all of you who have been making these calls!
Okay, we all know what’s shaking** around here, so let’s see what’s shaking on the other side of the earth . . .
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Dear all --
The photos of the desert don't really give you the feeling that the students had when they first saw it but will give you a sense of the enormity, the
vastness of it. Kess made a very insightful comment that just came to mind; when sitting there, alone, with the wind at her back and the sands shifting, she realized that she was experiencing a moment in
time and looking at a scene in front of her that would never, ever be repeated. She's a philosopher at heart. A note to mom and dad; you're going to lose this one to China.
The location here in
Hohhot has been fabulous. The kids have been going out exploring in the morning, many are more familiar with this part of the city than I am and I've been here many times. They have, in small groups,
done some serious exploring. We have an 8:30 in-the-hotel curfew and room doors closed, normally by
9:30 or 10. We've really had to do that or they would burn themselves and us out. They have been great about this. No grousing and very, very few instances of people not being
where they should be. In fact, I can only think of one time when that was the case. I should look for some wood to knock on, I suppose.
Juefei, Holden [Waterman], Tina [Shakespeare], and Georgette [Childs] showed up at my room this morning at 7:00 a.m. “Showed up” is not an
exact description of their appearance. Juefei rang my bell 20 times in 15 seconds as he pounded on the door. I knew it had to be him as I dragged
my semi-comatose body out of bed. I think we talked for 15 minutes before I was reasonably coherent; at least as coherent as I normally
am! Great to see all of them, even though it was a little early.
Our kids were on television twice. I just tried to film it from a replay of the tv news reports. This just in case we don't get a copy of the tapes or can't
transfer them to our format. It'll be a little rough but you'll get the picture, so-to-speak.
Students are doing a group rehearsal with the Mongolian/Chinese kids in
the concert hall as I write this. Huge stage and large seating capacity in this building. They have upgraded the sound and lights here in a major
way since our performance in 1999. Now, if we can only keep the cigarette smoking stage crew that made life difficult the las time under control, we'll be in fat city.
Ann and Ron have been great. They are great representives of the best in American teaching; creative, demanding, inspired and inspiring. I feel
blessed to be surrounded by so much talent. The host students have responded to them very well. Patricia has been a rock since Jenny left earlier this week.
I'm going to run. I guess that the reason I go on so in these epistles is that I spend most of my day talking to Chinese and Mongolians through
an interpreter and just need to feel as though I can talk directly to some one. Of course I realize that you are on the other side of the world but
know that you are genuinely interested in what I have to say and know that it comes from the heart. Will be in touch, anon. Tom
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Tom, we know you to always speak from your heart. Your passion for learning and your desire to give these, and all kids
every opportunity to grow intellectually and emotionally, is one of your most treasured qualities. We thank you.
Okay . . . Tom goes on to talk about the visits of the Mongolian students this fall. This is VERY IMPORTANT and we should all be thinking about this now. Here’s what Tom
has to say at this time:
I would like people to start thinking about hosting the Chinese/Mongolians when they come to Vermont in
October. Because of the limited English-speaking ability on the part of many of these kids, they'll have to be paired off in two's. We're probably looking at five adults and at least 15 and as many as 18
students.
Guaranteed experience of a lifetime for them and for many of our families in the Leland and Gray community. They have been FABULOUS HOSTS here in Hohhot and I'm sure that we will be as
welcoming and gracious as they have been with our kids. I'm really looking forward to next October although I realize that I'm looking at long, long days of preparation prior to, during and after their
visit.
Juefei and I will be meeting with the College President, the Party, as in Communist, Secretary and a number of other movers and shakers before we leave here to nail down some details. To be
honest, much of my time behind the scenes here over thepast few days has involved planning their visit to the U.S.
Not everyone will be able to house these students, but you may be able to help in some other way. Maybe transportation, or
taking students to visit sights in the area. Something to think about . . .
And now, let’s finish our day with a report from Cate:
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REPORT 19 -- Cate, April 19
As the world around me was turning it was standing still to me. Today I experienced one of
the most spectacular sights there is to see on earth; the Gobi Desert. On a day when we were supposed to be perfor ming a
change occurred that everyone on this trip enjoyed. For fifteen minutes I sat by myself, thinking, recalling and just taking in everything that was around me in; all silent except
for the rustling of sand, I realized how big the world around me is. The four hour drive to get there was well worth it. I never imagined myself riding a camel across the
desert or skiing down a mountain of sand. The energy of everyone definitely glowed. I believe that the Gobi Desert was a sight in China we could not have missed.
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Wow. Can you imagine? Thanks to Cate, we can certainly try. The world is now a different place for these kids.
That’s it for today. We are hoping this string of reports and photos continues throughout the week. Hard to believe our kids are coming home . . . this Friday!
See you tomorrow!
**Okay, so speaking of “shaking,” did you all experience our little “earthquake”
Saturday? That was a surprise! Now we have some “earth-shaking” news for our kids! (sorry about that!)
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