Where Are They?

LGUHS

ASOP

FREEMAN

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Welcome back, everybody.

Today’s episode is another thriller. Let’s start right off with this front page article about the Journey East 2007 activities in Hohhot. This is the Hohhot newspaper. That’s Nicole in action. The gang is getting a lot of media exposure while in China. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, after an exciting day in the desert, the group returns to the city where they perform once again.

As the days of the journey begin to wind down, let’s see what Tom has scheduled for this band of stars:

Today we collaborate in the morning and then have an afternoon performance at the Inner Mongolia Nationality Junior College. This will be a blast. Great, large, interactive kind of an audience. [Tom]

Even though the days in Hohhot are numbered, their days will be full of activities right up until the day they leave for Beijing (the 23rd). Let’s take a look at the the morning collaborative session and the performances by both our kids and the Inner Mongolians.
 

Practice

Performance

The costumes are always so colorful and exhilarating. A joyful experience for our ears AND our eyes. Let’s read what Hillary has to say about the experience . . .
 

April 19, 2007 -- Hillary Walton, Sophomore

I awoke this morning and realized that today we’d have one of our last two shows in China. Our group had only two last chances to make an impact on Chinese audiences. China had already done so much for us and, in return, we’ve had only our play—and our friendship—to give. Our show was really coming together and we were just beginning to have fun with it. All just in time to go home. All these thoughts and more raced through my head as I awoke this morning: How could we even begin to repay China for our incredible journey? We never could without our show.

A half hour before curtain, the audience had already packed in: There wasn’t an open seat in the house [at our venue, the Inner Mongolia Nationality Junior College]. In fact, the aisles were completely filled, too! The eager chatter from the crowd could clearly be heard backstage: The show would soon begin. Upon the entrance of our a cappella group, there began what would be a continuous roar of applause from our viewers. The positive feedback completely set the mood for an outstanding performance. There was not a single individual in our whole program who was not giving his or her absolute best. Our entire cast was entranced by the feedback we were receiving.

Our audience today was unlike any other we have ever had. The students were completely willing to give feedback and were on the edge of their seats with anticipation the entire time we were on stage. They were, without a doubt, my and many others’ favorite audience by far.

The bus was filled with a constant buzzing of happy performers on the ride back to the hotel. Somewhere during our trip home, Mr. Connor casually informed us that our audience tonight was made up entirely of Mongolian viewers with very few, if any, Chinese mixed in. This was followed by a question: “What made a Mongolian audience so different from our past Chinese audiences? “ They had been incredible, of course, but they had never come close to what we experienced tonight. Our viewers gave us no choice but to put our absolute best into the play; their constant applause set the mood for an outstanding performance.

There were very distinct differences between our audience tonight and past ones, but to be honest, no one seemed to be able to figure out why. Cultural differences seem to be the only major explanation; however it is vague and doesn’t seem to express what we have seen in differences amongst the different groups. Whatever the reason for the differences, one thing is for certain: We should have been the ones cheering for them, not the other way around. They helped us present our best performance yet and they gave us a great start to a happy ending in China. We now have enough confidence in our show to have an amazing last performance tomorrow night. We’re incredibly lucky and I am so honored to have had our Mongolian audience. They definitely brought some joy into our last days in Inner Mongolia. It will be, without a doubt, a hard goodbye.

-- Hillary

These performances are clearly for the benefit of those who attend. While we enjoy seeing pictures of our kids and Mongolians on stage, catching glimpses of the audiences helps tell the whole story. Tom has managed to catch the audience’s reactions to the group’s afternoon performance.

Here’s what Tom has to say:

[Here are] lots of audience photos at the most alive performance with a great audience at the Mongolian Nationalities College. [Here you’ll] see the performance through the eyes of our Mongolian friends in the audience. A great audience; uninhibited, engaged and definitely engaging. This is the third time that we have performed here and I hope to be at this school every time we come to China. [Tom]

Let’s take a look . . .
 

Can you feel the buzz and hear the laughter? Looks like everyone is fully engaged. Cool!

After the performance, the group was able to spend time with some of their friends. Here are a few shots of many smiling faces . . .
 

Miles of Smiles

Had the opportunity to meet three young American teachers who are teaching English at this school; a young woman from Chicago and a young man from California and another young man who we have met on two previous occasions. Jonathan, who hails from Washington State, has been here for four years. Nice to see him again. Ann, Matt, Andi, Susan, Louise and I were hosted to an excellent dinner by the President of this college and by Mr. Bai Buhe, Party Secretary of the College and an old friend. They have given us an open invitation to perform here any time and would like to establish a relationship with us. [Tom]

As we continue to follow the group’s activities, getting a chance to wander off on our own, helps give us a better idea of life in Inner Mongolia. Let’s join Tom for a walk around town . . .
 

Tomorrow we visit the Inner Mongolia Provincial Museum, which I love, and we then go to a Muslim marketplace here in Hohhot. Tomorrow night is the award ceremony for the Maple Scholarship and the Final Performance at the Concert Hall here at the college. On the 21st, we will plant trees at the Inner Mongolia Youth Ecological Garden, as we did in 2005. The Farewell Banquet is on the 22nd. [Tom]

Well, another fantastic day in Hohhot. Lots in store for the next couple of days. Every event, every place the group visits is just another piece in this magnificent puzzle known as Journey East.

As we have said many times before, what makes Journey East so different from any other “trip” is its ongoing relationships with the Chinese and Inner Mongolians. It is the collaborative performances and study time spent in classrooms working with other students. It is the sharing of American life and learning of Asian life. It is visiting the the well-known monuments and famous sites as well as the lonely and quiet streets of the small villages rarely visited by Americans. It is the impact our kids have on the Chinese and vice-versa. it is the semester-long Asian Studies program that encompasses more than the 30 days of China travel. it is the many visits to Vermont schools to share the experience of Journey East. It is the life-changing experience that will make these kids grow into lifelong world ambassadors.

One important thing before we leave for today. Throughout the web site, I have often referred to these students as “kids.” Partly due to my age, partly due to the fact that it is an easily identifiable description, and partly due to the fact that, in many ways they are. I want you to know that before the journey, and during much of the journey, these kids were, in many ways, just kids. But I assure you, without any reservation, when these “kids” return home to the U.S. next week, you will see twenty-nine wonderful young people, each of whom we can all (especially their parents!) be very, very . . . very proud! My hat’s off to them all!

We’ll leave you with a photo that is sure to put a smile on your face. Here’s Matt Martyn trying desperately to win a race against a very talented young runner. As you can see, it was a “photo” finish!

Enjoy the beautiful day, everyone. T-minus 5 days and counting.

See you tomorrow!