Where Are They?

LGUHS

ASOP

FREEMAN

Strings Attached.

Hi Everyone,

Today’s schedule:

Tuesday: Rehearsal from 8:00 AM until 12:00 Lecture on Chinese Traditional Music Instruments in the afternoon and a welcome banquet in the evening.

Before we get to today’s events and photos, Cooper is going to share with us the journey from Chongqing to Qufu and the feelings of a long-awaited break in the action . . .
 

April 2, 2007 -- Cooper Feiner-Homer, Junior

Today we experienced the first down time our group has seen on this trip. We started out on the go; awakening at 5 to eat and then leave for the airport to catch our plane at 8. For the five days preceding, we had been living in a Holiday Inn in Chongqing and we’re now on our way to the Qufu Normal University. The flight was only about two hours which was relaxing, but I was unable to get any sleep. After landing in Jinan, we took a two-hour bus ride (which I was able to sleep on) through very pretty and very dry villages and farmlands that were different looking from anything we had yet seen.

The huge diversity of the land is something that has really struck me on this trip. We went from the dry, chilly and vegetation-less city of Beijing to the hot, muggy and lush city of Chongqing. Now we’re in a drier, colder but less populated and polluted area in Qufu. We reached the Qufu Normal University at 12-ish and had lunch. Then, for the first prolonged time, we were able to wander at will --within the campus boundaries. This felt great: To have a time when we weren’t in a rush to get somewhere and were able to just meander at our own free will was a relief. At first I found myself rushing as if I had to be somewhere and I had to consciously slow down. This break also gave me a time to digest the amazing sights and sounds I’ve experienced in the last week. Our next engagement was dinner, but after that we once again had free time to walk around at night and admire the full moon. This has been an amazing experience thus far and I’m sure it will continue to be so. I look forward to each new day and the new adventures it brings. I’ll surely call my parents as soon as I get another chance. Maybe. [Debbie, Fred: I’m working on it! He’s great, though. Fear not! Ann]

-- Cooper
 

With a wonderful welcome banquet (photos to come later) tonight, the students spent part of their day learning about traditional Chinese musical instruments. A couple of years ago, while visiting our area, a group of our Mongolian friends made an incredibly generous donation of several Chinese musical instruments. to Leland & Gray High School. As a result, students in the L&G musical program are able to learn and perform with these magnificent instruments.

Tom tells a little more about the first day in Qufu (and comments on the new facility where the group will perform):

The yellow building [right, top] is the old student center where we have performed many times in the past. The large gray building [right, bottom] is the new student center, a veritable Carnegie Hall. Slight exaggeration. It is magnificent. Great stage, seating, sound and lights. We are being spoiled, I am afraid. The students and teacher who oversee the new center and the lighting and sound people have been very helpful.

We had a lecture on traditional Chinese instruments this afternoon. Six students and their teacher drover 240 kilometers 150 miles] to make the presentation to our kids. Demonstration of each instrument was of a very high quality and was well received by our students. More rehearsal this afternoon and then banquet tonight.

I know you are all anxious to see pictures of the kids, so let’s get right to them now. Here they are engaged in learning about and playing the Chinese instruments:
 

The Looks
of Music

What a great start to Qufu. Ann says:

The kids enjoyed one big unison exhale on arrival in Qufu where the sky is blue, the air is cool, the wisteria and lilacs are in bloom and the spirit of Confucius pervades. What’s not to like? [Ann]

Qufu is a very special place. Not only because of the Confucious connection and the first performance, but the people are so welcoming. Visiting Qufu is like visiting family and old friends. Those who have been there before will feel like they are home again. Everyone at the Qufu Teacher’s University tries so hard to help our Journey East group with whatever is needed. Qufu is a very special place -- simply because of the wonderful people!

One of the memorable events of the journey is the Qufu Welcome Banquet. And, it just so happens, we celebrate our first two “Journey birthdays” at the banquet.

Happy Birthday to you Sophie! and . . .

Happy Birthday to you Nicole!

I think the record is four birthdays on a Journey (now there’s a chllenge to any of you who want to find out for sure!)

So, let’s put on our party hats, grab a fork and let’s join the gang . . .
 

Qufu Welcome Banquet

Pretty cool!

Here’s what Tom has to say . . .

Sophie and Nicole's birthday celebration. A very good time. The group sang a couple of songs for our hosts at the end, which went really well. I also included a photo of Dr. Ren Tingqi, President of Qufu Teacher's University. Everyone is so helpful. It is a very comfortable place to be. [Tom]

Tomorrow the group visits Confucius Residence and Temple. Looking forward to the photos and stories.

That’s it for today folks. See you “tomorrow.”