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China time and date:
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We’ve Only Just Begun!
Hi everybody!
First of all a big congratulations to all the parents. You have survived your first weekend and your first week of the journey! This is a big milestone. A week ago, you were rushing around trying to take care of all the last-minute things-to-do before the trip down to Hartford. It is good to get this week under your belts. One day at a time, one week at a time . . .
While the gang is visiting and learning about China, they are also spending time with other students. I believe the group will be performing for the first time this week.
Okay, we have A LOT going on today. We have lots of photos today, as well as a report from Eliza Salmon, First, let’s check out some photos of the group’s visit to the downtown area of Chongqing yesterday. Tom will gives us the scoop:
Downtown was interesting. I basically did a lot of people-watching while our kids went into one ultramodern department store after another in this traffic-less area. I have been here before and am always amazed to find myself looking up at huge billboards advertising Cartier jewelry, Ferragamo shoes, and every high end disposable and non-disposable items that one could imagine and then looking back to ground level and seeing bang-bang men and women with stick poles carrying ungodly heavy items to make a few cents and obvious peasants from the countryside with all of their belongings packed into bags homemade from discarded blue jeans. It's all right there in front of you at any given time. Absolute wealth displayed by shi shi women wearing high heals, the most up-to-date fashionable clothes with their wraparound sun glasses and the poor folks from the countryside who don't have two coins to rub together. [Tom]
So far, the group has visited two of the largest cities in China, let alone the world. Soon, they will be visiting some of the small villages of China. There, they will see an even greater contrast of lifestyles and people. Tom calls attention to the wide range of wealth side-by-side on the city streets.
Here are the photos and the neon lights!
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Rolling, Rolling,
Rolling Down the River.
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Is that a wedding taking place in a department store? What are you doing there Maggie? Okay, read on, my friends. I think Eliza (report below) will clue us in. And Tom was right about the neon! Tom made a comment about “bang bang men.” Here is a description from picturechina.net:
Every year over 8.5 million peasants from China’s rural areas move to its cities and nowhere in the country is this urban migration more evident than in Chongqing. Workers from the surrounding provinces have flocked to Chongqing in search of higher paying jobs and a better life. The reality is much less appealing as they often end up doing long hours of back-breaking labor for very little money.
Many of these migrant workers end up as part of what locals call the “Bang Bang Army”. This 100,000 plus army of laborers are identified by the bamboo poles (or bang bang in Chinese) that they use to carry heavy loads around the city. Due to the hilly topography of Chongqing, the bicycles used to transport goods in other Chinese cities have been abandoned and manual labor used instead. Bang bang workers are hired by everyone from business owners to tourists to move all sorts of goods from ships at the port into town or around the city. For their efforts a bang bang man will make an average of 20 Yuan ($2.50) for working a 12 hour day. (www.picturechina.net, Oct. 2006)
Amazing.
So let’s get Eliza’s take on all of this:
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Eliza Salmon, Chongqing, China 3/30/08
After a complete breakfast where you almost know what everything you’re eating is, it’s a sure thing that the day will be a good one! First, we went to the Children’s Palace, where, for about $40, one could send a child to “enrich” their skills. The first room we went to had six or seven year old performers. I found that their warm-up was impressive, but then they moved on to the singing and dancing, which was even more so. They invited us to join in and dance along with them. I’m glad I didn’t miss the opportunity to swing my wrists after a few days of sightseeing. We then went to an English room and a math class. The students from Vermont were informed that those 7 or 8 year olds were doing calculations in their heads or on an abacus. We did not see students using the abacus, which they all had on their desks. Many (of us) were jealous and tried to compare the American classes to the Chinese. We only learned to do what they were doing 3 or 4 years ago, maybe less. The students always had full attention to their studies and were competing to see who could be the first to come up with the answer. No one was joking or whispering about what they would have for lunch. Many parents and grandparents of children were sitting in the rooms.
In the calligraphy classes you could see grandmothers lecturing 6 year olds about their technique. The system of measurements and correct shading were taught before individual “creativity.”
Standing next to little boys doing martial arts together was one of the highlights of the day.
After the obligatory group picture-taking we headed off for lunch. As we were walking down some very steep steps to the restaurant for lunch we realized that there was a wedding reception in progress, especially when the beautiful bride and her husband came running toward us offering us items from a tray heaped with candy and cigarettes. The couple insisted that Maggie have her picture taken with them and Tom photographed the three of them.
Many smoke in China. I was not used to people smoking everywhere. We made or way to the table where I would eat mostly rice, not knowing if there were meat products in some of the dishes. Of course, I did try some new things and gained more skill with the chopsticks. There was not a lot that we “veggies” could eat at this meal but the pastries rated an A++.
Next, we set off for the Guild Hall which was set up over 300 years ago to offer assistance to immigrants to Chongqing after a rebellion in which many, many people were killed. The architecture was great; pointed-tip roves and sculptures of animals, were a part of the buildings.
Just following the pack and having no idea where we were going, we soon found ourselves in a room where a woman told us we were going to have a tea ceremony. She mixed pots of different kinds of tea and explained that some teas could be used up to eight times. Her explanations were interesting and added to the whole experience of being in China.
Once again, everyone was on the bus and rolling toward the Yangtze for the boat cruise. We got to the dock and had thirty minutes to kill. Melissa pointed out large balls down the canal (river) a way and we headed in that direction. The water is quite low now so we were walking on small stones that or normally covered by water. “Oh my gosh!” I knew that I was going to get into one of those large plastic balls after running down to the water and seeing them up close. Barefoot and 20 yuan later, air was pumped into the plastic bubble that I was in. “Whoa!” I had to step over the edge into the pool of brown water.. I tried to stand but would just flop over to slam against the water(while in the bubble). Half way through I had a feeling . . . what if this thing popped? It didn’t, I survived and I am delighted that I had the chance to do it.
Later, we made our way onto the cruise boat. We walked to the top floor and I reached the rail . . . "color of mud,” I said to myself as something floated by. The cruise was a peaceful social outing. I tangoed with Melissa, sang with Melissa and ate with a mix of people. Most people had a great time. It was a long day but we fit in time to rehearse our dancing a little when we returned.
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Pretty cool. From the Children’s palace, to classrooms, to shopping, to the Guild Hall, to a cruise on the Yangtze River . . . mix in some rehearsal time, eating, and group studies . . . makes for a very full day. A typical day, that is, for Journey east 2008!
In contrast to yesterday’s activities in “the city,” the group visited a village in the Dadukou District.
 Here are pictures of a farm home and farm. The photo to the right is of four generations living in the home together. This visit shows yet another dimension to life life in China.
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Family Farm in Dadukou District
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This is an opportunity for the group to compare the life of small town families and farms in China with those they know back home in Vermont. In many ways, they will see common themes, such as generations living in the same house, small family business, family pride. And yet, on the other hand, they will see the lack of some of the many basic conveniences we take for granted. One thing for sure, these people are very proud of what they do and what they have. Look at that beautiful farmland! Just because the land isn’t flat, certainly isn’t stopping them! Makes you just want to go out there and wander . . .
Okay folks, if you thought this was going to be it for the day, well, you are wrong. Just like the title of the page, We’ve only just begun! The group also visited the No. 94 Middle school. Notice the large banner welcoming the students. This is the first of many times the students will feel like celebrities. And the children, oh, the Chinese children.
A photo of the Party Secretary and Village head is top row, far right. Great group picture to close out the visit!
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No. 94 Middle School
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And . . . we have added two new sound files for your listening pleasure. Check ‘em out!
Okay, everybody, another great day on the journey. This journey, like the others continues to amaze me. Each day is a complete adventure unto itself. The places these guys go, the things they see, the people they meet, the food they eat, the education they get, the conversations they have, the experiences . . . and tomorrow, they start all over again with another action-packed day of unmatched adventure!
One of the (many) things that makes Journey East so different from just touring China, is the depth to which the program delves into the life of China. There is a lot of seeing and hearing, but most importantly, there is a lot of learning!
See you tomorrow!
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