Where Are They Now?

LGUHS

ASOP

FREEMAN

Bye Bye, So Long, Farewell

The JE 2010 group left the “Qufu Experience” and have headed back up the road to Jinan. 

But first . . . before they disappear down a side street, we need to say thank you to Qufu. The success of Journey East is partly the result of having such great and gracious hosts at each of the stops. On behalf of everyone associated with Journey East:

Thank you Qufu!

Here is Emma Straus telling us the last day in Qufu:
 

Emma Straus, Sophomore, Putney

When we got on the bus this morning at 8:45, I was prepared for another visit to a school where we would get swarmed and climbed on but I was in for a pleasant surprise. We arrived at the massive university in Jining, a short 20 minutes after leaving our campus ‘hotel.” The huge cement buildings loomed around us as our bus slowly came to a stop. We all piled out and looked around. A group of 27 Chinese students, plus a few well-dressed teachers were awaiting our arrival. Huge gusts of wind swirled our hair around our heads while we climbed the flights of stairs that led to a very large, open building. Once inside, we got a quick glance at the circular floors going up and up before we were led into a room with the largest amount of business-looking, cushy, black chairs that I have ever seen. We settled in for a short introduction of the school and teachers in which we learned the population of the university – 11,000!!! And apparently this school, in terms of quality, is approximately equal to a U.S. State school. It is one of many schools in Shandong Province.

Next, we headed outside for the usual group photo. The 27 Chinese students were paired up with the 27 of us to be our guides. The guides were all English majors with impeccable English. They brought us to see some ancient Chinese drawings and calligraphy. My guide, Angela, didn’t know much about the beautiful displays except that they related to Confucius’ life. Next, we visited the visual arts department. I was amazed to learn that my guide had never been to the art building, nor had many of the other guides. Angela and I talked about a broad range of subjects; from food and sports to classes, boyfriends and marriage. Apparently, Angela, who is 20, has never had a boyfriend. Her parents won’t allow it. She also isn’t allowed to marry until she is 23. Talking with Angela about this made me really notice the cultural differences.

A quick tour and run-through of the play led to us hopping back on the bus to go back to our campus for lunch but a stop to shop was in store for us. According to TC [Tom], the street we shopped at has been completely cleared out compared to the last time he was here (in 2008) Department stores replaced traditional family stores, while supermarkets and food stores replaced the street vendors. It was so nice not to have the vendors yelling “5, only 5 yuan” at me while walking down the street. It much more proper and modern, which was nice, but a piece of me missed the traditional vendors squished along the sidewalks. I wasn’t too surprised by Tom’s statement. I feel like a lot of China’s culture is fading while China tries to grasp the modern future. After I bought a cute dress from a pretty westernized department store, the group drove to a delicious lunch.

By the time we showed up at the University again to perform, large crowds of Chinese students lingered in the auditorium in anticipation of our performance. There were guards handling the pushy students at the doors. Many people were turned away from the ridiculously packed room. Our loyalist groupies even watched the entire act from outside in the cold because the guards wouldn’t let them inside the doors. It was one of those moments that made our whole group feel super famous. When we walked, talked or moved in any way, thunderous clapping came from the audience. The performance went well, though it was definitely not our best work. Regardless, the 800-900 people watching our show loved it. Emmet and I performed our song “Five Years Time” alone, because Phoebe has lost her voice… and singing solo in front of that many strangers was one of the biggest adrenaline rushes I’ve ever had; so many eyes staring at me, expecting so much- it was an amazing and terrifying moment. Many hours, photos and E-mail addresses-giving-always. Later, we stumbled our way to the bus for the last time. The quick ride was greatly appreciated by many. The shorter the ride, the faster we are in bed and the sooner we could pee! As I write this, I’m lying on my dorm room bed with Phoebe, packing up her things for our future days of traveling. My hand is barely moving across the page and my eyes are only slightly open after the long day I just experienced. So, I say good night. I look forward to many more days like this to come.

Like all superstars, another day spent -- literally.

As the students wander around the streets of Qufu, let’s check out the various “rides” they see on the streets:
 

Alrighty then, the JE gang will now visit Mt. Tai Shan on the way (this is a very cool web site with panoramic views) to Jinan. While in Jinan, the group might visit the Yellow River (the Yellow River really IS yellow!). If not, they will certainly be able to view the Yellow River as they fly off to Beijing for a couple of days sight-seeing before heading off to the most powerful part of the journey -- Hohhot.

Andi Anderson, our eagle-eye correspondent, former Journey East parent, and JE 2007 chaperone, brings to our attention a very interesting Deja Vu moment. here’s Andi:

I had to go looking for this photo when I saw Tom's fingernails [yesterday] touching the gnarly tree. Here is the shot right after Tom touched the tree on our visit [in 2007] and he said "[the tree] supposedly brings back youth to those who touch it" and then he roared with laughter. -- Andi A.

Well, Tom, you get the last laugh -- it worked!! You’ve brought back six times now! Seriously, though, for someone who travels through time as much as Tom does, he never ages! Thanks Andi. That was fun.

And so, the group arrives safely in Jinan where they will stay the night before heading off to Hohhot via Beijing.

On their way to Jinan, they visited Mt. Taishan (Mt. Tai), “the first of five sacred mountains” in China. Its base, in the town of Tai'an, is 492 ft. above sea level, and its summit is at 5,068 ft. To put that in local perspective, Strattan Mountain (Vermont) is 3,940 feet tall.

Let’s check out some photos of the visit to Mt. Tai.
 

Here is the update from Tom:

We are in Jinan for the night. Early morning call tomorrow and then a [long] day. 11:30 flight to Beijing and then lots of time in the airport before we fly to Inner Mongolia. There are fewer flights to Inner Mongolia because of the high speed rail service. The problem for our group riding the railways is the number of people we have and the amount of luggage. It will be a long day, so, we sit and wait. 

On the bright side, we all went to McDonalds in Jinan tonight. Many pigged out on fries, Big Macs and ice cream. The [McDonalds] food was no different than in the U.S. Kids were definitely into some familiar chow.

Well, this should be it for today. We anxiously await the word of safe arrival in Hohhot.

It just seems impossible the quantity of the things the group will experience during this month-long journey. Every day is jam-packed full, challenging these kids in every way possible - emotionally, physically, spiritually, educationally, etc. As we have said many times throughout the journeys, and can’t be said enough, this is not a trip through China, but a journey through life.

As much as this group has seen and done, in many way, the journey will just begin when they reach Hohhot. Much of what the group has been working toward will be accomplished with their fellow students in Hohhot.

Can’t wait!

And so we leave you with a morning scene in Qufu where the school kids were . . . 

Dancing in the street!
 

Bye Bye, Farewell,
So Long...