 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Journey East web site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHINA WEATHER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Created at Leland & Gray High School in Townshend, Vermont, supported by the Asian Studies Outreach Program (ASOP) at the University of Vermont (UVM), and funded primarily through a grant from the Freeman Foundation,
Journey East, as a whole, consists of the Asian Studies Academy and Sino-American Performing Arts Exchange at Leland and Gray Union High School; the integration of an Asian Studies curriculum throughout the Windham Central Supervisory Union, and the introduction of Chinese language programs into the district.
We wish to thank Holden Waterman, Director of the Asian Studies Outreach Program University of Vermont, and Dr. Juefei Wang, (former Director of the ASOP).
The Leland and Gray Journey East program is deeply indebted, and extends its heartfelt thanks, to Dr. Juefei Wang and Tom Connor, without whose efforts and support this program would not be possible!
|
|
|
Leland & Gray
Journey East 2010
Tom Connor
Program Director
Jenny Connor
Ron Kelley
Co-Directors
Mary Martin
Diane Newton
Bahman Mahdavi
Chaperones
|
|
|
|
Free Hit Counter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Row, Row, Row Your Boat . . .
Hey everybody! Day five of Journey East 2010!
I think the first weekend is the toughest part of the journey for you parents. We generally spend more time with our kids on the weekends, and your households have been noticeably different yesterday and today. As I said before, once we get to tomorrow (Monday), things will smooth out and it will be clear sailing.
Hey, speaking of sailing, the group will be spending their evening on a river cruise on the famous Yangtze River, the largest river in China. The Chinese name for the river is Chang Jiang (Long River). According to Yangtzeriver.org, an old saying goes ”If you haven’t traveled up Chang Jiang, you haven’t been anywhere.”
The group is currently in Chongqing. Chongqing is roughly a thousand miles southwest of Beijing. To get an idea of how far the group is traveling from place to place, here is a cool link for finding distances to places from Beijing. Using the chart, you’ll notice that when the group ends up in Hohhot, they will only be about 224 miles from Beijing. While they will be relatively close in distance, they will be worlds apart in cultures.
Chongqing means “double celebration” to commemorate Southern Song Emperor Guangzong to princely and then imperial rank (in 1189).
Chinatour.com describes Chongqing:
“The major port of the upper Yangzi River and gateway to the famous Three Gorges, Chongqing now includes most of the former eastern Sichuan Province, with a population of 30 million. It is a major center of iron and steel production, motorcycle manufacturing and shipbuilding, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical production. The religious cliff sculptures of Dazu and Baodingshan and the Three Gorges scenic region of the Yangzi River are all nearby, making Chongqing an important center for tourism despite the scarcity of notable sights within the city proper.” http://www.chinatour.com/attraction/chongqing.htm
So, today’s activities are:
We have our first photos of the day’s events, so, let’s get on with the show! First up are photos of the Dazu Stone Carvings:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dazu Stone Carvings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wow. There are more than 50,000 stone sculptures (100,000 statues) located in more than 40 places. Simply remarkable.
Next, the group takes a break from “sightseeing” and engages in their first real shopping experience. Here they will learn the art of Chinese haggling. For those of you knew to this type of shopping, here is a How to haggle in China lesson for you. They will get several opportunities during the journey to shop and experience this necessary practice.
Here’s Tom with a bit of insight to the trip to a market on Pedestrian Street: Tom...
I made a point of telling [the group] while we were in Vermont that I would make sure we got to this market. Their reactions were fun to listen to. Some of the photos will give you and others a picture of what they were reacting to.
Let’s check ‘em out:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedestrian Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition to the photos, here is an audio clip of the kids’ reaction to this indoor market.
Indoor market reaction
I should mention at this point that Tom, among the many hats he wears besides Program Director, is the journey photographer. Tom has a knack for capturing the real “life” of China. You will notice throughout the collection of photos that will appear over the weeks ahead the study of Chinese faces. Look at each one closely. Each face tells a story.
Tomorrow morning we should have a couple more reports about today’s visits to the stone carvings, market, and river cruise.
Let’s close out the day the same way the group closed out their day . . . an evening cruise on the Yangtze River . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yangtze River
|
|
|
Tomorrow, the group will have their first performance. They meet with students in the morning, and in the afternoon, they will do some more sightseeing. Can’t wait!
Hope you enjoyed the day. See you tomorrow!
By the way, the longest word (in the [Webster’s] dictionary) is:
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to see how to say that in Chinese . . .
|
|
|
