China: Episode II

Friday, 11 June 2009

Today was our first school visit. We visited Nanning High School No. 3. Upon arrival, we found a group of students to greet us and show us the grounds. We also were greeted by the director of the high school. And seriously, their high school is like a university for us...and they thought their high school was small, especially compared to that of the U.S. - It took some self-control not to laugh...but I guess that many things in America are "BIG," so they would think that just about everything, if not everything, is big in America. Now having been in China for about a week, things in America seem small.

As we were touring the campus, there were people there picking fresh mangos from the trees that grew on campus. We each got to eat a freshly picked mango. Now, I am not a mango girl, but I now am. The campus is very beautiful, and Nanning H.S. No. 3 is one of the largest h.s. in Nanning. After a quick tour, which lead us to their library, we headed upstairs where several of the students had arranged to perform for us. The performances included: martial arts, painting & calligraphy demo, singing, basketball tricks, and a vocal "beat-boxing" that the person used for several of the performances. We, our group "we," were called on to do some things..we danced a wee bit, and after a bit of awkwardness on my part (long story,) I eventually was asked to sign a song which two of our group members tried to sing - they forgot the words. Ooops! But they attempted to sing "A Whole New World" form Alladin. To finish off the "talents," our group sang the American National Anthem. We chatted with the students for some time, and then headed off. They all waved us off as we left.

Okay: two notes about this school. 1.) There was a camera crew who followed us around, and that will follow us for the schools we visit in Nanning. 2.) As we were entering the campus, they had hung, between two palm trees (or forms of palm trees) a welcome sign that was both in Chinese with the English meaning below. Very sweet.

During the evening, after dinner, we conversed with the students who come at night to improve their English. We broke into small groups and discussed the differences between Chinese and American cultures regarding certain topics. Each group addressed one topic, and then each group presented in front of the whole group what each had learned about each others' culture. After presentations, we were able to chat with each other, more of a one-on-one feeling. I was able to show a few students some pictures of snow I had on my memory card. They enjoyed that. Showing pictures, taking pictures, and pictures in general are SUCH a big part of the Chinese culture. I don't know why, but I just find it interesting.

Saturday 20 June 2009

Today was planned to be an "easy" day, more relaxing than the other days previous. During our morning time after breakfast, we conversed with the students - with whom we usually converse with at nighttime - and we played some American icebreaker games. That was fun and I think at least some of the students enjoyed that. Following our time with the students, we had a lunch and then had about an hour and a half break, after which we went and swam in a pool! We ALL were so very thankful that we had this opportunity. I ended up getting a "nice" sunburn, but ONLY on my shoulders and chest where my swimsuit didn't cover...nowhere else...strange. :o/

So, for dinner, and this is really sad, we went to Pizza Hut, BUT......the Pizza Hut here is NOTHING like the Pizza Hut in America. There is a full-course meal place. One can order an appetizer, salad, soup, drink, pizza, rice dish, pasta dish...it was cool. I had a pumpkin & seafood soup with a Kiwi-Mango Rendezvous drink. Everyone else had pizza. Why did we do this? Several of us are becoming ill from the food, so we decided to try a more "Western" meal. However, even some of the more "Western" meals are VERY different. I like it here. :o)

After dinner, we all went walking around the malls in the nearby vicinity. One of the malls we visited had seven floors. Each floor had a "theme." For example: one floor would be for men, the next women, the next sports, the next home furnishings, etc. I remember something fun that we did was a group of us went to this one vendor who was selling massage equipment and such, and we each sat in a massage chair and "tested" it out. That was very enjoyable. After some time looking around just about each floor, we found ourselves being led into - of all places - Walmart. No joke. It felt really weird, and quite overwhelming. There were SO many people there. Additionally, their Walmarts are two-stories. The top story was regular products, while the lower level was where all of the food was located. Their "escalator" down to the second story was strange, too. It wasn't stairs, but rather, a ramp, and on either side were little items for sale.

As we were checking out, a man came up to me, greeted me in English and then proceeded to ask where I was from. He nodded his head at my response, and then made some comment about the length of the line, and walked off. When we all were finished with our purchases (by the way, I didn't actually buy anything, but many others did,) we grabbed taxis and headed back to the hotel, where we all pretty much went to bed.

Sunday 21 June 2009

Today was similar to yesterday. I think we are being given a "break" during the weekends so that we don't get too burned out. I feel as if we are being allowed a bit more "downtime" by not as many "required" activities being scheduled. But, who knows. Maybe it is due to the fact that we do not visit high schools in the mornings.

Anywho, we visited with our usual group of students this morning for a short bit.

For lunch this time, we were given some money to go out in pairs and buy whatever we wanted. (Several students went to some of the American eating places. But three other people and myself went to a local shop and purchased something.) After that, we had to be back at the hotel by about three - but we arrived back earlier - to meet up with a few Chinese students who would take us to their parent's home and we were able to visit and, in theory, have dinner with a "host family."

But, for me, I first went to a young girl's (whose English name is Hannah) mother's apartment - a very nice apartment by the way - and as it turned out, a few groups ended up there. We were served a variety of snacks and were shown the home. All of us then took a cab to a coffee shop - owned by another girl's mother, her name being Trinity - which she opened JUST for us. Three left with Hannah and her mum to go to diner. The rest of us left for the restaurant, owned,too by Trinity's mother, where we helped make dumplings. We then were served a very find dinner, served coke and beer ( to each his own, but I had neither 'cause I like neither,) and then for those who drink coffee (not me,) they were served Vietnamese coffee (specially brewed,) and then they poured it into a glass of ice, and had a ice coffee. Form what I was informed, the coffee is SUPER strong, hence why people kept putting sugar and creamer into the coffee. On top of that, we were served fruit...really good fruit: lichi - I think that is how you spell it.

After dinner, we were given gifts, and driven home either in Trinity's mum's car via her mum herself, or her other car/personal driver. It was like royal treatment. Not to mention that we were sent home with a gi-normo bag full of lichi fruit. Upon arriving at the hotel, several of us met up because we were planning our "performance" if we were called to do something again for the students, so Hopie and I practiced "A Whole New World" from Alladdin.

Oh! Okay. Let me back up some. This morning, after the students left for our morning conversation, we were trying to figure out what we wanted to do for our performance, if we were called again to do something for the students, like the last time. We all were asking each other if we had talents, what talents we could do, etc. Hopie, a young man in the group, started singing "A Whole New World" and I was helping him out as he was forgetting the lyrics, and then when "Princess Jasmine's" part came in, I just started singin and going on, and I don't think I sang but four bars before everyone was staring at me and like: 'Oh my God!' 'That was amazing!' 'What do you mean you don't have talent?' 'I think we found our act there.' And so on. Ooops! Maybe I should not have opened my mouth, for I would soon learn that since that incident , I would become an "international star." Little did I know I would be asked multiple times to sing for multiple groups of people. (*Blush.*) Yeah.....that was a mistake on my part, but the whole group seemed to enjoy that they found someone else to do something that they themselves did not want to do. :o)

Well, will try to write the rest of my adventures later, but I know know how much, if any internet access I will have after I leave Nanning. On Thursday, we will leave for Guilin. Our missing group members will arrive back today at 7:00 pm (that is so weird to write) in the Nanning airport - no idea it's actual name, though. They will probably arrive at the hotel around 7:30 pm or 8:00 pm ish. We all can't wait, but at the same time, we are all unsure, uneasy, etc. We don't know what to expect.