Adventure in China - adventureinchina

As I said above, I landed in Hong Kong after a tiring 15 hour flight from .  Cathay Pacific had great entertainment (you could choose your own movies) but lousy seats so I barely slept.  There's a simple way to get into the city on the Airport Express Train, and from there I easily found a cab to the hotel I had previously booked.  Unfortunately, confusion on time change and the international date line caused me to make a reservation for the wrong night (too early--I was still in the air!) so I lost some money, but the hotel (Butterfly on Prat) was nice and I was very glad I had located a place to stay ahead of time.  I only spent the night there, then took a train to the mainland to visit a friend in Shenzhen (which I'll write about next), but upon my return I had a little time one evening and the next morning to walk around and feel the energy of this famous city.  Hong Kong, in my opinion, has an odd relationship with China.  Having been returned to the Chinese government in 1997  (it was ceded to the British in 1841 as a result of losses in the Opium Wars--a very dark period in Sino-British relations), it now belongs to the People's Republic of China, but in a complicated way.  Leaving Hong Kong and going into mainland China was just like leaving and entering two separate countries, complete with immigrations and customs lines.  US and British citizens do not need to get a visa to travel to Hong Kong while Chinese citizens do.  And the language spoken in Hong Kong is the Cantonese version of Chinese rather than the official Mandarin language.  I expected to find more English spoken after all those years of British rule than I encountered.  For example, I ate dinner in the sushi restaurant in the picture, and of about 20 young employees, only one of them spoke English and could help me order.  Cars drive on the "wrong" side of the road (sorry, Brits!  I'm American!) but many more road signs and Metro directions were in English than I've seen on the mainland.  Of course commerce is the prime activity, and neon signs in English and Chinese beckoned visitors at every turn.  Shopping was not my priority and time was limited, so I didn't participate in that favorite activity of tourists.  I would like to have taken the tram to Victoria Peak to see the famous view overlooking the harbor, but I didn't have time.  But I did enjoy a stroll along the waterfront to see the gleaming new buildings and the mixture of vessels from luxury liners to ferries to traditional boats giving tours.  And the night before, a quick trip to the Temple Street night market was also fun to see the street full of extensive booths full of merchandise which are set up and torn down every night.  I'm sure those hardworking merchants have regular day jobs as well--I never cease to be amazed by the fortitude and tireless hard work of the Chinese people.

 

In October, Mandy and I made the trip to Zhang Jia Jie that I had to cancel after I had arrived due to my knee injury.  We had a good time and I’m really glad we went.  Of course, we went with a tour group (the Chinese way) and I’m sure that that simplified some things, even though there were, as usual, some disadvantages.  The first one was when we arrived on Thursday morning at the train station to meet with the group, and the tour guides did not have Mandy’s name on the list!  It took several phone calls and Mandy’s expert advocacy for them to accept us into the group, but it finally got straightened out.  We climbed on the bus and off we went. The trip was about five hours long, but the time passed pretty quickly.  We stopped once at a rest area (the English term here is “service center”) and I was delighted to find several goats climbing on a very steep hillside beside us--something you are unlikely to see in ! 

When we arrived, we put our luggage in a pile in the lobby of a small family-run hotel, “securely” covered with a loosely-woven net tossed on top of it. (I intentionally had brought a small, worn-looking travel bag and packed nothing but clothes and toiletries in it.)  We walked down a narrow path between buildings to a dining room in the alley behind and had our lunch.  The meal was pretty mediocre, as were the other ones eaten at this small restaurant.  I learned from the other travelers in the group to pour hot water in my bowl, swish it around, rinse my chopsticks in it, and then dump it out (either in a basin provided or out into the street) as a precaution before eating. 

 

The first attraction we went to see was Huanglong   Even walking to the cave, we saw many interesting things.  I enjoyed seeing a farm and haystack, and there was an intriguing large, unusual, new-looking building with a landscaped roof and an intricate artistic display of water wheels, turning every which way!  The tour guide gathered us into a group for admission into the cave, and we began walking through a massive underground cave system.  It was vast and huge.  As I have observed so many other places, here colored lights were used very effectively to enhance and highlight the rock formations.  There were paths and stairs built up and around many enormous stalagmites  and an underground lake upon which we took a boat ride. (That was very cool!).  I think the sight which impressed me the most, however, was a man-made stone bridge which we first saw from a distance, and then  later walked across.  This bridge, way up high in the vast  empty darkness of the cave, made me feel like I was in a scene from the movie “Lord of the Rings.”  Our legs got very tired from climbing up and down stairways, and I was drenched with sweat as I had dressed for the coolness of a cave, not realizing it would be an aerobics workout!

That evening, we had purchased optional tickets for a performance.  I really didn’t know what it would be—I had expected traditional Chinese opera with people in ornate costumes singing in high, nasal, too-loud voices but it was nothing of the sort.  It was AWESOME.  The setting for the outdoor drama (the audience was sheltered by a canopy) was in front of a tall waterfall and surrounded by rock formations.  The stage was made by platforms, several of them small and round, and the set included a swinging bridge and a real pond.  The show began by projecting a film against an actual screen of water, and when the introductory film sequence ended, the lights came up on a village scene with women washing clothes in the water, villagers doing their daily chores, and a farmer leading an ox and a goat across the stage!  Most of the story was easy for me to follow as it was dramatized with lots of well-choreographed action, singing and dancing, a recorded musical soundtrack, and incredible special lighting effects.   The show told a simple story of the development of their village from the earliest, primitive times and included a love story (complete with a wedding party in which cups of wine were served to selected audience members—and I was the first one selected!) and scenes of the young men going off to battle.  Laser lights were used to incredible effect, water fountains pulsated in time with the music, a man rappelled from one of the enormous rock formations, and men demonstrated feats of incredible strength and resistance to pain (huge stone slabs were placed on one man’s chest, with members of the audience invited to stand on them).  (How that fit into the story, I’m not too sure.)  At the end of the show, dancers from the cast brought some audience members onstage for a final dance.  When I saw that, I ran down and onto the stage, too, and the audience applauded me!  (I’m sure I was the only non-Chinese in the audience.)  So you know this show appealed to all of my theatrical senses and I loved it.  I have to say, the Chinese people certainly know how to put on spectacular performances!

The next morning, after an early breakfast that I found difficult to eat (I just can’t get excited about noodles and watery rice pudding at 6:30 in the morning), first we walked to a nearby Taoist temple.  I don’t know much about Taoism other than what I recall from reading the Tao Te Ching many years ago, but my impression was that the original focus of finding the true self through humility and understanding one’s place in nature became supplanted through the centuries by idol worship and prayers of supplication.  But I realize that any religion that survives the test of time will change and adapt to the needs of the people who practice it.  At the temple, we climbed up many stairs to different levels with pavilions for meditation, chanting, or prayer, then went inside a building at the top where we prayed in front of a gold Buddha-type statue (standing in straight lines, with our hands held a certain way).  We had an option to pay a small fee for an individual fortune-telling session with a Taoist priest (I declined, since I wouldn’t have been able to understand him anyway), then descended by way of a stairway tunneled through the rock.  All along this narrow pathway were plaster models of people going through various torments, symbolizing the trials met after death.  The figures reminded me of 1950’s era low-budget roadside tourist attractions I had seen in the American West years ago.

 

Following this unexpected addition to our itinerary, we got on the bus and rode to the entrance to the scenic area where the tall rock formations are found.  The government has made some smart decisions in limiting car access to this area, as the windy two-lane road is somewhat treacherous and cannot handle many cars, so they shuttle people up on buses and they have a rather efficient system designed for doing so.  It was about a fifteen-minute ride up the mountain to the drop-off point, and there we saw a huge elevator built on the outside of one of the rocky peaks.  This cost an additional fee which we had already paid, so we climbed inside.  This is one of the tallest and fastest elevators in the world, the promotional materials say.  For a while you are riding inside a shaft, and see only darkness outside the window, and then suddenly a breath-taking view appears and everyone gasps.  These tall, spiky mountains are very revered by the Chinese and it’s easy to see why.  They are so unique looking. 

Upon exiting the elevator, we started our hike around the peaks.  Everywhere I’ve gone in , all hiking has taken place on pathways paved with smooth stone blocks, bricks or concrete.  I guess when your country has been civilized for thousands of years with millions of people, all of the easy-to-get-to wild places have been tamed.  But it does make hiking easier—except for all the stairs, which are everywhere and endless.  (Buildings don’t even get elevators here unless they’re eight stories high or taller.)  So we walked along paths, stopped at amazing overlooks, passed by little vendor stands selling trinkets and snacks, and took pictures.  It was, as always, hazy so we didn’t get a clear view, but it was impressive nonetheless.  The Chinese love to give names to natural features, like “Rabbit Watching the ” and many signs were posted to explain these names. 

We walked along these paths for a couple of hours.  At one point we came to a natural bridge, way up high, and crossed it.  Many people had placed locks along the railing for good luck or blessings.  (There was, of course, a little shop to sell these conveniently located at the edge of the bridge.)  Due to the nature of the path, we didn’t stay in a large group but met after a while at a cafeteria-style dining hall, where we ate lunch.  We then proceeded as a whole group to tour a Tujia village.  From what I understood, there used to be many such villages in these mountains, but now only this one remains which is sort of a historic village for tourists.  Regardless, I loved it.  I enjoyed seeing craftspeople (I met a blacksmith, a spinner, and a beekeeper), the large connected building with various spaces for living and working—even the ox-powered grindstone was inside—and the outdoor spaces for animal keeping and entertainment (we had a chance to bet on a cock-fight, but the animals were unharmed).  I remarked to Mandy that I thought that this was the way to live; I wished we still lived in villages like that.  I could feel such a strong sense of community and belonging, like everyone had a role to play in village life and knew what their place was.  I know this village is now a tourist attraction and is not reflective of contemporary life for the Tujia people (in one bedroom, on an ancient dusty dresser, I saw a cellphone charging), but I could still easily imagine the way it was.  This ethnic minority seems like they are a gentle people, with gifts of music and handcraft.  Girls greeted us at the entrance with sweet harmonies and we saw, among other craftspeople, men chiseling intricate wood carvings.  I was very glad that we had been taken to visit this village.

 

We rode the bus to another part of the mountains which was more developed, including a large statue of a revolutionary leader from Zhang Jia Jie.  (The Chinese are fond of large statues of revolutionary leaders, I have observed.)  I enjoyed seeing the various vendors and wished we had had more time to browse the stands, but I was able to grab moments for a little souvenir shopping along the way.  The local crafts included weaving, embroidery and wood carvings.  I bought a couple of clever little whistles, one of which is a clay bird that makes very realistic birdsong sounds when partly filled with water.

 

We were given the choice of walking down the mountain—an hour’s hike down many stairs—or paying for a cable car ride, so we chose the ride.  I thought I would be pretty nervous (I’ve never ridden a cable car before) but it wasn’t too bad, and the spectacular view made up for any discomfort.  When we got to the bottom of the ride, we were taken to a valley in which we again had a choice of walking along a manmade path or riding in a little elevated tram along the valley floor.  At this point, Mandy and I felt like conserving our remaining funds (and the ride didn’t seem all that special) so we walked.  We were back in plenty of time as instructed by our tour guide, but they departed early on a bus and we got left behind at the market.  We had to wait a while for the next shuttle bus, so I don’t think our group appreciated the delay.  Next we were taken to what Mandy and I called a “kickback store”—an unscheduled stop at a business that provides some free samples or demonstration to customers and returns a portion of proceeds to the tour company (a common practice here)—but we didn’t mind as we got free foot soaks and massages in exchange for listening to a sales pitch on Chinese medicines.  Everybody was worn out and had aching feet from all the hiking so I think everyone enjoyed relaxing our feet in the hot water and getting them massaged afterwards!

 

Dinner was at a different restaurant—one we liked a little better—and by now we were starting to get to know some of our fellow travelers in the group.  Even though no one spoke English (except for Mandy), several of the people were kind to me and became friendlier as the trip went on.  A few people remarked to her that I was “brave” for traveling alone, and one couple she overheard earlier on the trip (not with our group) were talking about me with my “little interpreter,” thinking Mandy was someone I had hired to travel with me.  It really is essential to have an interpreter of some kind, however, unless one’s Chinese skills are much better than mine.  is simply NOT an English-speaking country—not yet, anyway.  (That’s why I’m here.)  Nothing was planned for the evening, and we were tired enough to be glad to get back to our hotel.  I think I went to bed at about 8:30!  We slept well.

 

The next day, Saturday, had an optional excursion back up into the mountains, but no one chose it as it was raining and people were pretty tired from the day before.  We did, however, take a two-hour hike along a stream in a valley among the peaks.  Again, the path was man-made.  I found the group pace a little fast for my taste, as I wanted to stop and look around, so I either lagged behind the group and had to catch up or walked fast to get in front of the group so that I could linger while they caught up.  Even though I had a rain poncho, I got pretty soaked, partly from the perspiration inside.  Mandy stayed fairly dry with an umbrella.  When walking along the stream, if I didn’t look up, it was much like any mountain stream I’d traveled beside in ; however, if I raised my eyes to the canyon walls, the view immediately reminded me I was in Zhang Jia Jie.  Also, every now and then we would encounter bearers with sedan chairs who of course tried to convince me to ride.  (I declined.)  And in a few spots, beautiful girls in ornate traditional costumes would pose with tourists for pictures for a fee.  So it was an interesting and pleasant hike, despite the rain and the pace of the group.

 

Another lunch (none of the meals on the trip were outstanding) and then we headed home on the bus.  Rather quickly, nearly all the Chinese fell asleep as it was their “wu xiu” (“woo show”) or after-lunch nap time.  After a couple of hours, I became quite concerned that our driver, too, was about to fall asleep.  I watched him yawning and shifting positions, clearly struggling to stay awake, then he smoked a cigarette.  (People smoke everywhere in ; there are no prohibitions.)  I was actually glad to see him do so, as I thought it might wake him up.  At one point, I woke Mandy up and asked her to say something to him, like ask him how far it would be to the next service station, but apparently one doesn’t speak to bus drivers as she only talked with the tour guide who also did not speak to the driver.  He managed to get us home safely, however, and since Mandy got off at a town about an hour from to visit a friend, she gave me instructions on finding my way home from the bus station without her.  It was only a three-day trip, but we felt like we saw and did a lot of things and enjoyed ourselves.  I’m really glad we got to finally take our trip together to Zhang Jia Jie!

Last weekend, I got away to Shanghai to visit with one of my American colleagues and see the sights of this famed city.  As I told my friend, my mental image of Shanghai was based on old movies and historical fiction, and included a healthy underworld teeming with all the vices known to man.  What I found was nothing of the sort.  I found a healthy, bustling city, vibrant and prosperous.  The air was cleaner and the traffic less congested than the city I live in.  Everywhere I looked, I saw gleaming skyscrapers, each one trying to outdo the previous in creative design.  Trendy shops with elegant window decor and world-class brand names beckoned shoppers, and even in the souvenir markets a little English was spoken (though sometimes limited to the "Hey lady, buy watchee" variety).  For a change, I was not the only foreign face in the crowd although I was obvious enough to attract the attention of the peddlers.  And, as I have seen everywhere I've been in China--from the most rural village to the biggest metropolis--Shanghai is most definitely "Under Construction."  2008 was Beijing's year with the Olympics; now it's Shanghai's turn as it prepares for the World Expo 2010, opening in May, which will bring 70 million visitors to enjoy displays and events representing 192 countries and 50 international organizations.  Most noticeable were the huge disruptions in the middle of major roadways--not sure what was going on there, but it certainly slowed down traffic.  In the famous Bund, site of the original British settlement in the 1800's and former financial center of Asia, the waterfront was being renovated, and many buildings were getting facelifts.  Even with the interference of construction, Shanghai had lots of scenic spots to welcome me, as you can see from the photo album.  Since I had only a few days to spend, I  played on the role of "tourist" for a change, and crammed in as many experiences as time would allow.  The first day, my friend accompanied me, and the next day since she had to work, she lined up a couple of students who were my willing and able tour guides.  I was pleased that I could even show them a few things they hadn't seen before--the ferry ride across to Pudong and the amazing Shanghai Aquarium.  I'm sure there were many sides of Shanghai that I missed seeing, but I came away with the feeling that I had made the acquaintance of this lovely jewel of the East.

 

For an interesting (though somewhat wordy) perspective on Shanghai, read this description which I found at http://www.travelfair.com.sg/guide/shanghai/:

Literally "above/on the sea", Shanghai, shabby fishing village turned shining mega port sitting at the heart of China's east coast where the magnificent Yangtze River empties into the vast East China Sea, has always been ready to make waves.  A bustling hybrid of exoticism and endemism, Shanghai is kind of like if you took Hong Kong's rags to rogues to riches story, combined it with Beijing's penchant for bureaucracy and semi-mythical images, substituted all the "R"s for "G"s on the end of every other word, and threw in closer links to the Chinese interior and a stronger industrial, manufacturing and technology base, shaping a colossal international metropolis which is all at once more evocatively traditional Chinese than Hong Kong for both out-of-towners and local people, and more inspiringly modern Chinese than Beijing for both venture capital investors and big money spenders.  Standing testament to its singularly stately colonial past with its gracious collection of art-deco structures along the elegant waterfront Bund, and standing at the forefront of China's race for economy renaissance and society reform in the new century with its grandiose constellation of surging skyscrapers in the scintillating Pudong district, among the most emblematic the Orient Pearl TV Tower, this veritable Pearl of the Orient is surely the pride and joy of the nation in more ways than one.

Shortly after I arrived here, I met a Chinese girl (I'll call her "Tammy") while we were both walking along the riverside, where the city has built a nice park.  Like so many young people, she was eager to practice her English with me, and we became friends, meeting occasionally to walk or eat dinner together.  She invited me to visit her family who live a couple of hours away by bus, and this weekend, I did.  Although I've had dinner a few times in private homes, this was the first time I had spent the night with a family.  They were very gracious and generous, like so many Chinese.  It was quite cold and my clothes weren't really warm enough, so her mother gave me a hand-knit sweater and two pairs of crocheted warm slippers, plus a bag of oranges and tea that had been grown and dried by the grandmother.  I got to visit the grandparents' farm, which was a joy for this displaced country girl.  Grandma is 70 and Grandpa is 80 and they work hard, live humbly and seem quite happy.  Grandma invited us to "sit with her a little while" so we perched on the tiny chairs that are everywhere here while she stirred up her fire on the floor of the kitchen and boiled us some eggs in her kettle. Three young grandsons were playing nearby, home from school which was closed due to the flu, and they kept laughing hysterically at this strange-looking foreigner who couldn't talk right--it must have seemed like I was from another planet to them.  After a while, Grandma went out to work in the field, thinning some plants, and I tried to help but couldn't understand her directions and pulled out the wrong ones.  And this from a person with a horticulture degree!  Lack of communication skills has made me feel really stupid here more than once.  (Turns out we were pulling the little green plants that people eat, and leaving the little green plants that the pig eats--and of course they looked almost exactly alike and were intermingled in the field.)  We also visited some other relatives who make their living gathering wood, cutting it into lengths and selling it for use in building and railway construction.  Tammy's father is a fireworks dealer, and the family lives over and around the fireworks shop, which has stacks and stacks of fireworks EVERYwhere, including in the parents' bedroom.  It made me slightly nervous but I just reassured myself that they lived there all the time and it was just fine.  The shop was an open-front room, like all the shops along the row, so it was cold, but the rest of the house was also since their only heat comes from a small coal-brick heater that is placed under a small table with a blanket over the table.  You sit with your legs under the blanket, when you have time to rest, so your feet and legs can warm up, and put your hands there if you are not using them.  Here, people wear their sweaters and coats all the time since most buildings are unheated.  Neighbors all visited freely back and forth between the shops, and I could tell it was a close community.  I especially loved seeing the "fat babies" who had so many layers of padded clothing that they looked twice their actual size!  I'll put the pictures from this visit in an album so you can see for yourself.

In the beginning of October, we got a week off to celebrate the National Holiday (founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949), which this year coincided with the traditional full moon festival called the "Mid-Autumn Festival."  I was invited to join a group of foreigners to go to smaller city nearby named Qi Yang ("chee yang") and participate in a performance there.  Performing in front of a Chinese audience was exciting, of course, but the most valuable part of the trip for me was getting to know the group of Middle Easterners that I traveled with.  Here's an excerpt from my personal journal in which I wrote in more length about the experience: "I learned so much about Muslims, especially Muslim men.  I learned they are warm-hearted, funny and incredibly close, both in showing physical affection with each other and in their open and evident love for one another.  I learned that, although they are allowed up to four wives, that they are forbidden to have relations outside of marriage--in fact, they cannot even touch or kiss a girl before marrying her.  I learned they have very strict food requirements, which created some problems for them on the trip, even though our hosts were trying to abide by their restrictions.  Good Muslims do not drink any alcohol or use drugs.  They have very large families--often eight or more siblings and multiple families often live together.  Once they adopted me as part of the clan, they were always very solicitous and treated me with great respect and consideration.  These men felt no animosity between Sunni and Shia, both represented in our group.  This trip was invaluable for me in learning and becoming friends with people of the one major world religion of which I knew the least, and, to be honest, feared the most.  And after just three days, I would entrust my life to any one of these men if the occasion warranted it.  Life is really pretty amazing sometimes."  I've explained some things about the historic site Wu Xi ("woo she") in the captions under the pictures in the Qi Yang album, but this journal entry wouldn't be complete if I didn't describe my experience during the concert.  Here's another excerpt:  "I wrote 'Song for Qi Yang' on Friday and performed it on Saturday, so I was nervous about remembering the lyrics and playing the guitar part, written in a DADGAD tuning.  Plus I was playing into a mic, not with a pickup, which is more difficult.  So it was even more nerve-wracking (though a bit exciting) with the fog machine, bubble machine and whirling colored lights going on as I was playing!  At least they didn't 'Spray the  Fire' while I was playing (see the video of the children's performance for pyrotechnics!).  And during my second song, "Country Roads"  (a Chinese favorite--who would have guessed!) the attractive female co-host came on stage and started shouting into her microphone in Chinese while I was singing--I guess to encourage audience participation!  Ah, bless the Chinese and their ideas on how to have a good time.  There were also dancers and models, comedians and a well-known popular Chinese singer, and at the end there were fireworks.  Needless to say, it's a gig I'll never forget!"  Being the only American in the crowd made me a real celebrity, as seems to happen pretty easily around here.

My first out-of-town trip was to Shao Shan, the hometown of PRC founder Mao Zedong. The first stop was at a very well-designed and modern museum honoring Liu Shaoqi, an early and important colleague of Mao’s who was later discredited during the infamous Cultural Revolution.  After that we saw the huge statue of Mao in the village square, ate a fairly decent lunch (I MUST remember to take only tiny servings until I’ve tried dishes!), walked through a mountain retreat of Mao’s built around 1970 called the Dripping Water Cave (I was thoroughly puzzled at the absence of a real cave) and finally visited Mao’s homeplace, which was the highlight of the trip for me.  Even if the home hadn’t belonged to Chairman Mao’s family, I would have been fascinated to see the layout of the 19^th century yellow brick farmhouse with its wood-fired cookstoves, water pots and indoor well, enclosed cloth-draped sleeping platforms, farm implements including a grain separator not unlike one we used at the farm in Michigan, attached pig pen, interior courtyard, and kitchen garden.  The doorways were small and all had ledges to step over when entering, perhaps to keep water or vermin out. Surrounding the farmhouse were rice fields and a pond where, the story goes, Mao learned to escape harsh punishment from his father by swimming from one side to the other.  Informational signs in Chinese and English explained each room and his father was described as a “crackajack” of a man.  (I find the Chinese translations quite charming! I also enjoyed seeing the farms and rice fields along the way.  The farmers with their ubiquitous straw hats were out working with hoes and tanks of something on their backs that they were spraying onto the fields, which I later learned was pesticides.)  Occasionally you would see a woman walking down a farm lane with her pretty umbrella to shade her from the sun, and it was a quaint and lovely scene.  At least that's how it looked from my seat on the air-conditioned bus!

I'm halfway through my semester-long China experience and I've just figured out how to set up this cool site on Shutterfly to share pictures, stories and videos from my experience.  I have so many pictures and stories to share--where to start and what to include?  Of course time is the limiting factor, for I am here not on vacation but to teach and help further the friendship between my home university and our Chinese sister institution.  My assignment is to help 150 Ph.D. students improve their reading and writing of English.  As you can imagine, their levels vary widely.  Most Chinese can read English pretty well, but their listening and speaking abilities are lower, since English really is not used much here.  But China is hurtling into the modern world and wants to internationalize, so English is taught in the schools (but by Chinese teachers, for the most part, who are not native speakers).  It's been interesting learning to get by on a day-to-day basis, as my Chinese is very minimal.  But the Chinese people are friendly and kind.  One of my Chinese friends told me yesterday as we were walking together that I am "like a panda"--everybody stares at me, as I am usually the only non-Chinese everywhere I go.  I'm used to it by now and it doesn't bother me.  Sometimes young people will come up to me on the street and want to practice their English.  Several people have told me they've never spoken with a foreigner before.  My students are eager to learn and work hard.  Chinese students often take extra classes on evenings and weekends--even primary school children go to school six days a week and don't get home until 5 or 6 at night.  No wonder the Chinese are so smart!

Wonderful historical fiction set in different time periods in China's history.  "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" remains my fave, but I've read and enjoyed almost all.

I've read two of his books:  "River Town" and "Oracle Bones."  As a fellow ex-pat teacher, I especially enjoyed "River Town," his first.  "Oracle Bones" focuses on archeological findings interspersed with stories of his Chinese friends and travels.

The true story of three generations of women whose life experiences span the 1900's, pre-, during, and post-Revolution in China.  Very revealing portraits of resilient, intelligent women.

9/24/2010 2:35:57 AM - 003057639483
Sallyyyyyy~~ really nice pics!!! especially the album of Feng huang ~~ hahah~~~ my hometown, my paradise~

7/11/2010 3:07:53 PM - 003042443483
Oh wow! What a great experience and opportunity. Thanks for sharing. I tried to reply earlier this year but apparently failed to do so. I'm a bit technologically challenged.

1/25/2010 2:12:23 AM - 003016708336
Oh Sally, thank you so much for sharing your marvelous adventure with us! You are an amazing educator and mentor! You inspire us all! Love, Joy

1/11/2010 5:25:25 PM - 003014902741
Hi Dru,
Just got back from Baltimore last night--my dad is very ill. Waved to Frostburg for you. Can't remember when you're coming home. Looks like you're having the time of your life! So happy for you. Miss you and looking forward to your homecoming. Love, Sue

1/6/2010 1:38:32 PM - 003001711456
Drhuva, the New Year's celebration in Changsha looks wild, from the photos! Looks like you're having a ball performing as well. I'm really excited for you, and can't wait to talk with you via phone, when you return to Frostburg. What a marvelous journey. Your adventurous, courageous spirit always been an inspiration to me.

1/2/2010 3:57:02 AM - 003012317634
Sally, thanks for the adventures through pictures! What a treat. It will be fun to see you again soon! Happy New Year!

12/27/2009 2:38:57 PM - 002058480961
Wow, this is great! So glad you are sharing your experiences with us.

11/21/2009 2:34:11 AM - 001049708534
Sally sorry it took me so long... you know the life of a first year teacher! This site is awesome. I love how you post pictures, videos and journals! Mandy said she has seen you a lot.

11/16/2009 1:29:35 AM - 001041446364
Thank you Sally for sharing your site. I can't believe it is already half over. What an experience of a lifetime.

11/9/2009 2:23:18 PM - 001066300675
I wasn't certain to all were the recipients of your announcement of the site. I forwarded it to Emily, even if it is a duplicate. Sounds like you are having a wonderful cultural experience. We miss you. Take care.

11/5/2009 4:28:12 PM - 002097447390
I am happy to find your China Adventure page. I will be dropping in often

11/5/2009 11:47:40 AM - 001022347802
So cool! Can't wait to hear the Chinese instruments I suspect you'll be bringing home!

This is a presentation to my Chinese graduate students about using Western-style citations and references.

Felicia's first plane ride ever!
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And what an incredible sky show we watched!
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Colorful koi competing for breadcrumbs
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At the Panda Base--Chinese girls learn to pose early!
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My little friend was the amazing artist.
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He was a true artist in the midst of tacky souvenir shops.
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I wasn't brave enough to visit this public toilet.
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This one--rated three stars--was much better!
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Two beautiful lotus flowers!
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Dairy Queen in the Orient
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Oolong blizzard, anyone?
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These tassels represented wishes and prayers.
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Lots of them.
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Monks with digital cameras seemed incongruous to me.
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A tiny garden temple.
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Love the Chinglish signs!
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Need your ears cleaned?
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Making shadow puppets
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Shadow puppets, a local art form
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Full moon is always special
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Louis Vitton making a big splash in China
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Entrance to a historic scenic tourist area
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Subtlety is not one of their strong points
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Taming the turtle--food or fun?
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Geese by the moon bridge
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Feeding the geese
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Shopping street
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Lots of luck
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Brassware in the market
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Felicia was a great model
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Artist modeling clay images for customers
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Enticing lights in an entranceway
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Massively tall strings of lit lanterns
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The morning commute takes many forms
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Opening ancient shops, board by board
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Decorated doorways
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Dragon door
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Removable wall boards numbered for correct return
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Some very old decor
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Restaurant workers prepare for the day
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Smile!
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Wish I'd gotten the faces of these twins
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Section of wall showing different layers
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A lively lion
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Sweetness
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Wall art with shadow puppet theme
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Like the funhouse!
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We Cheng-did it!
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View of the Forbidden City from high up in Jingshan Park.

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In Jingshan Park, a young girl dresses up in vintage costume for a photo.

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One of the many delightful scenes of local people enjoying making music together. These hulusi players are in Jingshan Park with the Forbidden City in the background.

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Some of the beautiful detailed paintings in the Jingshan Park pavilions, recently restored.

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The magnificent new Performing Arts Center at night, close to Tiananmen Square

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The Chinese love taking and posing for photos.

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A long-pole fisherman fishes in the moat around the Forbidden City.

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Somehow the dentists seem to think that plying their craft in front of the public eye will bring them more business. . . I wonder.

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One of the many bicycle balancing acts I saw

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Guards in Tiananmen Square

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One of the sculptures in Tiananmen Square, glorifying the revolution. I especially liked the expressive faces in this one.

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Mao Zedong's body is housed here in a crystal coffin, raised daily for worshippers to view, then lowered back into cold storage.

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Sculpture on the west side of Mao's mausoleum

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Entrance to the Forbidden City presided over by a giant picture of Chairman Mao

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Some of the vast brick square inside the Forbidden City

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Beautifully restored buildings in the Forbidden City

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Ornate carving detail, Forbidden City

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The throne of the Emporer, Forbidden City

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Forbidden City trees, several hundreds of years old, are delicately preserved

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View of the Jingshan Park pavilion upon exiting the Forbidden City

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Magnificent Temple of Heaven where the Emporer once prayed for the year's harvest

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Inside the Temple of Heaven

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Our choir singing in front of the Temple of Heaven, March 2008

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A beautiful arched bridge in the park of the Summer Palace

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Entrance to the Summer Palace

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At the Summer Palace, a calligrapher paints with water

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Ornate gate in the Summer Palace

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Detail from the ornate Summer Palace gate

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This stone boat in the Summer Palace was never intended to go anywhere

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The Great Wall at Jurong Pass, about an hour from Beijing

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Okay, I had to put this one in! Me on my Great Wall climb. I asked a stranger to take my photo.

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Here's the whole choir and our director and accompanists, posed with the Great Wall in the background

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A trip to Beijing would not be complete without taking in an acrobat show!

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Pearls, anyone?

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Sculpture in the Beijing Capital Airport, international terminal

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Wangfujing, a famous walking street in Beijing

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Just one of the many massively large glam advertisements on buildings

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Snack street near Wangfujing, where you can munch on bugs, reptiles, sea animals and more.

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Hungry to munch on a scorpion or two?

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Or how about a little octopus?

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This Beijing subway scene really caught my eye!

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The "Dirt Market" where antiques and souvenirs filled stall after stall

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One display of Mao-era ceramic figurines

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Stone carvings for sale

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Beautiful stone "chops"

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China is full of ancient and modern--and you can guess which one this is

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A striking fountain in an upscale shopping area

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My colleague Doug tries his hand at filling the hot pot. The Beijing "cooker" was a style I'd never seen before.

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My other colleague Tom and the proprieter of an outdoor restaurant we enjoyed.

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The restaurant was decorated with hanging bird cages--not QUITE over our heads!

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Entrance to the Panda Preserve

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DSCN2949.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN2950.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3025.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3026.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3034-cropped.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3035.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3036.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3037.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3038.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3041.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3043.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3044.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3060.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3062.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3083.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3084.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3085.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3087.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3090.JPG 2010-07-25

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DSCN3103-edited copy.jpg 2010-07-25

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Dramatic mountains greet us on arrival

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View from our hotel

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In the marketplace near our hotel--do you think he knows?

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Fanny and I have a noodle dinner

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Yak horn crafts for sale

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Yak meat for sale

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Tibetan herbal medicine for my altitude sickness

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Entrance to the scenic area

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A large Tibetan prayer wheel

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A row of "stupas," or Tibetan Buddhist spiritual monuments

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One of the Tibetan villages in Jiuzhaigou park

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Buddhist prayer site with prayer wheels

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Long Lake at 3500 meters elevation (around 11,000 feet)

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Multi-colored lake--amazing!

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Shuzheng Falls--the first we saw of many

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This beautiful girl was an American working there for the summer!

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A lovely stupa with prayer flags fluttering in the breeze

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The colorful interior of a Tibetan family home

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Arrow Bamboo Lake. Arrow Bamboo is a food of pandas, and pandas are said to be seen in the park occasionally

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Panda Falls went on and on and on!

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We hiked through some old-growth forest, "primeval" cheerfully misspelled on this marker

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Nuorilang Falls was very dramatic

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Prayer flags at Shuzheng village

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The visitor's center at the entrance to the park

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Pearl Shoals Falls was our favorite and we playfully took many pictures there

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My guide and possibly her grandchildren who waited for us with lambs in arms

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I sat on the ground and suddenly a 3-day-old lamb was in my lap!

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Even the saddles are colorful in the land of the Tibetans

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Our young friend surprised us with a little bit of English

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Stunning vistas on the mountain pastures

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Entrance to the evening performance we attended

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The show begins

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A Tibetan singing star

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The drama included a small cup of rice wine at each audience member's seat

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A handsome male singer

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A folk instrument

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Whirling dancers. There was so much red-orange on stage that I decided to try my black and white setting and liked it.

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Tibetan decorations on a theatre door

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Looking out the window at the Jiuzhaigou airport, over 11,000 feet elevation. I felt quite sick there.

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View of these mountains from the air

Phoenix in the town square.JPG
Phoenix in the town square.JPG 2010-06-23

Built around a river.JPG
Built around a river.JPG 2010-06-23

Teahouse bridge.JPG
Teahouse bridge.JPG 2010-06-24

Ladies waiting.JPG
Ladies waiting.JPG 2010-06-23

Riverfront homes.JPG
Riverfront homes.JPG 2010-06-23

Boats at the ready.JPG
Boats at the ready.JPG 2010-06-23

Boatman.JPG
Boatman.JPG 2010-06-23

Singing riverfolk.JPG
Singing riverfolk.JPG 2010-06-23

View from boat-laundry day.JPG
View from boat-laundry day.JPG 2010-06-23

View from the river-pavilion.JPG
View from the river-pavilion.JPG 2010-06-23

Ancient roof design.JPG
Ancient roof design.JPG 2010-06-23

Rooflines.JPG
Rooflines.JPG 2010-06-23

Rooflines with bells.JPG
Rooflines with bells.JPG 2010-06-23

Ming era buildings.JPG
Ming era buildings.JPG 2010-06-23

Sketching the scenery.JPG
Sketching the scenery.JPG 2010-06-23

Morning washing.JPG
Morning washing.JPG 2010-06-24

Locally dyed cloth.JPG
Locally dyed cloth.JPG 2010-06-23

Miao handweaver.JPG
Miao handweaver.JPG 2010-06-24

Overlooking footbridge.JPG
Overlooking footbridge.JPG 2010-06-24

Eva and Sally.JPG
Eva and Sally.JPG 2010-06-24

Big fish barbecue.JPG
Big fish barbecue.JPG 2010-06-23

This little piggie.JPG
This little piggie.JPG 2010-06-23

Watermelon delight.JPG
Watermelon delight.JPG 2010-06-23

Crabs on sticks.JPG
Crabs on sticks.JPG 2010-06-23

Pretty things, sweet smiles.JPG
Pretty things, sweet smiles.JPG 2010-06-23

Feng Huang at night.JPG
Feng Huang at night.JPG 2010-06-23

Nightlife decor.JPG
Nightlife decor.JPG 2010-06-23

Walnut shell art-before.JPG
Walnut shell art-before.JPG 2010-06-23

Walnut shell art-after.JPG
Walnut shell art-after.JPG 2010-06-23

Feng Huang in morning mist.JPG
Feng Huang in morning mist.JPG 2010-06-24

Preparing for the day.JPG
Preparing for the day.JPG 2010-06-24

Instant warriors.JPG
Instant warriors.JPG 2010-06-24

Round coal-dust bricks for heating.JPG
Round coal-dust bricks for heating.JPG 2010-06-23

View through the city wall.JPG
View through the city wall.JPG 2010-06-24

Crowds en route to the race.JPG
Crowds en route to the race.JPG 2010-06-14

Well-balanced floats.JPG
Well-balanced floats.JPG 2010-06-14

Another balancing act.JPG
Another balancing act.JPG 2010-06-14

Beginning of Dragon Dance.JPG
Beginning of Dragon Dance.JPG 2010-06-14

Stilt-dancing folk artists.JPG
Stilt-dancing folk artists.JPG 2010-06-14

Colors shoot into the sky.jpg
Colors shoot into the sky.jpg 2010-06-14

Human scenery in hot sun.JPG
Human scenery in hot sun.JPG 2010-06-14

History re-enacted.JPG
History re-enacted.JPG 2010-06-14

Drama of paddlers.JPG
Drama of paddlers.JPG 2010-06-14

200 in the sun for hours.JPG
200 in the sun for hours.JPG 2010-06-14

Awards to officials.JPG
Awards to officials.JPG 2010-06-14

Colorful dancers.JPG
Colorful dancers.JPG 2010-06-14

Drummers posed to perform.JPG
Drummers posed to perform.JPG 2010-06-14

Well-synchronized performers.JPG
Well-synchronized performers.JPG 2010-06-14

The drama unfolds.JPG
The drama unfolds.JPG 2010-06-14

Finale of show.JPG
Finale of show.JPG 2010-06-14

Boats waiting to race.JPG
Boats waiting to race.JPG 2010-06-14

Close-up of dragon boat (photo by Nick).JPG
Close-up of dragon boat.JPG 2010-06-14

Drummer sets the pace.JPG
Drummer sets the pace.JPG 2010-06-14

International team included women.JPG
International team included women.JPG 2010-06-14

Yellow glides to first place.JPG
Yellow glides to first place.JPG 2010-06-14

My friend Tammy.JPG
My friend Tammy.JPG 2010-06-14

Snake peddler.JPG
Snake peddler.JPG 2010-06-14

Local temple in Miluo.JPG
Local temple in Miluo.JPG 2010-06-14

Inside the temple.JPG
Inside the temple.JPG 2010-06-14

My student Nick (lower left) and his students.JPG
My student Nick (lower left) and his students.JPG 2010-06-15

Lunch is served.JPG
Lunch is served.JPG 2010-06-14

Nick and Pan-pan.JPG
Nick and Pan-pan.JPG 2010-06-15

Museum of Qu Yuan.JPG
Museum of Qu Yuan.JPG 2010-06-15

Painting of Qu Yuan.JPG
Painting of Qu Yuan.JPG 2010-06-15

Readers rehearsing.JPG
Readers rehearsing.JPG 2010-06-15

Ancient meets modern.JPG
Ancient meets modern.JPG 2010-06-15

Preparing for the ceremony.JPG
Preparing for the ceremony.JPG 2010-06-15

The altar.JPG
The altar.JPG 2010-06-15

Goat head offering.JPG
Goat head offering.JPG 2010-06-15

Pig head offering.JPG
Pig head offering.JPG 2010-06-15

Reading in unison.JPG
Reading in unison.JPG 2010-06-15

Reading the poem.JPG
Reading the poem.JPG 2010-06-15

The poem.JPG
The poem.JPG 2010-06-15

Me in newspaper photo.jpg
Me in newspaper photo.jpg 2010-06-16

Ringing the bell.JPG
Ringing the bell.JPG 2010-06-15

Gardens and pavilion.JPG
Gardens and pavilion.JPG 2010-06-15

Corridor of poetry carved on slate.JPG
Corridor of poetry carved on slate.JPG 2010-06-15

Ancient characters.JPG
Ancient characters.JPG 2010-06-15

Old dragon boats.JPG
Old dragon boats.JPG 2010-06-15

Claire at work.JPG
Claire at work.JPG 2010-06-12

View from Claire
View from Claire's office.JPG 2010-06-12

Claire and hubby Wei.JPG
Claire and hubby Wei.JPG 2010-06-12

Entrance to 2nd floor factory.JPG
Entrance to 2nd floor factory.JPG 2010-06-11

Wei
Wei's factory.JPG 2010-06-11

Electronics assembly line.JPG
Electronics assembly line.JPG 2010-06-11

Plastic molding machines.JPG
Plastic molding machines.JPG 2010-06-11

Some of the 50 workers.JPG
Some of the 50 workers.JPG 2010-06-11

Finished components.JPG
Finished components.JPG 2010-06-11

Familiar label in place of origin.JPG
Familiar label in place of origin.JPG 2010-06-11

Divine guidance.JPG
Divine guidance.JPG 2010-06-12

Interesting building design.JPG
Interesting building design.JPG 2010-06-12

Shoes on a bridge.JPG
Shoes on a bridge.JPG 2010-06-11

McFake.JPG
McFake.JPG 2010-06-11

Claire at entrance to Splendid China.JPG
Claire at entrance to Splendid China.JPG 2010-06-12

Goddess with many arms.JPG
Goddess with many arms.JPG 2010-06-12

Scale model of Great Wall.JPG
Scale model of Great Wall.JPG 2010-06-12

Claire with scenery.JPG
Claire with scenery.JPG 2010-06-12

Cave house.JPG
Cave house.JPG 2010-06-12

Inside cave house.JPG
Inside cave house.JPG 2010-06-12

Chinese Korean house (NE provinces).JPG
Chinese Korean house (NE provinces).JPG 2010-06-12

Inside Chinese Korean house.JPG
Inside Chinese Korean house.JPG 2010-06-12

Corn dryer.JPG
Corn dryer.JPG 2010-06-12

Drum tower outside.JPG
Drum tower outside.JPG 2010-06-12

Drum tower inside.JPG
Drum tower inside.JPG 2010-06-12

House on stilts.JPG
House on stilts.JPG 2010-06-12

Mani stone heap.JPG
Mani stone heap.JPG 2010-06-12

Boat for a bride.JPG
Boat for a bride.JPG 2010-06-12

Me and Chinese sunflowers.JPG
Me and Chinese sunflowers.JPG 2010-06-12

Waterfall beauty.JPG
Waterfall beauty.JPG 2010-06-12

Sweet art form.JPG
Sweet art form.JPG 2010-06-12

Lots of ads.JPG
Lots of ads.JPG 2010-06-12

Red taxis looking for riders.JPG
Red taxis looking for riders.JPG 2010-06-12

Sushi restaurant.JPG
Sushi restaurant.JPG 2010-06-12

Goose for dinner.JPG
Goose for dinner.JPG 2010-06-13

Pretty sauna entrance.JPG
Pretty sauna entrance.JPG 2010-06-12

Tsim Sha Tsui street.JPG
Tsim Sha Tsui street.JPG 2010-06-10

McHong Kong ad in subway.JPG
McHong Kong ad in subway.JPG 2010-06-13

Metro riders wait and text.JPG
Metro riders wait and text.JPG 2010-06-13

Modern Hong Kong.JPG
Modern Hong Kong.JPG 2010-06-13

Victoria Harbor.jpg
Victoria Harbor.jpg 2010-07-06

Dinner in the night market.JPG
Dinner in the night market.JPG 2010-06-13

Hong Kong night view.jpg
Hong Kong night view.jpg 2010-07-06

Scene from train to mainland.JPG
Scene from train to mainland.JPG 2010-06-13

Eloquent trash receptacle in airport.JPG
Eloquent trash receptacle in airport.JPG 2010-06-11

orange peddler.jpg
orange peddler.jpg 2009-11-05

Proud of his fish.JPG
Proud of his fish.JPG 2009-12-30

Fresh vegetables.JPG
Fresh vegetables.JPG 2009-12-30

Watermelons and ice cream.JPG
Watermelons and ice cream.JPG 2008-08-20

Chicken feet shop.JPG
Chicken feet shop.JPG 2008-08-20

Fruit stand.JPG
Fruit stand.JPG 2008-09-09

Mystery meats.JPG
Mystery meats.JPG 2009-09-12

A bundle of frogs.JPG
A bundle of frogs.JPG 2009-09-30

Live eels.JPG
Live eels.JPG 2009-09-30

pig's stomach.JPG
pig's stomach.JPG 2009-09-30

Chicken for dinner.JPG
Chicken for dinner.JPG 2009-09-30

marketplace.JPG
marketplace.JPG 2009-09-30

pot of rice.JPG
pot of rice.JPG 2009-11-05

Drug stores sell herbs.JPG
Drug stores sell herbs.JPG 2009-11-27

Marketplace on a rainy day.JPG
Marketplace on a rainy day.JPG 2009-11-28

Meat wagon.JPG
Meat wagon.JPG 2009-11-28

Tailors in the clothing store.JPG
Tailors in the clothing store.JPG 2009-11-28

Straight from the farm.JPG
Straight from the farm.JPG 2009-11-28

Mushrooms galore.JPG
Mushrooms galore.JPG 2009-12-09

Fresh meat.JPG
Fresh meat.JPG 2009-12-09

Grilled quail eggs.JPG
Grilled quail eggs.JPG 2009-12-10

Yummy grilled tofu.JPG
Yummy grilled tofu.JPG 2009-12-17

Small restaurant.JPG
Small restaurant.JPG 2009-12-17

Fresh fruit.JPG
Fresh fruit.JPG 2009-12-20

Baozi--steamed bread with meat center.JPG
Baozi--steamed bread with meat center.JPG 2009-12-22

Fruit vendor.JPG
Fruit vendor.JPG 2009-12-22

Two adding machines.JPG
Two adding machines.JPG 2009-12-24

Haystack.JPG
Haystack.JPG 2009-10-08

The Thinker-.jpg
The Thinker-.jpg 2009-10-08

Intricate water wheel art.JPG
Intricate water wheel art.JPG 2009-10-08

In the huge cave.JPG
In the huge cave.JPG 2009-10-08

Colored lights on stalagmites.JPG
Colored lights on stalagmites.JPG 2009-10-08

On a boat in an underground lake.JPG
On a boat in an underground lake.JPG 2009-10-08

stone bridge in cave from a distance.jpg
stone bridge in cave from a distance.jpg 2009-10-08

Outdoor drama including ox.JPG
Outdoor drama including ox.JPG 2009-10-08

At the Taoist temple.JPG
At the Taoist temple.JPG 2009-10-09

Taoist temple door.JPG
Taoist temple door.JPG 2009-10-09

Temple words of wisdom.JPG
Temple words of wisdom.JPG 2009-10-09

Entrance to scenic area.JPG
Entrance to scenic area.JPG 2009-10-09

tallest_elevator-edited.jpg
tallest_elevator-edited.jpg 2009-10-09

Zhang_Jia_Jie.JPG
Zhang_Jia_Jie.JPG 2009-10-09

Me at Zhang Jia Jie.JPG
Me at Zhang Jia Jie.JPG 2009-10-09

Natural bridge.JPG
Natural bridge.JPG 2009-10-09

Locks for luck.JPG
Locks for luck.JPG 2009-10-09

Mandy at an overlook.JPG
Mandy at an overlook.JPG 2009-10-09

Chinese always sleep on buses.JPG
Chinese always sleep on buses.JPG 2009-10-09

Me with the village blacksmith.jpg
Me with the village blacksmith.jpg 2009-10-09

Whistle peddler.JPG
Whistle peddler.JPG 2009-10-09

Tujia girls with tourists-cropped.jpg
Tujia girls with tourists-cropped.jpg 2009-10-10

Along the stream.JPG
Along the stream.JPG 2009-10-10

View from the valley.JPG
View from the valley.JPG 2009-10-10

Mandy on the valley path.JPG
Mandy on the valley path.JPG 2009-10-09

Fruit market.JPG
Fruit market.JPG 2009-10-10

Snake oil medicine for sale.JPG
Snake oil medicine for sale.JPG 2009-10-09

To market, to market.JPG
To market, to market.JPG 2009-10-10

With the hospital director & team.JPG
With the hospital director & team.JPG 2010-01-18

With my adopted Chinese brother Evan.JPG
With my adopted Chinese brother Evan.JPG 2010-01-07

With my kind friend Claire.JPG
With my kind friend Claire.JPG 2010-01-12

My friend Fanny.JPG
My friend Fanny.JPG 2010-01-08

With Tammy.JPG
With Tammy.JPG 2010-01-12

Medicine bag sent home.JPG
Medicine bag sent home.JPG 2009-12-27

First IV treatment.JPG
First IV treatment.JPG 2009-12-27

Curious nurses reading my exams.JPG
Curious nurses reading my exams.JPG 2009-12-29

My hospital room.JPG
My hospital room.JPG 2010-01-09

Smoggy view outside.JPG
Smoggy view outside.JPG 2010-01-09

Franklin, Louis & Lizzie bring dinner.JPG
Franklin, Louis & Lizzie bring dinner.JPG 2010-01-07

Pretty flowers.JPG
Pretty flowers.JPG 2010-01-09

Birthday in a Chinese hospital.JPG
Birthday in a Chinese hospital.JPG 2010-01-07

My doctor.JPG
My doctor.JPG 2010-01-12

My nurses.JPG
My nurses.JPG 2010-01-12

With the International Services staff.JPG
With the International Services staff.JPG 2010-01-13

Student nurses.JPG
Student nurses.JPG 2010-01-14

Family of current FSU student.JPG
Family of current FSU student.JPG 2010-01-11

Mandy with her mother and American boyfriend.JPG
Mandy with her mother and American boyfriend.JPG 2010-01-09

Dong, also former FSU student.JPG
Dong, also former FSU student.JPG 2010-01-09

A visit with Zelia.JPG
A visit with Zelia.JPG 2010-01-16

More pretty flowers.JPG
More pretty flowers.JPG 2010-01-09

My student Cecily is a TV host.JPG
My student Cecily is a TV host.JPG 2010-01-07

My student Nick, PE major.JPG
My student Nick, PE major.JPG 2010-01-08

My student Ruby with Chinese knot gift.JPG
My student Ruby with Chinese knot gift.JPG 2010-01-15

My student Horace, law major.JPG
My student Horace, law major.JPG 2009-09-14

My student Max.JPG
My student Max.JPG 2010-01-09

Zelda and her son.JPG
Zelda and her son.JPG 2010-01-09

My student Julia, education major.JPG
My student Julia, education major.JPG 2010-01-16

Still more pretty flowers.JPG
Still more pretty flowers.JPG 2010-01-09

Claire studying English.JPG
Claire studying English.JPG 2010-01-16

Didi and Lili.JPG
Didi and Lili.JPG 2010-01-12

Evan translating a song for me.JPG
Evan translating a song for me.JPG 2010-01-16

Evan, Tammy, Sasha & Claire.JPG
Evan, Tammy, Sasha & Claire.JPG 2010-01-14

Store Xmas tree display.JPG
Store Xmas tree display.JPG 2010-01-02

Coat shop Christmas display.JPG
Coat shop Christmas display.JPG 2009-12-19

Huatian hotel lobby display.JPG
Huatian hotel lobby display.JPG 2009-12-24

The skinniest Santa_4041.JPG
The skinniest Santa_4041.JPG 2009-12-24

Magic act.JPG
Magic act.JPG 2009-12-24

Song and dance act.JPG
Song and dance act.JPG 2009-12-24

Magician and clown act.JPG
Magician and clown act.JPG 2009-12-24

Dancer in pink.JPG
Dancer in pink.JPG 2009-12-24

Pop singer.JPG
Pop singer.JPG 2009-12-24

Girls and bubbles.JPG
Girls and bubbles.JPG 2009-12-24

Rock singer.JPG
Rock singer.JPG 2009-12-24

Six elves.JPG
Six elves.JPG 2009-12-16

Here come the Redcoats!.JPG
Here come the Redcoats!.JPG 2009-12-21

Three French hens.JPG
Three French hens.JPG 2009-12-23

Five golden rings.JPG
Five golden rings.JPG 2009-12-23

Students perform at our Xmas party.JPG
Students perform at our Xmas party.JPG 2009-12-21

Dr. Sally and Nick.JPG
Dr. Sally and Nick.JPG 2009-12-23

My christmas bamboo tree.JPG
My christmas bamboo tree.JPG 2009-12-20

Former FSU students.JPG
Former FSU students.JPG 2009-12-25

New Chinese friends.JPG
New Chinese friends.JPG 2009-12-25

Gift swap.JPG
Gift swap.JPG 2009-12-25

Christmas cake.JPG
Christmas cake.JPG 2009-12-25

Dragon dance.JPG
Dragon dance.JPG 2009-12-26

PE show kungfu.JPG
PE show kungfu.JPG 2009-12-26

PE show dancers.JPG
PE show dancers.JPG 2009-12-26

PE show models.JPG
PE show models.JPG 2009-12-26

PE show poetry reading.JPG
PE show poetry reading.JPG 2009-12-26

NYE show co-hosts.JPG
NYE show co-hosts.JPG 2009-12-30

New Year's Eve show with Amos.JPG
New Year's Eve show with Amos.JPG 2009-12-30

NYE show erhu player.JPG
NYE show erhu player.JPG 2009-12-30

NYE show cast and crew.JPG
NYE show cast and crew.JPG 2009-12-30

NYE show-backstage with Susan and Amos.JPG
NYE show-backstage with Susan and Amos.JPG 2009-12-30

NYE show-backstage with Susan.JPG
NYE show-backstage with Susan.JPG 2009-12-30

Wu Jiao Chang-Expo character.JPG
Wu Jiao Chang-Expo character.JPG 2009-12-03

Shanghai Westin & Bund Center.JPG
Shanghai Westin & Bund Center.JPG 2009-12-04

Xin Tian Di fountain.JPG
Xin Tian Di fountain.JPG 2009-12-04

Xin Tian Di-Old building, new look.JPG
Xin Tian Di-Old building, new look.JPG 2009-12-04

Xin Tian Di-me in Shanghai.JPG
Xin Tian Di-me in Shanghai.JPG 2009-12-04

Xin Tian Di alley.JPG
Xin Tian Di alley.JPG 2009-12-04

Xin Tian Di shops Western architecture .JPG
Xin Tian Di shops Western architecture .JPG 2009-12-04

Shanghai Museum.JPG
Shanghai Museum.JPG 2009-12-04

Museum-statue of Buddha.jpg
Museum-statue of Buddha.jpg 2009-12-04

Museum-vase from Yuan era, 1300
Museum-vase from Yuan era, 1300's.JPG 2009-12-04

Museum-jade carving.JPG
Museum-jade carving.JPG 2009-12-04

Museum-ancient calligraphy.JPG
Museum-ancient calligraphy.JPG 2009-12-04

Museum-Ming era study .JPG
Museum-Ming era study .JPG 2009-12-04

The historic Bund district.JPG
The historic Bund district.JPG 2009-12-04

The Bund-lunch with my friend.JPG
The Bund-lunch with my friend.JPG 2009-12-04

The Bund-high style in Shanghai.JPG
The Bund-high style in Shanghai.JPG 2009-12-04

Pudong-skyline seen from the Bund.JPG
Pudong-skyline seen from the Bund.JPG 2009-12-04

The Bund-port city is still alive.JPG
The Bund-port city is still alive.JPG 2009-12-04

The Bund at sunset.JPG
The Bund at sunset.JPG 2009-12-04

Pudong-from the river.JPG
Pudong-from the river.JPG 2009-12-05

Pudong-skyscraper.JPG
Shanghai skyscrapers-2.JPG 2009-12-04

Pudong-Conference center.JPG
Pudong-Conference center.JPG 2009-12-04

Pudong-LED wall building.JPG
Pudong-LED wall building.JPG 2009-12-04

Pudong-tunnel of lights-3.JPG
Pudong-tunnel of lights-3.JPG 2009-12-04

Nanjing Lu-older style sign.JPG
Nanjing Lu-older style sign.JPG 2009-12-04

Nanjing Lu-first coke machine I
Nanjing Lu-first coke machine I've seen in China.JPG 2009-12-04

Nanjing Lu window dressing.JPG
Nanjing Lu window dressing.JPG 2009-12-04

Nanjing Lu-lighted building.JPG
Nanjing Lu-lighted building.JPG 2009-12-04

Nanjing Lu-Wax movie star.JPG
Nanjing Lu-Wax movie star.JPG 2009-12-04

Shanghai historic market.JPG
Shanghai historic market.JPG 2009-12-05

City Temple-Hall of Huo Guang.JPG
City Temple-Hall of Huo Guang.JPG 2009-12-05

City Temple- monk practicing zhong ruan.JPG
City Temple- monk practicing zhong ruan.JPG 2009-12-05

City Temple protectors-year of the dog.JPG
City Temple protectors-year of the dog.JPG 2009-12-05

Yu garden reflections.JPG
Yu garden reflections.JPG 2009-12-05

Yu Garden-my student guides.JPG
Yu Garden-my student guides.JPG 2009-12-05

Yu garden willow and fish.JPG
Yu garden willow and fish.JPG 2009-12-05

Yu Garden-the dragon lady.JPG
Yu Garden-the dragon lady.JPG 2009-12-05

Grandma brings us eggs in a bag
Grandma brings us eggs in a bag.

Farmhouse.JPG
Farmhouse.JPG 2009-11-27

The view from Grandma's house.JPG
The view from Grandma's house.JPG 2009-11-27

Hungry cow.JPG
Hungry cow.JPG 2009-11-27

Grandpa making a shoulder pole.JPG
Grandpa making a shoulder pole.JPG 2009-11-27

Grandma and Grandpa.JPG
Grandma and Grandpa.JPG 2009-11-27

Home fire burning.JPG
Home fire burning.JPG 2009-11-27

Grandma's living room.JPG
Grandma's living room.JPG 2009-11-27

Remembering the ancestors and Mao.JPG
Remembering the ancestors and Mao.JPG 2009-11-27

Grandma heads to the fields.JPG
Grandma heads to the fields.JPG 2009-11-27

Thinning the plants.JPG
Thinning the plants.JPG 2009-11-27

The wood business.JPG
The wood business.JPG 2009-11-27

Farm life.JPG
Farm life.JPG 2009-11-27

Old and new farmhouses.JPG
Old and new farmhouses.JPG 2009-11-27

My friend.JPG
My friend.JPG 2009-11-27

Fireworks shop with neighbor girl.JPG
Fireworks shop with neighbor girl.JPG 2009-11-27

Mao guards the shop.JPG
Mao guards the shop.JPG 2009-11-27

Fireworks in the bedroom.JPG
Fireworks in the bedroom.JPG 2009-11-28

In the courtyard.JPG
In the courtyard.JPG 2009-11-27

Warm welcome in the courtyard.JPG
Warm welcome in the courtyard.JPG 2009-11-27

Fat baby bundles!.JPG
Fat baby bundles!.JPG 2009-11-28

hotel_lion.JPG

In front of our hotel

All_but_Sajid.JPG

This was our multi-ethnic group of travelers:  2  Chinese, 6 Pakistanis, 2 Iraqis, 1 Yemeni, and the token American, me!

Abbas_Sally_Hassan_and_Zain.JPG

My two new Iraqi friends, Abbas and Hassan, and Zain from Pakistan

Evan_at_Wu_Xi-cropped.jpg

Evan was our host, guide, interpreter and all-around friend.  He works with the Dept. of Tourism who sponsored this event and invited us to be international ambassadors to Qi Yang.

Attack!.JPG

Eating meals typical Chinese-style with this group was a lot of fun.  They made no attempt at politely waiting for someone else to get the best morsels of the fish and vegetables!

round_door.JPG

Can you tell I love round doors?  You will see many such pictures in my collection.  This was taken at Wu Xi ("woo she"), a treasured historic site.  See pictures of poems carved on stones.

stone_poet.JPG

This is one of a series of stones displaying the poets and calligraphers whose work, from many centuries ago, remains in the stone carvings called "steles" at Wu Xi.

Stele_2.JPG

Here is a close-up of one of the poems carved into the stone.  Wish I could read it!  This is old-style Chinese, written top to bottom and right to left (reversed in modern writing).

Tang_stele.JPG

This one is huge--I'm taking the picture from an overlooking platform--and the oldest one, most treasured.  It was written and carved in the Tang Dynasty (between 618 and 907) and is protected behind glass.  What you actually see is a rubbing of the writing as rice paper has been attached to the surface, since the original is so faded that it would be nearly indecipherable.

Old and new by the river.JPG
Old and new by the river.JPG 2009-10-03

girls_on_rock.JPG

Another aspect of this event was as an "International Photographic Competition" with models posing at various places in this historic site while photographers followed them around.  They also performed in the concert.

photographers.JPG

Some things are world-wide:  Where you have beautiful girls posing, you'll find men with cameras!

AbbasDSC03279-Sally_play-edited.jpg

I wrote a song for the concert entitled "Song for Qi Yang"  ("chee-yang").  It was a unique experience performing in front of a Chinese audience--read journal entry for details.

Ammar18-bubbles.jpg

Whirling colored lights, fog and a bubble machine made it an unforgettable gig!

Qi Yang audience.JPG

Here's the crowd we performed for.  They were all happy since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival when they eat moon cakes under the full moon.

Little_dancers.JPG

These girls were adorable!!!  And incredibly talented and well-trained.  See the video on the home page to watch them perform.

cowgirl_dancers.JPG

These women represented an ethnic minority from a western province.  They performed a dance that I called the "cowgirl dance" which could almost have been an American western-style line dance--but not quite.

model_on_stage-cropped.jpg

Here's one of the girls in the show.  I have to say, nobody does visual effects better than the Chinese!  And colored lights are a specialty.

Radman_fireworks2.JPG

The show ended with fireworks--what a hoot!  But you can see fireworks any time of any day or night here in China.  See the videos on the home page for the fantastic display during the National Holiday.

Statue of Mao.JPG
Statue of Mao.JPG 2009-09-05

Entrance to Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG
Entrance to Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG 2009-09-04

Statue of Liu Shaoqi.JPG
Statue of Liu Shaoqi.JPG 2009-09-04

Antique radio with flag designs.JPG
Antique radio with flag designs.JPG 2009-09-04

Figures at Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG
Figures at Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG 2009-09-04

Path at Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG
Path at Liu Shaoqi museum.JPG 2009-09-04

Mao's homeplace.JPG
Mao's homeplace.JPG 2009-09-05

Huge statue of Mao.JPG
Huge statue of Mao.JPG 2009-09-05

Dripping Water Cave retreat.JPG
Dripping Water Cave retreat.JPG 2009-09-05

Projector at Mao's retreat.JPG
Projector at Mao's retreat.JPG 2009-09-05

Walking through rice fields.jpg
Walking through rice fields.jpg 2009-09-04

My friends Donald and Joyce
DSCN2592.JPG 2010-07-20

A scenic spot.JPG
A scenic spot.JPG 2009-09-28

Designated scenic place.JPG
Designated scenic place.JPG 2009-09-28

My classroom building.JPG
My classroom building.JPG 2009-09-12

My other classroom building.JPG
My other classroom building.JPG 2008-08-31

Passageway under Liberal Arts building.JPG
Passageway under Liberal Arts building.JPG 2008-08-30

School of Business entrance.JPG
School of Business entrance.JPG 2008-08-31

Foreign Studies College.JPG
Foreign Studies College.JPG 2008-08-30

Stone honoring teachers.JPG
Stone honoring teachers.JPG 2008-08-30

Newspapers_to_read.JPG
Newspapers_to_read.JPG 2009-09-12

Six girls in this dorm room.JPG
Six girls in this dorm room.JPG 2009-09-29

One students
One students' dorm space.JPG 2008-09-07

Hot water source for dorm students.JPG
Hot water source for dorm students.JPG 2008-08-30

Washing room in dorm.JPG
Washing room in dorm.JPG 2008-09-07

Every day is laundry day.JPG
Every day is laundry day.JPG 2009-10-24

Tennis court fence doubles as clothesline.JPG
Tennis court fence doubles as clothesline.JPG 2009-10-20

Bananas_for_sale.JPG
Bananas_for_sale.JPG 2009-09-29

A typical classroom.JPG
A typical classroom.JPG 2008-09-06

Front of my classroom.JPG
Front of my classroom.JPG 2009-12-09

Computer setup in classroom.JPG
Computer setup in classroom.JPG 2009-12-09

My students hard at work practicing punctuation.JPG
My students hard at work practicing punctuation.JPG 2009-12-09

The day I took my guitar to class.JPG
The day I took my guitar to class.JPG 2009-12-09

An essential item.JPG
An essential item.JPG 2009-10-19

DSCF4445.JPG
DSCF4445.JPG 2008-08-20

My street.JPG
DSCF4443.JPG 2008-08-20

Apartment gate.JPG
IMG_1983.JPG 2009-10-21

Living room w-AC.JPG
Living room w-AC.JPG 2009-08-25

My kitchen.JPG
My kitchen.JPG 2009-08-25

找自己 Looking for Yourself.wmv

I filmed this music video starring Chen Long on Yuelu Shan.  We had a lot of fun working on it!  Shoot a scene. . . wait, wait, wait for people to pass through. . . shoot another scene. . . .  Please watch full screen for best enjoyment (no ads!).

Visit_To_The_Panda_Base.wmv

Norilang_Waterfall at Jiuzhaigou

Dragon and Lion Dance_0001.wmv

This fantastic performance was part of a celebration for the 70th anniversary of the HNU College of Physical Education.  Dragon and Lion Dance teams are an approved competitive sport in China, and this group is one of the best.

My class singing "Country Roads".AVI

One day I took my guitar to class and we sang English songs.  I projected the words on a screen.  Chinese students hate to speak in class, but they love to sing!  My student Alice is helping me with the computer in this clip.

Fireworks for National Holiday.avi

Fireworks can be heard and seen any hour of any day or night in China.  But this display was the best.  It was on September 30th, the eve of the October 1st National Holiday, which was especially significant as it was the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.  Many people gathered along the riverbanks to see the display which lasted about 45 minutes.

traditional ensemble.AVI

In September, I was invited to a banquet for all the "foreign experts" in Hunan Province.  This ensemble of traditional instruments played before the speeches and dining began.

amazing_little_dancers.AVI

These talented little girls performed in the show in Qi Yang in which I also sang.  There were bursts of real fire being sprayed on the stage in front of these children.  I don't really think we'd be allowed to use pyrotechnics with kids' acts in the US!