home


 We are here and all is well. All are accounted for and having a good time. It's 8:30 am your time, 8:30 pm our time and we've been up about 40 hours (most of us). More to come later!!!!

**Sunday, April 12th, 8:30am:** We are on our way to Tianjin City for a tour and a formal concert. The kids are all doing really well. You should be proud. They are polite and respectful at all times, both to us and to the Chinese people they are meeting. It is a joy to watch them experience the wonders of this culture.

Yesterday, we spent some time at Tiananmen Square learning about the historical significance of this "most important historical place in China." The kids turned out to be big celebrities! They were overwhelmed with the requests to have pictures made with the Chinese tourists. The Chinese children were especially awed. The kids were so gracious and polite. After lunch (at which many of the kids got up on stage and danced with the Chinese women!), we went to the Bejing Children's Palace for a concert. The Palace is a sort of arts school for Chinese children, so it was full of creative energy. After the concert, the really significant moments happened: the brass section jammed with the Chinese quintet, the kids played games with the Chinese children (badminton, soccer, hacky sack), friends were made, email addresses were exchanged. It was beautiful. All agreed it was a great experience.

We are working on posting as many pictures as we can. Check the photo gallery and the Haw Creek Studios links. The video has not worked out thus far, but we still have hopes. Will keep trying.


 * Tuesday, April 14th, 6:00 am:**

The concert was GREAT!!! The kids rehearsed for hours and were pretty tired, but after a snack of fruit and Chinese "Little Debbies" they were ready to perform. We weren't really sure how the audience would react, but they were fascinated. They seemed to especially like the marches and American songs; they even started clapping along. When the chorale began to sing the Chinese song they had learned, there was an audible exclamation of joy from the audience. It was moving. When the band began their Chinese folk song, the audience began to sing the words. I think they really appreciated the efforts Dr. Bryant, Mrs. Bryant and all the kids had made to make the songs authentic. There was much praise for our kids afterword. We didn't return to the hotel until after 1:30 am, so everyone was pretty beat. Luckily, the next morning, we were able to sleep in for a while.

Yesterday was another great day. We began with a trip to the pearl market where we saw a demonstration about how the pearls are formed in a fresh water oyster. Each pearl is seeded to create between 20 and 30 pearls. It was cool. After a Chinese lunch and some DELICIOUS ice cream, we toured the Forbidden City where the emporers of China used to live. That place is huge. They are working on resoration right now. The restored sections are really amazing. After the Forbidden City, we ate a Chinese dinner and went to the acrobat show. The funniest thing: they chose Taylor Ruscoe to be a part of one of the acts! He had to get into a huge pot (like a planter) which a woman then balanced on her feet and turned in a circle. It was hysterical. Taylor was a good sport. All the Chinese people in the audience roared. They really seem to love Americans.

Still trying to get used to the Chinese toilet, but I think we are all getting a little better. Also, I think the kids are missing their American food. I overheard plans of ordering a pizza last night.

Today we are off to Public School 80 for some mingling and a concert with the school children. I'm really looking forward to this as this seems to be the kids' favorite part: getting to know other kids.

I've posted the pictures at:http://www.buncombe.k12.nc.us/96720226152847793/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=69837


 * Wednesday, April 15th, 7:49am:**

We are off to the Great Wall today! Much excitement among the kids about this. It's supposed to be cold and windy, so we are bundling up. We have had beautiful weather thus far. Yesterday we could even see some clouds and sunshine (usually difficult due to the smog).

Public School 80 was as beautiful an experience as I thought it would be. The kids immediately broke up into groups with the Chinese students to share their cultures and make friends. Facebook had better watch out. The vast majority of the kids spoke English, so language was not a problem. After a welcoming ceremony, the kids played soccer (score=1:1), basketball, volleyball, learned some kind of martial art using a big stick, and just generally walked around and laughed with each other. Then, the Chinese students taught our students some traditional dancing (pictures where students are in a big circle). It was heartwarming and hysterical at the same time. The concert was well-received by the Chinese school children. I think they were impressed, but they also developed huge, giggly crushes on our kids. Too funny. Colin Savoy received the first kiss on the cheek! It was scandalous!! You never heard such giggles. They were sad to leave at the end of the day.

All is still going well. There is not much time for homesickness. We keep them pretty busy.

We are preparing to leave this morning, some with mixed feelings. We have really enjoyed our time here and have learned so much. I. personally, am ready to return and process everything I've experienced.
 * Saturday, April 18th, 7:39 am:**

The Great Wall trip was a surreal experience. Everyone kept saying, "We're standing on the Great Wall!" We have a great picture of the whole group (check the Haw Creek Studios page). Many kids purchased a copy of the picture as well. It was a difficult climb, but most made it to the top. Wednesday night, we took a rickshaw tour of a Hutong (an old section of Beijing) and ate at a local familiy's home. We all agreed the food was the best we'd had. This home is one which has opened it's doors to tourists as a business (think bed and breakfast), so they were used to having large groups (we split into four different homes).

Thursday, we toured the Olympic Village seeing the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, and the Olympic Stadium. They were much larger than you'd imagine. After the Olymipc Village, we visited the Beijing Performing Arts Center (large oval building). After this tour, we ate at MCDONALD'S! Most were very excited.

The concert on Thursday was the perfect way to end the tour. The performers were perfect, the audience was lively and receptive. Janis summed it up regarding this concert and the China trip, in general, "Expectations Exceeded."

Yesterday was a shopping day with haggling skills being tested. We were instructed by our tour guides to offer 1/3 of what the seller asked and to stick to it or walk away. It was pretty fun and I think we got lots of good deals. Now, we just need to get everything in our suitcases! After shopping, we visited Wangfujing Shopping Street where they have the food stalls with exotic foods. Sorry for this, but some kids ate scorpions and other gross stuff. It was pretty hilarious. They all seem to be fine, although we had the Pepto on standby.

We will leave for the airport at 11:30 this morning and travel about 27 hours before we see you. Wish us luck!

See you back in Asheville!