Hi everyone! It's about 9pm on Monday night now, so everyone in CT is probably just heading off to work. We had a VERY busy day today ...
We started the day in Tiananmen Square, then headed to the Forbidden City. We were a bit unprepared for the nice weather here -- I suppose the long winter in CT has sheltered us from the sun, because a number of us left today with sunburnt necks, arms and faces. Maybe tomorrow, we'll use an umbrella to shade us, as many of the locals do.
In the Forbidden City, we were able to walk through all of the different palace, take pictures of the architecture, and hear stories from Bing, our tour guide (he's the man in red). After the Forbidden City, we ate lunch (we were happy to be in shade!) and then headed to Hutong, a portion of Beijing that is authentically "old Beijing." We rode through Hutong in a pedi-cab, a man riding a bicycle, with a carriage carrying 2 tourists attached behind it. We must have been quite a sight navigating through the narrow streets! While in Hutong, we met Mr. Wei, who invited us into his home for tea. Bing had to translate for him, but we learned from Mr. Wei that his family has lived in Hutong for five generations! He showed us his main room and his bedroom ... as well as his collection of crickets, a hobby similar to "ant farms" in the states!
After we left Mr. Wei, we went shopping at Yuanlong Silk, a government run silk company, so everything is guaranteed to be 100% silk. We watched the workers separate the silk from the worm, then spin, wash and stretch the silk. This was amazing to us, as you'll see from the pictures of all of the dropped jaws!
After Yuanlong, we went to a Kung Fu show! The music, sounds, lights, stunts, acrobatics and of course, Kung Fu, were terrific. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures -- they didn't allow flash cameras and the auditorium was quite dark for any good pictures!
Tomorrow, we're going to the Great Wall of China, so I'm sure I'll have a ton of new pictures to present then!
Wanan!
Everything looks so fun and interesting! I so wish I could be there, especially for that silk demonstration. It sounds like and looks like everyone is having fun and learning at the same time! Tell my girl, we said hello. Take lots of pictures! Have a great time at the Great Wall!
ReplyDeleteYou were in Houhai, not Hutong. Hutongs are traditional chinese houses. There are many of them in Houhai.
ReplyDeleteKristina
Looks like you are having very full days. It's pouring rain here, so enjoy the great weather there. Tell Jess hello and remind her to take her camera everywhere! I'm sure the Greta Wall be be an awesome experience...
ReplyDeleteThese pics are awesome! China looks so much different! Hows the climate? colder? -COle V
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone -- thanks for the comments!
ReplyDeleteYes, we were in a Hutong village, a set of homes organized into a quadrangle -- Mr. Wei's had 11 rooms within "his" quadrangle. But we were still in Beijing, I believe.
Thanks for following along, Cole! And the weather is much warmer than Canton -- it was about 80 degrees, I would assume yesterday. I have a nice t-shirt tan to prove it ;)
Write more soon!
sounds amazing ms.gembala! hope your having a great time!
ReplyDeletethat looks like so much fun... wish i could go there and sight see... hows the real chinese food out there???
ReplyDelete-Brooke Coffey
Hi Steph and Brooke!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm having a great time -- I definitely recommend that both of you try to put the China trip on your high school agenda!! I think this is an absolutely amazing experience for students and I do hope that they're getting as much out of this experience as I am!
Unfortunately, Brooke, we haven't had real REAL Chinese food yet -- many of the restaurants we've visited are set up in the traditional family style, but the food is very touristy -- maybe they think our stomachs won't be able to handle the "real" food. But I know that when we're with the host families, we'll have more authentic food!
Take care and be good! ;)
~ Ms. Gembala ;)
Hello Ms.Gembala, Coop-Dog here! house China? bet it's awesome. Well enjoy your trip, I will just be in Social Studies with Mr. Leger doing the packet. Well cya! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Gembala! It's Ian and I just want to hear on how this trip is going. Mr. Leger is a really great substitute. The class and I got through the poems for India and we just got our report cards. Well I just heard that the Taracotta Warriors is really great piece of history! Ok! I hope that you and the other students will have a really good time and we will see you all when you get back.
ReplyDelete