Long Day In Zhengzhou

Students relax at the rec center in our hotel.


Group photo at the Zhengzhou Art Center where the students performed a concert to a full house.



St. Charles East students interact with students from Zhengzhou University.

This picture was taken during our visit to the Henan History Museum. When the students arrive home, ask them about this picture and what it depicts.

Today we had a long day, as the comments from all of the above posts have stated. We went to the Henan National Museum, which was great for those of us that like museums. We saw a musical performance using ancient Chinese instruments. Wow! The musician we very good and their costumes were incredibly detailed and beautiful. I think I have a new idea for Marching Band uniforms (lol).

After the museum we returned to our hotel and had lunch and a birthday cake and sing along for Kirsten Benjamin. How cool is it to spend your 18th birthday in China?

Into the buses and off to the University of Zhengzhou University. A very important government official (the governor of the province?) gave us a tour of the University. He took us to the library (guess who loved that?) and invited the students to go around and talk with university students about their lives/interests, etc.. We spent about an hour doing just that. It was a great experience.


Finally we left for the Zhengzhou Art Center for practice before the performance. The performance was wonderful, the students were just a treasure to be with. This was a long day, they practice for quite a while after visiting the museum and university, and then they performed. he concert started at 8 and was not over until 10 p.m.. All the students were respectful, patient and helpful. Their talents shown through while being great ambassadors for St. Charles. Everyone back home should be very proud!

Tomorrow, another long day they tell us...
Sue

There's a caterpillar in my flower!!

Ni hao from Zhenxhou!!!

Today was the best day if the trip. Last night we arrived in Zhenzhou from the bullet train. The city was quite impressive at night. When my roomates (diana and Alex) and I opened the door to our hotel room we just started screaming and jumping with joy. There were silk pillows, a glass bathroom and a flatscreen tv. I've never even seen a hotel room as nice as this!Today we went to a museum, university, and had a performance in the art center. At our hotel and the art center they put banners up to welcome us. At the university we got to chat with students un the library. Most of the students were very nervous about talking to us but they were very happy to meet us!! I like Zhengzhou a lot better than Beijing. Everyone is so welcoming and glad to see us. At our performace people brought flowers to the directors and soloists and one girl who I met gave me a little gift. At the end of the performance a few chinese government officials came to the stage and shook every one of our hands! Our tour guide told us that very rarely do Americans come to Zhengzhou. Some of the poverty we've seen-like in the country while riding on the bullet train was depressing, but I think it is absolutely amazing how everyone is willing to share so much. I'mlearning a lot of chinese, or trying at least...At the university I said "nice to meet you" in chinese to one guy and he was amazed and asked how many years I had been studying chinese!!! HAHAHAHAH. Well...I'm REALLY tired..and kind of hungry too...so I'm going to go to bed!!! It's almost midnight!

quotes du jour:
Kyle Graves: "There's a caterpillar in my flower!!!"
King: "Do you have a band aid? I broke my foot!"

Also, I just want to say hi to Matt, I miss you lots! international calling is very difficult...when I get a chance I will try my hardest to call!!! Lots of love!

Zhengzhou and Kirsten's Birthday!

Hey everybody! Today we were able to go to the Henan National Museum and listened to a musical performance on ancient Chinese instruments-----one being my personal favorite, a bone flute 8,000 years old and perfectly tuned (like how Mr. Kull wishes all of our flutes could be :). We also were able to visit The Zhengzhou University (the campus is amazing!) and talk to the students studying in the library. Our concert tonight at the Art Center went really really well and everyone looked like they had a good time. It was also my 18th Birthday and it was awesome! The hotel was sweet enough to make a beautiful cake and Mrs. Thomases gave me a badge that said "Kiss me, it's my birthday." Mr. Kull announced that I would be giving out kisses for 1 yuan apiece. Mom, Dad, don't worry......Mr. Kull's words, not mine!
Mom, Dad, and Wes...thank you soooo much for the cards and the cute singing bear!!! It made me sad that I couldn't be there with you to celebrate my 18th, but I love you guys and we still have a few months before I go to college when I get back. Wes, your card especially made me teary...I'm really gonna miss you next year! However, I will always be your big sister and will always be around! Love you! See you all really soon!!!
Kirsten Benjamin

Zhenghou

Today is Friday and our second day in Zhenghou. We arrived two days ago on the bullet train. The bullet train was not as fast as I had expected. It had a electronic board that would show messages in Chinese and English (which by the way was hilarious to read because the English translation was so bad), anyway it showed the speeds and the highest I saw was 179 km/h. I have no idea what that is in mph but it didn't feel very fast, it was really smooth though. We arrived at a really nice hotel, which is fairly new. Our luggage had to be locked on the train and I lost my key on the train so my luggage was locked and I couldn't get into it so I had to try everyone's key and none of them worked so the Chinese hotel workers had to break it off, I was freaky out. Anyway Thursday was great, we went to the summer palace on Thursday which was gorgeous, and we got to take a boat ride across a big pond that was there. We had lunch after that and I have to say I am getting really sick of Chinese food, half the time I don't know what I am eating. All this Chinese food has made me realize the varieties of the food we have in America. I can't wait to have American food again. This morning we went to a museum which was pretty cool but that is not really what I am into. Today we had a performance in this amazing music hall, which I think went pretty well. Anyway I need to let other people in here. And I need to go to bed because it is 11:15pm here and tomorrow we have to leave the hotel at 7:15am.
ANONYMOUS Student posting

Awesome Day

You should be so proud of your students! They played at the Zhengzhou Art Center. I am so proud of each and every one of them. Their behavior was exemplary! They interacted with the University students today and the chinese students all spoke english very well. They communicated with each other and shared ideas and stories. ALL of our students talked with Chinese students. Many of them shared emails and information to stay in touch. I am blessed to be able to take part in this trip and I thank you for sharing your students with me.
Miss you all!
Michelle Fisher