Chendug

We are now in Chendug I have no idea if I spelled that correctly. It's in the mountains, but there is so much smog I can't see down the street. There are 5 million in city and 20 million in the area. This is home to the panda. I don't know if you remember the earthquake that hit here two years ago, but it destroyed many peoples homes in the villiages about 50 miles from here. Their leader was killed and they are aftraid it will effect the people and they won't retain their culture and langauge. From what I understand there are 56 spoken languages but only one written language. Today we are visiting three different middleschools. This is their Dragon Boat festival week. There is a story, just like their are millions of stories about the Dragon boat, but most people are on vacation for a week. There are special boxes of food being sold. I'll learn more later. The school are getting together to meet with us on their vacation. Wow. We are excited. WE have brought all sorts of gifts for the schools to show case arkansas and our schools. I brought copies of the DVD so they can see American schools and teenagers. We visit schools and a university on Tuesday. Wednesday we go to a Panda research center. We will get to hold one, I'm sure it will be a highlight. We are off to schools and its 7:00 am. Talk with you soon. Love ya.

Terra Cotta Warriors Museum

Yesterday we went to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum. Great story if you don't know it. A farmer in a small village was digging a well with his villiage people when he dug up a warriors head. That was in 1974. It was an amazing sight to see. We went to three pits and saw them in different stages of excavation. Great movie to put it into place in my mind about the first emperor of China. I can't keep the Chings and the Changs separate so I'm not sure of his name. You will enjoy pictures as you as I can post them. I had a great time bargaining with the local people for statues. I could have bought one made of clay from the tomb, but instead I paid a dollar for a hollow one. Don't think anyone will know the difference. We then went to a jade factory, we have also been to a pearl shop where they cracked open a clam to show us how they find them, We also went to a silk factory where we saw step by step how the worm goes through stages and how they get the silk from the worm. We learned about different areas that Jade comes from and how to tell real jade from fake. Sorry, but I'll probably have fake jade when I return. We then went back to town, of course every bus ride is full of stories from our guide. I said we don't have as many stories in US, Cathrine said, we have 200 years they have 2,000 years of history. I just hope that when I leave here my good luck and my bad luck are balanced out. We have learned so much about the one child law. They have SO many laws to follow. Back in town we went to a Mosque, there are 70,000 Chinese Muslims. It was so cool to see. Of 5 major religions I've been to three in the last days, Christian, Islam and Buddism. There was a baazar going on outside the mosque. Many of our group got lost in it. It was just like in the movies, wares everywhere and people trying to get your business. I had fun bartering with them. We went on to a dumpling banquet. Banquet means many dishes. Most meals have 12 dishes of food on lazy susan. They brought in dumplings in bamboo steamers baskets stacked at least 12 high. So many different dumplings. And other dishes. I have to say this was My Worst meal. I didn't realize how picky I am. We had warm rice wine and a hot pot in the middle of the table at the end of the meal. The hot pot was a soup. that they lit a fire under it to warm it at table and threw in dumplings for 6 kinds of luck. Soup at EVERY meal even breakfast. A professor from UALR construction manager is here for the summer teaching English and he and his wife came and ate with us for some good ole Arkansas conversation. He had also worked in Russia, we sat next to each other and enjoyed talking. Russia. Ok, I had it explained to me like this. Russia changed politically and then was hoping to change economically. China changed economically first and then is hoping to change politically. China is soooooooo far ahead of Russia. These are busy people. I enjoyed going to the park this morning at 6:30, I was the only American there. Everyone was busy exercising in some way badmiton. ti chi, dancing. something with silver balls. music was playing and everyone was moving. it was great. I just finished breakfast and we are going to a museum in town and then fly ot chendung. Home of Panda Research center, we are also going on school visits tomorrow. She says food will be much more spicy here. Xien is not a rice town, but noodle town. We had a great visit to Wal Mart and took lots of pictures. I'm sorry I can't read what I've already written about so this is much more random than ever. You all know I'm a random person. Love you to all. I reccommend Chinese travel to all.

Xien

It's Saturday monring here and only Friday night back home. I'm having a wonderful time, international travel expands your mind like nothing else on earth. The smallest details come alive. I'm sorry I typed a bunch last night and lost it as the computer needed to reconfigure. So I don't have time to write a ton now. A small recap of days

World Expo in Shanghi--was there with 1/2 million people, it took us a couple of hours to get a handle on what to do there. Each country aroud the world has a hall to tour and then a palvion that showcases the conitnent. Things to buy and foods for each country. WOW is all I can say.

Next day we flew to Xien, the oldest country in China, 2500 years old, back to the first dynasty. ONe highlight was going to a museum in a small town outside big city and people watching. The tree lined street was filled with bicycles with people, fruits, supplies all hanging on them. mopeds carrying people in all poosible ways, small vans buses all going in different directions with no lines on streets with unbelieveably no accidents. We visited with school children, teenagers, and old people. They were very curious about our white skin as we loved talking with them. Babies are soooo cute. Their little clothes have the back cut out, bare butts for potty training. We then moved to a wonderful hotel. A 4 star. This trip we eat like kings and places are nice nice nice. Not to discount Russian trip at all, just completely different. All meals are familiy style with a lazy susan in the middle of the table. You have a small dish sett up. small plate, tea cup and rice bowl. About 12 disdhes of food are set out at different times. I've tried Many new foods. Lotus root, all sorts of vegatables. Many things have been offered that I have't tired. pigeon eggs, all sorts of fish. We went to Wal Mart in Xien last night. Great fun, we took as many pictures here as any museum. Lots of crazy things for sale. So many people everywhere, so noisy on the streets. This morning outside of our window I saw the exercises going on in the park. We are headed to the Terra cotta soilders today. In 1974 a farmer unearthed these on his farm. He was totally unable to read, but now makes money signing his name at the museum everyday. We are going to a dumpling dinner tonight, don't know what that means, but It's not southern dumplings I'm sure. I miss everyone, but I'm trying to take it all in. Love to you all.

Long day

For blog, I typed a Long long blog and then I lost it at the last minute, Now I'm too tired. Sorry. So far it's been a hassle to write this year and I hate that. maybe things will change.

--- On Thu, 6/10/10, Cal

Shanghi

Great day in Shanghi, wonderful city. We started the day going to the Shanghi museum. I know that China is only showing us what the country wants us to see, but so far I like what I see. As I look around the architecture is incredible I've seen about 20 skyscrapers I've never seen before. This city has ALL been built in the last 20 years. After the cultural revolution ended in 1978 things started to change. I've heard so much history I just can't keep it all straight. At times I think their system is ok. But then I hear a story that blows my mind. They do like to brag a lot, so this museum is top ten in world. We saw bronze, jade, calligraphy, seals and the best part pottery. An Art lovers paridise. The building was out of this world. More later

First Day

Hey everyone from China, I won't be able to blog much because it's blocked. I'm emailing this to Cally and then she is copying and pasting it to my blog. Shanghai took 14/1/2 hours on a plane to get here but I think it's the greatest city I've ever been to. There are 20 million people here, twice the size of NYC. Most of the areas we are in have been built in the last 20 years. It's very clean and the people are friendly. We walked down one of the main shopping streets last night and looked across the river to what looked something like Manhatten. There were skyscrappers all around us with neon lights, very beautiful. We are staying at the Pacific Hotel one of ten of the historic ones here, built in 1928. The food is great. Every table has a lazy susan in the middle the they put the food in the middle and we spin. This morning we went to a 400 year old garden. Then to lunch, a Methodist Church and a Buddhist temple, to a pearl store where we saw them crack open the oyster, then to a silk factory. Dinner and then an Acrobatic show. WOW what a day. Every minute is so new and exciting. The colors, smells and sounds. Jimmy is our tour guide and knows so much information that he shares with us. Tommorow we are going to the greatest museum in China. Then we are going to the World Expo. It is like the World's Fair. It will only be open for 6 months and they have spent years getting ready for it. We'll spend 6-8 hours there. We fly out the next day. I'll try to post again as soon as I can

First day of freedom

Since today is my first day of freedom from the routine of school, it has me thinking about freedom. I have No idea what sort of restrictions we are going to face on our Internet use. I've heard we won't be able to use facebook. I don't have any idea if I'll be able to blog everyday like I did last summer. I couldn't quit laughing when Drew told Melissa he was worried about me going and not to let me do something crazy...like I don't have to worry about him everyday. I promised I would only do half as much as he does in college. I'm feeling overwhelmed today, with so many projects I need to work on at home, but hey these opportunities don't come along all the time and I just have to go. I'm sure all this mess will still be here when I return. I"ve about got my small suitcase filled to the brim. I've heard I need to take chocolate and dollar bills.