Team  172, Xi’an China, March 29 through April 18, 2009

Global Volunteers

Sixth Day Teaching

The picture of China is beginning to emerge.  The people, the food, the history, the culture, the laughter, the environment are all contributing to that picture.

 

Today we discussed each person’s hometown in more detail.  Each person described why someone would like to visit their hometown.  The students were very interested in cultural activities in my hometown.  There was a lively discussion that strayed far from the subjects I had prepared to discuss.

 

We ended the formal classroom teaching early today.  The students took us on a tour of their dorm.  We visited two very neat rooms.  We were very impressed that eight girls lived in each room.  There was a lot less clutter compared to our expectations.  Then we played a few games of ping pong.  The ping pong tables were outside under some shade trees.  The girls were very good ping pong players.

 

The lunchtime activity was a dumpling party at the home of the grandparents of one of the teachers.  What a treat!  We learned how to make traditional Chinese dumplings.  You kneed the dough, roll the dough in a long coil, break of small bits of dough, roll the small bit of dough into a ball, flatten the ball, and then roll the dough into a thin 5 centimeter circle.  You place a small amount of filling in the middle of the circle, fold the dough in half, and then pinch the edges closed.  Following steaming, the dumplings were enjoyed by everyone.

 

Besides dumplings, there were at least ten other dishes.  There were toasts with a special clear liquor.  Then everyone sang Happy Birthday to the grandmother for her 70^th birthday.  There were many pictures of the foreigners.  They even captured Wes kissing the grandmother on the cheek.  This kiss must have broken all Chinese tradition since there was much laughter from everyone.

 

These events are helping to paint the picture on China and develop friendships between the people of China and the United States.

 

Submitted by Wes

Freshly made dumplings.

Date: 04/06/2009

Learning how to make dumplings.

The many dishes at the dumpling party.

New friends.