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

Global Volunteers

Tenth Day of Teaching

Teaching was cancelled by the school today because of Sport’s Meeting.  All of the students and teachers were involved in sport’s meeting.  We went to the school early so we could take our seats as honored guests on the reviewing stand.  At the opening ceremony, first came the Chinese flag and honor guard.  Then came a group of about 100 marching students carrying colorful flags.  This was followed by the marching dental technology students, the nurses dressed in pink, the drug manufacturing students, the Tai Chi Club dressed in white outfits.  Many of the remaining students marched in groups of 100 or so.  Finally the teachers, who were officials for field day, marched by the reviewing stand.

 

We were introduced as the honored guests and all 5000 students and staff clapped loudly.  A few speeches kicked off the games.

 

The three of us recognized several members of the Tai Chi club while they were performing.  We therefore congratulated them for a fine performance.  Tai Chi lessons followed.  We all found that Tai Chi is more difficult to perform than it looks.

 

A team of student reporters from the Peace Radio Club interviewed us.  They diligently made notes about were we were from and the sports that we like.  The reporters accompanied us to the “Wisdom Forest” for the tree adoption ceremony.  Each of our messages of wisdom were hung on our adopted tree and recorded in the reporter’s notebooks.  The official Peace Radio Club photographer took group pictures and individual pictures of us beside our adopted tree.

 

Wang Baoli took us to a “hot pot” restaurant.  It is quite a nice way to cook your meal.  We were introduced to two new kinds of noodles.  We must have had at least a dozen different noodles by now.

 

After lunch we went back to the textile market to purchase additional material for Annette’s and Nan’s quilts.  We also picked up the custom tailored silk jackets that were ordered two days ago.  The women were pleased with their jackets.

 

The final stop of the day was at the wholesale market.  Numerous purchases were made, including the confetti “bombs”, a macramé necklace, four watches, a pack of Chinese envelopes, beads and more beads.  The shopping expedition culminated with a ride back to the hotel in a tuck-tuck (a low-powered, 3-wheeled vehicle with a small compartment for passengers).

 

Ice cream for dessert at dinner celebrated the end of Nan’s two week stint as a Global Volunteer.  Wes and Annette will miss Nan’s energy and enthusiasm during their third week of teaching.

 

Note:  The confetti bombs were unfortunately confiscated at the airport before the flight to the U.S.A.  Hope the airport personnel had fun with them.

 

Submitted by Wes

Annette learning Tai Chi.

Date: 04/10/2009

Tai Chi Club and Global Volunteers.

Wes concentrating on Tai Chi movements.

Nan having fun with Tai Chi.

Nan learning Tai Chi with two students.

Nursing students during the opening ceremonies for Sports Event.