In June and July, Mrs. Melnick will be taking a trip to China. This is her blog to talk about her trip and to show pictures along the way.
Back in the USA
Submitted by bmelnick on July 19, 2008 - 12:56pm.Now that I am back at home, I have begun to reflect a bit on what I learned in China. Here are a few thoughts:
1. People are more the same than different around the world
2. The differences are great fun! Learn and enjoy - everyone loves meeting people from other places and sharing their language and culture.
3. I love Chinese food! (ok - maybe not all of it!)
4. The students we met everywhere had an amazing spirit. They loved meeting the "Mei guo Lao shi" (American teachers) and trying out their English skills.
5. I would go back for more in a heartbeat! I hope I get to return.
Barbara
Barbara in Beijing!
Submitted by bmelnick on July 12, 2008 - 10:45am.
Beijing is amazing! Olympic fever is everywhere. The street vendors and beggars are gone. Saw the Forbidden City and Tienamin Square today. We are like Hollywood celebs - the Chinese keep stopping us on the street asking if they can take our pictures! The trip continues to be eye opening and exciting. Zia Jian for now. Barbara
Chinese Students
Submitted by bmelnick on July 8, 2008 - 9:20am.
We were out eating lunch and met a group of students who asked us to come and visit their class. Here is a picture.
Xi'An
Submitted by bmelnick on July 8, 2008 - 9:11am.Yesterday we went to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Talk about your white water rafting spot!
Today we flew to Xi'An, and tomorrow we will get to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Xi'An is a city of 4 million which looks like a Chinese version of New York. Out my hotel window I can see McDonald's and Starbucks! Peace, Barbara
Lijiang
Submitted by bmelnick on July 7, 2008 - 9:14am.Today we saw Tiger Leaping Gorge. It was amazing! We met the cutest group of school children. They sang Chinese songs for us and we taught them "head and shoulders, knees and toes!" Everyone is incredibly friendly and anxious to practice their English. China is great fun!
The weather here has been beautiful (if you don't count the monsoon rains!), but tomorrow we are off to Xian and Beijing where it is supposed to be very hot. More soon. Barbara
Yak Meadow
Submitted by bmelnick on July 5, 2008 - 9:01am.
Here I am standing in Yak Meadow, at about 10,000 feet in the foothills of the Himalayas! Wow! This is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. After a harrowing hairpin turn bus ride, we rode a chairlift another 1500 feet to land in Yak Meadow, where we had a picnic, visited a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery and then came back down in a torrential rainstorm.
Lijian is quite the tourist town - kind of like a Chinese version of Provincetown or Bar Harbor - very entertaining! The scenery and natural wonders are not like anything in America - but people sure are the same everywhere! Enjoy the views. Barbara
