There were 188 administrators for across the United States
that participated in the 2017 Chinese Bridge for American Principals. I flew
from Chicago at 1:30 pm on November 2nd and after a 13-hour flight I arrived in
Beijing on November 3rd at 4:25 pm. There was a 12-hour time zone
difference.
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| View from the Doubletree Hotel- Beijing |
November 4
In the morning, my group traveled to Hanban University
headquarters where we had the opportunity to learn about Hanban and the
Confucius Institutes in the United States.
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| Chinese Food |
Chinese art and culture exhibits
were on display and local crafts were made and offered to our group.
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| A bracelet-maker. She made the red good luck bracelet I am wearing in 10 minutes |
In the afternoon, our group visited the Forbidden City.
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| Tiananmen Square |
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| Entrance to the Forbidden City |
November 5
In the morning, we visited a portion of the Great Wall close
to Beijing.
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| Ready to start the walk up the Great Wall to the top |
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| Made it. |
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| Do people really do this? |
I was one of 32 administrators assigned to travel to Henan
province.
In the afternoon, we boarded a bullet train (200 miles per hour) and traveled to ZhengZhuo, a city in Henan province, and stayed in the Sky-land GDH Hotel.
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| Bullet Train |
November 6
Morning- We took a 90-minute bus ride to the city of
Kaifeng. We visited the affiliated middle and high school of Henan University.
After a welcoming ceremony and a visit to a traditional Chinese classroom, we
heard a lecture on the Chinese Education System and Basic Education Reform.
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| My morning guides |
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| One of the students wrote my name in Chinese |
Afternoon- We visited Millennium City Park and Longting
Park, then took the 90-minute bus ride back to our hotel.
Millenium Park is a theme park. We watched a horse show re-creating a famous Chinese feud.
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| The battle |
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| A picture with the performers |
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The temple at Longting Park. More stairs.
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November 7
The streets were busy in the morning.
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| Traffic in the bicycle and motorcycle lane |
Morning- A visit to Zhengzhuo Huimin Middle and High School,
a National Minority School (serving one of the minority groups).
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| This student sang a song from Mulan |
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| My guides at huimin |
Afternoon- Visited Zhengzhou No. 96 Middle School. This is
the school that the Bancroft-Rosalie 7th grade will be exchanging
letters and video with.
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| A dance group performed |
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| My guide at Middle School 96 |
November 8
Morning- Visited Zhengzhou No. 47 Middle and High School.
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| This student helped me make a stamp in art class |
Afternoon- Took a 90-minute bus trip to Dengfeng to visit the Shaolin
Temple and Songshan Shaolin Wushu College. This is the place known for instruction
in Kung Fu and has 40,000 students.
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| Shaolin Temple |
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| Kung Fu School |
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| Getting lesson from a student |
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| Some of the Kung Fu students that gave a demonstration |
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| My University guides |
I asked the University students why so many Chinese students attend Universities in the United States. The answer was "Educational Freedom." The Chinese system does not allow students much freedom to choose the school they want to attend or their major. They have more freedom to choose by attending a University outside of China.
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| This entire meal was vegetarian, including meat-like foods |
November 9
Morning- Took the bullet train back to Beijing
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| This was the "ham sandwich" for the train ride. Not what I was expecting, lost in translation, but the ham and egg biscuit was very good. |
Afternoon- Shopping trip to the Silk Market. I bought a new
suit and some silk scarves.
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| The NBA is very popular in China |
November 10
Morning- Visited the International School
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| Teacher of Traditional Medicine. I received acupressure in my ear to relieve low back pain. It worked- No pain on the plane ride home. |
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| Students build and drive model cars using virtual reality cameras inside the cars |
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| Cool artwork |
Afternoon- The six groups gave presentations on their
experiences in the provinces.
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| The group presentations |
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| Samples at the nearby mall- Duck Tongue, Pig Ear, and Chicken Feet |
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| Duck Tongues anyone? They taste like Slim Jims |
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| Walked a few blocks from the Beijing Hotel and came upon several fast food places- McDonalds and Pizza Hut |
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| Dumplings and Dimsum- steamed bun |
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| This ship was given to me as a gift by Zhengzhou middle school 96 and sits on my shelf at school |
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| Local public transportation- A small van |
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| Had to stop at Dairy Queen in Beijing. Interesting blizzard flavors |
November 11
Flew out of Beijing airport at 1:25 pm. A 12-hour flight. Landed
in Chicago at 12:35 pm that same day. Arrived in Omaha at 5:35 pm.
November 11
