Fwd: Update from China

A Message from chaperone in China

---

From: Lboyer79
Sent: 7/19/2009 6:52:33 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Update from China

All is great! I only have a few minutes before we leave for the water city.

July 18-We finished our home stay with a try at paper cutting. We had a celebration with the town the night before in the village square with Chinese and American dancing and music. The students got to mingle with other students from the village and near by towns. All reported having a good homestay. We flew to Shanghai. What an amazing city with incredible architecture.

July 19- We went to Shanghai Urban planning Exhibition center to see a model of what they expect Shanghai to look like in the future. They have very big plans and use a lot of fung shu in planning. Next was learning about silk and how it is made into textiles and comforters. We even got a chance to stretch some silk, not too well but we got to try. We went to a live market and saw fish, frogs, eels, chickens all waiting to be someone's dinner. The students then went to a regular supermarket and in groups were given money to buy gifts for the families they were getting to meet! My group did a great job and bought very practical and useful things. We got to go to homes with a translator and see how people live and have a snack with them. Shanghai people were very different from the village folks. Next was lunch at a Mongolian restaurant with all kinds of meats and vegetables. Next was a trip to an acrobat school with a try at rope tricks, hat tricks and Chinese YoYo. We then did a very American dinner at pizza hut. This was followed by an incredible show that was loved by all. Your children will tell you all about it.

July 20- We leave for the water city to Shuzou today. It is very hot and humid. We are in the perfect spot to see the total eclipse of the sun tomorrow. There are astronomers from all over the world here and the hotels are all full.

I will update again when we get to Hong Kong in a few days.

Laura