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Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

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By photobug
March 29th 2007

The seasons

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Not so long ago
The seasons are flying by.

This past weekend was spent riding buses. I am now reminded how much I miss my car and how traveling around Beijing by bus is really a pain. Saturday I left at 8 to catch a bus to catch the subway to change subway lines to walk for 30 minutes just get to the other side of Beijing and it only took me 2 hours. Sunday was spent riding one bus to the subway taking the subway and then another bus to buy DVD's. We took a different route back and took only two buses. This trip only took us [View Full Entry]

By Hans
January 13th 2007

#67 Teaching at Taizhou College, China (Beijing - The Marco Polo Bridge)

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District » Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Qiao)

The Marco Polo Bridge, (Lugou Qiao)
It was an honor, stepping on its marble stones, that have seen over 800 years of Chinese history. In 1937, the bloody battle against the Japanese invaders marked the beginning of a brutal conflict, fo... [more]

Some ten miles from Beijing's city center stands the "Lugou Qiao", also known as the "Marco Polo Bridge", named after the famed traveller, who enthusiastically described this enduring, 11-arched bridge in his famous book, "The Travels". The historic significance of this 820 year old bridge is close to the heart of every Chinese, not only for its beauty of the marble-stone construction dating to the Jin Dynasty of 1189, but also for the bloody battles of 1937 between the Japanese Imperial Army and the Nationalist Chinese Soldiers, leading to the Japanese occupation of Beijing, followed by [View Full Entry]

Each lion is carved with a slightly different appearance.

It would take hours to admire each of the lions.

By photobug
December 31st 2006

Parties and Only in China Food addition Two

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

hand
Its still cold and polluted but I stay very warm in my apartment

Sorry for the long delay. Because of an earthquake off the coast of Taiwan the Internet has been down. Only in China could the Internet collapse and the only people complaining are the foreigners. All of Beijing not having Internet did not even make headlines news here. While it is up and running its slower than dial up and sporadic. So.... I made it through my open classes. The kids did not sing there songs it was like those r Vacation Bible schools where the music is running but you can't here the kids. The director was pleased and Steven was [View Full Entry]

By photobug
December 23rd 2006

Merry Christmas

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

christmas gifts
Inside one card it says from your good students and most of them say I love you! who can ask for more than that!

This week has been really good. I met Allison and her family downtown. I really like her family a lot they are kind easygoing people just like Alison. It was so good to catch up on the Green Street news. I also love hearing what other peoples impression of China is. I wish them safe travels as they make their whirlwind tour of Hong Kong and then back to Shanghai and home. As go into my weekend and my junior high classes the Christmas parties started. I have now taught the Christmas story three times my drawing improves with each telling. [View Full Entry]

By photobug
December 20th 2006

Quick request

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Dear brother and sisters, If you could remember me this coming week. This week has been especially stressful because it is the last week to practice before next weeks performances. I have been thinking of it like the last day of vacation Bible school when the kids get to show off what they have learned all semester. I had in my head what I wanted it to look like. Now with no more time to practice and some classes even to see the kids before I am being told to add this and change that. Steven told me to put together [View Full Entry]

By photobug
December 7th 2006

What to write

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

I have been laughing all day or at least smiling. I looked up from my lesson plan to ask Jack to answer a question to find that I must have not looked at him in a while. Because He had stuck two pencils up his nose and two out his ears and was trying to answer me through the one stuck in his mouth. We made all the students name plates to put on their desks. I had to name a bunch of kids who had forgotten their names so now I have a Drake, Grant and Tyler. I also have [View Full Entry]

By photobug
November 29th 2006

This week

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Monday What a sense of pride I have in knowing all thirty students names, finally. The more I teach the more I love fourth graders. they are the perfect age. Not old enough to be rude and obnoxious and not young where they can't understand anything. They are so smart. The weather is getting colder and drier it seems that all the students are getting bloody noses. I am finally well. I am allergic to the pollution and the doctor says to wear a mask. Tuesday I was in full force Chinese teacher mode today. I yelled at the students. I [View Full Entry]

By photobug
November 16th 2006

Reasons to teach

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Beijing Opera
The second weekend of my continual Saturday outings. We went to the Qianman Hotel and watched Beijing Opera, sort of. It was geared mostly towards foriegners. It mas more kung fu martial arts.

1. You learn to get excited about the small things that are big things. I don't know why but my way of playing with one of the more serious boys is to wink at him. He is a great student amazing English but he is seven going on thirty. He is rock just answers the questions and moves on. So I started winking at this kid. Today I was standing in line at the grocery store and in walks Victor with his mom. I smile at him and wave as he passes he winks at me at smiles and me! It [View Full Entry]

By photobug
November 9th 2006

Learning about oneself

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Well I have learned a great deal about myself. 1. I don't like confrontation. As much as I like watching politics and debating people when it comes down to my own life I really hate confrontation. 2. I will be nice to people and let things boil and fester until it reaches a point that I cannot handle any more and then explode. Question: Is it better to continually nag someone about something and let the problems always be present. If so then maybe they will get fixed before they are to much to handle. Or is it better to keep [View Full Entry]

By photobug
November 6th 2006

Only in China

Asia » China » Beijing » Feng Tai District

Ballerina
And I thought balancing on my toes on the floor was hard!

My last couple of entries have been real downers! I do not mean to give the impression that I am always unhappy. Actually I am happeir than I have ever been. Just sometimes like always life or work can make things hard. So on a happy note. I have decided to start a list of things that occur that I believe could only happen in China or maybe just to me in China. The idea for this came as result of number one. And what better whay do illustrate this entry then with pictures from a show only in China. 1. [View Full Entry]

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