As you know, a devastating earthquake occurred in Sichuan Province, China on Monday May 12. The death toll has already climbed over 50,000 and injury and homelessness are catastrophic. Flooding now is immanent and the problems are mounting. The human cost is staggering. Although Beijing is far from the disaster site the whole country is caught up in the tragedies and mobilizing to help. The atmosphere here is much like after 9/11- everyone in mourning and mobilizing to do what must be done. On the one week anniversary of the quake there was a 3 minute "moment of silence" with traffic [View Full Entry]

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On a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon I took a walk with Guijian, the father of my host family, (I can't call him my host father since he is younger than me) all around a lovely park called Longtan Park. It was a perfect spring afternoon and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the spectacle of people of all ages enjoying the spring weather in seasonal ways. Another afternoon I went with a Chinese friend named Lilly to Bei Hai Park, an 800 year old imperial garden that surrounds a man made lake. I've been busier during this last month going lots [View Full Entry]

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People watching has always been fascinating for me. I love watching what people are doing and getting a glimpse into their lives. I took these pictures on the street around the school, a few other places I have gone walking, and from a moving car. Having only one child is certainly a lot more convenient for bicycle travel! I also think the single child policy, whatever else one may say about it, makes for more egalitarian marriages and less tension between the sexes. Women and men alike dote on their single child, as do all the grandparents. This means young people [View Full Entry]

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As you may have heard, the quaint old Beijing neighborhoods are rapidly disappearing. The narrow winding lanes, or hutongs, with traditional courtyard houses and small tile-roofed single story homes (mostly lacking central heating and indoor plumbing) are going. Huge heavy walls are thrown up around city blocks of these and the sites are being completely transformed. EVERYWHERE Old Beijing is being mowed down by bulldozers, to create the shiny 21st century skyscraper apartments, hotels, offices, of New Beijing. The residents are paid to relocate, and some are happy to do so. The workers are re [View Full Entry]

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I have been so fortunate to participate in this wonderful exchange and come to this incredible city. In addition to the special classes and outings arranged for us by The Jingshan School, and our absolutely awesome group of students, my incredible host family has taken me, and Bob during his visit, on many wonderful excursions and outings. They have been so considerate: wherever we have gone they have arranged a friend or guide who speaks good English to interpret things for me, and their cheerful friend "Lily" is only a phone call away whenever communication is an issue. The pictures here [View Full Entry]

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Dear Friends and Relatives, Our teaching has gotten into full swing now. Additionally, the Jingshan School has generously provided our group with several regular classes on various aspects of Chinese culture, such as Chinese language, Tai Chi, martial arts, caligraphy, art, crafts, and Chinese history and geography. If we have a free period, Brian (AKA BG) and I have adjoining desks in the English office which is our home base. The other English teachers are very friendly and frequently ask us questions about the fine points of English grammar (such as which choice in a multiple choice tes [View Full Entry]

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Li Jiang was such a rich experience that I must show more of the photographs I took there. The Naxi (pronounced Nah-hee) people are a minority group who live there. Their pictographic language is the oldest such language still in use today. The Dongba, in the feather headdress, (!) is one of fourteen surviving Naxi who are entitled to write out the language. In the picture you can see his inscribed calligraphy page of good wishes for our family on special hand made paper that is guaranteed to last 1000 years! The next day in the museum bookstore at the Mu [View Full Entry]

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Li Jiang was designated a UNESCO World Heritage town in 1996. It is an utterly charming historic (800 year old!) Chinese town, featuring labyrinthian cobblestone streets, gurgling streams and canals especially designated for drinking, washing vegetables, and washing clothes, traditional Naxi (pronounced Na-hee) architecture, as well as an unbelievable array of souvenir merchants who cater to the hoards of mostly Chinese tourists who provide the major source of income here. It felt like another world utterly, from Massachsetts and from Beijing. The weather was cool in the morning and evening, a [View Full Entry]

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Kunming is the capital of Yunnan Province. It is called the "city of eternal spring" because of the pleasant weather. We had a fabulous time, saw many sights, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. [View Full Entry]

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Xi Shan, or "The Western Hills Scenic Area" stretches along steep (straight up and down) cliffs near Kunming. There are giant pines and many ancient temples. Old narrow pathways, all built along rising slopes, twist around to places surrounded by ancient trees and shrubs. Covered stone corridors connect each pavilion and room, so one has the feeling of coming indoors and outdoors, again and again. The whole place seems to reflect a combination of Buddhism and Taoism. It took 72 years for stonecutters and artisans to build this hillside combination of grottoes, walkways, pavillions and mansions [View Full Entry]

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