#100 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Olympic-Torch-Relay in Taizhou; an historic day for the home-town of China's President, Mr. Hu Jintao)

Asia » China » Jiangsu » Taizhou » Taizhou University
June 15th 2008

Published: June 15th 2008

One of the most joyfull days during my teaching assignment at Taizhou Teachers College came on Monday, May 26th, 2008. The Olympic Torch Run through China was about to reach the city of Taizhou. There had been a delay, since China was still deep in mourning on the 23rd of May, the day originally scheduled for the presentation of the Olympic Torch Run in Taizhou. Taizhou, the "City of the Phoe... Read Full Entry

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Hans J. Schneider

Hans

After 38 years as a Foreign Language Teacher and Foreign Language Dept. Chair at Coral Gables Sr. H.S., and A.J. Professor of German at the University of Miami, I have left Florida in June of 2006, where my home is in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. I have just signed another year's teaching-contract (my 8th year now) with Taizhou University in the city of Taizhou, located about 3hrs north of Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province, CHINA. I thought it would be informative for others and rewarding for me personally, to log the progress of my efforts from beginning to end, as a Travel and Photo Jo... full info

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My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #34

Arthur and I make sure, that we too have a photo together, remembering the Torch Relay of Taizhou.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #35

Our college President, Mr. Xu, proudly waves his National Flag. Mr. Xu is also an important member of Taizhou, and is known as a humble, but great and innovative educator.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #36

The crowd on either side of the street is huge, and stretches for miles. The police in blue is keeping the massive crowd behind the barriers. Soon it will be "that" time.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #37

One last obligatory photo with the "Foreigner", and we can hear the crowd getting louder in the distance.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #38

The crowd is pressing closer to the street as they hear the cheering in the distance, announcing the Torch is on the way toward our vantage point. I was standing on top of a trash-container, but had to give it up, when a policeman asked me to step down. It was quickly re-occupied by a Chinese fan.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #39

First to arrive is the police escort, who are greeted by waving banners and cheering crowds.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #40

Behind the police escort passes the bus, carrying the remainder of the torch-runners. Each of them conveys the Olympic torch through a specific section of the route, and is then replaced by another man or woman, selected by the Taizhou Athletic Committee. No luck for me during this year's relay! :-(

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #41

The cheerleaders of the CocaCola sponsored truck attract the attention of the shy young Chinese men, as they greet the surrounding spectators with capitalistic advertisement of a "new" China. By they way, Coca Cola in China tastes nothing like the Coca Cola in the US.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #42

AND NOW THE MOMENT WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. IN SIGHT APPEARS TO TORCH-BEARER, FLANKED BY THE "MEN IN BLUE". THE CROWD CHEERS AND ROARS, AND THERE ARE TEARS IN THE EYES OF SOME OF THE SPECTATORS.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #43

NOW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US, THIS TORCH RUNNER IS A JUST A LITTLE TOO FAST FOR MY CAMERA. I HEAR THE CROWD CHANTING: "GO CHINA GO, GO CHINA GO, ....", AND IN NO TIME HE HAS PASSED MY VIEWING POSITION.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #44

THE GRAND MOMENT ADVANCES QUICKLY, AND IT ONLY TAKES SECONDS FOR THIS "TORCH-SPEEDSTER" TO PASS US BY, WITH THE CHEERS OF THE CROWD FOLLOWING HIM.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #45

ALMOST OUT OF SIGHT, OUR HISTORIC VIEW OF THE OLYMPIC TORCH WAS JUST THAT, A MOMENT. BUT IT WILL FOREVER BE A FEW SECONDS I WILL CHERISH, A MOMENT OF HISTORY IN MY LIFE-TIME.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #46

The spectators in my section of the street are satisfied, having lived a moment in the history of Taizhou. They begin to disperse and scatters, as the Olympic Torch continues its journey into the far distance of the street. The torch will now reach dozens more cities within China, on its way to the "Grand Moment" in Beijing on August 8th, 2008.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #47

One more pose by a group of satisfied spectators, these from one of Taizhou's "Lenovo-Computer-Stores", one of the sponsors of Taizhou's Olympic Torch Relay.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #48

We topped our exciting day with a lunch at one of the Grand Hotels of Taizhou, at Arthur's gracious invitation. The staff wanted to pose with my banner of the five "Olympic Friendlies", and all send you greetings from the proud city of Taizhou, who on this day, May 26th, 2008, had been host to the Olympic Torch, as it made its way to the 29th Olympics in Beijing.

My college prepares for the Torch-Relay, Photo #49

Thanks for taking the times to visit with me on one of my most happy moments in China. The foreign teachers send greetings to all of my dear family and friends. Sadly, Sue is leaving the college on Tuesday, and Ken, our Japanese Teacher, also had to return to Japan to be with his family. Stef will continue to tach with me at Taizhou Teachers College for at least another semester. I Hope you have enjoyed this proud moment of the city of Taizhou, Jiangsu, PRC

16th June 2008

Sandra Cordoba
non-member comment

This is pretty amazing :] i'm sure you never imagined yourself viewing the Olympic Torch in China when you were my age, huh?

18th June 2008

Sue Storr
non-member comment

Finally got a decent internet connection!
Hi Hans Free Wifi at my hostel has now reconnected me with my cyber world! Lucky you with some of those photos! It truly was a wonderful experience, wasn't it? Can you please email me the full size photo you took of me with the Taizhou granny. I want to put her on my upcoming blog as well!

24th June 2008

yang
non-member comment

wonderful experiences, I wish i had the chance to attend the torch relay in nanjing.

16th July 2008

sybil
non-member comment

wonderful
the experiences are really memorable

16th July 2008

Cristina Pena
non-member comment

Media Request
Dear Photographer Hi my name is Cristina Pena and I’m apart of American Public Media’s nationwide radio show called “Weekend America.” Every month we run a short piece on the various weekend photos we receive on our Weekend America Flickr. However, for the month of August, we would like to have a special “Olympics in Beijing” photo theme. Your Olympic photos sparked our interest and we would like to speak to you, if possible in the coming days about why you took the photo, what was going on at the time and exactly where and how long you where there. If you are interested in sharing your Beijing Olympic photo flickr story, or know of anyone else traveling to Beijing during the Olympics, please contact me at cpena@americanpublicmedia.org or 213.621.3523 x 523 Thank you. Here is a link to give you an idea of what we do! http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/24/americas_weekend/ Cristina Pena Weekend America 261 Figueroa Street., Suit 200 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 621-3523 x523 cpena@americanpublicmedia.org

18th August 2008

Jorge Barrera
non-member comment

What a gret experience.
I loved this blog, it's not a fun as being there huh? Thanks for sharing something that I would never have known. It was very interesting seeing someplace different than here.

29th August 2008

Mark Mark
Mark.Ma

I'm moved deeply
Until to now , I still not finish reading and touring this place, thank you Mr.Hans Schneider , I read many many story and got many many knowledge, just like a piece of sponge, I'm still absorbing the nutrition of the knowledge, thank you give me the chance to visit here, I will never gorget.Good luck

12th May 2009

michael
non-member comment

hello
i am michael.i am so happy to see your blog

21st July 2012

anonymous
non-member comment

Torch relay again
Just took some pictures near royal artillery barracks. The torch bearer held the flame high, followed by artillery guards on horses. This was the first leg of the torch-relay in London, started from the Cutty-Sark in Greenwich. The archery and shooting games will start on Woolwich common here from next Sturday and the equestrian at Greenwich park. Hi, not good for taking photos on a mobile phone, just rushing mad tried, hope one day could upload these to share with you all.

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#100 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Olympic-Torch-Relay in Taizhou; an historic day for the home-town of China's President, Mr. Hu Jintao)

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