Blogs from Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, Asia - page 11

The photos are from some of my daily activities in the city of Taizhou, Jiangsu Province of China, these past 2 days. There has not been a dull moment, and every day leaves much to ponder. I hope you enjoy them, and thank you for thinking of me on the other side of the world. Perhaps these photos will convey some of the culture shock awaiting any visitor to China:... read more

The Art of a Banquet: The dining experience is traditionally an important event in China. Not only honoring a guest, it establishes and deepens personal relationships and fosters and encourages enthusiastic appreciation for one another. Pre-dating the time of Marco Polo, it is as much a ritual of food, as it is a festival of the "choicest" and the most "exotic" morsels. The sharing of food and drink re-enforce respect and admiration and gratitude for each other's on-going relationships, and continues to re-new, nurture, and deepen friendships. Upon invitation, as it was the case with the family of my student in these photos, the guests are escorted and ushered into a private room, usually on the upper floor of the restaurant. The privacy offers a gracious host the opportunity to focus and express gratitude for the ... read more

During the morning, my friend Arthur called me at my apartment and suggested a visit to one of the elite schools of Taizhou, not far from the college. Students were about to take a nation-wide battery of demanding college-entrance-examinations, spanning the next 4 days. The results are to decide each student's future. I was not prepared for what was waiting for me: The school is situated next to a wide and important street, and consists of a large complex of impressive buildings, with a grand entrance and iron gate, gold and red banners flapping in the morning wind. I have passed the school several times with little fanfare, but this morning there was great commotion. The street was no longer accessable to any motored vehicle, blocked at both ends by police cars. Hundreds of mothers and ... read more

The 1st weekend in the city Taizhou, Jiangsu Province and on the campus of Taizhou College was a kind of Star Treck moment with: " Beam me up to another planet, Scotty". The culture shock this time was less momentous, thanks to last summer's first visit to the city. Never-the- less, it is a serious awakening. There is a bombardment of sounds, sights, smells, tastes, that make quickly clear: " Life will not quite be the same again". The butterflies of anticipation are now the butterflies of reality, and the eagerness to embrace all that is offered to the senses, is THE cure for the butterflies. What was only an after-thought one year ago is now dimensional fact. I am sad, that I have not been able to link the photos of these first days, but ... read more

All work and no play makes for a boring life, so it is good to know that there are extra curricular activities available on campus for the students to enjoy. Even better, most of the activities are organized and coordinated by the Student Union. In this populous nation of over 1.4 billion, it is easy to forget the importance of these opportunities for students to develop physical, cultural and social skills as well as their mental capacities in order to become well rounded citizens. The great emphasis on diligence in study and doing well in exams is partly in response to the incredible pressure to succeed, to rise up and keep apace of the amazing changes occurring at this time in China. To be "part of the action". The competition for desirable jobs is fierce and ... read more