A day of firsts and lasts

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Most of the day was spent sight-seeing. We went to Confucius’ birthplace and his tomb. Grace and Song had said the driver is generally very talkative, but he had never actually talked to me. Today he did—a first! The other first of the day, I finally used a Chinese toilet—yikes! If you’ve not seen them, they are basically a hole in the ground (a trough). I’d show a picture, but that might be a little extreme. I was really, really nervous about using it. But, I did it, and it was, in actuality, not too bad! I’d do it again.

It was also my last full day in Jinan. I will head to Beijing to do a little sight-seeing and see Jillian on Thursday night, which will leave me all day Friday and Saturday morning to play! As such, we did the farewell dinner with the group, and we also discussed where we go from here. They invited me back to come visit their 11th Annual National Games and to give a couple talks on sports/exercise science during the Games to their coaches and other sports/exercise scientist—scary, but fun! We’ll see. Two other professors I’ve been working with discussed setting up different research activities between the US and China in the next few years! All in all, I think the trip to Jinan was terrific, and I believe there will be many more trips to China, and I’m hoping they will be able to come visit me in the US. Between the 3 professors I’ve worked with here, they have about 7 students at the Master’s level working on projects. We are going to work to get some of their work published, and we’re also planning to do a couple comparison studies between the US and China, both in the academics/education realm and in the exercise science front—how exciting!

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Photos

My favorite temples
One of these "temples" is my favorites--the recycling one!

The first classroom in China
...or so I'm told. It was the classroom Confucius taught in some 2k years ago.

Incense to Clear the Air
Incense is thought to promote clear thinking, clean living, while clearing and cleaning the air! You be the judge

Another favorite
Too bad people didn't read the signs...folks were smoking!

So Peaceful
Not a honking horn in earshot. Beautiful!