Sunday, July 27, 2008

Loudi

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Our time in Loudi


I've included a summary of our activities, since much of our time was spent with our host families and, thus, quite different. Times as a large group are indicated. If you have questions, email me or consult your young traveler.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Flight to Changsha, met with students, administrators, local media, etc.
Lunch outside of Loudi—delicious, spicy, humid weather. Hung out, played cards in the AC. Welcome party at the new, huge Loudi government center. Met host families. Speeches, flowers, video cameras.
Home with the host families for dinner, recreation, and rest.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Loudi lecture in the morning at the school.
Lunch near the Wal-mart.
Art museum with Sichuan earthquake pictures and watercolor paintings, two of which were given by the artists to EP schools.
Linayuan steel factory--one of the largest steel producing factories in the world. Immense and impressive. More a city than a factory, also very modern and safe. The factory plays music over loudspeakers throughout this city of more than 500,000 to call its 15,000+ laborers to the workplace.
Buffet dinner near the factory.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

A long drive to Meishan Dragon Cave. Following our tour, we ate lunch with the mayor of Xinhua district in Loudi. After lunch, we watched a martial Arts performance at kung fu school. Dinner with host families—some students went to KTV.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Went to ’s opulent house/villa/mansion. Basketball, swimming pool, expensive furniture, good tea, discussion about china culture and the Loudi/EP agreement, lunch with the big boss man. The story is that the family's money came primarily through coal mining, though real estate development ventures have also increased their wealth. This house was incredible by anybody's standards. Rooftop swimming pool.

Back to school, where host families entertained students. My student, Fang Cai, showed me pictures from her time in Eden Prairie. She went on and on about how friendly her family was and about how much she enjoyed her time here. She especially enjoyed visiting the family cabin on Ten Mile Lake.

We ate dinner with the vice mayor of Loudi. Dr. Pladson wore a new qi pao, a traditional silk dress her host family had tailored for her. Several speeches were given, followed by a theater show given in our honor, with excellent erhu, crazy dancing, the lion dance, Tessie sang about the mouse, and all the students sang Auld Lang Syne and Edelweiss. Afterwards, several students went to Louxin square.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Bai xiong tang—adventure obstacle course with teams. Trust falls, climbing walls, rope swings over some pretty nasty water. The weather was, in my opinion, way too hot and humid for such activity. Lunch at the same place. We had the afternoon free to spend time with our host families. Some students went to Shaoshan, Chairman Mao’s hometown. I traveled and ate dinner with my host Fang’s extended family while she recorded a DVD of her playing the piano. We traveled by van to a dam reservoir. There, we hired a boat and toured the lake with 15 family members, one of which spoke (very) little English. It was an incredible experience.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

There was a going away party at the school, all our students gave a little speech with host sibling translating for them. Bus to Changsha, flight to Shanghai.

Summary of Shanghai coming soon.

In the meantime, please ask your daughter/son/student about their time in Loudi. They should have a world of pictures and stories to share. Personally, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of my host family, Fang Cai and her mother and father. Thanks!

Again, see all my photos here!

Students: if you have photos or videos to share, please email me!


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