our stories |
our stories |
Today we had school even though it's summer. We took English, Tai-Chi, calligraphy, painting, and paper cutting classes. All of the Chinese students enjoyed spending time with us during the classes and they are truly anxious at all times to practice their English. The homestays have been wonderful experiences. We have taught dancing to friends and neighbors, learned about so many different foods, and been taken care of like members of the family. We are all very excited for tomorrow's performance after the school holds an official closing ceremony. I know we will all be very sad to leave our new friends, but we will be back next year for sure. We will head back to the hotel in Xi'an tomorrow afternoon and then do some shopping in the Muslim Quarter before we head to the airport on Friday. There is a saying in China, something like "happy times go quickly." It feels like that for our stay in Gaoling, and our trip to China. We hope you are reading this blog and enjoying the pictures.
meeting new friends Today was a great day. Not only did we get a chance to meet our new host families and friends in China, we also got a chance to see the school we would be working and learning at. Also, we got to see the Gao lin pagoda and climb to the top, and even though it got dark and cramped, we still pushed on and we able to make it to the top. Then, to make our day, even better, we got to visit not one but two museums that were both very interesting, and learned a lot of information about the regions. We finished off the day at an amusement area with swings, rope bridges, and more. So, overall, it was a great day.
Today was the day that we, Sierra and Kellanne, took the lead on the day's excursions. We started the day with a learning session, which opened our eyes to the real purpose behind our trip: experiencing the communities and situations of which we are placed.
After this, we bravely embraced the heavy rains of China, and continued to the Muslim Quarter in Xi'an. Here we took on the "Marketplace Challenge" and split into groups to search for the most exotic items. The winner of the challenge was the group who found a Chinese "cotton candy" snack. They gave the most information on their item, but the other groups were not far behind with hand-made yogurt and street squid. After a fun, yet soggy experience in the marketplace, Huskies took shelter in a local eatery, ordering dumplings and noodles. With full tummies, we headed out to Gao Ling to meet our host families and get acquainted with the school. Overall, our rainy day in China was packed with new and fun experiences that we will remember for years to come! Today William and I, Henry Morse, ate ice cream in the rain from a vendor in an unbelievably crowded food plaza. We wanted to buy super fake Gucci shirts but all of the stores only had food or weird souvenirs like wooden puzzles or squeezy plastic balls. For breakfast we ate a'plenty mislabeled food, like "pan-fried waffles" that was actually Chinese French toast. We also had "lemonade" that was actually water with a couple of slices of lemon. Lunch was not particularly notable today, but for dinner we had "longevity noodles" which are essentially lasagna noodles but without the Italian dress-up. A popular activity was riding the public bus from our hotel to the food plaza. It was nice and crowded in there. The learning activity that we did this afternoon was about linking different global crises to each other as an exercise for us to learn how separate events around the world can effect another. We had many spectators including tiny children.
We were given a packet of Chinese words and sentences that may be useful during our stays with the host families. It was funny when we practiced these because most of the students on the trip have plenty of prior experience speaking the local language. Tonight and tomorrow morning we will pack up and move out of our rooms in downtown Xi'an to our homestays in Gaoling. Happy fathers day dad!!!!! WE always appreciate what you do for us. - Jt & Myles Happy fathers day!!! I hope you've had a great day so far, and I have a feeling you'll love my gift. I was beyond proud of it. I think you'd love it here! Anyhoooo love you! - Kellanne Happy father's day Brucey!!! I miss you so much and I hope you are having an amazing day :) I can't wait to celebrate with you once I am back! Love you <3 - Sophia Happy Fathers day dad!! I love you soooooo much and I hope you have had an amazing day so far! I miss you sooo much, and wish Max and Grace a great time at camp for me. Have an amazing Fathers day!!!! -Kayla happy fathers day dad I miss you see you soon!! -Connor chichinohiomedetou. iihiwosugoshitekudasai. ( There was no Japanese keyboard) -Yu Happy Fathers day! I hope you will have a great year -William Hey daddio - Happy Fathers' Day! I can't wait to see you soon and I am so proud of you on your adventure. Love - Henry Today we went to see the Terra-Cotta Warriors, which was really cool to see since they have been there for over 2,000 years. The weather today was better since it rained part of the time, and wasn't as humid. We all enjoyed dinner at a hot pot style restaurant in the Muslim Quarters. It was a new experience for most of us since we had never tried this type of food. Most of us really enjoyed the Muslim Quarters since it was a new experience and we plan to go back tomorrow.
This Afternoon we had learning sessions to discover more about ourselves and our personalities, and also some fun games. On Monday we head to the community where we will be staying with our host families. Some students were a bit nervous about staying with a new family, so we discussed our fears and hopefully alleviated our nerves. Thoughts on the day and the trip so far: JT and Myles Tan
Today was a pretty fun day, from bike rides on the ancient Xi’an Wall to a night walk through the Muslim Quarter. We also visited an organization that helps kids in school get books that are more than just the plain textbooks. Overall we enjoyed our experience today and hope for many more like this. One thing we do wish for is for it to be a little cooler. The heat and humidity just kills ya. Even after all the food we tried and the experiences we had, I still want to learn more. I can just learn all that without the heat. Oh, and Myles got a really cool watch. That’s all for now. On to the Terra Cotta Warriors tomorrow! Hello family and friends of the Rolling Hills Prep & Renaissance program in China,
The group is settling in after their first day and all are healthy and in good spirits! Please find some photos below of their initial activities. We will continue to post updates and photos as we receive them. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office at 303-679-3412 with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued trust and support, The WLS Team Hello family and friends of the RHP program in China. The students arrived in Xi'an overnight and got settled in their hotel for the evening. They will update their blog as often as possible but internet can be challenging in China. Please don't hestitate to reach out with any question - 303-679-3412. Thank you for your trust and support of this program!
Erin Hawk Executive Director |