Catching up from the Tokyo Airport...

Yes we are on our way home. Last night amidst packing and all the excitement of the final preparations, it was simply too hectic to do any entries. I am able to give you some text right now, but photos will have to wait as the camera cable found its way into checked baggage.

Let me take a moment to introduce you to the producer and author of the China trip blog... Ryan, Rochelle Brown's older brother has made it all possible. Ryan works at Google and seems to know all the ins and outs of most any technical undertaking. He has downloaded all of the photos, color enhanced and cropped pictures, created links and made sure that it all works so you can keep track of us back home. His new SLR digital camera was the source of many of the photos as well. (I helped with most of the writing and some of the pictures... Chad) We hope you have enjoyed the news.

Our final full day in Shanghai was a free day. Some went to museums, others to the aquarium. A few rode the metro out to the bullet train connection to the new Shanghai airport. Their ride took them to speeds in excess of 400 KM per hour. They said the most exciting part of the 7 minute ride was passing other trains that dissappeared in a "whoosh". Some chose to hang out at the hotel, while the rest did what we have all learned to do best... Shop and barter to the exchange of the final Yuan for the last person on the sovenier list. We discovered a beautiful Lotus garden in People's Square and had a personal guide for last minute shopping in Old Town.

Mid afternoon, we boarded busses for the final musical experience of the trip. Surprisingly, everyone navigated the streets and railways of Shanghai and made it back from their day's adventures. Our student musicians played an exchange concert at the world renowned Nanyng Model High School. They sounded terrific.

Follwoing their performance, the orchestra for this elite school, described as Ivy league, where the brightest and most talented students from areas surrounding Shanghai attend. They have won awards in international competitions for many years running. Our jaws dropped. Their performance was spectacular. Each musician could easily make it already as a performing professional. Oh that our kids had that kind of opportunity! (Reminds me why we need to continue the fight to keep music and visual arts in the curriculum of our public schools!) While most of their students slipped out without much mingling, a few interacted and really had fun with our kids.

We then rode to our farewell dinner at the famous Shanghai Uncle restaurant. Another edible extravaganza. And on the way, Shanghai gave us a sobbing farewell of Monsoon proportions! The 3 steps from bus to front door leftus all totally drenched. The humidity was already so dense, that we were not sure we could get much wetter. WE DID!

Our evening boat cruise on the riverfront, where we were able to experience the sensational view of the old city architecture and teh bustling new buildings across the river. The rain finally stopped and we enjoyed the views from the third floor open deck of the boat.

Late night. Those who had ordered tailored suits received them after we returned to the hotel. Fears of how they would come out turned to smiles of satisfaction... Ask Ryan, Kevin, and me to model them for you, and Wendy to model her new jacket....

As far as we know all are now on their way... anxious for the warm hugs, In and Our Burgers, and their own beds! Bye for now. Final Pictures will follow ASAP.

And yes, any of you are able to add comments to the blog.. (I am still learning how this all works.) Happy Sunday

Almost home

So, we head home tomorrow. The first group leaves for the airport at 6 AM. Oh joy. Right now we're all busy trying to figure out how to fit all the stuff we bought into our suitcases. We'll give a final report on our last couple days when we get a chance (ie once we get back and have slept enough to be semi-coherent.)

Tour of Canal Town of Zhujiajiao and more shopping

Another fabulous breakfast at the Hua Ting Hotel. On the bus ride to Zhujiajiao, several of the musicians were interviewed.

Several told of their worst food experiences in China... David and several others admitted to trying the duck tongue last night. Kelsey spoke of the strange bamboo shoots , also from last nights meal... they were crunchy, but still chewy and hard to swallow. Erica said it was the snails... most people just swallowed them whole, but she chewed

If they had plenty of money to buy whatever they would want they ad seen here, Katherine said more clothes and cultural things like musical instruments. Veronica said she would buy a beautiful strand of champagne colored pearls.

Jessica Gillette says Hi to Mom. She says her favorite part of the trip was the Great Wall, to finally be on top of it.

Patrick said his mom was worried reading the blog about his knife target experience. He told us he wasn't at all worried until they put the balloon between his legs...

Alyssa told us that her family is all from Hong Kong. She was surprised that the entire country was not more like what we are seeing in Shanghai, For her it was surprising that in Beijing there were so many low and run down buildings among all the big new buildings. She really likes all the greenery in Shanghai.

Kevin, AKA Budda, joined the group at Mr. Smith's request just 2 weeks before the tour. He is a college student form Concord who plays French Horn. Though he knew only Mr. Smith at first he has enjoyed getting to know all the musicians. He fears he may not see anyone again after the trip...

When we got off the bus, we gathered and walked across a concrete bridge into the village section of the town. We wandered down the small alleys and popped into shops where we found the same soveniers we had encountered everywhere else in China and a few interesting items unique to the village such as antiques and local crafts. Zhujiajiao is like the city of Venice, Italy but on a much smaller scale. Narrow alleys, canals throughout with gondolas, called sampans for transportation and delivery. We rode these sampans back to the main bridge.

Lunch was a Mongolian barbecue at a restaurant back in Shanghai. The students went to the Silk carpet factory and the shadow tour group hit the markets of Old Town once again.

Dinner at the hotel buffet was a welcome relief for those who were adventurous enough to try the duck tongue, snails and bamboo shoots the previous night...

Following dinner, the students and as many of the adults who chose to, boarded a single bus and went to the commercial street known as Nanjing Road... Bright lights, lots of neon, plenty of pushy street vendors, and lots of expensive shops.

We are winding down, planning the events of our final full day, and feeling a bit like we are ready to come back home.
Good night for now!

Shopping, Eating, Rehearsing and Performing

Today, the only time the musicians and the shadow tour group were together was at the Old Town shopping area. There we all browsed the shops for souvenirs and trinkets. Lots of us found our way to KFC for a semi americanized lunch.

Musicians left to rehearse for tonight's concert while the shadows toured the silk carpet factory. We saw how carpets are designed, woven, trimmed and sculpted for texture. A couple of us even broke down and bought rugs to take home. Note the shot of Natalie atop a pile of round carpets... looks like a birthday cake topper... The students will see the silk factory tomorrow.

Watch for the fashion shot on Saturday... three of us got fitted this afternoon for custom tailored suits.

Students had dinner near the concert hall while the shadows had dinner at the hotel... Boring, you say? It was an unbelievable spread that at home would have been $40 or more per person. Crab, Sushi, and exquisite selections of salads, vegetables, fruits, main courses, dessert crepes, white chocolate fondue... no way to list it all. We'll be back tomorrow for dinner again.... oh darn.

The concert this evening was at the Lycentium Theater, an old French style theater that is decorated beautifully. The kids played to a sold-out crowd and performed beautifully. Only glitch was the two tuxes left in a hotel closet back in Beijing.... Cross your fingers that we get them back before crossing the pond. (a couple of well-placed prayers may help as well...)

Note the cool poster that was used to attract the crowd.

Off to bed for another busy day tomorrow....

Day 6 Continued

Arriving in Shanghai, we got luggage, boarded our busses and drove to the hotel with a brief stop at the waterfront for photos.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't give us postcard-perfect blue skies.  

What a scramble it was to get everyone's luggage into the rooms in time to head off to the restaurant for our best dinner yet...   elegant hotel setting and wonderful Chinese music by three young women.  See the photo of them playing their traditional instruments.  As most of our meals have been, it was served buffet style on a large lazy susan.

Following dinner, we rode to the theater where we saw an fantastic show of balance, strength and careful precision by the Chinese Acrobats.  Our seats were in the first 3 rows and we were seated in the first 3 rows of the theater.   Our own Patrick Smith became the star of  the next to last act.  He became the target for the nervous knife thrower.  We all enjoyed watching Patrick put on the spot....  Knives were thrown at him while his face was covered.  Actually, the assistant jammed them into the backboard with the sound they would have made by being thrown.  Highlight was when the balloon between his legs was popped with the final knife...  You will have to ask Patrick for more details.     

Bye bye Beijing, hello Shanghai

Following breakfast we headed to the airport for the 2 hour flight to Shanghai.  Security at the airport was much easier to pass through.  

Enroute, several of the musicians shared their thoughts about Beijing...

Danielle said she enjouey the visit to the Huyongs best, she liked seeing how the people lived.

Elizabeth said the wierdest thing was the random people who would come up to you and ask to take a picture with you.

Brandon said the wierdest part was the finger painting ink artist who chased him on the great wall and would not take no for an answer.  Jillian added a side note that the guy spoke excellent English and was trying to prove that he did his work all with his fingers when Brandon had said, something like "Oh sure...

The Capitol Hotel provided a comfortable setting, with beds as hard as a stack of plywood at Home Depot covered by a sheet.  So far, the comforts at the Shainghai hotel are much more comfortable, beds are soft and the breakfast buffet is fabulous.  What a selection!

Final Full Day in Beijing

Off to the Summer Palace and a boat ride across the man-made Kunming Lake. The Palace included a marble ship, the world's longest covered walkway, and lots of beautiful hidden gardens. One more stop for some must do shopping at the Pearl Factory.

The rest of the day was free for our choice of activities. The lost eleven (our late arrivers did a make-up tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Most of the students found their way to the Beijing zoo, others went to tour a Chinese Temple, and others needed to have another shopping fix. Tastebuds led to places like McDonalds, Pizza Hut... for something familiar without the touch of soy sauce and rice.

The zoos major attractions seemed to be in shades of black and white. Giant Pandas, Zebras, Silvery Pheasants, and tiny monkeys. For fun read the sign in the slide show... and don't let any suddenness happen... whatever that means...

Evening started witha visit from the THREE KINGS (Lets see... we ARE in the ORIENT...) Creative use of bedding decorations compliments of Zachary Webb, Stephen Ochoa and Nicholas Paramo. Funny!

Check out the evening's appetizers... Grasshoppers, Seahorses, Scorpions.

The question of the day remains... Will everything fit in our suitcases as we prepare to head over to Shanghai...

Hey guys at home, Rochelle and Joanna in the house! So, today we met two Buddhas at the Jade Factory. One was a statue and one was in our group! Afterwards, we climbed the Great Wall. Fortunately there were no fatal falls down the steps although we may have wanted to push some of the venders down the wall. They would mob you and follow you half way up the wall to try to sell you anything! I think we all spent wayyyyyy too much money on knockoffs, like Louis Vuitton, Coach, Gucci, Rolex, Fendi, etc.. Then we went to the Friendship Store, where they make copper vases and we ate lunch in a restaurant upstairs. After that we went on on Sacred Walk, seeing many relics from the 1400's that we weren't allowed to climb on for pictures. Then we were off to the hotel for a buffet dinner and freshening up for the splendid concert we performed in the Goldensail Concert Hall. Now is off to the sauna for some revitalization after the long climb today! Oh, and thank you so much for the sponsors for helping us get to climb the wall.

P.S. My family all says "Hi" to Patrick!!!

(A fun cultural note....  the slide of the little boy in the yellow outfit.  Notice the slit in the back of his pants.  Seems lots of toddlers go diaperless and the slits allow for quick stops for emergencies with little clean-up required....  We have seen several kids in this sort of outfit.)

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads back home!

Yeah, everyone is here safe and sound!  We started this morning at the hotel for breakfast.  At least there is something for everyone's taste.  Western breakfast items, fruits, cereals, omelets as well as Chinese and European items.  Seems this is the safest meal as some of the more traditional Chinese dishes go untouched as we eat lunch and dinner in the restaurants.  We enjoyed a buffet lunch in a Scheshuan restaurant and a very nice Peking Duck dinner.  

Our morning's main event was a rickshaw ride into the Hutong area of old Beijing.  We rode through narrow streets until we reached our destination... One group went to the home of a Chinese painting family.  The other group went to the home of a Chinese paper cutting artist.  We entered into a peaceful Quadrangle of small buildings that was the family compound for over 5 generations.  We were able to wander through and see the homes of these families and ask questions about family life in the Hutong.  Three generations live within the home we saw.  

Despite the hoards of people swarming throughout the crowded city, the inner courtyard provided a quiet and peaceful family setting.  We saw the workshop of the paper cutter and were able to purchase from his artistry after seeing how he did the traditional cuttings.  Many of his works take him several weeks to produce.  He uses a very sharp small blade and cuts his traditional, yet unique designs, working under a magnifying glass to carve the intricate details,  

Afterwards, we climbed the bell tower for a view of the entire downtown area.  Although it was rather smoggy, we were able to see the rooftops of the Hutongs and the larger buildings and newer high rises off in the distance.  In the lower level of the tower we enjoyed a traditional tea ceremony.

A highlight of the day was our visit to a public middle and high school.  First we were entertained by the orchestra students.  Then our group performed for them.  Afterwards, students from both groups exchanged gifts and chatted together.  They were slow to interact at first, but after a few minutes, they began to loosen up and enjoy carrying on simple conversations and exchanging addresses.  

The evening's entertainment included a show at the Red Theater.  We saw a martial arts and dance production of the history of Kung Fu.

Tomorrow its off early for the Great Wall and a full day of events...

We made it to China... Well, most of us did

It is Saturday. The main group arrived Friday afternoon and a handful of shadow tour folks came in late evening. We are still awaiting the group that got delayed due to mechanical troubles and will arrive this afternoon.

We had an interesting tour of Tianenmen Square and the Forbidden City. Our guides, Jessica and Dave speak excellent English and keep us well informed and on schedule.

We had fun dodging street vendors. We were warned not to buy from them, but they sure get in your face hawking their wares... Some of our students became instant celebrities and were requested over and over to pose with Chinese nationals for photos. Was it the blonde hair or the sunglasses that Rochelle and Joanna were wearing? They seemed to be most requested.
Dave told us that folks from small villages were likely seeing caucasians for the first time and that being asked to pose with them is a frequent occurrence.

Driving around this huge city, it is amazing to see the contrast between the newly constructed and the ancient with many stages in between. There are cranes everywhere. Signs everywhere hint at what is coming in 2008 as Beijing prepares to host the Olympic games.

Getting Down to the wire

Final rehearsal today,
Last Minute Packing!
Don't forget the little gift items for students at the schools you will visit.

Dear China Travelers and interested readers:

In less than four days, the MSYO China Tour begins as we fly into the sky and off to China. Beijng and Shanghai will never be the same! For those getting ready, I suggest getting some good rest these next few days, and double checking your packing list! For those that will be left here in the states, we hope to blog to this sight as many days as we can, sharing our adventures sightseeing and playing in the schools and for evening concerts. Sign in here often and see what we are up to, and how everyone is doing! Keep us in your best thoughts!

Erin Matteson,

China Tour Coordinator/MSYO Committee chairperson/General Manager

5 Days to Go!

It is Saturday, June 9, 2007. We are counting down the days till the China trip.

Final rehearsal is Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Stan State.