Hello everyone.
We are all back home from our amazing experience in China and now I have finally regained internet access… (So I can carry on with the blog).
Shanghai: Thursday
Well, there isn’t much to say about Shanghai on Thursday, apart from we had school all day. Our main topics of the day were bilingual science lessons (Biology and Physics), but we also had a Mathematics session where Matthew and Christopher Aaron gave feedback to the Wu Ai Senior High School on what we had found from our statistics project. This lasted a fluent 40 minutes with most people really engaged in what they had to say.
Following the Maths lesson, we had our Physical Education lesson where several choices were on offer.
The choices were Basketball inside, Basketball outside, Table Tennis or Badminton.
Yet again, Basketball was a very popular choice from most of the class, but some did choose the other sports on offer.
It was only a short PE lesson, but it was fun none the less.
Shanghai: Friday
Finally, we had become tourists! Our roles at the schools were over and now could dress in our everyday clothes and visit the interesting highlights in China.
Friday was our tour of Shanghai day and we visited many places in Shanghai.
First thing in the morning, we visited the Chinese Culture museum in the centre of Shanghai (for which I can’t remember the name of). The museum was a multi-storey piece of modern architecture and looked fabulous on the inside and the out. We learned about what the Chinese used to wear, their furniture, currency, calligraphy, monuments and many other things. All of which was very different from the English culture (in the past and present).
We also visited the Jin Mao Tower that is 88 stories and 431metres high, from which the views were spectacular (apart from the smog). We went up via a lift that went extremely quickly and made a lot of people’s ears pop towards the top.
After going up the Jin Mao Tower, we visited the Jade Buddha Temple. This was a magnificent piece of Chinese architecture (being the building and the Jade Buddha itself). The temple was full of Buddhists and tourists experiencing the temple. The temple was a great photo opportunity for everyone, but in the place if the Jade Buddha all photography was forbidden inn respect to the Buddha.
After our visit to the temple, we went to a shopping mall for some food. Some of us had a McDonalds, some a Burger King and some a KFC and the odd two went to a noodle bar. We had been looking forward to this meal due to some of us being very hungry but all trying their best to eat and enjoy the Chinese food so it was time for a treat!
Later on, we went for a trip on the Maglev Train (Magnetic Levitation), the fastest train on the planet. It was a 5-minute trip each way but we reached an astonishing 431km/h! This was a great experience and everyone was astounded by how fast we were travelling.
Before our dinner, we went shopping (again), this time in a rather Chinese style shopping area. All the buildings were traditionally styled and looked fantastic, especially when the outlining lights were turned on when it went dark.
To finish off our day, we went back to the main shopping street in Shanghai, where we had a Pizza Hut! I think that explains what we had.
We went back to the school and we packed our things for an early leave on Saturday. This was followed by a short game of Charades (if that’s how you spell it) and then followed by bed.
I think that’s a big enough update for now, I will add the Beijing updates later this week.
See you soon
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Shanghai Schoolday 1
Hello all fellow readers,
Hope all is going well for you all.
Yesterday (Wednesday), we finished our science practicals and gathered the final bits of data for our statistics project.
First thing in the morning after waking up and breakfast we had our fish dissection and exercise practical... hmm.
Fish Dissection
To prepare for the practical we asked for some fresh fish to avoid a heavy smell and being able to see the internal organs more clearly. Unfortunately the fish came fresh... very fresh... so fresh they were still flapping around! Yes, they were still alive.
We obviously didn't specify that the fish needed to be dead (although we thought it would be obvious).
When we realised the fish were still alive (by starting to jump on the table) and the Chinese realised they needed to be dead, they went and killed them for us.
After their deaths, we carried out the experiment feeling pretty bad and morally wrong.
After that misunderstanding and being able to carry on, the practical went very well, being able to see the organs we were looking for very clearly. The Chinese students also told us that this was the first time they have ever dissected any animal. This pleased us because we had given them an opportunity they wouldn't usually have.
Harvard Step Test
We were able to test the Chinese' fitness levels using this test. Testing their endurance, consistency and will power!
Keeping to a very strict beat we got them to step in time, consistently for 5 minutes (non-stop). This raised their pulse rates and not many gave up.
There isn't much else we can say about the test, apart from it was easy for us to watch and hard for them to do.
To finish off the day, we had most possibly Landau Forte College's first Boggle competition. Having a series of rounds, followed by semi-finals and the grand final. The names of the students in the grand final were:
Chris Arran
Matt Arran
Vicky Willison
Nick Ward
Shockingly enough, the favourite didn't win! The winner was me (Nick Ward), which I really didn't expect! But everyone had a great night.
Statistics Project
Just thought I'd give Chris and Matt Arran a mention for staying up until well past midnight analysing the data we have collected and putting it all into charts and graphs.
Well done guys.
All for now,
See you soon
Hope all is going well for you all.
Yesterday (Wednesday), we finished our science practicals and gathered the final bits of data for our statistics project.
First thing in the morning after waking up and breakfast we had our fish dissection and exercise practical... hmm.
Fish Dissection
To prepare for the practical we asked for some fresh fish to avoid a heavy smell and being able to see the internal organs more clearly. Unfortunately the fish came fresh... very fresh... so fresh they were still flapping around! Yes, they were still alive.
We obviously didn't specify that the fish needed to be dead (although we thought it would be obvious).
When we realised the fish were still alive (by starting to jump on the table) and the Chinese realised they needed to be dead, they went and killed them for us.
After their deaths, we carried out the experiment feeling pretty bad and morally wrong.
After that misunderstanding and being able to carry on, the practical went very well, being able to see the organs we were looking for very clearly. The Chinese students also told us that this was the first time they have ever dissected any animal. This pleased us because we had given them an opportunity they wouldn't usually have.
Harvard Step Test
We were able to test the Chinese' fitness levels using this test. Testing their endurance, consistency and will power!
Keeping to a very strict beat we got them to step in time, consistently for 5 minutes (non-stop). This raised their pulse rates and not many gave up.
There isn't much else we can say about the test, apart from it was easy for us to watch and hard for them to do.
To finish off the day, we had most possibly Landau Forte College's first Boggle competition. Having a series of rounds, followed by semi-finals and the grand final. The names of the students in the grand final were:
Chris Arran
Matt Arran
Vicky Willison
Nick Ward
Shockingly enough, the favourite didn't win! The winner was me (Nick Ward), which I really didn't expect! But everyone had a great night.
Statistics Project
Just thought I'd give Chris and Matt Arran a mention for staying up until well past midnight analysing the data we have collected and putting it all into charts and graphs.
Well done guys.
All for now,
See you soon
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Hello From Shanghai
Yo people!
We have finally regained internet access in China and so can update.
Things are going very well over here. We are now in Shanghai at the senior school with students around our age.
Jin Hua
On Saturday in Jin Hua, the group visited double dragon cave up in the mountains. This was a really interesting experience with many photos to prove it.
To enter the cave we had to lie down very flat on a small boat which contains four people. When the boat started moving we went through a very small gap between the water and the rock, thankfully it only lasted a short amount of time as some of us don't like small spaces.
The cave was beautifully lit by different coloured lights which added to the atmosphere of waterfalls and the sound of water.
At 3 o'clock, we went back to our host families for whatever treat they had left instore for us. 3 of us (Mrs John, Georgina and Nick) ended up at the same house making dumplings in their hundreds and stayed for a dumpling dinner which was highly enjoyable.
On Sunday, each of us did different things as it was the day we spent with our Chinese families. Most of them treated us to a Western style meal at night to finish off the great day. However, I can't go into detail about our adventures for that day due to everyone's experience being different.
On Monday, we spent our last full day in Jin Hua. We did more of our statictics project, had many lessonsw and also helped run the English lessons which was an experience for all of the students. The classes in China are very well behaved and very well disciplined. There is no comparison in behaviour between the 2 countries school classes.
On Monday night we went home and packed our belongings and spent our final night with the chinese family.
First thing Tuesday Morning we said our goodbyes and left on the journey to Shanghai by coach and train.
Shanghai
We arrived in Shanghai at approx 1:30pm for our coach journey to the school (for which we arrived at 2pm).
We dropped off our belongings into our dormitories and then went for a meeting with the headteacher in a very posh meeting room.
After the meeting, we took a tour around the very tall school. This included climbing many stairs and the boys racing to the bottom while the girls took the lift.
After the very long tour around the school, we had a about an hour to unpack and sort ourselves out before we had a traditional Chinese school meal... enough said.
After food we went out for a trip into Shanghai. We went for an hour shopping trip down the main shopping street in Shanghai. The lights were beautiful and the culture was an experience.
After the shopping trip we visited the Bund to spectate the beautiful views and scenery. This was an amazing photo oppurtunity and if I had the correct equipment with me while I am writing this... I would upload the group photo. But I don't.
We returned to the school around 8:30pm for our showers.
Hmm... that was different. I will put it plain and simply, we had a group shower. NO JOKE. NO SEPARATIONS! (apart from boys and girls).
After the shower, we spent our first sleep in the dormitories (boys on ground floor, girls on top floor ... 5).
All for now, as it is currently Wednesday.
See you soon
The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
We have finally regained internet access in China and so can update.
Things are going very well over here. We are now in Shanghai at the senior school with students around our age.
Jin Hua
On Saturday in Jin Hua, the group visited double dragon cave up in the mountains. This was a really interesting experience with many photos to prove it.
To enter the cave we had to lie down very flat on a small boat which contains four people. When the boat started moving we went through a very small gap between the water and the rock, thankfully it only lasted a short amount of time as some of us don't like small spaces.
The cave was beautifully lit by different coloured lights which added to the atmosphere of waterfalls and the sound of water.
At 3 o'clock, we went back to our host families for whatever treat they had left instore for us. 3 of us (Mrs John, Georgina and Nick) ended up at the same house making dumplings in their hundreds and stayed for a dumpling dinner which was highly enjoyable.
On Sunday, each of us did different things as it was the day we spent with our Chinese families. Most of them treated us to a Western style meal at night to finish off the great day. However, I can't go into detail about our adventures for that day due to everyone's experience being different.
On Monday, we spent our last full day in Jin Hua. We did more of our statictics project, had many lessonsw and also helped run the English lessons which was an experience for all of the students. The classes in China are very well behaved and very well disciplined. There is no comparison in behaviour between the 2 countries school classes.
On Monday night we went home and packed our belongings and spent our final night with the chinese family.
First thing Tuesday Morning we said our goodbyes and left on the journey to Shanghai by coach and train.
Shanghai
We arrived in Shanghai at approx 1:30pm for our coach journey to the school (for which we arrived at 2pm).
We dropped off our belongings into our dormitories and then went for a meeting with the headteacher in a very posh meeting room.
After the meeting, we took a tour around the very tall school. This included climbing many stairs and the boys racing to the bottom while the girls took the lift.
After the very long tour around the school, we had a about an hour to unpack and sort ourselves out before we had a traditional Chinese school meal... enough said.
After food we went out for a trip into Shanghai. We went for an hour shopping trip down the main shopping street in Shanghai. The lights were beautiful and the culture was an experience.
After the shopping trip we visited the Bund to spectate the beautiful views and scenery. This was an amazing photo oppurtunity and if I had the correct equipment with me while I am writing this... I would upload the group photo. But I don't.
We returned to the school around 8:30pm for our showers.
Hmm... that was different. I will put it plain and simply, we had a group shower. NO JOKE. NO SEPARATIONS! (apart from boys and girls).
After the shower, we spent our first sleep in the dormitories (boys on ground floor, girls on top floor ... 5).
All for now, as it is currently Wednesday.
See you soon
The next generation of MSN Hotmail has arrived - Windows Live Hotmail
Friday, 12 October 2007
Hello from China
We are finally here!
After around 32 hours of traveling we got here safely. The flight from Dubai to Shanghai was delayed by about 1 and a half hours.
We are all with our host families now, who are all very kind and welcoming. Started in the school in Jin Hua today, everyone is very tired and trying the food.
We are just about to carry out the maths survey. The experiences we have had so far are amazing! The fact that we also did drill with the 2000 other students this morning and did it correctly was an experience in itself.
Everyone over here is fascinated by our different culture, especially the males with long hair and the females with blonde hair.
Must go now to do the maths project.
Update next time when possible.
After around 32 hours of traveling we got here safely. The flight from Dubai to Shanghai was delayed by about 1 and a half hours.
We are all with our host families now, who are all very kind and welcoming. Started in the school in Jin Hua today, everyone is very tired and trying the food.
We are just about to carry out the maths survey. The experiences we have had so far are amazing! The fact that we also did drill with the 2000 other students this morning and did it correctly was an experience in itself.
Everyone over here is fascinated by our different culture, especially the males with long hair and the females with blonde hair.
Must go now to do the maths project.
Update next time when possible.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
9th October Update
We leave college tomorrow at 10am for Birmingham Airport. Check-in, then depart about 14:15 for Dubai.
Welcome
On Wednesday October 10th 2007 the college party leaves for China. Nick Ward will try to keep you informed of events on a daily basis.
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