Log-in To Your Project

THURSDAY, June 11 – Depart Atlanta for China!

QUESTION: What are you most excited about going to china?

Diane Turner
Seeing the Great Wall and trying new foods!

Shawn kelley
Visiting the orphanage and seeing the differences between American and Chinese children.

FRIDAY, June 12 – Arrive Shanghai

After more than 20 hours we landed in Shanghai. Some of us were able to get a little rest on the plane, but all were awake and ready for the day...at least for a little bit. Once we landed and taxied to the gate we all wondered what the process would be with the Chinese on the Flu situation. About 10 minutes after we arrived at the gate, a number of Chinese health officials came onto the plane wearing HAZMAT suits...the kids got a great kick out of this. During the next 15 minutes or so they scanned everyone in the plane for high temps with infrared thermometers and actually took a few temps with individuals. Then the announcement was made....WE WERE CLEARED!!!!

Over the next few hours we were able to get everyone through security and customs and into our waiting buses bound for Shanghai. We met our guides, Julia and Theresa, and had a brief driving tour to our hotel.  The guides are wonderful and the kids are enjoying them so much! We had supper at the hotel and proud to say that everyone was adventurous in trying new things.

After supper we were all too exhausted to do anything but go to bed! I think the average nights sleep was about 10 hours!!!

Today we had a city tour of Shanghai, learning about its history and its buildings.  We got a tour of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the third tallest TV and radio tower in the world.  It measures 468 meters high.  We traveled up to the tower on the fastest elevator in the world…traveling at 7 meters per second!  We had a panoramic view of Shanghai as well as a glass floor allowing us to see all the way down to the streets of Shanghai!  Later we spent some time sightseeing along the Huangpu River and the Xintiandi Area, a popular shopping and entertainment area in Shanghai.

After a short rest at the hotel, we had a delicious dinner followed by a boat cruise down the Huangpu River where we got to see the beautiful city lights of Shanghai.  By the time we left to return to the hotel, jet lag was taking over so everyone turned in for a good night’s sleep at the hotel.

SUNDAY, June 14 - Shanghai

This morning we departed the hotel at 9:00 and headed directly to a silk factory.  We learned about the history of silk-making in China and how the silk worm produces the thread.  We even got to see one of the machines used to extract the silk thread from the silk worm.  The guide also taught us how to tell the difference between real and imitation silk.  After some time shopping there are the factory, we hopped back on the bus and transferred to Yu Gardens.  We toured the beautiful gardens and learned of its history.  After lunch we spent some time in the “China Town” of Shanghai doing a little souvenir shopping.

We arrived at the Shanghai Conservatory at 3:00 where we spent some time resting and warming up for tonight’s concert.  The concert started at 7:30…we had a packed house!  The concert was beautiful.
Tomorrow we will be taking the overnight train to Beijing.  Look for more pictures and updates in a couple of days.

MONDAY, June 15 - Shanghai

TUESDAY, June 16 - Beijing

Our overnight train arrived in Beijing at 7:15 this morning.   What an experience!  Some people found the sounds and movements of the train to be relaxing and ha d a great night’s sleep.  We met our Beijing guides right outside the train…John and Bunny.  They led us to our buses and we took off for a traditional Dim Sum breakfast.  After breakfast, we took a drive to the National Theatre for some pictures and had a short walk to Tiananmen Square.  Unfortunately, we had a big rain storm that cut our time there short.  We will get a chance to visit again tomorrow.  We were scheduled to visit the Temple of Heaven this afternoon but because of the rain had to make some adjustments.  We decided to visit the famous Silk Market where the kids could practice their bargaining skills.  This is an important part of being a tourist in China and it was so much fun!  It was a challenge to see who could get the best bargains.  The Silk Market is 6 floors packed with shopping…everything from “genuine” imitation clothing, watches, handbags, shoes, and sunglasses to pearls, teas, silk and Chinese souvenirs.   Afterwards we had dinner and returned to the hotel.  The kids are very tired and will probably turn in early tonight.  Tomorrow will be a long day with a visit to the amazing Forbidden City in the morning and a museum in the afternoon. 

Until tomorrow….here are some thoughts from a few of your students (this was right after they had their major shopping experience today!).

Question:  What has been your favorite part of the trip so far?

Julian Nicholson: Shopping with Bubba, Jr. (his stuffed panda)…because I really like bargaining.

Karima Johnson:  I agree with Julian!

Caroline Hogan: Watching Julian be a ‘mother’ to Bubba, Jr. all over China.

Isis Freeman: Running from angry shopkeepers with Jena Guida!

Suzanne Rice: Bargaining at the shops and seeing how many slices of watermelon Julian can eat!

Julie Burns:  Being adventurous with different types of food.

Allie Futral:  Standing on the glass floor in the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai and riding the Maglev train.

WEDNESDAY, June 17 - Beijing

Today was a great day!  We started out back at Tiananman Square since we had to leave so quickly on Tuesday when it rained!  Today's weather was so much better.  Tiananmen Square is directly across the street from the entrance to the Forbidden City so we were able to walk on over.  The Forbidden City is huge!  It is the best preserved imperial Palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.  It was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties with contruction completed between 1406 and 1420 and covers 720,000 square meters.

For lunch we needed a break from traditional Chinese food...so we went to McDonalds!  It is even better here than back at home (maybe because we've been eating so much Chinese food and we didn't have to eat with chopsticks!).  After lunch we spent several hours at the Capital Museum, which houses over 200,000 cultural relics many of which were unearthed in Beijing. 

Dinner was delicious.  Tonight we had a traditional dinner of Beijing Roast Duck also known as Peking Duck.  It is considered one of China's national foods. Thinly slices of duck with crispy skin are placed on very thin pancakes with spring onions or shallots and a sweet hoisin sauce.  Then there is a special technique used to roll the pancake up and eat it.  Delicious!  Tonight our seniors also got to have their exclusive farewell dinner with Dr. Shaw and Mrs. Mason.

Again...some thoughts from the students:

Question:  What has been your favorite thing to do in China or your most memorable moment so far?

Answers:
Margaret Williams:  Doing a bridge on the glass floor in the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai.

Helen Pier: The wax museum in the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai.

Sarah Prosser:  Walking through the Forbidden City and also bargaining at the markets.

Carol Abarr:  Sharon Bonner falling off her seat during the Beijing movie at the Capital Museum!

Brooke Alexander:  Bargaining at the markets with Becca Owens.

THURSDAY, June 18 - Beijing

****NOTE i We think the Chinese Government is blocking the sending of pics tonight...will try again in the morning****

This morning we started a little earlier than usual since we had a drive to the Great Wall...one of the 7 wonders of the world.   On our way to the Great Wall, we stopped at a Jade Factory where we learned about different types of jade (sofe jade is known as nephrite while hard jade is known as jadeite).  Jade has a very long history in China with artifacts dating back to as early as 5000 BC.  We saw a demonstration of how jade is cut, shaped, and polished into shapes, statues, jewelry and many other things.  Naturally, after our tour, we had the opportunity to purchase some genuine jade products.

The Great Wall stretches approximately 4,000 miles from east to west across China with some parts of it being constructed as early as th 16th century BC!  We didn't see as much of it as we would have liked becuause it was a very foggy day.  But that didn't take away the excitement of climbing the wall.  As we climbed, we found it so hard to beleive how such a magnificent structure was built in a time where technology was not nearly as advanced as today.  We were told that over 1/5 of China's population was involved in building the wall. This will be an experience we never forget!

After the Great Wall, we had a delicious lunch.  The kids liked it because it was the closest they've had to "American" Chinese food!  We had a surprise visit to the Olympic Village where we got to walk around and take pictures in front the the famous Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. 

Next we made our way to the famed Chinese Acrobatic show. The show was colorful, dramatic, and so entertaining!  We saw everything from 10-12 girls balanced on one moving bicycle to young men doing back flips on stilts to jumping and doing flips through hoops and running on giant wheels (that looked like hamster wheels) in the air.  It is hard to describe everything we saw, but it was a lot of fun!

FRIDAY, June 19 - Beijing

Today started at 9:30 with a visit to the Temple of Heaven.   It’s Chinese name literally means “altar of heaven.”  Construction took place between 1406 and 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emporer (who is also responsible for the building of the Forbidden City).  It was visited by Emporers of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.

The area outside the Temple of Heaven is a popular meeting place for people in Beijing.  We saw groups of men playing cards or dominos, children dancing, people practicing opera and playing instruments, groups of people dancing…everywhere you looked, there were people enjoying each other and relaxing.  After the Temple of Heaven, we made a quick stop by the Beijing Hard Rock Café so those that wanted could purchase t-shirts.

Today was our day to do a concert for the children at the Sun Village.  These children are orphans in that one or both of their parents are incarcerated.  These children would be living on the streets if it weren’t for one woman who had a vision to make a home for them.  Just today, 2 baby girls were delivered to the orphanage by the police because they were rescued from being sold.  We were told that these baby girls had been kidnapped from or even possibly given up by their birth parents.  Spivey Hall Tour Choir was given the privilege and honor of naming these babies.  We got a tour of their village and then had some rehearsal time.  After rehearsal, we had dinner, which some of the children from the orphanage had prepared for us.  It was so delicious…it was all vegetarian and most of the ingredients were taken from the very gardens that the children tend to in their village.  It was one of the most delicious meals we’ve had in China!  Our concert started at 7:00PM with a performance by some of their children.  Then our choir sang so beautifully.  It is hard to express our experience tonight in just a few words.  Why don’t you read about it in the words of some of the choir:

Sydney Shadrix:  “Singing for the children at the Sun Village was the most amazing , heart-warming, and overwhelming experience of my life.  It touched my heart to see all of the children smiling and laughing as we performed.  Even though they have so little, the children had the biggest smiles and happiest faces I have ever seen.  Singing for them was such a joy.  The concert tonight perfectly illustrated the fact that music is a universal language.  All people, no matter where they are from or what language they speak, can come together and have their lives changed through music.”

Travis Dunlap: “Today we visited the Sun Village Orphanage to sing for the children.  While we may have brought our own gifts to give them, they were the ones who gave the true gift.  After touring the small village, eating a delicious dinner prepared by the orphans, and playing a few rounds of tug-of-war, we exchanged performances with the children.  My favorite other part of the whole experience was naming two new babies Mei Li (meaning “beautiful”) and Xiao-Xia (after our tour guide in Shanghai).  It was a life-changing experience.”

Sarah Kathryn Meng: “Today I went to the Sun Village with Spivey Hall Tour Choir. The children there were so sweet to say the least! All they had were the clothes on their backs, the things on their bunks, and one another. I could have spent a whole day with them. The children did almost everything themselves.  They also provided us a very good homemade meal. At first it was intimidating to not know who spoke the same language as you, but just a smile and a wave says so much! I would jump at any opportunity I have to go back and see them again.  They were very willing to take pictures with us.  Not only did we have the opportunity to sing for them, but we were also given the chance to name two new babies that were only one month old.  There was a large difference in the ages of the children but their kindness and positive attitudes were all the same.  You should be thankful for all you have!”

Song Kang: “We tend to turn our backs on all the good things in life to look towards all of our misfortunes. One bad experience, one small mistake, and one trivial problem are all it takes   to make our day turn upside down. The Sun Village made me think differently.  While I complained to my parents about wanting more this and that or the newest “in” product of the year, the children in the Sun Village maintained a smile full of joy when all they had was the clothes on their backs and the basic necessities on their beds.  I remember yelling at my parents and fighting with my sister about how I just could not stand them and how they just “don’t understand.” After seeing the experiences these children went through, all I wish to do now is to say sorry to my parents and say how much their presence in my life is valued. Singing for the children in the Sun Village was an honor. While others may say that the children were more blessed to have us sing for them, I must stand up and say that I disagree. For we are blessed and I am thankful for being able to sing to children much braver than we, children who are able to smile even when the world is against them, children who are able to march with their heads toward the brighter good instead of the bad; Spivey Hall and I are forever grateful for your lesson.  Thank you. “

What an amazing day!  We couldn’t have asked for a better way to wrap up our time in China.  It started out with clear blue skies…the first morning like it since we’ve been here.  We had a visit to the Beijing Zoo where we got to see the Pandas.  The area was known as Sanbeizi Gardens back in the 18th century but in 1906 became a zoo and was open to the public in 1908.   One hundred years later, it covers over 40,000 square meters and houses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species including the Giant Panda!

After lunch we had some time to rest for a couple of hours in preparation for tonight’s concert with the China Children’s Choir.    It was a groundbreaking event: bringing the best young musicians from China and the U.S. together using music as the international language connecting both cultures.  One of the highlights performed by Spivey Hall to a sold out audience was “America the Beautiful”.  As the first verse was being sung by the choir, ever so quietly across the auditorium you could hear the Chinese singing our beloved song. As an American, this was an emotional moment as we realized first-hand the way music brings people together in a way that politics cannot.  After Spivey Hall performed, we were treated to an astounding performance by the China Children’s Choir (CCC).  One of the songs performed by CCC was “Children Go Where I Send Thee”.  It was the same arrangement that Spivey Hall has performed in the past.  A big highlight of the evening was an impromptu encore with both choirs combined singing this song.  Afterwards, both choirs were able to mix and mingle and begin new friendships by exchanging names and email addresses.

This is our last update as we leave tomorrow to return to the U.S.  So we leave you again with some thoughts from several of your children. 

Diane Turner: “Coming to China this summer has changed me in more ways than I could ever have imagined.  Seeing the joy on the Chinese faces when they are faced with such adverse circumstances has given me a new appreciation for the many blessings I have been given.  It has changed my life forever.”

Sarah Prosser: “My experience in China has been amazing! I will never, ever in my whole life forget anything that happened on this trip.  China has changed my perspective on life, from singing for the kids at the orphanage to singing with the Chinese Children’s Choir.  I know I will never be the same as I was before this trip.”

Laurel Smart: “After 5 wonderful and magnificent years in the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, no trip has meant as much to me as this tour. Our concerts with the Sun Village and the Chinese Children’s Choir have forever changed me.  Without this choir and this experience, I know I would not be the same person.  As cliché as it might sound, I am forever changed by these people I have the joy of singing with. There are no words to describe this feeling.”

Katlyn Roberts: “This tour to China has been truly amazing.  It was so much better and meant so much more to me than I ever expected or can explain.  From all of the breathtaking sights to the loving and generous people we met, this is an experience I will never , ever forget.”