Wednesday 2007/07/25

Dear Parents,

Today after regular morning exercise, breakfast, morning language classes and lunch, we went to the Chinese Ethnicity Park. Two children were not feeling well and Jenny stayed with them at the dorm. We took a smaller bus today, with just enough seats for everybody—20 children plus Bonnie, Gong Laoshi, Tian Laoshi, a Xu Laoshi, and myself. We also had a new tour guide, who was friendly and knowledgeable about schedules for various shows in the park; but other than that, she gave us very little information. Bonnie took a loudspeaker with her and she was the one who was constantly pointing things out for the children and leading the way. We visited the Tibetan, Miao2, Dai3, Wa3 and Jing3bo1 (I must have left out some other ethnic group) sites, at each of which there were ethnic dance and singing performances and opportunities for visitors to participate in the final dance. The highlight was the celebration of Pouring Water Festival at the Dai3 site. Many children changed into Dai costumes and almost all the children had a splendid, splashing time! Bonnie was one of the first to put on costumes, to pour and to get poured on. Tian Laoshi was hoping that he could get away, but the children quickly spotted him and he too was soaking wet.

Afterwards, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance to the park. The waitresses and ushers there wear Manchu style attire. The meat pie was a bit too salty; the rice porridge was excellent.

We returned at 7:30-ish. I then learned that Jenny and her two children Landon and Angela have left YiB due to health reasons. Bonnie is working with Yanjing School to find a replacement for Jenny to take care of the children’s daily activities and needs. Since yesterday, Shannon’s brother Lionel has joined us; he now takes Landon’s place sharing a room with Jesse.

The children are clearly getting along with one another better and better. At the restaurant, there were lots of small groups, either playing games or being engaged in heated (but friendly) discussions. On the bus, they sang choruses that were so loud that I had to plug my ears. Their favorite song goes, “I know songs that get on people’s nerves…” When we were stuck in traffic jam, our children would wave enthusiastically to passengers in tour buses next to us, and everybody would wave back to us with big smiles.

To follow up on yesterday’s behavioral transgression, the child in question has written up an apology which was submitted to the teacher. Bonnie has asked him to decide for himself what disciplinary consequences he should bear, vis-a-vis YiB Rules of Conduct.

There was no homework today, as we were out in the afternoon. I discussed the issue of the amount of homework with Wang Laoshi (who continued to sub A Class) and she is perfectly willing to work with us.

Till tomorrow,
Agnes (aka He Laoshi)