We have been without Internet for the last couple days.
We arrived safely at our hotel this evening and will be visiting Tiananman Square and the Forbidden City tomorrow.
I will update the last two days of camp soon. Everyone is well and excited for the next leg of our tour.
July 20 - 11:55 PM
We just finished our first day of sightseeing. All had a good time. Everyone is safely tucked in bed so I thought I would try to catch you up on the last few days. I'll recap Days 4 and 5 on this page and then fill you in on our Beijing tour on the Day 6 page.
The students were disappointed to find out the Internet was not working. We were hoping that that it would be a temporary thing, but it wound up lasting the rest of camp. It made me realize how nice we have things these days. When people would travel on trips like this in the past they would have to write letters and wait weeks to find out how things were going back home. Technology is truly a wonderful blessing.
Mr. Sievert was happy that Mrs. Leyrer made it to Beijing safely. The same could not be said about her luggage, which arrived a day and a half after she did. But it was nice to have her help at camp. She brought a motherly touch that Mr. Sievert does not have. :)
After breakfast a few of the St. Croix students were not feeling well so they laid down for the rest of the day. It is a blessing that we had 17 students come on the trip, because the other teachers were able to fill in without missing a beat. The Chinese students noticed the three were gone, however, and kept asking about them. Thankfully a little rest helped and all of them were able to be back with us by the afternoon.
Another mishap was bee flying into Karissa's mouth and stinging the back of her throat. She was playing a ball game with the students and the bee thought that her mouth would be a great place to hang out. Well Karissa didn't agree and coughed it out, but not until it stung her pretty bad. She came inside for the rest of the morning and was able to keep the swelling down with some over the counter medicine we had along. She had a feeling she was going to get stung because Kara had gotten stung earlier in this week, but that was on the arm. She was a trooper and headed back out for the afternoon classes.
The highlight of Thursday for the Chinese children was baking chocolate chip cookies (for the older kids) and making cut out shapes in jello and eating them (for the younger kids). Most Chinese families only have stove tops in their small kitchens, so baking is a new experience for the children. The
St. Croix students were great teachers and were happy that there were some cookies left over after all of the Chinese students had theirs.
Friday was a bittersweet day. We were happy to be able to spend another day with the children and were excited to see the evening performance, but we knew our time with them had come to an end. Our devotion time this morning was special as the St. Croix students and the Chinese helpers met together. We talked about how, even though we are worlds apart, we are unified in purpose. It was a blessing to here a Chinese helper tell us a little about her life's story.
After breakfast all of the Chinese students began signing each others camp shirts and asked us teachers to sign it as well. The rest of the classes were filled with picture taking, more t-shirt signing as well as teaching the prepared lessons. Drama worked hard to put the finishing touches on the skits that they were to perform that evening. Music practiced the songs they would be singing for the show. Science worked through their presentations for Saturday's science fair. NT and OT stories heard another meaningful story while at the same time practicing their listening, speaking, writing and reading in English. And team building and outdoor games spent another day in the sun learning and playing their games. (It was raining Monday, but other than that it has been sunny, hot and muggy. Not unbearable but definitely demanding lots of water and shade every once in awhile.)
After classes the St. Croix students headed to their rooms to pack up since we would be leaving right after the performance. Then it was time for the show.
The Chinese students did a nice job, but unfortunately the sound system did not. It was a little tough to hear the students, but their actions and their expressions were beautiful. The St. Croix students provided some fun entertainment with the "Cha Cha Slide." This is the same dance the 2010 group did when they were over here and I think this year's group would've given the 2010 group a run for their money if we pitted them against each other on Dances with the Stars! It was wonderful to see the Chinese children sing their songs for the performance as well. This group really loved to sing and it was nice to hear them sing songs with such powerful lyrics. I hope they carry those songs home with them and explain the meanings with their families.
After the show Hannah presented gifts to each of the St. Croix teachers and Chinese helpers as well as opened her gift from us, a St. Croix sweatshirt. She didn't try it on in this heat, but we hope she remembers us and knows we are thinking of her back in the US when she wears it.
Then it was time to leave, but not before many hugs and tears were shared. Many of the Chinese students, especially the girls, were extremely said to see their newfound friends leaving. We remind that we never say good-bye but simply see you later. It is my desire even if we do not see them again in this life, that we will be joined together again when we leave this world.
The bus finally arrived and we were on our way to the center of the city where our next adventure would begin.
-- It is 1:30 AM (was interrupted a couple times while writing) so I will write about our day at Tiananman Square, the Forbidden City, the Pearl Market, and about the Peking duck dinner tomorrow. Hopefully their will be time to write about the Great Wall, tea ceremony, and the family dinner.
We arrived safely at our hotel this evening and will be visiting Tiananman Square and the Forbidden City tomorrow.
I will update the last two days of camp soon. Everyone is well and excited for the next leg of our tour.
July 20 - 11:55 PM
We just finished our first day of sightseeing. All had a good time. Everyone is safely tucked in bed so I thought I would try to catch you up on the last few days. I'll recap Days 4 and 5 on this page and then fill you in on our Beijing tour on the Day 6 page.
The students were disappointed to find out the Internet was not working. We were hoping that that it would be a temporary thing, but it wound up lasting the rest of camp. It made me realize how nice we have things these days. When people would travel on trips like this in the past they would have to write letters and wait weeks to find out how things were going back home. Technology is truly a wonderful blessing.
Mr. Sievert was happy that Mrs. Leyrer made it to Beijing safely. The same could not be said about her luggage, which arrived a day and a half after she did. But it was nice to have her help at camp. She brought a motherly touch that Mr. Sievert does not have. :)
After breakfast a few of the St. Croix students were not feeling well so they laid down for the rest of the day. It is a blessing that we had 17 students come on the trip, because the other teachers were able to fill in without missing a beat. The Chinese students noticed the three were gone, however, and kept asking about them. Thankfully a little rest helped and all of them were able to be back with us by the afternoon.
Another mishap was bee flying into Karissa's mouth and stinging the back of her throat. She was playing a ball game with the students and the bee thought that her mouth would be a great place to hang out. Well Karissa didn't agree and coughed it out, but not until it stung her pretty bad. She came inside for the rest of the morning and was able to keep the swelling down with some over the counter medicine we had along. She had a feeling she was going to get stung because Kara had gotten stung earlier in this week, but that was on the arm. She was a trooper and headed back out for the afternoon classes.
The highlight of Thursday for the Chinese children was baking chocolate chip cookies (for the older kids) and making cut out shapes in jello and eating them (for the younger kids). Most Chinese families only have stove tops in their small kitchens, so baking is a new experience for the children. The
St. Croix students were great teachers and were happy that there were some cookies left over after all of the Chinese students had theirs.
Friday was a bittersweet day. We were happy to be able to spend another day with the children and were excited to see the evening performance, but we knew our time with them had come to an end. Our devotion time this morning was special as the St. Croix students and the Chinese helpers met together. We talked about how, even though we are worlds apart, we are unified in purpose. It was a blessing to here a Chinese helper tell us a little about her life's story.
After breakfast all of the Chinese students began signing each others camp shirts and asked us teachers to sign it as well. The rest of the classes were filled with picture taking, more t-shirt signing as well as teaching the prepared lessons. Drama worked hard to put the finishing touches on the skits that they were to perform that evening. Music practiced the songs they would be singing for the show. Science worked through their presentations for Saturday's science fair. NT and OT stories heard another meaningful story while at the same time practicing their listening, speaking, writing and reading in English. And team building and outdoor games spent another day in the sun learning and playing their games. (It was raining Monday, but other than that it has been sunny, hot and muggy. Not unbearable but definitely demanding lots of water and shade every once in awhile.)
After classes the St. Croix students headed to their rooms to pack up since we would be leaving right after the performance. Then it was time for the show.
The Chinese students did a nice job, but unfortunately the sound system did not. It was a little tough to hear the students, but their actions and their expressions were beautiful. The St. Croix students provided some fun entertainment with the "Cha Cha Slide." This is the same dance the 2010 group did when they were over here and I think this year's group would've given the 2010 group a run for their money if we pitted them against each other on Dances with the Stars! It was wonderful to see the Chinese children sing their songs for the performance as well. This group really loved to sing and it was nice to hear them sing songs with such powerful lyrics. I hope they carry those songs home with them and explain the meanings with their families.
After the show Hannah presented gifts to each of the St. Croix teachers and Chinese helpers as well as opened her gift from us, a St. Croix sweatshirt. She didn't try it on in this heat, but we hope she remembers us and knows we are thinking of her back in the US when she wears it.
Then it was time to leave, but not before many hugs and tears were shared. Many of the Chinese students, especially the girls, were extremely said to see their newfound friends leaving. We remind that we never say good-bye but simply see you later. It is my desire even if we do not see them again in this life, that we will be joined together again when we leave this world.
The bus finally arrived and we were on our way to the center of the city where our next adventure would begin.
-- It is 1:30 AM (was interrupted a couple times while writing) so I will write about our day at Tiananman Square, the Forbidden City, the Pearl Market, and about the Peking duck dinner tomorrow. Hopefully their will be time to write about the Great Wall, tea ceremony, and the family dinner.
Next: Day 6