There are mosquitos everywhere in this city.
I have been bit so much :(
We have settled into a hotel for the week in Nanjing. Today was the first day we spent out at the school. It is huge! It is a boarding school for about 4,000 1-12 grade students. The school is very competitive to get into. We toured the school today and spent time doing lesson plans for next week. I'm going to be doing 5th grade which I'm a little bummed about because most of the materials I brought were for younger grades. We have the whole day tomorrow to plan too so hopefully I'll be able to get a lot done then.
Yesterday we toured around Nanjing or Nanking as it is also called. It is about 4 hours from Shanghai and it used to be the capital of China. I have to admit I know relatively little about Chinese history so the past few days have been so overwhelming with information. There was a massacre in this city by the Japanese in 1937 where they killed 300,000 innocent people in 6 weeks. We went to a museum that commemorated the event- it was so sad and it showed very vivid pictures.
We also went to the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Again, I had no idea who he was- apparantly he is a Chinese hero much like Ben Franklin or George Washington. His memorial had A LOT of steps- 392 to be exact. China is so hot and humid- I was dripping in sweat by the time I finished.
Before
After- I feel like Rocky!
Another thing that is really funny is that all the people we've seen in Nanjing are constantly staring at us. I haven't seen any other American groups in this city and most people look at us like we are rock stars or aliens- I can't tell which :). The Chinese people are always trying to get in a picture with us or will pose with us in the background. It's really the funniest thing I've seen in a long time.
Look Laura- my hair is not looking so hot anymore after all the humidity got to it! It will be in a bun pretty much until I get home :)
This is my friend Kristen from North Carolina.
Here is a blurry picture of the whole group. Hopefully I'll be able to get a clearer one before the end of the trip.
2 comments
i suggest becoming the movie star you've always dreamed of being...and claiming that identity while you are there. continuing posing in pics with others but start signing autographs... most people don't ever get the chance of walking in someone elses shoes and it appears that you have been given this chance...don't blow it! can't wait to hear more stories.
ReplyDeleteHey There! I read your blog! All the food sounds interesting and I would probably be very skinny if I lived in China. The octopus picture cracked me up. It sounds like you are having a great time! Miss ya!
ReplyDeleteNichole