Update # 2:Chinese lessons and life in Guiyang

Bridge China Families and Friends,

Greetings from Windsor Mountain!
With a student call home Monday evening and a little email update on Wednesday, most of you are up to speed on what has been happening on Bridge China this week. Just to recap, March and Yi have taken over the Chinese language instruction on the program, and--this is new news--March's wife, Amy, has come on board to help March and Yi with the added responsibilities of teaching language classes and arranging all of our supporting cultural activities. I am happy to report that all the students really like how things are going. I'm sure many of you are wondering right now, so, just how is this all working?

Here is the run-down...

Mornings:
Chinese Class at the Hotel. March, Yi, and Amy have converted one of our rooms into a classroom--after removing the beds and finding enough chairs for everyone, they went out and bought all the necessary supplies: white boards, markers, pads, pens, and lapboards to use as mini-desks. Everyone thinks it is cozy and March is able to give everyone proper attention.

Lunch:
Depending on the day, the group either goes to a nearby restaurant, or stays at the hotel for a simple lunch made by the group.

Afternoons:
After a brief post-lunch rest period, the group heads out into the city for fun cultural activities. Yi and Amy bought sports equipment for the group to take to several local parks, where Chinese kids play every afternoon. The group has been having a great time playing badmiton, volleyball, and soccer with their Chinese peers. They are also dancing with the old folks! Everyone is really mixing well, practicing Chinese, and learning about what life in Guiyang is like from all the new people they meet. Also, March, Yi, and Amy have found a wonderful Kung Fu School close to the hotel. They have had two days of class already, and the group absolutely LOVES watching the sifu beat March up all afternoon. March is sifu's favorite new punching bag. March is tough, though, and I'm sure it won't affect his Chinese teaching.

Evenings:
Depending on the evening, the group might have a simple dinner at a nearby restaurant, or, if everyone isn't too tired, they might go out for a fun cultural activity. Karaoke on the first night in Guiyang was a blast! Amy and Yi are also doing night tutoring sessions while March prepares the more formal morning classes.

Specific notes on each student will be sent to you all as soon as we have more telephone time with the leaders. Our calls over this past week have been focused on implementing our new plan for Guiyang. I have to give accolades to the entire group: they are creative, adaptive, and energetic, and March and Yi report that everyone truly feels a deepened ownership over all the different elements of the program--the language. the cultural activites, and all the fun stuff. They have control over their program and they love it. Together they have recreated the spirit that led to our original Windsor Mountain travel programs over 40 years ago: a genuine fascination with everything a new culture has to offer, and the willingness to jump right in and learn by doing!

Early next week the group will take an overnight train to Xi'an to spend a couple of days doing touristy stuff (check your calendars) before transitioning to the family home stay segment of the program in Pengliu Village. Everyone should expect a short email with specific student notes to arrive very soon, and another sizable email update from the Travel Office next Thursday, July 17th. We will also send out a quick note to let you know when the students will call home next--most likely next Thursday or Friday.