The Concordia School trip for 7th graders is to Beijing. There are about 90 students in the 7th grader which were divided into two groups. Group 1 will visit the countryside to the City. Group 2 will see the City before adventuring to the countryside. Emersyn is in group 2 starting in the City.
Sunday, September 23: Travel to the City
Luckily, Sean is in Group 2, also. Jennifer’s drive took them to school at 5:30am. They had to be at Concordia at 6am to begin the adventure. Group 1 was not leaving school until 8am. Emersyn packed her pink suitcase, which she now dislikes the color pink. However, this pink suitcase from Pottery Barn Kids is just the right size AND she can find it easily.
Once they arrived in Beijing, the students walked around Tiananmen Square.
Lunch was a typical large Chinese restaurant which is never good.
After lunch, the Group went to the Urban Planning Museum in Beijing. We have one in Shanghai, also – but, we haven’t been.
For the first time, the children were able to pick their roommates. The idea of the trip is to make new friends. Therefore, in the past, they were assigned a roommate. I think the new metod is much better – it is always nice to come back to a room to someone you know. Emersyn roommate for the trip was Elyssa. The small groups during the day are randomly assigned to make new friends. Emersyn has about 9 students in her smaller group. However, on this trip Emersyn had said most activities were done with the large group. Luck was on Emersyn’s side as Group 2 included most of her friends.
Concordia chose a different hotel this year from past years. The hotel in the past has been located in the center of Beijing which required long bus rides for the children. The school found a hotel near more of the activities of the trip. The school did comment it was hard to find a hotel that would take 100+ people. Also, the school has a goal to get the children all on a floor together without other guests. Emersyn reported the hotel wasn’t very nice!
Dinner was a Brazilian Barbecue which Emersyn was looking forward to some good bbq meats. But, this is China and it wasn’t good! Good thing I sent her with a suite case filled with gold fish, homemade chocolate chip cookies and z-bars!
Monday, September 24: Jiaozi making, Hutongs and Hunts
The day started with a walk in Ditan Park.
The park was filled with the usual Chinese activities for the morning.
Exercise…
Fan dancing….
And character water writing…
Students tried their culinary skills at “The Hutong, ” learning to make jiaozi (dumplings)and learning about cooking using the Yin and Yang method of choosing and preparing foods in a friendly “Hutong Master Chef” contest. They enjoyed their homemade jiaozi for lunch. Emersyn report they were very good. Our ayi makes jiaozi once a week. Emersyn loves jiaozi night. Eleri loves to help ayi make jiaozi, but she doesn’t like to eat them…she doesn’t know what she is missing.
After lunch was a Hutong Scavenger Hunt “Amazing Race” Activity and Hutong Preservation Society Presentation and Workshop.
Tuesday, September 25: Countryside
The morning began with a bus ride to the countryside for one and half hours. The trips are no electronics allowed which is perfect for this tech-aged kids.
Once they arrived, the first activity was rock climbing. Emersyn has been rock climbing at our adventure Thanksgiving for the past three years so this was easy for her. The group was divided into two groups. Emersyn was in Group A which did the climbing activity. After Emersyn finished with the activity, the skies open up and pour rain. The students in Group B did not get a turn on this activity.
The group traveled to a farming area with the intention of working with them in the fields harvesting corn and undertaking other farming duties. Unfortunately, quite strong and persistent rainfall meant that this was not possible. Therefore, the students squeezed indoors for a mini-olympics activity in groups including limbo, planking, endurance tests, wall sits, stork standing, flexibility tests and talent. Since Emersyn was not able to do all the physical activity, she took on the talent part for her group. She sang part of a song.
At the end of the day, the group loaded into the buses for travel to the Hotel located near the Wall. It was a stormy night so everyone was hoping for sunshine tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 26: IWNC and the Great Wall
After a raining afternoon yesterday, the skies were blue and clear with temperatures around 80f for the walk on the Wall. The students hiked on the Great Wall to Jinshanling for 8km (5 miles) for about 3 hours. Emersyn took the one short cut with a few other kids. She came out of her surgery boot last week. After 6 weeks in the surgery boot, her leg muscles are weak. She must now build the muscle back in her leg. This week of walking is a good start. The teachers were very supportive of Emersyn with her ankle on this trip.
At the end of the walk, the children repelled down the wall. Emersyn said it was very easy…especially since she has been rock climbing and repelling for the past three years.
The students are staying at the IWNC (I will Not Complain) Center. It is located in the country near the Wall. Most of the children chose to sleep in tents in the court yard. Emersyn shared a tent with Josie, Taylor, Ruth and Elyssa. She said this was a fun place and with the best food on the whole trip. For dinner, a choice of spicy meats. Some of her friends thought it was too spicy, but Emersyn loved it.
Thursday, September 27: Team Building and Travel Home
The team building activities were completed in the morning. Buses to Pinnacle Plaza for lunch and a small shop before boarding planes to Shanghai. The children were to arrive back to Shanghai at 7pm. I had a literacy night for ES students so the timing would be perfect. But, this is China and the flights were delayed. I went home after the literacy night and sent Mr. Nie back to Jinqiao to wait for Emersyn and Sean. They arrived home at midnight.
The students had another fun adventure together. They came home dirty, tired and full of stories.