Really big Show Part II

To continue with the previous entry about the first full day of classes:

After classes in the main building, our students went down to the large room we will be using for a general headquarters and supplemental classroom. There students will receive Chinese classes, arts classes and will work on their Sharon High assignments. They had their Chinese class, but it was cut short because they had to rehearse for the afternoon's assembly. Their Chinese teacher has been preparing them to sing "Edelweiss". He has a lovely voice but is not a music teacher per se. I attempted to be helpful, but it was a bit awkward. I am a musician, certainly, but not a music teacher per se, and my role was not quite understood by the Chinese teacher in this case I don't' think. I also didn't want to step on any toes. I ran them through a basic a Capella rehearsal of it, but the musical training in our group ran from a good amount to nil. there was also the issue of them having to sing Edelweiss of course and wear the tops that Mr, Shang had given them as gifts the day before. wearing the tops was good idea as the kids sort of matched in a Brady Bunch sort of way, and more importantly it honored Mr Shang, but it wasn't the fashion the kids were accustomed to. Finally, thankfully, it was time for lunch.

Students, like Yafei and I, had been issued meal tickets which they swipe across an electronic device to purchase lunch. Our kids ended up eating in the wrong dining hall, I guess, the one that Y and I eat in for breakfast. One of our assistants was concerned about this I think because either she thought it was unsuitable or not what was planned or maybe a little of both. The kids just went with it. Food is food. Then there was another brief rehearsal, this time with the soprano sax (?) player who was going to be their accompanist. He played beautifully; I guess maybe you think he was trying to bring the notion of a sort of Alpine Horn to mind. Or not. I ended up not playing the piano because it was just getting too complicated. this was fine with me. I want to learn to play the Chinese hammered dulcimer or one of those two stringed instruments that sit on your lap.

The performance itself was quite an extravaganza. I video recorded it and will post highlights on the School website. Once again, we had to make surprise speeches. I feel like I should have anticipated this from Japan, but Japan is not China, right? George, Y, and I improvised on the spot and the kids stood across the stage and said their names again. Gao Xin High School students are quite talented in wide variety of ways beyond the academic. There was chorus performance, a 15 year old doing sword kung fu, two dancers, oratory, and a presentation about how Chinese is still the mother tongue of this country. I'm sure I am forgetting something. There were student MCs. one girl and one boy, VERY professional-sounding speakers -- I think this is an art they train them for. Brookline High kids did a cool dance number plus a spring poem reading. Our kids really did a great job never mind that it was Edelweiss in Chinese (complete with a slide presentation of countryside scenes on a screen behind them that someone in the school put together), unusual stage costumes and only about 1.66 rehearsals. Time and time again, these kids are put into situations where they need to show poise and just improvise a with what to do. Many adults would not be able to do this. Amazing.

After the performance, kids went home. Some of our kids and some of the Brookline kids live near one another so they walked; a couple got picked up by their host families; one kid went home on the public bus, accompanied by his host mother who was showing him the way.

I walked up on my own to the market. I wanted to get some food for breakfast that I could eat in my little room. Because I was exhausted inside and out, the trip was a little disquieting. For one thing, it is huge modern store like I said before with groceries and household items, clothes, toys, you name it. Most of the customers are absolutely silent, as is the help who wear badges that say in English "Lotus Market We Want to help" and a yellow smiley. No one smiles even if you interact with them and I am not sure they really want to help. Plus there is a jingle that plays over and over endlessly, that I could sing right now. On top of that there is Chinese pop music. The check out "queue" is a clump of people and they will bump you out of the way with their carts if they want. They will push into the open spaces in aisles and lines. And they do stare. I smile, I get the death stare. When I speak in Chinese, they say ALOT in Chinese, but open up a little. Not everyone speaks English for sure. But you can buy Chinese groceries there. They are colorful.

I purchased what I thought was muesli (it wasn't -- more on that later) and yogurt, which was yogurt -- I know that character -- and scoped out the bicycles. I also had to buy a bowl and a spoon and a knife. I have a cup, fortunately. All of this hearkens back to my 20s when I lived in households where the kitchen had only a very few items -- but somehow lots of chopsticks -- and there were only mugs to drink out of.

Because I am not staying in a hotel, I am having the unique experience of trying to fend for myself a bit more, which is part of the adventure of course. Knowing some Chinese has been very helpful not only trying to get things done, but in feeling less disoriented. Slightly. I use it all the time, and like in other places I have been, people seem to appreciate it.