Tiananmen Square

Children of China

Mt. Tai

Ascent to the Top

My Goal, To Make it to the Top and Live to Tell About IT

The Yellow River

Sports Day at Hongilalou Elementary

Our Sister School Students

The Birds Nest

Mount Tai

No banquet last night – we went to Mount Tai, climbed a total of 6,700 steps, and went from a bit above sea level to 700 meters above. My God, I thought I would die, but I didn’t and am stronger for having done it! The steps are unreal! I will try to send a picture tonight but I’m not sure that I can get on my blog here. The Shangdong University campus and the hotel and conference center I am staying at have more filters. There are Tao shrines all the way up and it is a most beautiful experience. Some of the old people, can't see how they do it. Mr. Wang, Anna, our driver, and another Mr. Wang all traveled light. I had my backpack with a change of clothes, the whole bit. Yes, they were wise. We took the bus from the city to a halfway point and began our assent – wait till you see the pictures! We stayed at the hotel at the summit, had dinner, and turned in around 9:00 p.m. as we were to be up at 4:30 a.m. so we could watch the sun rise. Got a wake-up call, got shaved and ready (showered the night before because the hot water is on only from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) Chinese/Russian army winter coats are in the closet for guests to wear (needed them this morning). The hotel guide took us up yet more stairs and out to an open area of rocks that looked directly to the East. I am told if you get to see the sun rise once or twice a month you are lucky because of the clouds at this height. Guess what? It was clear and the sun rise was a mystical experience! I felt myself shaking, not because of the cold, and a lump in my throat. The beauty was awe-inspiring. We managed to spend a half hour out on the cliff taking in the sight and being overcome with emotion. The Bolton principal was here also but went back after the climb. We got started late because our sister school had their annual sports competition. That was unbelievable! Of course, all 1,900 students, 104 staff, a contingent of the Chinese Army, and many parents were waiting for the American principal to arrive to start the games. I was waiting for the call to come down to the car and, when the interpreter walked in and saw that I was planning to go to Mount Tai after the sports competition, she took over and said “no” to this, that, and the next thing. In hindsight after that climb, thank you Anna very much! Once I walked into the back of the school with most of the school assembled, they cheered, and the band began to play. About half of the school marched in front of the reviewing stand. I was in the middle, the Chinese Army captain to my right, the interpreter to my left with the principal and the assistant. The students were well-drilled (self-drilled – they do not wait for their teachers to practice). They had a multi-flag contingent that surrounded the track and each class as it passed through filled in a space on the track. When the parade was over, they dismissed to the outer ring of the track. Then the games began. There was a four-legged race with three contestants, relay races, and a large contingent of parent participants, including my counterpart here who took part in a father/mother/child race where the parents each take one side of their child and run, holding them aloft. This was with the 1st and 2nd graders. Tonight, Mr. Wang and I were invited to dine with Mr. Zhang Xinming, the Director of the General Office Of the Shandong Water Conservation Department. He was in Connecticut in 2006 and attended the business coalition at Central Connecticut State University. The Assistant Director of that Department at CCSU was the individual, who lives in Bolton, who tried to help me get information on our sister school prior to leaving. Mr. Zhang Xinming tracked me and Mr. Smith down at our respective schools and invited us to dinner so he could share his hospitality with principals from Connecticut. The dinner conversation was helpful in understanding how the school, business, and state connection is helping to build understanding and cooperation. Tomorrow, I have some more classes to visit, then a farewell assembly where I will begin by sharing the photos I brought from Andover Elementary.

April 14,2008

Yesterday we traveled from Beijing to Jinan by bus and almost from the time we left Beijin until we arrived here we saw nothing but farm lands. The highway was backed up at times but then it would open up. The other side of the 2 lane highway which is only about 4 years old was a sea of trucks with an occasional car, and they were bumper to bumper. We left at 8:15am and got here at 4:15p.m. We were met by one of the assistant Directors of the Ministry of Education , Mr. Yu, He asked for me. I thought oh no my worst nightmare my school backed out. No he wanted to inform me that my principal and an interpreter would be arriving in about 20 minutes to speak to me about my speech. WHAT? SPEECH when.. panic set in. Went to the room when we checked in and waited for our luggage to be delivered. As soon as it was I jumped in the shower, I heard a door bell and Mr. Smith my roommate answered the door explaining he was not Dr. Griffin that Dr. G was in the shower and would meet me in the lobby in 10 min. Oh what a start. Dressed and ran down stairs and there I met Mr. Wang and Anna the interpreter. He handed me a beautiful bouquet and welcomed me to Jinan and to Hongjalou Elementary, our sister school. We sat and had cappuccino as he explained, through Anna that I would give a speech at the welcome assembly on Monday at 11:00am and that Anna needed a copy to translate into Chinese so she could deliver it in Chinese after every one or two sentences that I spoke. It seemed within minutes not only was a partnership between schools materializing but so was a friendship between principals. Before he left, as our group was heading to a welcoming banquet sponsored by the Ministry of Education, he said to me that Jinan was known for it’s friendly and warm people, he looked at me and said , through Anna, I sense that you are also possess those qualities. Man what a welcome. Then it was off to the banquet, oh my what elegance, what ritual what an experience. We sat in a massive room, all 30 of us gathered around one table, and shared welcoming speeches and toasts to continued development of understanding between our countries through our school partnerships, I believe that was the first time I sat through a 16 course meal, oh my. After dinner we went back to the room and while every one else went to the square where thousands of people were gathered to enjoy the warm Sunday night, 9:30pm I was off to the Business Center to type a speech and get it to Anna for typing for Monday. I finished just as the center was closing. I hurrily sent it off and went up stairs and off to bed. In the shower again and the phone ran it was 7:00am and Anna needed to speak to me. There was a problem, she got the e-mail but no attachment, I forgot to attach the speech. Ran down and got that out of the way before breakfast. Some principals were assigned schools as far away as 4 hours, I am lucky as I am only a half hour. At 9:30am Mr. Wang and Anna appeared and skirted me away to the school. Both of them are such warm pleasant people. As we arrived at the school the guard opened the gate and there standing to greet me were red and white uniformed clad students who shouted and cheered as I was escorted out of the car as the shouted welcome Dr. Griffin, welcome Dr. Griffin. The students had big bouquets of artificial flowers they waved in the air. Then they became quiet while a little girl in I would say 4th grade walked up to me and handed me a VERY large bouquet of flowers and welcomed me in English to Hongjlalou Elementary. I was taken up stairs to the faculty room and given tea and introduced to what in the states are the Board of Ed Chair and the Assistant chair. Many reporters were there as were photographers. There was time for some quick questions and then I went over the speech with Anna so we would be in sync. At 11;00 I was escorted into their assembly hall and was greeted by the 4th graders, when you have a school of 1900 students it is difficult to fit them into one auditorium. Mr. Wang began the program with a welcome speech. Then the Board Chairman who read his in ENGLISH, HE TAUGHT English in the Middle School years ago. Then I delivered my speech at the end of presented Mr. Wang with a plaque celebrating our new partnership/Then I told them that all our students at Andover Elementary were excited about the partnership and had designed book marks for them as a token of friendship. They came up one at a time as I handed them out. They were thrilled. At 11:30 they leave for lunch and arrive back an hour and 45 minutes latter. I was taken to lunch by the board chair, the assistant chair, the administrators and the Party official. It was again in a restaurant in a private dinning room with more food than I would eat in two days never mind at a meal. They dropped me at the hotel which is right on the campus of Shandon University so that I could have a rest and would pick me up at 2:00, they retired likewise, that is how they divide their day. When we returned there was another session with the press and we, Mr. Wang and I exchanged information on our schools and then answered questions. Then it was out to watch a relay race between 2nd graders and then some class visits. The traditional art form of China was part of an interest class or elective, what beautiful works of art the students were producing. They presented me with two pieces to bring back to Andover Elementary. I also visited a recitation course, a music course and an English class play. The students are just wonderful, happy, interactive and so willing to make you feel at home, “Hello American Principal” a familiar refrain through out the day with an occasional Ni How Dr. Griffin. At the end of the day, 5:30 it was off to eat again, and again a many course wonderful meal with a series of customs imbedded in the repast.

Dr. G. with Mr. Wang ,principal of Hongjialou Elementary

The five principals from Andover, Bolton, Herbon, Marlbrough and RHAMMS

Great Wall Cont.

The Great Wall

Today we traveled to the Great Wall which was started in 200BC. Most of the wall was built however in the 15th century. It extends 3,000 miles along the Nothern border.

Today’s adventure

Chapter 3 (New day)

Before I get into today’s adventure, let me finish the events of the 8^th, the 12 hours (not 24 hours) on the 9^th, and a very full day today. Back at O’Hare on Tuesday afternoon, the plane was finally ready to take off at 3:30 p.m. with the mechanical problems solved and the ticket holders relatively calm about the delay. The plane taxied out to the tar mat and the pilot came on the PA and announced that he would be shutting down the engines to conserve fuel as there are many planes landing and we needed to cross two of the landing strips to get to our runway. At 4:00 p.m., the engines started and the pilot announced that we were on our way. We did fly over the North Pole and it was amazing! Most people kept their shades down because we had bright light/sun all the way to China. We went from brown landscape spotted with snow to frozen tundra. The pipeline was visible and, at 9:30 p.m. CT time, we were flying over the Queen Elizabeth Islands at 34,000 feet at a speed of 559 mph. There was a large screen that gave vital information every few hours and also showed the plane in relationship to the land mass. At 11:45 p.m., we were over the North Pole and, no, there were no signs of a sleigh or the jolly old man in the red suite. 2:35 a.m. tracked us at 38,000 feet, cruising at 545 mph. over Siberia. At 4:45 p.m., we were crossing Mongolia. We landed in Beijing6:15 a.m. CT time on April 9^th and 6:15 p.m China time. at Dan Gregg from the State Department picked us up and had a van waiting. Our Trip to Tiananmen Square had to be postponed and dinner was the first stop before the check-in the hotel. The restaurant was gigantic! We had a private room with two large tables that seated 21 of us. Twelve dishes later, plus soup and desert (cake to celebrate Dr. Crossman’s and Mr. Gregg’s birthdays), we were off to the hotel very much stuffed and proud of our first meal in China with chopsticks (and everyone a pro already). After check-in and getting things arranged, Mr. Smith from Bolton and I decided to take a walk in our new surroundings. It was about 10:30 p.m. China time. Traffic was still busy and there were a number of post high school students out hanging with friends. The barber shops and beauty parlors were still open and had a number of customers. A few eating places were packed with people sitting outside enjoying a meal and the nice spring evening. The city abounded with flowering trees.

April 10, 2008

Breakfast at 7:00 a.m., on the bus at 8:00 a.m. In a city of 14-plus million people with industry and construction going full tilt, there are a few things that seemed to stand in contradiction. People wear face masks to help their breathing because of the smog and pollution, yet the hotel we stayed in, which is relatively new, has many GREEN incentives. When you check in and get your CARD KEY to the room, once the door is open you need to put the key in a slot by the door. I didn’t go into the room and, within 2 minutes, the lights went off. We soon learned that the key turns all electricity in the room on. When the key is removed, the power goes off within 2 minutes, thus saving electricity. Also, I meant to mention as we entered China, you could see the large white windmills that covered acres of land. On the way back downstairs this morning to begin our tour, I shut the door leaving my key in the room and thus being locked out.

Our first stop today was to the Ministry of Education, a beautiful new building where we were ushered to the second floor and into a meeting room that resembled the “Board Room” – the only thing missing was Donald Trump. The room was done in a lot more marble and had some mahogany walls and beautiful crystal chandlers. The Board table easily sat our contingent of 23 as we picked up the Assistant Superintendent from Glastonbury, her son, and a teacher from there who is teaching in China this year. The Assistant Director assigned to the Connecticut connection gave us a briefing about the initiatives in Chinese education, including their compulsory education for 6 to 15 year old students. After the hour-plus information session, we were allowed to ask questions, which was helpful. Each of us had a teacup with a cover and note pads, writing implements, and speakers. Before we started, three young women came in and filled our cups with green tea and continued to do so every 20 minutes. It was a good morning! From there, we went to lunch with another sumptuous round of Chinese dishes and women dressed in traditional costumes including headdresses with peonies on them (the flower of the emperors). After dinner, we took a ride over to the Olympic village to see the “Birdsnest”, the “Aquatic enclosure”, and the many other buildings which need to be completed by August. It was just unreal! We then headed to the University of Peking where we spent the afternoon with a professor who is renowned for his knowledge of Western and Eastern philosophies. His lecture was on Confucius and its impact on China. We finished the day at the Summer Palace and viewed the opulence of this palace situated on a lake. We sensed the power that a mother queen wielded over the emperors and her hand in the downfall of the Chinese Empire. The day was finished at yet another original restaurant with sumptuous dishes, including Peking duck and the first thing (a dessert) that made my colleagues laugh after I tasted it. After that, no one else dared to try this butterscotch, cube-looking “food”. Tomorrow is the Great Wall. My best to all!

April 8, 2008

The best laid plans of mice and men …that was me this morning. I left for the airport later than I had planned and found that the gas level was less than I remembered. Yes, the light went on telling me what I already knew, the car was thirsty. Made it to the Galaxy Parking, $30.00 a week for AAA members – that sounded like a deal. As soon as I was parked, the van pulled up to take me to the airport. Ok, things were looking up. Since I was the first one on, we couldn’t just leave, we had to wait for more passengers….Oh come on! I was supposed to be at the gate between 6:00 and 6:30 for the 8:26 flight. We dropped off the other van passengers first because the driver wasn’t sure what terminal I should be dropped off at. The second time around the airport, and no fewer than 3 stops at terminals for my driver to check if this was the right pace to deposit me, he took my suitcase out of the van and said, “Well, if this isn’t right, you can catch another Galaxy van.” Oh gee thanks, buddy! Off to the United check-in. As I approached the attendant, she said “Ah, you are with the teachers’ group.” I replied, “I look that obvious?” “Well, there is something there.” Now, the moment of truth as I put the suitcase on the scale – 50 lbs. is the max per case; mine was 57.9 lbs. “Oh dear” was her reply. After a little shifting of things to my carry-on bag, I was down to 56 lbs. She gave me my passport and tickets and said, “Go have a good time. I’ll let this go.” It was going to be $100 for the extra lbs. Ah, I got a reprieve! Then, she informed me that they had bumped us up to an earlier flight and it would leave at 7:20 rather than 8:26. As I went through security, I had to take every thing out of the backpack and put it in the tub, and on the table, oh yes, the shoes and the jacket. Now I am getting nervous and the cell phone rings – sorry, no time to answer. Now to put myself together and run for the plane! As I got to Gate 26, the 18 other members in our group cheered, as I was the last to arrive and, oh yes, they were boarding the plane. At this point, I think I have become Alexander and His Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! Now, I sit in O’Hare and wait for the 12:55 flight. Well, I think I will walk as I will be sitting for nearly 13 hours. Oh yes, it is cloudy/overcast and, yes, windy in the lovely city of Chicago.

Chapter 2 (same day). 12:40, just back from lunch on the airlines – that’s what happens when there are mechanical problems with your plane and they don’t know when it will be fixed! The plane is here, they tell us, but they are not sure when it will be ready. Best that they found it now rather than when we are 40,000 feet in the air! (Trivia: 6,579 miles left to go and the official flying time is 13 hours and 17 minutes.) We just got another announcement…“There will be more information forthcoming at 2:00 p.m.” Hope we are not still sitting here come the 21^st!

One week till departure

Dr. G. with Jacob and Michael

who proudly desplay their art

work that will travel to China

with their principal.