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.
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