The Chinese New Year and Spring Festival

As the semester has ended I have been fortunate enough to have some time to travel around Asia again. Starting in a farewell trip for my teammate Jeanette a few of us went to Shanghai to see Riverdance. It was a great show but they didn't really do anything extra from what is in the DVD. I had hoped for some creativity to make it more special BUT those riverdancers are amazing! Several times we were just laughing because it is such fun music and so ridiculous that feet can move that fast and sound so cool!

We also had an opportunity to meet with some potential sponsors for the Force scholarship who work in Shanghai but are from Hong Kong. One graduate from the Force scholarship was able to join our group and share his experience with the Force sponsors which was powerful (so they say: it was all in Chinese).

Nanjing

Next Michael and I went to Nanjing to see my student and he treated us to everything under the sun including a traditional-style Chinese bathhouse. His dad is a police officer and his family is well-connected. Everywhere we went my student had friends who let us in for free. At the bathhouse, for example, we had tea and an hour

-long massage with no cost to us or my student. We did, however, have to pay to go to the Nanjing Massacre Museum which promotes more hate for Japan than sorrow for the victims.

Nanjing was a lot of fun yet very tiring as two different meals turned out to be huge, formal events in which Michael and I were the honored guests. These events were sprung on us in the middle of going somewhere else. Both times I was dressed like a high schooler and Michael was always expected to speak with relatives who were unsympathetic to the fact that he studied Chinese for 2 years but is not a native speaker. Pressure!!!

Hong Kong

Next we went to our favorite Chinese city for the simple fact that it doesn't feel like China. Well, it has Chinese culture but it is combined with the efficiency and civility of any Western city. Both Shanghai and HK are crowded but the difference between the subway experience in Shanghai compared with Hong Kong is similar to the difference between playing football and a walk on the beach.

In Hong Kong we met with several Force sponsors who are already sponsoring students at our school. These businesspersons are quite well-to-do and they spoiled us well. We discussed their sponsored students over meals at the Jockey Club and the Football (soccer) Club or on a personal tour in a new Lexus sedan: Not bad!

Thailand

Now I'm in Thailand at the end of my Asia travels for a mid-year conference. It is always refreshing to catch up with American friends from around China and hear their stories. Although many of the people that have made this time special are back in the States, the memories are rich and the potential for more is strong.

Me and my Hot Pink bike!