Archive for the ‘Heze’ Category

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A Dream?

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

This morning, I awoke at home at 5:15 AM as usual. I showered, exercised, and had breakfast, just like I do everyday. However, something was different…

I went to China in my dreams. I saw incredible sites. I ate unusual foods. I met incredible people and I was treated like an emperor.

Was it a dream? Or did I really go to China?

By the looks of the pile in the living room I must have gone somewhere.

* * * * * *

My life has changed forever. My heart has been touched by a wonderful group of teachers, school leaders, children and parents. I have new friends. I have a new family. I became part of their lives and they are a big part of mine.

I must now move forward building more bonds between Woodbridge and Heze, connecting more lives, fostering more friendships, and creating more links.

The Connecticut China Connection has become a living entity and I look forward to many years of communication, collaboration, and exchange.

Xie xie,
Rick Wood

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Teaching Technology

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

I was asked to teach a computer lesson in Zhao Han’s classroom. I introduced the students to the website for sharing pictures with the students at Beecher.

Instead of using a large screen for demonstration, Zhao Han has setup a computer that uses the students computer screens to display his screen.

The students viewed pictures uploaded by Beecher students and they sent comments. I introduced the way to upload photos, but we were out of time, so Zhao Han will assist them with this later.

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Heze Primary School Symbol

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

In this photo the symbol of Heze Primary School can be seen.

Exchanging Gifts

Exchanging Gifts

Students are like the flower and the sun.
Teachers use their hands to raise them up.

Mr. Wood

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Gift from Mr. Zeng

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

Mr. Zeng presented me with a most wonderful gift.

A Gift from Mr. Zeng

A Gift from Mr. Zeng

This traditional painting of Peonies with calligraphy was painted in Heze by a local artist.

Mr. Wood

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Driving in the Streets of Heze

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

I have never experienced anything like the way people drive in Heze. It’s not fast and crazy like in American cities. But for an American, it is very disorienting.

There are cars, trucks, bicycles, motor bikes, rickshaws, and people traveling in streets that are 8 lanes wide. Down the middle is a double yellow line, which sort of divides the direction in which traffic flows. But it appears that direction isn’t that important. This is difficult to explain, so I will give some examples.

We are traveling in one direction, but there are vehicles ( trucks, bikes, etc.) in all lanes up ahead. Just start honking and move to the left a few lanes and drive among the on-coming vehicles.

Oh, by the way. No traffic lights. No stop signs. Traffic just flows constantly in four directions at each intersection.

Perhaps we want to make a left turn but there is on coming traffic. Just start weaving among the on-coming cars until get to the other side of the street. Then turn left into the on-coming lanes and make you way among the on-coming traffic until you get into the right lanes. Of course, the horn is engaged constantly.

I will try to get some video of this. Words just don’t do it justice.

This may sound scary. At no time did I feel worried or fear for my safety. Everyone was doing it. No one seemed annoyed with it. It’s just how it works.

Mr. Wong is a very good driver! And am extremely grateful I don’t have to sit behind the steering wheel.

Mr. Wong, An Excellent Driver

Mr. Wong, An Excellent Driver

Mr. Wood

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Alfen Yang

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Ms. Yang is a most extraordinary translator, guide, friend, and wonderful person. Her delightful personality and her constant attention to every need is amazing. She has been my best friend here and she has helped me through many situations.

Ms. Alfen Yang

Ms. Alfen Yang

Thank you Alfen. I hope you come to America soon!

Mr. Wood

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My New Friend and Colleague

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Zhao Han is an enthusiastic computer teacher. He is 25 years old and has been teaching for 5 years. I observed one of his classes where he was teaching 60 students to animate using Flash. I was amazed at how he could do this.

zhaohan

We developed an instant friendship. He is eager to learn and to teach

We have had many interesting conversations since I arrived. We are eager to have the students in our two schools work together using the Internet.

On Thursday, I taught a lesson in Zhao Han’s computer lab with his assistance.

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Mr. Wood and class in Heze

Mr. Wood and class in Heze

The students in Heze learned to use the Connecticut China Student Exchange site to share photos with students at Beecher Road Shcool.

Mr. Wood

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Photos from Heze

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Check the Heze gallery.

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Welcome to Heze

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

On my arrival at the school in Heze on Tuesday morning, I felt like I must be the emperor. The band was playing in front of the school as I walked in.

Welcome by the Band

Welcome by the Band

The leaders of the school were all out to greet me.

Students welcomed me into the meeting room with a huge bouquet of flowers and greetings in English.

Mr. Zeng welcomed officially welcomed me to the school and we shared traditional fruits - banana, tomato and mango.

img_0781

After a time of conversation, we toured the school and I observed classes.

All of the students and teachers greeted me warmly with wonderful smiles and “hello”.

It was a welcome fit for a king.

Mr. Wood

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The Trip to Heze

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Monday morning, the members of our delegation sat around the lobby of the hotel awaiting the arrive of our host schools to take us our separate ways. Everyone was nervous, including me.

Mr. Crawford and I were among the very last to be picked up because we were among those traveling the greatest distance. Then my car arrived and I left Mr. Crawford behind.

Mr. Zhang, Mr. Wong, and Ms. Yang were all there to escort me to Heze. Mr. Jeng is the vice principal, Mr. Wong is a dean (and the driver) and Ms. Yang is the English teacher. More about everyone in another post.

It took a long time to get through the city traffic of Jinan. There was a lot of honking from Mr. Wong. (Honking seems to be different here. It does not appear to be out of anger or frustration, but a way to say, “Watch out. Here I come!”

Out one the highway we travelled very fast. About 85 MPH sometimes, I think. Mr. Wong honked every time we approached another vehicle. Sometimes he honked when I could see anything nearby.

We stopped for lunch in Yun Cheng, a town in the city of Heze. We visited a world famous Kung Fu school and the street of Shui Hu. (More in another post.)

Along the street were many older artists and crafts people. One old man was playing an Er Hu, like we saw in the Antique Market. I was invited to play.

Welcome by the Band


We arrived 15 minutes before the welcoming banquet.

Mr. Wood

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Heze

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Today I will be leaving Mr. Crawford and the rest of our group to travel to Heze for five days. During this time, I will be spending time at the Shandong Heze Experimental Primary School, one of Beecher Road School’s sister schools.

Heze is the political, economic, and cultural center of southwestern Shandong. It is noted for Peonies, a flower that appears in many Chinese paintings.

During my stay in Heze, the International Peony Festival will be in progress.

I hope to see some peonies while I am there. My grandfather grew peonies, his favorite flower, and I still have some his peonies growing at my home.

As you can see from the map below, I will be in the farthest outreaches of Shandong. The other educators visiting from Connecticut will be closer to Jinan, the capital of Shandong.

(Map from Wikimedia)

(Map from Wikimedia)

As I noted in yesterday’s post, Heze, the city, is about the same area as Connecticut, the state. The population of Heze is about 8.1 million. At this time, I don’t know where in the city I will be. Once I get there I may be able to share a map.

Mr. Wood

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Connecticut & Shandong

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Connecticut is one of the fifty states of the United States. Shandong is one of the 22 provinces of China. Let’s compare the two.

Connecticut:

  • 5,544 square miles
  • 3,502,309 people

Shandong:

  • 60,500 square miles
  • 91,800,000 people

And let’s compare the cities (towns).

Woodbridge, Connecticut:

  • 19.2 square miles (49.7 km2)
  • 9,264 people

Heze, Shandong:

  • 4,725 square miles (12,238 km²)
  • 8,810,000 people

Binzhou, Shandong:

  • 3,646 square miles (9,444 km²)
  • 3,661,500 people
  • [116,573 people in the main city]

Observations:

  • Connecticut (the state) is only slightly larger in land area than Heze (the city).
  • The population of Connecticut (the state) is about the same as Binzhou (the city).
  • Cities in China are made up of many towns and townships, like boroughs in New York.

How big are some of the places where you travel?

Mr. Wood

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Posted in Binzhou, Geography, Heze | No Comments »

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