Our 1st day and a half of adventure! October 31, 2007

The clock is ticking on the hourly rate broadband connection so I shall try to write swiftly! lol

After an emotional send off from the Creative Partnerships office by parents, our journey to Heathrow airport was very smooth and everyone was in good spirits.   After dropping us at Heathrow and returning to bristol, our driver (Dave??) is the driving straight up to Blackpool!  A good chance that we will see the Hong Kong illuminations before he sees Blackpool ones! Here’s the driver. Checking in at Heathrow was very smooth without any hiccups, thank goodness, (although I’ve found out that up to Monday my name was spelt wrong on the plane ticket.  Thanks to Amanda for being angry on the phone to get it corrected, otherwise I would have had a long walk home from heathrow. Dylan and Luke have photos from the plane journey so hopefully they can post them up soon.  The journey was fine, but LONG.  When we got to Hong King we were met by a cheery chappy called Handy, (hope that’s right!)  He gave us an introduction to Hong Kong and we’ll be meeting him again in the morning to get the train to China.  Here he is. After getting to the Majestic Hotel absolutely exhuasted, and getting used to our rooms and relaxing a little, we all went down to the bar to claim our complimentary (soft) drinks.  I asked the whole group to write down one word which described how they were feeling, or which summed up their experiences for far.  Of course being painfully shy and retired, not all wanted their faces on camera.  If you know the group, can you guess who is who?   RIGHT, ONLY 5 MINUTES LEFT ON INTERNET CONNECTION!  MUST BE QUICK!!! Here’s 2 more last pics.

 I’d better go now.  Hopefully more soon!

Bye.

Shawn

guess what you left behind October 31, 2007

i knew youd forget something because you were so hyper this morning and guess what you got your charger with you but you aint got your phone what a wally

yummy food October 30, 2007

i was just blogging to say that me and family had some seaweed for tea and oh it was lush and we had some rice and i used my chop sticks as my mums boyfriend was and expert at it and i think that  out did him well i would say that and see you laterim going for a run a round all packed and ready to go

my teachers October 29, 2007

My friends Jason and Lei have been wonderful teachers preparing me for my trip to China. As a relatively inexperienced traveller it’s very reassuring to know how to say hello and thanks in Chinese, have herbal medicines stuffed in my backpack and a mandarin speaking friend on the end of a phone line should those ‘what if’ scenarios…. a huge xiexie to them both )

(apologies for the poor quality of this photo which was snapped on my mobile today)

I NEED TO FINISH PACKING MY BAGS…… October 29, 2007

 …………..SO WHY AM I STILL ON THE INTERNET???

J

Dylan’s been packing! October 29, 2007

Hi, it’s Dylan and i’ve been packing today. I put loads of stuff in: 8 t-shirts, 3 tracksuits, all my toiletries, a few jumpers, some more trousers, jeans and my mum even went to tesco or asda to get me a really smart looking t-shirt for the puppet show! And I put in my mobile phone incase of emergenceys,(if ’emergenceys’ spelt wrong then tell me) some entertainment and a camera-which is an obvious essential for any trip to a foreign country. My dairy was also included,(musn’t forget that) and a few pens and pencils, but nothing really sharp which could be classed as dangerous like pins or a stapler! Anyway that’s my packing done and i’m all ready to GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

it’s a long way from clifton to canton (guangzhou doesn’t alliterate so well) October 29, 2007

so… er, it’s now 2 pairs of jeans, a book and katy’s (my wife) MP3 player. i really did intend to be better packed and prepared than this. that said, this has been kind of characteristic of my whole participation so far – i’m totally excited and thrilled at the privilege of being part of this trip but, at the same time, life has been moving so quickly and with such intensity that i have hardly had time to comprehend it all. i think i’m going to be awe-struck when i suddenly find myself in hong kong on wednesday instead of sipping (very) bad coffee at a staff training day at school.

unlike any other (school) trips i have been part of, abroad or otherwise, i have always previiously had significant duties and responsibilities in terms of the organisation. for this trip it has been an enormous luxury and a total reassurance to be able to sit back and partake in all of the easy and nice bits whilst enormous diligence and efforts have been going on behind the scenes. i remember the frantic and obsessive way i planned trips across london with groups of students. i’ve navigated a party across naples by foot (a crazy city which makes new york feel like a milton keynes model of order) and been grateful to simply count them all back in again (as a famous news report commented during the falklands ‘conflict’). the planning of our china trip makes me giddy with the thought of all of the considerations that must have been … considered. even though we haven’t even left yet, a big, big thank you to lara, amanda, nic and shawn – you’ve all been fantastic and i hope i, too, can display some sort of exemplary competency and assurance to match that which i’ve seen from you all, over the next 8 days. as for our young fellow travellers – i’m really looking forward to getting to know you all and seeing the amazing things i am certain you’ll come up with as we embark on this great adventure.

so… socks and shoes next.

getting ready October 28, 2007

China’s only 2/3 days away and i can’t wait till it’s time neverflown so even more to look foward to.

getting ready to go now packing all my clothes well i’m getting my mum to do it all hehe.

testing…testing… 1, 2, 3.. October 28, 2007

hey – got here! is this how i do it? i seem to have accidentally set up my own blog too. anyone else done that? i can’t believe we’ll be at the airport in 48 hours. i have exactly one pair of jeans and a book packed so far. i’d love to think that, like some of my literary heroes and travellers (like jack kerouac or woody guthrie) that i’d travel light, but this is far more minimal than i’m intending. if this entry works i’ll add some more later this afternoon. hope you’re all well and excited. bruce

Being Inspired October 28, 2007

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.”

Pablo Picasso

I’ve snuck some additional photographs into the previous ‘Young People’s reactions….” post below, which shows the group being inspired by an exhibition in the Arnolfini gallery.

I really look forward to working with them all. 

Shawn

http://planchina.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/the-reaction-of-the-young-people-when-told/

Time’s flying away October 27, 2007

Hello everyone china is not long away i like to see that see that everyone is using the blogger and ,Hold on my sister just interrupted me, Well where was i oh yes everyone is using the blog i had a few questions for photographer’s IE Shawn or people in china or even the ones going china. I need one tip from you all including others well anyone can say i just need  one tip from you all on how to improve my photography carer and finally Shawn i need the best tip of the day coming from you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I MEAN YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you everyone

Lil man

Our cultural briefing October 25, 2007

 

Photo of all of us with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bristol.

 

The Mayor showing Luke how to use chopsticks.

 

Trying to learn Mandarin.

The mayor and mayoress of Bristol came to meet us to wish us a safe trip. 

We had a lesson in Mandarin and also got taught how to eat with chopsticks.  (Dylan’s dad was the best at chopsticks.  I won’t say who was the worst!)  ha ha

See you soon!  x

Questions Questions Questions! October 25, 2007

Hi No 6 High School students! Our excitement is building as we make our final preparations for the trip. We have been thinking about the topics you suggested for us, and have come up with a few questions!

Landscape of Modern Guangzhou October 25, 2007

• What green spaces are there?

• Are there any famous landmarks?

• What is the view from your house like?

Nature and People October 25, 2007

• What type of teen groups are there? For example; we have stereotypes of teen groups such as ‘Chavs’ in the UK.

• What animals are regularly seen around parks and roadsides?

• What is the most common animal seen in the area?

• Are your zoos the same as ours?

• How much of your lifestyle has changed due to the fight against global warming – for example recycling?

Traditional and Commercial City October 25, 2007

• What is this?

• What things will we see that are traditional?

• How much does the media influence your daily life?

Sports October 25, 2007

• How much is China into sports?

• What are the national sports?

• Are you ready for the Olympics?

• Will there be the Paralympics?

• What sporting facilities do you have regular access to?

Paige October 24, 2007

Hey! i am one of the children going to china.

i’m 12 years old and go to Hartcliffe engineering community college and i am in year 8.

I think i have been selected to go to china because i am involved in a project called ROOM 13 and have been for 3 years now.

Paigex

School October 24, 2007

Hi it’s me Dylan and I just wanted to tell you how excited I am about coming to china and meeting you! I can’t wait for you to show us around around your school and for us to actually meet you!!!!!!  See you soon  Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

to all coldtea editors October 24, 2007

Hi it’s Dylan again I just wanted to know what being a coldtea editor is like. I know that we are meeting you when we come to China but I just wanted a little bit of information about it so please reply and see you soon!

me and china October 24, 2007

hi i’m luke cox and i’m off to china soon well 6 days can’t wait never flown before and going hong kong is well brilliant well got to be quick getting pushed off the laptop byeeeeeeeeeeeee

abbie October 24, 2007

hi my name is abbie
im 13 and in year 8 at hartcliffe secondary school.
I’ve been choosen to come to china because i am involved with a project called room 13
which is a art studio run by children, it is based in a primary school.In room 13 children create art work but also raise the money to buy all the materials.

im realy looking foward to meeting you

Abbie XxX

Hi i’m Dylan October 24, 2007

Hi my name is dylan and I am coming on the trip to china. I’m 11 years old and go to Kingsfield school. I am in year 7.
I’m going to China because I have been working with creative partnerships for over four years in photography. I’m looking forward to meeting some no.6 high school students and going to the cold tea studios. See you soon! Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

So I was told I’m going to China… October 23, 2007

China, the word to me now is just the name of a place far away from home which, I know hardly anything about. It’s just another country, like the one I live in, with poeple, places, a government and a source of currency. So why am I so excited and terrified to go there? Because the place is so different. A different culture, background, setting and a whole new way of living.  

Mandarin lesson no. 2 October 22, 2007

With only 8 days until we leave for China my mandarin skills are developing slowly. I’m like a toddler learning to speak one word at a time, day by day. When my little nephew learnt to count he’d sometimes got a bit muddled half way through… 1,2,3,4,6,7,9,8,10. I know how he must have felt because my 1-10 in Mandarin goes something like this…1,2,3, hmm this is the tricky one where you push your tongue against the back of your teeth (sszzu sound) 4,5,6,7,8 hmm can’t remember, 10.
Not much of an achievement really since I have 10 perfectly good fingers I can wave about (or 90 if we all stand in a line!).
zai jian (bye)

The Travel Linguist – Mandarin 101 October 12, 2007

The reaction of the young people when told….. October 12, 2007

……….that they may have to do some presenting on video when we are out in China!

We’ll be kind. 

Don’t worry!

The group were inspired however by making art and their visit to the Port Cities exhibition at the Arnolfini gallery. 

 

 

“There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.”

Pablo Picasso

Learning Mandarin October 10, 2007

Nin Hao (hello). Wo jiao Nic (My name’s Nic)
My friends Lei and Jason are teaching me some basic Mandarin in preparation for our trip to Guanxhou at the end of the month. I’m fluent in the above sentence and… well that’s it really. The Internet has some great learning resources but being able to point and say ‘goat’, ‘plate’, ‘tree’ is not going to get me very far so I’m lucky to have friends who can give me some tailor made tuition. I’m finding the Sh sounds hard and distinguishing the tones is a potential minefield. References to family are best avoided for fear of accidentally referring to my mum as a horse or a cloth. I don’t suppose I have much to worry about really as having a real conversation with people in China is not a realistic aspiration for 2 weeks time. It’s fun trying though and if you fancy a go yourself this video is a good starting point