Famous… featured in Dec issue of Cold Tea youth magazine January 22, 2008

        Translation coming soon………….. 

where we went November 20, 2007

a traditional craft November 20, 2007

After our farewell lunch at the No. 6 High School we were presented with two beautiful paper cuttings. We all held our breath and watched in wonder as Sabrina, one of the Chinese students, completed the final few incisions before our eyes. She had been taught this traditional craft by her mother at the age of 12 but admitted she didn’t know anyone else who had this hobby because each one takes 3 hours to complete. Paper cuts are readily available to buy in shops in China but are they are still hand crafted or machine produced? It was very special for us to receive such a unique gift crafted with love (and a great deal of patience!).

a message from China November 14, 2007

This is a photo of Dinah and Polly, two of our new chinese friends, taken at their high school on our last day in Guangzhou. I thought i’d share with you an email i received from Polly today – it was a lovely surprise and great to be reminded that our connections with China will last beyond our time there.

”Sorry that I send you this E-mail one week after we say farewell because I’m having a mid-term exam last week. This week I’m a little busy too because I’m going to have a competition called NOIP. Maybe NOIP is short for National Olympics Imformatic P….. Well,I don’t know what the P is for. But I guess it may be a word means competition;) In the competition, we will write programmes on the computer. Do the students in the UK play this? There is also a competition called IOI. The first I is short for International. We who take part in this area are often called OIers. Well, maybe it’s Chinglish . After the competition ends this Saturday, I will tell you something about it. If I get the first grade prize,I can go into the university without entrance exam!That’s so fantastic! I hope I can get it. We will know the result in the afternoon of the Saturday. Oh, I’m a little nervous now. But I believe that I can get it~:)
By the way,after we say goodbye have you found the medicine you were finding? I am a little curious because I can’t, for some unknown reasons, get on the PlanC’s blog.
Please write me soon;). Polly.”

End of the road – for now November 14, 2007

After our adventures to the Great Wall, it was back to work for us both on Monday. First thing we had arranged a meeting with Hammer Films, who had approached us after Lindsey’s inspirational presentation at the conference (Lindsey and I thought it was inspirational, so it was good to learn someone else did, too!) Had an interesting and constructive conversation, and there might be lots of scope to do interesting things together – watch this space!

After that we managed to squeeze in a whistle stop viewing of the Forbidden City (a huge complex where all the generations of Emperor’s, their families, concubines and staff lived, but which was forbidden to the general populace). Lovely place architecturally, but very busy with visitors. Had to be photographed alongside one of them, which is wearing a bit thin now. The whole site is being tidied up and improved for the Olympics (which depends on your perspective, I rather liked it how it was on my last visit).

After that, we dashed to the 798 district – this used to be a huge complex of munitions factories and warehouses in west Beijing, which – after lying empty for a while – was taken over by artists for studios and galleries. It is now full of commercial contemporary art galleries, with a few cafes bars and studios. We met Jian Yi there, a film maker who I have met before. It was nice to catch up with him again, and he gave us a quick tour.

 After that – back to the great vegetarian restaurant by the Lama Temple where we both over ordered (as usual) and sampled hot rice wine for our last meal. Rice wine is a little stronger than I realised… then, off round the shops and to the market looking for alarm clocks on the way back to hotel. Beijing is a nice place to walk around, once you get off the tourist areas, as everyone is active and out and about at all hours. eating, walking dogs and generally loitering. Getting chilly, though, and I think snow is on the way.

Anyway, after an uneventful flight back (which is easy for me to say now, but I really didn’t enjoy the turbulence) I am in the land of jetlag and laundry. Hope to catch up with the whole Guangzhou group soon!

National alarm clock shortage November 14, 2007

To all those who wanted Chairman Mao alarm clocks after my rash comments (Dylan and Shawn- that’s you!). The only one left in the hotel shop didn’t work (there was a rather nice chicken one, but I didn’t think that was quite the same). Lindsey and I checked out all the shops and went to the market Monday night – but it had closed as it was 10.30pm. Sorry guys! I am happy to go back and do loads more shopping for you both any time.

Instructions for posting up images. November 12, 2007

 

The way I post up images is a bit long winded but is actually quite quick and easy once you get used to it.

All free blog sites have a memory limit on the amount of images you can internally upload, so most bloggers use sites such as Flickr to store their images in.  Flickr is a free image sharing site owned by Yahoo.

1. Log into the blog and go to the ‘write’ section’.  Click on the tab saying ‘code’ above the text window.  No minimise that internet browser window and open a new one.

2. In the new internet window go to flickr.com and Register (if you haven’t registered already)  SORRY BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT, MAKE A NOTE OF YOUR NEW FLICKR USERNAME AND PASSWORD.

3. Upload any images you want to use into Flickr.

4. Double click the image thumbnail of the one you want to blog first and then click on the ‘All sizes’ icon that is just above the image.

5. It will automatically open the largest size available.  Click on ‘medium’, which can be found just above the huge image.

6. When it opens the medium size image, scroll down and you will see that Flickr has given you a load of html code for the image, and also a web address.  Copy the code.

7. Open up the blog internet window and Paste that code into window where you would usually write your blog post.  (make sure it is in ‘code’ tab mode’).

8. Now click onto the ‘Visual’ tab, and you should see your photo, which you can now type above or under at your leisure.  If you want to insert another photo then just go back to Flickr and copy the ‘medium size’ code for the next image you want, and paste that back into the ‘code’ mode of the blog text window above or below what’s already in there.

I know this may sound complicated but once you actually go through the motions it is actually quite straight forward and becomes more intuitive.

There is a way of linking your Flickr account directly to the blog but when it posts it up it looks a bit rubbish and you can only put one image in a post.

===

(P.S.  If in your blog window when you write a post you see a small tree icon just above where you would write your message, then that is really useful.  Click that and copy and paste into the ‘Image url’ section the ‘medium’ size web address that Flickr gives you for the image you want.  That way you don’t have to mess about with code.  I noticed though that in China not all of us could see that icon when we were posting.)

=====

I’ll end here but I hope that all makes some kind of sense.  Trust me, print it off and follow the steps and it should word.

(Famous last words!)

Let me know how it goes or if any problems.

Shawn

The Wide Awake Club. November 12, 2007

I’m really bad at lying in bed wide awake, so instead of staying under the duvet and closing my eyes, I come downstairs and turn on the computer at 4.07 am.

Will I never learn????!!!! 

http://www.cartoonstock.com

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9487.htm

Cold Tea November 11, 2007

This time last week we were at the studio of Cold Tea, a free monthly on-line magazine. Alex (a photographer) and Gianni (the Editor) set up the magazine 4 years ago as a way of sharing artists’ work and its representation of the evolving cultural scene (the magazine’s slogan reads ”Youth talks, picture tells”).

We shared some DVDs from the creative projects Abbie, Paige, Alice, Dylan and Luke had been involved in and we saw the work of another photographer, audio artist, illustrator and film maker who are responsible for different sections of the magazine. They were all impressed by the level of creative confidence and ability achieved by our group at such a young age. Later on Alex showed Luke and Dylan how to create the right lighting for an indoor photo shoot. Luke has already posted some of his favourites from the 171 snapped that afternoon (see ‘What a week’). Thanks for a great afternoon guys – and all the extra tips Luke:o)

Guess who?

More time off November 11, 2007

 

Booked a private tour to the Great Wall today. We picked the furthest point at Sima tai, as it is less touristed. A 3 hour drive there in a private car, with a monosyllabic guide resenting working on Sunday. The wall was rugged and spectacular – though I can’t decide which I liked best, the wall or the little cable car which takes you half way up the mountain to reach it. We were tailed by local farmers the whole way who hoped to sell us souvenirs. Felt guilty for not buying anything, as they have limited means of making money.

 

Can anyone tell me how the long the wall is and whether you really can see it from the moon, as our guide didn’t seem to know!

Weekend off November 11, 2007

Saturday and Sunday have officially been our days off, and although we visited a massive creative industries trade fair in the morning – we at least had a lay in (my first for days I think!).  Then we headed for the Lama Temple (a Buddhist temple) after lunch at a beautiful vegetarian restaurant (remember chickens made of potato?). The temple was breathtaking, and hard for me to do it credit in words. It was the first day of the Tibetan lunar month and was heaving with worshippers and monks. There were endless halls of buddha in various forms and the final one housed a gold buddha 4 storeys high. I did take a sneaky photo, which I hope to post up here if Shawn can help me? The lasting impressions I have are of incense, fire, red gold and blue, monks robes, bells, birds and turps.

All that spiritual renewal was followed by a blissful couple of hours shopping for beads and knick-knacks down winding side streets, followed by caffiene in a very groovy coffeee shop called Waiting for Godot. Didn’t make it back to the hotel until 10:00 when we had a very late dinner. Have also mastered the metro very well now.

some snaps i like November 11, 2007

just wanted to put up a few (very) random pictures i like amongst the 700 i took – nice to see people are still blogging. good to hear your ‘voices’.

actually, can someone help me here – there are seven images – main road at dusk, exercising in park, panda car in park, blue rabbit, kids at theatre, students lloking at fish and girl at mausoleum – they’re all uploaded and can be found in ‘browse all’ but i can’t get them onto this page. if you are able and can then delete this part of my entry i’d be very grateful.

sleep really early-dylan November 10, 2007

Just got the shock of my entire life. I went to a small fireworks display just over the road from my street, and a few of the fireworks went horribly wrong. I’m absolutely scared to death of things like that happening, so I started legging it away, but, one of the fireworks, which was like three seconds away from exploding, landed right by the steps. Lukily, my mum noticed that, and told me to immediately move in the other direction, which saved me from being either quite injured, or seriously shaken up. I was a bit shaken, though, and was in that state for about half an hour. Anyway, back to the less dangerous stuff. For the past few days of being back at home, I have got really tired at about 5 or 6 in the evening, but have managed to stay up till about 7 or half past. Then though, I fall asleep and wake up at about 5 or 6 in the morning, which is quite annyoying, but at the moment, it’s half eight, the fireworks incedent seemed to have woke me up a bit, i’m still sleepy though. Anyawy, that’s it from me and… goodnight.

hi amanda November 10, 2007

Hi amanda, it’s Dylan. You said something about a chairman chao antique clock. Yes I would like one, wonder what it looks like, please don’t tell me, just make sure you bring one back for me. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home sweet home November 10, 2007

My sofa hadn’t ever looked so good, although, i did miss the hotel and China already.  It’s strange to think that this exact time last week I was on the other side of the world fast asleep.

On the Wednesday about 1 o’ clock in the afternoon with a bag still not unpacked  and a million and one things to do, I fell into the deepest sleep known to man. This would have been ok if it hadn’t been the first time my brother’s girlfriend had seen me snoring away!

Never mind, I didn’t wake up till seven in the morning.

Thanks for such a fantastic adventure everyone!!!

VIP for half a day November 9, 2007

 

Our conference started with panic when the organisers discovered we weren’t where we should be (i.e. checked out). We were summoned to a VERY important meeting and spent most of the afternoon variously being ushered into hotel bedrooms to meet mysterious Mr Xin, getting loaded onto coaches (Lindsey) and running – literally – around Beijing looking for lost presenters behind Mr Xin (me). There was then a prestigious performance at the Great Hall of the People in the evening, with crowds held back by police and barriers. The show was massive, spectacular, kitsch and just a little camp. It started with the communist party leaders and ministers sitting in a row, and went on to include acrocbatics, orchestras, Swan Lake performed on someone’s head, more acrobatics, kung fu displays, Mongolian throat singing and soap stars singing TV theme tunes.

The conference proper started the next day, and Lindsey and I were late. We sneaked in the back of a vast conference hall of staggered desks and 400 people resembling a UN summit. At the front was a long row of seated presenters behind a wall of flowers, photographers and film cameras. Although the main speech had started, Lindsey was spotted and told to go sit with the presenters at the front. Then, worst of all, I was informed there was a place there for me too and I had to go – now – and take my seat!  From where I was sitting I could see far more significant VIPs in the audience. However, my uplifted staus didn’t last beyond lunch and I was demoted back to audience member – albiet behind a fetching pink sign.

And so the story continues… November 9, 2007

 

After an emotional goodbye, and a fairly uneventful flight I arrived in smoggy Beijing. The hotel organised for us was grim – ceratinly no White Swan! – so after one night I checked out and found somewhere else in time for Lindsey to arrive. Apart from the hotel smelling odd, having no internet and no heating - I sure missed that invisible person who turns your bed down and leaves chocolate by your bedside.

Beijing is gripped in Olympic fever, and I have already been sucked into the consumerist hype – you’d be amazed what you can get depicting the pokemon-esque ‘friendlies’ – they are even carved in jade and etched on chopsticks. The place looks a lot different since my last visit in April, and the underpasses are strangely empty of beggars and hawkers. Really not sure how it will adapt to the influx of visitors, the traffic is terrible right now and getting worse.

 Oh, and for Paige and Abbie – you get stared at just as much here and I have had my photo taken with someones baby!

remove red eye? November 8, 2007

so, loading over 10 hours of sound clips and 700+ photos onto your computer affirms that you really had been to china. the state your brain is in, you could be persuaded of pretty much anything right now. the computer asks if you want to ‘remove redeye?’. you wish you could do it in life as well as on-screen. feeling the need for righteousness, you were up at seven this morning and in work not long after. you even managed to successfully pretend you had come in especially for the meeting you stumbled across at 8.10, even though it had slipped your mind (along with pretty much everything else). you sit at the table and everyone just laughs at your expression of weariness. walking down the corridor you see some of your students – they laugh too. so, like i say, i wish red-eye was removable.

you feel, overwhelmingly, that it was excellent to get back home yesterday. after such an inspiring trip, getting back is all-the-sweeter. as a reporter famously commented on harriers leaving an aircraft carrier during the falklands ‘conflict’: “i counted them all out and i counted them all back in again”. you feel the same about successfully returning your intrepid young companions to their families, intact, healthy and as you borrowed them. it was also lovely for you to see lara, who was due to come on the trip but destined to pursue an altogether different adventure. her efforts were crucial to the success of the trip, it is important to tell her.

you go for breakfast with your family, even managing to stay awake until 4.30 that afternoon (aka half past midnight, guangzhou time). you think a half hour doze will do the trick. terrible mistake. a beer or two later and it’s an early night, no question. you manage to flick through a book you picked up that afternoon after walking on the downs – ‘chinese art’. you wonder whether that or the ‘little red book’ you so carefully bartered for will get read first. they provide a neat echo to an earlier entry so you post a snap of weary you holding them.

so, there’s much to come back ‘here’ to add but, for now, you decide to finish your travel diary instead before memories melt away from your ageing brain like butter in a pan. life will kick in again all too soon so it’s important to chart these things quickly.

to all i travelled with, it was a pleasure and an adventure and a great experience to share it with you. to those that did the organising – thank you – it was seamless. to those still out there, i hope to see you soon (and i’ll email this weekend, i promise). and to amanda, hope aall is going well, travel back safe and sound.

i look forward to our reunion already. x

Good to be back-Dylan November 8, 2007

I’m not in school today ‘coz my holiday form sais that i can go back tomorrow, and frankly, i’m happy with that. It’s given me time to get some food that’s not chinese, give everyone there gifts, and find out if my body still thinks we’re in china, which it does; I felt tired at about 4pm yesterday, and didn’t get to see the football. Though, there are some bad things, like the fact that right now it’s tipping down outside, and we’re not staying in a five star hotel anymore. Can’t really think of anything else that’s bad, come to think of it. Actually, no, wait, there’s another bad side, we can’t exactly go into the park and find someone who would want to play with the shuttlecock type thingy. But, you know, even despite of these, i can easily say, it’s good to be back.
 PS. Amanda, hope you’re having a good time in Bejing, what’s it like?
 PS again. Luke, Iv’e finished need for speed carbon with a fully kitted up lamborguini marceilago! Iv’e even gone back and done every race that wasn’t completed that didn’t even need to be!

Blurry memories / Sharp reality November 8, 2007

 

This is one of the last photos I took on the trip.  The blurry view of Hong Kong at night on my mobile phone.  So many memories of fantastic experiences on the trip, and let’s not forget, so many opportunities for fantastic follow-up work in the future.

Yesterday when we came back to Bristol I got home just in time to see the children before they left for school.  I took my youngest to school as hers is in walking distance and I didn’t feel awake enough to drive.  Very strange stood at the school gates thinking, just this morning I was on a plane flying over Siberia.  I then came home and slept for 14 hours solid!

It’s obvious that our sharper realities are the things we are experiencing at the present, or most recent, and anything that happened yesterday or near and distant histories will soon become as blurred as this photo, but the lived experience is something that no one can take away, and is actually much more valuable than even a sharp photo image.  An image is just an image, but lived experience is something actually experienced.  We use images to help us remember, but our memories are linked to actual actions. 

Maybe the only way to stop our experiences of the trip turning into blurry memories and mere images is to build upon them, and turn those lived experiences into opportunities for the future. 

In any way that we were inspired by this trip, the opportunities are there for us to grasp.  I look forward to it.

Journeys end November 7, 2007

 We left Hong Kong at 23.45 yesterday (GMT 15:45) and travelled through the night to arrive to a cold, grey morning in London (GMT 04:50).  We passed swiftly through the final security checking point and it was a relief to put the passports away for the last time.  The 12 hour flight had been a peaceful journey of sleep, movies, sleep, music, sleep with Paige, Abbie and Dylan winning the award for shortest time spent awake (about 3 hours altogether).  And the most considerate passenger award?  Well that would be Luke for sitting with his lap tray down with a glass of orange juice on it, for Dylan to have when he woke up, for the best part of 6 hours.

We arrived in Bristol at 8:15 after a chilly minibus ride and a necessary stop for hot chocolate and tea.  In a matter of minutes there were only 7,6,5,4,3 of us left and an hour later I was at Bristol Temple Meads waiting for my train home.  It felt strange to be a lone traveller again and I reflected on how Amanda must have felt travelling alone to Beijing yesterday and that her journey’s end is not until next week.

At 10.52 I wearily arrived on my doorstep, opened the door and was greeted by a trio of miaows… all thoughts of sleep temporarily forgotten.

Planes, trains and automobiles November 7, 2007

train-at-btm.jpg
I find myself writing my first ‘during’ blog entry for China from the 09.44 train on the last leg of my homeward journey. It’s a quiet morning at Bristol Temple Meads, the air is refreshingly crisp. The sprinter train from Bristol to Gloucester has 2 carriages and only about 10% of the seats are occupied. It’s a marked contrast to yesterday’s train from Guangzhou to Kowloon where every seat of the double decker train was taken.

I begin to wonder how many single journeys have been made during our trip (by any and all members of the group). So working from the finish (train – UK1) to the start (train – UK1), in much the same way as my back to front blog entries, I begin to tot it up…
Plane – 3 (China 2, UK1)
Train – 12 (China 10, UK 2)
Car – 41 (China 24, UK 17)
Bus – 11 (China 9, UK 2)
Boat – 2 (up and down Pearl River)

a parents view November 7, 2007

hi im dylans dad he grabbing a few hours sleep right now so id thought id come on and give a little. First of all id like to thank all involved for giving dylan and all others the chance they had to go over to china he’s talked about it non stop i had to push him up the stairs to rest, ive seen the 700 photos on the camera and am looking forward to the other 2000 hes taken when we get them back. From what hes said and what ive been reading on the blogs leads me to ask a few questions about our country and some of the things that we are doing like why have we got such bad schools,short on the basics when china has massive ones with gigantic swimming pools !! …. and why have we rubbish all over the streets when acording to dylan he didnt even see chewing gum stuck to the streets. I think maybe your next stop should be the gouvenment!!, after all i did think that we were the country with the established econmy and they were the up and comming one…or maybe its the other way round

home sweet home!! November 7, 2007

yay home sweet home but with a downside my mum was late stuck in traffic or just forgot well only like ten mins so i was showing creative parnership people some photos and then the buzzer went so i went down stairs there she was and the first thing said was hi and that the dog had missed me well i gave my mum a golden budda (as she had one stolen) and said bye then went to the car is was a struggle as i had 3 bags and a suitcase to get to t but my mum helped she told me that i should of took another suitcase but i said no as then she would expect it to be her BIG BIG present well got in the car and said hi to mike then he took us home as i arrived walking down the road and there in the widow was it. My dog Tessy my mum said that she had been upset all week crying for me looking in the window for me so i went in said hello and she pounced on me like a tiger or somethink so i have decided to get here a bone and toy as a present as they didn’t have any in china owwwwwwww

well byeeeeee

getting home November 7, 2007

well the journey home was a long and tyering  experience.

first getting to the train station, then to hong kong, then the airport then to london, then then bristol and then home. Although i am glad the be home again i will really miss all the no. 6 high school students they are all so friendly i hope we can all stay in touch and meet again one day

xxx

Airport now, other places earlier – by Dylan November 6, 2007

Hi, it’s Dylan writing for the last time whilst is China. We’re at the airport at the moment, with exactly two hours and six minutes (2hours 6 minutes) until we fly out! The day has gone a bit like this…

I woke up at 7:30am, so I was able to wave off Amanda at half 8, and still have time to do everything else that was needed to be done. I waved her off, with the help of Shawn and Bruce, and trotted upstairs to get ready for the day that was coming.

Breakfast time was upon us. 10:00am and Luke was still asleep, saying that he didn’t want any breakfast with a sore throat. We had it without him. Then, we went up and got ready. By this time Luke had got out of bed and had begun to get ready. Everyone went outside to the park except me, Nic and Luke, as we stayed to help Nic with her overweight suitcase. Once completed, we met up with Bruce, sitting near the doorstep to the back entrance to the hotel. Shawn, who was taking photos in the park, had returned by this time, and had some business to attend to. Luke also had business to attend to, in printing a few photos, one for the singer in the second floor bar. We set off, looking for a place that printed, and eventually found one. Shawn then picked up his stamp from the shop, and we headed back to the hotel, and collected the food that Nic had bought.

That was basically the morning in words. The train journey came next, which was unneventful, and we were then transported to the airport, where we are now. At the moment, i’m typing this in a lovely red chair usinf free Broadband.

Here we are tired and lookignn forward to sleeping on the plane!

We miss you all.  See you soon back in the UK!

 

What a week! – by Luke November 6, 2007

I have had a brilliant week and I have been to a photography magazine studio called Cold Tea.  When Shawn was interviewing a few peeps on video, me, Oxygen, Sky, Tiger and Dylan was with a man called Alex in his photo studio type thing and he showed me all different types and positions of lighting, and we tried them out.  It is too much to write about but I want to post a few photos of what we did. \/ \/ \/

Photo by Sky

Photo by Luke

Photo by Dylan

Photo by Luke

Photo by Luke

Visiting No 6 High School November 6, 2007

Today …..

First of all we got a taxi to number 6 High school.

When we arrived at the gates where the students who we have been working alongside was there to greet us .

We were shown around the school and we saw lots of amazing thing and also things that we would only dream of having in our school.

They had two massive outdoor swimming pools, lots of water features and ponds.

About half way through our tour there was a mad rush and all of a sudden we were split and ended up sat in two English class.

Every one in the lesson was really excited to see English people.

I must admit there English classes were difficult and all about grammar, there were piles of books on there desk which were not just there for show believe me.

When we left the lesson we were mobbed by groups of children who wanted to here us speak.

Next we finished of our tour and went to dinner in the v.i.p room which the students have never seen before.

We had dinner with the head teacher then exchanged gifts, one girl called Sabrina gave us two paper cut outs which she had done for 6 hours in total, they both had two birds on which are known as love birds.

We also had a sheet which had Chinese writing on, it said friendship.

Then we said bye to the students which was a really touching and emotional experience for us all.

We all really hope to stay in contact by MSN and meet up again some time in the future maybe they will come to Bristol who knows?

The Supper November 6, 2007

We sat around the table on the cushions laid out for us by the Mum who had spent ages preparing the beautiful food in front of us. All of us were able to use chopsticks, but we felt nervous if we accidentally split food down our laps (or anyone else’s for that matter).

Sky, a number six high school student had very kindly invited us round to his house for tea that evening and we all had a lovely time. After the meal we took numerous amounts of photos and talked to new faces about the similarities and differences between Bristol and Guangzhou. “Thanks for having us” we all said as we shook the host’s hand and left the house. None of us really wanted to go, but the rest of our time together was still to come.

Visiting the university November 6, 2007

On Saturday we met the high school students for the first time. We split into 3 groups, but I had a very big group with six no.6 high school students which probably was better anyway because we had the chance to meet more people. My group went to the university, it was very big.

The students were very helpful and answered all of our questions and translated signs for us, there English was very good they spoke clearly and confidently.

As we were having our dinner on the grass another school walked pass us they were about 14 year olds, they all wanted pictures with us, they just mobbed us and started showing of there English you could just here hello, hello, over and over again, it was a strange experience.

It was a very fun day.

Exercising in the breeze November 6, 2007

“Do you ever exercise in the morning?” I asked Jena, a No.6 high school student as we took a morning stroll into the park. “It’s normally the people who are retired” She replied. The collection of teachers, students and our selves observed the mass of Chinese people exercising in perfect unison (apart from the handful who continued to wobble with one leg in the air).

The morning had a fresh cool breeze that blew between the thriving activity in the park that morning. As we all made our way around, we spotted fly ball (a game where you kick a feather thing with a weight to each other, we all have become intrigued with this and have purchased our own fly balls), kung fu, dancing and singing in large groups.

The Temple November 6, 2007

Friday, the 1st whole day in Guangzhou. We had planned to meet a person called Rita, and her friend, Sophie, at the Hotel, after having a more comfortable sleep than in Hong Kong, where the time difference made it really hard to get to sleep. The Buddhist temple in Guangzhou as our destination, and that’s where we were destined to go. Surprisingly, instead of taking a few (3) taxis, Rita offered to pay for us to take the metro (Underground train) for the first time on this trip, even though it was only our second day in China. It wasn’t at all long until all of us were standing directly in front of what we thought was the Buddhist temple. Weirdly though, all that we could possibly see was a structure of bamboo scaffolding (China uses bamboo for scaffolding) surrounding a small entrance type thing, seriously in need of refurbishment. We peered through the gap in-between everything, and saw several visitors, walking around, taking photos, writing notes, buying things; you get the idea. Then, instantly, we got a clear view of a man, sitting by a desk. In his hand were many valuable tickets, though they were priced quite low, fortunately. That was our one way ticket to the Buddhist temple, because beyond the man, was a whole new world, and one we did not know anything about.

“O my God,” I was shocked. Everyone had stepped into a world of the unknown. Towers, people, prayers, and an amazing temple lay, waiting, like a dormant volcano on the shore of absolutely no-where. Luke and me (Dylan) straight away had our cameras out, and had already taken about 15 photos each, a usual photographer’s job. Everyone else took their time looking at all of the brill’ sights, whilst me and Luke just continued to take a photo of anything that we caught a tiny glimpse of. Nothing could get in our way for our bid for the ‘Take a picture of everything and hope that it’s a good one’ campaign leaders role. (By the way that isn’t a real thing, it’s just something me and Luke made up.)

Snapsnap here, snapsnap there, here-a-snap, there-a-snap, everywhere a snapnsnap. That’s what it pretty much was. Then the first really strange thing had caught our eye; ‘Batlion.’ there was this cape running along the top of a row of stone lions, and the cape had found it’s way over the forehead of one of the lions, so he looked like Batman, and that’s how he got his name’ Batlion.

Then, Luke and me scurried around the corner, only to find a tower, door like shapes on each storey, and a few people marching in prayer around the outside. Luke and me had the greatest idea in the world to go with it as well. DRAW! Instead of taking photos of this (well we still took photos, but drew it afterwards) we had this crazy idea of drawing it! Pencils, pens, rubbers and any other things you could think of that you would need to draw a picture was in our pockets, and strangely, so was a fascinated crowd of people. We had been sketching the tower for roughly 3 minutes, and already, somehow, we had been able to attract attention. (If your going to send a reply, don’t ask me how coz’ I don’t have a clue.) hey soon went away after our technique of ‘ignore and draw’ had seemed to work wonders, but the trouble was continuously dished out to us. More people, more attention, and more photos. Thankfully, they evacuated from our company slightly quicker than the other lot. A sigh of relief swept past our heads, until, a third group of people had began to gather around us. Photos, conversations, company and all of the annoyance the world could possibly bring to us was finally upon us. This time, they took ages to leave, and it only took that long for Amanda to rub it in our faces with a good ole picture of us and a group of people. Once they had finally left, Luke and me had decided that it was time to take a break and go on an extremely short shopping spree, in the temple shop. I bought some gifts, but whether Luke did is undisclosed. Luke left the shop and dashed round the corner, rushed back, and shouted senselessly, “Dylan, come quick, there’s like, 100 turtles in a pond.” I didn’t take much interest at all, until Bruce went, so I decided to follow.

Photo by Luke

“HOW THE HELL DO YOU GET 100 TURTLES IN A POND AS SMALL AS THIS?” The pond was absolutely minuscule, and somehow, people had managed to give well over 100 turtles and tortoises in it without any problem, and I think that it was piggyback day. They were all trying to get on the back of each other. Unfortunately, we just sat there doing nothing for ages, watching turtles float by and play piggyback. Though it was soon time to go, and we were on our way to a restaurant, in which we had Chinese.

Brief brief update November 3, 2007

Here we are at a museum which was all about the discovered tomb of an ancient Chinese Emperor. In the morning we also went to a Buddhist Temple. There is loads to update you on what we did yesterday and today but it’s getting late, and internet access isn’t that great over here any more! Will try to update with more in-depth news tomorrow, or at least with some photos for you to see.

Take care and chat more soon.

Day 4 by Dylan November 2, 2007

Hi, it’s me Dylan. China’s great, absolutely terrific. Today we got to a couple of places by using the high speed underground metro! First, we used it to go to the Buddhist temple, which brought some weird and wonderful sights! Luke and me (as always) were taking as many photos as possible, whilst other people just enjoyed the walk around, taking a close look at everything. Next up was lunch; we went to a vegetarian restaurant (all adults on the tour are vegetarian) where I happily had some fake duck, which was rather tasty, soft on the inside. Next up was the museum, where unfortunately you weren’t allowed to take photographs of any of the exhibitions so I found the whole thing quite boring actually, nothing really excited me in any way. Whilst at these places, I was able to buy a few things that I thought were interesting. (I can’t tell because my mum’s going to be reading this and they’ll know what my present is.) After it was all said and done, we headed back to the hotel in the taxis, and started to go over what we would say to the high school students. That’s it from me and…..GOODNIGHT!!!!!

Getting The Metro November 2, 2007

Beep. I placed the black plastic token on the part of the gate that enabled it to open and with my stomach I pushed the gate barrier. The giant metal teeth like steps on the esculator carried me down and onto the platform and then I noticed someting rather particular. There was a screen which separated the platform from the train which is something you dont get on the London metro (subway). Suddenly, the noise of the high spped train screeched and overpowered the sound of the tele and general peoples chit chat. Both sets of doors slid open and we all piled in, each of us scanning the train for a handle to hold onto incase of the event of an embarrassing fall when the train began to move. I grasped the handle tightly as the train shot into darkness at great speeds making all the crammed passengers on the train wobble.

write some day soon,

Alice

Wish you were here! November 2, 2007

Photo taken by Luke

On the Train – By Abbie November 1, 2007

The train journey from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, it was a very relaxing journey and didn’t take to long which was good since we had already spent a day travelling. We arrived at Hong Kong train station at 10:30. We went through security quite swiftly, but it was surprising the amount of security it was like an airport. When I stepped on the train my first thought was the smell, it had a sort of damp smell (wasn’t very nice). Our seats were ok but, every 5 or so minutes the train hostess would walk up and down the isle trying to sell something.

The most random objects would come down the isle with her from chicken to stamps, and some times we didn’t even know what she had. One time we thought she was carrying a pickled goldfish (well that’s what it looked like anyway) We arrived in Guangzhou at 1:15 and then went all through security again. And then got a minibus to our hotel which is amazing!!

dislocated November 1, 2007

so, you find yourself actualyl in hong kong. finally, after months then weeks then days then hours of disbelief, credulity begins to harden into something more substantial after a giddy immersion into traffic, neon, exotic smells, crowds, a density of population beyond imagining and a curious momentum all of its own.

and you’re tired. dog tired. but you cannot sleep. in real terms it’s only 32 hours since you left your home but, in even more real terms, the three hours of sleep that you’ve accumulated over this period is not enough to get by on if life keeps unfolding at this at this rate. so you try curtains open and then shut. air conditioning on and then off. you drink water at $10 a bottle (though, fortunately HK$, not US$), eta an apple, look out of the window, visit the toilet with no need to go and eventually give in, mix powdered coffee with sugar you don’t normally have and powdered creamer and decide it’s time to start the journal that has stared guiltily out at you these last few weeks, sulking in its pristine state. now you have time, empty wakeful hours of it, to be used at your will, free from distractions of work or routine. ordinarily great luxury. it’s time to put pen to paper.

much later you’re all there. all but one of you have your luggage and the one that hasn’t isn’t going to have to make do at all; it’s simply that he’s so taken by the huge supermarket conveyor belt that is the baggage reclaim that he just wants to see his case go round the once more. fair enough. you’re hardly a hardened traveller but have done enough of it to have lost a little of the wonder that things like this, hot meals at 35,000ft of altitude and quarter-mile-long moving walkways justly deserves. you hope you can hold onto these fresh eyes you’re now vicariously seeing this distant part of the world through. what a startling enough experience it is with the inevitable complacency adulthood seems to bring. you note how these young travelling companions are doing brilliantly – you’re pretty impressed, you have to admit.

Entering Hong Kong – by Alice November 1, 2007

For the first moments leaving the airport, it didn’t feel much different to Bristol. But then I glanced up to see a collosal sillohete of a mountain that formed the backdrop to even taller bulidings. The silk-like mist blanketed the harbour with the water reflecting the bulidings. This was not Bristol anymore.
Mission one-
Checking into the hotel.
We found our rooms in the Majestic hotel and spent a while playign around with the funny tea bags and working out how to use the shower. We then gathered in the biege corridor to enter the lift, then we found ourselves proceeding to the bar for a complementary drink.
Mission two-
Experiencing the entertainment at the bar.
The first few notes on the piano hit our ears as we entered the bar. You know what it’s like, two female singers and the man at the piano singing the familiar tunes with the man that always claps to the music and always at the wrong time. During the third song, we were asked to write down a word which summarises how we feel about the trip so far, mine was ‘fasinated’. Time for another mission I think.
Mission three-
Trying to find a place to eat.
The sound of rumbling stomachs was increasing so we went on a hunt for a place to eat. Bold neon Chinese lights are all that your see, as well as the towering bulidings and celebrity faces 40ft high. The rain (ironicly warm and dry rain) made puddles on the chewing gum free streets and created a rflection of the lights. The pelican crossings made the noise of a woodpecker and the lines on the road were double the size as they are in the UK (well there are more people), we crossed many of these roads to try and get to the resturant and this is the part that we start to get lost. The hunger was mounting but the patience was not as every resturant we foud on the fish smelling streets had no room for the nine of us and the only thing that filled our heads at this point was pizza. We finally came across a resturant and scoffed down our pizzas atfer waiting for 25 minutes. You may be wondering why we had pizza on our first night in China, well the answer is that us kids need to be lowered gently into the world of a different culture.

Blog soon,

Alice

AIRPORT – by Paige November 1, 2007

Thats it you cant turn back now your going to China. Two hours on the mini bus and we finaly arried at Heathrow!

Heathrow is massive  and nothing like my usual Bristol airport, it was really busy and every one was in such a rush.

 Whats wrong you know you have done nothing and not got anything your not suppossed to .That was all i was thinking when we were going through the security check.

Guess what the sensor went off and i was pulled aside and once given permission a lady checked me, as i thought i had nothing it must have been the buckle on my belt i guessed  with a sigh of relief .

Now the panic was over i was absolutley estatic, i mean i was goin to china and IF you were wouldnt you be?

PAIGE

First time in Guangzhou – by Dylan November 1, 2007

After everyone but Alice getting four to five hours of sleep because of the time difference, everyone was a bit sleepy going into the long train journey to Guangzhou. Though I, Dylan, was going crazy with the camera! Luke and me are the principal photographers on this trip, and the journey from one of Guangzhou’s train stations (after we arrived) to the White Swan Hotel brought around 500 photos between us, and it was only a twenty minute journey!

There are so many buildings in Guangzhou, including the highest building in Canton!

There are also many religious things to represent beliefs, like temples and Buddha’s statues. We arrived at the hotel and were amazed at the quality. It was astonishing! Shops, decorations, budgies in really big cages and even an indoor waterfall, with a pond at the bottom, with fish in! We are on the 25th floor out of 28, and the rooms and the view are truly breathtaking, simply phenomenal! And because of this we are having a pretty good time.

My first time flying – By Luke November 1, 2007

I have never flown before and going half way round the world is well great. as we took off the plane’s incredible speeds was a blast and if you look out the window the wings were very still as they were attached to the plane and that made the wings look like a toy airplane but bigger version i liked it a lot and can’t wait till we go on back on it. I would like to say hello to my familly friends back in the uk having great time got told not to show off on the blog too much we are going on the river at 8 i can not wait till then i have been on a boat before but that was a little time ago. I am enjoying myself very much and like the White Swan Hotel did i tell you it was 5 i said 5 stars hehe well got to go now getting pushed off the laptop we only have an hour at a time byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

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

UK and China sign e-learning deal September 24, 2007

BBC Article - source

UK education companies have been strengthening links with China An online education initiative between the UK and China is being launched – with plans to provide “e-learning” for 20 million Chinese students.The deal will see the UK’s LP+ group building a system for delivering online lessons in China. The firm’s chief executive, Mehool Sanghrajka, says it is a sign of the rapid globalisation of education and training. The education market is “no longer a cottage industry”, he says. The deal, signed at the Department for Children, Schools and Families on Monday, will see a partnership between the UK group and the Chinese media company, Sun Media. The online teaching materials will be aimed at pupils in 20 major Chinese cities. Globalisation LP+ will provide an online learning system for secondary school lessons in the Chinese language – with lessons accessible through an internet browser. The University of Nottingham has a campus in China The content, across a range of subjects, will be provided by the Chinese partners – with the first students using the materials in spring 2008. They will draw on the educational technology experience of Shireland Language College, in the west Midlands – with teachers from the college travelling to Beijing later this year to support Chinese schools. Education and training are increasingly being seen as an important export market – with a report last week claiming that it was earning more for the UK economy than financial services or the car industry. The report from the British Council claimed that education exports were worth £28bn, an increase of 39% in two years. China, with its growing demand for an educated workforce, is seen as a key market. Universities are already offering UK degree courses to Chinese students – including the University of Nottingham setting up a campus in Ningbo. An independent school, Dulwich College, has also opened a branch in China, with a school in Shanghai. And this latest project will see the UK’s experience of educational technology being introduced to Chinese secondary school pupils. “As a nation we recognise the growing importance of the Chinese economy and we need to start working and collaborating with counterparts there,” said Mr Sanghrajka. “Globalisation is now a fact in education,” said Mr Sanghrajka. And he says this will increasingly mean that best practice in one country will be applied elsewhere. “We are looking at a truly global education community connected in ways never before imagined,” said Doug Brown, head of the technology futures unit at the Department for Children Schools and Families.

Hopes and Fears September 18, 2007

In the last meeting we went through some of our hopes and fears.

I’ll start with the negative first;

 

Some FEARS (in no specific order)
Pollution
Food
Flying
Mosquitoes
Language barriers
Being home sick
Communication home
Organisational arrangments

Some HOPES (in no specific order)
Seeing the sights
Sharing the experiences
Making new friends abroad
The shops
Learning new things
Making meaningful connections
A safe return

 

 

In appropriate Zen Buddhist style, Amanda sagely said that hopefully everyone’s fears should be able to be managed or contained, (except the Mosquitoes if there are any).  If I am sat next to Amanda on the plane, I shall remind her of her very wise words.

Where are we so far? September 17, 2007

 

So to re-cap what we have done so far….(in a soap opera style!)

Episode one:
Behind the scenes Amanda and Lara plotted to organise the trip.  They head-hunted the young people to go on the trip based on their previous amazing achievments in various creative projects.  They then head-hunted some lucky “responsible” adults to accompany them on the trip based on our AMAZING involvement in previous projects.  (or so I would like to think, being one of those “responsible adults” myself!) 

Episode Two:
We had a meeting with the young people and their parents to discuss “what the trip was all about”.  The young people very professionaly introduced themselves and explained why they thought they had been picked to go on the trip. (they were impressively all correct!)  The responsible adults introduced themselves and ate all the biscuits.  All the parents looked at their diaries with a mixture of fearful trepidation and exciting anticipation.  Everybody was happy.  After the meeting, Amanda and Lara went behind the scenes and plotted some more.

 Episode Three:
The responsible adults met for an informal meeting to discuss the trip.  Lara announced she had been actually plotting much more than we had orginally planned, and sadly wouldn’t be able to go on the trip due to her GREAT NEWS. 

In a swift move reminiciant of the revolving door of the Sugababes line-up, Lovely Lara stepped down and Lovely Nic stepped in.  Welcome Nic!    

Episode Four:
Group meeting at the Arnolfini gallery.  The first group meeting without the parents.  We were all there, and the young people got to meet Nic and Bruce for the first time.  Everyone (including the adults) split into pairs and discussed their fears, hopes and expectations, etc, which we all filmed on video cameras and audio recorders.  Amanda showed some of the artefacts she brought back from her last trip, and screened some video work from some Guangzhou artists.  Everyone in the group is lovely and I am lucky to be travelling with them.  Will be a great trip.

It was in this meeting that I asked for a name for the project, to allow me to set up the blog.  Luke came up with the suggestion ”Project C”.  I liked that, and tried to adapt it to become “Project See”, as in looking. (See what I did there!)  But after some reflection I thought the word ‘project’ didn’t feel quite right, so I softend the sound of it to become ”Plan C” instead.  It still means the same thing.  Is that ok?  (I did confer with Amanda first!)  Luke, please forgive me! ;-) Thanks for the inspiration.

Setting up the blog September 17, 2007

The plan is for this blog to reflect the plans, hopes, fears and experiences of a group of 5 young people and 4 adults visiting Guangzhou, China for a research trip in October 2007, from Bristol, UK.

We hope you enjoy reading the stuff we write on the physical and emotional journeys we will be taking.  Only one of us (one of the adults) has been to China before.  A couple of the young people have never been on a plane before.  We are all excited and nervous and looking forward to the new experiences ahead. 

As a group we don’t really know each other that well so part of our planning will be getting to know one another. 

We hope you enjoy the blog.  

Welcome to the Plan C blog! September 17, 2007

There will be something interesting here soon, I promise.