Happy in Hefei

The last time I was in Hefei 7 years ago is kind of a blur -- of course I remember March 10 - the day I adopted Julia and I remember the little milestones of becoming her mother those first few days, but my memories of the city are not clear.

These few days in Hefei were wonderful, marked first of all by glorious weather and then seeing it all again though Julia's eyes. We were both excited to be finally in her province, Anhui.

We arrived quite late Monday night at the Holiday Inn, not the Novotel that I stayed in last time. It wasn't until the morning on our way to the elementary school that I could see what changes had come to Hefei in the last 7 years. I don't remember that the population is close to 5 million -- I thought of it being only about the size of London, Ontario. And I was shocked to see all the rebuilding and refurbishing that was going on.

But there were somethings that still were so clear -- the river that wound through the city and Lord Bao's park.

Here is the view from our hotel room

The picture will be added when it is received...check back later!

We were off on Tuesday morning to visit an elementary school. They've just come back last week from a 45 day break over Chinese New Year and will be in school now until July 15 when they have a second 45 day break. We were to join the school for morning excercises and then observe a Gr. 5 class. We received a warm welcome from both staff and students.

Then it was time to hit the books -- we watched a language and comprehension class. The students were reading a story on Helen Keller. There was the opportunity to learn new Chinese characters and vocabulary.

I was impressed by the teacher's control of the kids and the discipline the kids have to at least look like they were paying attention.

We visited a preschool 7 years ago - that would have been the age of some of these kids back then, so it was wonderful to see them grown up to Gr. 5 now. Such happy fresh faces. Next time we come back -- and we all are saying in 5 years' time -- those kids will be in secondary school so we'll just have to visit them there.

There is such excitement and promise in their faces. All is possible when you are 10 and 11.

When we introduced ourselves I told the class that I was a teaher and that whenever I meet my new classes, I always check to see who is left handed. So I posed the questions to this class of 52 Gr. 5s -- and they laughed. There should have been between 3-5 lefties in this class statistically. But no one was coming forth, until a young man named Jack said he used his left hand to use chopsticks.

Here he is demonstrating

When I went to take his picture, Jack told me that he would like to give me a poem. You can see it on his desk in his notebook. Marui our guide told me it is a traditional poem all Chinese kids learn by heart to recite when they are young and later in school to help them writing with their Chinese characters. I've since found a translation of it and have been moved by its significance and beauty.

The poem is Jing Ye Si which translated is Quiet Night Thoughts by Li Bai, one of China's top three ancient poets. Here is the translation:

Before my bed

There is bright-lit moonlight

So that it seems

Like frost on the ground:

Lifting my head

I watch the bright moon

Lowering my head

I dream that I'm home.

In Chinese culture the moon, especially the full autumn moon, very often symbolises family reunion and celebration. Julia and I have always celebrated Autumn Moon with making moon cakes and reading the stories from Chinese mythology about the moon godess, Chang O.In the adoptive community, the moon is very important when we think of Julia's birth family far away. Jack will never know how precious his gift to me is. I feel like I have experienced more Chinese culture having met him.

I was impressed by the teacher's control of the kids and the discipline the kids have to at least look like they were paying attention.

Here I am with equivelent of a principal and VP. It was a great visit.