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What a good time we had at the RI School for the Deaf on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Frank and his wife, Maryal, visited the school and gave a CHINA presentation in the library to all of the middle school students and four very inquisitive high school students. Many of the teachers also attended. The students were very attentive and had lots of great questions to ask. Frank noticed that many of the students seemed to know information about China as they are studying about it at present. He presented an overview of China through some intersting pictures on Powerpoint; his journal, which was kept on both trips to China in 2006 and 2007; lots of artifacts from those trips were demonstrated and explained; slides of the Zhaoqing School for the Deaf students were shown and the students seemed to really like that! Frank would hope that some kind of written or pictorial exchange between the two schools could happen one day. The students were very curious and receptive.
In the afternoon, besides learning and sharing many concepts about China (Great Wall, Terra Cotta soldiers, Oracle Bones, 6,000 years of Dynasties, etc. ), some students had a lot of fun learning chopstick etiquette as well as actually using chopsticks. It was the first time for some of the students ever to use them! Frank put ten "goldfish" crackers in a container. After the students practiced a couple of times, we had a competition to see who could best handle the chopsticks and actually get the ten crackers into their mouths. It was fun. The students could keep their chopsticks to take home with them.
Much thanks goes to MRS. MARY CUMMINGS, the librarian, as well as the very supportive staff. We were able to renew old frienships with the teachers and former students. It seemed just like yesterday since Frank had been teaching there himself. The library is such a great room and very conducive to learning. We thank all the staff and students for their cooperation and enthusiasm for learning about China, its people and culture. There was so much more information to be shared but time did not allow. Perhaps we could have another couple of sessions in the fall one day.
Thank you all again! Frank and Maryal Redmond
