More, Nov. 6th.

I will try to describe the 7 Crags here. They are right in the heart of Zhaoqing city and are surrounded by Star Lake. A couple of the best meals I had in China were at the Star Lake Hotel in the restaurant that revolves as you eat. The views from the 27th. floor are stunning. Jeff and I went there on Saturday just before I left. He told me that the lake is man-made, dug in about 1956-1959 by 200,000 people. It is a public park, lots of feng shui going on with the crooked 9 stage bridges and nice buildings nestled in between the mountains and the lake.
I will close this narrative section and try to get some pictures up on the next post, no promises. Thanks. Frank

Trying again!

Sorry, the computer in VT is not cooperating, I am trying again to post pictures.

I am trying to post pictures but nothing is happening, so will have to provide verbal only descriptions. The peacock at the left was one of about 5 in the garden at the back of the campus. He only spoke Chinese, so there was no communication, only that "stare" as you can see.

Next, as I lie recovering from a busy hot day in Zhaoqing in my apartment, the drums started calling all to view the dragon dances up in front of the stadium on campus. A dragon is an imaginary god of power in China, and also the symbol for the emperor. The phoenix bird is the symbol for the emperess. They were quite impressive as they practiced throwing each other into the air to give life to the dragons.

Back in Vermont!

Well, here it is, November and I am back at home in Vermont. The trip home was quite long but it was great to return to Boston and meet Maryal in Braintree after approximately 24 hours on the road. In China, I made some awesome friends and of course we all want to stay in touch. Especially caring were James from upstairs, who is from Hyde Park, MA, the town next to where I grew up in Dedham. He took me under his wing and introduced me to all the happenings around the campus. Thanks, James. Next, Jeff, who is Chinese and whose name in Chinese is Fu De Ming (foo du meeng) was my interpreter, but also tour guide and the one who looked out for me off campus. What a guy (although he did say I was too big for his motorbike and that he noticed the tires on the taxis went down when I got into them). He just made the Chinese experience so real and caring. He is a great ambassador for the Chinese, a person of great character, dependability and in many gentle ways showed me the "real" China. For example, the last meal I had with him, before our motorized rickshaw ride to his apartment to play ping pong, there seemed to be a "whacking" sound from nearby. As I turned, I witnessed the demise of several frogs as a woman was purchasing them from the very restaurant where we were eating our duck, fresh water snails, garlic cloves, broccoli and coconut milk dishes. I had to look away, and that is when Jeff stated I was seeing the real China with him. I almost laughed, but then we turned to other kinds of animal happenings which I can't mention here. (Jeff and I are pictured above as we finished our Cantonese breakfast in the Dynasty Hotel and later examined a great god statue in the lobby.)

The last few days we visited Ding Hu mountain. A "ding" is a large bronze pot a wealthy person would cook in, or simply a large family. It is said to feed a thousand people. They have been unearthed from all over China. At the top of Ding Hu mountain is "Ding Park" where a number of dings are exhibited. The largest, about 15 feet tall is used as a good luck target as people try to throw some kind of red ball & ribbon inside, it is supposed to bring good luck.

About half way up the mountain is a great Buddhist temple. As I stood waiting for Jeff to snap my picture in front of this awesome wall of dragon carved in stone, three young men ran up to me and wanted to have their pictures taken with me. They were very nice and excited seemingly to be next to this old "giant" of a mei guo ren (American). It was fun and I have a nice memory of it all.

October 24th already!

Hello,
I am again at the Nokia store in Zhaoqing, the only place in the last 14 days that I've found that will open this blog. It has been extremely frustrating to say the least. I cannot view what I am writing, so just trust that it will be posted.
Here goes...China has been so much fun. The university housing where I live has some really nice people. The "canteen" food is ok, and not too expensive. For lunch today, I had nice greens in a light sauce, lots of rice, tofu in a great sauce and soy milk to drink..all for about sixty cents US. Never thought I'd like soy milk so much,but it really is good.
Events: met Fr. John Wotherspoon last Sunday and went to Mass at his church, a most charming one in Zhaoqing. He's been here 6 years and works very hard between his teaching position at the Canadian American School and his street duties as well as running the Matteo Ricci Ctr. which acts as an outreach to the poor. I believe a number of students from his well to do school come and do neat things with the poor folks. Also he runs lots of English corners and is known for his "one minute English" phrase which I believe he coined. He, Claire from So. Africa and I visited a mental hosp. and took one of the patients he sponsors there for a walk. It was great fun and she responded well. Claire, Fr. John and I went to a Muslim restaurant and had some deliciously flavored shoe leather (beef) dishes, the soup was great and the place was clean and very reasonable.
Have been back and forth to the school for the deaf. We are attempting to obtain amplification and testing equipment for this very needy school. As beautiful as the campus is, I am told that it does not have much money, so the students do not have amplication, nor does the staff have testing equipment and maintenance equipment to keep the aids performing well. Siemens Co. has offered some help and I am being the liason for that.
Yesterday was the BEST day. My interpreter, Fu de Ming aka JEFF, and I spent the day together: a.m. meeting with the principal, then off for breakfast, pick up pastries in a local store as well as chestnut candy from a street vendor, then onto a "boneshaker" type bus to go to DING HU mountain. A DING is a large cooking vessel that wealthy families would have in ancient times during the bronze age, also known as the Zhou and Shang dynasties, circa 5000 BC to 1000 BC. When I say large, a ding is about four feet tall and 3 feet wide and could cook enough for 1,000 people I am told. Ding Hu Mountain has the most beautiful Buddhist temple, c. 1633; the climb to it as well as the paths along rushing streams was just breathtaking. The swimming hole at the top, just below about a 200' drop waterfall is where Sun Yat Sen, the leader who dethroned little Pu Yi in 1911 liked to swim. I was so hot Jeff had all he could do to hold me back. Climbed some more and passed two hundred year old "strangler" trees as they send out parasitic roots that strangle anything in their way, thus, the age I guess.
On to the very top, past Sky Lake with its butterfly museum and exhibit on a small island in the middle of Sky Lake and then on to the "ding" park where there were many reproduction type dings that showed what they were like and the periods they were from as well as when they were unearthed and where the originals are (in museums all over China). There was one I must have seen last year in the Shanghai Museum on the trip sponsored by the Freeman Foundation.
After Ding Hu Mtn. Jeff and I headed for his office at the Open Campus college where he works; we went for a meal in a great reasonably priced restaurant, the bill came to about $ 4.00 US for both of us. And then, because we were so sore and weary, we headed for the massage parlor for a wonderful steam sauna and full body massage. It was about $6.00 US each for everything including tea and bananas as a repast between sauna and massage and after massage. We then strolled around Star Lake Park and viewed that beautiful lake in the middle of Zhaoqing. I could see the outline of the Seven Crags on the opposite shore. Saturday, Jeff and I will climb them. As we crossed the park where senior citizens were dancing to the oldies, I saw a big Pabst beer can advertisement and informed Jeff that the Pabst family lives in the next town to me in VT--- Manchester, VT. He was very impressed.
For the rest of the week: Dinner out with Jeff and his family Thursday evening, the climb of Seven Crags on Saturday ,and then off to Hong Kong on Sunday to stay over one night and take the plane Monday to Boston via Los Angeles.
I will sign off here as I am in a Nokia Store using their computer and have been here for about an hour, so Zie Jien, good bye for now. I am off to the "night market" across the street to pick up some postcards and souvenirs. You all take care and drop me a post if you have chance. Thanks! Frank

Well, Could not view it, but...

Hello everyone.
It is now October 18th I believe. Have been in Zhaoqing staying at the university there since Oct. 9th. and have greatly enjoyed meeting the staff and working at the school for the deaf here. The staff is very warm and welcoming. Jeff, my interpreter is top notch and has done a fantastic job. I was very concerned that the content of my presentations would not translate. The staff seems genuinely interested in all things "American deaf education" that I present. Have done three 2 hour presentations and will do the fourth tomorrow, Thursday. Each one takes a lot of preparation. Yesterday, got invited to present at a preschool here servicing mentally challenged deaf and deaf preschool children. That will be next Tuesday.
Time has gone quickly. The University is just beautiful, a true oasis from the hub bub of the city. It slopes down a nice mountain gradually and has so many neat areas to explore. Right behind my building is the most beautiful tropical garden with LOTS of feng shui going on: crooked paths, water elements, cages of exotic birds (peacocks, guinea hens, etc.); fish ponds. Hugh warned me that there IS a dog in there so be careful.
Between presentations I've walked a great deal and swim daily in the olympic size pool. They think it is chilly here, but being from VT it is BALMY, kind of like a Florida environment. Have seen lizards and hear lots of crickets in the trees---good luck for the Chinese, crickets.
Just came from a true Cantonese breakfast with my interpreter, Jeff. He met me at the hotel downtown and it was just great: "porridge" as he called it, kind of like grits with bits of corn and chicken floating in it, lots of bean paste filled buns, some with sesame seeds (he gave me a package of them to take home), noodles with dim sum --- dumplings and greens. So glad my mother taught me to like vegetables! We chatted up a storm comparing American / European culture with Chinese culture and he educated me about some of the local customs. For example, when you re-fill a friend's teacup, the friend taps two fingers to indicate "thank you from me and my family". It is a way to honor his family and the moment of my doing him a favor. We launched on Christian and Buddhist religious beliefs. I shared from the Catholic tradition of Old Testament vs. New and the beliefs about Jesus' coming 2,000 years ago and his future return to Earth. He is bright and articulate and surprisingly knows a lot about Western culture---a pure delight to have as a new friend in China.
To answer Mary Cummings' and the students' neat questions: I have not interacted much with the students from the school. However, I have observed a few things. The school does not have enough money for hearing aids so many students do not have hearing aids. I will visit the library tomorrow to see how their stock of neat books is. I believe they don't have too many; I tried to emphasize in my presentations how important it is for children to experience great books. I think the students in RI are very very lucky to have the great books they do have. They do not eat on the floor like in Japan but they do use chopsticks. However, I have observed that some things, like Jell-o cannot be eaten with chopsticks! One hope one's rice is sticky rice as it makes it easier to get on to the chopstick. There is a certain etiquette about chopsticks, too...rules for their use. Do not point them at people, do not stir your tea with them, do not drag things across the table with them, do not cross them, when not in use, point straight in towards the table; if placed east to west on your plate it is to honor and remember ancestors.
I must end here. A student will soon bring me to an internet cafe where I may be able to upload some pictures. For now you will have to use your imagination a bit about China. I've tried to describe experiences here a bit for you. Goodbye for now. Frank Redmond

Finally!

Hello! Finally able to get on to the blog as found a kind Nokia dealership in downtown Zhaoqing who is letting me use its computer. I hope this goes through. I will just post this little one before launching on to a larger one. Its a long story why I've been unable to post. Here goes... Frank