Our Trip to China THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

We were unbelievably excited to board our plane in Chicago and arrive in CHINA!

FLIGHT: CHICAGO ------> BEIJING, CHINA Our flight from Chicago to Beijing China was a direct 13 hour flight. Although we knew the flight would be very long, we could not wait to board our plane and start making our way to China!!

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [1] Our Trip to China THE

This complex was used by green, red, and yellow, and had the Emperors of the Ming and a plethora of marble and gold Quing dynasties for annual leafs. After looking at these ceremonies of prayer for good buildings it was obvious that we harvest. The architecture of the were no longer in America. temple was absolutely amazing and very interesting. Most of the -by Cory Bolotsky areas had two walls; a square outer wall and a round inner wall. This represents that the ancient Taoists believed the world was The Temple of square and covered by the round Heaven is one of the heavens. A constant theme in all most well known and of our sights was the Dragon and famous temples in the Phoenix which are signs of China. luck in China. In words I cannot truly explain, there was a beauty in all of the buildings we visited. They were all filled with blue,

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [2] Our Trip to China Tai Chi On our first day touring in China, we had the distinct pleasure of practicing tai chi with one of the TAI CHI great masters. What a great way to stay in shape and enjoy the outdoors. It was fun practicing in the park.

Photo by Cory Key PRACTICING TAI CHI IN THE PARK There were hundreds of people throughout all of the parks in Beijing that practiced Tai Chi on a daily basis. This form of exercise originated in China over 300 years ago.

Today was an absolutely watch us. Everyone in China is amazing day! We started the so friendly. Everyone here is so day off with Tai Chi. Tai Chi is excited to see Americans ... it is a form of martial arts where great. you are in complete control. It - by Kim Genero looks so easy when the masters do it but it is not so easy to do! So many local people gathered around to

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [3] Our Trip to China TIANAMEN SQUARE

A photo of Mao, the Founder of the Chinese Communist Party

Photo by Cory Key ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SITES IN BEIJING Tianamen Square is the largest city square in the world and has been the site of many events.

After the Temple of Heaven we destination for a delicious lunch got back on our buses and arrived at feast. Tiananmen Square. This square is the - by Cory Bolotsky largest open public square in the world and serves as the entrance to General consensus of everyone the Imperial City and the Forbidden on our trip is that our Asian hosts City. Our group walked around actually seem GLAD to see us! Tianamen Square and we were There literally has not been one amazed by the size of this center. As single place we've visited that we exited the square and entered the someone didn't ask to take a picture area we passed a of us or with us. The students think huge (probably 40 foot tall) photo of this is the coolest thing- they feel Mao, the founder of the Chinese like rock stars (us grown ups don't Communist Party. We passed through mind so much either!) the remarkable buildings that are 600 years old and arrived at our - by Heather Sullivan

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [4] Our Trip to China THE FORBIDDEN CITY

The Forbidden City contained several entrances, and many of them looked similar.

The Forbidden City was definitely not forbidden anymore... there were thousands of people touring the historical buildings.

On our first day in Beijing, we embarked on a 3 hour tour of the absolutely breath-taking Forbidden City. The City is absolutely huge. It covers about 7.8 million square feet and comprises of 9,999 rooms because the Emperor's favorite number was nine. This metropolis took a million people almost 15 years to construct and their hard work is surely visible. I'm not going to try to describe to you the grandeur of this palace because words cannot at all do it justice.

- by Cory Bolotsky

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [5] Our Trip to China PING PONG

Photo taken by Cory Key

“We went to a school today and played table (it seemed like she could barely Ping Pong with some younger kids. I see over it) and hit ball after ball over walked in thinking that this was going the net with so much force. I couldn't to simple. Boy was I wrong. Very very help but stand back in awe. Oh Boy. wrong! These kids were amazing! So We continued playing and the kids talented and so skilled. They were sweethearts. It was SO much completely shattered all of my self- fun, and if I could do it over again I esteem in the Ping Pong department, would in a heartbeat. Lack of Ping but that's okay, I had fun while they did Pong Skill and all!” it! After we played for a couple of – by Maha Ezalarab minutes the Ping Pong Master stopped us for a demonstration. He brought up some kids and he showed us how it was done. Out of nowhere this little

girl in a yellow t-shirt came up to the Photo taken by Rita Mortenson

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [6] Our Trip to China “I felt as if I were in an airplane looking down BEIJING URBAN at Beijing. The detail of this masterpiece was outstanding and was made in only six months by a team of 200 PLANNING CENTER people.” - Cory

A MINIATURE SCALE OF THE CITY OF BEIJING The second we entered this museum I was in shock over how awesome it was. It was like no museum I have ever seen before in my life. The first thing we saw as we went on the escalators was a 50 foot tall scaled model of Beijing made out of bronze. It was absolutely incredible to see the entire city layed out in front of us. - Cory

Today was quite an interesting bird's nest, water cube, and the day. We started of with the Urban performing arts building. This Planning Center. This was probably opened my eyes to the true beauty of the coolest museum I have ever been Beijing. They also had a huge model to. From the outside it looked like a of Beijing, where the buildings were normal building, as if it weren't less then a foot high. You could see special. But as we walked onto the the whole city. We also watched an escalators, you saw the beauty of the interesting movie on how the city of interior. It was one of the most Beijing was created. modern places I have ever been to. - by Drew Regino The whole museum was based on the architecture of Beijing. My “Today was great and so interesting. We went to the Urban Planning favorite part of the tour was the Center and I was so surprised and so amazed at the models of Beijing and to see how much we had walked the day before by looking at the murals of the buildings. Included in models of the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.” Caitlyn Silk the Urban Planning Center was the

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [7] Our Trip to China THE HUTONGS

“WE FELT LIKE WE WERE IN A PARADE” In Beijing, Hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan courtyard residences. The word Hutong is used to refer to these neighborhoods.

“Today we visited smaller the streets. The rickshaw driver towns and shopped, toured driving Emilie and I was crazy! through a local home, and As we drove through the learned how to write in narrow streets many people calligraphy. It was incredible. stopped and waved or tried to After our calligraphy lesson speak English to us! We felt like with a brilliant artist, we walked we were in a parade. I have out of his house and saw a line been very surprised by how of rickshaws (a carriage many people here have not attached to a bicycle). There seen caucasian people before. are about 20 people in our When we visited the touristy Discovery Travel group so many areas many people would come rickshaws were lined up down up and ask to take pictures the street! We all climbed in with us!” Photos by Becca Taylor and Adam Controy rickshaws and raced through - by Melissa Seymour

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [8] Our Trip to China

“Mammoth sized fruits and vegetables seemed to stick out FOOD from no where.”

“The hot pots reminded me of meat fondue pots. Colorfully decorated copper pots were placed in front of each guest and a broth was brought to a boil. We were served platefuls of raw lamb, meat, vegetables, and mushrooms.” - by Adam Controy Lets just say were chop stick masters now!

The second question many of us watery soup as well. Another received after “how was China?” favorite by everybody was the is “how was the food.” While rice. Rice was often our savor the food was definitely not when we could not manage to American, we all grew to enjoy eat anything else put before us. it and even looked forward to The craziest thing we ate by far certain dishes. The typical meal was fried scorpions at our final was huge compared to here. duck dinner, which was also the They would load us a whole best meal we had by far. lazy Susan filled with food, McDonald’s often saved us and which we got to choose from. gave us the salt and sweetness The typical meal included many we needed, seeing as neither of Students rejoice after finally beef, pork, chicken dishes. these are popular flavors in finding American peanut butter in a Chinese super market! There was almost always . vegetables, and warm, very - by Emilie Homan

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [9] Our Trip to China CALLIGRAPHY

Photo taken by Cory Key

The DSA group was fortunate enough to this” was a common thought in the room. get a private, hands on lesson from an One stroke, two strokes, three strokes expert Calligraphy artist on the history WAIT WAIT WAIT I forgot to connect and technique of Calligraphy. He them. Take two? This process went on for explained the supplies, how to use the a couple of minutes. Maybe calligraphy tools and the meaning of the works of art just wasn’t my calling? However, I had he had hanging around his home. I’d no problem watching the expert in front never seen anybody use a brush the way of us write Chinese characters over and that this elderly man had. He used such over again. There was something precise strokes and used just the right incredible beautiful about calligraphy. I After our amount of black ink. “ oh boy” we said wasn’t expecting to be so captured by it. Calligraphy lesson under our breath. This was going to be It was another awesome experience that we got to take a Rickshaw ride. harder than we thought. We all picked up DSA gave us! our brushes and got to work. The room was filled with determination. “I’m doing - by Maha Ezalarab

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [10] Our Trip to China THE SILK MUSEUM

Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China!

Photos taken by Cory Key VISITING THE SILK MUSEUM AND MORE

After a very interesting tour of the silk museum, we had an opportunity to purchase a few items. The silk store had beautiful silk scarfs, ties, shirts and more - oh lots more!

Hands on Experience. Students have an opportunity to work with the silk at the museum.

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [11] Our Trip to China COOKING WITH A FAMOUS CHEF

We were able to cook in chef outfits, aprons, and chef hats! We even got to keep OUR COOKING LESSON WITH A FAMOUS CHEF everything! IN BEIJING... “Hello! surprisingly easy to make. I think This is the most incredible that the home made ravioli we experience that I have ever had. make every year for Christmas Yesterday for example, we were definitely helped!! able to go and buy fruits and food After making dumplings, we at a local market. I had never helped slice chicken and watched even heard of or seen half of the one of the chefs flip hot spicy food there. It was so cool!! After chicken in a pan! It was purchasing the foods we went to awesome. We were also dressed a really exotic and fancy in chef outfits, aprons, and chef restaurant in Beijing. The chef at hats from the chef! He signed the restaurant has won tons of them and let us keep it all! What awards and medals. He is a very a morning. I can't wait to see big deal in China. He is even what is in store for us for the rest frequently on television! Meeting of the day!!!!” him was awesome but to top the morning off we got a private - by Melissa Seymour cooking lesson with him! We made dumplings which were

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [12] Our Trip to China BIRD’S NEST

Here Discovery students are running through the water show in front of the Bird’s THE STADIUM OF DREAMS Nest! “An experience I will surely never forget!”

“Today we went to the Bird's Nest where the most incredible experiences I have had so the 2008 Summer Olympics took place. Even far on the trip.” walking up to this place seemed so surreal. The - by Emilie Homan pictures and TV footage that I have seen of this place really does not do it justice. From the first Yesterday we went to the Birds Nest and it site of the structure you are amazed by the was incredible! I'm a huge sports fan and my massive size and the incredible shape and family watched the 2008 Summer Olympics appearance. As we approached the actual gate, almost religiously. So visiting the Birds nest was we all tried to imagine how this looked one year kind of a HUGE deal. ago today. It is amazing to think that this was Day after day we would pass the Nest en the place where people from around the world route to our hotel, so finally being able to come came to watch the olympic games. within a 5 mile diameter was amazing. But wait, Going into the building we heard music it gets better, we WENT INSIDE. On the very playing to a video montage of all of the greatest track that many world records were set and The Bird’s Nest was the host of the 2008 Beijing athletic accomplishments that had happened broken. Now that's a big deal. It's one thing to Summer Olympics. The stadium cost 3.5 billion just last August. We were able to walk down and watch something on TV, but to actually be there yuan, that’s 500.7 million dollars! The Bird’s even touch the track. We all felt inspired by all of is something completely different. It's an Nest seats 91,000 people and occupies 258,000 the music that played. It was probably one of experience that I will surely never forget! square meters! - by Maha Ezalarab

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [13] Our Trip to China WATER CUBE

Photos by Cory Key THE FINEST SWIMMING FACILITY IN THE WORLD

“The water cube was especially amazing because I am on the swim and water polo team. I felt a strong connection to the pool. I felt proud to stand where world records were broken.” - by Daniel Olson “We had the opportunity today to visit the Water Cube National Natatorium. When we walked from the Bird's Nest to the Cube we ran and danced through a stretch of water fountain sprinklers that were set to music. Personally, the Cube has been my favorite part of the trip because I watched the swimming events with my swim team back home in Wisconsin. When walking into the pool, I was shocked that this was the place where some of the greatest swimming has Everything about being in the pool area just made me ever taken place. I was thinking about where Michael Phelps think back to all of the events I saw on TV...from the Fly to the swam, and where his mom was sitting in the stands on TV. It 4X 100 men's relay...I think we can all remember that right?! was awesome! The pool area was decorated with a fairy tale This has really been the best day for me so far on the trip, and castle along the water with a boat floating in lane one and I can't believe we are only in our first week of two! I wonder shrubbery all along the blocks. what we have in store next!” - by Emilie Homan

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [14] Our Trip to China CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART

CALLED THE 798 ART DISTRICT OR FACTORY 798 . . . among 50-year old decommissioned military factory buildings of unique architectural style. It is often compared with New York's Greenwich Village or SoHo.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when freedom that I wasn’t expecting to I was told we would tour the see in China. contemporary art museum, 798. Who It was nice to be in place that felt I loved the 798 Contemporary Art District. names an art museum 798? I quickly like home. We took a casual walk There was so much interesting learned that 798 is not just a number. through the shops and galleries of art and the shops and It is a symbol. In Beijing it means art, 798. Time stood still as money was restaurants were really neat! It was a lot of fun! vanguards, unchained personalities, exchanged for souvenirs and the -Rita A. Mortenson and alternative life goals. I found sweet sounds of cicadas and Guns myself making personal connections and Roses echoed in the to my childhood and Greenwich background. We closed out the Village, NY when I would visit my afternoon with some good old uncle during summer break. Today I western style paninis and french 798 Art District The Dashanzi factory complex witnessed an explosion of culture, an fries. It was the perfect way to end was vacated at around the time outpour of expression and a sense of the day! when most of Beijing's - by Adam Controy contemporary artist community was looking for a new home.

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [15] Our Trip to China BLOGGING & TWEETING Discovery Students and their teachers were generally busy blogging each night about the daysʼ activities! “After a lot of work trying to get a solid internet connection from our hotels we have finally been able to upload photos. It's been a mad dash with the students to get their photos and ours up. Check them out by visiting http:// picasaweb.google.com/ photos.DSA

The students have been working hard to document every activity using Twitter and their blogs. They're super-excited to share everything we're learning and experiencing.” Visit our Blog at www.dsachina.blogspot.com ! - by Brett Harvey Throughout this amazing journey additional information because we in China, we have been excited to still have a whole week left on our share our experiences with the phenomenal journey! world. It is really exciting to see how - by Rita A. Mortenson interested and enthusiastic the students are about blogging, sending out tweets and uploading photos to Picasa for the world to see. We are learning as we go, and it really has been a lot of fun giving the world an inside glimpse as to the incredible things we are seeing and doing. I feel like we are Discovery Student Adventurers by day and bloggers by night! I hope you keep coming back to our blog for

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [16] Our Trip to China DRAGON BOATS

“Our group split up into two smaller teams and raced on dragon boats. I was surprised to find out that there was an art to this kind of racing. It takes practice to get a group of people and row at the same time. One person had to take charge and yell to the rest of the group when to go forward and back. I didn't really notice the nature when we were racing on the lake but when we had lunch it was incredible. The lush green surrounding really caught my attention.” Photos taken by Cory Key - by Daniel Olson

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [17] Our Trip to China MONGOLIAN VILLAGE

“Everything, down to the bowls of rice, and up to the Great Wall was infused with the warmth of the A WELCOMING PERFORMANCE country.” - Katie The evening before we climbed the , we camped near this Mongolian Village! They greeted us with big smiles, open arms and a beautiful dance performance.

“This experience, this two week experience everyone there, in these small islands, and you that seemed more like two months, is now apart of wanted to be found. At the dinners, you wanted to what makes me, me. The people I met there, the let everyone know you were there, having the time absolute beauty of their history, of their diverse of your life, and you wanted them to join in. Wanted culture, and the impossibility of past tradition to let the whole village in, let them know their clashing and coinciding with modern capitalism, kindness and hospitality was the reason you were created a country I know I will return to. Everything, laughing so hard tears were streaming down your down to the bowls of rice, and up to the Great Wall face. You became apart of that village and apart of was infused with the warmth of the country. There the life there as much as you became a part of the were always smiles, always laughs from the waiters, city, as much as you yearned to get lost in that city. store venders, and random curious people on the It was all so addicting, intoxicating, and wonderfully street, as we spoke the few phrases we knew ' I like open to us. It’s actually scary how attached we got girls' being one of our favorite. And the people, you within just two weeks of visiting those place - that could get lost in the people. But always in a good country. So many opened up their homes to us, and way. You WANTED to let yourself go, let the crowd in turn, without thinking, we let ourselves mold into take you, let the city mix you up with everyone else. everything layed before us, and in turn opened Yet then you had the country, and the second you ourselves up to the people, the culture, the country walked into one of the villages, you immediately felt and city.” yourself find a niche with the people. You could find - by Katie Martin

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [18] Our Trip to China CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

“This experience has opened up a whole new world to me.”

EXPLORING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO NATIONS

We all knew traveling to China the only English speakers would be a true submergence around. into a new culture. We had no idea how truly different it would Many Chinese tend to not smile be. We all were told numerous in photos. However, they are times how “everybody in China extremely friendly. Many of us speaks English.” This is loved nothing more than saying definitely NOT true. The hello and waving at people. The experience of total immersion in Chinese people are very a foreign culture with people friendly in responding. It just who spoke a different language goes to show that no matter was shocking. Unlike say where you are in the world English and Spanish, which everybody understands a Even the text alone shows how share cognitives, Chinese and friendly smile and a kind wave. different and diverse our two cultures are. English share no similar words. Never before have we been in an - by Becca Taylor experience where often we were

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [19] Our Trip to China THE GREAT WALL

“We were climbing, sliding, and some were even falling. It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.”

ONE OF THE GREAT WONDERS OF THE WORLD The Great Wall stretches across the mountains of northern China, winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth. It is over 5,000 km long.

The Great Wall is easily one of the After completing the hike one experiences that made this trip, a traveler said, “I feel like I can do trip of a lifetime. We woke up early anything.” after camping right by the great wall. We got an early start to our We were met at the end of the hike, which continued for five hike that stated “one is not a hero hours. This hike was by far one of till they have climbed the great the most physically and mentally wall”-Mao. We all gathered draining experiences of my life. around and took a photo. There is We hiked huge hills, climbed up a a reason this is considered one of section of the wall, and more the seven wonders of the world. importantly never gave up. The We all feel lucky to have gotten Verona Area High School students views we witnessed from the top of the chance to hike and experience pose on top of the great wall in the wall were what you see in one of the greatest wonders – The the middle of their epic magazines, but never believe you Great Wall of China. adventure. will see for yourself. - by Becca Taylor

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [20] Our Trip to China THE

Photos by Adam Controy A RETREAT FOR THE EMPEROR The Chengde Summer Palace, also called “Hot River Palace” is north of Chengde. This is where emperors from the spent their summers to relax away from Beijing.

It was built outside of Beijing for the lighter. I got to play it and I had a blast. It’s emperors to handle political issues. The similar to the drums except there are more scenery at this magical place was really variations of sounds to make. The overall amazing. A river flowed through the resort performance was really great and I liked it and the atmosphere was welcoming. When a lot. We learned that the performers came we got there we enjoyed a band playing for in every weekend as volunteers and played us. They had ancient instruments that were for the tourists. I like this sense of extremely unique. I had never seen them camaraderie between the Chinese and the before. After the four season songs, we foreigners. had a chance to view the instruments. As the performance finished, we There was one that really caught my eye. It walked through the summer mountain was like a mixture of a piano and drum set. resort. We had many "shopportunities" as There was a board with strings all along it we walked through the resort. The amazing and there were two light sticks. When you thing about the resort was the amount of hit the strings, it would make a beautiful deer freely roaming around. sound that was like a guitar but much - by Daniel Olson

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [21] Our Trip to China PAPER CUTTING

The intricate paper designs are all cut very carefully by hand with scissors.

THE PAPER CUTTING EXPERIENCE... We visited a family business that has been cutting paper designs for many generations. “The women are usually the paper cutters because they are much more patient and careful,” said the owner of the shop.

Today we were fortunate are much more patient then the enough to go to a beautiful men. Nice! paper art gallery run by a large We watched one woman cut a family in Chengde. The pretty butterfly and she gallery displayed hundreds of showed us a few of her past intricately cut paper designs. designs. The were unreal. She Some were very bright let us try cutting easy little colored and some solid...and butterflies and even those were some more mature designs... difficult. I bought three paper but all were absolutely designs from the gallery and I gorgeous. can't wait to show everyone at home how beautiful they are! We learned that the women of the families usually take part - by Melissa Seymour in paper cutting because they

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [22] Our Trip to China OVERNIGHT TRAIN

“I'm so happy to be experiencing everything and the over night train last night was a lot of fun and involved a lot of bonding between the girls. I'm so grateful to be on this trip and get the opportunity to “9:00 we walked into the Beijing train station. noticed the blurred city lights of China. It was meet everyone. At If I could think of a word greater than madness crazy. My first train ride would be my most first I was I would... memorable. Before I knew it my lids were expecting the There were people everywhere. Packed bags. heavy and I reached to the top bunk to make overnight train to Children everywhere. It was the definition of myself comfortable. "It won't be comfy" I was be like the one I took in France ... crowded. As we boarded the train I was told over and over. I laid down and the next The beds were worried about the sleeping arrangements. thing that I remember is waking up in the morning to a knocking on our cabin door. I comfortable and "Maha, Becca, Kim and Cait." I was super the room was was out like a light bulb. The train experience excited when I heard who my roommates were. pretty roomy. I have grown very close to these girls. We are was amazing. Although busy and – Caitlyn Silk one huge family. We walked in and threw our overwhelming, who doesn't love a good train stuff everywhere. Girl’s night! As the night ride?” continued I began to stare out the window and - by Maha Ezalarab

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [23] Our Trip to China LONGMEN GROTTOS

Photos taken by Adam Controy “IT WAS AWE INSPIRING.” The Longmen Grottoes are one of the three most famous sculptural sites in China. There are over 100,000 statues and over 40 !

“This morning I woke up on a train that was Not that their names were actually carved on taking us from Beijing to the central part of China, these statues, of course-- at least, not any that specifically the city of Louyang. After arriving in remain to this day-- but the imperial members Louyang we freshened up and went to Longmen or could make a "donation" to the emperor and Dragon Gate Grotto. There we saw thousands of these statues, ranging from four centimeters to Buddha statues carved into the limestone rock of 17.4 meters, would be carved for them; this the mountain. The tallest one we saw was a massive supposedly brought good luck and prosperity. carving 17 meters high. It was awe inspiring.” There was a certain grotto (bit more like a - by Riley Newman shallow cave, actually) that contained 13,000 little Buddhas carved into the sides of the cave. I “As for today, we started on our way towards wondered at the intensive labor it must have taken Shaolin Temple; however, there was a short stop to to create all of those images, detailed as they see the Longmen Grottoes. I actually didn't know must have been when they were first carved. what was meant by "grotto" until we really saw the Years upon years of work must have been put in place. However, on the way there our new local by the men who had been commissioned to guide explained that "long" means "dragon" in create the entire place, a great work in progress. Chinese (the symbol of the emperor) and that ‘men’ Though the grottoes stand today as symbols of means ‘gate.’ We entered the Dragon's Gate and the might and power of China's great dynasties, were met by strange holes in the cliff walls. Upon the work of the common people must not be further examination and explanations, the holes forgotten--their pains and labors made these revealed the Buddhist statues that were carved semi-indestructible monuments so history exist. centuries ago. These are the people we should remember, too.” The Longmen Grottoes were reserved only for the royalty to create a Buddhist statue in their name. - by Tiffany Lam

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [24] Our Trip to China KUNG FU “The workout may have been difficult, but there was something fulfilling about it too. The sense of accomplishment leaves you very empowered and despite being worked super hard I think everyone left our first lesson in great spirits!”

EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING!! Everybody was Kung Fu The chance to learn the respected fighting! That is the truth when it art of Kung Fu was amazing. The comes to many Chinese kids. skill and discipline it takes to While staying at the Shaolin master this art is truly incredible. Temple we got the chance to train I have the utmost respect for the with warrior monks. These men students and master of Kung Fu. often have been training at the We started rough but eventually temple for many years and got much better. By the end we throughout history their job has were so good that we all earned been to protect the temple should certificates recognizing us as it ever come under attack. We official honorary students of also got to train and meet some of Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple! the top students from Small Dragon Kung Fu Academy. This - by Becca Taylor The warrior monks pose with school is one of 65 in the area, student Becca Taylor after a rigorous examination which each having roughly 4,000 everyone passed! students.

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [25] Our Trip to China THE ZEN MUSIC SHOW

The Zen Music show took place out in the gorgeous mountains of China

THE ZEN MUSIC SHOW... The show took place out in the unreal mountains of China. The dancers, warriors, and performers put on a night show on a bridge over water and the small pieces of land on either side of the bridge. The show was amazing. The performers told stories of China’s culture through the arts. It was really something to watch.

“Last night we went to a Pictures wouldn't have small outdoor theater in the done it justice. That middle of the mountains. I performance was definitely cannot describe the scenery one of my favorite things because it was so gorgeous. we have done so far. The There was a beautiful bridge effects and stories being in front of huge amazing told through dancing and mountains. music were very inspiring There were dancers and and unique. I loved it.” warriors performing all over - by Melissa Seymour the scene. There were colors flashing all over the mountains. I honestly can't explain how incredible it was. There are no words.

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [26] Our Trip to China LEARNIN’ IN SCHOOL

There were approximately 40 students in this classroom.

STUDENTS ENJOY A VISIT FROM THE DISCOVERY STUDENTS We had an opportunity to visit a couple of classrooms while we took a little break at the Kung Fu School. We even sang a song and they taught us some Chinese!

Today as we revisited the Little Dragon with 4-20 other students on beds that Kung Fu School in Shaolin, the strange make concrete feel comfortable. The only reality of these schools hit me and I was color on the white plaster walls is that of left with a stirring question: how do these old stains. Their days consists of rigorous families do it? training and classroom instruction. Yet they Most of the students at Little Dragon somehow still find ways to enjoy being enroll when they were 4-5 yrs. old but children. some look barely old enough to be out of Holidays come about once every 5 diapers. The average student receives their months when the students are allowed to entire compulsory education at Little return home for a week or so. Parents can Dragon. That means they will be 17 years come and visit anytime but most live so far old when they leave. The school away they make the trek a few times a environment is not exactly kid-friendly; year. Those who can afford to give up their Students learn a little English while we visited stale dorms, harsh instructors, and the home roots move to Shaolin so they can them. sanitary level of the cafeteria can only be visit once a week or more. described as sketchy. They sleep in rooms - Brett Harvey

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [27] Our Trip to China SHAOLIN TEMPLE

SHAOLIN TEMPLE HEAD MASTER MONK VISITS WITH US “The sounds of evening chants accompanied us as we left the temple.” - Tiffany Lam - Yesterday (the tenth of August, for those of you in the States) interesting basic history of the temple's 1200+ years. Although we entered THE Shaolin Temple. As my parents are Buddhists, the temple has been rebuilt multiple times on different areas (in the experience for me was one filled with awe. the same general place, though), records reveal much about its As we entered, people tried to hawk their souvenir-type past. The second part was an open-question section where goods and cicadas made their strange, constantly scraping people could ask about anything; some chose to question two sounds. The threshold (a raised step in most entrance doorways) framed sentences on the wall behind the master (which is his title was considerably higher than most we have encountered. (Since in the temple). He explained basic beliefs of Buddhism and devils supposedly have no knees in the Chinese tradition, it is stated that the three things one should avoid (in a sense, three fitting that there would be a raised step to keep these demons "sins") are anger, greed, and stupidity (also could be ignorance). out of places, especially one as religious as Shaolin Temple.). According to the master, if these feelings can be avoided, then Like several places we have visited, the area had a strange sense the path to happiness and wisdom will be clearer. This talk really of mystery and antiquity. Our guide pointed to a massive tree inspired me to strive to become a better person, although it'll be with a trunk perhaps about as wide as the hood of a Toyota Yaris pretty difficult--who can say that he/she hasn't had an elevated (just estimating here) and said that the temple's history was temper once in a while? Still, I found myself listening intently as actually older than the tree itself. Wow. he spoke wise words. Personally, I felt honored just being in his Then we had a lengthy lecture by the lead supervisor of presence due to the circumstances-- Shaolin Temple and my Shaolin Temple. His words were so inspiring and I could even somewhat-Buddhist background. sense that some of my non-Buddhist peers felt the powerful - by Tiffany Lam message of his talk. The first section of the lecture was an

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [28] JOURNEY TO THE Our Trip to China CENTER OF THE EARTH

Chinese astronomers are also credited with the earliest known map of the stars

Yesterday we visited another amazing historically significant was assigned that duty by the Emperor who wanted to place on our journey- Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory in become China's capitol city- a request that many around him the Heneng Province- the oldest surviving observatory in China. did not agree with, so he had to establish a VERY good reason China has a history of astronomical observation and record to support his desire. Since the Chinese at that time regarded keeping dating back more than 4000 years. Many cosmic China as the only country in the world, if Luoyang could be objects and events have been observed, noted and interpreted determined the center of China it would also, by default, by Chinese astronomers centuries before they first appeared in become the center of the Earth- a very holy bestowal. European records. In fact, China has a longer unbroken history At noon on a clear day the gnomon's horizontal bar casts a of astronomical study than any civilization that has ever existed! shadow on a low stone wall that extends out from the center of Ancient Chinese astronomy has proven very accurate over the base of the gnomon tower. The wall was designed so the years. NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab even recently used carefully that it even has troughs carved throughout so well ancient Chinese eclipse timings (accurate to about 25 minutes) water could be added to check for levelness! to learn more about the Earth' rotation. As the sun's path through the sky changed over the year, Chinese astronomers are also credited with the earliest the location of the bar's shadow shifted along the wall. At the known map of the stars. Created sometime around 700 AD, it winter solstice, when the sun's path across the sky is as low as includes precisely drawn representations of over 1000 it's going to get all year, the shadow reaches out to its farthest constellations. point on the wall- vice versa for the summer solstice. When the One especially important astronomical tool in early Chinese shadow falls mid-way between these two points, the Autumnal astronomy was the gnomon- an object whose shadow is used and Vernal (Spring) Equinox can be determined. Guo Shou used to record the changing position of the sun. Many people feel the gnomon, along with other tools at the observatory, to mark that the gnomon we visited at Geochang is the most remarkable the beginning and end of all four seasons AND to give the one ever constructed. It was created by the famous Chinese Emperor proof that Louyang was indeed the true epicenter of scientist, Guo Shou in 1279 AD to help determine the calendar China. dates associated with the four seasons and to help verify that - by Heather Sullivan, Science Instructor Luoyang City (next to Geochang) was the center of China. He

[29] Our Trip to China THE FOREST

THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF BUDDHIST MONKS The Pagoda Forest at the base of the Shalon Temple in China, is the largest Pagoda Forest in China!

The Pagoda forest is possibly the most Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could beautiful cemetery one will ever wake up every morning and have this encounter. This is the final resting breath taking view? After our hour-long places of Buddhist Monks after they Kung Fu workout this morning pass away. The size on ones’ structure (beginning at 6:00 a.m.) with a Shaolin varies depending on how prominent monk, we were able to take a beautiful they were in the temple and how many walk through the Pagoda Forest. The disciples they had following them. The Pagoda Forest, near the Shaolin Temple more layers, the more important they consists of approximately 250 Pagodas, were. There is always an odd number making it the largest Pagoda Forest in of layers because monks never marry China. Pagodas are religious so they die alone, never in a pair. We monuments that were built as a shrine saw many different structures - some or memorial building to honor the from thousands of years ago till the Buddist master. There are various levels one built in 2005. Since each structure of the Pagodas (ranging from 1 to 7 has many carvings from that time using odd numbers only) based on the period, it is a great history lesson. accomplishments of the master. The Possibly the most intriguing was the unique designs of the Pagodas, sprinkled within the forrest, made this An example of a typical one built in 2005. On it there were structure with uneven number engravings of laptops and computers, one of the most memorable mornings of the trip. of layers can be seen in the to properly represent the times. background. - by Becca Taylor - by Rita A. Mortenson

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [30] Our Trip to China FAMOUS DUCK DINNER Peking Duck on the Last Night Together

Photo taken by Rita Mortenson

“Everyone was dressed in their nicest clothes for plate in the middle. That was not the only exotic dish our last meal and we were so excited to enjoy a at our last meal, however. Before the duck, our server Chinese favorite. This restaurant is one of the brought out a dish that had scorpions on it. I was not most famous in Beijing and for that reason was going to leave China without eating bugs, and now I very busy. As we entered we were taken into the can leave a happy person. The scorpions didn't really elevator to the top floor where we went to our taste that bad - they tasted like a very crunchy potato own private room. It was so phenomenal to relive chip. It was actually pretty tasty; the only thing was the things that we had done together one more the knowledge that it was a scorpion. Before putting it time. This trip has been so outstanding and the in my mouth the small creature was staring me in the dinner was the perfect end to it. The main course face and it was a huge mind game. The meal came to was Peking duck that was absolutely amazing and an end and I was so happy to enjoy these two exotic so fresh. After the chef was done carving the Chinese meals.” whole duck, he sliced off the head and put it on a - by Cory Bolotsky

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [31] Our Trip to China THANK YOU! Discovery Student Adventure Team

AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! A special and heartfelt thank you to the Discovery Student Adventures Team and all other individuals involved in the planning of this trip of a lifetime. It was a life changing experience and we have all met so many new lifelong friends!

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [32] Our Trip to China A TRIP OF A LIFETIME! The Friendships Made will Last a Lifetime

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [33] Our Trip to China - August 2009 A TRIP OF A LIFETIME! For More Information Contact Rita Mortenson at [email protected] Verona Area High School, Verona, WI 53593

Discovery Student Adventures – 2009 [34]