November 16, 2017 - Post from Cailey
Today was yet another busy day of our trip throughout China.
It just so happened to be our first full day with our host families. Many
of us woke up at 5:30 in order to get to school. I️ was lucky so I️ able to
wake up at 6 and still got to school with time to spare. We started out the day
with our host families in each of their classes. Chloe, Celine, Nicole and I️
all had host sisters in the same class.
After checking in with the teacher and handing the phones and
homework in, we were able to go upstairs to the auditorium where we got to
participate in a welcome ceremony. We introduced ourselves in Chinese and
danced to ‘Shake it Off’ by Taylor Swift. All of this embarrassing dancing and
speaking in Chinese was broadcasted to all the rooms in the school, on TVs.
With my host sister, we had math class, English class, biology,
and physics. Her math teacher was very very strict and she made the kids
stand up when they answered a question and if they got it wrong they weren’t
allowed to sit down until they answered something else right. Even though
she seemed really mad at everyone as we walked back into the classroom from the
ceremony, she didn’t yell and was just staring at us in order to intimidate us.
After math class, we had physics. The teacher kept making jokes about how
we were in the classroom and I️ don’t think many of us CGS students understood
at first but after they explained them, they were funny.
After physics, which I️ for one did not understand a single part
of, we had English. I️ was actually able to understand everything from this
class. We talked about the different cultures across the world and the
different times and ways we celebrate the new year.
After our easiest class of the day, we had biology. For this class
we actually had to leave the classroom and walk up to the biology lab. This
class was actually so interesting. We had to do a lab today and they are
studying photosynthesis. In the lab, we took leaves from plants and cut out
small circles using a specific tool. After, we put the small circles of leaves
into water. And let them soak for a little bit of time. After that, we put them
in a container and pumped the air out of it in order to take the oxygen out. We
could tell the oxygen was all gone when the leaves where no longer floating in
the container. After that, we took them out of the container and put five in
each of the containers of water. Then turned a light in of over the containers.
Each container was a different length away from the light. We then waited for
the photosynthesis to occur, using the light to bring oxygen back into the leaf
piece. This was all so interesting!
After biology, we went down to lunch. Guang Ming high school is
best known for their amazing lunch food. I️ wouldn’t agree with it being
“amazing.” But it was still good.
After lunch we went up stairs in the new building of the school
and met with all of the CGS students.
When we were all together, we had a class hosted by one of Guan
Ming’s teachers we learned about the Peiking opera. It was really
interesting, the way that they dressed and danced.
After the Chinese culture class, we had some time to talk with
each other about our home stays. When we were finally done talking, we had
another class from one of the Guang Ming teachers. This time though, we learned
about calligraphy and then got to practice. Thanatos was a lot of fun! After
calligraphy class we had study hall. I got a lot of my Spanish homework done.
At 4:15 study hall ended and a lot of the kids went home with their hosts. My
host had band practice so I wasn’t able to go home yet. Shannon and I️ stayed
until 6 with our host sisters and watched the band practice s while doing
homework.
I️ got to take the subway home and it was so clean, probably the
cleanest subway and subway station I️ have ever been in. It had been a long day
and it was raining so my host sisters dad picked us up from the train station.
When I got home only the maid was home she was busy making dinner
so Crystal and I watched some TV. Her brother and dad came back soon after that
so we had dinner. Her mom was at a teacher conference and her dad had to go out
with friends so it was just me crystal and her brother, Michael eating dinner.
They always try to get me to eat so much even though I’m not that hungry.
After dinner I️ worked on some of my homework and Crystal did the
same. Then I️ realized I️ had to do this blog post so I’m working on that now
as Michael practices the flute in the room next to me and Crystal works on her
math homework. Both of her parents just got back and are now talking to her
brother and I’m guessing it is about whatever happened at the parent teacher
meeting that her mom was just at.
Anyways, this has been a really
influential and positive experience already and I’m learning so much from just
listening!
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