Day Eight Preschool Visit

We started our day off with another great seat next to the water fall at breakfast. Some of Simone's favorite things to eat at the moment are bacon, small potato wedges, scrambles eggs and apple juice. Some of Sophie Wei's favorite things to eat are small potato wedges, pineapple, pears, bacon, buns or any thing bread like and apple juice.

Today was the day we went to a local Pre-School in Guangzhou. It took our guide a day to find a place that would allow us a tour. The local elementary schools would not because we were a small group. This preschool was about a fifteen minute drive away from the White Swan Hotel where we stayed.

Below is the first thing we see as we arrive at the preschool. I look at Rick and say, "I would love to have a pool to teach swimming lessons! A PE Teachers Dream."
When we arrive I immediately get a warm fuzzy feeling from this school. It seems like a wonderful place full of color, smiles, warm teachers and happy children.
This is where they take naps.My Mom enjoying the children.
The children were so fun and friendly to us. As I went around and took pictures of them I would show them their picture and they would smile.
Simone and Sophie Wei enjoyed playing with their toys.
I love the way Simone and Sophie Wei are holding each other.
Sophie Wei getting comfortable. The children in this class sang a few songs for us. They are so cute.
We were told that there are a thousand students that go to this school. Most are children of Government workers while a few pay privelty.
Simone and Sophie Wei were given Oragami gifts. The boys below were "plugging" their ears as their class sang Happy Birthday to a classmate.

A class in transition.
Hello!

Rick found out that the teachers stay here as part of their salarie.

The outdoor passage ways are covered and filled with hanging art work. As we are walking we hear some banging sounds.....A PE CLASS!!! Yah-who! They were doing developmentally appropriate ball handling skills while counting. These students are around four years old. It was so hot, that is why many of the boys and girls have their shirts off. This school ranges in ages of 3-5 and then I think 6-8.

Love the shoes the teacher has on....What do you thing Paula about us coming to work with those one??? :O)

Adorable.Motivation for a bulletin board for me to put up next school year some time. Look at Simone how hot she is.


More laundry out to dry.


I like the lower more appropriate basketball hoop. We need some of these for our recess.....Idea!

A very cool walk way with fish that Simone wanted me to take a picture of. I love these photos of the girls below.
Our family. Good by are the days were everyone is looking at the camera at the same time. Seeing these scooters reminds us that we want to bring two home for the girls. My friend Pam that I met through my local panda group gave me the idea because they are around $80.00 in the states and $12.00 in China. I love the murals all over the walls outside.

They go so much better than most scooters I have seen.

These children sing us a song as they pass by. (In English and Chinese.)

Lunch time.
The director of this preschool reminds me that all class rooms look different and are decorated diffently because all of the teachers do different things.
Simone wanted me to take a photo of where the big kids nap.
Transportation. I like this photo even though it is blurry.


Just as we are getting ready to leave the bannana bike drives by. Love how they balance this.
The front of the school.
So on the way home we stop at a two places so Rick and Simone can find two scooters to purchase. Here is the view from our van. Guangzhou. This was a great part of the trip because you can view life of the ordinary. Click on the photos to make them bigger and view more detail.
Resting and I would be too with the loads these guys transport.
No luck at our first spot but Rick and Simone are trying. Our guide Sara went with them.


At our second stop this is the view above that my Mom, Sophie Wei and I had. These guys would wait here until it was time for them to transport some thing home that some one has purchased. They happened to be here the entire time we waited which was around 45 minutes.

People would walk up to the van to look at us, walk away and then talk about us.

One of my favorite things I saw was a man who was having lunch. He had one small stirafoam plate, chop sticks and a plastic bag that was filled with some form of liquid, maybe chicken broth?? He hung the clear pastic bag up on a hook and started to eat his lunch. Then he punched the bag just a little below the liquid line and poured it into the white stirafoam container. As he drank out of it the liquid would splatter all over the ground and all over him before it would the liquid would reach below the punch lunch. When he was ready for more liquid he would punch another time and then repeat this a couple of more times.

Rick, Simone and our guide Sarah ended up coming back with NO SCOOTERS but they gave it a great try. This is why it took them so long. Rick said that they paided $140 RMB for two scooters and then waited for them to order them and bring them to him. When they brought them to him he had them check the box and they were broken. He said they tried to fix them but could not so he said he wanted two new ones. Then they wait some more. They come back with two more and those had problems too. By this time they had had enough and Rick asked for his money back. Rick said the lady was NOT going to give him his money back......Long story short she finally did so but not too happy about it. Thanks for trying though.

Below are some more views of photos I took though the window. Watching them work is very inspiring and inspirational.


Since there has been so much rain in Guangzhou people were along the water fronts checking it out and playing in the water.

So glad that our friends Nadine and Bill reminded us of what to see and not to see while in Guangzhou. Per their request we opted out of the memorial for the first Chinese President and went to the preschool instead. So glad we did because we ALL had a great time.

I could not stop smiling at the preschool and it was such a good feeling to be with all of the children. I also enjoyed sitting in the van and just watching people going about their business. What a memorable day!

Another great day in China for our family! June 17th, 2008.