August 10, 2007
Today was the first day of meetings for the China – U.S. Educational Conference. My colleagues and I rallied and attended several seminars. We also saw performances given by local school children.
In the evening, we were taken to a performance of the Peking Opera. Before the performance starts, it is tradition to watch the performers apply their makeup.
The production is a visual treat of colorful costumes where performers sing, dance, and engage in physical combat on the stage.
I learned rather quickly to appreciate vast spaces to accommodate many people and the huge size of Beijing. Traffic is very heavy and it takes a lot of time to get anywhere.
Add to the mix is construction! There are new huge modern buildings being built and construction is everywhere!
On a more personal scale are bicycles:
And people earning a living:
One afternoon, we visited a local school. Although it was summer and most of the children were away on vacation with their families, some children take summer-school classes to accelerate or catch up.
It was very exciting to see a real elementary school and have a peek into Chinese culture.
