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Dragonback rice terraces in Guanxi

After an early morning run and a full breakfast we made it way to the train station to meet everyone that on the tour.

We took a 2 hour bus ride to Longji terrace. This guy hooked a ride on the bus the whole way.

We hiked to the restaurant in PingAn village. They make their own rice wine here.

Longji Rice Terraces, which means Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, was given its name because the rice terraces resemble a dragon’s scales and the mountain range looks like the backbone of a dragon. It is noted as one of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world and has taken 600 years to build.

We visited the “Seven Stars Accompany the Moon”, which is made of seven small piles of rocks left on purpose by people when they dig up the terraces and a
moon-shaped terrace in the middle.

We also went to another platform
called “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers”. The nine ridges
spread from the main vein of Dragon’s Backbone, which look
like nine dragons bending over to drink water from the Jinsha river.

We then hiked to Zhongliu village. We had to go up and over larger hills and walked around the rice Terraces. Throughout the jungle were other rice Terraces and crypts or vaults built into the terraces were found for those who died.

There are many ethnic groups dwelling in that area and they
account for more than one third of local total population. Our night was a homestay with a family from the local Yao minority. Their one street dog followed us the whole way. I learned to speak Chinese to ask if I could give him the leftover pork. There Chinese lessons are paying off.

Guilin and a food and market tour

I booked a tour to visit the Dragonback rice terraces in Guanxi province. A few co workers were going up a day early to relax and I joined them. I’m not sure my cats trust I’m coming back…

We stayed at the Zen tea house. It is beautiful with many outdoor spaces and a beautiful room.

There was quite a lot of rain before we arrived. Lots of places were flooded by the Li River.

We booked a food tour with the hotel. They took us to the wet market first to talk about local produce and what is special to this province.

The first stop was fortune cake. It is like birthday cake here in China. It is sweet and tasty but not rich and overly sweet like Western desserts. It is something passed down from a long time ago. It is made from taro and brown sugar. Different herbs and ingredients can change the colouring. It is wrapped in banana leaves to bake. This man had been making it just like his grandmother and is one of the few still carrying on the tradition. She is in the poster behind him. It tastes like plum pudding. It is a steamed cake with the top part being stickier than the bottom.

We were showed sweet potato noodles. I have always wondered what they were made of when I have seen then before and never really tried any. We were given a couple nests as a gift.

Other things we looked at or asked questions about:

Longji mushrooms that are grown here in the province. They are grown in the caves in the mountains in this area.

Sticky rice. It is a staple here and the best rice to eat in a humid environment.

I pointed out these things and was told that these are water chestnuts. They are dug out of the mud along the banks of the river. The second picture is when they are washed. They were amazing. I’ve never had them fresh before. I’ll never buy canned again. They peeled them in front of us and we were able to try them. It was amazing.

Yes, they had live animals but they were all frogs, fish, turtles, crustaceans, and fowl. Yes there is a bunny there too. I wanted to buy them and set them free.

This is monk fruit. You cut it and boil it to make a tea. We were given that and spices to try when we get home.

This is Gingko fruit. It comes from the female tree. The seeds smell awful and need to be thrown away but the flesh is supposed to be tasty. A fact I know: Western cities plant the Gingko tree as the roots don’t destroy concrete but they have to plant the male tree so there are no smelly fruit.

We next went to visit the palace. Along the way we picked up snacks like dried taro which have the consistency of potato sticks, dried ginger, and biscotti made from moon cakes sliced very thin. We also tried red bean, pear and mushroom, and sweet potato snacks. At the palace the man who a couple centuries ago completed all 7 tests to be considered a wise man in China was honored. This takes your whole life and is tough learning and tests. Only a handful of people achieve such greatness and, in the past, one of the gates is only accessible to those with the great knowledge.

We visited the various gates and looked at the old sections that are about 600 years old. In the old part of the village the Chinese way of tearing down houses but keeping the brick to use in the new construction makes the buildings still look like they are old. But the guide pointed out walls that were original add not rebuilt.

We walked around the palace and to wooden dragon lake that feeds into the Li River.

We then walked to the other end of the lake and towards the tower to a vegetarian buffet operated by monks. It was a delicious meal. I don’t know the names of the dishes as he left us at this point but everything was delicious.

After dinner we walked around a bit by the lake.

Tomorrow we meet up with the rest of the tour group to go to the rice terraces. It was a fun day with a small group.

The end of the weirdest year of school

It has been officially over for two days. Starting out the year as what we would call normal, we left for Chinese New year thinking we will have a great two week vacation. Who knew it would have ended like this?

The second half of the year was surreal. Walking through rooms not being used and seeing calendars and notes left by teachers to remember things for when they return. It is all weird.

We started school with only about 1/3 of the faculty. Temp checks, teaching online and face to face at the same time, watching other classes while trying to grade assignments. Planning for the start of the next year not knowing what it will actually look like… We also are planning summer school and the amount of resources is a lot. I’m using microbit and making a model of the brain with sensors. This starts next week.

The past few weeks saw senior graduation, modified awards assemblies and only a few teacher get together with the faculty that is left. I think the thought is we can’t have a dinner without all faculty being here but it is cruel not to allow us some time to unwind with all that we are doing.

Graduation. No hand shaking. Those not here were mailed their diplomas.

The taking of the annual faculty picture.

I’ve done a lot of walking around the city.

Friends from other schools. I’ve gone on a couple of tours and a person I met some time ago messaged me. We’ve formed quite a little group of people who like to get out and see the sites and hike.

We went to hike baiyun mountain again but rain got in the way. We ate brunch, hiked an upscale mall, and then walked to Jujiang park. There was a student covid-19 art exhibit in the mall.

The last day of school was a half day for students. Teachers had a lunch and then a farewell assembly for teachers going on to other schools. At the end of the day we went to a local bar for a get together. It was well attended and had more people then in past years despite the fact we have less teachers. At the end of the night, a few of us went to the four seasons and to the top of the tower to the 99th floor. The view is spectacular.

Now that I’ve had a couple days to unwind, I’m off to do a tour and then start summer school.

Mt. Danxia

I took a trip with Pacha Mama over the weekend. They always find great hiking trips. This trip was to a geopark in the province that is made of red sandstone. With erosion over the centuries, it has created a variety of landforms.

Mount Danxia is about 1 hour high speed train to Shaoguan and another hour or so drive from Guangzhou. That drive takes you to a very different place in China. It is one of the two UNESCO heritage sites in Guangdong province. The draw of this place for the Chinese is the two rock formations that resemble male and female anatomy.

Mount Danxia was beautiful with s variety of trails all with amazing views. There were narrow paths along steep cliffs.

After traveling there and eating a yummy lunch we took a boat ride through the park.

The hike was pretty spectacular with steep, wet stairs. This was to be a sunset hike but impending rain changed our plans.

This is the rocks we need to climb. A series of steep stairs wind around and up this. Our destination is the pagoda at the top.

This rock resembles a male organ. Yangyuanshi is known as the male stone.

Morgana and I. The whole thing is pretty ridiculous, right?

If you look closely you can see the pathway we had to climb.

After making our way up the stairs along the cliff, we were now at the top.

The next morning were supposed to have a sunrise hike but they had closed the opening of the park until 8 due to rain. It didn’t rain though.

I found this guy at the entrance to the cable cars which we used to get to the top and then go down the other side. We were originally to climb the mountain but lost time when that hike was cancelled.

Grotto temple built during the Ming Dynasty. It was abandoned when China became PRC.

A few more stairs again to the pavilion at the top.

Then we had to go back down the stairs that were very narrow and steep.

Biechuan Temple

Walking back towards the entrance.

Xianglonghu lake means flying dragon. It refers to the shadows of the lake when flying overhead as it resembles a dragon. Here we saw children feeding the fish.

The female rock is called Yinyuanshi.

We stayed at a quaint little hotel in the base of the park. Our was a great weekend with people from all over the world.

When a bus driver of teachers and staff may have been exposed…. and other updates

The new rules and policies for Covid-19 have become routine now. Students and teachers have settled in. Now that the high school and middle school have it under control, grades 4-5 started at the elementary school last week and the lower grades start this week. Preschool and kindergarten have not started.

We received an email about a situation over the weekend. Here is what we were told:

No cause for alarm.
Note: We all live far from school and are bussed. There are 4 bus routes.
On one route, the teachers and staff were left off on Thursday afternoon.
The driver then took non school people to the airport.
One of the people tested positive after they made it to their home city.
The bus driver was tested and is negative.
All facility and staff were tested and are negative.
Everyone wore their mask.
The CDC and education authority have cleared the employees and allowed us to continue with physical school.

What does that mean?

It means that asymptomatic cases are still a problem everywhere. Since elementary students are going back, I saw more people on the street in what I would consider close to normal activity.
Now since everyone is mingling, those asymptomatic people will spread it to others. But if you don’t want an epidemic….
Protocols, rules, and guidelines are the only way you can operate.
Every time we get on the bus, we have a checklist for our name and our temp is taken.
Wherever we are going whether it be school or airport or a store, our temperature is taken (and our name is recorded).
On our arrival at school this morning, there was police presence in the street checking for compliance (distancing, masks…). I did not take a direct picture as that can get you in trouble anywhere you travel. Also, there were more medical personnel on hand when we went through the temperature scanners, most likely from the CDC.

From an upstairs window. Because of construction I did not have a good line of sight. In forgot about going up to the field…

Before I found out about this I was invited to a hike, a dinner and a brunch this last weekend. There are still many people not going out in the city. Our faculty do not all go out together right now.

I am also grateful my school gave us a little mixer on Friday afternoon before we boarded the buses. Not being in a public school means they can have wine, beer, and snacks for us. We all sorely needed that interaction and it was a great way to start the weekend.

5 rams park (Yuexiu park)

Claire and I were up for some city hiking. I ran half way there and then made the rest of the way to the entrance. That part of the entrance was closed. We are used to many entrances being blocked in parks and malls, etc. to temperature scan and control the amount of people. We went to this entrance so that we can take the skybridge which is an elevated 8 km walk way that goes above ground from here to Baiyun mountain. Unfortunately it was closed due to impending bad weather.

I moved this cute little frog off the path before it was run over by a bike or messed with by kids.

From here we decided to do walk to Baiyun but on the street. Definitely not as scenic and it is a part of the city I am not very familiar with. Once at Baiyun we were to tired to hike the mountain. I snapped some pictures.

From here I walked part of the way back to where Claire lived to walk through a garden park I had not been to yet. Jufang garden park was very pretty and on the other side of it I took a Didi home as it was another 11km from here.

This park is in between two different districts within the city.

That night I dined at Mercato with a couple people I know and more teachers from other schools I had not met before. It was great to hear what their schools are doing. I’m lucky as no one at my school had lost jobs, been asked to go to school on Saturdays, or had our year extended. It was excellent food, but I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures. I did take a picture of the view from the terrace though.

The next day I met Claire and Morgana at 13 factories for brunch. (Again too hungry I forgot to take a picture).

13FACTORIES takes its name from the area of the same name in the old part of Guangzhou. This area is where the first foreign trade was allowed during the Qing dynasty, and much like America, a unique place where people from all over the world came to interact. Today, 13FACTORIES aims to create a place in the spirit of the original, a gathering of international friends combined with the sharing of delicious food and drink in a comfortable, casual atmosphere.

But we decided to splurge and we went elsewhere for cinnamon rolls after we had talked for a few hours.

It was great to have different interactions over the weekend.

The Provincial Museum

I am glad I met Claire and hiked with her. She suggested going to the museum here. I had never been as I do not know how to get tickets. They do have a free section but recently had European artists featured. A ticket needed to be bought which she did for me as I could but register in advance. Their system does not take passport numbers, only Chinese ID. She called and found that I could register when I arrive.

There was quite the line to get in as it was the last day of the exhibition.

The artists in the exhibition ranged from the start of the Renaissance through to Impressionism. There were quite a variety of styles and artists on loan from the St. Louis museum.

There were plenty of places to take selfies. I generally do not take advantage of those.

There was however only one Renoir, Rembrandt, and Monet.

Rembrandt’s self portrait. Raw and honest, the shading and artistry is astounding.

Some of the art that I was drawn to:

The only painting in the exhibition by a female artist.

Afterwards we went to find something to drink. Did to covid-19 you could not but refreshments there and wearing a mask is tiring and hot. I have wanted to try the tofu drink and with Claire’s help knew what I was ordering. It is nice to ask them not to put sugar in it. It was good like a rich milkshake. On to are 3 rice rolls on a long toothpick.

Yanzhou Island, Zhaoqing

Tours are just starting up again and after receiving confirmation that we can leave the city but stay in the province, I was excited to see this tour offered. I have gone on trips with Banana Tours since it started. They always put on a great tour. This one was 2 hours bus ride out of the city. We needed a correct Suikang code that is not red, had our temperatures checked multiple places, and needed to wear a mask. We could take it off when hiking. As it was very hot and humid we would often walk away from the group to take the mask off for a brief time.

This is the largest river island in Guangdong just south of the Dinghu mountains. The island has an area of about 6 square kilometers. According to the legend, Bao Zheng (a famous upright official who had true integrity in Chinese history) returned to the capital in the Northern Song Dynasty (1042 AD). When the ship passed the Antelope Gorge, he threw an inkstone and then it became into an island, that’s why it is named as “Yanzhou Island”. Bao stopped epidemics by drilling wells for clean water. He established schools and integrity in government for all to prosper.

Looking towards the island before we boarded the ferry.

A short walk to look over the river. This area is a place to go for the devout.

This mural depicts his government life and the throwing of the inkstone.

This mural depicts his personal life and his devotion to his family and parents.

We boarded two shuttle carts to go to another part of the island to look at village buildings. During the cultural revolution, professionals from the cities were sent to rural areas to help society. I visited a museum with memorabilia from Mao’s reign. Villagers were selling produce very cheap. 2 large cucumbers were 2 kuai or 30 cents.

We visited a temple in the village.

We then went to a great Cantonese restaurant on the island. There were lots of vegetarian choices.

Antelope Gorge ancient plank road is located in the east of Antelope Mountain, it has been well known as one of the “Little three Gorges” in Zhaoqing since Tang dynasty. We boarded a ferry to go back across and then on to hike Antelope Gorge.

We hiked for 5 km and had lots of up and down stairs before turning around to head back.

After returning to Guangzhou I key up with Killian and Elaine to go out for dinner. Fun! Killian ate chicken feet. We all had Western style cheesecake with rich sweet frosting.

A great day with some people from school and a new friend I met, Morgana from Canada who teaches at a school in the city. Finishing up with other friends was an added treat!

All students return

I started out my week on a 6 am zoom call with my kids to celebrate my son’s birthday. It was technically mother’s day in the US and his birthday with me here in China. Becca bought him a cheesecake and candles to deliver to him in advance. It was a great start to the week!

We already practiced school for the last two weeks but starting this week we now have 6 grades on campus. We have about 70% of some of the classes back but not that percentage of teachers. They hired substitutes while the teachers that are gone continued online teaching. Those of us that are back are also covering classes.

Elementary start next week with a few grades with more added a week later.

The infrared cameras detect temperature. If it shows above 37.3 C (just over 99F), someone else takes your temperature to double check. There is a station where everyone must use alcohol gel before entering. Buses still take your temp too.

Both of my classes were combined in one. I planned a lab that was videoed and live. Kids can’t work together so I needed a set up for every student. A bit flustering. There was actually more students who showed up for testing and for school than they originally planned on from family surveys. As a result my class was split between two adjacent rooms and a monitor watched the other room. Only about 8 of my students were still online elsewhere.

Besides that class, I monitor three others. It means setting up zoom calls with the teacher and making sure they are on task and following rules.

Lunch is different as they cannot sit closer to each other. Individual chairs are set up for them to sit at. I think this would be the hardest for the students.

Phys Ed classes are combined and because there is a large number, they use blankets to mark off social distancing but there is lots of room to spread them out for activities.

It was a very tiring week but the students were so happy to see one another and it went well. We have been receiving a lot of press for the proactive work we have done. We are done with school on June 9th as scheduled as we started online learning immediately at the start of February. Only a few more weeks to go!

The last 2 weeks… Before school starts again…

I worked for four days and after my seniors were finished I did not need to return until May 11 when the rest of the high school and middle school returns. Only the 8th graders were there and having extra personnel on site when they are not needed was not recommended. I was still teaching online to my 9th graders and grading make up work for my seniors.

Groups in the city that hold events here have suspended these but people were still chatting. Claire in Internations posted about hiking so we agreed to meet at a mountain park I had not been to. It was a lot of fun and happy to hike for 5 hours. I was whipped since it is hot and humid now.

The view after you get to the top is fantastic.

Huolo mountain, Tianhe

We actually thought we were at the top but then found the stairs. It was a lot of stairs…

After this picture was taken, the woman who took it for us wanted me to stay there so she could get a picture with me too. That has actually happened several times.

Picnicking along the river

Buying snacks

I know I need to stop but I love to snack…. These are hawthorns. They look like little apples. They are cooked in a syrup and they are so good. Hawthorn alone is a bit sour without the sugar coating. It is it addictive.

Running

I am back to running. Slowly as I’m trying to retrain my running and save my hamstring. It lets me get out and get fresh air in different places. When running you don’t need to wear a mask but it needs to be carried with you and you may have to put it on in a crowded area. I have avoided those crowded areas and times to not have to wear it. It is also really warm now and humid so getting out early helps with both. And I do a lot of walking.

Stopped to visit a friend and have some carrot and apple juice.

Eating out in Cantonese restaurants

I also started going out to eat, though not often and only recently since Guangzhou and the rest of China has been downgraded with no new cases. Still concerning to me after my last bout of quarantine however. They still require restaurants to have servers tested and must display a certificate. They also record the names, IDs and phone numbers of patrons for contact tracing.

A recent holiday allowed people to move between provinces and so far so good. Hopefully this summer maybe I can go to view some places in China. We will have to see. But I won’t be able to go home. I don’t see travel opening up between countries for casual travel for awhile.

Elaine, Killian and I. It is Killian’s birthday.

School with Covid-19

First day of school today for me. I have had lots of questions from friends in the States about how this can happen and thought I would chronicle the day. I must tell you that this level of keeping track is throughout much of society here. Each community may have a breakdown in policy but then it is identified very early and corrected.

To open school meant having precautions in place, complying with cleaning and regulations to follow, an inspection, testing of students and teachers, PD on proper procedures… We are doing this now to see how it works and as a practice run. The plan, if all goes well, to add 9, 10, 11 on May 11th. If there are issues or infections, then we close again (just like businesses). And this is a practice run of how next year might be running. Every school is going to have to start thinking how this will look like for the next year.***Quick aside here: Which brings me to the low numbers China has currently. When there is a case noted, they crack down on it immediately (I can attest to this as that was the reason for my last quarantine.) Talking to my Chinese friends who have been here the whole time is eye opening. When the government tells them what must be done, they do it. When there is, the message from the government it is clear and consistent. They are aware that what they do affects the health of others. Even rural areas blocked roads so that people from neighboring villages were not getting in. Is the system perfect? No. But they are doing a lot better (and so are some other countries) than many other places.***

Entering school.

There are two tents set up to enter. There are lanes to follow. You must have updated your Suikang code. Only blue or green can enter. Red cannot, and CDC will be notified. You pass through a thermal camera and have your temp checked using skin. If you have an elevated temp of 37.3 C (99.1 F), you are isolated and the nurse evaluates (see below). Pacing through this step is such that maintains the 1-2 meter between students. There is only one direction into the school.

Classroom set-up and non-negotiable requirements (while teaching science)

Windows and doors must be open. No air conditioning.
Everyone must wear a mask at all times.
Maintain social distancing of 1 meter apart.
Students have to sit one per table. One can sit at a lab table but they must be facing forward. Group work is non-existent but they can confer talking across distances to each other. I have to choose experiences that they can do by themselves to share the results.
Antibacterial gel is available in halls and in rooms.
Temperature checks are taken on the students and teachers twice a day – once at 8:15 and another right before lunch. They must be stored on a spreadsheet. The teacher takes and records the temp.
If students have a fever, the nurse is called and the student is placed outside or in an empty room.
Depending on low risk (student sent home and other students/teacher is reassessed) or high risk (all students and teacher are removed to another room for isolation. CDC is called and they determine the next steps including quarantine).
There is a dedicated isolation room on campus. No one enters unless it is to be used to isolate someone by the nurse.
At the start of every new block (we have 4 blocks a day and you see the same students every other day), an ayi (“auntie” in Chinese, meaning maid or housecleaner) comes in to wipe down every desk a student and teacher is at. That means for me, moving my computer and cleaning every surface. My desk has never been so clean!
There is an investigator on campus checking for compliance.

Screen Shot 2020-04-28 at 9.10.52 AM — Temperature check live spreadsheet

The good news

It is good to see my students. I still have to plan for students who are not here. I have series of online assignments and also simulations that are already on OneNote and Teams. For the students who are here they are doing the same thing, but I felt we could reinforce a concept from back in February when we were all online and that is the concept of blood pressure. I had them write what they remembered about blood pressure then they conferred with a member of the class while maintaining distance between them. Yes it was noisy. Then they practiced taking blood pressure on themselves. With a stethoscope it is difficult, but some managed to do it. We also have a handful of electronic cuffs which made it easier. We then explored exercise changes and also what happens when you plunge your arm in ice cold water (because your extremity is cold, the arteries constrict to not lose too much heat to the environment. The heart is still pumping the same, but the pipes that carry the blood are narrower and therefore there is more pressure.)

Moving through campus

Arrows direct kids through the entrance to the school and also going into the lunch room. Students were given the directions on wearing a mask, washing hands, maintaining distance, how to walk through the hallways, etc. before coming to school.

Lunch

There is one way in to the cafeteria and another way to exit. (BTW, that is how it is in many places – one door to go in to monitor temperatures and another place to leave to maintain distance.) They are allowed in one at a time to maintain distance and sit one per table. All food is pre-ordered and pre-packaged with utensils so there is no possible cross-contamination.

Leaving campus

Students leave shortly after 3 pm. Teachers leave a half hour later. As we get on the bus we have to check out name on the list to maintain records. We also have to sit with distance between us.

Fun thing to share

The PE department had step challenges and other activities to boost wellness. One was a Padlet used for gratitude.It was great to read them all. Screen Shot 2020-04-28 at 8.37.02 AM Screen Shot 2020-04-28 at 8.39.57 AM I posted a thank you to the HR staff and admin for going above and beyond to help us. So did many others. Everywhere we were stopped or were having trouble, they were available on phone. When I had problem with the Suikang app, they worked hard with government and CDC officials for a solution. Given that they are currently working on on-boarding new faculty for next year which is a considerable process (and dealing with border closings that may change where they come in from!) They also have faculty that are not here right now who are leaving to another country next year but may not make it back to pack everything up! I don’t know how they do it! Screen Shot 2020-04-28 at 8.41.52 AM It was an interesting day. I was happy to see colleagues and students. I was actually very worried about the day but it was just fine and seemed like any other except less kids, more distance, and masks….