By an old Chinese building nearby river in Changsha, with Matine.
More than 6000 students and 600 staff at Lushan International Experimental School welcome us during their Monday morning assembly on July 2, 2008. We were on the stage, mesmerized by the columns and rows of students who demonstrated that ADD is not necessarily a universal fate of being adolescent.
Matine and his host family.
Son and Dad, somewhere in Changsha, China.
Edip and Matine in Changsha Downtown. Edip is showing off his power by stopping the Chinese monster! You may not infer from the picture, but this colossal statute was rotating around itself in about every 15 seconds.
Getting ready for a rigorous hike with Matine and his 17 friends at Yuelu Mountain, Changsha
Dinner with Shu Fanqing, Director of International Exchange Division, Hunan Provincial Department of Education, P.R.China at an elegant restaurant in Changsha. The two ladies next to me were his assistants and spoke English well. They kindly assisted me in distinguishing beef from pork, juices from alcoholic beverages.
Matine and his host friend who used an English name, Thomas, in front of the school's gate, which announces our arrival to the school.
These are some of Matine's friends. The man standing with flags in his hand is David Jones, the headmaster of ALL. The lady in front is Clair, their Chinese teacher. The lady behind her is Serei, David's wife, director of special events. The students whose ages ranged between 8 and 16, were academically way ahead of their peers; six of the students had taken three year-long AP classes and tests in Calculus, Physics, and Biology, besides History, English and Chinese. The team in which my son was a member had just the received first place in Algebra at the annual Math Fair competition among Middle school students, beating other top schools in Tucson. Two years in row. They also received first place in Language Fair organized by the University of Arizona. So, we considered ourselves lucky for traveling with a group of academically and behaviorally excellent group of kids.
Posing in front of a lotus garden at a fancy resort (I did not stay there) with a lotus in my hand. It is the first time I hold a lotus flower in my hand. They normally do not allow tourists pluck a lotus from the garden, but they made an exception for Americans. If you wonder the strings hanging on my neck: they carry the little bag containing my passport, money and other important documents; my flash drive, which I have been carrying with me since 2001, and an MP3 player that contains some documents, music and Quran recitation. As for the smile, thank God, it is my natural state!
Posing in front of a Buddhist Temple at Yuelu Academy and Mountain, Changsha.
Hiking in a dense forest in Yuelu, Changsha...
In June 3, the Olympic torch passed through Changsha. We decided to join the celebration. The Chinese flag has four stars around a big star, representing the four classes of Chinese united around the Communist Party. I am no communist nor a flag hugger, but there I did not have problem of carrying a flag, since it was a positive occasion, with no implied aggression or hostility against another nation.
The classes were very crowded according to our standards; but 60-70 students were mostly attentive and demonstrated excellent behavior, a dream in USA's secondary schools.
When I saw this Chinese woman swinging on the sidewalk alone, I could not resist the temptation to join her. We then together moved from West to East and from East to West.
Trey (second from left) and Matine (my vertically challenged genius son) together with the Chinese students by the small lake nearby a farm we visited in which we competed on an obstacle course, hiked, barbecued Chinese style, and hit gulf balls.
Tyranny of books! Piles of books occupy more than half of desktops in senior classes at Lushan International Experimental School.
A senior Chinese at LIES (Bad acronym for Lushan International and Experimental School! I suggest, changing the oder of the words in the middle) a senior student wondering about me wondering about her. Well, I was wondering about the number of books piled on her desk. How many do you count? I counted 19. Or am I biased:) ?
Students had a great performance at Lushan International and Experimental School's theater. Many of the shows involved earthquake victims and their rescuers. They acted like professionals.
The last group of hikers led by Christiana, Alexa, and Shayda.
Our two Briannas (one with the blue shirt, and the other is staring at me) and Maria (with the eyeglass in the back) together with their Chinese friends enjoying the barbecue.
In downtown, Changsha. Matine and his friends pose under a Chinese hero whose identity is presently unknown to me.
Do you see MacDonald's and Wal-Mart next to each other? This is the Changsha's downtown.
These are some unhappy frogs piled over each other in a very infrogane (rhymes with inhumane) condition. Notice the yellow smiley face of Wal-Mart? In the next boxes you will find snakes, turtles, and all other itsy bitsy crawling and slithering creatures.
These are dryed food at underground grocery store, A-Best, nearby Lushan Hotel. Look carefully! What do you see under the hanging chickens?
Yes, "Check Hotels do not forget to live fire." No wonder, on the walls of the high school were posters inviting students to "Speak standard English." So, when you are in China, "Check dictionaries do not forget to lick words."
The focus of this picture was not Matine, but the trash can nearby. Isn't it cute? (Matine knew my focus and thus showed such a face)
Jimmy was the best in golfing. Look at his posture. His left arm is as straight as it could be!
This is what I saw, when I asked Jimmy to make a face.
This was the biology lab of Changjun high school, which contained the bodies of hundreds of plant and animal species, including various stages of real human fetus. We were all shocked.
Wal-Mart brings "happiness" to China via bathroom tissues :)
I am not sure whether it is because the TVs (or the flat screens) are still novelty in China or because they like to enjoy watching some shows together... These people were gathered on the sidewalk next to the entrance of a busy electronic store nearby Lushan Hotel, Changsha.
You do not need to pay to a cafeteria to play a board game in China. Just put your board on the sidewalk and soon you will find your partner and a few spectators...
Town squares, side walks turn to dancing platforms, trading bazaars, ... and skating grounds... You cannot miss the Pizza Hut in the background!
What pulled my attention on Chinese TV, was the number of movies with crying actresses and actors.
On our way to the lotus garden, we passed through boulevards with trees on both sides. I had to take the picture of the tricycle carrying passengers.
Matine's host family in their home... When I visited them, Turkey was playing soccer (real football) against Portugal, and Matine was upset because Turkey lost the game.
New buildings are sprouting everywhere...
Learning that I was a Muslim, Matine's host family had picked a restaurant ran by Muslims adjacent to a big mosque facing the huge stadium and the colossal Ferris wheel. The Restaurant's wall had a huge Arabic calligraphy on a green background testifying to oneness of God, while adding Muhammad's name, which was a violation of strict monotheism expressed in the Quran. While waiting for the orders, I wanted to visit the mosque. If I met an English speaking Chinese Muslim, I was going to present him/her my recent publication, Quran: a Reformist Translation. I found none there.
Though I have fear of hight, I could not resist climbing the top of this Ferris wheel. While climbing up, to distract myself I started asking the Chinese host a puzzle. Soon, I realized that no trace of fear left in me. I enjoyed the wive of the city at the top.
Jimmy and Matine made good impression on Chinese tennis players.
Back to hotel, through the car's window, I watch bikes passing the bridge. Note that none is wearing a helmet, and there is a space for the forth Chinese.
After serving the wreaths, after bowing thrice to Mao's statute in his birthplace, the visitors pose for a picture. Well, two pictures!
Mao's white ghost in the background, Matine and his dad.
These were one of the biggest cultural shock for the students and me. Though I was born and lived in Turkey until age 30, I had hard time to get used to them. I made sure to use the seat in the hotel!
This was a fountain with a beautiful dragon head high above. Well, the person who took the picture missed the best part of it.
The one with the blue label is for recycling, and the one with red is for trash. They are made of plastic and I enjoyed their aesthetic harmony with the park.
One of Mao's comrades posing with an injured arm. He was described to be "a very handsome man" by our guide. I asked from other Chinese and all agreed about his handsomeness. Surprised by their sense of beauty, "Well, it is now clear why they were all staring at us," remarked Jim, "they see us very ugly!"
Because of the heat and humidity, you may see some men (not women) rolling up their shirts.
Ingrid, a bright and curious student, in the middle of her friends.
Charlie Wang, the Director of International Affairs, was a nice host. He was also a heavy smoker. The morning of our departure, during the gift exchange, our Director of Special Operations handed him a T-Shirt with the logo of A.L.L. and a special carton of cigarettes. And, Charlie's teeth were smoked out.
Elizabeth with Ingrid and her friends nearby the gate of Lushan International, Experimental School.
Christiana had the hardest time leaving her host family. Though I did not have a host family, perhaps I was the second saddest person after her. I already missed the Chinese (not the food).
The entire city was like a construction zone. Cranes everywhere, declaring the rise of China, vertically!
Street sweepers were too ubiquitous. A wonderful way to employ the unemployable and keep the streets clean. Our welfare system should get some inspiration.
Brianna Jones with her host family and friends. If you know their names please drop a note below.
I am posing in front of Changjun highschool, Lushan's rival, next to a USB (Unidentified Smiling Bust). Notice the plastic fork, my survival weapon hanging from my neck, and the green tea in my hand, another survival item on my menu in hot and humid Changsha.
I am not trying to become a friend with a vase impersonator:)
Sebastian and friends
Indeed, how happy we are when friends come from afar
After playing tennis with pros at Changjun highschol.
Serei with her two daughters, Jessie and Monica, relaxing. Though they had the advantage of blending in the crowd in China, they had a surprise problem: they were expected to speak Chinese!
This is one of the pictures that our team is complete with 18 students and five adults. (The man standing in the back row on the right was an employee of Lushan). The building behind is Mao's birth place. From left to right. FIRST ROW: Jim (Jimmy's father and ALL's board member), Shayda, Alexis, Jessica, Claiborne, Christina, Arista, Jacqueline, Serrei (ALL's Director of Special Operations) and David (ALL's CEO and Headmaster). SECOND ROW: Matine, Claire (our Chinese teacher), Jimmy, Aria, Maria, Monica THIRD ROW: Storm, Elizabeth, Edip (Me, or Matine's father), Brianna L, Brianna J, Trey, and Lushan's tour organizer.
On the morning of departure, Christiana with her host family.
This is one of the last pictures taken together with host students in the entrance of the school. Each of Lushan's host student stood exactly behind their guest students from ALL, Tucson.
Shaida's host family.
Arista with her host family.
Everyone knows why they are smiling.
This is one of my favorite pictures. This building is looking at the river passing through Changsha.
Who is missing from the picture? Mmm. Brianna Lark for sure. But what about Claiborne? In the previous picture she was hiding behind Jessie. She might be hidden in the crowd.
While Serie is looking at the right direction, David is looking towards his right.
Claire: "Why did you leave me alone on this bridge?"
Mao's birthplace was located in the middle of a hill divided by a canyon with a majestic scenery that included a river, pools, gardens, bridges and hiking paths.
Alexis and Christiana look happy and content.
As I do not know what the rock wall talking about, similarly I do not know what are in the minds of David and Serei, besides the obvious one: "We are in China and we are happy."
Arista, with her usual smile.
"I will now teach you how to write Chinese on a red paper"?
The colors of the lights were changing every second.
I told you.
The morning of departure, David and Serei together with Jacqueline and her host family.
Arista and her younger sister Claybourne (both in red ALL T-shirt), taking their last pictures with their host families.
I will miss you.
Trey and his host family.
Maria and her host family.
Jim, Elizabeth and Brianna L.
Whose head is this that is blocking my view?
I need to learn the correct spelling of the names of our hosts.
Aria and her host mom, saying goodbye.
Emotional moments
At the Guangzhou Airport with my son Matine. Matine is eating a Chnise fruit and I am playing with a Chinese toy: four chickens pecking the circular board through the motion of a pendulum attached to their moving heads.
See you again China!
