Bill Stroube

Monday, we packed and loaded the bus but had one more stop before leaving Shanghai. Bryan arranged for us to visit ZS Consulting, Shanghai office. This firm works with companies, specifically pharmaceutical companies, to understand the Chinese health care and marketing system. Our host, Patrick, gave a wonderful overview of how the PRC (People’s Republic of China) doctors and hospitals work and what the proposed reform of this system might look like. Thanks, Bryan, for setting this up. Your friends at ZS said to tell you “Nî hao”.

We arrived in Hangzhou late afternoon Monday. We were greeted by George, the coordinator of International Studies, and were assigned our rooms in the international dorm. We also learned that we had a “special dining room” for the next three days. It’s China’s way of “quarantining” us until we have been in the country for seven days. After supper we took a walk to Trust Mart – that’s Walmart to us – and stocked up on soaps, toilet paper, bottled water, and other supplies.

Our routine for the next two weeks will be classes in the morning taught by various professors form Zhejiang University. The afternoons will vary between educational tours or exploring on our own. Wednesday several of us took the city bus to West Lake. This is the focal point of Hangzhou, which refers to itself as the most beautiful city in China. I have to agree at this time. For a city of 6 million, it is at the foot of the hill country and has a tropical feel with much more green space they what we saw in Shanghai. - Kathy

We just got access to the web - so I will get the next post up in just a little bit.

Leon did a good job of orientating us to the subway. We had no reservations of heading to Nanjing Road Sunday evening for a little shopping and dinner. It was the return trip that gave us a taste to what rush hour might be like in the big cities. We, along with what appeared as everyone else, rushed to catch the last train for the evening. It was like sardines in a can, a crowd experience that you don’t want very often. Kathy

Not far from our hotel is the Luxun Park. Nestled in the midst of high-rise apartment buildings is a tree-lined lake that snakes its way about the plazas, pavilions, gardens and footpaths. There were people everywhere, not just setting along the benches and strolling under the trees but engaged in all sorts of activities. At the first tree filled plaza there were three ladies in pink “pajamas” moving in sync, swirling long swords, an older lady in blue practicing her Ti Chi, another two with badminton rackets batting a “birdie” about (no net). Off to one side was a group of at least twenty couples, all in graceful ballroom movement dancing to “Moon River”. With random other couples about the plaza mimicking the moves, oblivious to those around them.

Moving further into the park we could hear the voices of a group singing. Perched on top of a shaded knoll was a large group of men and women gathered in front of a suspended handwritten newsprint board, as a lady conducted the harmonious parts. Not a formal group or a religious service, best I could tell, just people who wanted to sing. I would have song along too, if only I could have read the words!

As we moved along the pathway we saw musicians playing traditional Chinese stringed instruments (I’ll have to look it up later to give them names). Along one path was a threesome, one playing a single stringed instrument and two singing using a microphone. Their talent not all that great, but their passion was sincere. There were men playing board games, a little boy with a net swooping up tadpoles, and a man writing with a “water brush” Chinese characters on the sidewalk.

We were as much of a spectacle to those in the park as the patrons of the park were to us. Jan (maybe because of her blond hair) was asked to “please hold baby to take picture”. I’m not sure the baby was impressed but the mother was thrilled. As we paraded through the park we got lots of smiles as well as stares. I can’t think of a better way to relate to a culture than a stroll in the park on a Sunday morning. Kathy

It was good to see Leon again. He took us by subway to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. There, on the third floor, is a scaled model of all of Shanghai (or at least a three mile radius from the center) that gave us an appreciation of the city and its vastness. The Pu Dong side of the Huangpu River with its skyscrapers, high-rises, boulevards, and planned communities has all been built within the last twenty years, amazing! From this building we went to an older more traditional part of town that is in transition into a “Soho” style neighbor. It was a maze of narrow lanes and alleyways consisting of stylish shops, restaurants, and galleries mixed with residences with stone washbasins at the door and laundry hung out to dry.

After a 14-hour flight out of Detroit we arrived in Shanghai Thursday evening. We were met by our guide, Peter, with a coach bus that took us through town to our hotel – the Joyfull (not misspelled) International. Even thought our bodies thought it was 8 AM our journey had worn us out and most tried to get a night’s sleep.

Friday started out with a hug buffet breakfast provided by the hotel. It was a breakfast that appealed to all cuisine, sliced meats and cheeses, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereals, sausage, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and a variety of buns and breads. In addition, there was fried rice, noodles, sushi, hot congee, and an assortment of pickled and dried fruits.

Peter picked us up in the lobby at 9 and we headed out to a full day of touring which included Shanghai Museum, China Town and the Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl Town Observation Deck and the Shanghai City Museum. We ended the day with a boat ride on the Huangpu River.

Exhausted we turned to our hotel and found a neighborhood noodle shop and ate. All were in their rooms by 9 PM. Me, fast asleep soon after. Today we will meet up with Bryan’s friend from his University days here at Shanghai, Leon, who will help us learn to navigate the subway and move about the city. – submitted by Kathy

Heading to China on June 24, just three weeks from today .  There are eight of us that will be based in Hangzhou at Zhejiang University.  I spent six weeks in Hangzhou last summer so I feel comfortable with the surroundings and can’t wait to get back there and see my friends again.  Last summer I took a four-week-intensive Mandarin language class; but, somehow I think that I have lost most of my ability.  Should have been practicing all year. 

We will be studying the health care system and of course learning about culture.  Also, the great food is a real plus.  We will take a few side trips to Shanghai and a trip to Beijing for a few days.

After five weeks it is time to head back to the states. This is our ninth visit and even thought it will be good to get home there are parts of Harlaxton that will say with us until the next time - the cooing of the morning doves, the greenness of the landscape, the manor house, meals at the faculty table, the British people who make our stay so enjoyable. Kathy 

Kathy and I were invited to have high tea with Malcalm and Nita Knapp who live in Grantham. Over the years we have developed a great relationship with the Knapps. Their views, stories, and antidotes of England are informing and delightful. Malcalm is a blue badge guide for Lincolnshire that I call on every year to take the students and guests around Grantham.

Saturday we ventured out to Ashby and roamed around the ruins of a medieval castle called Ashby de la Zouch Castle inhabited by Lord William Hastings and destroyed during the Civil War. We then went to the city of Leicester (the tenth largest in England) to check out some possible sites for next year’s class to visit. The weather was cool but sunny. Sunday is a going to be a day of rest and preparation for the final week of classes.