Beijing is an exciting, cosmopolitan city that is vast as it is diverse. There are always a TON of things to do. The five days I spent in Beijing were not enough to scratch the surface of all there is to see and do. ESPECIALLY since I was on a field trip with 130 seventh-graders.
But I’m not complaining. I’m glad that I had the chance to go (and the fact that it was an all-expense paid trip definitely sweetened the deal). We arrived on a Monday to grey skies and hit the ground running.
Our first stop was Tian’anmen Square (which I will probably never succeed in spelling correctly), which is not only the largest square in the world, but is also where the tragic Tian’anmen square massacre took place in 1989. Hundreds of pro-democracy protestors were killed by government troops in the streets surrounding the square. Many Chinese refuse to talk about the incident. China, in case you didn’t remember, is communist, ridiculously so, even today. Censorship is strong, especially when it comes to the internet. In my opinion, this information restriction, as limiting as it is, makes China a very grim place to be. Despite my occasional laments about Hong Kong being too “western”, I am glad that I don’t live in mainland China.
Photo ops at the Square
Solemnity at the square, however, was pretty much a bust with over 100 twelve-year-olds in tow. The didn’t really realize the cultural and historical significance of the events that took place in the square. But maybe that’s a good thing. Ignorance is bliss, no? At any rate, after walking around the square and being heckled by vendors, we set up shop in one of the corners of the square and went about assembling and then flying kites. Kites hold a lot of meaning in Chinese history and culture, and Tiananmen Square is reputed to be one of the best places to fly kites in Beijing, due to its vast area.
This vendor heckled the students endlessly. She was selling panda hats, as you can see…
The cold and blustery winds hindered the kite-making and flying process. The skies soon opened up, and even rain was added to the mix. Many students, unprepared for the cold, huddled along the stone walls that separated the square from the street. Our tour guides passed out thin, plastic rain shields, and soon our groups was dressed identically in vibrant colours, cold, but at least no longer wet.
Before long, students were able to start flying their kites despite the inclement weather…
…And the sight was touching. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so symbolic and so rewarding to a child. Most of the kids have iPods, PS2’s and other high-tech gadgets that they can’t live without and use/play with for the majority of their waking hours. So it was a beautiful thing to see them engaged in something as simple and old-fashioned as flying a kite. And besides that, how cool is it to say that you had the chance to spend an afternoon flying a kite in someplace as epic as Tiananmen Square, the largest plaza in the world?
41 Comments
How cute are those kids.
I was just telling my friend about that.
Right on my man!
Wonderful views on that!
I was just telling my friend about that.
Hello to every one, since I am really keen of reading this webpage’s post to be
updated on a regular basis. It contains good material.
This design is wicked! You definitely know how to keep a
reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great
job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
You are so cool! I don’t think I have read through a single thing like that before.
So nice to discover someone with original thoughts on this issue.
Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This website is one thing that is needed on the internet,
someone with a bit of originality!
Hi there everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this website,
and article is truly fruitful designed for me, keep up posting such content.
At this moment I am ready to do my breakfast, when having
my breakfast coming yet again to read further news.
What’s up Dear, are you in fact visiting this web site daily, if so after that
you will without doubt take pleasant experience.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually realize what you’re speaking approximately!
Bookmarked. Please also consult with my site =).
We will have a hyperlink trade arrangement between us
Hi! This post couldn’t be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him.
Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some
advice from an established blog. Is it hard to set
up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions?
Thanks
I’m very happy to discover this great site. I need to to thank you for ones
time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and i also have you saved as a favorite
to check out new information in your blog.
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!|
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality
articles or blog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo
I finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i’m happy to
exhibit that I’ve an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed.
I such a lot indubitably will make sure to don?t overlook this website and give
it a glance regularly.
Keep on writing, great job!
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and
I am impressed! Very useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot.
I was looking for this particular information for a long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
I’d like to find out more? I’d care to find out some additional information.
I am really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility issues?
A small number of my blog visitors have complained about my
blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari.
Do you have any tips to help fix this problem?
Spot on with this write-up, I really believe that this site needs
far more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the advice!
I feel that is one of the such a lot significant information for me.
And i’m glad studying your article. However wanna observation on few normal things, The site style is wonderful, the
articles is really nice : D. Good process, cheers
Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site,
how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this
your broadcast provided bright clear concept
I just could not go away your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed
the usual information an individual provide in your guests?
Is gonna be back steadily to investigate
cross-check new posts
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added”
checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several
e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from
that service? Thanks a lot!
Hi there, I found your site via Google at the same time as searching for a similar
matter, your web site got here up, it seems to be good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just was aware of your blog via Google, and found that it’s really
informative. I’m going to be careful for brussels. I
will appreciate in case you proceed this in future.
A lot of other folks can be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
Wow, superb blog format! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog
for? you make blogging look easy. The entire glance of your website is great,
as neatly as the content!
Hello! I’ve been reading your weblog for a while
now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Texas!
Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!
Why visitors still use to read news papers when in this technological globe all is available on web?
That’s very good point
My brother recommended I may like this website.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day.
You can not consider just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly
picked up anything new from right here. I did however
expertise several technical points using this website,
as I experienced to reload the web site many
times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement
in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing
with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail
and could look out for much more of your respective interesting
content. Make sure you update this again very soon.
Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely great.
I actually like what you have acquired here, really
like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful web site.
I blog frequently and I genuinely appreciate your information. The article has
really peaked my interest. I will bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once per week.
I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.
This article is really a nice one it assists new net viewers, who are wishing in favor of blogging.
Hi there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you
using for this website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because
I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good
platform.
These are truly enormous ideas in regarding blogging.
You have touched some fastidious things here. Any way keep up wrinting.
Wonderful views on that!
Comments are closed.