PERCEPTIONS

HOW TO READ/FOLLOW THIS BLOG ABOUT OUR TRIP TO CHINA

2008-11-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

The best way to follow is to start from the first blog entry and follow them to this final one. That will require going all the way back to the first entries and moving forward. But, of course, you can view them in any order you want.

Thanks for visiting, Connie and I do hope you enjoy these entries. Our China tour was truly amazing.

Drop us a note sometime, we would love to hear from you. useyernoodle@hotmail.com - but first, you might want to view this lovely contemporary animation of traditional Chinese calligraphy from YouTube. It is quite enjoyable, and educational too. :-)

MORE TV ABOUT CHINA

2008-08-01T02:17:00.000-07:00

This week, and through the Olympics, the TV and movie houses will be swamped with information and stories about China; even the Travel Channel is featuring tourist destinations and fun people can get in China. To learn more about the CNBC lineup, follow this link. http://www.cnbc.com/id/25921229

Beyond the amazing history, sites and experiences in China, tens of thousands of Americans and Europeans will discover the bargain China is as a tourist destination. In this climate of exorbitantly high priced fuel and travel, forget Europe for awhile, especially England. The UK is so expensive right now that it might be better to wait a bit, until the dollar can do better against the British Pound, before you go there.

If you can stand a long plane ride, you will discover that China is your best bet in so many ways. And if China is good enough for Hollywood these days, that should tell you something. Don't forget to go see the MUMMY, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. One doesn't want to miss a factual "documentary" like this. :-)

FOUR PART SERIES: "THE REPUBLIC OF "CAPITALISM" with Ted Koppel

2008-07-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

Tune in to Ted Koppel's four part documentary that covers the global effects of China's Capitalistic reforms, and the cultural transformations taking place in this Communist country.

This four-parter is showing on the DISCOVERY Channel at 10 PM, Wednesday, July 9th through Saturday, July 12th. You will want to catch these insightful programs, and perhaps, record them. This report promises to be "revolutionary" information for many Americans, and it could well change the way one plans the future for their children and grandchildren.
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For other subjects from Daniel Rice, visit these links.
http://www.danielriceart.net and http://illuminatrium.blogspot.com

RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT CHINA

2008-07-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

There are many new books about China in the book stores. Here are some acclaimed volumes (above) that have captured the attention, emotions and imaginations of contemporary readers.

As you visit websites discussing the progress of China you will discover much for which to be intrigued, entertained and even alarmed. As you will see and hear from the books and audio clips included in this post, there are a kaleidoscope of views unfolding about China these days. Each will shed some light, but none can tell the full story.

What is happening in China is huge. For instance, did you know that India has now become the biggest trade-customer with China? The U.S. is no longer its top trading partner. Listen to an NPR REPORT about this topic by clicking on the link about China's Economy in the box on the right side of this page.

Did you also know that the sudden wealth of China has made it possible for China to dedicate ever increasing sums of money to the development of its military, including the development of its nuclear submarine fleet. This has created no small concern in the world, especially among those American allies who share the same coastal waters with China, namely, Japan.

Did you know that China is interested in the militarization of space, and its space program is moving ahead at an aggressive pace? Yes, all these things parallel the rapid growth of this emerging nation. In the next several decades we will see China experience surprising changes in the areas of science, politics and commerce. The question on everyone's mind is, "Can this be done peacefully, or will it be a bumpy road?"

How these new realities evolve will forever change the way Americans and Europeans relate to their global neighbors. The only wise path for the west is to participate in these changes, because they will affect all our futures in unpredictable ways.

THE FORBIDDEN CITY, THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, & THE ILLUSIVE PEKING DUCK

2008-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of PEKING DUCK. Yes, it is a specialty in China, now it is called Beijing Duck, not nearly as poetical. But at least we caught a glimpse of this illusive creature, and persuaded it to have its picture taken with Connie, and one of the traditional Chinese lions . . . for protection. After the picture, the Peking Duck suddenly vanished. We considered ourselves lucky to have been able to secure such an auspicious and important photo opportunity.

Jimmy was our guide through the nearly infinite maze of buildings called the Forbidden City. Several of our acquaintances told us to skip the Forbidden City and go to the Summer Palace instead. They said they could not remember much of the Forbidden City. When we got there it became immediately clear to me that anyone not being guided through this vast royal palace complex would have no idea what they would be seeing. So, for 200 Yuan (RMB) we hired a guide for the day. 200 RMB is about $30 (USD). I figured it would be worth it, and golly was it ever!

Jimmy was a deep reservoir of knowledge. He was also an excellent English speaker and has a truly delightful sense of humor. He told us many jokes and witty things. He was absolutely the best guide ever! It seemed he knew so many details about the Forbidden City. He ought to. He gives two to three tours a day, everyday. Not a way to get rich, but it sure is a way to improve one's English speaking abilities. Jimmy spent the whole day with us, and took us directly to places that some tourists spend hours trying to find. He was fantastic. If you go there, we will be happy to give you Jimmy's business card. You will definitely want to hire this guy. We were SO LUCKY!!!

Many buildings are being refurbished and fixed up for all the visitors coming to Beijing for the Olympics in August. It is going to be insane. I asked Jimmy how many people come to the Forbidden City each year. He said, "I don't know, but last October, over two million people came to the Forbidden City on one day!" I was shocked. I questioned him on that and he held to his story.

I don't know if that number was accurate, but I suppose 170,000 people per hour for twelve hours might be possible. Still, 3,000 people entering the Forbidden City per minute for twelve hours is hard to believe. Nevertheless, Jimmy defended that number. Whew!

Perhaps the "city" was open longer than twelve hours, I couldn't really get a clear idea of how those statistics worked. Whatever the actual case is, at least Jimmy believed the number, and he works there, so he might be right.

The Chinese lion, which just about everyone is familiar with, is represented as both male and female. The male is on the right and has a sphere under its right paw - symbolizing power. The female is on the left, with a one of her cubs under her left paw - symbolizing maternity and the home, I suppose. There are different styles of lions. These lions are very old and appear more traditional. They were only about three feet tall. I liked this design better than some I've seen.

The bronze work on this door was exquisite! The dragon, probably two to three inches tall and about three times as long, was so perfectly executed that it arrested my attention. It appears polished because people touch it all the time . . . including myself. I couldn't resist. The curvilinear forms, the movement and the dimensionality of this magnificent work evokes an automatic tactile response from the viewer. I can't express how stimulating this metal work is, but it is a pure joy to behold. Someone once told me that what we today consider "the crafts" in the western world, will eventually save the visual arts from the chaos and the inevitable nihilistic abyss into which the "art for arts sake" mentality is sending it. This work, simple as it is, makes be believe them because of the sophistication and restraint this work demonstrates.

Mythological creatures are part of Chinese art. Some of them are scary, and are meant to be so. This is one of those creatures that you really don't want to meet in a dark alley, or a lit one either. Jimmy told us about it, but I can't remember the specific name. I just remember that it was NOT a lion. It was intended to be a protector of the emperor and the palace.

On a lighter note. I thought this little girl was a joy. Look at her little umbrella and clothing. This child is obviously "special" to her parents - as are all the children in China. A one child policy will make one appreciate what a blessing children truly are.

This NINE DRAGON SCREEN WALL is very famous. It is one of several in existence. You can read more about it on the plaque by clicking onto the image. A larger, more readable version will pop up. Just click the back button to get back to this page, to continue.

This is a model of the heavens. I think it has a larger version someplace in the Forbidden City. Both versions have real pearls to locate the place of the stars of the constellations. The larger version, as I understand it, has five thousand three hundred pearls . . . or was it three thousand, five hundred pearls in the place of the stars? I can't remember all the details. Let's just say that there are thousands and thousands of pearls that make up these three dimensional ancient space observatories.

The Forbidden City was full of carved marble wonders, like this staircase for the emperor. The items carved in this long vertical frieze is of dragons, mountains and sky. Jimmy tells us that the Forbidden City, over its lifetime of housing emperors, employed over 100,000 artists and over 2,000,000 workers.

Everywhere there were wonderful carvings, which if you look close, need some tender loving care in order to restore them to their best condition. Connie and I contributed to the restoration project going on here at the Forbidden City. It is just a small way of becoming part of history, as well as investing something personal in the betterment of China and its ancient heritage. Now, Dan and Connie Rice will forever be part of the Forbidden City. That is a really cool thought. Jimmy told us the story about the meaning of the crane. This particular crane stands on a dais, above the people, in a vast courtyard. On this platform there is an altar for burning incense. Funerary rituals are associated with the burning of the incense. It is said that if a person did good in life, the crane would carry their soul to a happy afterlife. If they did not do well, the crane would carry their soul to a place under the earth, to a not-so-desirable afterlife. I though it was intriguing how the "afterlife" theme was part of this culture, and how much it is a part of many (if not every) cultures. There seems to be a recurring theme here in the psyche of human beings. This is exactly what the modern China is struggling with - spirituality, morality, consequence and reward. Institutional atheism has not cured the religious needs of the human soul. I have heard many people say, "We do not need the idea of God in order to live moral lives. Living for the good of humankind is motivation enough." Well, guess what? That might sound plausible and nice, but I have observed that it really doesn't work that way. People need the Lord, for lots of reasons. Many of which reach far beyond the issues of morality and human ethics. I think we are going to see some very interesting events in China with regard to spirituality in the next fifty years. China, again, is the place to watch.

The Great Wall of China, of course is one of the wonders of the world, and rightfully so. All I can say is, "You gotta go there, in order to appreciate the magnitude of this wonder." I kept pinching myself and saying, "Dude, you are walking on the Great Wall, of China!"

People from around the world want others to know that they had made this nearly-sacred pilgrimage, and a pilgrimage it is. When you see this marvel, it puts some things into perspective. This part of the wall is younger than that near Xi'an. This portion of the wall is only three thousand years old.

Yes, the stairs can be a bit steep at times. Connie took this picture of me, which shows that she was marching on ahead of me, leaving me in her dust! Thanks, dear.

Then, she takes this picture of me, as she lets me catch up. No, I am not annoyed, just a little out of breath, but I am ready for the next set of stairs.

Here they are. Up you go!

The Beijing airport was expecting us. Despite the adventure of China, and despite the benefit we were to so many hundreds of students, it felt good to be going back home. Nearly a month in Asia put new thoughts into our minds, filled us with wonder (countless times), opened our thinking to new and old ways of doing things, and to objects we had never considered as food. We talk of returning one day.

The improvements done on the airport are stunning. Just look at this multi-level structure. It is pure poetry in space. The steel, the glass, the reflective surfaces were dazzling . . . and oh yes, that is a Starbucks sign to the right. What is China coming to? Jimmy told us that they use to have a Starbucks right in the Forbidden City. I said, "That is an outrage!" He laughed and said the common folks in Beijing thought so too, and raised such a stink that they took it out. They have replaced it with a restaurant that serves tea. Imagine that.

A LARGER PICTURE ALBAM & SHORT VIDEOS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE SHORTLY.
In the mean time, visit http://www.danielriceart.net/

BEIJING, OUR FINAL CITY - BUT NOT OUR FINAL BLOG POST

2008-06-26T07:34:00.001-07:00

What a privilege to meet one of the royal family of China. This man is one of China's treasures in many ways. First of all, he is the nephew of the Last Emperor of China, member of the twelfth generation of the Emperor's family. Second, he is a very great artist, a calligrapher, specifically. Third, he is a philanthropist, and gave his personal wealth to the Red Cross to assist those who are suffering in Sichuan Province, under the devastation of the great earthquake.

In front of us is a work he did - as we watched. His seemingly effortless manner belied the fact of his consummate mastery of the skills required for such perfect work. Having begun his calligraphic training at four years of age, he continues on into his sixties. We met him at the end of the day, quite by accident - through a formal introduction by a museum worker here at the Forbidden City. The only downside is that this came at the end of a very long, very soggy day, and we were exhausted. If I had had presence of mind, I would have written down his name. I will inquire and hope to update the blog with that information by mid July.

This is a shot of one of the Emperor's thrones. Our guide, Jimmy, told us all sorts of interesting facts about the throne, what it was used for and when; the way the tiles were made on the floor - and what makes them completely unique; the calligraphy - which was painted by the hand of the Emperor himself, and its special meanings, and so forth. Very fascinating.

Connie caught a shot of this monk running across the brick courtyard with an umbrella. I think this is a delightful picture. He reminds me of Mr. Tumnus in C. S. Lewis' book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, a fawn who carried an umbrella.

This lion head was part of a huge guilded bronze laver that stood in one of the enormous courtyards.

"The Four Hundred Year Old Tree," that's what it's called. This was not the only old tree at the Forbidden City. After all, the Forbidden City is hundred's of years old and was a royal residence until the early twentieth century. Every square inch of this place is connected to history. There must be a million intriguing stories in this place. But, to stand in the presence of something old and still living, something that dates back four hundred years, gives one an odd feeling. What was happening four hundred years ago in America? That would have been 1608, and the first English Colonies were not established until 1620. The U.S. did not become a nation until 1776. So, this tree is older than the English colonies and older than the United States itself. This gives one pause.

With all that running around, a boy has to eat. These noodles are absolutely wonderful. This meal was so delicious. It was a bit different than regular Chinese cuisine in that it had a Mongolian twist. This is where, just behind me, the chef came out and grabbed a large fish out of what I thought was the "aquarium" and dragged it off into the kitchen. I guess it wasn't an aquarium after all. Hmmmm.

The night market in Beijing is a bustling place. Tourists, merchants, businesses, music, noise, humidity, and a seemingly endless offering of trinkets and merchandise were crowded into a backstreet, just off one of the city's centers.

This couple made two stamps for us to give to our daughter, Joey, and her husband, Matthew. Joey is a writer, and Matthew is a boat designer. We though they might think it novel to sign their works with with a stamp of their own names, specifically and lovingly created just for them.

This tree, in one of the Forbidden City's special gardens, is called "The Loving Tree." It is intertwinded and grows together, like the lives of lovers. Many couples stand in front of this tree to have their pictures taken. To do so, they say, insures the longevity of your love for each other. This year, on June 1st, while in Xi'an, China, Connie and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary. I would say we already have that "longevity" thing going on in our marriage, but it never hurts to build in a little "insurance."

Visit http://www.danielriceart.net

WANDERING AND PONDERING AROUND THE CITY OF NANCHANG

2008-06-24T01:10:00.000-07:00

With her new Chinese hat securely in place, Connie deflects the sunlight and sports a new look. This is a hat worn by farmers and railroad workers. There are other shapes for different jobs and different locations across China. Connie is working on acquiring a collection of the coolest hats - in time. Together, we wander the streets and markets of Nanchang, getting a feel for the sights and sounds of this important city.

This seamstress works right on the street. Walk up, tell her what you need and "POP" she will whip it out in no time. One of the young ladies we met had a beautiful long dress made from scratch and it cost her all of eight and a half dollars (USD). Everything is less expensive in China. Talk about getting the bigger bang for the buck!

In the Porcelain District, much like the Pearl District, shops specialize in one product. You can find anything you want in these places, and things you didn't even know existed. The prices range from very reasonable to things only royalty can afford. It is really worth going to these sections of town next time you are in Nanchang. Don't laugh. I never thought I'd be there either. You never know what bit of information might come in handy in the future.

This yard was beautiful. I have no idea what this place was, but they had water lilies (lotus plants) growing in buckets - covering the entire yard - dozens and dozens of them. The water in these five-gallon tins was only a foot deep, or so, but the lilies stood straight up out of the buckets, four feet high. I'd never seen anything like it. I don't know if this was a special kind of water lily or not, but these lily pads and pink lotus flowers were stunningly beautiful. The texture and visual effect of a yard full of these graceful plants was astounding.

This was such a lonely old bicycle. It was like a faithful dog, waiting for its master, outside a store on Porcelain Street. I couldn't resist the irony of a bicycle in front of a traditional Chinese landscape - stuck in the heart of a huge city. The bike seemed like it was part of the background painting, or like it might have been remembering a former life in the countryside. Still, bicycles are very much part of city life. One of our tour guides called China, "The Kingdom of bicycles."

Here are some of the literally thousands of samples of magnificent porcelain in Nanchang. I grieved to have to leave this pot on the shelf. It was not all that expensive, maybe a hundred bucks in U.S. dollars . . . and boy was it ever exquisite. Mamma mia!

The pot on the left features a Phoenix on one side and the Dragon on the other side. These two mythological creatures represent the female-YIN (Phoenix) and the male-YANG (Dragon), and symbolize balance/harmony in the world. These are still very central concepts in Chinese culture, and I have come to appreciate these ideas, and to understand them as core values within their society. I think they are good values. They create a kind of "lens" through which the Chinese see the world.

The pot on the top right side of this shelf was unique and I loved it - especially its misshapen spout. It was also a steal of a deal. My problem is that I live in a small apartment, so how would I ever display such jewels if I had purchased them? There is no way I would put this beautiful item into common use. It would remain a work of visual art only. It is just too unique to reduce to everyday tasks.

It reminds me of a verse in the New Testament, where Paul talks about "some vessels" being made for honor and some for common use. This is a vessel of honor, in my view. Nevertheless, If I could work it into my budget, I think I would save my pennies and send for it.

Most of these stores are experts at shipping porcelain around the world, so it is conceivable that it could reach me in one piece . . . yet, I keep worrying about that thin neck.

The air quality of the Chinese cities we visited is notoriously poor, and Nanchang, for me, was one of the worst. The first several days we were there I had serious sinus problems - the worst in years. I think it was the combination of pollution and "all that blooms in spring."

We were, thankfully, sent rain to clean the air. I was not only relieved, it felt like I had been healed. The air quality improved dramatically all at once. The pollution and pollen was cleaned from the air and I could breath again. Then, it kept raining for two more days. But that was okay with me. I like rain, and I like umbrellas too.

Traditional buildings; they are something else. This one had been in this family for many years, although the family did not actually live in these rooms anymore. They had build new rooms (behind where I was standing), that were greatly updated, yet they kept the old building for practical uses, and perhaps for purposes of nostalgia.

You can see the floor of this traditional building. It was dirt, covered by a very smooth layer of moss. One of the men in our group, an architect, said, "This family has a different relationship with the ground than do westerners." You would probably cover the ground with concrete, but not these country folks. You can also see some of the traditional items in the house.

There was a lot of writing on one of the walls, and old pictures if Mao Zedong (pronounced just like it appears) and Zhou Enlai (pronounced: Jo En lie) that had faded with age. Perhaps the room had been used as a classroom at one time.

This structure included several rooms - a storage room, a living room, a bedroom and an old kitchen; which we would probably not recognize as a kitchen at all. It is difficult to imagine anyone having lived in this building. It gave me a new appreciation for China's history and why China is changing so quickly today. Nevertheless, the post and beam construction was expertly assembled, and the edifice was structurally sound. It has stood proud for many years, and will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Other traditional structures in that village featured the brick/block construction with a tile roof on top. Brick and tile does not stand up well against earthquakes. They are too rigid and quickly crumble. I thought how that might teach us in life, that the best construction for one's life is based on flexibility. Buildings (and people) who grow brittle tend to break and crumble under sudden shock and turbulence.

Of course, this building's magnificent forms and decorations are profound examples of Chinese love for architecture. It shows the care and pride Chinese people put into these kinds of gorgeous, enduring structures. The newer architecture is not being built with such "values. Unfortunately, in the mind of many contemporary architects, fancy, fast, and cheap is the way to go. Permanence is no longer a general value in China. The NEW is valued more highly than is quality. Personally, I find this a disturbing feature of the NEW China's attitude about development.

This is a corner of the first temple building at the Buddhist temple. I love great architecture and this is some of the best in the world. The craftsmanship and the perfection of these structures are more than impressive. These building are not only consummate works of art, they are intended to be permanent structures. They have been carefully designed to endure the test of time and the stresses of nature . . . and now they are being lovingly preserved. Perhaps this is why they survived Mao's Cultural Revolution. These buildings are simply too magnificent to destroy. This makes me wonder how one's faith ought to be reflected in its related architecture.

Architecture was once extremely important to the Christian church. It isn't so much anymore. Now people are delighted to meet in school gymnasiums - ugh. What a low level has been reached by American Christians in this area of their faith. I am thinking Christians everywhere might want to revisit the idea of building something that survives the test of time, the stresses of nature, and buildings that speak something more relevant toward the nature of God than does a school gymnasium.

I know this is just my personal opinion on the matter, but the name of this blog is called "PERCEPTIONS," and, well, this is my perception about this subject. It may not be the only one that's valid, but I will gladly own it and stand by it, because I believe it IS both valid and important. I have patiently listened to the utilitarian views of those who prefer gymnasiums to cathedrals, and I get it. However, I think I will abide with my own view on this subject. The architecture of faith ought to be magnificent because of what it represents. In this case, I think the Buddhists got it right.

There is a lake in the middle of Nanchang city. In that lake is an island, and on that island is a pavilion, to which people stroll, and where they go to relax and get away from the pressures of their lives.

Men with fishing poles line the heavy masonry banks, and city-dwellers paddle around the placid lake in various kinds of small boats. It is all very picturesque and lovely. I thought, as we walked by the lake, "What a wonderful place of respite Nanchangians have at their disposal." Parks are important to one's sanity in the city. The wise might take a clue from the practices of this ancient civilization.

This picture is of one of those picturesque boats. It looks so peaceful, moored up to these concrete steps, but if you could look behind me, you would see a vast complex of city buildings that surround the lake - an indication of just how tightly this lake is locked "inside" the city. A busy thoroughfare, with honking horns, roaring buses, and a massive humming population of millions lies not ten feet from the top of those stone stairs. I ponder, "Do the fish in that lake know they are actually living in a thriving metropolis?" "How much like those fish are we?" "Are there greater realities all around us, of which we are completely unaware, and incapable of comprehending?" "Is there someone fishing for us right now?" It's a thought.

TOMORROW: BEIJING, THE GREAT WALL, AND THE FORBIDDEN CITY.

(Visit Daniel's website at http://www.danielriceart.net)

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA GO TO NANCHANG - ASLAN'S ON THE MOVE

2008-06-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening, just after the national holiday, The Dragon Boat Festival, while students were still returning to campus, after a storm had blown down all our event posters, in a muggy atmosphere and under a steady rain, with half the student population missing from campus, the "English Club" held an event. During this event Connie read from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, as I painted a picture of Aslan.

Despite the drawbacks and unforeseen problems with weather and unpredictable influences, the meeting was a success. A solid group of students showed up - fifty to seventy-five or so, and they stayed until the event was over. Here are a few pictures of that evening.

The painting was donated to the new Student Center being build by the TESOL team and the University in Nanchang. The Center is the result of many years of relationship-building and dedicated service; and it will be awesome. The Center is a first for both the university and the TESOL program on campus. It is a joy to Connie and me that this painting will be placed in the Center as a token of our participation with all our new friends in China.

* The ideas for the image of the Lion are a compilation from numerous sources; photographs and other works of art, as well as my own twist on the idea of Aslan. I tried to depict a younger lion, because Aslan tells Lucy, in Prince Caspian, that he will appear larger as she grows. This Aslan is younger, for the young at heart.

Connie reads expressively from The Chronicles, and students are intrigued by the story. I wondered whether the concepts and the language would translate well from the writings of an Oxford Don, through the American accent of a Seattle university professor, and into the understanding of students who have a completely different culture. Amazingly, most of it did. This was, as much as anything, an experiment in cross-cultural communication, and it worked quite well.

After the event, students asked questions, offered insights from their own culture, and expressed sincere and enthusiastic appreciation for the event. Here, two students ask to have their picture taken with the "artist." As happens every time when I paint in public, others who desire to become artists come forward and say they have been inspired to get busy with their own forms of creative expression. Of course, I encourage them to do so straight-away!

Here are some of those students asking questions about my paints, the techniques I use, the reason why Connie and I put on such programs, and they offer all sorts of interesting observations and considerations for me in the future.

Paintings begun in such short events are not much more than color sketches, which I then take home and refine. This painting of Aslan took about three or four hours after the event to complete. Painting is really a lot of fun, but to get a satisfactory finished result, it takes a lot more time than can be afforded in such short public meetings.

Students asked Connie questions about her reading, and about the story of Narnia and Aslan. This girl is asking, "What happens to the witch?!" Connie takes a bit more time to explain how Aslan deals with the witch, and the students are please that evil is vanquished from Narnia. I encouraged the students to read the complete story for themselves, and to read it to their own children in the future. They laughed, thinking about the day when they will have children of their own.

After the event, a girl came forward and showed Connie her own copy of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. We were both surprised. Evidently, because of the Narnia movies, students are aware of, and interested in these stories. Looks like we caught these students when their interest had already been piqued.

The building in this picture is a hotel, on campus, where Connie and I stayed for the eight days we were in Nanchang. It was nice. One of the items new to us was a coil of incense to light and place outside one's door in the hall, to keep the mosquitoes away. So, the halls were filled with wafting smoke from these incense burners. That gave me no small sinus problem. We never lit ours. I think that would have done me in. However, the fragrance wasn't too bad; sandalwood, Anyone who lived through the sixties will remember it because all the coolest and most hip boutiques and head-shops burned that stuff constantly. Who knew it had a practical application?

Students work with Connie in a writing class. We both taught a number of classes in addition to the special events we conducted on these campuses. They kept us busy, that's for sure.

The young men on the ends are teachers from Alabama, who came to Nanchang to teach in the TESOL program. Yes, they are twins. This summer they return to the U.S. to complete their masters degrees. There is an opening in the TESOL program for English teachers, if you care to go over. Let me know and I'll put you in contact with the directors. They will consider both short term and long term teachers. If you want to do an internship teaching English to Chinese students, this university is a good one. They will even pay you a salary and benefits for your work. If you're interested, let us know. We'll hook you up.

By the way, the painting in the background was done by me in a class on audio-visual communication. Students had the arduous task of listening to contemporary music while they watched me paint this sunflower. Then we discussed all sorts of issues with using unusual creative devices for communication. Students really want to engage a variety of audio-visual methodologies.

During this week, we were well taken care of by four interns. These are but two of them.

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These architectural students invited us to come see their art show. It was so well done. Each of these students had spent two years learning to draw and paint in a European style, so they could depict the buildings they had drawn.

They had prepared to go to traditional villages to draw and paint what was being lost in Chinese culture; the older architecture.

Thirty students went across China for fifteen weeks - a full semester - and lived and painted in these villages. Their works were keen observations of a key component of traditional Chinese culture. I was glad they had done this because China is quickly removing much of this traditional architecture. It is replacing the traditional with the modern, and by doing so, much of the old world will be torn down. From my own perspective, this is a pity, and some Chinese architects, university professors and students also share this view, hence this art show.

Connie and I spent a couple hours, looking at the show, asking questions about these villages, and interviewing the students about their experiences of doing this kind of art on location. This was an enriching experience and gave us insight into some of the massive changes taking place in China today.
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These are just a few of the many students we addressed on our tour of China. The top picture is from one of my communication and culture classes, and final one is from one of Connie's writing classes. I am quite visible, but Connie is in the back row, hiding from the camera. Can you pick her out? In all of these classes, students were very responsive and inquisitive. I can't remember when I have seen so many smiles in one place. They were a true delight to teach.

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)

FOOD, FAMILY & FAITH IN NANCHANG

2008-06-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

We spent the longest time in Nanchang (pronounce Naun-chong). Notorious as one of China's "Furnace" cities, because it is so hot in the summer, Nanchang is more like the traditional China than are the other cities we had visited. This city is distinctly different in many ways. In the photo above, one of the men at this luncheon is preparing to eat chicken feet. Duck feet were also on the table, along with many delicacies we had never seen. It was a sumptuous feast without a doubt, graciously prepared by friends of the University. I was humbled by their generosity.
It was at this luncheon that I had a revelation about American-Chinese food.

This is a shot from the local market. These eels were among the many unique foods offered on the back-street market. Other delectables included live fish of various kinds, live snails, bags of living black frogs, buckets of crayfish, buckets of turtles, and an assortment of creatures I had never considered as food. Our culinary learning curve was great.

This vendor is counting his morning earnings (RMB - Yuan), over his chopping block. The top of which possessed a remarkable crimson color and a gnarly texture I don't think I'd ever witness, and "I" use to work for a butcher. It was all very artsy . . . as a uniquely viscous medium.

These fast-food chefs were making something like pancakes, but I was not sure their pancakes would taste like the ones at home, so I watched rather than partook. In China, fast-food makes Wendy's look slow. This food is alive and swimming one moment, then WHAM, CHOP, SIZZLE, it's on your plate the next.

This little guy, and his younger brother, were a delight! They practiced their English on us. "HELLO - HELLO - HELLO!!!," they said, with huge smiles. We said,"HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?" "FINE, THANK YOU. AND YOU," they asked? "FINE. THANK YOU," we replied. They giggled with delight, and resumed chewing on their chocolate bars.

Everywhere, Chinese parents and children are engaged in everyday life. Family is very important to the people.

There is an entirely different relationship between children and parents in China than in the States, because of the One-Child policy. Every family is allowed just one child, and that is all. If parents have more than one pregnancy they are either forced to have an abortion, or they might be able to pay a very large penalty fee for the second child.

This policy is beginning to relax a bit these days, and there is some talk of allowing one child for city dwellers, two children for suburb dwellers, and maybe three children to folks in the country, but that does not seem to be something that will happen real soon.

Population control is serious business in China. When I asked a government official if China would permit foreigners to immigrate, he said he didn't think that would be a good idea. "We have enough people here," he said. "We don't need more."

Everywhere we went we saw happy folks who were desirous to share their lives and their hospitality with us. They continually invited us into their homes, to their tables and into their hearts. We were very warmly received all over China.

Here, this little guy is taking his sister for a ride in his new car. We saw numerous parents with remote control transports for their kids. It was funny to watch, but everyone loves technology, especially the more playful aspects of it.

On Sunday, we visited one of the city's official "Three-Self" churches. These are government approved congregations, and they are comprised of entirely Chinese leadership. The "Three-Self" refers basically to the idea that these churches are sovreignly Chinese, without foreign influence - such as the Catholic Church and Rome.

The speaker that morning was a woman who encouraged the people to trust in God despite the trying times of the recent earthquake in Sichuan Provance. She spoke from Psalm 46 and was an excellent communicator. At the end of the service, the congregation sang hymns from the book, prayed together, then in unison, said the Lord's prayer - which I thought was particularly profound.

This church sits on a hill, overlooking the city of Nanchang. It reminded both Connie and me of the words of Jesus, "A city set on a hill cannot be hid." My mind went back to the history of Nanchang and I thought of all the Church in China has been forced to endure, especially in this city, and yet it survives and thrives. This is a notable testament to the resilience of this strong people and to the power of that Life which keeps them going.

After that service, we high-tailed it over to the Buddhist temple across town. That too was quite an experience, and a witness to the tenacity of faith. This particular temple is the product of a unique branch of Buddhism, brought into existence by a Chinese man, here in Nanchang. So, it is uniquely a Nanchangian form of Buddhism. It is actually a kind of hybrid religion, part Buddhism and parts of other eastern religions mixed in . . . if I understand it correctly.

In the courtyard entrance, incense burners await those who enter the compound. There are four stages to this temple, as one passes from one building, up the hill, to the next . . . like a progression into the heart of the shrine.

One can purchase incense in different forms, to burn in various burners on the premises. This woman is stirring the ashes and preparing a place for her bundled stalks of incense.

Numerous people were worshipping at the temple that day. Some wore traditional dress, as did this woman, and some wore regular street clothes. People bowed and prayed. As we passed by I could hear the chants and a variety of personal devotional-incantations. It appeared that some were deeply sincere and others were going through a ritual that may not have been quite as meaningful. Human nature, I thought, is the same, regardless of the religion.

I took this shot to show the contrast between the ancient and the modern. Everywhere, this was a theme on our travels. All the years of change in China, Mao's Cultural Revolution, and the on-going crush of the modern world, all seem to have found a way to coexist in an uneasy truce.

Of course, we are not experts in any of this. These are just passing observations from an outsider. But, perhaps, as outsiders, we can see contrasts that appear invisible to those who live within this milieu, I don't know. One thing is for sure, everything we saw, and everything we experienced was fascinating and "spoke" to us on many levels. We asked many, many questions, and learned much.

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)

XI'AN CANDID SHOTS OF ARTISTS, STUDENTS, FOOD AND RESIDENTS

2008-06-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

In Gau Cho's studio, the gal in the green shirt, I learned how Chinese artists handle those famous brushes and black ink. Gau Cho is a well known artist in the Muslim Quarter and her work is absolutely masterful. In this photo she is trying to teach me to draw "straight" and "even" lines with the point of the small wolf-hair brush. She is laughing because I was a miserable failure. She finally burst out saying, "You are really BAD at this!" I had to admit, she was right.

Traditional Chinese artists have a deft and masterful control over their brushes. We westerners must appear to them as hacks and blunderers by comparison. However, when I gave her my business card, she was sincerely impressed with the image of one of my own paintings I'd placed on the front. So, I guess this was a mutual exchange of respect and admiration for the other's art and culture.

Connie loves to get shots of children. She snuck this picture while the grandmother was not looking, but babies always notice her. Such is the case in this photo. In China, the grandparents often care for the children during the day. It allows both of the parents to work and builds wonderful relationships between the generations.

As you can see, some of the normal school children still wear the red scarf, symbol of the communist government, but that is changing. Not all students do that anymore. The children in the International School, were we taught, did not wear them, and others also do not wear the red scarf.

The Muslim Quarter is famous for its foods and social/cultural contribution to the city of Xi'an. Here is a shot of a street cafe. We ate many wonderful foods in Xi'an, including a deep fried persimmon cake with raisins inside that was almost too hot to hold, but incredibly delicious! Who would have figured that those flavors would go so well together, but that is the way with Chinese cooking; unimaginable and endless combinations of delectable delights that boggle the mind. China is about food! Great food! Some of the foods I dislike in the U.S. I loved in China. It is all about how food is prepared and paired with other food. One of those delights was egg plant. I despise egg plant . . . but not in China; it is so yummy!

Amos is one of the kids who won (in a raffle) the painting I did of Aslan, painted while Connie read from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He was so stunned when they called out his name that his eyes and mouth flew open and he stood absolutely still - incredulous, frozen and dumbfounded. Several of his buddies started hugging him, and then they all began patting him on the back and congratulating him. You'd have thought they all had won a painting. I love this delightfully innocent look on Amos' face. May his life be ever filled with wonder and delightful surprises.

TOMORROW, we go to Nanchang (pronounced, Naun-chong), considered the original epicenter of the Communist uprising, August 1, 1927. Some good art came out of this part of our tour.

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)

THE ITINERARY MAP OF OUR TOUR

2008-06-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a map of China. This ancient nation of more than 1.4 billion people is roughly the same size as the United States, with its 300 million people.

Because some folks might not know a lot about China, or where these cities are located, I have included a map so all can see the distances traveled and the sequence of the five city tour. As you will notice, we had a bit of a zig-zag path across China from the south at Hong Kong (held by the British for a hundred years - til 1997) and Shenzhen (China's model city for economic reform), to the north at Xi'an (original capital), then back south to Nanchang (birthplace of the Communist Revolution), and finally north to Beijing (the current capital and location for the 2008 Olympics this coming August).

CONNIE'S CHINESE VERSION OF MILLET'S "HARVESTERS"

2008-06-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

TODAY WE HAVE TWO POSTINGS, "Harvesters," and "Young & Restless in China." I hope you enjoy them both as much as we enjoy producing them. If you want to see any of the picture more closely, you should be able to just click on any image and a window should pop up with an enlarged view of the photo.

Xi'an produces more wheat than rice, so this is a wheat harvest. You can tell that the day was hot and sunny. It was quite pleasant to be out ofs the smog of the city and to be able to see the blue sky again.

These country folks were working hard, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. They worked in community, together. All the cutting, bundling and winnowing of the wheat was done by hand. Only one small tractor was used to thresh some of the wheat, with a heavy roller, as the driver drove over and over the stalks on the ground.

Much of the wheat, however, was piled up on the roads so that cars could run over it and thresh some of the wheat by crushing it under their wheels. Our driver kept complaining that the farmers were piling the wheat too high on the road, making it difficult for us to get over. It was a funny experience, but totally delightful. The Chinese are eminently practical, if a bit eccentric.

Who knows, perhaps some paintings will come from these pictures. I told you Connie was a good photographer. We often take pictures of the same objects, people or events, but somehow, hers always look better than mine. What is up with that, especially since she has a crappier camera than me? I guess good photography is more about the "eye" of the artist than the kind of equipment one possesses. Her work is surely proof of that. Connie said she was trying to capture something of the spirit of Millet's "Harvesters," as shown above. She took lots more pictures, but here are a few that I thought would be good to put into our blog.

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)

XI'AN - THE OLD CAPITAL OF CHINA, AND THE FIRST CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

2008-06-19T23:30:00.000-07:00

In case you did not see the FRONTLINE special on PBS, you can click on the link in the right hand column and watch it online. This two hour special explores the lives of nine young people in the rapidly changing China. It is spot on and gives a very good slice of modern life in China. Someone commented to me the other day, "How much artistic freedom can there be in China when everything is painted Red?" Good question, but it shows the general out-dated view of China that is unaware of the emerging NEW China. All is not painted Red in China anymore. This is why it is important for everyone interested in their future on this planet to factor in the NEW China.

This PBS documentary catches some of the phenomena that describe China today. You may be surprised, and perhaps "moved" by the happenings in this renewable ancient land. It will be interesting to see if the NEW China can absorb the shock of global culture after the Olympics leave town. We are likely to see a kind of dual reaction. The young may demand greater openness and visionary experimentation, while the old order may try to consolidate what some perceive to be a worn out model that must continue to fade away. Whatever happens, it will be a prolonged struggle, as is China's way. My guess is that China will continue to align itself with the global community and the social and spiritual changes flowing in its direction, albeit in an inimitable Chinese fashion.

There are some very smart people in China who know that to turn a ship of 1.4 billion people onto a new course will require not only wisdom but time and space as well. Let us all hope that this process will be both peaceful and successful.

Connie and I went to see the Terracotta Warriors. It was hard to believe we were actually standing there, looking at one of the most curious spectacles on the earth. But, then again, it's China, the land where spectacles and surprises come at you from every direction.

Xi'an is the old capital of China, and was considered the center of the universe. In downtown Xi'an there is a bell/drum tower, which was considered the center of Xi'an. Now Connie and I can say that we have been to the center of the center of the universe, and back. Beijingers, however, would dispute that, since they consider the Forbidden City the center of the universe. I suppose it all has to do with where the emperor resides. But, no problem, we went there too. S0, either way, we were at the center of the center. Odd that two centers of the universe could exist so close to each other in space. Something to ponder in one's more meditative moments.

This is a staging area where archaeologists and specialists are still reassembling the broken shards of terracotta back into the whole warriors they once were. Almost all of the warriors and horses have been smashed by people who desecrated this burial site, and need reassembling. The wooden parts of the structure rotted away long ago and the tile and brick roof collapsed, crushing even more of these figures.

So the work goes on in these opened pits, but new pits will not be excavated until archaeologists can invent a way to stabilize the colors of the paint on these figures. As I understand, the Chinese are working with the Germans in an effort to arrest the irreversible damage light causes to pigments. Apparently, when they were created, everyone of these soldiers was brightly painted. At present, three pits stand open for viewing. What language can describe such a vast terracotta army? I am at a loss for words.

This class of youngsters in the International School in Xi'an is just one of three classes we taught in Xian. Thanks to the generous contribution of my colleague and next door neighbor, John Mohan, we took some art-project items for these kids to work on. This particular one was an etching project, where the kids scraped off a white coating to reveal a multitude of color beneath the surface; something like what happens to people in real life. These students scratched their names and designs into the surface. These were beautiful creations and the children really enjoyed their experience. Even the middle school and high school students loved it. Thanks John! This project was a winner!

Connie and I also did a reading/painting together - twice. Both included Connie reading from the Chronicles of Narnia, and me painting a picture of Aslan. In both sessions the painting was given to one of the children to take home. Boy, were they excited about that! The nice thing was that most of these particular students spoke fluent English, so they really understood what Connie was reading. One little Chinese girl kept coming up to Connie and me and hugging us. If that doesn't warm your heart, then you don't have one. These kids were so excited that someone would do something special, just for them.

In the famous Muslim Quarter, Connie purchased a personalized, hand-painted work of art from a local vendor. Her father is a consumate master in the art of Chinese painting and calligraphy, and one of this woman's specialities is writing poetry, wise sayings and scriptures onto these scrolls. Here the she is writing a verse from the Jewish scriptures, Joshua 24:15 - "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." My mom use to say that all the time, and we thought it was fitting for our own home too.

MEETING THE SMALL AND THE GREAT

2008-06-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Connie is an excellent photographer. She catches things I don't even see. Many of her photos will be shown on this blog, and many of them are of children. It is amazing how children everywhere love her at first sight. She has that magical gift of making instant connections with children on a deep level. Kids like me just because I look funny, but they like her because they can sense her gentleness and kind spirit. This is a shot of a little boy outside our dorm room on the Shenzhen campus. He just lit up when Connie asked his dad if she could take this picture. Cool, huh?

Here, Connie is teaching about writing and "story" in one of Pat King's higher level English classes. Students were very attentive and responded well to us each day. Chinese students are very good students and have a strong desire to improve their lives on every level. The youth of today are very different than their parent's generation. They have enjoyed greater affluence and opportunities for personal enrichment their parents could only dream about. Sound familiar? I know the world will be quite surprised by the accomplishments of these young people. China is the place to watch. It makes one wonder what the future holds for this vast nation of 1.4 billion people. Someone said, as China goes, so goes the world. I don't know if that's true, but it does make one ponder the road ahead.

I had asked Pat King if she would inquire whether the president of Shenzhen University would permit me to draw a portrait of him, as a gift from visiting American friends. She did, and he agreed; what a gracious man. He did not know me from Adam, as they say, but he allowed me to trample all over his office, take pictures of him, and then interrupted his very busy schedule to sit still for me for about an hour. While I was there, an aid came in with a large framed photo of the president running with the Olympic torch. It was pretty cool. Then I noticed the torch itself standing in the corner of his office and asked if he would permit me to take a picture of him holding the torch. He agreed. How cool is that!?

That evening I went back to our apartment and drew this graphite sketch based on photos I'd taken and sketch notes I'd scribbled down while in his office. It wasn't much, but it was a way of saying "thank you," for allowing us into the university. They invited us to return to teach for a year. We'll see. Shenzhen is sub-tropical and muggy, and after nearly twenty years in Seattle, I am afraid I would not do either of those things very well. Still, it is just a stone's through from Hong Kong, and that city is very livable for a soft westerner like myself. Plus, Hong Kong doesn't block you from the internet like mainland China does.

This is a shot of the finished sketch. I wish I had had more time to do a more complete drawing, but that takes a couple days. I did this sketch in a couple hours. You will notice Chinese characters next to the face, which read, WISDOM, COURAGE, HOPE, FRIENDSHIP. I wanted to indicate important human "values" that would be good for one to strive toward. China is going through a time of rediscovering their moral compass, and it is a very tough struggle for their young people as they try to sort out the tough issues of ethics, morality and spirituality.

Apparently, as Pat King tells the story, the president was quite impressed with the whole affair and wanted to know who had done the Chinese characters. Evidently, he liked the picture, for which I'm glad. Building friendship was my goal. Looks like we might have taken a step in the right direction.

Shenzhen is in the southeast coastal area of China. Tomorrow's blog will begin to discuss our time in Xian (pronounced SHE-AHN), the central inland "old capital" of China. It is much different than Shenzhen and is also a totally amazing city of at least eleven million.

Do you remember hearing or reading about the Terracotta Warriors? Well . . . here we go. See you tomorrow.

By the way, check out the 3-D Chinese art clip from a YouTube clip in the righthand side-bar at the top of the page. It is pretty interesting!

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)

SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY LECTURE & DEMO

2008-06-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Connie noticed it first, and we were all a bit pleasantly surprised, but here was my lecture being advertised across the Shenzhen University campus on their various reader boards. I had to take a picture as proof of my celebrity status in China. The lecture was about the ideas of the Renaissance, which was well attended and warmly received by several hundred students. It was a lot of fun.

This is a shot taken during the lecture. I focused on Brunelleschi, and how he developed the mathematical/geometric formula that allowed European painters to depict realistic space (called single-point linear perspective, or scientific perspective), and populate it with figure to fit its scale. The painting became a collaborative demonstration between myself and a famous contemporary Chinese artist (also a professor at Shenzhen University) named Professor Ma Bo Shen. I did the mechanical layout of single point linear perspective, and Professor Ma added his calligraphic art to the sides, which explained what I had taught, only, in Chinese. He also added some poetic language to the image, which was a total honor.

Here Connie and I are, earlier the previous day, in Professor Ma's campus studio. He was very gracious to us and showed us enormous hospitality. It was an honor to have been introduced to such a famous Chinese artist, and to invite him to work with me during the public lecture the next day. You can see some of Professor Ma's work on the walls in the background.

This is a snapshot of Professor Ma's work area. He is a notable and highly respected artist and calligrapher. His works sell for great sums of money and he is well known in China and the U.S., where he has held exhibition in major U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This is the completed collaborative painting created by Professor Ma and myself. It is called "Vanishing Point," and it shows two figures, walking together, hand in hand, through a portal toward the light. Very fitting for the lecture and the reasons for which we crossed the Pacific Ocean. Unique engagements such as this evolved into a remarkable tour.

The painting was given to Pat King, our wonderful host on the Shenzhen University campus. Pat is a long-time career educator from Houston, Texas, who travels to China each year to teach during China's academic year. She is an excellent professor and demonstrates unique skills as she teaches English to her Chinese students. She worked us hard every day, as she scheduled multiple sessions for Connie and me to teach. Some of the best of those times were in her office during office hours. We were able to meet some of her students and get to know them a bit better face to face. It was a great way to make new friends. Thanks Pat.

CHINA IS CHANGING - RAPIDLY

2008-06-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

SHENZHEN, CHINA & ITS UNIVERSITY - week one

The old perceptions about China must go. China is changing so rapidly that any visiting westerner will see clearly for themselves that the old Maoist regime has faded and a new, very modern China is emerging. Everywhere we went people were talking about change. It was a feeling so real one could feel it in the air.

These pictures show the city Shenzhen (pronounced Shen-jen), and some of the sites at the university where we taught the first week. Connie taught writing and film, and I taught about London, Michelangelo and the Dutch Still Life paintings; after which, we had meaningful personal discussions with numerous students.

Here is a shot of the campus lake and the city beyond. The city is China's pride and joy. It was built out of farmland along the ocean. Once a city of a few hundred thousand, it has become a metropolis of multiple millions in just twenty years. The average age of the population is 26 years. It looks like New York City and is crackling with energy and affluence. It was difficult to convince some of the youth that money is not the answer to every ill. These days, China is about making money, and they are pursuing it with enormous vigor.

Art is a huge part of Chinese culture; not only the old, but the new as well. Everywhere we went we saw tons of art, and people who "get it." Meaning, the arts are central to the development of an intelligent and vibrant world. Beauty and creativity lifts the spirit and provides an environment in which people can believe in hopeful visions for their future.

This is the fountain at the center of campus. It projects a distinctly "global" consciousness about the educational environment of China.
Chinese students attend university at very low costs, and a college education for its young people is considered fundamental to China's global success in the future. It made me sit up and take notice of what the future might hold for our own nation.

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY ON http://illuminatrium.blogspot.com/ - go there to see the photos that accompany these entries. :-)

HONG KONG

Our first two days in Hong Kong were an eye-opener. It is both an island and a peninsula. We have spent some time on the island, but our hotel is on the peninsula. The city is full of color and movement, and the aroma of food wafting through the air. The sights of colorful advertisements of so many businesses, and giant advertisements that cover half the size of a tall building are surprising. There are people everywhere and the city is alive all day and all night.
We have had many new experiences. Hong Kong is large and beautiful and busy and warm. Being from Seattle, where the temperature stays moderate all year long, experiencing intense humidity and eighty-something temperatures was a bit of a shift for us, but there is so much air conditioning everywhere, even in some open-to-the-outside businesses. funny.
Wonderful people have become our new friends. Lori, our guide is amazing and lots of fun. Today she takes us to the mainland on the ferry, to meet a lady named Pat, who will take us to Shenzhen university where we will be teaching art, literature and writing English. It seems like everyone here wants to learn English. It has given me new insight into the power of language and the desire for people everywhere to communicate with each other across cultures.
Here is a picture I took from a high point above the city on Saturday night. It is a huge business center, kind of like a fancy mall, but more commercial and recreational. Believe it or not, we ate dinner at Bubba Gumps! How weird that was. But fear not, we are eating LOTS of Chinese food, and things I am not sure I should ask about its contents. All of it is delicious, and Connie is bravely trying to learn to eat with chopsticks. HA!
Oh yes, we were told that the government may block people from posting to blogs, but I hope we can find a way to keep you all on our tour with us.
More later.
Posted by Daniel at 3:47 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 24, 2008

HAVING FUN!

Our flight out of Seattle was delayed three hours, so we missed our first connecting flight in Tokyo for Hong Kong and had to stay in Japan for the night. It was all good, and we had fun seeing a little of the Narita airport.

Northwest Airlines put us up in the Radisson and everyone treated us very well.
On Saturday morning, Connie and I caught a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong at 10 AM, and now we are in HK - safe and sound, and excited about what lays before us.

Here, Connie is having fun with a poster in the Narita airport that makes sport of travelers who through fits over not being able to carry certain forbidden items onto the air craft - like lighters in their suitcase - duh. We are having fun. :-)

Next, pictures of Hong Kong and updates.
Posted by Daniel at 5:06 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

PORTALS & WORLDS
Today we step through a new doorway into a bright world; China! The dragon is awakening.Though itineraries have been set and refined, what awaits in these next five cities and universities is still a mystery in many ways. In the next three weeks that mystery will unfold.In addition to universities, we will also be visiting an International School to explore the "Arts and the Imagination" with children from Kindergarten through High School. This is going to be delightful!In every place, from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, from Xian to Nanchang, people are excited about inviting us into their worlds.

Yes, we go as teachers with much to share, but more than that, we go as students with even more to learn. That sounds like a cliche', but it is truer than truth itself.This journey will be wondrous in many ways, and we are so grateful to all of our friends who have made this journey possible. Thank you! - thank you for participating with us in this adventure. We are so full of appreciation for special friends like you. You know who you are - and we do too :-) Your generosity will not be forgotten.

C'mon along! Stay with us to see what unfolds. Visit The Illuminatrium often.My next blog will be from China!!!

Posted by Daniel at 2:05 PM 0 comments

(To see the art of Daniel Rice, visit http://www.danielriceart.net)