China Trip - Sept 2014

The huge airplane that Lynn Pangrace and Felicia Escandon traveled on to China. The plane ride from Chicago to Shanghai was approximately fourteen hours, not including a four hour plus layover. By the time Felicia and Lynn arrived, they were exhausted, smelly, and excited for the rest of the trip.

A fruit stand on the corner in Shanghai. Delicious fresh grapes.

The corner of two streets in Shanghai. The one street is lined with local schools, including the prestigious Concordia International School Shanghai. The other street has shopping and the host teachers' apartment complex.

The apartment complex where Lynn Pangrace and Felicia Escandon stayed in Shanghai thanks to gracious host teachers.

FRIENDS with Chinese closed captioning.

Koi pond outside of the apartment complex in Shanghai.

Felicia Escandon's living room in Shanghai thanks to a kind host teacher.

A local Starbucks in walking distance to Concordia International School Shanghai. Felicia Escandon and Lynn Pangrace would meet here most mornings when in Shanghai for breakfast or coffee.

The exterior of Concordia International School Shanghai.

The Concordia International School Shanghai lobby.

Concordia International School Shanghai's version of Lutheran West's "IMC".

Parts of the first and second floor in Concordia International School Shanghai, with a dining area on the first floor and lockers and hallways on the second.

Shopping area in Shanghai. This area is very similar to Crocker Park in Westlake.

Shopping area in Shanghai. This area is very similar to Crocker Park in Westlake.

Eating potstickers, dumplings, Morning Glory vegetables, and string beans for lunch in Shanghai with Mike Burns, a Concordia International School Shanghai history teacher.

The Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China is now an exhibition hall with more than one hundred revolutionary relics, documents, and photos on display. The exhibits cover the history of the Party's birth, the blooming of nation-wide communist teams, and photos of the thirteen members. In addition, a waxworks hall inside vividly reproduces the scene of this significant meeting.

The Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China is now an exhibition hall with more than one hundred revolutionary relics, documents, and photos on display. The exhibits cover the history of the Party's birth, the blooming of nation-wide communist teams, and photos of the thirteen members. In addition, a waxworks hall inside vividly reproduces the scene of this significant meeting.

Wet markets: the place where one can stock up on food if they do not have a sensitive nose. Filled with fresh produce and live animals, hungry Shanghai residents shop at wet markets because it is an essential alternative to the brand-name supermarkets so one may support a local community.

Wet markets: the place where one can stock up on food if they do not have a sensitive nose. Filled with fresh produce and live animals, hungry Shanghai residents shop at wet markets because it is an essential alternative to the brand-name supermarkets so one may support a local community.

The Bund usually refers to the buildings shown above as well as some adjacent areas. The word "bund" means an embankment or outer bank. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. The Bund has dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River, once housing numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain. edit

Felicia Escandon in front of the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (middle) and the Shanghai World Financial Center (nicknamed the "bottle-opener, right), located in Pudong, a district of Shanghai.

The Bund usually refers to the buildings shown above as well as some adjacent areas. The word "bund" means an embankment or outer bank. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. The Bund has dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River, once housing numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain.

Lost Heaven, an upscale restaurant in Shanghai. It not only brought a brand-new ambiance to the dining experience, but also presented delicious cuisine. Pot stickers, noodles, rice, beef, green beans, eggplant, and fried pumpkin came in heaps to serve the Head of School, Gregg Pinick, Mark Johnson and Mike Burns, Concordia International School Shanghai teachers, as well as the contest winners.

The Bund usually refers to the buildings shown above as well as some adjacent areas. Pictured above is the Oriental Pearl Tower (left) and the the Shanghai World Financial Center (the "bottle opener", pictured right in the back), as well as other magnificently illuminated buildings. The word "bund" means an embankment or outer bank. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai. The Bund has dozens of historical buildings lining the Huangpu River, once housing numerous banks and trading houses from the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Italy, Russia, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain.

The lobby of the Da Cheng Shanshui Hotel in Zhangjiajie with the Concordia tour group waiting for their room assignments.

If one is outside of a large city, sometimes the English translation is a little wrong. This sign is found outside of a hotel in Zhangjiajie.

Deliciously spicy food in Zhangjiajie. Tofu, broth soup, eggplant, pork, rice, string beans, bamboo, and water chestnuts are a part of the dinner experience with watermelon for dessert. Meals on the Interim trip were usually in "Chinglish"; Felicia Escandon and Lynn Pangrace would sometimes use non-verbal cues to understand parts of the conversations, which was really fun.

Felicia Escandon (in orange tie-dye) with Concordia International School Shanghai students reading prevalent historical articles on a break in Zhangjiajie. The articles included topics such as Lin Zexu, Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward, John Rabe, and Nanking Safety Zone.

Scenery in Zhangjiajie.

The old with the new in Zhangjiajie.

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province.The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of erosion.

A Concordia International School Shanghai student in front of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province.The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of erosion.

A Concordia International School Shanghai student (left) and Felicia Escandon (right) in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province.The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of erosion.

A Miao singer in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The Miao is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China. The folk oral literary work is an epic created by the ancestors of the Miao people in their long time of production and work. Ancient songs of the Miao minority reflects the Miao people's philosophical ideas of animism, sacredness of life, equality of human beings, and the harmony and coexistence between man and nature.

A pagoda located in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province.The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of erosion.

Felicia Escandon representing the Lutheran West Longhorns in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a unique national forest park located in Zhangjiajie City in northern Hunan Province.The most notable geographic features of the park are the pillar-like formations that are seen throughout the park. They are the result of many years of erosion.

A food stand found on a landing in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park featuring "Chinese Burritos", potato dishes, and fish on a stick.

Changsha, with smog, not fog, in the distance.

A city museum with historical pictures and archives.

A city museum depicting intricate paper cut outs.

A city museum depicting old shadow puppets.

Dr. Ho Feng-Shan's memorial near Yiyang. Beforehand, elderly men called out "Laowai!" to Felicia Escandon and Lynn Pangrace in shock and acknowledgement. "Laowai" roughly translates to "foreigner", some connotations positive, others negative. They would call out because not many people in this area see foreigners.

Dr. Ho Feng-Shan's memorial near Yiyang. Dr. Ho feng-Shan was a Chinese diplomat in Vienna who risked his life and career during World War II to save more than one thousand Jews. Unlike his fellow-diplomats, Ho issued visas to Shanghai to all requesting them, even to those wishing to travel elsewhere but needing a visa to leave Nazi Germany.

The English corner, a place where local university students can practice their English skills.

Mike Burns, a Concordia International School Shanghai history teacher (left), Felicia Escandon (middle), a Concordia International student (fourth from left), and two university students (second and fifth from left). The Concordia group talked to local university students at their "English corner" to help students practice their English. To them, English is not just a language, but an opportunity. The university students plan on studying business and engineering. Topics ranged from schooling, weather, geography, television, and politics. The university students told Felicia that they believe America is known for Hollywood, sandwiches, plains in the West, President Obama, and Lady Gaga. They also believe that China tries to copy the United States in television, music, and fashion.

Shaoshan is a small mountain village about 62 miles southwest of Changsha, the capital of Hunan province. On the December 26, 1893, a baby was born in a little house in this village to a relatively wealthy peasant couple. The child was to grow up to become Chairman Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China. This is his former residence. The house is of a creamy yellow with mud brick walls and a nicely thatched roof. It is found on a wooded hillside, above some lush paddy fields. The house has one and half central room, a kitchen, a dining room, three family bedrooms, and a guest room. Within the rooms are various personal items of Mao and his parents, as well as photos from Mao's life.

Lotus flower plants that can be seen directly from Mao Zedong's former residence in Shaoshan.