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.
