Our trip up to this point has been an awesome experience that I am so grateful that GOD allowed me be involved with. Today it is Tuesday December 9, 2008 and we are again traveling, by bus to a place called Li jiang. We are still in the Yu nan province just not in Dali. Speaking of Dali, it was one of the most enjoyable places I’ve been blessed to visit. I loved how our hotel looked. The whole complex looked like something out of kid’s storybook. One thing that I enjoyed doing here was bardering or bargaining for merchandise using Chinese. I even helped some of my fellow comrades bargain. This was probably the first time on the trip I enjoyed using my amateur skills; this made me feel really good. Probably the highlight of my last day in Dali was when I purchased an antique sword. It was the coolest thing I’ve seen. Later at dinner three of us guys put on our martial arts get up with our swords and basked in our heroic glory. It just feels like every day in this beautiful country gets better and better. I’m really excited to eventually be able to share my stories with everyone I know.
-Stefan

Today we are leaving Dali to go to our next stop on our trip. Dali was amazing, it showed more of the real China than Beijing did. Dali let you see the regular life of the southern workers, and the way people lived. The market place we went to opened my eyes to the Chinese culture just by the way the people go to get there food, they certainly didn’t go to the grocery store like we do. Other thing that was interesting was going to the Three Pagodas and seeing the monks it was nice to see another religion, though I may not agree with it all it still showed a lot about the people. The trip is quickly coming to an end which in a way is sad but I wont lie I will be happy to go home and see the people I love, but I will never forget a trip like this.
- Andrea LeBlanc

Southern China

Southern China is very different than northern China, just like the USA. It’s much warmer here during the day and the people here are much more rural. They say southern Chinese are more friendly, but I think I felt more of a connection in Beijing. Maybe just because im a city girl or maybe because we haven’t had much opportunity to sit down and talk to the locals (they don’t speak English well anyway). My favorite part of southern china so far has been the trip to the Three Pagodas in Dali. It was uncomprehensibly peaceful there. The grounds were glowing with plant life and the chanting of monks could be heard throughout the whole compound. We spotted several reclusive monks walking quickly by, focused on their meditation beads. The saleswomen in Bai costumes smiled happily and sold beads, goldfish, and candles for prayers. Two walls were dedicated solely to wishes, you wrote your wish down and inserted it into a slit on the wall. Im not sure what happened to them after that, but I think the monks pray over them for you…or maybe it’s just a lucky thing. I don’t know. I wished for a sickly child I know to become healthy again. I really hope my wish comes true.
-Jessica Rijos

Missing You

So since I have emailed you guys I am now missing you more then before, I was able to last the first week but now no such luck. It seems that the second week has suddenly appeared. I want the tastes, sounds and people of home, but at the same time there are so many adventures that I am yet to have here. I seems like we have just begun this quest through China. My video recorder decided not to work the day we arrived, so I have sadly had to share with another student. She’s great about it but it makes it hard to do a video on my own when forced to share the filming device. Besides that this trip has been so amazing, the country side always takes my breath away, and the friends I have made on this trip have made this trip a absolute blast. I cant wait to see you all and get my clock back to normal. Right now we are on our way to Lijiang. I am taking every chance I can to write in my journal about every event that occurs. I cant believe that it is Tuesday already and we will becoming home in only a few days. Well see you soon.
~Love Lucy

7000 miles away

Here I am, 7000 miles away from home, retreating to my Coke and Cliff bars when I want a taste of home. I miss my friends, my family, and even my convenient Internet access. I’m tired and a little sore, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now. Id be lying if I said I’m not a better person than the Alex from about _____ (I think 9-ish) days ago. I’m glad this trip is film based because it forces me to create my own perspective of the world around me instead of just temporarily storing the “and this temple was built in 1465…” I believe I am respecting the sights more because I am taking notice of their true beauty. I feel accomplished because I have successfully been able to break down the language barrier through pointing and awkward hand motions. We are currently on our way to Lijiang and I am currently getting car sick so ill finish this rambling later.
Alex

Can I just say how much I love China? Well I guess I just did. There is never a dull moment here. Great times, Great laughs, Great friends. I miss Beijing it was pretty epic not gonna lie. We flew to Kunming, and that was just a pit stop on our trip to Dali. Oh me on my Hello Dali! It was beautiful, and haggling has got to be the greatest thing invented for markets.
Katie =)

Dali

Dali was spectacular. I learned how to bargain with street vendors, and hopefully I wasn’t completely bad at it. The Buddhist temple might be the most beautiful place I have had the fortune to visit. There were giant statues of Buddhist gods that brushed the ceiling. The reflection pools aloud us to see six pagodas instead of the original three. We were able to see a traditional Bai marketplace that sold pigs heads and brains of various animals. It was definitely interesting. The Chinese countryside provides some of the most beautiful landscapes of mountains and isolated villages. I can’t wait to see what Lijiang has to offer!
-Lila Kelso ☺