Final Week of Winterim

Students are returning to campus from their academic travels abroad, finishing their final days at their internships and completing their projects in their on-campus courses. Click on the links below to read about some of their experiences:
Click here to read Caitlin Casey's blog about interning at the Times-Picayune in New Orleans.
Click here to read Girls Meet World Service Learning blog.
Click here to read the blog by Washington, DC interns are doing.
Click here to read the blog by students serving in Uganda.
Click here to read Rebekah Webster's blog about interning with a plastic surgeon in Nashville.
Click here to read the blog by students in the Harry Potter 101 on-campus course.
Click here to read what students think about certain books in the Teen Reads on-campus course.
Click here to view photos from travels and on-campus courses.

Proud to be an American

From Parker Davis commenting on January 14:
This morning I had a very moving experience when I attended a naturalization ceremony. The United States became 163 citizens stronger today and I was there to witness it all.

I, in my continued theme of the past several entries, had two revelations during the course of the ceremony. First, when all of the countries from which the now citizens had come were announced I realized how truly diverse the population of the United States has become, and will continue to become. (A few of the forty-nine countries represented I had never even heard of.) Second, and most important, I realized how truly, truly for granted I, and I would assume most others who are born free and full American citizens, take the blessings and responsibilities that come with being a member of the citizenship of this great nation.

Seeing the couple from Brazil tearing up while singing the Star Spangled Banner, the Polish woman clapping for each and every name called up to the podium to receive a certificate of citizenship, and the little, old, adorable Jamaican woman smiling proudly in front of a cutout of Lady Liberty while her family took pictures to document the momentous day, truly touched me and made me feel what I was saying, rather than simply reciting words I had been required to memorize to kindergarten, when declaring the words of the Pledge of Allegiance. I’m proud to be an American.

A Day on the Town in NYC

From Saxby Wiles:
Sunday morning, we got up at 8 a.m. to get to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my most favorite museums. It is huge and beautiful, and houses some of my favorite works of art, such as those by Vermeer and David. I love European Art, and also going to the museum sparked a new interest for me in the field of drawings and etchings. My favorite piece I saw was by a French man named Charles Augrad. The piece at first seemed too simple to me, but as I started to look at it more deeply, it was anything but simple. Made by crayon and canvas in 1892, the drawing depicted a man in a top hat, presumed to be Augrad, himself. It is ironic because he seems high class and bourgeois in the drawing, but in reality he is not. The drawing is dark, and the more you look at it the more it just seems like a blur of black and white. Without the subtle difference of light between the blacks and the white, it would only be a black canvas, with no picture at all.

However the blending between shades of black onto the sections of white created a shadowy drawing of a man, and I found that technique to be genius. It reminded me of an artist, whose name I can’t remember, who painted around the time of Jackson Pollock. He simply painted entire canvasses with shades of black, so subtle you can hardly see the differences, especially when close up – similarly to the Met drawing by Augrad. I was very glad we got to go to the Met, and it was one of the best things we have done in New York so far!

After the museum we went to see the Importance of Being Earnest, which was hilarious, and after that we went to explore Chinatown and Little Italy, and then we ended our night with my friends at a Thai restaurant called, Spice in Greenwich Village near NYU.

Zài Jiàn, China

Snow!  Tuesday morning we sat down to breakfast and saw small white wisps drifting slowly to the ground.  A rare occurrence in Shanghai (they haven’t had snow in the past two years), we were happy because the forecast had called for rain.  We boarded our bus early to hit the China Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World’s Fair Expo.

Inundated by neon lights, paintings, artifacts and thousands and thousands of elementary aged children who were as fascinated by us as we were by the crowds, we meandered through the various exhibits and watched a wonderful four-dimensional film on the evolution of one family during the past forty years in China.  We then headed to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the east bank of the Huangpu River.  Once the poorest area of the city, this quarter gained special economic status during the 1990’s and has since become home to several financial institutions and hosts many skyscrapers (two of which were featured in Mission Impossible III).  On a clear day, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a truly unique construct distinguishable by its two bright pink spheres, boasts incredible views of the city.  We, encumbered by snow, could barely see across the river which was immediately below us.  We dined in a bright, art deco-styled restaurant on the Bund (center of colonial Shanghai and on the embankment of the Huangpu River) during our last lunch in the city.  We nibbled on bites of kung pao chicken, potato and beef curry, rice noodles, mayonnaise chicken, tasty vegetables and a spicy egg drop soup.  Delicious! 

In the afternoon, we visited the Shanghai Puguang Middle School, which enrolls students aged 13-17, for an English corner, where twenty of the school’s students returned  from their winter vacation just to converse with our girls.  Our students loved engaging with their Chinese peers.  They learned much about them and gained a greater appreciation for their culture and daily life.  Later we watched the school’s world class fencing team.  We met the coach, a delightful, energetic woman, who has trained many of these fantastic athletes.  We ended our day with a meal in Old Town and a picturesque walk along the Bund.  All of the buildings prolonging the river were adorned with bright lights, providing a splendid backdrop for our last night here. 

This morning the girls are spending their last hours shopping along the streets near our hotel.  We’ll board the plane mid-afternoon, and while we’ve had an unbelievable experience, we’re looking forward to seeing you in the evening!  The girls have been great ambassadors for you, for our school and the United States.  We have received many, many compliments on their comportment and maturity.  We are so appreciative of their cooperation and enthusiasm for each and every adventure. Thank you!

Hands-on Winterim Courses

Stopping by some of the on-campus courses this afternoon. Students were soldering to completed their stained glasses. Across the hall, others were using their math skills to create math quilts. More photos on the 21 Days of Winterim Flickr site.

Jam-packed Day in China

From Jenny Jervis, upper school French teacher
The Jinjiang hotel is really more of a compound. There are at least five different lodgings that are enclosed by a wall, forming a secure unit.  It is clear why many heads of state and even the Queen of England stayed in the Jinjiang during  visits to Shanghai.  While our section appears to be one of the older structures, our rooms are spacious, modern and lovely.  We have huge bathrooms, all four walls of which are floor to ceiling mirrors.  Heated marble floors and granite fixtures add to the elegance.

Monday, we began at the Shanghai Museum, located in People’s Square.  An enormous structure balances a square base, representing the Earth, a round dome, designating heaven.  We began our visit at the fourth floor and circled down to the gift shop.  The Shanghai Museum houses eleven galleries and three exhibition halls, which display ancient bronze, ancient ceramic, paintings, calligraphy, ancient sculpture, ancient jade, Chinese money, Ming and Qing furniture, Chinese seals and minority nationalities.  We were amazed by each of these collections.  After this stop, we took a short ride to the Pearl Market, where we received a brief explanation on how pearls are formed, the difference between salt and fresh water pearls and the aspects that determine a pearl’s value:  luster, size, shape, symmetry and flaws.  We were then left to peruse the merchandise, again succumbing to some purchases. 

We lunched at the Bund Hotel and then traveled to Zhujiajiao, Water Town, about an hour from downtown Shanghai.  Surprised by the quick cloud cover, we bundled as best we could to brace for the lower, wetter temperature.  Daniel, our Shanghai-based tour guide, led us through the narrow passageways, by numerous merchants and across one bridge to our next event, a boat ride along the river.  We were transported comfortably on flat boats, manned by just one rower, soaking in the sights, architecture and people of this quaint town. 

We ended our day at the Shanghai Acrobatic Show.   What a spectacular demonstration of dance, gymnastics, juggling, concentration and timing.  We were wowed with the artists’ flexibility and strength.  We were greeted with a woman, nestled among three others who twisted, turned and manipulated her body into impossible positions, all while balancing on one hand and while her mechanic lift varied in height from a foot off the ground to ten.  We witnessed a man throw, catch, balance and juggle very heavy and large pieces of Chinese pottery. Later a large group of males delighted us with their choreography, gymnastics and precision as they danced, jumped, flipped, slid and catapulted themselves through rings, gaining their speed and height from swings and see-saws.  So wild!  Later we held our breath as a couple dressed in white recounted their love story while suspended from flowing ribbons dropped from the ceiling.  In the finale, we sat, dumbfounded as motorcyclists entered a sphere one by one, culminating with EIGHT drivers coordinated their paths in an incredibly confining space!  We delighted in the threading of the performers’ various talents all accompanied by live music featuring traditional Chinese instruments, a female soloist and stunning backdrops illustrating both the ancient and modern Chinese culture. 

Learning Calligraphy in China

Saturday was our last day at the Linden Center.  We traversed the village of Xizhou beginning with a stop at the Saturday market.  We saw numerous vendors displaying woks and other cookware, locally grown fruits and vegetables, Dali Bread (two different kinds: one sweet stuffed with a sweet kidney bean mixture and one savory topped with sausage and chive - both delicious) and artifacts of the area – some quite valuable, others verisimilitudes of antiques.  We peeked in one tiny antique shop which boasted earthenware from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 

Continuing on our journey, we visited the village elder, Mr. Dong, who also served as the area historian.  His home ravaged during the Cultural Revolution, Mr. Dong did his best to recover and rebuild his cherished abode.  Newspapers wallpapering the ceilings and walls of his domicile, Mr. Dong proudly toured us through his two-story, two-room relic.  He showed us his writings and artwork, posed graciously for numerous photos and asked us to come back soon. 

Just before returning home for lunch, we stopped by the mosque in the Muslim area of the village for a look at its beautiful courtyard and a quick glance into the worship area.  In the afternoon, we gathered at Linden to learn the art of calligraphy.  Knight, our instructor, carefully demonstrated the Chinese number one, and we slowly and painstakingly tried to mimic his stroke.  Eventually we progressed to numbers two, three, and four but only four of the 14 of our group mastered this skill.  Joy, Lily, Margaret, and Lindsay topped the charts – the rest of us suffered diagnoses from Knight, who quite aptly described our failings and hiccups. 

After our writing lesson, we tramped down to the kitchen to make dumplings with one of the Linden Centre chefs.  Much more forgiving than calligraphy, we all managed to seal and crimp our pastries with relative success.  After this lesson, we snacked on our creations – yum! 

To finish the day, the girls headed off to English Corner, a weekly event that Brian and Jeenee initiated two years ago to help teach the young children of the village English. We taught lessons on the alphabet, animals, body parts, colors, months, and seasons.  Inundated with perhaps twice the number of children who normally attend (they must have know we were coming in force!), the girls handily managed this inquisitive group.  We sang, danced, and chanted vocabulary and received warm hugs for thanks. 

Sunday, we had a long travel day, flying to Shanghai.  Tomorrow we’ll visit the Shanghai Museum, the Pearl Market Tower, Zhujiajiao (Water Town known for its canals and waterways), and in the evening we’ll enjoy a special treat:  Shanghai’s acrobat troop.  It will be a very busy day!

Cultural Tour of Cambodia

From student Emma Dedman
I am enjoying the trip. I have learned a lot about Cambodian history and culture. We went to Siem Reap for a few days and we saw many temples including Angkor Wat. It was very interesting. Then we went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a few days to visit temples and mosques. Now we are in Vietnam. Tomorrow, we are going to Cuchi Tunnels which were used during the war with Vietnam.

Here is a description of Angkor Wat (pictured above) and other sacred places in SE Asia: "There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. From Angkor, the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social, and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared."

China: Traditional dances and shopping in the market

Thursday night in the Linden Centre, Brian and Jeanee invited some local Bai dancers to perform and teach us some traditional dances.  Twenty men and women arrived dressed in beautiful costumes; the women were coiffed with a lovely headdress representing the snow, flowers, and splendor of the area. One of the men carried a long baton, at either end of which perched a comorant (a fishing bird which when working wears a loop over its neck so it won’t swallow the larger, more valuable prey). After a few demonstrations, the girls joined in, circling round and round stepping, kicking and swaying their arms to the festive songs. 

On Friday we boarded our Kermit bus (it’s olive green with reflective mirrors that look like antennae) to Dali.  Our first stop was the Three Pagodas (three independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle the largest celebrates the Buddhist tradition).  We then continued on to the Old City where we explored the colorful markets, bought a few trinkets and feasted on a traditional noodle pot for lunch.  After lunch, we mounted chair lifts up the Cangshan Mountain, famous for its snow, ever changing clouds and moon.  We witnessed all of this and the Erhai Lake, the fifth largest lake in China, as we strolled leisurely around the paved path.  Others followed our American guide up a steep but rapid ascent to one of the vistas.  Fatigued after the exercise, we rode the lift back down and returned to the Linden Centre for a taste of Chinese ribs, cashews, multiple vegetables and fruit.  Off to bed early – we were tired!

Today we'll wander through the village of Xizhou, stopping at the Saturday market and visiting some of the local homes.

The three attached photos are views along the main thoroughfare in the Old City of Dali. -- From Jenny Jervis, Upper School French teacher

Public History Course Visits Ryman

Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel's Public History classes have had a busy week working in the Harpeth Hall archives and visiting the Ryman Auditorium to learn about the building's restoration. Mr. John Dowell led a great tour for our girls at the Ryman, taking them behind the scenes to the see restoration done in the attic and in the dressing rooms (which were added during the 1993 renovation).

The Ryman was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974 when it moved to its present location. Under threat of demolition, the Gaylord Entertainment group decided to invest 8.5 million dollars into the building's restoration. The auditorium is now on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. The building first opened in the 1890s as a religious meeting hall but soon added entertainment and lectures to its billing. Many of the students at Ward's Seminary and Ward-Belmont attended concerts and lectures at the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the auditorium's original name. The girls also learned of the many famous people who have performed at Ryman Auditorium. Students are also doing original research and preservation in the Harpeth Hall Archives as they prepare a new exhibit, "A Century of Clubs." Each student researched a period of time using yearbooks available online from Harpeth Hall's digial collection. (Click here to access the digital archives.) They are also working with clothing, scrapbooks, and newspapers. In the spirit of service, the classes have compiled a complete index of clubs at Harpeth Hall and its predecessor schools dating back to 1898. As part of the new exhibit, the classes are also creating a more in-depth version of the exhibit in the form of an online exhibit, which will be linked to the school's "History and Archives" page. Stay tuned for more details next week!

Teaching at a Thai School

From Michelle Chintanaphol who is interning in Thailand:
Today's my second-to-last day with the Mechai Pattana School, and it is so wonderful that I hate to leave so soon. Yesterday, I helped teach a class at MPS for the first time (before I had just assisted) with the English teacher who the students call "Teacher Hugh." The first class with the seventh grade was an extremely enlightening experience. I never thought teaching could be so hard! The students were not paying attention the whole time and everyone was chatting and talking so loud. I had to work hard to settle the students down.

The next class with the eighth grade was better since Teacher Hugh and I changed the style of teaching. Today, I created worksheets on contractions and since Teacher Hugh was busy at a workshop, I taught the class myself. I was very pleased with the students' behavior, and I felt that they really learned the lesson.

At the Mechai Pattana School, the style of teaching is vastly different than other Thai government schools. They give more freedom to the students, (other schools use sticks to discipline the students), but it comes at a price. It is harder to get the students to pay attention at MPS, but I am glad that they do not use the same method of discipline.

When I return, I will be writing a paper about Thai teaching methods and report on my experience as well as how the teachers should teach in order to discipline the students without using abuse. I wish I had more time (even a year or more) to look at the Thai educational system and the system of this school! I certainly hope to come back. This weekend I plan to travel to Bangkok to visit with my father and other relatives before coming home.

Going to School in Paris

Annalee and Giselle with new friends and classmates at the Maison d’Éducation de la Légion d’Honneur. This is a public boarding school founded by Napoleon in December 1805 for the daughters of the members of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest honor given to both citizens and soldiers of France. High school students in grades the equivalent of sophomores through seniors and one year beyond live in the 18th century abbey buildings adjacent to the Basilique de Saint-Denis where most of the kings of France are buried.

Feeling Like A New Yorker...

From Eleanor Weeks, who is interning in NYC:
Yesterday, I had a moment when I nearly had the audacity to call myself a New Yorker. A woman wandering the street asked me for directions, which means I must have at least appeared to know my way around. Maybe one day, I will be able to say it with confidence. I know it has only been a week, but I can feel the time passing. I only worry that my attempts to see all I wish to see will lead to overindulgence and extravagance, which is easily done in this city. Hopefully I have enough wisdom to not make those mistakes.

House Cup Banquet at Hogwarts

Harry Potter fans, click here to read students' blog about their Harry Potter 101 on-campus course. Pictured are photos fro the House Cup Banquet.

Snow in Boston

Meredith Lang is interning for a law firm in Boston. On this day, no one was going to work.

Exploring the city of Dali

After last night's dance lesson with the local Bai, we retired and readied ourselves for today's excursion into Dali.  We had a relaxing day taking pictures of the Three Pagodas, touring through the Old City of Dali and taking a chair lift up the mountain for a leisurely stroll.  Here are a few pictures from today's excursions.

The Sights of NYC

From Junior Marion Cox, who is interning in NYC:

American Couple Guides China Travel Group

Last night we met Jeanee and Brian Linden, an American couple and proprietors of the Linden Centre ([ http://www.linden-centre.com/index.php ]http://www.linden-centre.com/index.php)  in Xizhou.  The Lindens, after extensive travel and other careers, realized their dream to develop a venue through which others could learn and explore about the culture and history of China.  In 2004, they found a manor in Xi Lin Yuan, in the village of Xizhou in the Southwest Province of Yunnan, which they believed to be the perfect location.  They convinced the Chinese government to grant them two 20-year leases to pursue their aims, which was no small feat. They are the only non-Chinese in the country to have received such access. 

After four years of renovation, the Lindens opened the manor to visitors, both to house and provide them with unique views into their community and neighboring villages.  We are fortunate to have these two as our guides.  Today, after a homemade Western-style breakfast, we climbed into their green bus to visit a kindergarten in Zhoucheng.  On our approach, we heard the screaming and singing of young voices enjoying a sunny day in the courtyard.  As soon as we entered, the students ran towards us to welcome us in.  They wanted to play tag, ball, be picked up and receive any kind of attention.  After several minutes of romping, the children gathered to perform numerous dances with great enthusiasm.  We then joined in and taught them to sing the Hokey-Pokey and a few other animated songs.  Both our students and theirs delighted in this exchange (the girls' favorite part of the trip thus far), and we were reluctant to leave but lunch at Mrs. Shen’s restaurant beckoned.  We dined on mung beans, tofu-potato-noodle soup, mushrooms (a specialty of this area) and sweet, fried Chinese dough – delicious!  Later she brought us upstairs where her antique jewelry was on display.  All of these items were for sale and again we acquiesced, becoming more adept at negotiating deals with each purchase. 

We slid through narrow passages to find our next stop, batik dyers.  Brian led us through each step, showing us how the intricate designs are formed from sewing tight plastic (previously cotton thread) formations into each piece.  We saw the indigo leaves, which grow wild in nearby fields, and the vats where the fabrics soak.  We were amazed to learn that each piece demands two weeks of the artisan’s attention. 

Continuing on our journey through the village, we happened upon a temple where throngs of people were receiving blessings and making offerings for an upcoming wedding.   We visited the only woman in the area who still hand weaves fabric.  Amazingly, she spends two days making just one scarf.  Threading through vibrant strands of cotton, we watched as she advanced just a few centimeters on her current project.  Working in 4ft x 7ft room, she is completely dependent on sunlight to provide light and warmth to execute her day’s work.  Now we are spending free time reading, sitting in the sun (almost 60 degrees!), exercising and relaxing.  We feel as if we are living pages of National Geographic.  Wow!

Pictures from New York

Click here to view pictures from interns M.E. Sorci and Saxby Wiles in New York:

Navigating the NYC snowstorm

Parker Davis went with a team from Fox News to do live coverage of the NYC snowstorm. Fortunately, the hotel she is staying in is only a 5-minute walk from the station.

Experiencing the culture of China (and the traffic, too)

From Jenny Jervis, Upper School French teacher:
Our last dinner in Beijing was in the red district: red = restaurant. Here, we were received the most interesting presentations of food that we've had so far. Each dish was beautifully sculpted and appeared to have a signature on the platter. There was tri-color tofu and bean rhombus and a shes-kabob of candied fruit for dessert. The tofu construction was prettier than it was tasty but still a fun addition.
This morning we woke before 5 a.m. to ready ourselves for our flight to Kunming. Initially, we were going to tour this city before continuing on our journey, but after a lunch of hot pots (Chinese fondue), we were running late so we quickly boarded the bus for Dali. Driving through the foothills of the Himalayas, we were treated to amazing views of the mountainside as well as cascading watermelon patches and artfully crafted layered gardens. It was spectacular and dizzying (car-sickness for a few of us).

Although we traveled 240 miles, it took us quite some time to reach our destination, not just because of the winding roads, but also because of the Dali traffic. This included bicyclists who would use an entire lane, pedestrians pulling branch-laden carts, mopeds, motorcycles, workers sweeping the streets with brooms made of twigs (this was on the highway as well as the city streets - not terribly efficient but who am I to say). Traffic lanes are merely suggestions. We veered many a time into the oncoming traffic just to see if we could pass and we were certainly not alone. All of the aforementioned vehicles did as well. We finally landed in Dali around 7 p.m.

We're staying in the Linden Centre, a restored Chinese mansion that is designed to give an immersion into authentic China. An American couple bought this home in 2004 and have been carefully returning it to its former splendor. In addition to rooms (which includes a small workout room, an entertainment area, a terraced deck, a meditation area, and other wonderful comforts), they serve fantastic meals (we just finished dinner), organize excursions into this small village (Xizhou) where visitors can learn batik dying, Chinese calligraphy, and many other crafts.

Tomorrow, we'll begin our adventure here with a visit with some local artisans and a dance lesson. We're tired but eager to explore this gorgeous community.

What Are Teens Reading?

Check out the blog being written by students in the "Teens Read" on-campus course.

Learning Italian in Italy

From English teacher Jackie Powers:
The trip is going perfectly so far. The weather has been ideal. It has been clear with highs in the mid-60s in Sorrento these past two days. The girls have been taking classes at Sorrento Lingue today. The school has moved to a new location, a former convent that they rent from the Catholic Church. The building sits on a cliff right above the bay. The view of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius from the classroom windows is breathtaking. Today, our girls had a double session of Italian language and a lecture on the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 70 AD. This afternoon they have a joint class with the Italian teenagers. Later in the day they have kickboxing, then we will have dinner at the hotel, followed by a couple of hours of free time in the evening.

Working on the Bill O'Reilly Show in NYC

From Laura Gregory
"It’s only Day 2 of working and I’ve already overslept. Not to worry. I made it to work with a few minutes to spare! This morning I arrived early to give myself plenty of time to type up the comp report. This report gives Bill O’Reilly a summary of show which aired the previous night. The shows include Anderson Cooper, The Late Show, The Tonight Show, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Rachel Maddow, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. It is important that I send in the report by a specific time so that the head producers can discuss it with Mr. O’Reilly. Later is the “morning meeting,” which is when all the producers gather to discuss the segments for that night’s show. The rest of the day is spent working on the segments.

Around 2 p.m., the guests have been confirmed and I take the list with the names and arrival times down to the Green Room for the hair and makeup people. On Tuesday and Thursdays, we have pitch meetings, which is when Mr. O’Reilly comes to the pod and producers pitch ideas to him. He either rejects or approves the ideas. Since today is a Thursday, I got to attend one! The meeting seems stressful and intimidating for the producers as they face potential rejection. I was glad that all I had to do was standby and listen.

Around 4:30 each day the guests start arriving. Today’s guests were all from FOX, so I just had to meet them in the Green Room. From the Green Room, I am able to communicate with the producers upstairs about who is there and what’s going on.

At 5 p.m., they begin taping the show. During the “commercial breaks,” I am responsible for bringing the upcoming segment’s packet of notes to Mr. O’Reilly while he is on the set. It’s all very exciting, and I really enjoy what I’m doing. I was nervous at first, but I’m definitely having a great time now, and I don’t mind the long hours at all!"

Day 3 in China

After eating a hardy breakfast, trying new foods like locust infused fried rice and dragon fruit, we loaded the bus to one of the city’s silk factories.  There we learned about how the silk strands are formed from the cocoons, and watched the women spin the strands on the elaborate machines.  Later we were left to our own devices to explore the multitude of products available from silk comforters and pillows to dresses, scarves, pajamas and purses.  Needless to say, most of us lightened our pocketbooks with a memory from this experience.  We then headed to the Hutong section of Beijing for a lovely rickshaw ride of this historic area.  Formerly the area that housed members of the imperial family who were not permitted to live in the Forbidden City, this quarter, marked by its one-level, gray structures now shelters middle class Chinese.  Along the way, we visited one home where a local artisan lived.  There we learned about her trade of painting intricate designs inside of glass bottles, a skill passed down through families and normally taught exclusively to men.  She learned this art from her aunt who became the chief family artisan because the male members of her clan were not interested in this elaborate craft.  Just before 11:30 we boarded our rickshaws again travel to the Drum and Bell Tower.  We mounted (or sprinted – we were running late) 75 incredibly steep steps to hear the drum concert that occurs once a day.  We heard a spectacular beating of different sized drums and took several pictures of the views down Beijing’s main thoroughfare.  After our descent (much slower this time), we climbed back in our carriages to another Hutong home to make dumplings under the instruction of our fantastic guide, Tony, and dine on another incredible meal.  Lastly we drove to our sister school in China, Dulwich College at Beijing, to tour, visit classes and reunite with our two exchange students, Amy and Emily.  These girls spent two weeks at Harpeth Hall last year.  We were impressed by their extraordinary campus and the familiarity of hearing English in each of the classrooms.  We have so enjoyed our first two full (awake) days in Beijing.  Tomorrow we look forward to climbing the Great Wall, one of the most spectacular sights in China.  We hope for good (warm!) weather although they’re predicting winding conditions.  We will be sure to layer well!

More blogs to read...

Read what students in Washington DC are doing this week: http://dcwinterim.wordpress.com/
Read what Rebekah Webster thinks about surgery: http://rebekahswinterim.blogspot.com/

2nd Day in Uganda

Students lunched by the Nile River. Emily's arms are tired from holding all the wonderful children. They went to a feeding program where there were 300 children and then later to an orphanage. They will go to an orphanage with babies tomorrow.

Sites of China

After hardy breakfast this morning (both Chinese and American offerings), we heading out to the Temple of Heaven to see where Ancient China prayed to and thanked the gods for good weather and harvests. We began this visit with a lesson in Tai Chi (or taiji) where we learned the slow, contrasting movements that emphasized balance and opposition. We welcomed this opportunity to warm our already chilled bodies (temperatures were quite brisk and the wind could be brutal at times). We finished the morning with a tea tasting where we tried five varieties, almost all of which were delicious and sweeter than anticipated. We feasted on Chinese noodles and other tasty treats at lunch before focusing our attention on Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Although we didn't see all 9,999 rooms, we did get a great impression of this imperial palace. Tomorrow we'll tour hutungs via richshaw, visit our exchange school and see the bell tour.

See what our students are doing in Uganda

Follow our students during their inspiring trip to Uganda by cutting and pasting the following URL in your browser: http://www.healministries.blogspot.com/

Arrived in Uganda on Saturday

The team has arrived in Entebbe safely and the girls are checked in to the Central Inn Entebbe! Students are on their way to Jinja.

Ni hao from China

From Upper School French teacher Jenny Jervis:
After an hour de-icing delay in Newark, our 14-hour flight passed by without a glitch. Some of the lucky ones grabbed a few winks while the rest of us distracted ourselves with the numerous available films to while away the time. We are currently getting settled in our hotel and will leave shortly for dinner and then an early night to bed. After a good night's rest, we'll leave tomorrow at 9 a.m. for a Tai Chi lesson before visiting the Temple of Heaven, Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City. Some of the girls may try to Skype tomorrow after a bit of rest. We're all quite excited to be here!

Fox News In New York

Parker Davis is interning at Fox News in New York. Her first week included tagging along on an interview with the Chinese foreign minister, who usually never gives interviews.

Dr. Pethel's Public History class is discovering the scientific side of historic preservation as they visit the Tennessee State Library and Archives and the Nashville City Cemetery. Carol Roberts is the director of the TSLA conservation lab which houses all records, newspapers, and documents relavent to Tennessee citizens, business, and government. Her assistant explained the evolution of photography, how to repair documents with Japanese Mulberry tissue paper, and how to remove acidity by giving paper a "water bath" with a mixture of magnesium bicarbonate. The TSLA is located next door to the Tennessee Supreme Court just below the State Capitol.

The Nashville City Cemetery is the city's oldest cemetery, first opened in 1820. It was in dire need of restoration and preservation after 40 years of neglect. The Nashville Cemetery Association was formed, led by Mrs. Fletch Coke (HH '51) and joined with the Metro HIstorical Commission to secure 3 million dollars in restoration funding. The project was completed last year and includes new signs, streetlights, paved walkways, repaired outer wall, restoration and special cleaning of headstones, replacement of headstones, and even a computer that helps you look up families buried in the cemetery. Many do not think of a cemetery as public history, but now we know how much work goes into preserving historic and sacred grounds. The Nashville City Cemetery is located behind the Adventure Science Center on 4th Avenue.

Winterim 2011 - Dance!

In addition to technique and composition classes, the girls in the Winterim Dance Class are learning about the process of taking a dance from the studio to the stage. For this mock production, the girls are responsible for: choosing the type and length of each dance, casting decisions, creating studio rehearsal schedules, creating technical and dress rehearsal schedules, creating a program order for the production, making costume decisions, creating a budget that addresses all production costs including fees for studio and theater rental, lighting and costume designers, printing programs, tickets, and posters, paying for theater personnel, shipping costs for any special costume items orders, and finally, paying dancer fees - if there is money left in the budget!

Designing Women

Liza Martin and Mary Hannah Gentry are testing their solar oven for their "Designing Women: Green Design" class.

Don't Read This Book

The "Don't Read This Book!" class got a "behind the scenes" view of our library when HH librarians discussed how they select books, the role of a library in a school or community, and books that have been commonly challenged or banned in schools across the nation. Students in the class will be reading several books that have been challenged and will learn to decide for themselves what is appropriate while developing criteria for judging books fairly.

Student Blogs

Besides the 2011 Winterim Blog, our students and teachers are blogging about Winterim.
Check out Caitlin's blog
Check out the Muddy Musings blog
Check out Girls Meet World Service Learning blog

On-campus courses in full swing

Freshmen and sophomores are excited about the varied courses they are taking during Winterim. From Songwriting for the Guitar (pictured) to Cryptography, there are more than 60 classes offered in the three week semester.

Winterim Off To Great Start

Harpeth Hall's 38th year of Winterim began Monday to great excitement. Nashville poet Stephanie Pruitt inspired students at the opening assembly.