"A Busy Monday" - Tom Triplitt

The China-in-Depth group had its busiest day yet on Monday, May 17. After an early breakfast, we went to SUDA for a morning lecture from Kate Kaup and Professor Xu Qinggen on Understanding The Politics of China Today. We learned about the key changes in individual's lives under Mao and the successive rulers of China.

Coleman Shouse at Breakfast

Lecture with Professor Xu Quinggen

For the afternoon, we took about a 40 minute bus ride out into the countryside to the ancient river town of Zhouzhaung, a town that has been there for over 1000 years. We had another HUGE lunch and then walked through the town. There were many interesting sights, sounds and SMELLS.

In Zhouzhang

Streets of Zhouzhang

We returned back to our hotel and had about 20 minutes to freshen up before departing to be treated to dinner by Dean Lu from SUDA at Shuixianglou restaurant. We were joined by two young Furman alums Chris Campbell, and our admissions person in China, Martha Kimmel.

Visiting with Alumni Working in China

We then took a river cruise around the citadel that protected the original city of Suzhou that featured traditional Chinese folk music.

Traditional Folk Music

"It's A Small World" - Marie Richards

Travel has always been a priority for Jason and me. However, the birth of our son Max curtailed our globetrotting ways. It was with some trepidation that we left our 2 ½ year old at home to set out on this adventure to China.

Our first experience in China involved meeting a host family from Soochow University who graciously invited us into their home. “Sally” and “James” (the names they had chosen while studying English) have an adorable 4 year old son, Qi-Qi. Before I could even begin to seriously miss my own child, I was enveloped with love by a small Chinese boy.

We felt an instant connection when we got into their car and heard a Gymboree cd playing “If You’re Happy and You Know It” and “The Wheels on the Bus”. In English, no less. Qi-Qi showed us the playground by his apartment, his treasured toys, and shared his favorite drink. After leading the way to his grandparents’ apartment downstairs, he instructed everyone where to sit for lunch with a forceful point of the finger. Our son Max is similarly inclined to dictate the seating arrangement. We were delighted to see many familiar toys crowding the apartment including the same piano that Max owns.

Sally and I found that we faced many similar parenting dilemmas. We both try to balance grandparents who want to spoil their treasured grandsons. We have both experienced the struggle of leaving a crying child who clings to you, or as Sally calls it, “being sticky”. And we both get smothered in hugs and kisses from our sons. It seems that despite cultural differences, the challenges and joys of parenthood cross borders.

Happy Birthday, Tom - Welcome to Suzhou!

Suzhou - the Venice of China

It was hard to tell that it was Sunday in China, there was so much going on.
We started the day with dozens of choices for breakfast at our hotel. We then boarded our bus to to to Soochow University (abbreviated SUDA from now on). We had a briefing on China from Chen Gao, a former faculty member who is now Suzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Director. Our group asked great questions during a stimulating 2-hour meeting.

We were then paired up with our host families and went to lunch with them, following by having a personal tour guide of the city. Diane and I walked an historic street along an ancient canal. Thanks to our host, we avoided being run down by any bicycles or electric scooters.

The Triplitts with host family

Just before dinner, we returned to SUDA for a meeting with VP Zhang. Furman Board of Trustees Chair Kathy McKinney did a wonderful job representing Furman and presenting him with gifts from our group. Dr. Zhang then joined us for dinner at Hantingfang. We had more courses than we could count and most our group could not answer the bell for last two or three courses.

We returned to our hotel and a large group of us tried to walk off our dinner in the shopping and entertainment district near our hotel.

We capped off our night by celebrating my birthday in the cigar bar at our hotel.

"Day 1" - Kate Kaup

7:00 AM May 16
Good morning! We had a great flight over, including an OJ Simpsonesque-dash through the Detroit airport to make our connection after the Greenville flight arrived on time but sat on the tarmac for 20 minutes as the crew tried to unjam the aircraft’s main doors! We were greeted at the Pudong Airport by Meng “Harrison” Xiangchun and the Dean Liu Zhiming of the Foreign Languages School.

We have a packed day planned today—starting with a briefing by Chen Gao, Vice Director of the Suzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. When we began our exchange program with Soochow University (SuDa) in 2005, Chen Gao served as our primary “facilitator,” helping us manage our numerous programs on the ground and coordinating relations between the two schools we work with here at Soochow University, the School of Foreign Languages and the School of Overseas Education. (We partnered with East China Normal University in Shanghai from 1988-2005 and then made the switch to SuDa). Chen Gao was a professor in the Foreign Languages School and the Department of Translation. We were delighted to have him working on our programs as he’s extremely hard working and well connected, which also enabled him to help us set up internships for our first batch of Fall in China students who were required to take an internship as part of their coursework in the fall of 2006. The concept of internships is still not fully understood or embraced here, so setting up suitable positions wasn’t an easy task, and would have been much more difficult and time-consuming for the FIC faculty director to manage directly from 6,000 miles away. Chen Gao was elevated to his current position in the Summer of 2008, and he continues to be a very strong friend of Furman.


The board room for our briefing!

After our briefing, each of our group is going to be hosted by a SuDa faculty member for lunch at their home and then accompanied on a tour of the city. So often tour groups just whisk through a city without having a chance for a more indepth conversation with people living there or visiting their homes, so we’re all looking forward to the opportunity. I’m going to sneak out to have lunch with the four teachers from the Overseas Ed School who will be coming to Furman July 7-25th to teach our Startalk Furman Chinese Language Camp. We’ll be bringing in 24 high school students from across the US for two weeks of immersion Chinese, and are developing a new curriculum for the program. The teachers are going to be attending a pedagogy workshop here for the program taught by Zhang Xiaolu, who served as Furman’s Language House Assistant on campus all the way back in 1998, She’ll be joining us for dinner on Tuesday night with several Furman alumni.


A host family shows us their daughter's dance class


This evening we’ll have a meeting with Soochow University President Zhang, before he hosts a welcome dinner for us. Lots more to share, but there’s AT LEAST one giant pot of coffee waiting for me downstairs.


Kathy McKinney representing Furman with President Zhang


Dave Ellison presents Chinese delicacy at dinner

"First Report" - Tom Triplitt

Intrepid Travelers leaving from GSP


Arriving in Suzhou


Good Evening from Suzhou, China!

Our intrepid group met at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport just before 11 AM on Friday, May 14 and have just arrived at our hotel in Suzhou, China at about 11 PM on Saturday, May 15. We did lose 12 hours crossing the international date line, but we were travelling for about 24 hours. We were met at the Shanghai airport by our tour guide and the dean of the language school in Suzhou.

Everyone seemed none the worse for wear after our long journey and are ready for a full three days of activities in this small (by China standards) city of only 7 million people. Our hotel is 5-star and we are in a bustling entertainment section, so there will be plenty to do in our free time. No one felt quite like going out tonight, though.

It was dark when we landed in Shanghai, so we were not able to see much on our bus ride, but lots and lots of construction on apartment buildings and other things. Suzhou is the Venice of China, so we are looking forward to exploring the canals in the daylight.

Itinerary for trip

China In Depth
May 14-28, 2010
*Kate Kaup’s cell number in China: 011-86-13776027178 (if calling from outside of China)
13776027178 (from within China)
Date
Itinerary
Hotel Information
May 14
12:38 pm Depart Greenville on Delta 4116

May 15
Cross the international dateline and arrive in Shanghai at 6:30 pm. Board our luxury coach for the 2.5 hour transfer to Suzhou.
Soffitel Hotel
No 818 E Ganjiang Road
Suzhou, China
Phone: 001-86-512-68019888

May 16
Discuss Suzhou City’s history and current developments with Suzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Vice Director, Chen Gao.
Explore Suzhou and enjoy a home cooked meal with your Chinese “host family.”
Tonight, enjoy an optional evening cruise along the Grand Canal.
Soffitel Hotel
May 17
Begin our two-day seminar on “Engaging China: What We Need to Know Now” with Kate and SuDa faculty.
This afternoon engage in a discussion on traditional Chinese medicine and contemporary health reform issues, before joining Furman alumni and friends for a banquet of Suzhou specialty cuisine.
Soffitel Hotel
May 18
This morning continue our discussion of “Engaging China” before we join SuDa friends for the University’s 110th Anniversary Celebration.
Soffitel Hotel
May 19
Early Departure for Shanghai
This afternoon visit the gorgeous Yuyuan Gardens and Shanghai Museum before visiting the ultramodern Shanghai Urban Planning Museum.
This evening enjoy a Shanghai Acrobats performance.
Jinjiang Tower‎
161 Changle Road
Shanghai, China 200020
Phone: 001-86-21-64151188‎ OR 011-86-21-64150048‎


May 20

Depart early for the 7:50 am flight to Lhasa via Xian.
After an afternoon rest, explore Barkhor Street and the Jokhang Monestary.

Four Points by Sheraton
No 10, Bo Linka Road
Lhasa, Tibet 850000
Phone: 011-86-891-6348888
May 21
Explore the majesty of the Potala Palace and the Summer Palace of the Norbulinka. In the afternoon visit Sera Monastery.
Four Points by Sheraton
May 22
Cross the gorgeous Yalungtzangpo river to Samye Monastery and return to Lhasa for an evening Tibetan dance Performance.
Four Points by Sheraton
May 23
Visit Drepung Monastery before our afternoon flight to Xian.

Sheraton Xian
No 262 Feng Hao East road
Xian, China 710077
Phone: 011-86-29-84261888

May 24
Visit Emperor Qin Shihuang’s tomb and see the spectacular Terracotta Warriors. Gain further insight into the period at the Shaanxi History Museum.
Explore the Islamic Great Mosque and neighboring art district before indulging on a twenty-course dumpling feast at Defachang.
Sheraton Xian
May 25
Depart early this morning for Beijing.
After lunch visit the Temple of Heaven.
Experience the Beijing Opera tonight.

Jianguo Garden Hotel
5 Jiangguo Men Wai Beijing, China 100020
Phone: 011-86-10-65002233
May 26
This morning visit the site of so much of China’s modern political history, Tiananmen Square followed by a visit to the Forbidden City. Feast on a Manchu style lunch in Beihai Park.
This afternoon visit the new American Embassy for a private briefing. We are joined this evening by Virginia Palmer, DCM in Vietnam and former foreign service officer in Beijing & Hong Kong.
Jianguo Garden Hotel
May 27
Enjoy the splendor of the Great Wall at Badaling.
Enjoy some free time this afternoon before our farewell Beijing Duck Dinner at Quanjude.
Jianguo Garden Hotel
May 28
Depart early this morning for our return flight to Greenville.

Furman's First Alumni Trip to China!

Furman in China - May 14 -28, 2010

A group of Furman alumni and friends travel with Furman's Dr. Kate Kaup for a very insider tour of China, particularly focusing on Furman's programs in China and Furman's approach to Asian Studies.

This intrepid and brave group (Kate is known for her enthusiasm and her ability to go non-stop) included:

Kate Kaup,Frances and David Ellison, Kathy and Ron McKinney, Jason and Marie Richards, Coleman Shouse, Carrie and Richard Tucker.

At various times, they were joined by Furman alumni living and working in China, including, Martha Kimmel '08, who is working for Furman's Admissions, recruiting Chinese students to come to Furman.

They were also hosted by dignitaries from Soochow University, Furman's partner university in China, as this group represented Furman at Soochow's 100th Anniversary Celebration.