"110th Year of Soochow U; The World Expo, and Cowboys!" - Carrie Tucker

The first week was very exciting with the Grand Dedication of the 110th year of Soochow University. They treated us like royalty with a special dinner with the President following the opportunity to meet and talk with him as a group. Everyone enjoyed the special treatment! The ceremony was a spectacular presentation with fireworks and fanfare. All of our dinners were hosted by Deans and/or attended by faculty. One of the highlights was the banquet after the Dedication ceremony. The President and all of the Deans that work with Furman came to toast our table, as well as many other tables.

The Tuckers with their Host Family in Suzhou

Who's the real cowboy here?

Our trips to the Silk Factory and Administrator's Gardens in Suzhou were very informative and special. The Suzhou Museum gave us the reality of how old China truly is.

We left for Shanghai on Wednesday morning. Richard, Martha, and I went to the World Expo. It was amazing to see the architectural design of all the buildings. We walked the entire EXPO, but only had time to see a few interiors due to the two hour wait. We did visit the USA building. It was not quite what we expected. It was great to have the chance to see it, especially with Martha, who guided us through all the obstacles.

We loved the trip and will definitely be going back!

"Barefoot Doctor" - Dave Ellison

Sending this via Blackberry. Hope I don't develop arthritis in my thumbs.

It's day 5 of our China In Depth adventure. We've been in Suzhou at Furman's sister university "SuDa". Now arriving in main part of Shanghai. This the biggest place I've ever seen and yet we've seen so little of it. We stop for a visit to the beautiful Yu Garden, and a brief shopping excursion before lunch. We see shanghai acrobats tonight and fly to Tibet tomorrow.

But first back to SuDa. Many highlights but perhaps the most appreciated was a lunch in a home. Our host is Dean Xu. He is an English lit prof who is retiring this semester. Born in a farming village, he is the first in his family and among about six from his village of 1,000 to go to college. His opportunity arose from his service as a "barefoot doctor" as a youth. Medical care was needed desperately in rural China and he was tapped. We learn his life story told in a genuinely humble manner. He tells us that prior to moving to Manchester, Eng for his PhD work, that he bought into the perception that Brits (and Americans) were "foreign devils". Great metaphor for why Furman needs rigorous Asian Studies. All for now. More later.