Riding In A Commie Paddy-Wagon (5-25-08)

So yeah, last night I was escorted back to the hotel in the back of a Chinese police vehicle.  Here’s the story.  Yesterday was fine, we went to a Chinese lake/park to kill time, then had a rehearsal after lunch.  The concert was fantastic, the Huazhong Normal University Girl’s Chorus did a joint concert with us, and they were so incredible.  They used no vibrato whatsoever and they all were gorgeous.  They sang a number of pieces but ended with Ivory’s “Go Where I Send Thee”.  And other than Bezleham, Gosper, and Isrear, their pronunciation was incredible.  Afterward we were invited by their group to go outside for a party of  “Cokes and Beer”.  Needless to say none of us touched the beer.  Then I came back to the hotel just to leave for Starbucks, I’m proud of myself, it’s the first American food that I have bought while in China, but I have a weakness for Starbucks.  Anyway on the way back John Pounders, Mandy Finch, the Gould sisters, and I took a wrong turn getting back to the hotel.  John and I knew where we were going, but the girls kept complaining and whining, typical.   Finally we found a cop and since Mandy speaks Mandrin, he told us where the hotel was, but at that time a police van pulls up and they offer to take us back to the hotel.  It was one of the greatest adventures EVER!

Ps. We leave Wuhan today for Changsha

Ping the Duck Was Here (5-23-08)

Sorry haven’t updated in a while, traveling and lots of stuff to do makes for not the best blogging time.  We are currently in Wuhan, China which is South of where we have been.  We met with a few Harding grads that are currently working in China here as English professors.  We had a concert at their university, it was good, but we had no air conditioning whatsoever, I don’t think I’ve ever sweated so much in my life.  I saw Dr. Myers my bible teacher this past year in the audience, he’s in China for a month.  We then had a cultural exchange with some of the students last night and got to know a bit more about their culture. Then they had a karaoke party, it was amusing.  We traveled across town today and are now at a different hotel, and we’re singing at the University on this side of town.  We went to a museum today that had an ancient (2400 year old) set of bells that could play two pitches at once.  It was the coolest thing ever.  We also have seen the Yangtze River which is the third longest in the world.  And yes, it is yellowish.  Alright, well I think that’s enough for the night.  Goodnight.