Matthew's Highlights of the week

The highlights of the week were gym, art, library, making the poster/backdrops to our mini play -Rumplstiltskin, and practicing Kung Ming (the play).  In gym, we did the climbing wall.  In library, I check out a book called Yummy; it has fairy tales in it.  We look forward to doing something in Art.  I liked practicing the Kung Ming play because I like the play.  I played the servant to Kung Ming; I bring him roasted duck and lichi nuts.  While doing the backdrop, I learned it is not easy to decide sometimes in a small group. 

Air Pollution in China

There is a big problem in China--air pollution.


In fact, when there was talk for us to move to China, the big concern for us was the air pollution.

We can be careful of what we eat, where we go, as food regulation is still not so strict in China, and using an illegal amounts of chemicals is still not rare, and small local restaurants don't keep clean enough. But you can't choose what kind of air you breathe. You might read an article about Beijing’s air pollution in recent days. It recorded the air pollutant index off the chart (much higher than the limit on the original chart which was made to measure the air pollution).


The city where we live, Chengdu, is not much better than Beijing for air standards. Taking into consideration its location, inland and surrounded by mountains, the air doesn't clear up so fast. Chengdu is a booming city, where new buildings, highways, and subways are building all over the city. (4 subway lines are being built simultaneously right now, and the 2nd  line has just opened).  The cars are overflowing and this construction causes even more traffic jams. Also, people still use coal to get heat in winter.


The U.S.Consulate gives a number to the density of pollutant particles in the air, hourly.  I have been watching this number very carefully. Over the past few weeks the number has been "hazardous" which is the level of, "Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low".  Actually the school didn't allow kids to play outside last week because it's too polluted to play outside.


In fact, we can tell how polluted the air is. It's grey/brown, and smells different.  You can hardly see clouds in the sky and even the sun and moon are vague. Certainly I can tell this air is not good for us.  To give an example, I start to have a headache when the air is not good. Fortunately my kids haven't developed any symptoms but kids that I know have started to have problems with the air here.


The Chinese government tries to reduce the number of cars on the road. For example, every car has one day that it can't be driven in the main part of the city.  The day is decided by the last number on each license plate. All the motorcycles are now electric. But this hasn't eased the air pollution.


This was taken in Chengdu city.

The roads in Chengdu are always under construction. 

This was taken in Beijing, Tienanmen square in December.

Celebrating New Year's and GuGong Palace

しんねん　あけましておめでとうございます。ことしもどうぞよろしくおねがいします。

新年快乐！

Happy New Year! Best wishes for the coming year!

We spent Christmas and New Years in Nagoya, Japan, where I am from. On Christmas, in Japan, we don’t celebrate with family, it’s more of a couple’s date night. Instead, for Japanese people, New Year is the biggest holiday. Families get together and eat “Osechi”.

Here is a photo of Osechi that we ate this year. Each food has a meaning of a wish. For example, shrimp look like an old man whose back is curled, and has a cane. Therefore, it represents,” wishing a long life”. Kazunoko, (herring roe) represents, “wishing having many children”. Kuromame (black beans): “mame”, in old Japanese, means someone who works hard and can live a strong life--therefore eating kuromame means, “wishing good health”.

There is a tradition for kids to receive money instead of gifts from adults in the New Year, a custom called "Otoshidama". Jay and Kosei got Otoshidama from their grandma, aunts, and uncles. They saved the money for the next time they will go back to Japan.

We had a great time in Japan. It even snowed on Christmas. Here is a photo of a residencial neighborhood in Nagoya .

Before we went to Japan, our flight was cancelled in Beijing. So, we went sightseeing in Tiananmen and Gugong.

You might have seen this sight already since it’s a very famous/important place in China. You can see a photo of Mao Tse Tung.  This is the place where he declared The People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949. Tiananmen(Gate of Heavenly Peace) is located at the North of Tiananmen Square which is a large city square in the center of Beijing, separating it from Gugong, the Forbidden City.

This is inside GuGong. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty lived this palace. It's a World Heritage Site. Building started in 1406 by the Yongle emperor and it took 15 years to complete. It served as the palace for the next 24 emperors and 500 years.

The outer wall of GuGong is 10m high and 720,000 m2, there are about 9000 rooms!

It was SO cold in Beijing! It was around -10 Celsius. It didn’t snow but the road was icy for us to walk on!

Cordelia's Highlights of the Week

Highlights of my week are that we are putting on a play called Kung Ming and the 100,000 Arrows.  And all the small groups are putting on different plays.  My small group is putting on a play translated into Japanese.  We are doing the translation with the help of Uto Sensei. 

Halle's Highlights of the Week

We went to the Seattle Asian Art Museum.  We saw lots of Japanese Paintings on hanging scrolls, hand scrolls, screen paintings, and more.  Also we wrote Haiga about different animals.  Also another highlight of my week was we had a sharing celebration.  I brought a crab, Mr. Concerned About His Eyeballs.  In gym, we did a Pacer Test where you run back and forth across in the gym.  And today, I am doing unicycle club.  I already know how ride the five feet tall unicycle but I want to know more.  We also did small group plays which is awesome.

I am looking forward to doing the Martin Luther King March with or without signs.  We are marching to Tangletown and that is all I would like to share.  Goodbye.

Additions from the class...We had a sharing circle where our  special stuff.  We are also doing art today.  We wonder what we will be doing in art.

Zara's Highlights this week

The highlights of my week are seeing my friends after my trip and learning to adapt fairy tales in writing.  Reading the different Cinderella books.  I'm looking forward to girl scouts.  Tonight, we have a family dinner where some of my family is coming over.