20 August 1998. Chengdu, ShiChuan province, China

So we move on, and fly to Chengdu, the capital of ShiChuan province. That's the home of the HOT! spicy chinese food I love. I'm looking forward to dinner. As we drive into town, our new local guide gives us the stats on the community. Chengdu is located in a flat basin among mountains. It sits at about 300 meters above sea level. It's very lush, they call it the Rice bowl of China. In the city, there is some light industry. They're very proud to have attracted some foreign investment in the area, including Motorola and Siemens making electronic components, and Boeing making engines. Also some social information - After marriage, the new family will still share dinner with his parents. The grandparents typically provide day care while the parents are working. With the imposition of the single-child rule on the Han people in 1980, the parents tend to lavish a lot of attention on their only child. This has resulted in a generation of very selfish children, which our guide referred to as 'little emperors'. It doesn't sound so different from our own experience with only children.

Our first stop is at the Chengdu Foreign Language school. We are looking forward to this, as it is our first opportunity to really communicate with people. This might be called a 'magnet' school here in the states. They emphasize the use of the english language, and the students are chosen through a very rigorous application and testing process. After two years, the class is cut in half, so that those making it through to graduation is about one-half of one percent of those who originally applied. If you also consider the self-selection that happens when facing such tough odds, these students can clearly be called the 'cream of the crop'. School was not in session. In fact, they were in the process of demolishing one of the older school uildings, and putting the finishing touches on a new replacement. They were able to round up maybe 60-80 students, and we all met in the auditorium. These students are bright, inquisitive, and eager to refine their english by engaging in conversation. I was immediately greeted by a senior, Rita, who had just returned from a 30-day stay in Oregon thru an exchange student program. her english was excellent, and I must say, better than some of our guides! At the school, we were treated to a few speeches by their leaders and ours, we exchanged T-shirts, and then weree entertained by a young man with a great voice, and a lot of style, singing both Chinese and American songs. One of ours was also persuaded to get up there and contribute to the fun. as we continued to talk, it was obvious that new frendships were being born all over the room. Meanwhile, out back, some of the students and faculty had challenged us to a basketball game. They obviously had been practicing far longer than us, and the game evolved into one where everyone wins.

Next stop was the Chengdu Zoo, to see Pandas. We really didn't have tome to tour the entire zoo, so it was just a quick trip to the Panda compound and back out. The entry to the zoo was lined with vendors, selling among other things, various children's toys. Again, I'm struch by the similarity of people here and there. It was rather hot and muggy, so the Pandas were quite sluggish. They actually looked quite sad and uncomfortable. There were a few munching on bamboo leaves. Every time I see a panda, I can't help but wonder if there is any understanding of chiropractic in the panda  consciousness?  The zoo also had a few examples of the 'lessor' or Red Panda.  They were also rather slowed by the heat, so we found them expending minimal energy, resting among the branches and leaves of a tree.

That evening at dinner, we were treated to some live music, performed by a trio of young women.  Their repertoire  included both eastern and western selections, including American Bluegrass folk selections.  I was quite impressed.