July 31, 2008

Bryant alumni blog from the Far East

Fourteen alumni experience the culture of China.

It is not just Bryant students who are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures by studying abroad. A group of Bryant alumni are spending the next two weeks touring China as part of the Bryant Alumni China Trip.

Below are blog entries from Robin Torbron Warde, director of alumni relations.

Monday, August 11

Today, we spent the day in Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Thankfully, the weather was cooler because it involved what seemed like miles of walking. The Emperor's residence, within the Forbidden City, was as impressive as it was massive.

After a memorable trip, tomorrow we leave China and head back to Smithfield.

Bryant alumni enjoy the Forbidden City. 

Sunday, August 10

Today, was another Olympics day for some lucky ticket holders. Yvonne, Richard, and Ilene purchased tickets in the states for gymnastics, and Melissa, James, and Tracy successfully bought tickets in the street!

The rest of us passed the day shopping and taking in the final days in China. The Pearl and Silk Markets were both incredible – great buys, but we were exhausted by the bargaining. Most times, we ended up paying only one fifth of the original asking price. Dinner was unique, as we boiled our own meat and vegetables in "hot pots" at the table.

Another look from the Forbidden City in China.

Saturday, August 9

We were bound for the Olympics with tickets for everyone to attend rowing events at the brand new canoeing and rowing venue outside of Beijing. It was about 100 degrees with 100 percent humidity, so we melted under the hazy skies, but we did get some of the Olympic flavor, with flag-draped spectators cheering on their women and men from around the globe. In the morning, we visited the Summer Palace – an ancient getaway for the Ming and Qing Emperors and their families.

Friday, August 8

Today, was a travel day, bringing our group back to Beijing from the Guilin area. In Beijing, excitement has mounted for the opening of the Olympics. Security is tight everywhere with presidents from countries around the world arriving for the Opening ceremonies.

We watched the amazing show on live large screens in our hotel. The original plans were for screens to be set up around the city in large squares, but with the recent bombings in Western China, the cautious Chinese decided that they didn't want any public gatherings.

Bryant alumni in Tiananmen Square on one of the last days of their trip to China.

We couldn't get anywhere near the "Birds Nest" stadium where the ceremonies were held, but we did have a good view on the screen, even though our commentary was in Chinese. Patti, Shannon, and Martha went to the home of a friend of Patti's and saw everything on the television, along with translation offered by the hosts. 

Thursday, August 7

On our second full day in Yangshuo, we did some shopping and participated in a painting class. There are so many foreigners in this small city (population: 100,000) that we had quite a bit of western food. In the evening, we all attended an incredible show on the water, with about 700 performers, lights, and props. Even the mountains surrounding the small inlet on the river were illuminated. The choreographer is the same one who is going to do the Opening Ceremony in Beijing. We know it will be great!

Wednesday, August 6

The Bryant alumni, now traveling in steamy southeast China, happily devoured the fruits of their labors – a delicious four-course Chinese meal that they prepared with their own hands under the strict tutelage of a skilled Chinese chef. The meal was made even more exquisite by the exotic and spectacular Karst topography landscape rising on all sides of our location.

The Bryant alumni enjoy the meal they cooked under the direction of a local chef.

In the afternoon, everyone enjoyed a leisurely ride down the LiRiver on bamboo rafts. Last night we had the opportunity to explore Yangshou.

Tomorrow afternoon we will take part in a traditional water-painting lesson before enjoying the Liu San Jie Light Show at night.

Ilene and Richard Kurland '75 drift down the Li River on their personal bamboo raft.

Monday, August 4

What an experience!  The Terracotta Warriors are thousands of six-foot tall clay figures including horses, chariots, and weapons arrayed in battle formations and buried for over 2000 years.  We viewed all three of the pits that were discovered about 30 years ago.  Thanks to Professor Hong Yang's good connections, our group received special permission to enter the restricted area where they are in the process of assembling the thousands of broken pieces. 

Bryant alumni stand with ancient Terracotta Warriors. 

We also visited the Wild Goose Pagoda and the local Mosque, both several hundred years old.  Xi'an was the beginning of the Silk Road – the gateway to the Western lands, and was a center for Chinese culture and commerce for several dynasties. 

Today we move on to Guilin, a two-hour flight that will take us into Southern China. 

Sunday, August 3

The Bryant students, taking part in the China Summer Internship and Immersion Program accompanied us as we climbed the Great Wall and unveiled our Bryant banner on Saturday. What a classic experienced! Blessed again by good weather and spectacular mountain views in all directions. 

Bryant alumni and students at the Great Wall.

We said our goodbyes to the Bryant students after dinner in Beijing on Saturday night. What a great group!  We all enjoyed them tremendously. They obviously learned and accomplished a lot in the past two months and feel justifiably proud and confident of their ability to navigate Chinese culture and language.  

The night train to Xi'an is definitely the way to go to this ancient capitol, a very old and different city that we explored yesterday on foot, bicycle, and bus.

Marta DeCost ’06 bicycling on the city wall in Xi'an.  The city wall is the only completely intact (albeit reconstructed) wall in China.

Today, we meet up with Hong Yang, director of Bryant’s U.S.-China Institute and associate professor of science and technology, and will see the Terracotta Warriors.

Friday, August 1

Our group arrived safely and right on schedule in Beijing yesterday afternoon, and Denise Schwerin, assistant director for business programs in Bryant’s U.S-China Institute, was there to greet us – a sight for sore eyes after 12 hrs and 50 minutes in the air.

With only a week to go before the Opening Ceremonies, Beijing is decked out to welcome special visitors for the Olympics with banners, greeters, special traffic arrangements – and fresh air!  We can see the mountains!

The Bryant contingent upon arriving in Beijing.

We had a royal Chinese dinner at Fan Shan in Beihai Park with Kongli Liu, assistant director for Academic Programs in Bryant’s U.S.-China Institute, and Bryant students who are taking part in the China Summer Internship and Immersion Program . Mealtime is always a good time in China!

The students will join us for a trip to the Great Wall today.

July 31, 2008

Alumni journey to the Far East

The Bryant Alumni China Trip began early this morning as a group of 14 alumni, their families, and Bryant staff departed for the Far East to visit some of the most famous sites China has to offer – and to experience the sprit of the Olympics.

The excursion was planned by the Office of Alumni Relations. The staff of Bryant’s U.S.-China Institute will lead guided tours in China.

Like students and faculty, Bryant alumni will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Chinese culture by touring the country for two weeks.

“The opportunity to visit China during such a significant period in the country’s storied history is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our alumni,” says Robin Torbron Warde, director of alumni relations. “This remarkable experience is made possible by the relationships fostered by Bryant’s U.S-China Institute.”

Over the course of the trip, alumni will blog daily about their experiences in China. Bookmark this page to get daily updates.

Visitor’s guide to China

The group will visit Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall, and the Forbidden City among other cultural and historical sites. They will also visit Xi’an, Guilin, and Yangshou. 

On their first day in China, the Bryant contingent will have dinner with a group of Bryant students who spent the last two months taking part in a China Summer Immersion and Internship program. The 10 students studied at the China University of Geosciences and will return to Smithfield on August 3.

An early morning tour of The Great Wall highlights day two, which will end with the unique experience of riding a night train from Beijing to Xi’an.

The group will have the chance to enjoy the picturesque countryside of Yangshou.

In Xi’an, the group will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an ancient building that dates back to 652 and today still serves as a shrine for Buddhists.

Later in the trip, participants will have the opportunity to learn some Chinese cooking skills at a local school, take a traditional Chinese water painting class, and enjoy a leisurely ride on bamboo rafts down the Yulong River, which is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Yangshou.

Also in Yangshou, the group will experience the Liu San Jie Light Show, a dramatic musical production with a cast of 500 singers and dancers, who use the river as the stage and the breathtaking scenery as the backdrop. The production was created by Zhang Yimao, who will direct the opening ceremonies of this year’s Olympics.

The Bryant group will be in Beijing for the opening of the 29th Summer Olympic Games on August 8.

On August 8, the alumni will fly back to Beijing for the start of the 29^th Summer Olympic Games.

On August 11, the final day of the excursion, the group will tour the Forbidden City before departing for home the following day.

“Two weeks in a country with as much history and tradition as China will be an unforgettable experience,” says Warde.