The Adventures of Tai'an

I was hoping to see the Torch when it came through Tai'an. I had it all planned out. Even ought an Australian Nike Shirt.

Well I drew the short straw and had to teach that day. That's cool I thought we will go on an excursion. It just didn't seem right that the students would miss such a huge event and for them probably a once in a life time event!

Off I went to the school gate with the 8 students who turned up for class. The guards wouldn't let me leave. The school was concerned about riots and potential terrorist attacks. I went to the school leaders. They said no. I had my teachers aide ask the school the end result was no.

I didn't see the torch, but I understand from Barbara, that it was good. Great atmosphere, heaps of activities to keep you busy during the wait. Although she didn't enjoy the 3 hours standing in the China heat and humidity for a 5 second glimpse

It was Sunday Night before the torch was due to arrive in Tai'an. Olympic fever hit Tai'an. You could find on the streets heaps of vendors selling t-shirts, wrist band, hats, stickers and anything else that you can think of.

We got caught up in the fever and bought shirts, flags, wrist bands, etc. It was very exciting and easy to get caught up in the moment!

When the wheat is harvested they put it out on the street to dry. This is the street that the new campus is on. The bus just drives straight over the top. It really is quite amazing.

After it is dried they then collect the grain. The grain is then further spread out onto the street I guess to dry even more.

The unused parts are then made into brooms. It really is an interesting process to watch over the days.

I am a keen football supporter so I convinced Barbara and Rebecca to go to a Football game in Jinan. We decided on the game on the 28 June. Shandong was playing Chengdu.

Off we headed to Jinan for the weekend. When we arrived in Jinan I announced that I had left the Chinese instructions to give to the Taxi driver. All was Ok the hotel spoke enough English for us to get the information we needed.

Off we headed at 6.30 pm to the game. Stopped at traffic lights we had scalpers trying to see us tickets. They didn't speak English, neither did the taxi driver and of course we don't speak Chinese. We declined their offer.

Off to the ticket booth and others were trying to sell us tickets. The full price was 120Y ie $20 and they were being offered for 50Y ie $8. After some negotiations I purchased the tickets, three in a row on the half way line.

Now we needed to buy some merchandise. We went in the hunt for a t-shirt, guernsey, flag, wristbands anything. In the end we came out with flags.

Now to our gate. We located the gate and entered the stadium. Someone was sitting in our seats. I spoke to the security guard who told me that we could sit somewhere else. It now dawned on me that it is the same as Brazil. You buy a ticket for a section not for a seat. But all was good as we were in a good section and you could see from anywhere.

The seats were filthy. We had to clean them with tissues before we could sit. Others used paper or cardboard. Something to note for next time!

A Chinese man came to sit next to me but my bag was on the chair. I moved my bag and he sat there. Then he wanted photos taken. I obliged.

The stadium was amazing. I have never been to Wembeley stadium but it certainly had that feel and look about it. What more the view was spectacular.

The football started and it was an entertaining first half. Shandong were up 1 - Nil. The football was fast and they had some real pace about them.

Chengdu scored in the second half to equalize and then Shandong came back with another to win 2 - 1.

Dragon Boat Festival is a Traditional Chinese Festival. The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is a significant holiday (we worked) celebrated in China, and has the longest history. It is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish line first.

The boat races during the festival is a traditional custom in attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. The Chinese now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. This is to allow the poet to eat the rice before the fish could. The custom now is the eating of Tzungtzu and rice dumplings.

The celebration is a time to protect yourself from evil and disease for the rest of the year. This is done by varying practices including hanging fresh herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions and displaying portraits of evils nemesis, Chung Kuei. If you manage to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12 pm, the following year will be lucky!