China, Day 5
Laura Ford Hall
(Day 4 was a travel day, mostly spent in the air)
Today, the Pikeville Sister City Delegation to China had a busy day in Xi’an (pronounced “she-ahn”) in the Shaanxi Province of China. China’s provinces are similar to the states in the United States.
On Wednesday, the delegation arrived to Shaanxi Province, the state where our Sister City of Ankang is located. The City of Ankang and the Shaanxi Province have gone to great lengths to honor the delegates from America. We have found that in the Chinese culture it is extremely important that their guests be very pleased. Two government officials from Ankang have traveled with the Delegation, introducing them to the culture of China and allowing them the once-in-a-lifetime experience of visiting some of the greatest landmarks of Asia, including the Great Wall. This introduction to the Chinese culture and history will only help to further the formation of a strong Sister City relationship. When the Delegation from Ankang arrives in the U.S., they will not only visit Pikeville but also places such as Washington D.C. and New York City in order to be introduced to American culture before coming to Pikeville.
The introduction to the culture and the knowledge of the history of China has been very beneficial as the days have progressed throughout our visit. Our new-found knowledge and experience came in to play today as the Delegation met with the Foreign Affairs Department and the Secretary General of the Shaanxi Province. The meeting took place at 10:30 a.m. at the Xi’an Foreign Affairs Building. Complete with interpreter and presentations of gifts, the meeting was very fruitful and meaningful to developing our Sister City relationship.
Secretary General Wang Yousheng and Brad Hall
Secretary General Wang Yousheng spoke on behalf of the Province as Pikeville City Manager Donovan Blackburn and Governor Paul Patton spoke on behalf of our city and state. Mr. Wang (in China, the last name goes first) said he was honored and excited to have our delegation visit and many topics were discussed between the Chinese and American parties. It was so interesting being an observer. I felt as if I were very important to be privy to an international meeting and that our city was progressing in ways beyond what I thought imaginable being a lifelong citizen of the city. To have Pikeville be recognized on a more global level made me very proud to be from Pikeville.
Pictured is the Delegation with the Shaanxi Province Foreign Affairs Department and Secretary General: From left: Hobart Clay Johnson, Pam May, First Lady Judi Patton, Kim Carter, Jimmy Carter, Donovan Blackburn (back), Debbie Blackburn (front), Shaanxi Province Secretary General Wang Yousheng, Walter E. May, Former Governor Paul Patton, Greg May, People's Government of Shaanxi Province Foreign Affairs Sister City Department Director Zhou Bin, Dr. Bill Booth, Xu Tongwu, Laura Ford Hall and Brad N. Hall.
This Province is a sister city to the state of Minnesota. As cities are paired with foreign cities, states are paired with provinces. A delegation from the Shaanxi Province will be coming to America soon and we have invited them to make a stop in Pikeville during their visit. The Shaanxi Province of China is the fastest growing province and that has been made evident by the massive amount of construction going on in this “small town” of 8 million people. A new subway system, many roads being widened or expanded, and buildings under construction at every turn shows that this is a city in an extreme growth period. The exchange of knowledge between Pikeville and both provinces and cities of China could lead to much opportunity for Pikeville in this new global market.
As for some final thoughts, I am still suffering on the China Diet. I suspect now that I have lost about 6 pounds. Though rice is very filling, it must be a good diet food. The plates that are given to you in Chinese restaurants are very small… like the size of one of our dessert plates or bread and butter plates at home. So, the portions are very small as well. Though, at our hotel in Xi’an, they did have room service with American food. This included spaghetti and garlic bread. It cost me $147 yuan… about $25 U.S. dollars, but I didn’t care… I ordered it and I was in Heaven. : )
Also… the bed in our hotel in Xi’an is very, very hard… almost like sleeping on the floor. I am told this is customary for the Chinese people to sleep on a very hard bed. Well… it was not for me. I kept thinking, “Laura, there has to be a solution to this problem!” So, I called housekeeping and ordered 12 pillows… that’s right, they thought I was crazy! I laid them all on the bed in a row and made a “pillow top” mattress… not the best, but better than sleeping on a “wooden bed.”
I was also thrilled to get to sing a mini-concert with a Bulgarian pianist. The Ankang Government officials found out that I directed music at a college, and I have since been booked for four performances in China… I guess it is something neat to add to my resume. It was fun. For singing, I was given a bottle of wine by the hotel for which I was performing! Though a nice gesture, I have never had a drink of alcohol, so now I am trying to figure out how much I might sell this bottle to get some yuan or American dollars for it… I hope someone buys it. LOL.
For my final thought of the day… the biggest cultural difference for me is that the Chinese do not use diapers for their children and that they are allowed to potty on the streets, with their parents holding them as they potty. I have seen this over and over and it is just the strangest thing to me. I can’t imagine that happening at home, but we are in a different culture. Though I do not have children yet, it makes me very thankful for diapers.
Tomorrow we will visit the museum of the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses and then will travel on to Ankang for more Government and Foreign Affairs Meetings. I am not sure I will have Internet access there, but will do my best to blog if possible.
Laura Ford Hall
Pictured is the Delegation with the Shaanxi Province Foreign Affairs Department and Secretary General: From left: Hobart Clay Johnson, Pam May, First Lady Judi Patton, Kim Carter, Jimmy Carter, Donovan Blackburn (back), Debbie Blackburn (front), Shaanxi Province Secretary General Wang Yousheng, Walter E. May, Former Governor Paul Patton, Greg May, People's Government of Shaanxi Province Foreign Affairs Sister City Department Director Zhou Bin, Dr. Bill Booth, Xu Tongwu, Laura Ford Hall and Brad N. Hall.
