CRR09 Day 6, Monday - LiDa Middle School

Monday we departed the Scholar’s Inn to be begin our home stays with LiDa Families for the next eight days. We were quite the sight; twenty-four “wai guo ren” (foreigners) with suitcases walking down the streets of Suzhou. After a fifteen minute walk we reached our destination and waited for the LiDa staff to show us to our new headquarters. Room 18 is now mission control where each family will meet with Kojo for the day’s orientation.


After settling in our first stop was art class where we learned about opera masks and face painting. The colors red, blue, black, gold, and silver each represent different emotions and characteristics. The color of the mask/face paint give the audience insight into the character’s personality. Creating the mask is time consuming and a rare talent. We then painted our own clay mask which was then sprayed with lacquer.


Following the art class we went directly to opera fan dancing where everyone learned the fine art of fan dancing and Suzhou opera singing. Our teacher had an amazing voice which carried throughout the room. The boys were very handsome in their flowing costumes. Amy, Elizabeth, and Isadora were dressed in Empress clothing and posed for pictures.


We were given boxed lunches of rice, vegetables, chicken, and breaded fried pork. Free time followed and we were sorry we ate lunch as the street food was so inviting. LiDa has an open campus so there were a lot of vendors readying for the lunch crowd.


Our next class was physical education where we learned a series of martial arts moves that was then followed by a short break. Fully rested we twisted ourselves into various yoga poses with many of us (Amy) falling off our mats. Again we had free time. This time however, Amy, Kevin, Woody and I were hungry and ready to hit the streets for some great Suzhou snacks. We gorged ourselves on dumplings and chang you bing (a pancake-like crepe made with flour and water, scallions, salt, and sometimes a layer of egg).


Upon returning to LiDa we were expecting to have a welcome ceremony but instead were sent directly home with our host families. Hopefully, all of the speech writing and translation will not be wasted. Gifts that were intended to be given are still sitting at headquarters. LiDa students are currently in exam week and are extremely busy.


Isadora and I are staying with the Zhou family in a new housing development in downtown Suzhou. The Zhou family house is designed around Suzhou garden architecture. Yu jia and her parents have been very generous with their time and home.