I think I may have earlier referred to our pep-rally like performance of the fan-dance as the culmination of that forsaken activity. However, I was lying, because we have continued secretly practicing. The REAL culmination happened Thursday and Friday, at the Zhejiang Provincial International Student Talent Show. It was a BIG DEAL. By BIG DEAL, I mean that they went all out with decor, we had 15 hours of dress rehearsals the day before, necessitating stay in a hotel, then there were the TV crews, etc etc. Intense. I can happily report that we had one of the best performances, and I will post several videos soon, I just need to get them down to size. This weekend, we were rewarded with a trip for our efforts. On Saturday, we visited an amazing Kung Fu school, where children as young as 4, and up through high school entertained us with absolutely amazing martial arts, dances, and Dragon and Lion performances. It was truly awesome, but at the time I had no batteries, so I am waiting on friends' pics to show you guys. The next day, we visited the Great Wall of the South, which dates to the Ming Dynasty, and served as a model for the Great Wall in the North. You can see pictures of a beautiful historic street below, as well. We each had a personal guide from one of the local high schools, mine was named Lithium (or it sounded like that) and she was very sweet and spoke very good English. She was only 16, and hopes to study in America, please wish her luck. Later Sunday, we visited Shen Xianju, or "Residence of the Immortals," a really cool park with 11 waterfalls, home to giant salamanders which I wish I had seen!
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