I think I have said enough times Sudona that I don’t really understand the Chinese or Korean education systems. But it doesn’t really matter whether I understand them or not, you are in the Chinese education system and so it is your experience. This means that these will be your earliest memories when you get older. So, I just encourage you and talk about my experience as a way to bond with you, not to try to say my experience was better or worse.

So, in Korea (and I assume China also) schools have big parties and days off for their school’s founding day anniversary every year. I don’t understand this but it is your experience. This year was your school’s 100 year anniversary so it was even a bigger deal. Matter of fact it was so big that you started to practice a class performance last year and thus all the students stayed in this same class had to stay in the same class even thought they changed grades. Also, it was written up in all the newspapers in Korea and important government officials and Chinese ambassadors showed up.

So here are some pictures and video I took of the event.

As soon as you showed up in the classroom Sudona all of you girls decided that you needed to go out and check out what was going on.

All the classes set up booths and tried to sell something or do something that would generate some money to give the school. At this booth you could put on traditional Chinese clothes and take a picture in front of the picture of Tiananmen Square.

Your class was moving to the grounds to listen to a bunch of speeches. Yippee, fun!

Dragon heads for the dragon show that would be put on later.

You with your classmates.

Picture of the stage and all the important people.

Stuff one of the classes was trying to sell.

Thought this was a good picture showing that you go to school right in the middle of a big city.

They painted the whole school just for this big celebration.

Can you read the English? It says “6th Grade / Obedience” – For some reason that word just rubs me the wrong way. Especially when used in a school environment.

A picture from the top floor of one of the buildings.

Banners for the centennial.

Release of balloons.

All the important people ready to press some special buttons.

I guess the buttons made the plumes of smoke go off.

The dragon show was pretty cool.

Each class did their presentation.

Your class waiting to do your presentation.

This music was really cool. I could have listened to it for much longer.

One of the booths. I guess this is traditional stuff from one of the areas in China.

Here you are Sudona doing your class presentation.

They had noodles they gave out to all the people for free. You are waiting in line to get your noodles here. You said the noodles tasted like crap.

Avya, you had some big commercial meeting so you didn’t show up until later with your mom. I took you to the kindergarten area so you could play.

Now it is time for the sports competition time of the day. The centennial portion of the day went so long that they sports part was cut short.

Can you see Avya and your mom?

Getting ready for your race.

You won the gold medal again. That’s three years in a row. You started talking about trying to make it all 6 years in a row.

Of course Avya wanted to play with your gold medal. Later I took from her and put it in your mom’s purse. You came looking for it and I said Avya had it. When she did have it I said Avya must have lost it. You started to tear up so I quickly told you I was just joking. You didn’t find it to be that funny.

Your mom is really looking good these days. She has been exercising regularly and eating healthy.

Getting ready for the tug-of-war. You said when your class practiced against other classes your class lost every time. So, when you won this first one your class was so happy. Unfortunately, your class lost the next one so your class came in 2nd place.

Trying to keep Avya entertained. Boy do I need a haircut.