China - Hubei ProvinceI have had some time to reflect on my trip to China and think about what to write. Basically, it was absolutely mad! Work sent Caroline and I on a mission to see how foreign language education and PE were incorporated into everyday education in China. Basically we went on a free jaunt (tremendous!) I spent 3 days in Beijing and the remaining 5 days in and around Hubei Province. We spent most of our time traveling to rural schools and teaching demonstration lessons. It has become mandatory in the last few years that children be educated up to age 16 so they have
swept the countryside and brought all these random farm children in to live in "dorms" at large facilities in small country towns. Our headteacher went to China through the same organisation last year and came back so worried that British children would not be able to compete in the job market again the chines kids she saw. Of course she went on a tour of the top Beijing primary schools where they had a class set of grand pianos and children speaking English fluently in grade 6. That was not the trip we went on. But we thoroughly enjoyed it.
swept the countryside and brought all these random farm children in to live in "dorms" at large facilities in small country towns. Our headteacher went to China through the same organisation last year and came back so worried that British children would not be able to compete in the job market again the chines kids she saw. Of course she went on a tour of the top Beijing primary schools where they had a class set of grand pianos and children speaking English fluently in grade 6. That was not the trip we went on. But we thoroughly enjoyed it.The Facilities
We went out into the country where there wasn't a single flush toilet in sight. I am used to squat toilets from Japan but these were no squat toilets. They were the worst things I have ever 
experienced ever. The first day we went out to school I was desperate for a pee so I had to make a roadside stop because there was no where to go. We drove everywhere in a cavalcade of vehicles because the were some government people who went with us and a local guide. The whole cavalcade screeched to a halt and I had to go behind a hay stack. Little did I know that that hay stack would receive a 3/5 rating on the toilet rating scheme that we soon developed.
experienced ever. The first day we went out to school I was desperate for a pee so I had to make a roadside stop because there was no where to go. We drove everywhere in a cavalcade of vehicles because the were some government people who went with us and a local guide. The whole cavalcade screeched to a halt and I had to go behind a hay stack. Little did I know that that hay stack would receive a 3/5 rating on the toilet rating scheme that we soon developed. School Visits
It took over three hours of driving in each direction to get to the schools each day so we left at about 7:30 and didn't get back to Wuhan until
well after 10 each night. I was a shocking contrast to leave the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in (The Jin Jiang International Plaza) to go out into the country and into the 3rd world. We were the first foreign people to go the villages we visited where the largest feature was the school. There were usually between 500 and 800 children at each school. All children board pretty much from grades 5 to 10. The towns put up banners in the streets welcoming us. They all said Welcome to English Delegates to Baishui Middle School to Develop Education Culture Intercourse. We developed only some of those things. A big pregnant pig ran out at out van at
the first school. When we arrived at the first school after my haymow incident just in time for a second incident to occur. We had been advised to dress in business attire which I had did. I wore heels and a black wrap around dress which fell open just a line of Chinese teachers and local government people came forward to shake my hand. Awkward! They were very kind to us though. We were like rock 
stars there. Everyone wanted to touch us or have us sign their books or give us presents. And of course there was at least one ping pong table at every school and they were all very good at it.
well after 10 each night. I was a shocking contrast to leave the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in (The Jin Jiang International Plaza) to go out into the country and into the 3rd world. We were the first foreign people to go the villages we visited where the largest feature was the school. There were usually between 500 and 800 children at each school. All children board pretty much from grades 5 to 10. The towns put up banners in the streets welcoming us. They all said Welcome to English Delegates to Baishui Middle School to Develop Education Culture Intercourse. We developed only some of those things. A big pregnant pig ran out at out van at
the first school. When we arrived at the first school after my haymow incident just in time for a second incident to occur. We had been advised to dress in business attire which I had did. I wore heels and a black wrap around dress which fell open just a line of Chinese teachers and local government people came forward to shake my hand. Awkward! They were very kind to us though. We were like rock 
stars there. Everyone wanted to touch us or have us sign their books or give us presents. And of course there was at least one ping pong table at every school and they were all very good at it.Food
They clearly didn't have a lot of money but they put on a lovely lunch and dinner full of weird and wonderful things every time. We ate frogs, the swim bladders of fish, necks, ears, tongues and tripe just to name a few. It was all local food; nothing like the Chinese food back home as you can imagine. It was served on a massive lazy susan that we all subtly moved around to eat from communal dishes. It was generally a
bit spicy but really good. It was all food that we couldn't have ordered for ourselves in a restaurant. At the end of the first day they gave us each a gift bag full of small bottle of the local alcohol that we had at dinner. It was 43% and tasted like medicine. We gave it to people as gifts when we returned only to find it was made partly of seal penis. I'll do the nest chapter on the weekend. Thanks to all for the well wishes on my graduation :o)
bit spicy but really good. It was all food that we couldn't have ordered for ourselves in a restaurant. At the end of the first day they gave us each a gift bag full of small bottle of the local alcohol that we had at dinner. It was 43% and tasted like medicine. We gave it to people as gifts when we returned only to find it was made partly of seal penis. I'll do the nest chapter on the weekend. Thanks to all for the well wishes on my graduation :o)A selection of the toilets we have used and the writing on the wall. 
Yes that is poo on the walls and floor.
Yes that is poo on the walls and floor.Truely shocking. This is a staff toilet block.
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