Mr Alister recently returned from his trip to China. Here, described in his own words is his exciting trip.
CHINA TRIP – 19th October to 1st November 2010
Tuesday 19th October
I left Bawdsey at 12:45 and arrived Heathrow at 15:15. Tried to get cash from hole in the wall without success. Changed £120 for HK$.
Flight left at 18:45. Virtually no sleep. Very uncomfortable.
Wednesday 20th October
Arrived HK. Met up with Martin Webber MW and took train and taxi to Excelsior Hotel. Didn’t hand over credit card as I was unsure if there was any money in the account. Tried to withdraw money from cashpoint – no success. Phoned Rose and Linda.
Dinner at HK Royal Yacht Club – very pleasant.
Thursday 21st October
Breakfast in McDonald’s, as I was worried about spending money I might not have had. Strolled around in the morning. In the afternoon went with MW to visit a superb aviary
Then took a tram journey together. Spent a lovely evening with Wendy Chiang (AIS student from 1990) and talked on the phone to her brother Jay who is in Shanghai.
Friday 22nd October
Paid the bill at 08:00. Is the money in my account?
With MW to airport for flight at 10:50 to Nanjing. Business Class – very comfortable. The meal was delicious. What a contrast with Cathay Pacific flight!
The drive to the hotel was a bit hairy – all horns, no indicators!
Met with Jane – Acad. Asia local organiser.
Out to dinner with some acquaintances of MW. Superb meal – so many wonderful flavours. Some of the best food I’ve ever had.
Hotel is comfortable. Left my charger in HK so dead mobile.
Had a stroll in the grounds with Chen, an Acad. Asia employee.
Saturday 23rd October
Gordon and Liz Kendall from Liverpool College arrived last night so were with us this morning.
Really scary drive to town for our first presentation at Academic Asia office.
Went ok.
After lunch we went for a walk to the Confucius Temple. Beautiful – raining – thousands of umbrellas.
Got separated from the others for three hours. OK at first but a bit worrying as it got colder and darker. Had my picture taken about twenty times. A little 13 year old girl with good English tried to help. I tried for 30 minutes to get a cab but couldn’t explain my hotel. A gorgeous looking woman with no English also tried to assist but in the end I walked into a hotel and got them to help. I don’t think MW believed me but Jane was very relieved.
Rained all day.
Sunday 24th October
Visited Nanjing No 1 Experimental School for a presentation. The children were great. Returned to the hotel after lunch. Others went to bed, I walked to a local aquarium – lovely. In bed for 21:30
Monday 25th October
After visiting a museum devoted to Chinese education we spent the day at Nanjing No 1 Experimental School. There was a mass gathering in the stadium at 08:30. We then had a tour of the school, lunch and visits to classes. The children were again great.
We had to change hotels because they’d let our rooms out to some government officials. Moved into the Grand Hotel in town. Even better.
Tuesday 26th October
Back to school in the morning for an awards presentation in the stadium followed by meetings with teachers and students. Afternoon at the Silk Museum.
Wednesday 27th October
We left the hotel at 11:50 for the flight to HK. Back to the Excelsior. Evening meal at the RHKYC with MW, Gordon and Liz and two from Bedales School. Beautiful meal in beautiful surroundings.
Thursday 28th October – SHENZHEN
After breakfast we left by bus for Shenzhen. The sun was shining! (didn’t see that in 2006).
The hotel is amazing!
Met with my interpreter, Rhyll. Very good English and really helpful. Set up our stand desk from 17:00.
Parents and children from 18:00 to 21:45
Friday 29th October – HUIZHOU
We left Shenzhen at 10:15 by bus to Huizhu. The journey of 2+ hours took us through countryside and built up areas with building sites everywhere.
Visit to Huizhou No 1 Middle School
The school was very smart and clean with 4000 students in the Senior School and another 4000 in the Junior section. A pleasant afternoon in the sun talking to students and staff.
Bus journey to Guangzhou was freezing.
Saturday 30th October – GUANGZHOU
Set up from 09:00
Students and staff interviews from 10:00 to 17:00
Sunday 31st October – Zhuhai
Students and staff interviews from 10:00 to 16:00
Finished around 16:00 then by bus, ferry, taxi and train to HK airport before a late flight home to UK.
This was probably the worst flight of my life in dreadfully cramped cattle class. Never again.
An interesting and, hopefully, successful trip.
I have made several, hopefully, useful contacts with other schools and also have a better understanding of the problems that face our Chinese students before they enter UK education
Alister Laidlaw
8th November 2010
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