| IDS - The Great Journey Series – China Trip |
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By Morgan Mills, Independent Day School, Grade 8 Last October I had the opportunity to visit Beijing, China for the ISC Youth Summit. While there, in addition to the Summit and shadowing students at Beijing 101 Middle School, I also learned about the culture firsthand. During one of the excursions, I visited the “Temple of Heaven,” which was a beautifully clean park, once known as a holy ground. As I walked in, the Temple gates were packed with fun. The park was very clean and many older people gathered to celebrate their morning exercises. Right at the front, past the two golden doors ten different Chinese women held big, long, colorful ribbons on sticks. They waved the ribbons high in a circular rotation making the ribbons flow through the air. I watched with amazement until they allowed me to try. It was a lot more challenging than it appeared. As I walked on, I saw four men all facing each other playing with what looked like a hacky sack ball with three single feathers sticking out of it. They kicked the ball from one person to another letting it touch only their feet and head. My classmates and I liked it so much we bought several of them and played them while we were in China, at the airport, and back at our school here in the United States. Beside the four men were more than twenty people playing another game that involved a ball and racket. They would move the ball on the racket up, down, and between their legs before they would pass the ball to their partner. It reminded me of tennis. The park I had just passed through was built to surround and protect the ancient buildings and temple that I was now approaching. I’ll have to share that with you at another time. As I left the Temple of Heaven, I saw all the happy people, who were proud of their ancestors, singing and playing with joy! China was an experience of a lifetime – something I will remember through all my journeys in life. Words: 347 |
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