So Much To Learn!

I leave for China in just two days as a NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow. I have been busy immersing myself in a culture that seems fascinating to me.  As a student, I have been asked to formulate a guiding question before I leave so my trip has focus and relevancy to my work here at home. When I think about China, I think about the one child policy and what that means for children, their parents and the relationship they form with one another. What kind of support do parents in China have? Where do they find support?

I will be on the lookout for little kids and their parents. I am curious about where they play in Beijing and Shanghai, two enormously populated cities.  Does China have preschool parks for families to gather? I have Tai Chi on my itinerary so I am likely to see green spaces, thank goodness, but parks? I am hoping that China celebrates play, especially with their very little children and their parents. This is a country very serious about education, VERY serious. I will bring my finger puppets as an international ice breaker.

Look at this face! I wonder how he spends his days, what he plays with, who he plays with and what makes his imagination run wild.  I am excited and nervous at the same time about living out of my comfort zone for 10 days. It is kind of freaky to not be able to begin to imagine the adventure that lies ahead of me.  I also feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I will be journaling as I go as part of my assignment but not at all sure about blogging. I will take lots and lots of pictures and journal so I remember all that I can. It feels exhilarating to me at this point....go big or go home, right?

It doesn't get much bigger than this!