The (obligatory) tours of Rick's Life in China--The High School Campus

Thank you for choosing Mr. Li's Travel Team for your world discoveries!  Let's now explore the (somewhat-rich) high school campus of Zhengzhou Number 47 Middle School.

This is the map of the high school.  Already you can note how it resembles a college campus or a well-funded American high school (can anyone say "Eagan," "Blake," or "Breck")

 

Next, the aerial that I took, just kidding, the model of the school displayed in the administration building

The entrance to Zhengzhou Number 47 Middle School--High School Campus (can anyone read the characters?  Zheng-Zhou-Shi-Di-Si-Shi-Qi-Zhong-xue = Zhengzhou city number 47 middle school)

 

On your right as you enter is the auditorium and one of the cod ponds adorning the campus

As you proceed along the main path, look to the right and you'll see the big tin map of the world (bottom of the picture) and the auditorium in the background.  The red banner says "Happy Teachers Day" (something like that, I'm told)

Look closely at the tin map and you'll be amused.  (To give them credit though, they did acknowledge that they needed the superlative form--too bad they didn't know that "top" is basically superlative)

Behind you, you'll see the walkway to the library, identifiable by the 12 stone footsteps in the sidewalk (I believe for the 12 grades before graduation) and the word "book" in red characters on the building (but written in traditional--not simplified--Chinese)

I should mention that anytime I write "sidewalk", that also means it's for cars.  Basically, if  car can fit through the path, it'll drive down it.  This is the sign on the side of the sidewalk naming the path a "road".  Seeing cars is as awkward as if I had seen traffic on West Bank (at the U of M)--a fully pedestrian area.

As you see in most the photos, there is lush foliage...

...but look closely.  It's really just plants still in their pots, so they can move them to the area of the campus that is on display.  The school invited city officials to the campus for Teacher's Day on Friday, so the plants were moved to surround the auditorium.

Along the east side of campus, there are tranquil areas between the buildings.

This is my personal favorite area. "Shang wu yuan"

In this area, there are these short white flowers that softly blossom to create a peaceful space.  (I should have, however, taken the photo one week ago when the entire ground was in full bloom with these flowers.)

Moving Westward, you'll encounter the four classroom buildings.  Apparently, the red characters on the four buildings combine to form a famous Chinese quote.

And on the 3rd floor of the 2nd building, the 2nd classroom from the East side is where I work every day.  Fortunately, the classrooms are, as of this year, equipped with "SmartBoards", an interactive whiteboard and computer.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to use it yet because the instructions, computer, and buttons are all in Chinese. :-(

Continuing to the west, is the 3-story dining hall.  The top part is the Korean cafe, where the numerous Korean international students dine.  (Again, I don't know why some of these things are here, I just nod my head and go along with it.)

Behind the dining hall are the spacious sports fields.  There is the track around the soccer field, which is next to the 9 full basketball courts, which are in front on the tennis courts, which are opposite the innumerable ping pong tables.  This is all alongside the sports building (with pool, basketball courts, and kung fu areas.)  The school is actually hosting the world kung fu championships starting Oct 22nd!

 

 

This is all right behind the dormitories, which also include the teachers' quarters, bringing us to the end of our tour.  Thanks for joining and until next time.

Later Days,
Rick