China - Day 45, Friday

(Just a note: I have a huge empty space in th middle of this blog that I can not seem to get rid of.
The blog continues down to pictures of the Lion Dance)

Today was Founder's Day at Daniel's School. The school is 100 years old. Everyone was asked to dress like 100 years ago. The 4th grade teachers had the PTSA to buy hats and bonnets so all the kids would have one. The hats (see pictures) for the boys were 5RMB (about 80 cents) and the bonnets were 8RMB (about $1.25)! They are made out of cloth, not plastic. The boys hats are actually quite nice! I was amazed at the participation.

This is some of the 4th graders on the playground for recess. Daniel is on the left in line for 4-square.

He now sees me taking a picture and is saying "Really Mom!" The boy in the blue shirt
is his friend Matthew.

I was able to take him to lunch in the big cafeteria. He loved eating pizza! Doesn't he look cute?
You can see some of the people dressed in the back ground.

Daniel's class coming out to line up for the parade.

Daniel and his classmates waiting for the start of the parade.

Daniel and his friend, Grant.

Principal (left) and Music teacher getting ready to start the parade

Start of the parade. That is the preschoolers carrying the Birthday Banner. The man in the suit to the right is the Superintendent.

This is the new 4th grade teacher. He is dressed in Missionary clothing. The school was originally founded by Missionaries.

Daniel and his friend, Bryce

The school was founded in 1912 - here is a Cultural Difference for you. In China, when someone is born they are automatically 1, in US you are one on your 1st birthday (a year later). So I know some of you are looking at 1912 and saying that the school is not 100 until next year, but in China they are 100. So the Superintendent, during his speech, said that we will celebrate the Chinese birthday this year and the US birthday next year!


During the ceremony, they had a woman speak who graduated from the school in 1949. This woman earned her PhD recently! They also had the woman from the US Government in Washington DC, who oversees all American schools internationally, speak briefly.


The last thing they did was have a Chinese group come in and preform the Lion Dance. The Lion Dance is preformed at special ceremonies, Store/Business Openings, etc. It is done to bring good luck.

The musicians for the Lion Dance

The Lions entering the Gym

The Lions going up on the stage. They approached the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent who each gave a Lion a Red Envelope. Unsure what was in the envelope  (usually they have money in them).

Part of the dance. The dance lasted about 10 minutes.