Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Kite flying with the Xiada Kindergarten


On the weekend before New Year's Helen's school organized the older children and parents for a kite making outing. January 1 was to be a holiday from work and school, and so as to have the 31st off as well, the Saturday prior was schedule as a make up day on campus -- the professors held class, including Michael, and the kindergarten had classes in the morning. The parents were invited to attend and bring the makings of a kite FOR THEIR CHILD TO MAKE. This is Helen's principal, welcoming everyone.

Helen was at a big disadvantage here, in that I have never made a kite, and I had the directions translated. I was quite self-congratulatory at finding kite string in short notice. so with chopsticks, duct tape and construction paper, she set to work.

I should have known I was in trouble when the parents began working feverishly on the kites while the children were still lining up. I guess the competitiveness of parents is an international phenomenon. Some of their kites were huge, with elaborate designs and the sticks were clearly perfectly lightweight bamboo -- no other chopsticks in sight!

Here are the kids parading down the soccer field with "their" masterpieces...I will say this, Helen was a very good sport about it, even when hers didn't fly more than 6 inches off the ground, she still ran around gamely! It was not a great day for kites any way -- not much breeze, and only the store-bought kites really got off the ground.

But still a fun morning and Helen is proud of her certificate...Sophia had fun running about, too.

I just love these inflatable arches..if there is something to celebrate in China -- you can be sure there will be an inflatable dragon to greet you!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello Ann, Micheal, Thomas, Helen and Sophia, A beutiful kite Helen...and you made it yourself! We love the photos. I just caught up on you blog (missed the last couple days). That soup also looks so good in previous blog...makes me hungry. It was 60 degrees here in Syracuse today...forcast for 67 Tuesday...strange weather. Thinking of you so often. The Scott Family.