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!