Since，I have been in China and Quzhou。I have attended official ceremonies celebrating the 20 year anniversary of Quzhou municipality。I have had the privilege of sitting with the vice-Mayor of Quzhou for a discussion of theatre and other topics as well as delivering a picture of The Sheldon Theatre，an anniversary present from The City of Red Wing and the Sister Cities Commission。I received a statue of Confucius for Red Wing in return。I have seen the Confucian Temple。I have met the 75th generation of Confucius。I have seen the new museum。I have enjoyed the superb dancing and singing of the Quzhou’s young people to the traditional and modern music of China in celebration of their city’s anniversary。I have visited new economic development sites around Quzhou which promise that this city will be growing rapidly over the next few years into one of China’s top one-hundred most important cities。。
That was just the first week。
During my second week at Quzhou No。2 Middle School，and I have the high honor of working with a group of dedicated，hard working，and very smart teachers and administrators who have made me feel very welcome and instantly a part of their team。I am teaching some English classes，30 all together over two weeks and working on some scenes from Alice in Wonderland。The students I have been pleased to meet are energetic，bright，and eager to learn。When I pass them walking on campus，they say“Hello！”and smile。I know they all will go far in this new China of a rapidly growing economy。
During my stay I have eaten many new foods including bony fish，duck head，rabbit head，（many heads），chicken’s feet，and many tasty versions of the foods we eat in the United States。I really like the pork and the eggplant。I have never had any of these dishes，many I am told are native to this Quzhou and this region。
Each day continues to be a wonderful new adventure in food，people，and places。
China to me is a dramatic epic being played out upon stage that is as ancient as any on earth。During my first week I found that it is a continuing story that includes traditional ways infused with Confucian thought and the newest renovations。It is incredibly ancient yet young，brash，and full of energy。