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Tuesday

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Wow what a day! Today has been great. We’ve been able to participate in lots of activities and see some amazing performances.  This morning we were greeted by students who told us about their school. Their English was fantastic but it made me miss everyone back at B.B.  I really enjoyed participating in the painting classes, trying some paper cutting and even pottery- I just know whoever is chosen to go and visit the school next year will have an amazing time....any volunteers from Key Stage 2???? This afternoon we witnessed 10 minute exercise on the yard. Around 800 student performing in rows (more like dancing). Apparently, each school has their own routine which everyone learns and repeats everyday. Theirs was performed a tradition Chinese piece of music - not! Imagine my surprise when these lyrics belted out of the sound system.... “Tell me ma when I get home, the boys won’t leave the girls alone....she is handsome, she is pretty, she is the belle of Belfast city...
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Monday

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Monday In the morning we visited our partner school- it was like being a celebrity arriving on the red carpet! My reception was amazing- photographers, staff escorting me around, gifts, I really did feel important, and the time the morning was over, I was really quite used to it!  We saw lots of wonderful performances, including a skip dance routine and a fantastic drum performance given by the staff- they’ve obviously heard about our previous performances at BB FEST and were trying to compete.  As our school was the first of the six we were to visit, I was asked to give a formal speech. One of the English department translated for me.  Lunch was a formal banquet with the foreign office. I lost count of the number of dishes - too much! I did enjoy my Harbin ice lolly at the end though.  In the afternoon we visited Fatfield’s partner school. You should have seen the technology. It had me buzzing with ideas and new things to get! I couldn’t quite believe the DT room
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Sunday

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Sunday Sunday morning, it’s roasting hot, I’m definitely not in Sunderland! But what’s happened to the snow and ice of Harbin I’d been expecting? It’s a random heat wave-unexpected....I wonder what I’m going to wear (as I’ve packed for snow)!  To allow our bodies to adjust to the new time, we are given some free time in the morning. I decide not to catch up on sleep but head for a stroll outside and find we are literally on the Main Street. It’s buzzing....shops, restaurants, cafes...my kind of place...plenty to do and see.  1st official agenda item for the day was lunch- I’m being taken to a dumpling restaurant (a traditional food of the area). Well it’s official, I now look like a dumpling! 16 different varieties...yummy! I think I’m going to enjoy my meals!  Afternoon visits entailed a trip to the tiger park, hundreds of tigers, including white tigers...what beautiful animals!  Unfortunately the indoor ice festival village was closed (probably due to the impromp
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Frinday and Saturday

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Friday and Saturday Wow it really does take a long long time to get here...I’d forgotten just how long.  My day has been a series of flights.... 1st to London, then to Shanghai and eventually Harbin! 28 hours in total.  Thankfully I made it through all the safety checks, passport controls and even didn’t loose any luggage (which I have to admit was my biggest fear).  Breakfast on the plane was surely a taste of things to come: rice and pork in a sweet and sour sauce. Not my usual breakfast option but when in China, eat like the Chinese. Can’t wait to see what the rest of my meals are like.  Well eventually midnight on Saturday has came and I’m ready for a bed—- except it’s only lunchtime in the UK and my body hasn’t fully adjusted yet. Must try and get some shut eye.  Night night everyone...
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Friday 23rd March 2018 Just getting packed now. Can’t wait to get there! A flight from Newcastle to London and then on to Harbin China. Arriving really late tomorrow night. Hopefully the weather won’t be as cold as it has been (-15 degrees). I’ll upload some pictures hopefully on Sunday when I’m visiting the Tigers and the Ice Festival. Have a good day at school everyone! Bye Love Mrs Armstrong x
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