Chinese New Year and Semester Break-Really

One of the best-hidden bonuses of 2014 so far has been the amazing combination of Chinese New Year and Semester Break at SCUT.  Sometimes you really cannot grasp the “big picture” of how things work unless you are there.  This certainly was one of those times. We did not grasp the concept that we would have eight weeks between semesters with no students, no classes and literally no one on campus.  SCUT is really like a ghost town, all student services are closed, the bakery, the student store, classroom buildings, even the campus bus is not running.  Chinese New Year rivals our Christmas in the U.S. everyone returns home to be with their family and share traditional food, exchange gifts, (the red envelopes with money are important to college students) and enjoy this holiday season with all extended generations of their family.  How fortunate that it also falls during semester break.  I am still not clear if the holiday is two weeks before Chinese New Year or two weeks following Chinese New Year, it is difficult to know because they celebrate the entire time so who know which comes first Chinese New Year or Semester Break.  Classes actually begin for second semester on February 23. Our Master’s classes however will start on March 2 one week after the undergraduate students begin.

BYU Conference in Hong Kong

BYU holds a conference in Hong Kong during this break for all teachers in China.  It was great fun to see all 78 teachers that started this program last August.  We have all had such great adventures across China.  I listened to the stories from north China, Beijing and Shanghai, they have been so cold and smogged in all winter, I found myself silent and thankful to be in Guangzhou.  It was difficult to contribute to the amazing circumstances some of the teachers are dealing with.

Bangkok, Thailand

We left Hong Kong for Bangkok, Thailand arriving just before midnight in the midst of the election protest.  One of the teachers in Guangzhou had a Marriott Club plan to be used in Phuket, when we were invited to go along there was not a political protest going on in Thailand.  I couldn’t help but think how upset I would be with anyone of my kids if they had done what we did.  We landed at midnight in a city under protest and rode in a van through the streets of Bangkok.  Some of the streets were blocked by rows of vehicles, barrels and what ever else; it was difficult to tell in the dark as the Marriott van whisked us through the safest route to the hotel.  All was well that ended well, we checked with the hotel and they were very careful to keep us in the safe part of town. We left for Phuket with only a birds eye view of what the undercurrent really was in Bangkok.  We happened into a McDonalds from the sky train for lunch and had lunch with the press corps all decked out in bulletproof vests, riot gear and cameras.  There was one media person killed on the Sunday night we arrived.  The election happened, the government leaders were of course re-elected but the protestors were successful enough in blocking the elections sites that voter turn out was very low.  The government was unable to declare victory so now Thailand is in limbo until they can determine what next. 

Phuket, Thailand

Think of the most amazing travel brochure beach photo you have ever seen, that is exactly what Phuket looked like.  White cake flour sand beaches, no motorized vehicles allowed on the Marriot Beach, palm trees to shade the beach, no crowds of people or beach towels insight.  Amazing! We celebrated Craig’s birthday in Phuket, it will be one to remember.  There were six of us attending the dinner party.  There were flamethrowers and dancers along with a singer willing to take requests.  As you will all smile about the music, Craig pulled out his 60s-80s favorites and had the time of his life singing along with a very willing entertainer. 

We took a snorkel trip to James Bond Island, where one of the James Bond Movies was filmed and "The Beach" with Leonardo DeCaprio.  There is a good reason they picked that area, it is movie worthy to say the least.  The fish however, were not prolific and better snorkeling can be enjoyed other places.  The water was warm, clean and it seemed surreal.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

The overnight sleeper train delivered us to Chiang Mai.  It is north in the rainforest, and attracts a hike, trek, backpack crowd.  When we mentioned we were from Utah the reply was always 'oh yes we know Utah, that is where Moab is." The old city was walled off with a mote originally and part of that wall remains there today.  Inside that mote is a great village with small home owned restaurants and guesthouses, not high rise hotels! We stayed in the Roseate Guesthouse, across the street was the wall and mote, around the corner was a soccer field, school and at least 20 Buddhist Temples or Wats.  I am happy to report, Thanks to Craig, we saw everyone.  Ashley will tell you that he never misses a cathedral in any country, now I can add he doesn’t miss a Wat in Thailand.

Night Market shopping, Flower Festivals, Wat searches, a Thai cooking class and even a zip-line trip through the rainforest.  Again, I was questioning my judgment in the van as we began the winding road to top of the mountain.  It must have been the shear terror on my face that made our guide speak so kindly to me as he was adjusting my glasses with a holder so they wouldn’t blow off on the zip line.  “Just take off you glasses and close your eyes if it is to much.”  Holy Cow, the cables worked and the gear supported the 32 stops to the bottom of the mountain.  And I lived to say it was a fun adventure.

The Golden Triangle- Thailand-Laos-Myanmar

The last day of our stay in Chiang Mai we took a trip to the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos borders meet.  Three countries in one day!  A river trip down the Mekong River, an international river avoided the Visa problem.  Shopping always trumps a Visa; somehow we were able to stop at local shopping markets in all three countries to gather a few treasures.  This area is beautiful, green and lush; the Mekong River moves fast, I am sure that helps keep it clean as well. Just a little piece of heaven right there as the political borders meet together. 

I am not sure how we managed to keep it all together, but we arrived back in Guangzhou with suitcases full of laundry and as close as I can tell we didn’t loose anything but we picked up two extra bags of shopping treasures to show for time spent.  What a great way to spend Chinese New Year/Semester Break.