Lake Forest Trip

On our final morning in San Francisco, we had breakfast bright and early at a Chinese bakery with some egg tarts, pineapple buns and a fruit cake to celebrate the birthday of our very own Mr. T! Sheng ri kuai le, lao shi! We sang “Happy Birthday” in Chinese, enjoyed some cake, then headed back to the hotel to load all of our luggage onto our shuttle buses. Farewell, Grant Plaza! Zai jian, Chinatown! We took off for our final destination on the tour, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Our tour was full of fascinating facts, and we learned that in the beginning, not many people even wanted the Golden Gate Bridge to be built! People opposed to the building of the bridge included environmentalists who thought that the bridge would block the beautiful mountains and scenic views, engineers who thought it dangerous to build a bridge over an ocean as opposed to a river or bay, and those in charge of the railroads who actually filed 2,300 law suits in an attempt to prevent the bridge from ever being built! It took ten years to sort through all of the law suits, and in the end the bridge was of course built anyway. Being a suspension bridge, it is composed of 81,000 miles of wire- enough to go around the equator three times! Due to the harsh winds in San Francisco, the bridge requires a staff of 20 workers to constantly repaint and keep it in peak condition. We were fortunate to have gorgeous weather and clear blue skies, providing a beautiful view from the bridge for our last look at San Francisco before heading to the airport.

We hopped back onto the shuttle buses for a quick drive to SFO, got checked in and had some sandwiches as we waited to board our flight back to Chicago. We got one last group picture with Ann and Abby before saying our final “zai jian” to the China Prep crew! We had a great experience in San Francisco eating all sorts of Chinese food, exploring Chinatown, and practicing our Mandarin- who knows, maybe our next experience like this will be in China!

This morning we awoke to another beautiful sunny day in San Francisco and walked to get some breakfast. We got in line at a famous spot on Stockton Avenue to try some of their ma qiu, baozi, bo luo bao (“pineapple buns”) and of course, our most favorite, you tiao! We chowed down outside of the tiny shop before moving on to the Cable Car Museum to learn a bit about how the cars run and read up on their history. After learning some interesting facts, we were able to take our very first cable car ride. We hung on to the sides as we made our way up to the incredibly twisty and turny Lombard Street! We snapped some photos and then walked a few blocks over to the delicious-smelling Ghirardelli Square. We caught a glimpse at how chocolate is made there, had some free samples, and bought some chocolate to take home with us (or in some cases, to eat immediately after buying it.)

Next came the most highly anticipated meal of the entire trip: lunch at In-n-Out Burger. We got our fix of some good old American food and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. After finishing the most highly anticipated meal of the trip, we made our way to the most highly anticipated destination of the trip: ALCATRAZ. We walked through Fisherman’s Wharf and smelled all of the fresh seafood, finally reaching Pier 33 where we boarded the boat that would take us to Alcatraz Island. We took an audio tour of the entire facility, peering into the jail cells, dining hall, and recreational area of what was the most highly secured prison in America. We heard stories of attempted escapes and learned that families of the prison guards actually built an entire life for themselves right there on the island, complete with a grocery store and school! Everything about their years spent living there sounded like a pretty typical American life…except for who their neighbors were.

We boarded the boat back to the mainland and took some free time to explore Pier 39 and all of its shops and restaurants. Once we were shopped out (for the time being), we hopped a street car back in the direction of our hotel where we had a few hours of Karaoke! Chinese style karaoke (called KTV) involves renting a private room with couches, microphones and a large tv screen for playing the music videos with a smaller screen next to it for selecting your songs. It was an interesting way of singing that we had never experienced before, and we even sprinkled a few Chinese songs in to the list of English tunes.

When we were all KTV’d out, we made it back to Chinatown for our final dinner of the trip! Our last meal was at the Pot Sticker, a Chinese restaurant specializing in Sichuan food which is known for its spicy flavors. We had one last round of all our favorite dishes from meals throughout the trip before taking ourselves back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep after a very long day. Before splitting off to go to our rooms, the winners from the language activities collected their loot of Chinese tea mugs filled with snacks and a very popular Chinese candy called White Rabbit. Congrats again to our winners! We’ll get our suitcases all packed up in time for breakfast tomorrow when we will have to say “zai jian” to Chinatown, San Francisco!

We got a very early start this morning and all walked a few blocks from our hotel to eat some breakfast. We took a small break from the Chinese “bao zi” and “you tiao” for a more Western breakfast of bagels and pastries. Once we were all full, we hopped on a street car for a quick ride to the SOMA neighborhood where we visited Presidio Knolls, a Mandarin immersion school for children ages 2-5. We took a tour and were able to sit in on a few classes where the kids were chatting with teachers and learning new vocabulary. We also learned about the school’s plans for expansion and how they will soon have classes all the way through grade 8. Seeing an immersion school like this gave us a glimpse of just how useful our Mandarin skills are, and got us thinking about how we will be able to use the language in the future.

Afterwards we took a short walk to the Asian Art Museum where we viewed several exhibitions both as a group and on our own. We were able to see all sorts of Chinese art such as jades, Buddhist sculptures, paintings and ceramics dating from 221 BCE all the way through the 1900s. We snapped a few pictures outside of City Hall (and attempted a few “jumping” shots…) then took a quick street car ride back to our Chinatown neighborhood for lunch. We had worked up quite an appetite from our busy morning and had plenty of noodles, rice and egg rolls in the very famous, and very tiny, restaurant “San He.” The restaurant is so narrow that the servers can’t even carry food up its small staircases inside, and rely on a dumbwaiter to get dishes to the second and third floors!

Once we had eaten we made our way to the Chinese Historical Society of America for a captivating one-man performance of “Uncle Toisan.” The main character is played by a Chinatown local, impersonating a man he had once known himself who immigrated from China’s GuangDong province to America around the time of World War II. Through a series of funny and often heartwarming stories we were able to get a better idea of just what life was like for Chinese immigrants coming to the States through Angel Island. We said farewell to our charming performer and headed down the street to a tea house to taste some different varieties of Chinese tea. We tried types such as Long Jing tea, Jasmine tea, and several teas made using ginseng. Some tasted great and had a very fragrant scent, while others served to promote health or rid the body of toxins and tasted…not as good as the others. It was another great memory to add to our list of Chinese experiences.

We took some time to unwind in the afternoon and either stroll around the city or get a little more shopping done. Afterwards we regrouped for a delicious meal at House of Nanking. We all agreed that it was arguably the best meal yet. This restaurant is quite famous and served delicious dishes of beef, eggplant, and calamari, but most concluded that the best dish by far was the sesame chicken. We came back to the hotel after dinner and took it easy at the end of our long day by watching a movie, made by our very own China Prep leader Ann, about hip hop and youth culture in China today. It’s interesting to see how many similarities there are between people our age in both countries, and yet how many things are so drastically different.  Now we hope to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for the highly anticipated activities that await us tomorrow!

We were able to sleep in a little bit on our first morning in San Francisco, and got a great start to our day at 9am with some typical Chinese breakfast foods from a small shop near our hotel. We tried all sorts of new things- sesame balls filled with sweet red bean paste (ma qiu), long fried strips of crispy dough (you tiao), and steamed buns filled with things like pork and vegetables (bao zi). We washed it down with some tea and soy milk and headed off for our tour of Chinatown.

Our skilled tour guide has been performing these tours for 29 years! She told us all about the history of the Chinese coming to America to search for gold, and how they found opportunities to serve the local community by opening Chinese restaurants and laundromats. We discussed how life had changed since its establishment in the 19th century but how certain elements still remain the same. Chinatown is an incredibly populated area and most apartments are one bedroom, about 4 x 5 feet in size! Entire families will inhabit these rooms, sometimes along with their uncles, cousins and grandparents. But even Chinese families who don’t live in apartments inside Chinatown will often drive in on weekends to shop, buy groceries or visit the local medicine shops. We learned that traditional Chinese medicine is completely different from anything we would ever be prescribed by our doctor. Eastern medicine focuses on natural remedies to keep your mind and body in harmony, using some very unique substances such as scorpions and animal bones to be boiled in water and sipped as a tea. We watched pharmacists filling orders consisting of different roots, herbs and dried insects. We were told that medicine shops will often give out a small pack of candy with each purchase as these traditional remedies tend to not taste very good! We eventually moved on to a shop selling something that definitely does taste good- homemade fortune cookies. We each got to try a sample from a fresh batch just out of the oven.

Our tour concluded with a dim sum lunch including delicious dishes such as shrimp dumplings, steamed barbeque pork buns, and our favorite, fried noodles. When we were full and rejuvenated, we headed off to a music workshop to learn about some traditional Chinese instruments. Our friendly instructor David told us that unlike western instruments, Chinese instruments are divided into 8 categories based on the material used to create sound: silk, stone, wood, metal, gourd, clay, skin, and bamboo. He played instruments such as the “er hu” for us, showing us the difference in sound between old traditional songs and more modern, folksy songs. Afterwards we even got to try the instruments out for ourselves! We didn’t sound too bad for our first try, but we think it will be a while until our first performance.

When the jam session was over, we headed to a local vegetable market to take a look at how the residents buy their fruit, veggies and seafood and broke into 5 pairs to complete another challenging language activity. This time we had to hunt for various items including sauces, spices and produce for sale to figure out their Chinese names as well as what they are typically used for. Having sharpened our scavenger hunt skills on the previous activity, we were able to rake in many more points, but the duo that brought in the most was Lilly and Ben. Great job guys! Yet another team that will receive a special mystery prize at the end of our trip…

We took some free time around Chinatown to do a little souvenir shopping before regrouping for a Mandarin-only dinner. Our Chinese speaking skills are improving every day! We were met at the restaurant by our tour guide Linda who took us on a nighttime ghost tour of Chinatown. We learned about the Chinatown of the past and all of its secrets, while listening to stories of gambling, unsolved murder mysteries, and ghosts who supposedly roam the streets of Chinatown to this day. We burst small firecrackers on the ground to ward off ghosts as well as pay respect to their memory. We were told that ghosts mostly make their presence known through photographs in which you can see “orbs”- small dots of light that are the physical energy of the ghosts’ spirits. We can’t be sure, but a few photos showed some mysterious looking dots that were eerily similar to the ones described by our tour guide…

After a very eventful day we are now certified experts on Chinatown, from past to present. We’ll turn in now to get some sleep for a very early start tomorrow morning!

As we posted a few hours ago, the group arrived safe and sound in San Francisco today where we were met by Ann and Abby, our group leaders from China Prep. We loaded our bags into the shuttle buses and had some sandwiches as we began to make our way to Chinatown. We could not have asked for better weather- warm and sunny with clear blue skies. As we pulled into Chinatown through the famous stone archway right up to our hotel on Chinatown’s main road, we caught our first glimpse of this vibrant and bustling neighborhood. After dropping our belongings in our rooms, we were ready for a quick group meeting complete with China snacks brought all the way from Shanghai, and stamps made with our Chinese names carved into them! We then left the hotel for a chance to explore Chinatown for the very first time.

We were introduced to Grant Street and walked together as a group through Chinatown from beginning to end. The shops were full of all sorts of interesting foods and items from China, most of which we had never seen before. We then broke into pairs to complete a language activity that would test both our Mandarin skills and resourcefulness. We hunted through stores, searched street signs, and spoke with locals to complete a scavenger hunt that consisted of a series of pictures as our only clues. A valiant effort was made by every team, but in the end Skye and Lucas took the lead and earned first place for a mystery prize that will be given at the end of the trip!

We completed the activity just in time to get ready for our first group dinner at Far East Cafe. We sat at a large round table for a family style dinner of many different dishes including egg and tomato, kung pao chicken, fried rice, and sweet and sour pork. Chinese meals are usually eaten this way, with a lazy susan in the middle of the table so that everyone can get a chance to taste each dish. We learned about proper tea etiquette (always serve your neighbors before yourself!) and practiced our chopstick skills. We also practiced our Mandarin skills and spoke as much Chinese with each other as possible, learning some new words and phrases including, “I’m full!” (Wo chi bao le!) We even had 2 servings of fortune cookies at the end of our meal- double the good fortune for the beginning of our trip!

We still had some energy left after our group meal and decided to all wander down to Union Square. We saw the city lit up at night, got some great pictures, did a little window shopping, and made our way back to Chinatown. After a long day of traveling and exploration, we got to our rooms safe and sound to rest up for another big day tomorrow!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that the whole group has arrived safely in San Francisco. Everyone is getting settled in at our hotel in Chinatown and we’ll post an evening update of the day’s events in a few hours!

Stay tuned for updates and information about the upcoming trip!

Today marked the last day of our San Francisco trip.  After a final dim sum take out breakfast in our hotel, which included some new fruits (dragon fruit and pomelo), we checked out and hopped on the minibus for the ride to the Golden Gate Bridge.  Although it was pouring rain during the drive, it stopped raining just as we arrived at the base of the bridge.  We spent some time exploring the visitor center and gift shop and then began our tour with Linda, our guide.

Linda shared a variety of different aspects of the bridge from geology to engineering to botany to history.  We learned that it was a miracle that the bridge was ever built given the legal opposition and the widespread belief that it wasn’t physically possible to build it in its current location.  We were amazed to discover how much the bridge is designed to move, something that has helped it survive earthquakes, tides, fog, and heavy winds that are common in the area.  We were lucky enough to spot a rainbow and then some seals swimming down below in the water.  Walking out onto the bridge, we could feel the structures movement by touching the suspenders and the side railings.  There were also several groups of Chinese tourists visiting at the same time, and it was fun to listen to some of their conversations as we walked around.

After our tour we boarded our bus for the return trip to the airport.  The students agreed that everyone “hen xihuan” (really likes) San Francisco, and many plan to return again soon.

On behalf of China Prep, I’d like to thank the students, Ms. Neubauer and Mr. Miller, and the parents for making this trip happen.  We hope you all continue to study Chinese and explore China and of course have a wonderful year of the rabbit!

Today we started off the morning with more dim sum take out specials, including a few new foods like dan tat, an egg custard, and zongzi, sort of like a Chinese tamale filled with meat.  Fried sesame dough balls remain the breakfast favorite, although fried dumplings are a close second.  Following breakfast we walked over a few blocks for a Wok Wiz tour.  The owner, Shirley Fong-Torres, met us and sent us off on our way with San Francisco native Dorothy Quock.  Dorothy did a great job taking us in and out of alleys and shops to learn more about San Francisco Chinatown history from food to art to Chinese medicine.  Her family stories reinforced our learning about the Chinese Exclusion Act and helped us explore even more places in the neighborhood that has been our home for the last few days.  We even learned a few words in Cantonese to use in shops and restaurants.

The streets were also filled with stands for a festival marking the beginning of Chinese New Years celebrations.  We could see lion dancers warming up and tons of locals perusing everything from New Years decorations to flowers to socks.  After lunch the group spent some free time wandering the festival, drinking tea at the “tea bar” we visited a few days ago, and shopping for souvenirs.  We then put on our fancy clothes and headed to the San Francisco Symphony for a late afternoon concert commemorating Chinese New Year.  Before the concert the symphony hosted a kind of welcome reception complete with some small snacks, tea, and face painting.  While no one went for the face paint, a couple of the girls did get small designs on their wrists for fun.  The concert combined traditional Chinese compositions arranged for an orchestra with some lion dances and also some western music.

Following the concert, we rode back to Chinatown.  By now, the students are all getting to be experts on the San Francisco public transportation system.  We got some fresh air for about a half an hour before heading to a very popular restaurant for a farewell dinner.  It was really fun to see how far the students have come in their chopstick skills and Chinese food etiquette.  Sesame chicken remains one of the favorite dishes of the trip, and several of the students and teachers also drank some of the beautiful flower tea that unfolds from a single “bulb” in your glass.  We ate shrimp, beef, dumplings, and calamari and after everyone was stuffed to the brim we walked back to our hotel.

Although it was sad to conclude our final full day in San Francisco, we are looking forward to visiting the Golden Gate Bridge tomorrow.  Fingers crossed for good weather!

Today we started off the day with a small group of students venturing out to find us our breakfast.  Along with Kelly and Du Laoshi, the students found a small dim sum take out restaurant and came back to the hotel with tasty breakfast treats for the rest of the group.  After learning that everyone really likes fried sesame dough balls, kind of like Chinese donuts, we gathered our strength and hiked up a hill toward a new side of Chinatown on a main street called Stockton.  This street is a bit different from Grant, which is the traditional more touristy thoroughfare, and instead of gift shops it is lined with small stores selling basic items for your house and also a few produce stands.  This is a great local scene and we had a lot of fun wandering through the shops.

We then visited the nearby Chinese Historical Society of America for an artistic performance that was a bit like a monologue.  The actor took on the role of a Chinese man who immigrated to the United States in the 1930s and dealt with everything from leaving his home and wife (of two weeks!) to finding a job in America to fighting in World War II.  It was a very engaging way to learn more about the history of Chinese immigration.  We learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act and also what it was like as a young Chinese man to land in San Francisco and start a whole new life.  Afterwards the actor gave us more general detailed background on this part of history and walked with the group through the museum’s displays to answer our questions.

For lunch, we tried another classic genre of Chinese food: the soup noodle.  About half of us tried our noodles in some kind of soup with either dumplings, veggies, or chicken in the broth, and others of us tried traditional friend noodles.  We learned that slurping up your noodles is considered good form and compliments to the chef.  The students especially enjoyed trying to sing along to the karaoke songs playing on the television in the restaurant.

We spend the afternoon taking a brief break from Chinatown to explore Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, and Alcatraz Island.  Everyone had a fun time tasting chocolate in the Ghiradelli store and trying different snacks in the shops around the area.  After wandering the square and Fisherman’s Wharf, we walked over to Pier 33 to board a boat for the Alcatraz Island night tour.  We took a spin around the bay for some great views of the city and the island, and we then spent about two hours touring this former prison that housed some of America’s most notorious criminals.  We all really enjoyed the audio tour narrated by former guards and inmates and were especially interested in all of the attempted escapes.  Apparently, a spoon can go a long way.

We continued our exploration of Fisherman’s Wharf by eating some clam chowder and calamari appetizers followed by dinner at In-N-Out burger, a famous California burger chain with super tasty hamburgers.  The students appreciated the break for American food and everyone gave In-N-Out the thumbs up.  To round off our San Francisco evening, we rode home in style on a cable car.

Tomorrow it is back to Chinese food and Chinatown!