Last weekend, Jason, Nadezhda, and I went to Jining for some sort of get-together for foreigners in the Jining area. We had no idea what to expect, so when we got there, we walked around a park that was close to the Foreign Expert Center that we had gone to last year. It had rained the night before, so the weather was still a little grey, but the park was very nice and new.
A rare vending machine. Unlike Japan, there are not many vending machines here because there are so many people who make their livings selling drinks or snacks.
A new library.
After walking around a little, we found that more foreigners had arrived. There were more Americans and some Japanese businessmen. Each group had a translator and I was mistaken for Jason's translator many times. It was actually kind of funny, when the guide would talk to me, I would not understand, say I do not speak Chinese, and to watch their reactions when they found out I was an American.
When all of the foreigners arrived, we got into electric tour cars that took us around the park. We got out at a couple places to take pictures, but we did not stay long since it was a little cool.
When all of the foreigners arrived, we got into electric tour cars that took us around the park. We got out at a couple places to take pictures, but we did not stay long since it was a little cool.
We made a stop at another building in the area which was the entrance to a Technology Museum. We walked around the atrium, where there were many things related to the different kinds of technological fields that were exhibited there. For example, urban planning, animation, and textiles. Since it was brand new, it was very pristine and fancy-looking.
The tour ended at the Foreign Expert Center, where we took a group picture, mingled, and ate some hors d'oeuvres. The screen says, "Exchange Activity of Foreign Experts in Jining."
We returned to Qufu in the early afternoon. Overall, it was a nice morning because we saw a new park and met some new people (i.e. networking) as well as being able to get off campus for a little while.