We’re still dealing with some spotty internet here in Beijing, but we had a really busy day today. We started off the day with guest lectures from three different speakers. The first, Yang Li from the Natural Resources Defense Council—an American NGO working on getting factories and businesses in China and abroad to become more ecologically conscious—gave us a brief introduction on what her organization has been doing to improve how the whole supply chain of textiles from China to the US can become more ecologically sustainable. The second was a lecture from Zachary Scarlett, a Fullbright Scholar from Northeastern doing research in Beijing, who gave us some historical context of imperial Beijing. And the third speaker was Ashleigh Au who is the Executive Assistant to SOHO China CEO Zhang Xin. Beijing the biggest real estate developer in Beijing, SOHO China is responsible for many of the prominent projects in China. Ms. Au gave us a lecture on the very modern and chic development done by SOHO China in Beijing.
Then we got on the bus and headed out for a very fun-filled day. First we went with Ms Au to tour some of the SOHO industrial/residential parks with their tall buildings and modern aesthetics. From there we went with Ms Au to another, different, Northeastern Chinese style restaurant where we talked with Ms. Au about what she does and got more information about SOHO’s development projects in Beijing.
Next we drove about an hour to Dandelion School! We taught some classes and worked/visited one on one with near 300 7th-grade students at the school. It was really interesting to meet and play with all of the students who really have very difficult lives as children of poor migrant workers. The kids had a ton of energy, were excited to play and talk with us—despite our mutual language gaps—and mobbed us with happy goodbyes before we left. Great times were had by everyone. Tomorrow we’re off to the Great Wall!
-Andrew
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