Worked on Saturday and still receiving “happy New year” greetings in Engling-Cantonese and other languages. One Chinese student complained about hearing “kung hei fat choy” so often this time of the year, and it shouldn’t be considered as typical Chinese new year greetings. Sigh, what can I say?

Hard to believe that our students want to perform Peking Opera in English. Translated scripts, costumes, make-up, lots for them to learn before they can put up a show, but they are keen on real Jingju. Our traditional script translations are too old, but we do have a few. Thanks to Ye Ding’s personal experience and referral. Dr. Elizebath Wichman-Walzac, Chair of Theater Department of University of Hawaii, seems to be the pioneer in performing Jingju in English in North America. From 1985 onwards, she translated, directed and performed one Jingju play every four years. The famous ones such as Phoenix Returns to Nest (the script was published), Jade Hall of Spring, Judge Bao, The Yang Family Generals, etc. She directed remarkable performances. Wonder if she has published her script translations.

Finished one book chapter that is a bit shy from 10,000 words, but Paul likes it. Started working on the paper for WCILCOS 2012, another piece I enjoy writing and learning the same time. Ross, Shirin and Gu Xiong are obviously working from home as well, so did Elliot. Trying to develop the online workshop content, and will need to talk with more folks tomorrow.

We are lucky this winter in BC. Lots of Sunshine and beautiful mornings in Richmond.

Tons of Chinese media coverage on our trip to China, and glad to see a couple from the States.

One is by Dr. Lee in American Libraries.

Another by Brother Qiu in World Journal.

乔家大院

在山西，我找到了置身华夏山水之间的感觉，人们以自己的本土文化自豪， 告诉我们“五千年的文化要看山西”。莫非当年父母知道我一心想出国留学，带我走遍山西是有一番苦心的。

星期天，趁山西各地同行在太原集合报道的时候， 我们到了40公里以外的乔家大院。只在张艺谋的电影里见过，而这次亲临其境的感觉完全不同。从乾隆年间直到现在，那厚重的院墙，深不见底的院落和雕梁画栋的装饰让人流连。 那时的乔家就已经将金融生意遍布全球甚至走向世界了。家规、行规、大宅院的管理等等是有它一套的。

Commercialized ancient city--Pingyao

相比之下平遥古城展示的是State Power。我虽惊叹其保存完整，但衙门尤其是监狱的刑法展示让我觉得难以承受。风衣放在面包车里，车只能停在城外。到后来借得李博士的毛衣，又买了顶帽子，才坚持着走完平遥。满街的商业气息已经让我窒息，碍于导游小伙的劝导，也只好洒下些银子。但一定要不择手段，像大牌广告这样招揽生意吗？一个文化旅游胜地在国力许可的情况下，是否可以做出更有品位的商业呢？像当年平遥鼎盛的时候？

Mr. Yu showed us dozens of residents from Ming and Qing. They are all connected, and we could walk through different households for the entire block. From Mr’s Yu’s talks and poems, I could sense the influence of Mulan. He refused all the rewards and retired to his hometown just like Mulan did a thousand years ago. He volunteered on restoring his village to previous settings from his childhood memory.

Mr. Yu stands in front of the Ming Dynasty walls.
On the way, we saw some constructions and old ponds cleanning. Some new paint covered the slogans of cultural revoluation period. I came at the right time, still got to see the marks left by time and the wars in the past 600 years.
Our group caught attention of villagers. This 86 year-old invited us for tea, and told us that young people are quite cosmopolitan nowadays. Lots of them are working in cities and even in the US or Japan. I stopped and sat by this lonely old man, listened to his stories.

The group had a meeting after dinner to clarify what we each need to work on. Thanks for the well equiped auditorium, I could move freely on the stage and had my eyes on the entire audience.

Glad to learn the Wuhan Library’s weekend workshops. Some library directors grabbed me to the side and told me their dilema and they had to activate all kinds of connections in order to survive.

Wuhan U just built and was about to open another new library. Marble floor and walls in the lobby. We used to have dance parties in the dinning hall near our dorm, it would be nice to dance here.

I am glad to learn that our TGAG group members are back home safely and still think gloabally on our next project. Hope I can find time to finish posting on the entrie trip.