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Mr. and Mrs. Levi’s trip to China in 2003 to meet their new daughter Anaïs.

Welcome to China

CHINESE SCHOOLS

In Chinese schools, children wear uniforms. Chinese children are expected to obey rules. There is a lot of pressure on them to do well so they do not bring shame to their family. Parents are willing to make sacrifices such as sending their children away to a prestigious school for the opportunity of a better education.

There is a strong emphasis on physical education as well. Each day there are structured “exercise” breaks. Some young children are sent to camps to become athletic champions and compete in the Olympics.

This is a rickshaw which is a two-wheeled cart pulled by a runner carrying 1-2 people. In this case the runner’s job is to haul garbage using a rickshaw. These are slowly being replaced by cycle rickshaws, which are used in big cities as a tourist attraction.

Having a car is still considered a luxury for many Chinese citizens even today. In the US our most common form of transport is a car. In China it is a…...........

BICYCLE

Rickshaw

China is the 3rd largest country in the world. Only Russia and Canada are larger in area. It is the 1st country in terms of population. China has more population than India, Russia, and the United States.

Even McDonald’s has made it to China. The most successful US companies in China in order are currently KFC, General Motors, Microsoft, Boeing and Nike.

Population

A fifth of the world’s bamboo is grown in China. It is a type of grass. Modern buildings use it for scaffolding. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world! In China it is used to make houses, plastics and has many other uses such as ...

chopsticksflooring

furniture

Bamboo

Hong KongHong Kong was leased by the British for 100 years. It was returned to the People’s Republic of China in 1997. It now belongs to China under a “one country, two systems” principle.” The current political structure will remain in effect for 50 years. The capital is Victoria.

Hong Kong is made up of several islands and a strip of land connected to mainland China called Kowloon. Unlike mainland China, it has free trade, low taxes, and little government interference. Hong Kong has 2 national languages: Chinese & English

Wei Min WongIn China the names reflect the importance of the family.

The name begins with the surname, which is the last name.This is because individuality is less important than family.

February 7, 2003 was the first time we met our new daughter. Her Chinese name is.....

Our Adoption

Chinese children typically have a healthy diet. However, western influences are changing this trend. Chinese eat Congi, which is a diluted rice porridge for breakfast. Here our daughter is enjoying me feeding her rice and noodles using chop sticks.

Here is Anaïs’ dad giving her a bottle.

Many Chinese dishes consist of noodles or rice (instead of bread) prepared with vegetables, tofu or meat, which is usually pork or chicken. As a rule, Chinese do not eat as much meat as Americans. Soup is also a regular part of the meal, and tea is the common drink.

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One Child Policy As a means of controlling the population, the Chinese government

has imposed strict laws concerning how many children a family may have. In 1979, three years after Mao’s death, a one-child policy was introduced to control China’s growing population, reduce the strain on resources, and address wide spread poverty. According to the policy, a couple was allowed to have one child. Couples that followed this rule were given incentives from the government and those who did not follow this rule were fined.This policy is still in effect today, although there are exceptions to this rule.

As we here in this country have social security to take care of us as we get older, China does not have a social welfare system. Historically, the Chinese have relied on the son to provide for their parents when they are old. As a result, there is a high desire to have a boy. When a Chinese girl marries into another family, she leaves her home and takes care of her husband’s parents.

The boy baby carries on the father’s family name. When a girl marries, the family name is lost as she takes her husband’s name. Women are still lagging behind men in terms of job opportunities, career positions and salary.In rural areas, boys are able to work the fields, do hard labor, and can defend the house. Due to this policy, there is an imbalance of men to women. It is estimated that by the year 2020, there will be 24 million more men than women at marriage age in China.Given the restrictive rules governing families, the baby girls are often given up for adoptions.

The Importance of Taking Care of Family Members

A Chinese orphanage in Nanchang

Most of these babies are Chinese girl infants. They are placed in orphanages or foster care until placed with a family.The babies are well nourished,dressed in many layers, and are typically well cared for.

These children are in an orphanage with little heat. To stay warm they must wear coats indoors.

A Visit to an Orphanage in China

Pagoda style ArchitectureThis Chinese structure is based on the principle of balance and symmetry.

Rural village in Jiangxi, Providence

Modernization in China has created a host of problems for farmers — among them, the loss of farmland to industry and the onset of industrial pollution.

The plight of many villages in China is illustrated here in these photos. Poverty is a problem in many rural areas in China.

no electricity

no running water

no plumbing

Rural life in China’s small remote villages

Religion in China

China has 3 main religions:

Taoism

Buddhism

Confucianism A family shrine to honor ancestors in a home in rural China.

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The Great Wall of China is probably the biggest accomplishment in China. Early in ancient China the wall was built from what the people could find from rocks to sand to clay, and even bones from men who died in war, and while building the wall. It was originally built to keep the Mongol nomads out of China. It is 5,500 miles long.

There is a belief that the Great Wall of China is the only manmade object visible from space or the moon with the naked eye. Is this true?

True or False?

The Great Wall of China

False

Chinese families show great respect for the old.

All ages practice tai chi which is a gentle way to stretch and reduce stress.

China has modern cities like Shanghai and the capital of China ~ Beijing.

Beautiful pagoda style buildings and lush gardens are found in China today.

A traditional head dress.

English Pronounced

How are you? Nee haoww mah?

Good/ok Haoww

Not good Boo haow

Good afternoon Sshyah-woo haoww

Good evening Wan-shung haoww

Bye-bye. Bye-bye

Chinese Proverb

• If you want happiness for an hour; take a nap. If you want happiness for a day; go fishing. If you want happiness for a month; get married. If you want happiness for a year; inherit a fortune.

• If you want happiness for a lifetime; help someone else.

Proverbs are famous sayings taken from literature, history & philosophers.