28 June | Shijiazhuang, China
By 8 a.m. we were eating breakfast in the hotel. There were lots of delicious choices, so everyone found something to enjoy. After breakfast, we joined our media friends in the lobby of the hotel.
[column width=”47% padding=”6%”]The JingYing Education Group had created and put up a beautiful banner in the hotel lobby, welcoming Minzhi to the city. Photos were taken of Minzhi signing the hotel guest book, with the hotel manager, and with other members of the media. We took a group photo outside the hotel with all of us holding the banner.[/column]
[column width=”47%” padding=”0″]
[/column]
[end_columns]
Around 9:40 a.m. our production crew and several members of the media had our luggage and gear loaded on the bus and were on our way to Shijiazhuang. Some of the journalists were interested in why we were doing a documentary on Minzhi and asked questions about the structure and storyline. We had an interesting conversation, with Peter Chan acting as our interpreter. Some of them spoke a little English. I think many of them understood more English than they would speak.
For lunch we stopped at a little restaurant. We had baozhi, Chinese dumplings that look like little pies. We had some with several kinds of fillings: pork, vegetable, mushroom. There were also vegetables, and soup. It was very tasty. I had some chrysanthemum tea. Drinking warm or hot water is the Chinese way of cooling down. It sounds contradictory, but it works.
After arriving in Shijiazhuang and checking into the hotel, we went to a cultural event put on by the Hebei Institute of Communication.
From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. we had a formal meeting and exchange of gifts with officials from the Hebei Institute of Communication. We had the pleasure of meeting Chancellor Li and other officials and professors associated with the Institute. Hope was expressed for further exchange and interaction between BYU Hawaii and the Institute. We watched a short documentary that helped us understand the mission of the school, and then student reporters were given time to interview Minzhi and David, and take photos.
Up the front stairway of a performing arts building we walked, pausing on the way to all autograph a huge sign that celebrated the cultural event and Minzhi’s arrival. Then we continued the walk up the red carpet into the building, onto the stage and into a green room/backstage waiting area. We stayed there just a few minutes and were then escorted to our seats in the audience.
Minzhi and her co-star from the movie “Not One Less,” Huike, did a presentation together, reading a script that talked about their experience working together on the film. As they read, clips from the film were shown on a big screen behind them.
Of course, I don’t have photos of this because I was a participant, and it didn’t seem appropriate to be taking photos as we walked the red carpet as honored guests. But I do have a photo of the beautiful bouquet of flowers each of us received. When we arrived at the hotel they brought a vase to our rooms so we could put them in water and enjoy them a few more hours.[flagallery gid=5 name=”Gallery”]
[column width=”47%” padding=”6%”]However, before we got to the hotel, we went to greet Minzhi’s parents. She hadn’t seen them in person for almost six years, and had been eagerly waiting for this moment. Our bus took us to their apartment on the JingYing campus and their meeting was fully documented by the 10 or 15 media representatives in our entourage.
It was a joyful occasion for their family. Along with her parents, both of Minzhi’s sisters and their children were there, and they all met David Lau, Minzhi’s husband, for the first time. Minzhi’s parents and David’s parents met each other for the first time as well–truly a tender and joyful moment. And the media were thoughtful enough to exit the small apartment as soon as they had taken their photos and footage.
After taking some family group photos and enjoying delicious fresh fruit offered by Minzhi’s family, we returned to the hotel, leaving Minzhi and David to have some private family time.[/column]
[column width=”47%” padding=”0%”]
[/column]
[end_columns]
Quite an eventful day! And this is only our second day into this adventure. After putting the flowers in water, and preparing for the next day, I gratefully went to bed and slept soundly.