The China vs. USA volleyball game was a blast! We all had a great time together watching the sweaty players and cheering them on. We have many outstanding male athletes - young and old - on our team and they gave it their all. The girls who played were Mary, Liz and MJ who was our secret weapon because she had several great plays! (MJ is a grandmother!) The United States won all three games, even though one was really close! We were told that some of our Chinese students enjoyed watching the cheerleaders (who actually practiced before the game) and the cheerleaders who nearly lost their voices yelling in the noisy gym included Stacey, Emilee, Bonnie, Susan, Laura Jean, Liz, Mary and Louise.

The night before the volleyball game we all went to the auditorium to watch the movie High School Musical. The Chinese said that they enjoyed seeing what a high school looked like in America and they paid attention throughout the movie. The Americans were quite surprised by what they saw when the lights went back on after the movie – the floor was moving! (Ask your team member!) Last night students met with teachers in their classrooms to audition for the Talent Show to be held Sunday night and to act out skits. We have many Chinese students, Chinese assistant teachers and American teachers who have signed up so it should be a good show!

Yesterday Dale and I (Louise) were involved in very serious meetings with our Chinese hosts concerning the smooth running of our camp program for the remainder of our camp. Many thoughts were answered as there was a good resolution and everyone is very happy with the outcome. We continue to rely upon your support in order for our camp to be successful, so please continue to think of us!

Tonight (Friday) we will have our big birthday party! This morning a sound system was set up in the cafeteria for us and the tables were moved so that we can have a big dance floor and line dance together! We will have party hats and noisemakers for everyone and we will eat birthday cake and ice cream, too. We are all meeting after dinner tonight to decorate with banners, balloons and streamers.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we will go on a tour of Shanghai. We have been told that we will visit an old neighborhood, a marketplace where we can shop, the Pearl Tower and a very nice Shanghai restaurant. While we are shopping some team members will be looking for a McDonalds, KFC or Pizza Hut! (Today we had eel with our rice for lunch!) When we return in the evening the Chinese will show us how to cook dumplings! Nathan, Mabel, Susan and Doug will not go out with us on the tour, but will go out with their Chinese friends who they met in years past in summer camp or in teaching in China, so be sure to think of them. Everyone is feeling well and we are not keeping Brian, our team doctor, too busy, although he has been great when responding to minor cuts and bruises and some concerns related to dehydration. We hope this good health will continue for our team.

Since I didn’t receive any more greetings from team members, just know that everyone loves you and appreciates your support as they are happily busy getting to know and love our Chinese friends. Our team is really working hard with their Chinese students and we are getting along really well together – how can we not laugh with Buddy on our team?!