Final Thoughts from PSYO China Tour 2016
By Kelsey Uyeda, PSYO Manager
China is an
enigma that requires exploration, understanding, patience and appreciation to
be unlocked. It has a hint of
unpredictability, which leads to adventure and immediate intrigue. The vast country does not lack for identity
as the pride for their culture and history is stirring. They respect and value the historic but are
fascinated by the modern. Due to all of
this, the PSYO China Tour played out how it did and gave us the platform to
write our non-fiction story.
Stories can be comedic and or
memorable: climbing the Great Wall in the pouring rain and not giving a care in
the world of how soaked we were; visiting the Forbidden City and thinking this
is what living in Westeros and the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones must be like; being one of the first Americans to
visit a world grown out of innocent imagination and creation with a hint of
home that was Shanghai Disneyland.
However, not all stories swirl around
a historic site. Stories can have social
commentary, symbolism and allusions to educate us. Our tour guides were maesters, who not only
had us experience China but also indulge in its culture, language, spiritual beliefs
and history. We learned the art of
bartering at stores, which is a skill you either have or don’t. We learned about the importance of feng shui
and the reasons for a homeopathic lifestyle.
We were exposed to traditional folk music and instruments that taught us
music is universal but distinctly unique to its birthplace. We watched an acrobat show alluding to how modern
China is part of an ever evolving era but an era that never forgets the past
that got them to where they are today. Additionally, the seemingly banal facts
such as why Shanghai men are considered favorable husbands or the significance
of tea in everyday life were equally fascinating.
If a word or quote could best
describe the overall experience of the PSYO China Tour, Forrest Gump’s famous
quote is it: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re
going to get.” We knew we were going to
China but none of us could predict how our fate or destiny was going to play
out. However, similar to how Forrest
Gump’s life events created his bus bench non-fiction story, the PSYO China Tour
created the colorful non-fiction story we will be telling for years to come.
Thank you to all parents, friends,
and families and home that followed along in our adventures in China. This tour
could not have happened without you! Thank you to the dedicated board members
and friends of Pacific Symphony whose support has helped us touch students’
lives season after season, especially our amazing board chair Elizabeth Stahr.
Thank you to my colleagues Eileen Jeanette and Bella Staav, and our wonderful
maestro Roger Kalia for making this tour an artistic success! Last but not
least, words cannot express the amount of gratitude for the unconditional love
and support from Charlie and Ling Zhang to the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles
and Pacific Symphony. YOU made this dream of touring a reality for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
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