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

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

2. 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.

3. Rickshaw 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

4. 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. Population 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.

5. 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 ... Bamboo chopsticks flooring furniture

6. Hong Kong Hong 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

7. Our Adoption February 7, 2003 was the first time we met our new daughter. Her Chinese name is..... Wei Min Wong In 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.

8. 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. 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. Here is Anaïs’ dad giving her a bottle.

9. 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.

10. The Importance of Taking Care of Family Members 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.

11. 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.

12. A Visit to an Orphanage in China These children are in an orphanage with little heat. To stay warm they must wear coats indoors.

13. Pagoda style Architecture This Chinese structure is based on the principle of balance and symmetry.

14. 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

15. Rural life in China’s small remote villages

16. Religion in China China has 3 main religions: Taoism Buddhism Confucianism A family shrine to honor ancestors in a home in rural China.

17. True or False? 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? The Great Wall of China

18. False Chinese families show great respect for the old. All ages practice tai chi which is a gentle way to stretch and reduce stress. Beautiful pagoda style buildings and lush gardens are found in China today. China has modern cities like Shanghai and the capital of China ~ Beijing. A traditional head dress.

19. Chinese Language EnglishPronounced 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

20. Chinese Proverb Proverbs are famous sayings taken from literature, history & philosophers. • 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.