Hunan Province has a pull on those who have spent time there.The picture at left is of Beverly (one of the teachers I worked with at Jishou University's language school at Zhangjiajie) and Phoebe (Li Tan, or Tan Li -- depending on which day it is), who served as our liaison with the university's administration.
Beverly, a Welsh lass or Welsh witch (her words), has returned numerous times to visit with students and staff there. On her latest trip, she and Phoebe went to Zhangjiajie National Park and took the tram up to one of the highest points.
The picture at right is looking down on the winding road leading up to the park. Notice the air quality. While the park can be shrouded in mist during the winter, this picture was taken at mid-day during the summer.
I remember one of my students looking at similar air quality from the third story of a university building and noting, "It's very foggy today."
"No," I replied. "That isn't fog." Burning coal and minimal regulations for factories has really taken its toll on Chinese air clarity and quality.
Of course, indoor air pollution (as in smoking) can also be a problem in the People's Republic of China. In the picture below, Beverly is seen lighting up a mouthful of cigarettes during her end-of-year party at a karaoke bar in Zhangjiajie.
While she might not have set the best of standards for her students when it came to drinking and smoking, her enthusiasm and wit in the classroom were always of the highest quality.
Beverly continues travel the globe and has finally found her soulmate in the process. She is one of those persons I defer to when it comes to travel experiences. Bev has pretty much been everywhere and has made friends all along the way.
Once, when interviewing for one of her teaching jobs, she was asked if she liked children. "I really do," she replied, "but, I don't think I could eat a whole one." She got the job anyway.
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