Fête des belges in Qingdao!!!

dear friends and family,

Thursday 19 july:

Today we had some very bad weather, rainy, thunderstorms, cold wind... So that's why we decided not to go on the water and teach some theory of sailing. First we revised the sailing directions (because our students have still some problems with the directions of sailing). Afterwards Pia tought them the knots in the morning group it took very long before everyone could do the knots by themselves, but in the afternoon group it went very fast. Some of the kids had immediately their own ways of doing the knots, but it didn't matter because the result was correct.

After our knots-lesson we tought them the kapsize theory. Everybody enjoyed Thomas' drawings and explanations.

During lunch time we sticked some other stickers on the sail, but only one sail got finished, because of the Mcdonald's stickers who are soooo big ( more than 1 square meter!).

In the evening we had dinner with some friends of Mr. Mu and again with a parent of one of our (best) students. The dinner was nice: we finally ate the Beijing Duck, it tasted like chicken and meat.

Friday 20 july:

Today we had some better weather, but it was still cold (20-25°). In the morning we planned not to go on the water untill Mrs. Joe came by and said that we had to go on the water because of the Mayor of Rizhao would come and see the camp. But first of all we did the knots test, conclusion: there where a lot of kids who haven't practiced them, afterwards hurry, hurry, and everybody on the water. First there was a lot of wind, but after a while there was not so much wind anymore. Finally the kids and we were glad we went sailing. No accidents happened and the sailing went really good. The mayor was satisfied and even took some pictures of our sailing students.

Then we had lunch, today it was a bit special, because Thomas told everybody yesterday that today is Pia's birthday (wich is totally wrong, it is 8 April!) , we'd never thought they would take this so serious. This was something we never expected it just started as a laugh because Thomas wanted that the children would sing for Pia. But what happened was incredible. They bought a birthday cake and even some presents for Pia. Even some of our students bought or made some gifts. Pia didn't feel very comfortable about it because she got all the gifts and presents without actually a real reason.

In the afternoon we sailed again. We had the idea of putting on each boat a girl and a boy. Because the girls are still very afraid of the sailing. We explained that it is much safer with a boy on a boat. It had some good results because all the girls where smiling and laughing with the boys all the time. Even Kate was laughing on the boat and enjoying the sailing. The sailing also went very good, we did some exercises of following Thomas' motorboat in an esquadron. They did it very well, we were (again) very proud of them.

After our class went home we started sticking again. Again with the thought we could finish all the boats on one evening, but off course we couldn't. Thomas is getting enough of the Mcdonald's stickers and Pia is getting enough of the complaining about the Mcdonald's stickers.

Tonight it is our first evening in four evenings that we could have dinner on our own, so we went to one of our favorite restaurants Ming Tien Coffee where we ate Pizza!

Tomorrow Thomas Annicq (our general manager) is coming to visit us and we arranged a dinner with the sponsor of BIG (Beaulieu International Group) and with Mrs. Joe, specially for our Belgian friend.

Saturday 21 july 2007:

Today was a perfect day, sun, wind. We decided to go on the water immediatly but first the kids had to do the knots - test again.

While we were launching the kids on the water Thomas Annicq (Tom) arrived with the flags. Thomas received him because Pia was already on her favorite rib.

Meanwhile while the kids were on the water with Pia, Thomas gave Tom a quick guiding tour around the marina. Thomas explained the trouble we had with our sponsor stickers and introduced him to the president of the marina and Miss Joe.

During the noon Miss Joe was so kind to invite us all to have lunch together. The lunch was long and relaxing but above all a lot. We were served over more then 20 dishes. So we had to hurry to go back to the marina to be there on time to welcome the second group of the day.

Once we arrived back at the marina the kids were already waiting for us and we started immediatly with the knots-test with the help of Tom. After the test we went on the water and you could see that tom was pleased to be back on the water. He even got on the OP's!!!

During the afternoon course Tom proposed us the great idea to join him to his trip back to Qingdao. That was a question he even didn't had to ask twice!!!

After our class we rushed to the hotel here and grabbed quick some basic stuff and jumped back in the car to Qingdao.

During the car trip we discussed where we would stay in Qingdao. We decided that we would stay in the Shangri - La Hotel (read: shangely - la) at our own expense ( sorry dad ;)) but oh boy did we enjoyed it, especially the (kingsize) bed because chinese beds are rock hard!

After dinner in a "italian restaurant" we went to the Q-bar in our hotel where we met the germans from Kiel, who are also taking part of the gouvermental sailing project in Qingdao, and the other NOSCP trainers. After having probably all the beer in Qingdao in the Q-bar, we went to the Jazz club, one of many bars in Qingdao. Tom said wisely thank you guys but I am going to bed.

Oh yes the madness went on into the early hours ...

Sunday 22 July 2007:

As the RBSC - spirit prescribes we were back on the water around 09.00 am to follow the Qingdao - Kiel regatta. Although in the morning there wasn't much sun but we all had our sunglasses on. :)

The regatta was very spectacular 380 OP's on the water, and off course all our fans (spectators).This was crazy!

Next item on our planning was Lunch at La Villa, a "french restaurant", where Tsing Tao beer was our first course of the day.

During the lunch Tom came up with the great idea to go sailing with one of the boats of ZOU intermarine ( Tirion) with some white wine. Unfortunately or luckily the sea was to rough to open the bottles of wine. Remarkable was that the first 15 min on the boat everybody was pretty quiet especially Dirk and Taco ;).

Because the wind fell down, we decided to go back and have our "apéro" on one of the many Qingdao rocky beaches. We sat down on the biggest rock and had a great time and a nice chat.

Afterwards we were expected at the price giving ceremony in the Qingdao no 2 Middle school. According to the chinese culture it took a while before everybody had their speeches and prizes, where Tom also had to tend to give a speech (his speech was short but the best).

Then we went to Mcdonald's because we had to go back to Rizhao at 22.00 and the ceremony ended at 21.30. It was very funny according to all our Mcdonald's sponsored Tshirts.

Then we went back to Shangri-La, where we checked out. We said goodbye to everyone and lots of thanks to Tom for an unforgettable weekend!

Monday 23 July:

Today the weather was very bad, the rain was poaring out of the sky so we gave both of the groups some theory (again). Tell-tales, Property rules, Starboard and Port side, Beating, Leeward and windward and revision of the knots and wind directions. We're getting very tired now. We're very sorry about the delaying of this post, but we hope you are satisfied with this report.

We are missing you all!!!

greetings

Pia and Thomas.

The sponsortickets have arrived!! We're lovin it!!!

Dear friends and family,

17 july 2007:

Today was a beautiful day but it was bloody hot (36°C). We had a south; south-east wind (1-2bft).

The morning group and the afternoon group went on the water. We've put 2 bouys in the water (beam reach) and let them sail the course clockwise. It's very remarkable how some of the kids get the hang of it very quickley.

After our working day we had a dinner with our sponsor ( Hans and some of his colleagues), that we've arranged, together with miss Joe, the president of the marina, and our head-coach Mr Mu. We had dinner in a western restaurant. We were very pleased to see the other belgians and who were all from the city of Waregem. Of course Pia had some trouble to understand them.

18 july 2007:

Today was again a very hot day (38°C). The wind was very good in the morning for the children let's say a light breese. So we did the same excercise as yesterday and our intention was to let them follow the rib in four groups (5 per group) and do some tacking excercises. Unfortunatly it didn't go as planned because we had some troubles with our bouys. They were drifting away all the time to the place in the harbour were the big tourists boats sail. So the excercise consisted really of getting the bouys to stay on the right place and let the children sail around them. Long live the "zoute anchors".

In the noon we've finally get our sponsor stickers and T-shirts. You really can see how Pia loves to see the golden M again.

In the afternoon the wind had come up but we tried to get the children to do the same exercise as yesterday. The children, aspecially the girls had some trouble to control their boats, some of them capsized. The girls panicked very quickly so we decided to let them go back and we did in and outs together with Thomas in a OP witch was a funny sight.

We were also very surprised today. You'll never guess who turned up today. KATE!! The girl who had the accident. We couldn't believed our eyes and told here that is was very brave of her. We let her sail together with a chinese local girl who can sail very good with an OP.

Tonight we were invited by the parents of Kate to thank us. Believe it or not but we're getting used to the chinese specialties but we still can't eat the jellyfish. We also tried the chinese "white wine" (read: some kind of wodka) wich was horrible of course.

Something intresting to know: the bad weather here that we've had on sunday was small and weakened part of the japanese typhoon.

We will get the whole typhoon here this week but here it will be just a heavy storm.

Bye Bye,

Pia and Thomas

Dear friends and family,

Morning group:

In the morning there was a light breese from the west (off shore breese). So we deciced that all kids could go on the water with the OP's. We placed two buoys in the water so they could sail beam reach. It was a perfect morning for sailing. Some of them capsized (5) but no harm was done. Some of them even liked it. The ribs are still in very bad shape but we've managed to control them. The kids can already rig up the boats quite good and their launching and mooring is also very good.

In the noon Hans Pieter Nollet and his wife Vanessa (from Beaulieu International Group) visited us. We showed them our classroom, the OP's and introduced them to mister Mu who was so kind enough to invite them over to have lunch together.
They have been living here for over more than 2 years now and they say that the city is developping very fast.

In the afternoon Hans Pieter Nollet and Vanessa stayed for a while and watched how we launched the second group in the water with their OP's. Unfortunately the wind has turned in the afternoon to south west so the breese was stronger. We tried to do the same thing as in the morning but because it also was spring-tide here today the current was very strong. The children suffered a lot to stay on course. Altough only one boat capsized this afternoon Pia had to do a rescue. A girl got strangled in the ropes. Pia had to cut the ropes in two because the girl was in shock. Pia brought her immediatly back to the shore and handed her over to our nurse. She is alright now and we really hope that she will come back tomorrow.
After this was happened we called all the boats in and we did only in and outs.

We do must say that we've miscalculated us in the strengt of the current this day, so for the people who will come to Rizhao watch out!

We also arranged dinner with the president of the marina and our sponsors for tomorrow.

We still haven't received any sponsorstickers our flags. We hope they will come soon.

Pia misses the belgian choclate a lot because her package hasn't arrived yet. Tonight we will have a beer with our local surfing boys. We are very curious where they will take us now.

Greetings,

Pia and Thomas

first sailing experience and lazy day

dear friends and family,

Yesterday our "creepy little bastards"(morning group (21)) and sweeties (afternoon group (19)) had their first sailing experience. Thomas stayed with the children at the slibway, while Pia recieved them at the water with her rib. Thomas explained them how to launch the boat in the water and Pia let them do some exercises on the water like tacking and gybing and returning back to Thomas. It was quite difficult because we only had one translator because our dear Olive was 'sick'. In the morning Pia was alone on the rib and had a bit of communication problems with the children on the water, but we didn't had any accidents or hurts. In the afternoon our good friends Tosh and Keith (locals) were so nice to help us. Our translator called a friend of him and so everything went quite good, but we only had one problem: suddenly there was no wind anymore! We had the great idea to take the kids on the rib, Thomas stayed with them in the water (swimming) while Pia made some rib-tours with each four children. Thanks to our translator Sky the kids could understand Pia on the rib and Thomas had some translating help from Tosh and Sky's friend. The kids were very excited about their first sailing experience and immediately wanted to learn more about sailing.

There is still a lot of work to do before we can have a race with the children, but they are very motivated.
We also arranged a nurse for the children because at the beginning lots of children scratched their knees.

=> divide et impera ;)

In the evening we had contact with our sponsor BIG (Beaulieu International Group; Hans Pieter Nollet) with whom we arranged an appointment for sunday. Apparently their must have been a communication problem because he didn't showed up. We will try to contact him again this week!

Today we had our first official resting day, oh boy did we enjoy it. Sleeping until 11 o'clock, having lunch in Dio Coffee ('western' restaurant), "shopping" (read: wondering around) in all shopping malls of Rizhao. Unfortunatly we had some real belgian weather (rain, windy, cold).

Afterwards we tried to get to the marina to do some preparation for the following week but everything was closed and their was no living soul around.

Then we had the great idea (according to the rain) to buy some DVDs, so we called our Sky to tell the taxi driver where to go. He sent us to a mall at the other side of Rizhao, we bought 3 DVDs (the girl in the shop said that they were in english). Entering back in our room, we tried the DVDs but they were dubbed in chinese (very irritating), so we saw Mr. Bean because there is not a lot of speaking in it.

Greets

Pia and Thomas (aka: Tante Pia en Vieze Freddy)