Mrs. Bligh and I took that little nugget (which stuck with me for the gross factor, obviously) and many more we learned from reading Jean Fritz's China's Long March along with :
Jung Chang's Mao: The Unknown Story (both GREAT books, though you have to be in it for the long haul to finish Chang's biography - but look through the pictures to learn that Mao never bathed <had his people rub him down with hot towels> nor brushed his teeth. She uses a picture of Mao laughing heartedly...with his black teeth showing in all their glory.)
At any rate, the purpose for this post is to tell the story of how, once upon a time, in a land with library assistants to cover the fort while the librarians go to classes (a time never to return?), two librarians dressed as Chairman Mao and Otto Brawn (original, German leader of the Long March for those of you not in the know) - banged on Mrs. Giblin's door and commandeered her class and marched throughout our school simulating the Long March, as best we could.
Once in the library, after drinking "horse urine" (apple juice, really), men falling off cliffs, leaving babies behind with peasants, and the big break between Mao and Brawn, students arrived in the library to complete an info hunt. From here, Mao lectured from his bed, as he was known to do at the end of his life.
"A revolution is not a dinner party."
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
(but is it a slumber party?)
We so enjoyed working with Mrs. Giblin and Mr. Chenowith on this project - looking forward to next year! "Down with the Nationalists, Communists unite!"
Interested in learning more about this fascinating country? I'd like to recommend:
Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
On Gold Mountain by Lisa See
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan also by Lisa See
Chinese Lessons by John Pomfret
and of course anything by Amy Tan
DISCLAIMER: above links are to Amazon but I'm not suggesting you buy them - CHECK THEM OUT FROM YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY (big smile).
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