Steve: Making of the Great Wall Harlem Shake

During the week of March 19-26, four high school students selected by Science, Math, and Technology Education Center to participate in the North Carolina International Science Competition (NCISC) are traveling to Beijing, China to present their research, meet students from other countries, and experience Chinese culture. This blog highlights the journey of these future science rockstars of North Carolina! Today, we hear from one of the adult travelers on the trip, Steve Hill who is Executive Director of North Carolina’s Eastern Region: STEM East. See more pictures and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Hands down the most fun day was had at the Great Wall.  The trip up to the Wall was tiring, but well worth the view.  At the top, we (mostly the students) decided to make this delegate group world famous by videoing a Great Wall version of the Harlem Shake.  Watch the “Great Wall Harlem Shake” video below.  It will make you proud to be an American.  The trip down from the wall was equally as fun as we found a bobsledding cart ride down the mountain.  We were often warned to slow down as each one of us took turns trying to beat the next person’s time.

The silk and pearl markets were a true education in Chinese capitalism.  Amy, a US student, often made reference to the markets being the best class possible to learn about negotiating.  The students often competed to see who could get the best deal.  This spilled over into the adult group as well.