Chopsticks, Chinese culture and Tai Chi

 

A large group of residents and staff from Ron Smith Care Centre’s River Lodge One enjoyed their Armchair Travel trip to China on October 23.

In the photos and videos below, you will see them enjoying Tai Chi movements, beautiful Chinese music, informative videos on the highlights of China – including the Great Wall of China, Peking duck, raising panda bears, the Chinese Dragon and Umbrella Dances, Chinese food, the Terracotta Warriors and so much more.

Residents and staff also enjoyed learning some simple words and phrases in Chinese, with resident Josephine Kew helping out with the correct  pronunciation!

Most of the people in this group had never used chopsticks before, so they learned something new and had a lot of fun with the chopstick challenge – in which they had to see who could put the most sweets into a bowl using chopsticks! 

Margaret Downey, who was in recuperative care, won the first round of the challenge, whilst staff members Mpho Pitso won the second round and Zuki Nombembe the third round. Margaret Wilson and Singathwa Siboto won the Quiz Challenge.

It was a wonderful morning, enjoyed by all!

Maureen Morrow and Marie Richards doing the Qigong movements to beautiful Chinese music.

Enjoying their trip to China! Back row: Debbie Christen and Grace Ratisani. Front row: Sannie Wucherpfennig, Josephine Kew and Sylvia Kree.

 The group of travellers.

Zuki Nombembe is delighted to win a round of the Chopstick Challenge.

 

Margaret Downey (right) about to win the Chopstick Challenge, by being the first person to get all her sweets into the rice bowl!  Lorraine Lowden cheers her on!

Christine Turnbull gives an unequivocal  thumbs up to the spring rolls!

Josephine Kew, who is South African Chinese, at the Armchair Travel session.

The travel session begins with some Tai Chi/Qigong movements to relax and to energise!

Alison Whittaker arrives in style, bringing her Chinese fan to deal with the heat!

Cecilia Lombard,  who is basically blind, loved cuddling the soft panda bear and listening to the beautiful Chinese music. She said the morning trip to China was most enjoyable and brought back many happy memories of the 20 years spent attending a Taiwanese church with all her Chinese friends. They taught her to speak Taiwanese and also about Chinese food and how to use chopsticks!