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Say Ni Hao to the Wang Family!
It’s been three years since I was able to take the trip of a lifetime—all in the name of work. As we prepared to open the beloved Take Me There®: China exhibit, The Children’s Museum sent me to Quanzhou and Luoyang, China to document a day in the life of the Wang family. The photography and videography we compiled helped us recreate (in painstaking detail!) the homes of Jackie's mom and dad, grandma, and great grandma, which are now in the exhibit for museum visitors to explore.
The trip started as a (really cool!) assignment for work, but ended as so much more. I learned life lessons from an 11-year-old and bonded with a family half-way across the globe. The most rewarding part of it all was being a small part of bringing their family’s incredible story to life for thousands of museum visitors through the new exhibit.
Since meeting the Wang family, I’ve hoped that they would be able to visit the museum and see in person how we represented their everyday life within the Take Me There®: China exhibit. This week—three years later—they’re here!!!! (There aren’t enough exclamation points for this statement!)
On July 20 and 21, Jackie and his family—new brother Jimmy, Uncle John, and Aunt Song—will take their first look at the exhibit and get to meet museum visitors who have been enjoying the Wang’s family story for the past three years. They will do tai chi routines, play the guzheng, play games like jianzi and tai chi softball, and introduce guests to Chinese calligraphy. The coolest part, though, is Jackie will be giving you a personal tour of his room! He will be bringing photos to show what his room and home look like now and how it has changed as he has gotten older.
For you, this is a rare opportunity to see the real people behind the research and creation of the authentic experience depicted in Take Me There®: China. For me, it’s a chance to reunite with Jackie and his family who taught me, among other things, how to communicate without speaking the same language, to challenge yourself, and to Eat Bitterness. I hope you’ll join us!
