Des Plaines resident Bob Vormittag "had a wonderful experience just interacting with the kids" on his trip to China.

Vormittag's Voyage

Des Plainesite Shares First-Hand Experience Learning, Observing Way Of Life In China

"I've always wanted to go there and interact with the people," said Des Plaines resident and former phyiscal education teacher at Maine East High School Bob Vormittag.

He was talking about China, and he recently came back from a three-week trip where he did exactly what he had been hoping to do.

"We did so many great things," he said.

As part of a tour group, Vormittag visisted local hospitals and schools, learned about everything from acupuncture to martial arts, and got beat in game of ping pong by a 12-year-old.

It started with a nonstop 14-hour flight from Chicago to Bejing, as Vormittag crammed his 6'3, 225 lbs., frame into a 747 jet's seating area.

"That in itself was quite incredible," Vormittag said. "It's not very roomy."

The discomfort was worth it, though, as he interacted with the people of China, learned how to say "hi, how are you," and visisted the Great Wall.

"In the last 20 years or so they have made strides," Vormittag said of the country's progress. "The government realizes that trade with the U.S. and other countries is going to greatly improve the economy. There wasn't much unemployment that I gathered. They give everybody a job."

He said that Chinese workers are paid far less than they are here, but that didn't stop people from smiling when he greeted them on the street.

Vormittag said in a nation of 1.3 billion people, it was crowded everywhere he went. Though he tended to stand out, he said everyone was very friendly.

One of the many highlights for Vormittag were his visits to two local schools.

"We had a wonderful experience there just interacting with the kids. They lined up on a dirt road to sing American songs for us," he said.

"I played table tennis with a 12-year-old and he beat me. It's one of their major sports...they concentrate on racquet games. It was a slab of concrete and instead of a net they had a row of bricks.

"We went to a different school that taught martial arts, and even though I don't know much about martial arts, it's just incredible to interact with the kids...They know far more English than I do Chinese.

"Ding-how‹that's how you say, Œhi how are you'. Ding-ding-ding-how means Œsuper duper'."

That's the kind of trip it was for Vormittag, who said it was hard to leave.

"I just thought as long as my health is still good I'd like to see how they live over there."