Returning from the Conference China

Tue Aug 14 11:28:30 CDT 2007

Dear People:

  I was delighted to see several people from the US had attended the China conference. 
  I only wish that my finances and circumstances would have permitted the same especially given the position of China in the workings of the world at present and for the forseeable future. 

  In order to partially address this, I have recently become involved in obtaining low priced travel plans for myself and my family and as a part of that I joined a travel agency whose web site is in my signature at the bottom of this note. This is a way of really lowering your costs for going to such places in the future which I imagine is one of the reasons for people not attending such conferences similar to the one in Brazil. There are terrific deals especially available in the off season that are not easily found or necessarily reliable through some of the sites that are out there as I have discovered. The mega search engine that they supply on the site is able to get out there are search mulitple sites all at once and give you the comparison.  I have found this agency to be of high integrity having come to it sociometrically through others who have proved to be of great value in my life. If you are planning some trips or going to another conference, please check out
 my web site for the best deals. 

  Blessings all, Bud

Jacob Gershoni <gej9001 at nyp.org> wrote:     

  Dear Grouptalkers,

  As much attention is focused on the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, China, I would like to report on

  THE 1ST INTERNATIONAL EXPRESSIVE THERAPY AND PSYCHODRAMA CONFERENCE

  held in Suzhou, near Shanghai from August 4 – 7. Organized by Shu Gong and local dignitaries, it was the culmination of a persistent effort initiated by her in the early 1990’s.  Shu Gong brought Psychodrama to China and paved the way for Zerka Moreno to lead workshops, the most notable of which was the one on the Great Wall, near Beijing.

  Suzhou, the host city of the conference, known for its classical gardens, canals and bridges, is dubbed “The Venice of China”; it was a superb location for this wonderful gathering, attended by 385 professionals and students (including translators and session assistants). It was a great opportunity to present, teach and connect with Chinese and other Asian colleagues and students. 

  Above and beyond the pleasure of presenting at this conference we had a chance to meet with old friends, develop new friendships and be touched by the depth and achievements of the Chinese people and their culture. A good example of China’s artistic heritage of some 6000 years can be found at the Shanghai Museum, with 5 floors of unparalleled collections of stone sculptures, bronzes, jades, furniture, paintings, beautifully displayed. This is the country where many products originated which we now just take for granted – silk, porcelain, paper, noodles -. It has a tradition of honoring folk artists: singers, story tellers, acrobats, skilled craftsmen.  All of this is evident even in small places. Creativity is part of everyday life. Little wonder then, that the Chinese are so receptive to psychodrama and so sociometrically inclined.

  I traveled with my partner for two weeks prior to the conference, starting in Shanghai.  Built on the opium, silk and tea trades in the mid 1800’s by the British and French, it attracted massive financial activities which left grandiose architecture; today, boundless energy again reigns in this incredible city, and the “Paris  of the East” is alive again and growing ever faster with high-rise architecture unequaled anywhere.

  When Marco Polo traveled in the area in 1276 he described the city of Hangzhou as one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty in the 13th century A.D.  An old Chinese saying: “In heaven there is paradise, on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou”.

  The four-day Conference began with keynote speeches and presentations by Gong Shu (that’s her name in Chinese), Fan Fumin, Yamanaka Yasuhiro,  Marcia Karp and Jorge Burmeister.  Non-Asian presenters came from various countries: 
  Michael Wieser (Austria)
  Kate Hudgins, Merri Goldberg, Jacob Gershoni,  Ed Schreiber and Adam Barcroft (USA)
  Natasha Navarro Roldan (Spain)
  John Devling, Kate Hill (Australia)
  Elisabeth Koeberl and Elke Normann (Germany)
  Yaacov Naor (Israel)
  Kate Hudgins, who reports about training Chinese groups in her Therapeutic Spiral Model (TSM) also hosted a reception, together with Ed Schreiber, featuring good food and local TSM playback group.

  The enduring legacy in China of gardening is heartwarming. We visited many classical gardens in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. In these cities streets are lined with sycamore trees with their thick green leaves and colorful bark. In a visit to the Shanghai Museum we were touched by the warmth and beauty radiated by its magnificent collection of furniture  (particularly that of the Ming period) made of (now nearly or possibly totally extinct) Huanghuali and Zitan woods. 

  This giant country with the world’s largest population and ultra-rapid development is still relatively unknown to many Westerners. Visiting there and just savoring a very small part of its culture, the friendliness and hospitality of its people, and observing its vigor has been an eye-opener for us. 

  Respectfully,

  Jacob Gershoni, L.C.S.W., C.G.P., T.E.P
  19 West 34th Street, PH Floor
  New York, N.Y. 1000-3006
  (212) 795-1192
  (212) 947-7111
  Email: Gej9001 at nyp.org<!--[if !supportNestedAnchors]--><!--[endif]--> 
  www.GrouPsychodrama.com

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Barnett J. Weiss, MA, LCSW (Bud) 
7410 Ridge Blvd 2D Brooklyn, NY 11209 
Cell (917)-751-3395 http://www.budweiss.worldventures.com

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