Hi all, this is the last post. By gosh, I started it and I am going to finish it!!! It is now Friday evening about 9pm and we just returned from dinner with Hugo and her folks. They had invited us to their home for a special dumpling meal, but it was much more than that. We surely had delicious dumpling but also had Moo Shu Pork, Lotus, Soy Beans, Peanuts, Beer, lots of talk, and a delightful evening. Yu Bin, Hugo's father, picked us up and all three drove us back to the hotel. They even offered to pick us up in the AM to take us to the airport, in fact, they offered several times, but we are going to go with the group by bus. Nonetheless, I am sure that Hugo will come to the hotel and join us in the bus to make sure that we are well taken care of. The folks here are amazingly gracious and none of it seems forced.
Now about the last day. My partner, Julianne, and I combined our classes since we each had them for half a day, and distributed their assessments along with an original computer produced Certificate of Completion for the English course. About a week ago I bought a T-shirt and had all the students sign with their English and Chinese names. Even though it was marked XL , it was still too small for me but it was the only t-shirt in stock. So I wore it today and was delighted that it was not as small as it was when I bought it. Maybe I have lost weight!!!!! Julianne bought a huge cake, it must have had a 2 foot diameter, that was beautifully decorated and emblazoned "Friends forever!" It cost her about $9!! I spent about the same on 8 bottles of juice, cups, plates, utensils, napkins, etc and we started the party at about 9:30. The students were very joyous and noisy. I had a smile on my face for about 2 hours, both from the party atmosphere and from the dozens of photos that I had to pose for. Every student wanted a picture with me, with me and Julianne, with me and other friends, with me and whatever. Of course, it was the same for Julianne. Many gave us presents and all gave us hugs and handshakes and best wishes. It was wonderful and made leaving quite emotional.
Then Harry, my TA, gave me my present: a beautiful Ping Pong paddle. We then walked back to his dorm where he showed me around and introduced me to his roommates. One of them joined us as we went to cap off this wonderful experience with an afternoon of Ping Pong. Darn it!!!! The building with all of the tables was closed until later in the day, but too late to play due to our other commitment. So, I can proudly say that I leave China undefeated!!!!! Maybe next time I'll get a chance to give it a try.
So that is it. It has been a trip of a lifetime. It has been all I could ever have expected or desired. Shelley and I did everything that was available to do, (Shelley did even more than me) and enjoyed every minute. The people were great, the location facinating, the work envigorating and, all in all, we had an experience that will keep us young a bit longer.
I am sorry to have to leave but the pull of America and all the people I love is strong. We are ready to leave, in fact, getting anxious to leave, and can't wait to see all of you in person. We have built up a storehouse of stories that we hope you will have the patience to listen to. I guess that my last thought is that I hope that all of you get the opportunity to have a marvelous and powerful experience that is equal to the one Shelley and I have just had.
Love to you all. Stay well and we will see you all soon. Burt
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Last post, probably
Hi All:
When Hugo and I were talking the other day she told me that her family owned a factory that made workclothes and they did business in Europe and the Middle East. I said that I would love to see the factory. Yesterday afternoon she called to say that her father wanted to take me to the factory at 7:00 am this morning. I said I would have to check with Burt because his students were having a party today and he wanted me to come to take pictures. When I spoke with him he said that I definitely should go to the factory. So Hugo and I arranged that she and her father would pick me up at 7:00 am
I set my alarm for 6:00 am and for some reason it did not go off so at 6:09 am I jumped out of bed and into the shower. At about 6:30 just as I was getting dressed my phone rang. It was Hugo sounding terrible and saying that she was not coming today and that we would not be having dinner tonight.I asked her if she was coming to say good-bye at all and she said yes, she would be at the hotel at 3:00 pm today. I was disapointed but I just "chalked it up" and got back into bed. About 10 minutes later I realized that I still wanted her to bring her father's marketting brochures so I called her back. It's a good thing I did because she didn't realize that she had called me instead of her teacher and our whole day was actually still on. I jumped out of bed, finished getting dressed and met her and her father in fromt of the hotel at 7:00 am
We drove about 2 hours through the countryside to the factory. It is 2 stories high, welll-ventilated with lots of ceiling fans but no air conditioning. The laborers get paid by the piece (they make coveralls and overalls) but they still have to punch a clock. I thought that was strange since they don't get a salary but I was told that is is done for control. If someone doesn't show up for x days they are fired.
On the first floor they iron the finished good by hand with a steam iron, they also cut the pieces for the clothes, again by hand, and they package the finished goods. On the second floor they sew all the garments with electric sewing machines. There are 3 factories who employ 500 workers in total and produce 3,000 garments per day.
After we toured the factory we went into the executive office where Hugo's Father's office is. It is air conditioned and has a large fish tank. Hugo and I sat for about an hour and drank coffee while her father did some work and then we drove back to HUST. We got back at noon just as Burt was getting back to the hotel. Harry joined us and the three of us went to one of the local noodle places and had noodles for lunch. Noodles are the specialty of Wuhan and we had not been to a local shop before. the noodles were delicious and I'm glad we didn't discover them sooner cuz they would have definititely put weight on us!
As I am typing Burt and Harry are having a ping pong match. Burt is using the beautiful new paddle that Harry bought him as a going away present. And, Mitch, when we come out to Tucson I think we will bring it and leave it with you cuz you have the only ping pong table in the family.
Burt's students were unbelievable generous to him. Among other gifts he received a 4 foot long scroll (if we'd known that we could have saved ourselves $168 on the one we bought), lots of traditional artifacts etc. We have so much stuff at this point between what we've bought and what we've been given that I'm no longer even sure of what we have.
On the way to the factory I passed the comment to Hugo that a lot of the students and TAs come to the hotel tomorrow to see the teachers off. I was saying that I thought it was kind of silly because the bus leaves early. Hugo looked at me and said "I am coming". She has befriended many teachers in addition to me (altho' she has formed a deep friendship with anybody else) so Iasked her who she was coming to say good-bye to. She said "You". I told her that I thought was a wonderful gesture but if she was too tired tomorrow morning I would understand. She said "I am DEFINITELY coming". So I guess I'm getting a special send-off. She also kept asking me stay a few more days but, of course, we can't. I really think she may be able to come to America in a few years so I think there is a very good chance that I will see her again. Plus she has downloaded Skype and is going to buy a webcam so that we can talk on the internet.
It is hard to believe that I only met her two weeks ago.
Today we are being picked up by her father to go to her home to make and eat dumplings and I don't think I will get a chance to post the experience so "sayonara" (Yes, I know that's Japanese) for now.
Love.....shelley
When Hugo and I were talking the other day she told me that her family owned a factory that made workclothes and they did business in Europe and the Middle East. I said that I would love to see the factory. Yesterday afternoon she called to say that her father wanted to take me to the factory at 7:00 am this morning. I said I would have to check with Burt because his students were having a party today and he wanted me to come to take pictures. When I spoke with him he said that I definitely should go to the factory. So Hugo and I arranged that she and her father would pick me up at 7:00 am
I set my alarm for 6:00 am and for some reason it did not go off so at 6:09 am I jumped out of bed and into the shower. At about 6:30 just as I was getting dressed my phone rang. It was Hugo sounding terrible and saying that she was not coming today and that we would not be having dinner tonight.I asked her if she was coming to say good-bye at all and she said yes, she would be at the hotel at 3:00 pm today. I was disapointed but I just "chalked it up" and got back into bed. About 10 minutes later I realized that I still wanted her to bring her father's marketting brochures so I called her back. It's a good thing I did because she didn't realize that she had called me instead of her teacher and our whole day was actually still on. I jumped out of bed, finished getting dressed and met her and her father in fromt of the hotel at 7:00 am
We drove about 2 hours through the countryside to the factory. It is 2 stories high, welll-ventilated with lots of ceiling fans but no air conditioning. The laborers get paid by the piece (they make coveralls and overalls) but they still have to punch a clock. I thought that was strange since they don't get a salary but I was told that is is done for control. If someone doesn't show up for x days they are fired.
On the first floor they iron the finished good by hand with a steam iron, they also cut the pieces for the clothes, again by hand, and they package the finished goods. On the second floor they sew all the garments with electric sewing machines. There are 3 factories who employ 500 workers in total and produce 3,000 garments per day.
After we toured the factory we went into the executive office where Hugo's Father's office is. It is air conditioned and has a large fish tank. Hugo and I sat for about an hour and drank coffee while her father did some work and then we drove back to HUST. We got back at noon just as Burt was getting back to the hotel. Harry joined us and the three of us went to one of the local noodle places and had noodles for lunch. Noodles are the specialty of Wuhan and we had not been to a local shop before. the noodles were delicious and I'm glad we didn't discover them sooner cuz they would have definititely put weight on us!
As I am typing Burt and Harry are having a ping pong match. Burt is using the beautiful new paddle that Harry bought him as a going away present. And, Mitch, when we come out to Tucson I think we will bring it and leave it with you cuz you have the only ping pong table in the family.
Burt's students were unbelievable generous to him. Among other gifts he received a 4 foot long scroll (if we'd known that we could have saved ourselves $168 on the one we bought), lots of traditional artifacts etc. We have so much stuff at this point between what we've bought and what we've been given that I'm no longer even sure of what we have.
On the way to the factory I passed the comment to Hugo that a lot of the students and TAs come to the hotel tomorrow to see the teachers off. I was saying that I thought it was kind of silly because the bus leaves early. Hugo looked at me and said "I am coming". She has befriended many teachers in addition to me (altho' she has formed a deep friendship with anybody else) so Iasked her who she was coming to say good-bye to. She said "You". I told her that I thought was a wonderful gesture but if she was too tired tomorrow morning I would understand. She said "I am DEFINITELY coming". So I guess I'm getting a special send-off. She also kept asking me stay a few more days but, of course, we can't. I really think she may be able to come to America in a few years so I think there is a very good chance that I will see her again. Plus she has downloaded Skype and is going to buy a webcam so that we can talk on the internet.
It is hard to believe that I only met her two weeks ago.
Today we are being picked up by her father to go to her home to make and eat dumplings and I don't think I will get a chance to post the experience so "sayonara" (Yes, I know that's Japanese) for now.
Love.....shelley
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Thursday Lunch
First, let me answer Mitch's questions. Most students will probably get to the US eventually. But, as almost all will begin their sophimore year in September, I doubt that they will be in a position to travel for many years. And by then, who knows who will remember anything or who will be where. Most of the students in the classes are scientific and technologically oriented, as the school is the Huazang university of Science and Technology. But there are English majors and business majors and other non-science or technology based programs as well. The course I have taught is called the HUST English Camp. It is elective and does cost the students. However, the grades go nowhere and do not count. In the beginning of the second week, the students got to evaluate the teachers. There clearly wasn't enough time to make an honest evaluation and the average grade out of a perfect 10 was about 9.5. My rating was slightly above average with about a 9.6. However, with such a narrow range of differentiation, I suspect that any difference is statistically insignificant. Nonetheless, I am pleased that I was in the top half. I do not know what the top score was or what the breakpoint was for the top quarter. I have the report and I will share it with you when I have it in front of me. In fact, the perfect score might have been a 5 and the average and my score might have been 4 point something.
This AM's 3 groups put on their Olympic TV shows. It was good fun but a bit short. I filled in the time by answering other questions. They asked about religion, sports and US Chinatowns.
This PM will be the same and then it is al over except for handing out the Diplomas we printed up. That plus a party and a thousand pictures, it is all over. It's time.
Love to all.
This AM's 3 groups put on their Olympic TV shows. It was good fun but a bit short. I filled in the time by answering other questions. They asked about religion, sports and US Chinatowns.
This PM will be the same and then it is al over except for handing out the Diplomas we printed up. That plus a party and a thousand pictures, it is all over. It's time.
Love to all.
Update on Wednesday night
In my excitement to tell you about dinner with Hugo and her parents last night I forgot to tell you about where we went after dinner. There is a discount club here called Metro which is very similar to Costco. You can only get there by car so it is frequented by the more economically comfortable people in Wuhan.
I walked around checking their prices against American prices for such things as TVs, refrigerators etc. Tvs actually seemed to be a little more expensive here. The largest refrigerator I saw was 19 cu ft and it was about $1,000. There was also a smaller but fancier stainless steel fridge for about $1,500 (that was the one Hugo liked!!! So she'll fit right into our family!)
Metro also sold frozen food including meats and fish in large quantities so I'm not sure how people store it because most of the freezer part of the refrigerators didn't look big enough. Also, here the fresh fish was chilled on a bed of ice and the fresh meat was in a food locker that you had to walk into and it was freezing!
I think most people still buy their fish and meat at the open market every day but I wonder about the quality and safety cuz it is not refrigerated but rather just hanging on meat racks. On the other hand it's probably what I've been eating for 5 weeks and I haven't died yet!!
Hugo's Mom however buys her meat and fish at Metro.
Tonight we have a University sponsored banquet with the TAs, then tomorrow evening as I told you we're going to Hugo's parents home and then it's back to America. I've loved our time here and/but I'm very ready to come home.
Love to all.....Shelley
I walked around checking their prices against American prices for such things as TVs, refrigerators etc. Tvs actually seemed to be a little more expensive here. The largest refrigerator I saw was 19 cu ft and it was about $1,000. There was also a smaller but fancier stainless steel fridge for about $1,500 (that was the one Hugo liked!!! So she'll fit right into our family!)
Metro also sold frozen food including meats and fish in large quantities so I'm not sure how people store it because most of the freezer part of the refrigerators didn't look big enough. Also, here the fresh fish was chilled on a bed of ice and the fresh meat was in a food locker that you had to walk into and it was freezing!
I think most people still buy their fish and meat at the open market every day but I wonder about the quality and safety cuz it is not refrigerated but rather just hanging on meat racks. On the other hand it's probably what I've been eating for 5 weeks and I haven't died yet!!
Hugo's Mom however buys her meat and fish at Metro.
Tonight we have a University sponsored banquet with the TAs, then tomorrow evening as I told you we're going to Hugo's parents home and then it's back to America. I've loved our time here and/but I'm very ready to come home.
Love to all.....Shelley
Update re:Hugo
Hi All:
We have just come back from a delightful dinner with Hugo and her parents. She and her parents have decided that I am look too young to be her grandmother so she asked if she could call me "Mom". (Actually when she told her parents that she asked if she could call me "Grandma" her father said "I have met Shelley [he drove Hugo and me to the hospital for my acupuncture] and she looks much too young to be Hugo's grandmother")! I told her it was fine with me but she had better check with her mother because I didn't say it to her but I remember how territorial I felt about my position as "Mother" when Jeff and Robyn were small. Well, not only does her mother not object but she calls me Hugo's "American Mom"!!! And at dinner she had Hugo sit between me and Burt!! And, yes I love all the compliments about how young I look!!!!
So, kids, I guess you don't have a new niece but rather you have a new sister!!!!
Hugo's parents are as delightful as she is and within 5 minutes of meeting us we all hit it off so well that they decided that they would invite us to their home on Friday and teach us how to make dumplings which apparently Zhang Hui (Hugo's mother) hasn't made in years. So we are now going to experience our dream for our visit to China.......spending time with a Chinese family in their home.
Also, Zhang Hui and Yu Bin (Hugo's father) manufacture work clothes and they are interested in breaking in to the American market (they now sell in Europe and the middle east) and I realized as we were talking that Dave Kracov, who has done business with Chinese manufacturers, may be able to help them so we'll see....
It really is a small world!!!
We have just come back from a delightful dinner with Hugo and her parents. She and her parents have decided that I am look too young to be her grandmother so she asked if she could call me "Mom". (Actually when she told her parents that she asked if she could call me "Grandma" her father said "I have met Shelley [he drove Hugo and me to the hospital for my acupuncture] and she looks much too young to be Hugo's grandmother")! I told her it was fine with me but she had better check with her mother because I didn't say it to her but I remember how territorial I felt about my position as "Mother" when Jeff and Robyn were small. Well, not only does her mother not object but she calls me Hugo's "American Mom"!!! And at dinner she had Hugo sit between me and Burt!! And, yes I love all the compliments about how young I look!!!!
So, kids, I guess you don't have a new niece but rather you have a new sister!!!!
Hugo's parents are as delightful as she is and within 5 minutes of meeting us we all hit it off so well that they decided that they would invite us to their home on Friday and teach us how to make dumplings which apparently Zhang Hui (Hugo's mother) hasn't made in years. So we are now going to experience our dream for our visit to China.......spending time with a Chinese family in their home.
Also, Zhang Hui and Yu Bin (Hugo's father) manufacture work clothes and they are interested in breaking in to the American market (they now sell in Europe and the middle east) and I realized as we were talking that Dave Kracov, who has done business with Chinese manufacturers, may be able to help them so we'll see....
It really is a small world!!!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Being honored
Hi!
I just spent the time between classes with Hugo, as per usual. As we neared the end of our time together she asked if she could be one of my grandchildren!!! I, of course, said "YES". I am truly delighted that we have formed such a close friendship and am delighted that she cares enough about me to want to call me "Grandma". I've invited her to come to the US and her parents are comfortable enough that it might happen. So now we are a family of 26!!
Burt doesn't know it yet but her parents are actually taking us to a western restaurant tonight. One that she says is famous in Wuhan and where the locals often go to celebrate special occassions....can't wait!
I just spent the time between classes with Hugo, as per usual. As we neared the end of our time together she asked if she could be one of my grandchildren!!! I, of course, said "YES". I am truly delighted that we have formed such a close friendship and am delighted that she cares enough about me to want to call me "Grandma". I've invited her to come to the US and her parents are comfortable enough that it might happen. So now we are a family of 26!!
Burt doesn't know it yet but her parents are actually taking us to a western restaurant tonight. One that she says is famous in Wuhan and where the locals often go to celebrate special occassions....can't wait!
Just 2 1/2 days left
Today I asked all the students to ask questions about America. Here are some of them:
Is the business of America business?
What books do Americans read?
Do we have lanes on the roads for bikes?
Do college students read Chinese books?
What is in an American house? Its rooms?
How does an American pay for a house?
What is my favorite food?
Are there many Chinatown? How many times do I go to one?
What did I think about the Cultural Revelotion? (I was careful about the answer but can say that almost all of the students, as well as any other Chinese person we have talked to, said that the Cultural Revolution was a terrible mistake and many good people were hurt. They did acknowledge that whatever Chairman Mao said was the law but now in retrospect they believe that he made many mistakes. One student suggested that Chairman Mao started to believe that he was God and could make no mistake. Interesting! )
These were some of the many questions that they asked, but you must remember that I have spent 2 full weeks with the class and have already discussed sports, foods in general, American life, vacations, holidays, etc. So this day is the final day that they had a chance to speak directly to an American about any topic that they wanted to speak about.
I'll do the same this PM class. My partner and I got together during the lunch break and jointly agreed on a grade for each student. Instead of A, B and C we gave each an A an A+ or an A++.
What's in name????? The mark doesn't count but is just to tell the student how we think he or she did. Persnoally, I would have given all A and be done with it, because everyone tried real hard and everyone has had significant improvement. Notwithstanding that, many still have a long way to go to have long and meaningful conversations, but all could easily get along in America on a limited basis. Confidence and practice is all that is needed.
Tomorrow, I have seven different groups of students presenting TV shows about the Olympics and Friday is just to hand out the assessments and certificate, (that Julianne and I made up unofficially) have a farewell party and finish before lunch. Shelley and I leave to go to the airport via a school provided bus at 8:00am on Saturday. Then the long trip to California. Both of us feel it is time and we are ready to leave China. The school is hosting a farewell dinner for us tomorrow night and tonight we are having diner with the parents of one of the teaching assistants, the one Shelley has become friendly with. That should be another new experience for us and we are excited about it. I am sure that Shelley and I will have plenty to tell when we get home.
Stay well, love to all and we miss you all a whole bunch.
Is the business of America business?
What books do Americans read?
Do we have lanes on the roads for bikes?
Do college students read Chinese books?
What is in an American house? Its rooms?
How does an American pay for a house?
What is my favorite food?
Are there many Chinatown? How many times do I go to one?
What did I think about the Cultural Revelotion? (I was careful about the answer but can say that almost all of the students, as well as any other Chinese person we have talked to, said that the Cultural Revolution was a terrible mistake and many good people were hurt. They did acknowledge that whatever Chairman Mao said was the law but now in retrospect they believe that he made many mistakes. One student suggested that Chairman Mao started to believe that he was God and could make no mistake. Interesting! )
These were some of the many questions that they asked, but you must remember that I have spent 2 full weeks with the class and have already discussed sports, foods in general, American life, vacations, holidays, etc. So this day is the final day that they had a chance to speak directly to an American about any topic that they wanted to speak about.
I'll do the same this PM class. My partner and I got together during the lunch break and jointly agreed on a grade for each student. Instead of A, B and C we gave each an A an A+ or an A++.
What's in name????? The mark doesn't count but is just to tell the student how we think he or she did. Persnoally, I would have given all A and be done with it, because everyone tried real hard and everyone has had significant improvement. Notwithstanding that, many still have a long way to go to have long and meaningful conversations, but all could easily get along in America on a limited basis. Confidence and practice is all that is needed.
Tomorrow, I have seven different groups of students presenting TV shows about the Olympics and Friday is just to hand out the assessments and certificate, (that Julianne and I made up unofficially) have a farewell party and finish before lunch. Shelley and I leave to go to the airport via a school provided bus at 8:00am on Saturday. Then the long trip to California. Both of us feel it is time and we are ready to leave China. The school is hosting a farewell dinner for us tomorrow night and tonight we are having diner with the parents of one of the teaching assistants, the one Shelley has become friendly with. That should be another new experience for us and we are excited about it. I am sure that Shelley and I will have plenty to tell when we get home.
Stay well, love to all and we miss you all a whole bunch.
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