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.
Another embarrassing moment
Again forgot to tell you all that I did put the beautiful necklace that Hugo gave me on after she left yesteday. I was downstairs after class yesterday waiting for one of the teachers who is using my e-mail address because she can't log onto hers for some reason. While I was waiting Hugo came back to the hotel to meet someone else so she got to see how incredibily perfectly the necklace fits me. She told me that she deliberately went to a store that sells Tibetan jewelry and that the necklace was Tibetan style which makes it even more special.
I wore the necklace to a teachers' meeting last night and Hugo's teacher, Jane, was there. Jane looked at the necklace and told me she saw Hugo buying it for me. She didn't seem angry so I guess it's okay but I was trying to be tactful and not let too many people know who gave it to me because I neither want to hurt Jane or get Hugo into trouble!!!
I wore the necklace to a teachers' meeting last night and Hugo's teacher, Jane, was there. Jane looked at the necklace and told me she saw Hugo buying it for me. She didn't seem angry so I guess it's okay but I was trying to be tactful and not let too many people know who gave it to me because I neither want to hurt Jane or get Hugo into trouble!!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Mission Accomplished
As Burt told you, Harry and I took a cab after lunch to the Hubei Museum to buy a lacquer dish that we saw the first Sat. we were here but didn't buy. There was no traffic and we got to the museum in about 25 minutes. There was no entrance fee which I had forgotten. (I had planned to have Harry explain that we didn't want to visit the museum but to just go to the gift shop. With no admission fee, there was no need.)
I think that the plate that Burt and I saw 2 Sat. ago was gone because I did not like the only very large plate that was left. However, I did like a smaller one. The price on it was 1800 yuan and/but this is the only museum we have been in that will bargain. I offered 15oo yuan which they immediately accepted so I think I offered to much which annoyed me. However, I had to buy 2 smaller gifts for people and they also had just two of the wine bottle covers that I talked about in a previous post. The 3 items totalled 200 yuan. I offered them 100 yuan for them and told them I should get them very inexpensively because I had bought the expensive plate. They tried to deny the agreed to price of 1500 yuan for the plate even tho' they had already wrapped it!! The bottom line is that I got everything for 1,650 yuan instead of 2,000 yuan. Did I do well? Who knows. Or cares! We had decided that we wanted to leave Burt's "salary" which was paid in yuans in China instead of taking a big hit on the exchange rate and we have accomplished that and now have many lovely things.
Speaking of salary I may have mentioned this before so if I have, please forgive me. Burt keeps demeaning the 6,000 yuans they paid the teachers from TFF as if it is nothing. However, I found out this week-end that a Chinese English teacher on staff only gets 2,000 yuans per month and no housing!! So by Chinese standards the TFF teachers were very well paid for 3 weeks work. Plus the university paid for all our touring, hotel and meals on both week-ends.....SUCH A DEAL!!!
Like Burt, I'm getting anxious to get back to the States. This has been an incredible experience but it's time.......
I think that the plate that Burt and I saw 2 Sat. ago was gone because I did not like the only very large plate that was left. However, I did like a smaller one. The price on it was 1800 yuan and/but this is the only museum we have been in that will bargain. I offered 15oo yuan which they immediately accepted so I think I offered to much which annoyed me. However, I had to buy 2 smaller gifts for people and they also had just two of the wine bottle covers that I talked about in a previous post. The 3 items totalled 200 yuan. I offered them 100 yuan for them and told them I should get them very inexpensively because I had bought the expensive plate. They tried to deny the agreed to price of 1500 yuan for the plate even tho' they had already wrapped it!! The bottom line is that I got everything for 1,650 yuan instead of 2,000 yuan. Did I do well? Who knows. Or cares! We had decided that we wanted to leave Burt's "salary" which was paid in yuans in China instead of taking a big hit on the exchange rate and we have accomplished that and now have many lovely things.
Speaking of salary I may have mentioned this before so if I have, please forgive me. Burt keeps demeaning the 6,000 yuans they paid the teachers from TFF as if it is nothing. However, I found out this week-end that a Chinese English teacher on staff only gets 2,000 yuans per month and no housing!! So by Chinese standards the TFF teachers were very well paid for 3 weeks work. Plus the university paid for all our touring, hotel and meals on both week-ends.....SUCH A DEAL!!!
Like Burt, I'm getting anxious to get back to the States. This has been an incredible experience but it's time.......
The Last Week
This is Monday and I just finished lunch with Shelley and Harry. They are both off to the Museum to buy something that Shelley and I saw when we were there two weekends ago. It is a beautiful laquered plate and I hope that it is still there. They will probably be back to class before it is over.
This morning we sang, "I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly". The students sang along quite lustily and enjoyed it. However, I was not very successful in making them smile after reading them a limerick. I tried about 8 of them so that they could get the rythym and the humor but all of the limericks fell fairly flat. Sometimes the words were new, (and I explained ever line) or the humor didn't translate to the Chinese culture. I gave up and went on to a bigger project. I have broken the class into 3 groups of 6 students each and asked each to prepare a television program involving the Olympics. This is their project and they can do whatever they want. I suggest that one person be the Anchor person, others reporters and athletes, maybe an expert or two and certainly a weather person. All the groups got into very animated discussions about what they will present and they will work on it the next two evenings. After seeing how these students get involved and love to do projects, I will not be surprised if they surprise me with very inventively clever TV shows. Each group picked a TV station and they are now on their own. They spent nearly 1 1/2 hours constantly talking among themselves. They are absolutely comfortable speaking English among themselves. While not quite so relaxed when talking to a native American person, they are clearly much better than when we started.
We bought an XL t-shirt yesterday that barely fits me, and just about fits Shelley. It has the name of the school on it and some Chinese writing, but the critical aspect is that it is white. I brought it to class and asked each student to use a permanent red or black ink pen and write his or her names on it, i.e., their Chinese name and their American name that they chose when they entered this class. They filled up the back and saved the front for the PM class.
For tomorrow, I have asked, (following Shelley's suggestion) that each student write down any question that they would like to ask about America. I have repeatedly asked for questons, but
most students are still shy about voluntarily speaking out to me. But if they can first write the question, I am sure that they will have plenty to ask.
I closed the session with a final articultion review, much like we started just two weeks ago. Shelley was in the audience and noted that there was a significant and noticeable
improvement. That pleased me greatly, because I hear the big difference but wasn't sure that I wasn't seeing that result in order to justify my efforts.
This PM class will be a repeat of the morning. Friday is the day we give the students their evaluation, (all will be very positive and encouraging. the undergraduate grades do not count in their record so we should not be concerned even if we give some constructive criticism.). After the morning evaluation, which will be a joint venture between my partner and me because we have the same students in the AM and PM, we will have a joint party, say tearful goodbyes and be free for the PM. Thursday will be the day that my classes present their TV shows. Wednesday will be one hour shortened for both classes so that my partner and I can get together and evaluate the students. So tomorrow is the last real full teaching day. As with all trip for me, I am always eager to enjoy the time until the last day or so. Then I get a bit antsy and ready to go. And that is how I know I will feel very shortly. Home is just around the corner.
Love to you all. Shelley and I miss you all, (and good American food, be it Italian, Thai, Japanese, etc. ) Stay well and we will talk to you all soon.
This morning we sang, "I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly". The students sang along quite lustily and enjoyed it. However, I was not very successful in making them smile after reading them a limerick. I tried about 8 of them so that they could get the rythym and the humor but all of the limericks fell fairly flat. Sometimes the words were new, (and I explained ever line) or the humor didn't translate to the Chinese culture. I gave up and went on to a bigger project. I have broken the class into 3 groups of 6 students each and asked each to prepare a television program involving the Olympics. This is their project and they can do whatever they want. I suggest that one person be the Anchor person, others reporters and athletes, maybe an expert or two and certainly a weather person. All the groups got into very animated discussions about what they will present and they will work on it the next two evenings. After seeing how these students get involved and love to do projects, I will not be surprised if they surprise me with very inventively clever TV shows. Each group picked a TV station and they are now on their own. They spent nearly 1 1/2 hours constantly talking among themselves. They are absolutely comfortable speaking English among themselves. While not quite so relaxed when talking to a native American person, they are clearly much better than when we started.
We bought an XL t-shirt yesterday that barely fits me, and just about fits Shelley. It has the name of the school on it and some Chinese writing, but the critical aspect is that it is white. I brought it to class and asked each student to use a permanent red or black ink pen and write his or her names on it, i.e., their Chinese name and their American name that they chose when they entered this class. They filled up the back and saved the front for the PM class.
For tomorrow, I have asked, (following Shelley's suggestion) that each student write down any question that they would like to ask about America. I have repeatedly asked for questons, but
most students are still shy about voluntarily speaking out to me. But if they can first write the question, I am sure that they will have plenty to ask.
I closed the session with a final articultion review, much like we started just two weeks ago. Shelley was in the audience and noted that there was a significant and noticeable
improvement. That pleased me greatly, because I hear the big difference but wasn't sure that I wasn't seeing that result in order to justify my efforts.
This PM class will be a repeat of the morning. Friday is the day we give the students their evaluation, (all will be very positive and encouraging. the undergraduate grades do not count in their record so we should not be concerned even if we give some constructive criticism.). After the morning evaluation, which will be a joint venture between my partner and me because we have the same students in the AM and PM, we will have a joint party, say tearful goodbyes and be free for the PM. Thursday will be the day that my classes present their TV shows. Wednesday will be one hour shortened for both classes so that my partner and I can get together and evaluate the students. So tomorrow is the last real full teaching day. As with all trip for me, I am always eager to enjoy the time until the last day or so. Then I get a bit antsy and ready to go. And that is how I know I will feel very shortly. Home is just around the corner.
Love to you all. Shelley and I miss you all, (and good American food, be it Italian, Thai, Japanese, etc. ) Stay well and we will talk to you all soon.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Excuse me!!
Burt, I thought we had a partnership....what do you mean "the real blogger"?
I had to write again because I am very excited. As has become tradition, Hugo and I spent the time between classes talking in my room. She is a lovely young woman and she has a hard time saying "No". Consequently she spent her week-end taking different teachers (who have their own TA but for some reason didn't use them) shopping. She went to the same place 2 days in a row by hot bus which was not fun for her but in her travels she managed to buy me a beautiful necklace and earrings. Fortuntately I had also bought her a present from our travels this week-end. The jewelry is beautiful and looks wonderful on me but I am feeling frustrated because I didn't think to put it on while I was with her.
Tomorrow Harry and I are going to the Hubei Museum to buy a wonderful lacquer plate so I've told Hugo that I probably won't be around for lunch but on Wednesday she will join me for lunch in the hotel dining room and then on Wednesday night her parents are taking Burt and I out to dinner (Burt does not even know this yet.) She said they wanted to take us to a western restaurant but I've told her that if they have a favorite Chinese restaurant we would love to experience it with them so we'll see what happens. I also asked her if they would be our guest and she said no "You will be my parents guests!!"
How could we possibly ask for a better Chinese experience!!!
Love...Shelley
I had to write again because I am very excited. As has become tradition, Hugo and I spent the time between classes talking in my room. She is a lovely young woman and she has a hard time saying "No". Consequently she spent her week-end taking different teachers (who have their own TA but for some reason didn't use them) shopping. She went to the same place 2 days in a row by hot bus which was not fun for her but in her travels she managed to buy me a beautiful necklace and earrings. Fortuntately I had also bought her a present from our travels this week-end. The jewelry is beautiful and looks wonderful on me but I am feeling frustrated because I didn't think to put it on while I was with her.
Tomorrow Harry and I are going to the Hubei Museum to buy a wonderful lacquer plate so I've told Hugo that I probably won't be around for lunch but on Wednesday she will join me for lunch in the hotel dining room and then on Wednesday night her parents are taking Burt and I out to dinner (Burt does not even know this yet.) She said they wanted to take us to a western restaurant but I've told her that if they have a favorite Chinese restaurant we would love to experience it with them so we'll see what happens. I also asked her if they would be our guest and she said no "You will be my parents guests!!"
How could we possibly ask for a better Chinese experience!!!
Love...Shelley
This time it is the real blogger
Hi guys, lunchtime again after a morning of class. Shelley beat me to the punch and told about our weekend. I just want to add that the Three Gorges is a fantastic place. I guess that if you are an Engineer you would be even more impressed and interested in the detail. However, as a lay person, it is enough just to be there in the middle of that man-made wonder, even for just ten minutes. It was worth the very long bus ride. We had a second advantage. I was not totally surprised to see how modern Shanghai and Beijing are. Wuhan is quite modern too but with 8 million people, it was not unexpected to find it a modern thriving city as well. But I had expected to see small villages to be more like the pictures we have all seen of old China. There are two things wrong with that. One, there are no SMALL villages here, or so it seems, and two, the small cities we have seen all seem to be growing fast and doing well. When we traveled bak to the hotel, we passed by hundreds of farms and saw farmers wearing the traditional farmer's hat and squatting among their crops. Except, they all had modern machinery in their hands!
I am sure, and I have been told, that there are many very small villages that are very poor and have not changed from many, many years ago. But these are not the places that a tourist or a foreigner sees so I cannot claim to have seen them.
Today's class was OK. I am trying to stress that the students practice speaking, form words clearly with mouth movement, look at the listener and, what seem impossible for many, speak loudly. I know that I have some hearing problem but some never raise their voices over the whisper level. All the teachers have said the same, especially about the women. Chinese speech is quite different from American speech. Theirs is tonal and never, or at least as far as I can tell, end with a consonent so I have to insist on a final t or d or b or etc.
In the last three days of real teaching I am going to continue as I have done. some teachers have been playing games and giving the class exercises to do at their dorms and both the students and the teachers seem quite happy with that. However, as I have previously said, the students all can read and research quite well. It seems that our role as teachers of this English Sumer Camp is to have the students hear English and speak English. I am not sure that reading English or playing games serves that purpose. In addition, my teaching partner who has my AM class in the PM and vice versa, does seem do to many of thse fun things and we must complement each other quite well.
My partner, Julieanne, and I have agreed to evaluate the students together. We will make observations nd comments and give a grade. But the grade goes nowhere. I have told the students that I will mark them on participation and cannot give a grade based upon English skill. they all come from different backgrounds and it would not be fair to measure them one agains the other. But since we have been told that the grade we give does not go into any school record, Julieanne and I will try to make meaningful comments.
Shelley seems to have more time to fill in on the fter school activities and I will leave her those honors.
Stay well and have fun. We leave China on Saturday but spend a week in Berkeley with our son, Jeff, to rest up a week before we get home to Jacksonville.
I am sure, and I have been told, that there are many very small villages that are very poor and have not changed from many, many years ago. But these are not the places that a tourist or a foreigner sees so I cannot claim to have seen them.
Today's class was OK. I am trying to stress that the students practice speaking, form words clearly with mouth movement, look at the listener and, what seem impossible for many, speak loudly. I know that I have some hearing problem but some never raise their voices over the whisper level. All the teachers have said the same, especially about the women. Chinese speech is quite different from American speech. Theirs is tonal and never, or at least as far as I can tell, end with a consonent so I have to insist on a final t or d or b or etc.
In the last three days of real teaching I am going to continue as I have done. some teachers have been playing games and giving the class exercises to do at their dorms and both the students and the teachers seem quite happy with that. However, as I have previously said, the students all can read and research quite well. It seems that our role as teachers of this English Sumer Camp is to have the students hear English and speak English. I am not sure that reading English or playing games serves that purpose. In addition, my teaching partner who has my AM class in the PM and vice versa, does seem do to many of thse fun things and we must complement each other quite well.
My partner, Julieanne, and I have agreed to evaluate the students together. We will make observations nd comments and give a grade. But the grade goes nowhere. I have told the students that I will mark them on participation and cannot give a grade based upon English skill. they all come from different backgrounds and it would not be fair to measure them one agains the other. But since we have been told that the grade we give does not go into any school record, Julieanne and I will try to make meaningful comments.
Shelley seems to have more time to fill in on the fter school activities and I will leave her those honors.
Stay well and have fun. We leave China on Saturday but spend a week in Berkeley with our son, Jeff, to rest up a week before we get home to Jacksonville.
Forgot
To tell you about Friday night's dinner with Harry. I think he is a hidden treasure. We had asked him to take us to a nice Chinese restaurant and then to the mall where he and his friends go. We started out by walking through a part of campus that I had never seen.....past the track (where he "confessed" when I asked him, that he was very good at the 100 meter dash. He is built like Sammy so that didn't surprise me.); past the chinning bars, past the special dining room for students who don't eat pork etc. And then finally we came to a main street but not one that we had been on before.
He took us to a noisy and/but wonderful restaurant. First they brought a chair for my pocketbook and then they covered it so that no one would steal it. Then they brought us a tray of cold appetizers. I chose sweet fava beans which were delicious and we also ordered 2 COLD beers. The menu was in Chinese and English and it had pictures. We decided that tasting many foods was more important than finishing every thing we ordered. We settled on cold, boneless smoked fish, eggplant slices stuffed with meat then battered and deep fried, crisp duck skins (Burt thought he was orderind duck but when it came it was just the skin) which was served like moo shoo pork, a green vegetable sauteed in soy sauce, and beef with pancakes (the beef was almost too spice to eat but the pancakes were delicious [like IHOP silver dollar pancakes except that you cut them in half and filled them with the beef[). We left about half the food and we couldn't take it home because we don't have a refrigerator in our room. Burt like the eggplant so maybe we have a convert!!!!
I noticed that Harry ate very little while Burt and I were eating even tho' we kept encouraging him to eat and then when he thought we were finished he began to eat heartily. He is a very nice, considerate man!
After dinner which cost about $25 for the three of us we went to "Harry's mall" which turned out to be like a Wal Mart so we only stayed for a few minutes and then we walked back to our hotel.
It is amazing but no matter what time we are out, the streets are filled with people. The students sleep in dorms 4 to a room and they have no air conditioning and no hot water so I can understand why they stay out half the night...their rooms are just too hot. But I don't know why the rest of the populations stays out so late (including the babies).
For hot water, the students have to go to a community building and fill thermoses with boiling hot water which they then carry to their rooms and mix with cold water for bathing. Considering the primitiveness of this and the fact that I don't think many use deodorant (altho' I may be wrong about that) there is minimal body odor on close contact. Also, in the winter which is VERY COLD in Wuhan, their dorms arent' heated. To me it is amazing that they are able to study and I guess they don't sleep much at night because the dorm is so uncomfortable so it is accepted practice to sleep in class which is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer.
OH! I forgot...Harry is the first one in his family to go to college. His parents are farmers who live about two hours by bus from HUST and they now work in a factory and his sister who is a year younger than him dropped out of high school and she also works in the factory. None of his cousins have gone to college either. He is majoring and English and international trade as are many of the TAs and that's why there English is so good.
Cheers....Shelley
He took us to a noisy and/but wonderful restaurant. First they brought a chair for my pocketbook and then they covered it so that no one would steal it. Then they brought us a tray of cold appetizers. I chose sweet fava beans which were delicious and we also ordered 2 COLD beers. The menu was in Chinese and English and it had pictures. We decided that tasting many foods was more important than finishing every thing we ordered. We settled on cold, boneless smoked fish, eggplant slices stuffed with meat then battered and deep fried, crisp duck skins (Burt thought he was orderind duck but when it came it was just the skin) which was served like moo shoo pork, a green vegetable sauteed in soy sauce, and beef with pancakes (the beef was almost too spice to eat but the pancakes were delicious [like IHOP silver dollar pancakes except that you cut them in half and filled them with the beef[). We left about half the food and we couldn't take it home because we don't have a refrigerator in our room. Burt like the eggplant so maybe we have a convert!!!!
I noticed that Harry ate very little while Burt and I were eating even tho' we kept encouraging him to eat and then when he thought we were finished he began to eat heartily. He is a very nice, considerate man!
After dinner which cost about $25 for the three of us we went to "Harry's mall" which turned out to be like a Wal Mart so we only stayed for a few minutes and then we walked back to our hotel.
It is amazing but no matter what time we are out, the streets are filled with people. The students sleep in dorms 4 to a room and they have no air conditioning and no hot water so I can understand why they stay out half the night...their rooms are just too hot. But I don't know why the rest of the populations stays out so late (including the babies).
For hot water, the students have to go to a community building and fill thermoses with boiling hot water which they then carry to their rooms and mix with cold water for bathing. Considering the primitiveness of this and the fact that I don't think many use deodorant (altho' I may be wrong about that) there is minimal body odor on close contact. Also, in the winter which is VERY COLD in Wuhan, their dorms arent' heated. To me it is amazing that they are able to study and I guess they don't sleep much at night because the dorm is so uncomfortable so it is accepted practice to sleep in class which is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer.
OH! I forgot...Harry is the first one in his family to go to college. His parents are farmers who live about two hours by bus from HUST and they now work in a factory and his sister who is a year younger than him dropped out of high school and she also works in the factory. None of his cousins have gone to college either. He is majoring and English and international trade as are many of the TAs and that's why there English is so good.
Cheers....Shelley
The mornig after
Hi All:
It looks as if Burt has not yet posted info about our week-end yet so I will.
We left about 7:45 am Sat. morning and drove almost 5 hours until we stopped for lunch. The countryside is different from what we had seen so far around Wuhan. We completely travelled over highways and took lots of pictures of road signs because they are all funny as they "massacre" the English language. Hopefully we'll be able to read them when I blow them up on my computer screen.
After 4 hours of driving we stopped for lunch (Chinese of course!!) Then we drove another hour to Chexi which is a "manufactured" community like Sturbridge Village for the non-traditionalists which means the minority groups in China. We saw paper-making and pottery making and I experienced the first toilet that was like I expected all of China to be (dirty, only 1/2 walls and, of course, eastern). Again, I took a picture (No I wasn't going at the time nor was any one else!!). The tour guides tell interesting stories about when all the toilets were like this one (or worse) and people sang while they were using it so that others would know and not come in. They call it going to "sing a song" instead of going to the toilet. Now, although many toilets that I have used are eastern style, all are in private stalls and many are quite clean. Some have rolls of toilet paper in the common area but many have none so I'm glad I brought lots. The other interesting thing about toilets is that in at the dam yesterday they had what looked like port-a-potties but the ratio of men's (urinals only) to women's was about 4 to 1. I don't know why that is unless far fewer women travel than men.
In Chexi Burt tried everything (what a surprise!!). We saw a play about marriage where they asked for audience participation and Burt was one of two Americans who got up on stage. And then they had a waterwheel that you could turn with your feet and sure enough Burt tried it (I was really afraid he was going to slip and fall but he didn't!!)
After we visited Chexi we checked into our hotel which is a typical Chinese "Rube Goldberg". It was supposed to be 4 star and the rooms were two story suites with a large living area including a kitchenette and and a 1/2 bath on the first floor and then a spiral staircase leading to the sleeping area which had two king-size beds but only one light which was on the ceiling for the entire area (except the bathroom which did have light.) There was no light over one of the beds and a dressing table and mirror with no light. Also the bathroom had a clear door (shades of our master bathroom in Jax!!) so you could see the toilet area and some of the single travellers shared a room so I imagine they were a bit uncomfortable.
Yesterday we went to the 3 Gorges Dam. We had to go to 3 checkpoints and then individual security before we could get in (thank you 9/11!) And then we travelled on their internal buses (again, I'm sure for security reasons!) It is the most powerful dam in the world and is very impressive. Driving there we went through beautiful mountain areas. Unfortunately the only way to see the actual 3 Gorges is by boat and it is a 4 day journey so we weren't able to do it. It is built near Yichang because that part of the Yangtze River has the sturdiest rock. We watched a few very large barges go through. It takes 4 hours for the large boats to go through so they are building another dam for small boats which will only take 1/2 an hour. I think it will be completed in 2009.
At the very last place we visited I finally accomplishe my last "important" shopping mission. We had seen wonderful Chines jackets that you use on wine bottles as hostess gifts in Beijing for 10 yuan each but George who was our TFF representative said that we could find them in Wuhan so I didn't buy them. And until yesterday I had not been able to find them again. George, who is teaching at the medical school an hour from us was on the trip this week-end so I asked him where in Wuhan he found them. He said at the wholesale market which is an hour by cab from where we are staying and then you have to take a ferry and it is only open at night. I was psyching myself to go when I found the jackets at the dam. I bought all they had for 15 yuan each but at this point I wasn't going to quibble. So all of you who invite me to dinner in the next few years, please know that I will be bringing a bottle of wine in a chinese jacket!!
After the dam visit we went back to Yichang for lunch and then it was time for the LONG bus ride back to HUST. It took us 5 1/2 hours to get back because we had to drop off the people from the medical school first. My ankles never swell but they sure did on this bus ride as did most peoples'. We only made one 10 minute stop on the whole ride back and most of us were just plain restless and anxious to get back to the hotel by hour 3. When the HUST representative who was with us realized we were going to get back to so late (8:30), he offered to buy us dinner and we all refused!!! We just wanted to get back.
We got back around 8:30 pm as I said above, took showers, I ate pbj sandwiches, we both had juice and we went to bed.
I was planning to go to Burt's class this afternoon but I just got a text message from him saying that he forgot his lunch ticket so I will walk over to this class at about 11:15 and join him and Harry for lunch in the cafeteria and then I will go back at 2:30.
Guess that's if for now.
Love from us...Shelley
It looks as if Burt has not yet posted info about our week-end yet so I will.
We left about 7:45 am Sat. morning and drove almost 5 hours until we stopped for lunch. The countryside is different from what we had seen so far around Wuhan. We completely travelled over highways and took lots of pictures of road signs because they are all funny as they "massacre" the English language. Hopefully we'll be able to read them when I blow them up on my computer screen.
After 4 hours of driving we stopped for lunch (Chinese of course!!) Then we drove another hour to Chexi which is a "manufactured" community like Sturbridge Village for the non-traditionalists which means the minority groups in China. We saw paper-making and pottery making and I experienced the first toilet that was like I expected all of China to be (dirty, only 1/2 walls and, of course, eastern). Again, I took a picture (No I wasn't going at the time nor was any one else!!). The tour guides tell interesting stories about when all the toilets were like this one (or worse) and people sang while they were using it so that others would know and not come in. They call it going to "sing a song" instead of going to the toilet. Now, although many toilets that I have used are eastern style, all are in private stalls and many are quite clean. Some have rolls of toilet paper in the common area but many have none so I'm glad I brought lots. The other interesting thing about toilets is that in at the dam yesterday they had what looked like port-a-potties but the ratio of men's (urinals only) to women's was about 4 to 1. I don't know why that is unless far fewer women travel than men.
In Chexi Burt tried everything (what a surprise!!). We saw a play about marriage where they asked for audience participation and Burt was one of two Americans who got up on stage. And then they had a waterwheel that you could turn with your feet and sure enough Burt tried it (I was really afraid he was going to slip and fall but he didn't!!)
After we visited Chexi we checked into our hotel which is a typical Chinese "Rube Goldberg". It was supposed to be 4 star and the rooms were two story suites with a large living area including a kitchenette and and a 1/2 bath on the first floor and then a spiral staircase leading to the sleeping area which had two king-size beds but only one light which was on the ceiling for the entire area (except the bathroom which did have light.) There was no light over one of the beds and a dressing table and mirror with no light. Also the bathroom had a clear door (shades of our master bathroom in Jax!!) so you could see the toilet area and some of the single travellers shared a room so I imagine they were a bit uncomfortable.
Yesterday we went to the 3 Gorges Dam. We had to go to 3 checkpoints and then individual security before we could get in (thank you 9/11!) And then we travelled on their internal buses (again, I'm sure for security reasons!) It is the most powerful dam in the world and is very impressive. Driving there we went through beautiful mountain areas. Unfortunately the only way to see the actual 3 Gorges is by boat and it is a 4 day journey so we weren't able to do it. It is built near Yichang because that part of the Yangtze River has the sturdiest rock. We watched a few very large barges go through. It takes 4 hours for the large boats to go through so they are building another dam for small boats which will only take 1/2 an hour. I think it will be completed in 2009.
At the very last place we visited I finally accomplishe my last "important" shopping mission. We had seen wonderful Chines jackets that you use on wine bottles as hostess gifts in Beijing for 10 yuan each but George who was our TFF representative said that we could find them in Wuhan so I didn't buy them. And until yesterday I had not been able to find them again. George, who is teaching at the medical school an hour from us was on the trip this week-end so I asked him where in Wuhan he found them. He said at the wholesale market which is an hour by cab from where we are staying and then you have to take a ferry and it is only open at night. I was psyching myself to go when I found the jackets at the dam. I bought all they had for 15 yuan each but at this point I wasn't going to quibble. So all of you who invite me to dinner in the next few years, please know that I will be bringing a bottle of wine in a chinese jacket!!
After the dam visit we went back to Yichang for lunch and then it was time for the LONG bus ride back to HUST. It took us 5 1/2 hours to get back because we had to drop off the people from the medical school first. My ankles never swell but they sure did on this bus ride as did most peoples'. We only made one 10 minute stop on the whole ride back and most of us were just plain restless and anxious to get back to the hotel by hour 3. When the HUST representative who was with us realized we were going to get back to so late (8:30), he offered to buy us dinner and we all refused!!! We just wanted to get back.
We got back around 8:30 pm as I said above, took showers, I ate pbj sandwiches, we both had juice and we went to bed.
I was planning to go to Burt's class this afternoon but I just got a text message from him saying that he forgot his lunch ticket so I will walk over to this class at about 11:15 and join him and Harry for lunch in the cafeteria and then I will go back at 2:30.
Guess that's if for now.
Love from us...Shelley
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Some answers
Mitch, I am sorry to say that the Chinese students here in Wuhan do not speak Chinese. They do not understand good Chinese food like Moo Shu Pork or Lo Mein. But I have learned that Lo Mein is probably a corruption of Lamian just like Chow Mein is chowmian (something like chow- mee-en). They do say that the Chinese food as shown on the Chinese menu is very much like the food they eat here.
Rick, there are all kinds of cars in China. Many European brands, like BMW, Benz, Volkswagon. There are American cars here as well but not as many . In Shanghai and Beijing there are more because Buick has a joint venture and they are produced in either of the two cities, but I forgot which one. Toyota, Honda and Nisson also have joint ventures with Chinese companies. In addition, there are many Chinese car companies. In fact, all of the Chinese taxis are Chinese cars. By the way, we took a taxi ride for about 40 minutes and it cost about 10 yuan. that is about $1.40 US. Why buy a car?????
This morning I taught the class to play Casino. They taught me a game called LIE. It is something like Liars Dice but played with cards. When I visit with you, I will teach you how it is lied. Of course, since you are a Judge, you cannot win because you cannot lie.
We went through the NY cards that were sent to me by my OCS roommates niece in Massapequa, LI. They were well received and want to thank the students so I am witting this in the blog for all to know how much they were appreciated.
Today, just at the end of the break, my class will meet with abuot 10 other classes and each of us will present a college fight song. As I told you, our song is Anchors Aweigh. It may not sound like the fight songs you know but if you remember that the song is the Navy song. We can speak softly but carry a big stick. We will perform under a huge statue of Confucius (sp?).
Told them about Mah Jong and Shelley walked into the classroom. I knew I was in trouble and would be cought when I made a mistake so I switched to cards.
Robyn, you wanted $1 per year of your age allowance! I'll give you one Yuan every year. Just think about it. In 21 years, if I am still alive, you'll have gotten 21 yuan or about $3. Fair enough?
Time to go so I'll see you later. Tonight we are taking my TA, Harry, out for dinner so I may not get a chance to write another blog for a day or so. Love to all.
Rick, there are all kinds of cars in China. Many European brands, like BMW, Benz, Volkswagon. There are American cars here as well but not as many . In Shanghai and Beijing there are more because Buick has a joint venture and they are produced in either of the two cities, but I forgot which one. Toyota, Honda and Nisson also have joint ventures with Chinese companies. In addition, there are many Chinese car companies. In fact, all of the Chinese taxis are Chinese cars. By the way, we took a taxi ride for about 40 minutes and it cost about 10 yuan. that is about $1.40 US. Why buy a car?????
This morning I taught the class to play Casino. They taught me a game called LIE. It is something like Liars Dice but played with cards. When I visit with you, I will teach you how it is lied. Of course, since you are a Judge, you cannot win because you cannot lie.
We went through the NY cards that were sent to me by my OCS roommates niece in Massapequa, LI. They were well received and want to thank the students so I am witting this in the blog for all to know how much they were appreciated.
Today, just at the end of the break, my class will meet with abuot 10 other classes and each of us will present a college fight song. As I told you, our song is Anchors Aweigh. It may not sound like the fight songs you know but if you remember that the song is the Navy song. We can speak softly but carry a big stick. We will perform under a huge statue of Confucius (sp?).
Told them about Mah Jong and Shelley walked into the classroom. I knew I was in trouble and would be cought when I made a mistake so I switched to cards.
Robyn, you wanted $1 per year of your age allowance! I'll give you one Yuan every year. Just think about it. In 21 years, if I am still alive, you'll have gotten 21 yuan or about $3. Fair enough?
Time to go so I'll see you later. Tonight we are taking my TA, Harry, out for dinner so I may not get a chance to write another blog for a day or so. Love to all.
Teaching
So as Burt told you I am not sitting in on someone else's class instead I am having my very own teaching experience. One of the women is sick so I volunteered to take her afternoon class. I've been having a wonderful time.
First I told them about my red circles, then I had each of them tell me who they were, what they were studying and where they were from. Then I borrowed an idea from Burt. I broke them into 3 groups of 6 and asked them to come up with the 5 most important news items in China in 2008. After about 20 minute I had each group come to the front of the room and discuss their topics. One person from each group wrote their 5 items on the board and each one talked about one issue.
They came up with 15 different topics and before I knew it an hour and 3/4's had passed. Right now they are on break. After break I will have them sing their two favorite songs and then i'm going to have them break into groups again and have each group come up with 4 questions to ask me about America.
Friday morning:
Just realized I didn't complete this post yesterday. And I just tried to complete it and I lost everything I had typed so I'll try again!
The questions about America went really well. They asked things like "what was my happiest experience" what was my fondest childhood memory" "how much were salaries in America". This exercise took up the rest of the afternoon.
This morning I am being very leisurely and I'm going to wander over to Burt's class in a little while. This afternoon Burt's class is participating in a singing competition so I'll go back to class for that then I'm going to come back to the hotel to relax because Harry, Burt's TA is taking us to a local restaurant for dinner (we'll pay) and then to the mall where he and his friends hang out.
Tomorrow morning we leave for an overnight trip to the Three Gorges. We'll be back about 6:30 pm on Sunday.
Take good care all.....Shelley
First I told them about my red circles, then I had each of them tell me who they were, what they were studying and where they were from. Then I borrowed an idea from Burt. I broke them into 3 groups of 6 and asked them to come up with the 5 most important news items in China in 2008. After about 20 minute I had each group come to the front of the room and discuss their topics. One person from each group wrote their 5 items on the board and each one talked about one issue.
They came up with 15 different topics and before I knew it an hour and 3/4's had passed. Right now they are on break. After break I will have them sing their two favorite songs and then i'm going to have them break into groups again and have each group come up with 4 questions to ask me about America.
Friday morning:
Just realized I didn't complete this post yesterday. And I just tried to complete it and I lost everything I had typed so I'll try again!
The questions about America went really well. They asked things like "what was my happiest experience" what was my fondest childhood memory" "how much were salaries in America". This exercise took up the rest of the afternoon.
This morning I am being very leisurely and I'm going to wander over to Burt's class in a little while. This afternoon Burt's class is participating in a singing competition so I'll go back to class for that then I'm going to come back to the hotel to relax because Harry, Burt's TA is taking us to a local restaurant for dinner (we'll pay) and then to the mall where he and his friends hang out.
Tomorrow morning we leave for an overnight trip to the Three Gorges. We'll be back about 6:30 pm on Sunday.
Take good care all.....Shelley
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
AAAGH!!!
Shelley just came into my room to tell me that she will teach a class this PM as a substitute. And I did freak out. She has circles all over her shoulders and back. They are about two inches in diameter and bright red. And do they look ugly. They better go away or she is in real trouble !!!! You are all too young to remember a taiten bankus (Yiddish SP?) which was putting heated glasses on your body to sck out the poison, an old, long forgotten European custom. When the glasses cooled off, they created a suction. I guess that the custom started with leeches. Now you know why I said "AAAGH!"
Thursday again
(Sorry - Both yesterday and today, I hit the enter button after typing in the title. That sent my blog before I typed any message. In the subject area, this one, you can type Enter all you want and all you get is a new line.)
Here I sit waiting for my next class to start. I think that I will be embarrassed. My teaching partner, who has my AM class in the PM, has challenged me to a sing-off. We each agreed to choose a college fight song and see who does better. She chose the Arizona U song and I picked Anchors Aweigh, the Navy song. Her PM class, (my AM class) practices every day and, as our rooms are across the hall from one another, I hear her students really yelling. My PM class, (her AM class) is about 50% female and is very quiet. I hope that they really let loose this PM, especially when they end the singning part and yell, "BEAT ARMY!!" We'll see, and I have been fooled by Chinese students before. Their ompetitive nature could surprise me.
I handed out the Alaskan pins Sandy Burd sent to me for the students. There were several kinds: the Alaskan flag, the state of Alaska, the state flower touch-me-not, a moose and a walrus.
The students loved them nd immediately started to trade one nother so that each student would get theone he wanted.
I worked with the menus that I brought from home. I have about 50 of the, of all types of restaurants. I did this yesterday PM and it was successful with the other clss, so why not redo it.
I also broke the class into goups of 4 and 5 students and asked them to decide, as a group, the 5 most important news items in China in 2008. There were pretty consistant answers that included: the earthquake, Olympics, snow storm and flood at the spring festival, Tibet, Taiwan,
gas shortage, grain shortage, US economy and the Yuan appreciation. The first four were on everyones top five, perhaps in different order, with the others spotty in the top five. It was interesting and led to fine discussion abuot newspapers, TV other media. I'll repeat the exercise this PM.
I have given some of your IDs (from those who hve given me specific permission to do so) and told the students that they MUST put Hello from Wuhan in the subject line or risk the recipients deleting before reading.
Love you all.
Here I sit waiting for my next class to start. I think that I will be embarrassed. My teaching partner, who has my AM class in the PM, has challenged me to a sing-off. We each agreed to choose a college fight song and see who does better. She chose the Arizona U song and I picked Anchors Aweigh, the Navy song. Her PM class, (my AM class) practices every day and, as our rooms are across the hall from one another, I hear her students really yelling. My PM class, (her AM class) is about 50% female and is very quiet. I hope that they really let loose this PM, especially when they end the singning part and yell, "BEAT ARMY!!" We'll see, and I have been fooled by Chinese students before. Their ompetitive nature could surprise me.
I handed out the Alaskan pins Sandy Burd sent to me for the students. There were several kinds: the Alaskan flag, the state of Alaska, the state flower touch-me-not, a moose and a walrus.
The students loved them nd immediately started to trade one nother so that each student would get theone he wanted.
I worked with the menus that I brought from home. I have about 50 of the, of all types of restaurants. I did this yesterday PM and it was successful with the other clss, so why not redo it.
I also broke the class into goups of 4 and 5 students and asked them to decide, as a group, the 5 most important news items in China in 2008. There were pretty consistant answers that included: the earthquake, Olympics, snow storm and flood at the spring festival, Tibet, Taiwan,
gas shortage, grain shortage, US economy and the Yuan appreciation. The first four were on everyones top five, perhaps in different order, with the others spotty in the top five. It was interesting and led to fine discussion abuot newspapers, TV other media. I'll repeat the exercise this PM.
I have given some of your IDs (from those who hve given me specific permission to do so) and told the students that they MUST put Hello from Wuhan in the subject line or risk the recipients deleting before reading.
Love you all.
Acupuncture and "bloodletting"
I just had the most unbelievable experience. My friend Hugo did come at exactly 8:50 to take me for acupuncture. Her father had an errand to run right near the hospital so she had him pick us up in his brand new car. I misunderstood her because I thought both her parents spoke English since they are in international trade but in actuality only her mother speaks English. So we get into the car with him and I introduced myself and he drove us to the hospital where I told him "shay shay" (thank you).
A friend of Hugo's mother met us at the hospital and we bypassed all the red tape and went right to the acupuncture clinic where they understood arthritis but not fibromyalgia so finally I just told them that I wanted them to treat my neck and my shoulder. The doctor wrote a prescription but put in Hugo's name rather than mine. We waited about 1/2 an hour during which time Hugo's mother's friends daughter who is also a university student who speaks English quite well joined us.
While we were waiting and talking I smelled fire. I looked around and saw them heating what look like inverted glasses and puttiing them on a woman's back.
When my turn came they put the acupuncture needles in my shouders, arms, and hands and left them for 1/2 an hour. Then they said they were going to give me the full Chinese experience and so they put the "hot cups" on my upper back and upper arms. They felt like suction cups and they began to burn so they took them off. The purpose of them is to draw the blood to the surface and suck the toxins out of your body. (Reminds me of the days of leaching!!)
I think both treatments worked because my right upper arm does not hurt anymore and my neck feels more relaxed. HOWEVER, the cups leave round red circles on your skin and one cup sucked so hard that I actually bled and they put what looked like mercurochrome (SP?) on it.
I can shower but I can't press on the circles or put soap on them until they go away. I took a picture of me which I'll send to all of you when I get back to FL. I think when Burt first sees me he's going to freak but it's really okay.
You all have to admit I am truly having the full Chinese experience!!!
This afternoon I am going to sit in on someone else's class. I'm looking forward to it particularly because it is the class of a 29 year old woman who teaches English at the high school level in the States and she got the highest rating of everybody on the student evaluation sheets.
Guess that's it for now.
Love to all.......Shelley
A friend of Hugo's mother met us at the hospital and we bypassed all the red tape and went right to the acupuncture clinic where they understood arthritis but not fibromyalgia so finally I just told them that I wanted them to treat my neck and my shoulder. The doctor wrote a prescription but put in Hugo's name rather than mine. We waited about 1/2 an hour during which time Hugo's mother's friends daughter who is also a university student who speaks English quite well joined us.
While we were waiting and talking I smelled fire. I looked around and saw them heating what look like inverted glasses and puttiing them on a woman's back.
When my turn came they put the acupuncture needles in my shouders, arms, and hands and left them for 1/2 an hour. Then they said they were going to give me the full Chinese experience and so they put the "hot cups" on my upper back and upper arms. They felt like suction cups and they began to burn so they took them off. The purpose of them is to draw the blood to the surface and suck the toxins out of your body. (Reminds me of the days of leaching!!)
I think both treatments worked because my right upper arm does not hurt anymore and my neck feels more relaxed. HOWEVER, the cups leave round red circles on your skin and one cup sucked so hard that I actually bled and they put what looked like mercurochrome (SP?) on it.
I can shower but I can't press on the circles or put soap on them until they go away. I took a picture of me which I'll send to all of you when I get back to FL. I think when Burt first sees me he's going to freak but it's really okay.
You all have to admit I am truly having the full Chinese experience!!!
This afternoon I am going to sit in on someone else's class. I'm looking forward to it particularly because it is the class of a 29 year old woman who teaches English at the high school level in the States and she got the highest rating of everybody on the student evaluation sheets.
Guess that's it for now.
Love to all.......Shelley
Tragedy and goodies
So I put my new tweezers (.$25) in my pocketbook the other day because the light in our room is so bad that I can't see to tweeze anything. Today I was at school and I realized that the mirrors there have good light so I went back to the classroom to get my tweezers.....they are gone!!!! I took everything out of my bag 3 times and they are definitely not there and I told you in a previous blog that I can't find the place where I bought them!!!! However, I haven't looked carefully at either the local open air market or the local supermarket to see if they carry them and if there as cheap so that's my project for next week. And yes, Marion, if I find them I will buy some for you too!!
The "goodies" is a new present for me. Another one of Burt's students made me a ring out of a 10 yuan bill so now I have 2 new rings and Uncle Moe will really live on in China since this young man does an excellent job of making the rings!
The "goodies" is a new present for me. Another one of Burt's students made me a ring out of a 10 yuan bill so now I have 2 new rings and Uncle Moe will really live on in China since this young man does an excellent job of making the rings!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday lunch (second try)
Yesterday PM was quite exciting. During our PM break, two of my students rushed in and told me that Daniel, one of my morning students was writhing in pain on the floor in the hall. I rushed out and there he was suffering terribly. Someone wentto get the "school bus" to take him to the hospital but I did not understnd how that would happen or how long. (I have since learned that there is a emergency number in China like our 911, it is 120) . Perhaps they meant ambulance but didn't know the word. I had Daniel picked up on a chair by 4 students and we walked him onto the street. We stopped the first car that came along asked the driver to take Dan to the hospital for students. Of course he agreed. So Dan and 3 friends got in the car, (Dan was carried and still in great pain,) and off they went. Two other students were very worried and asked me to take their bikes to the hospital too. They said that they "wanted to be with their classmate." Dan stayed in the hospital overnight and is back in the dorm today but resting up and didn't come to class.
Last night was English Corner, an informal place for teachers and students to meet and talk English. When I got there at about 6:45 there were about 30 students and I was the only teacher. The program is scheduled from 7 to 9. So I held court and talked with them for about 20 minutes. By then there were about 100 students and 1 teachers. I sid that I had talked enough and tried to turn the program to those who knew what was really supposed to happen. But as I said, "Someone else take over" I felt a tap on the shoulder and a Chinese young man told me to sit down because he was going to lead a debate. I was somewhat confused and embarrassed because I thought that the English Corner was for teacher and student. Nonetheless, I sat down. the Debate leader stared to divide the students in half to begin the debate. Then, one of my fellow teachers stood up and said that he came here to talk to Chinese students and he did not want to stay for the debate. I thought he was a bit too direct but agreed with him. He said he would find another room and invited any student who wanted informal English discussion to join him. About 5 of the 10 or so students stood up, quite tentitively, and walked out behind him. All of the rest of us teachers looked at one another and stood up too. When we got up, all but 7 students got up and walked out. Clearly, they were not interested in the debate but wanted to talk to the teachers. In the new large classroom, each teacher sat in a different part of the room and 7-10 students surrounded him or her and discussions began. It was envigorating. As opposed to class time, when many students are shy and quiet, these students all came to talk. They had to throw us all out at 9:10. I was asked many questions about IBM, colleges, even sensitive issues like why the Olympic torch parade was interrrupted in San Francisco.
Today's class was not my best TEACHING effort. I did most of the talking, when I should give them more practice in speaking, but what I did is what the class really wanted, discussion of American culture. I explained our Educational system, Baseball, teenage social life and problems, (While I did my best, I can assure you I am not their best reference point. However, since Tracy and Robyn are still teenagers in my mind, I am entitled to speak on the subject. )
This PM I have to get the students more involved because in the PM they are a bit less active. So I will hand out menus and talk about food.
I have been reading all of your comments and enjoy them immensely. I have given the following IDs to the students, Mitch, Jeff, Robyn, Phyllis, Ben, Deb, Sam, Shelley and me. Anyone else??
Love to all.
Last night was English Corner, an informal place for teachers and students to meet and talk English. When I got there at about 6:45 there were about 30 students and I was the only teacher. The program is scheduled from 7 to 9. So I held court and talked with them for about 20 minutes. By then there were about 100 students and 1 teachers. I sid that I had talked enough and tried to turn the program to those who knew what was really supposed to happen. But as I said, "Someone else take over" I felt a tap on the shoulder and a Chinese young man told me to sit down because he was going to lead a debate. I was somewhat confused and embarrassed because I thought that the English Corner was for teacher and student. Nonetheless, I sat down. the Debate leader stared to divide the students in half to begin the debate. Then, one of my fellow teachers stood up and said that he came here to talk to Chinese students and he did not want to stay for the debate. I thought he was a bit too direct but agreed with him. He said he would find another room and invited any student who wanted informal English discussion to join him. About 5 of the 10 or so students stood up, quite tentitively, and walked out behind him. All of the rest of us teachers looked at one another and stood up too. When we got up, all but 7 students got up and walked out. Clearly, they were not interested in the debate but wanted to talk to the teachers. In the new large classroom, each teacher sat in a different part of the room and 7-10 students surrounded him or her and discussions began. It was envigorating. As opposed to class time, when many students are shy and quiet, these students all came to talk. They had to throw us all out at 9:10. I was asked many questions about IBM, colleges, even sensitive issues like why the Olympic torch parade was interrrupted in San Francisco.
Today's class was not my best TEACHING effort. I did most of the talking, when I should give them more practice in speaking, but what I did is what the class really wanted, discussion of American culture. I explained our Educational system, Baseball, teenage social life and problems, (While I did my best, I can assure you I am not their best reference point. However, since Tracy and Robyn are still teenagers in my mind, I am entitled to speak on the subject. )
This PM I have to get the students more involved because in the PM they are a bit less active. So I will hand out menus and talk about food.
I have been reading all of your comments and enjoy them immensely. I have given the following IDs to the students, Mitch, Jeff, Robyn, Phyllis, Ben, Deb, Sam, Shelley and me. Anyone else??
Love to all.
Heartwarming
As I was getting dressed this morning， I realized that I forgot to tell you all about the wonderful present I received from one of Burt's students.
"Rita" wrote Burt the following note:
"Dear Burt"
I'm so appreciated join in this class. I learnt a lot of knowledge as well as enjoyed the interesting games. It is awfully funny isn't it.
I had a nice time with you and other friends last week. Thank you very much for accepting me. By the way, I really feel your wife is a charming lady who has dreaming eyes. I like her very much. This flower rings give her as a present, this made by silk stocking. I think it's very special. Though it's very small but stand for my true heart. I hope she may like it.
You are really a good teacher as well as a good friend. You possess high sense of responsibility and common touch. It's my great honor to have such a good teacher.
Thanks again.
Yours truly,
Rita"
Needless to say I was very touched by the gift which is a lovely ring that I am now wearing every day.
Another one of Burt's students gave him a present after he made them all $1 rings. And he said "In China is reciprocity."
We're finding that the Chinese as a culture are very sweet, shy, and modest.
I've decided that Ｉhave the best deal of everyone here. I go to class when I want and I can go out and explore the community as much as I want. Many of the women teachers, in particular, are "complaining" that they didn't realize how much work this would be and they are exhausted.
So exhausted, in fact, that they are skipping the overnight trip to the Three Gorges this week-end which I think is a shame cuz most will probably never be back to China again and it is a famous sight. The main reason they are not going is cuz it is a 5 hour bus ride each way which I agree is a lot of time on a bus for a week-end but I'm looking at it as an opportunity to see the countryside.
Talk to you all later.
Cheers....Shelley
"Rita" wrote Burt the following note:
"Dear Burt"
I'm so appreciated join in this class. I learnt a lot of knowledge as well as enjoyed the interesting games. It is awfully funny isn't it.
I had a nice time with you and other friends last week. Thank you very much for accepting me. By the way, I really feel your wife is a charming lady who has dreaming eyes. I like her very much. This flower rings give her as a present, this made by silk stocking. I think it's very special. Though it's very small but stand for my true heart. I hope she may like it.
You are really a good teacher as well as a good friend. You possess high sense of responsibility and common touch. It's my great honor to have such a good teacher.
Thanks again.
Yours truly,
Rita"
Needless to say I was very touched by the gift which is a lovely ring that I am now wearing every day.
Another one of Burt's students gave him a present after he made them all $1 rings. And he said "In China is reciprocity."
We're finding that the Chinese as a culture are very sweet, shy, and modest.
I've decided that Ｉhave the best deal of everyone here. I go to class when I want and I can go out and explore the community as much as I want. Many of the women teachers, in particular, are "complaining" that they didn't realize how much work this would be and they are exhausted.
So exhausted, in fact, that they are skipping the overnight trip to the Three Gorges this week-end which I think is a shame cuz most will probably never be back to China again and it is a famous sight. The main reason they are not going is cuz it is a 5 hour bus ride each way which I agree is a lot of time on a bus for a week-end but I'm looking at it as an opportunity to see the countryside.
Talk to you all later.
Cheers....Shelley
Exchanging the dress
Was not at all successful. There are 3 dress stores in the open market and each one said I bought it at the other one!!!! And, of course, I didn't remember which one I bought it at and they don't give receipts in these places so......I moved the waist decoration to the spot that was missing the flower and Rachel will still have a cute dress.
Almost had a very embarrasing moment at lunch and I'm still a little concerned. Hugo, the woman who tried to help me return the dress today was going to meet me in the lobby of the hotel after morning classes and she and I were going to have lunch and then go to the market. When I got to the lobby she was talking with her teacher and I heard the woman invite her to lunch which is very unusual because usually her teacher just lets her sit in the lobby of our hotel for 3 hours. I thought "OOPS! this is awkward". So I stepped forward and said I had invited her to lunch but that she was welcome to join us. She refused and Hugo and I had lunch and went to the market. I just hope she doesn't get into trouble because right now she is going to "skip class" on Thursday morning and take me for acupuncture. She says it's okay cuz her teacher just leaves her sitting in the back of the room for 3 hours and she is so bored that she falls asleep. We'll see if she can really come......will report on Thursday.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
Cheers...Shelley
Almost had a very embarrasing moment at lunch and I'm still a little concerned. Hugo, the woman who tried to help me return the dress today was going to meet me in the lobby of the hotel after morning classes and she and I were going to have lunch and then go to the market. When I got to the lobby she was talking with her teacher and I heard the woman invite her to lunch which is very unusual because usually her teacher just lets her sit in the lobby of our hotel for 3 hours. I thought "OOPS! this is awkward". So I stepped forward and said I had invited her to lunch but that she was welcome to join us. She refused and Hugo and I had lunch and went to the market. I just hope she doesn't get into trouble because right now she is going to "skip class" on Thursday morning and take me for acupuncture. She says it's okay cuz her teacher just leaves her sitting in the back of the room for 3 hours and she is so bored that she falls asleep. We'll see if she can really come......will report on Thursday.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
Cheers...Shelley
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tuesday lunch
This time it is me. Shelley also uses this Blog and she gets a chance to say things about my class before I do. But don't worry! I'll repeat it. Today, instead of lunch, I was going to try to buy some software, very cheap, (if you know what I mean!). But two things prevented me from breaking the law. One: the place that sells the "stuff" was too far away for me to go and still be sure to get back for my next class. And two: since Wuhan is not tourist city, all of the application software tht I might have been able to buy for $2 has Chinese usage. I am sure that if I could find such a salesplace in Shanghai, I could get exactly what I wanted in English. Ah well! It is good to be honest!!
In today's class, I gave out many Sunday ad sections from the Jacksonville newspaper. I told each student that they had $3000 to spend. Each student had about 5 sections from the Mother's day and Father's day papers and had 5 minutes to pick what they would buy, write it down and add up the prices. Then, we switched ads so that they each had different ads for another 5 minutes. We switched 4 times. Then we discussed what each student bought.
The most purchased item was camera, then a computer. Surprisingly, 4 bought tents to be used on hikes. Only 3 spent all their money. One student bought a 2900 computer and then spent another 5000 that he didn't have. The lowest spender only spent 1200 which included a bsketfall system and a computer. Two students bought presents for their mothers and, this is most important, one bought a big present for his father. He is now my favorit student!!!!
Our articulation lesson reolved around the letters V and W, Not bad with the W but V is very hard. Chinese students have the most difficulty with letters involving the lower lip, like with a V or an F. It is a question of practice and I see lots of improvement in the short time that I am here.
We are still trying to have the students sing "Take me out to the ballgame" but there are many girls in my class. And they are very shy and quiet. Even with my hearing aids, it is sometimes extremely difficult the hear what they say and even more difficult because the pronuciation is garbled. Remember that while they read quite well and understand, they have had little practice in speaking so they often say the right words with the wrong accent and that becomes indecipherable. As an example, I was talking to a friend about food and he asked if I liked a "het pet" Only because we did eat a "HOT POT" in Beijing was I able to correct him and answer the question.
We finished our discussion of American holidays but still have difficulty getting the students to provide simple answers to the questions: What is the holiday about and why it is significant to America and what are its traditions. The good students do too much work and bring in 5 to 10 pages printed directly from Google. They want to read them all and give me every possible detail. I hate to stop them because they worked hard but I have to move long and hope that I do not insult them.
Today is another scorcher. One of the other teachers was sitting near me at lunch and he looked like someone spilled water all over him.
We are still waiting for word on what the University has planned for this coming weekend. It will probably be an overnight trip but we don't know to where. Most of us are hoping it is to the Three Gorges Dam.
Tonight I will go to the informal meeting at the "English Corner" just to continue to chat with Chinese students in English.
Catch you all later. It is great to see your comments. Love from Shelley and me, Burt
In today's class, I gave out many Sunday ad sections from the Jacksonville newspaper. I told each student that they had $3000 to spend. Each student had about 5 sections from the Mother's day and Father's day papers and had 5 minutes to pick what they would buy, write it down and add up the prices. Then, we switched ads so that they each had different ads for another 5 minutes. We switched 4 times. Then we discussed what each student bought.
The most purchased item was camera, then a computer. Surprisingly, 4 bought tents to be used on hikes. Only 3 spent all their money. One student bought a 2900 computer and then spent another 5000 that he didn't have. The lowest spender only spent 1200 which included a bsketfall system and a computer. Two students bought presents for their mothers and, this is most important, one bought a big present for his father. He is now my favorit student!!!!
Our articulation lesson reolved around the letters V and W, Not bad with the W but V is very hard. Chinese students have the most difficulty with letters involving the lower lip, like with a V or an F. It is a question of practice and I see lots of improvement in the short time that I am here.
We are still trying to have the students sing "Take me out to the ballgame" but there are many girls in my class. And they are very shy and quiet. Even with my hearing aids, it is sometimes extremely difficult the hear what they say and even more difficult because the pronuciation is garbled. Remember that while they read quite well and understand, they have had little practice in speaking so they often say the right words with the wrong accent and that becomes indecipherable. As an example, I was talking to a friend about food and he asked if I liked a "het pet" Only because we did eat a "HOT POT" in Beijing was I able to correct him and answer the question.
We finished our discussion of American holidays but still have difficulty getting the students to provide simple answers to the questions: What is the holiday about and why it is significant to America and what are its traditions. The good students do too much work and bring in 5 to 10 pages printed directly from Google. They want to read them all and give me every possible detail. I hate to stop them because they worked hard but I have to move long and hope that I do not insult them.
Today is another scorcher. One of the other teachers was sitting near me at lunch and he looked like someone spilled water all over him.
We are still waiting for word on what the University has planned for this coming weekend. It will probably be an overnight trip but we don't know to where. Most of us are hoping it is to the Three Gorges Dam.
Tonight I will go to the informal meeting at the "English Corner" just to continue to chat with Chinese students in English.
Catch you all later. It is great to see your comments. Love from Shelley and me, Burt
Another Day Another Dollar!
So in yesterday's afternoon class and today's morning class I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for all the students plus me, Burt, and Harry, Burt's TA. Burt told them all that if they didn't like them they didn't have to eat them because, after all, we don't like all Chinese food. BUT everybody loved them. I also told the class that when Jeff and Robyn were in school I hated making lunches so I always gave them money to buy lunch so I had just made more sandwiches for them than I ever made all the years Jeff and Robyn were in school. They immediately "got it" cuz they turned around to me and said "Then your children will be jealous of us!"
Also yesterday afternoon and this morning Burt gave out Ben's, Deb's, Sam's and Robyn's e-mail addresses and told them that all of you would like to hear from them. He told the students to put "From Wuhan" in the subject line so that no one would think that their e-mails were spam.
He's happy to give out the e-mail address of anyone who wants to write but so far the above 4 are the only ones who have asked.
Today I'm taking Hugo, a girl, to lunch and then she is walking with me to the open air market because I have to return a defective dress that I bought for Rachel and altho' Ｉam having fun going out on my own, I think doing this alone is beyond my skills!
Will let you know later if I am successful.
Cheers.....Shelley
Also yesterday afternoon and this morning Burt gave out Ben's, Deb's, Sam's and Robyn's e-mail addresses and told them that all of you would like to hear from them. He told the students to put "From Wuhan" in the subject line so that no one would think that their e-mails were spam.
He's happy to give out the e-mail address of anyone who wants to write but so far the above 4 are the only ones who have asked.
Today I'm taking Hugo, a girl, to lunch and then she is walking with me to the open air market because I have to return a defective dress that I bought for Rachel and altho' Ｉam having fun going out on my own, I think doing this alone is beyond my skills!
Will let you know later if I am successful.
Cheers.....Shelley
Sunday, July 13, 2008
it is Monday
Today is the hottest yet. I walked 5 minutes from my classroom to the restaurant and I was a sopping wet dishrag whnd I got there. My TA, Harry, and I went to a higher class dining room than the large crowed and noisy Student dining hall. This one was for students too but it seemed that most of the students were of the older variety. The meals were a bit better and a bit more expensive. I had a fixed price meal of three dishes and rice. I only ate about half because it was too much and too spicy. It cost me a fortune compared to the 1.9 Yuan meal at the crowded dining hall. This on was a whopping 7 Yuan ($1). Of course, when I finished with the ice cream and the soda, and bought Harry lunch, my total US cost was less than $3. I spent the first 15 minutes standing in front of the air conditioner and basked in the cold wind. But now that I have returned to my classroom, I am sitting in a puddle again.
I forgot to tell you that we visited the Hubei (the province that Wuhan is in) Museum. THe whole Museum, which was fantasically beautiful and very new, is filled with material recovered from the tomb of an ancient ruler. His tomb, due to natural reasons, was not ransacked by grave robbers and when it was accidently discovered by the military preparing a road, yielded over 50,000 objects including a complete set of bells which have been played only 3 times since restoration. Naturally, we bought a small replica bell for the house.
Today's lesson is made up of several parts. Articulation is always first. Second, the students suggested topics for discussion. I then asked for volunteers on each topic but limited the group to 5. The topics were, sports, music, movies, TV, superstition, food. I kept several students out of those groups and worked directly with them myself. Before this week is over, I will work with every student in a small group. Lastly, we discussed the weekend homework assignment: US and Chinese Holidays. Unfortunately, I am still learning what these students will do if not controlled. The three students assigned New Year's Eve and Day brought in 8 single spaced hand written pages and started to read them all. They tell every date associated with the holiday, like when it was first celebrated, when it was declared a Natl holiday, when the Parade of Roses was first run, etc. You must get the idea. I hope that I have learned to tell the PM class that all I want is a general outline of the significance of the holiday. That is hard because they do so much work but as it was, I only got through the fourth of July and have the rest of the year and the chinese holidays to go. We will have to finish up tomorrow.
Since America is "apple pie and baseball", I am going to teach both classes "Take me out to the ballpark". For this PM class, I am also teaching them "Anchors Aweigh" My teaching partner, who gets my AM class in the PM as I get her AM class in the PM, is going to teach her class the Arizona U fight song. We will then have a "fight song" competition later in the week. If you do not think that Anchors Aweigh is a fight song, think again, especially after hearing my class end the song with "BEAT ARMY!
Finally, this PM we are making Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches for all. Shelley told you about it but omitted that the student who wanted the PBJ also wanted BLT. These students are amazing. They only need confidence and practice speaking. They know all the words and many tenses.
More about that later. Now it is rest time. Love to all, Burt
I forgot to tell you that we visited the Hubei (the province that Wuhan is in) Museum. THe whole Museum, which was fantasically beautiful and very new, is filled with material recovered from the tomb of an ancient ruler. His tomb, due to natural reasons, was not ransacked by grave robbers and when it was accidently discovered by the military preparing a road, yielded over 50,000 objects including a complete set of bells which have been played only 3 times since restoration. Naturally, we bought a small replica bell for the house.
Today's lesson is made up of several parts. Articulation is always first. Second, the students suggested topics for discussion. I then asked for volunteers on each topic but limited the group to 5. The topics were, sports, music, movies, TV, superstition, food. I kept several students out of those groups and worked directly with them myself. Before this week is over, I will work with every student in a small group. Lastly, we discussed the weekend homework assignment: US and Chinese Holidays. Unfortunately, I am still learning what these students will do if not controlled. The three students assigned New Year's Eve and Day brought in 8 single spaced hand written pages and started to read them all. They tell every date associated with the holiday, like when it was first celebrated, when it was declared a Natl holiday, when the Parade of Roses was first run, etc. You must get the idea. I hope that I have learned to tell the PM class that all I want is a general outline of the significance of the holiday. That is hard because they do so much work but as it was, I only got through the fourth of July and have the rest of the year and the chinese holidays to go. We will have to finish up tomorrow.
Since America is "apple pie and baseball", I am going to teach both classes "Take me out to the ballpark". For this PM class, I am also teaching them "Anchors Aweigh" My teaching partner, who gets my AM class in the PM as I get her AM class in the PM, is going to teach her class the Arizona U fight song. We will then have a "fight song" competition later in the week. If you do not think that Anchors Aweigh is a fight song, think again, especially after hearing my class end the song with "BEAT ARMY!
Finally, this PM we are making Peanut Butter and jelly sandwiches for all. Shelley told you about it but omitted that the student who wanted the PBJ also wanted BLT. These students are amazing. They only need confidence and practice speaking. They know all the words and many tenses.
More about that later. Now it is rest time. Love to all, Burt
Amswers to questions
Hi again:
I just read the newest comments after I posted my first blog today so here are some answers:
Avivia, I, too, hope Burt doesn't get used to ice cream for the equivalent of $.06. I think I put in e-mail to some of you that on our way over here I bought 2 Hagen Daz "hoodsies" in the airport in Beijing and they cost 84 yuan (about $12!!!!!) so imagine my shock and frustration when I found out that the local ice cream was so cheap!!
Marion, I intend to buy more tweezers and scissors if I can find them. Unfortunately I have no idea where I walked last Thursday and right now it is much too hot to walk that far again. We were really lucky the first two weeks we were in China cuz the weather was beautiful and comfortable but now it is the "furnace" they promised us. I'm hoping I can find some in the local open air market. I didn't have time to walk all the way through it today cuz I wanted to get a facial (tough life!).
Elise, surprisingly there is very little about the Olympics here and almost no souvenirs. All over China, however, they are building and cleaning up in anticipation of the many visitors they expect. Shanghai and Beijing were loaded with souvenirs escpecially hats and T-shirts for $1 which were very poor quality and good quality ones for $1.50!!
I started buying in Shanghai when we first arrived and I'm very glad I did because I haven't seen duplicates of anything that I bought anywhere else except for the $1 items. And actually right now I'm very frustrated because we saw wonderful Chinese "jackets" to put on wine bottles instead of putting them in a decorative bag when you bring wine to friends and they were a $1 in Biejing and I decided to wait until we got to HUST instead of schlepping them and the only place I've seen them since we left Beijing was in a museum and they were $5 each and museums won't negotiate so needless to say I didn't buy them. I think HUST is taking us to the Three Gorges this wek-end which is an overnight trip (again at their expense) and I think that's a real tourist spot so I'm hoping to find them there.
Tracy, I read Dillons "blog" and tears came to my eyes. Please remind her that Pops and I have a "date" to take her to Caribou when we get to Chicago!!!!
Time to shower and then eat lunch.
I "bumped into" Hugo, the TA I'm inviting to my room this afternoon out on the street this morning. She was walking back to her dorm to change her dress cuz she spilled coffee on it so I have already invited her to come to my room after lunch and I'm looking forward to it.
Last thing.....Burt went to class this morning with our only room key in his pocket. (We keep the other one in the "electric switch" all the time so that our air conditioning will not turn off.) I texted him and asked him to have Harry, his TA, bring it back to me so our turning on our phones has paid off many times over and isn't it wonderful to have someone to run errands for you!
Love again.....Shelley
I just read the newest comments after I posted my first blog today so here are some answers:
Avivia, I, too, hope Burt doesn't get used to ice cream for the equivalent of $.06. I think I put in e-mail to some of you that on our way over here I bought 2 Hagen Daz "hoodsies" in the airport in Beijing and they cost 84 yuan (about $12!!!!!) so imagine my shock and frustration when I found out that the local ice cream was so cheap!!
Marion, I intend to buy more tweezers and scissors if I can find them. Unfortunately I have no idea where I walked last Thursday and right now it is much too hot to walk that far again. We were really lucky the first two weeks we were in China cuz the weather was beautiful and comfortable but now it is the "furnace" they promised us. I'm hoping I can find some in the local open air market. I didn't have time to walk all the way through it today cuz I wanted to get a facial (tough life!).
Elise, surprisingly there is very little about the Olympics here and almost no souvenirs. All over China, however, they are building and cleaning up in anticipation of the many visitors they expect. Shanghai and Beijing were loaded with souvenirs escpecially hats and T-shirts for $1 which were very poor quality and good quality ones for $1.50!!
I started buying in Shanghai when we first arrived and I'm very glad I did because I haven't seen duplicates of anything that I bought anywhere else except for the $1 items. And actually right now I'm very frustrated because we saw wonderful Chinese "jackets" to put on wine bottles instead of putting them in a decorative bag when you bring wine to friends and they were a $1 in Biejing and I decided to wait until we got to HUST instead of schlepping them and the only place I've seen them since we left Beijing was in a museum and they were $5 each and museums won't negotiate so needless to say I didn't buy them. I think HUST is taking us to the Three Gorges this wek-end which is an overnight trip (again at their expense) and I think that's a real tourist spot so I'm hoping to find them there.
Tracy, I read Dillons "blog" and tears came to my eyes. Please remind her that Pops and I have a "date" to take her to Caribou when we get to Chicago!!!!
Time to shower and then eat lunch.
I "bumped into" Hugo, the TA I'm inviting to my room this afternoon out on the street this morning. She was walking back to her dorm to change her dress cuz she spilled coffee on it so I have already invited her to come to my room after lunch and I'm looking forward to it.
Last thing.....Burt went to class this morning with our only room key in his pocket. (We keep the other one in the "electric switch" all the time so that our air conditioning will not turn off.) I texted him and asked him to have Harry, his TA, bring it back to me so our turning on our phones has paid off many times over and isn't it wonderful to have someone to run errands for you!
Love again.....Shelley
Monday morning
Hi again all!
I just came back from a walk to the open air market. I discovered that the prices there are as inexpensive aa the little back streets I walked with Loretta on Thursday.
Things are so inexpensive that is really hard to stop buying. I decided that even tho' I brought an umbrella from Jax I wanted a "sun umbrella" which is made like our car sunscreens. Material on the outside and reflective "stuff" on the inside. Last night we stopped at a store about 100 feet from our hotel. They wanted 100 yuan (about $16) for a very fancy one and 60 yuan (about $9) for a plain one and they wouldn't negotiate. Today at the open market I bought a very pretty blue plain one for 20 yuan (about $2.50)!!!!
I've also bought bathing suits for my 6 youngest grandchildren for about $1.50 each. Just hope I guessed all the sizes! Haven't seen any small enough for Joey and sorry Ben, Deb, and Sam but I have no idea what size you are plus I don't think you'd wear the styles here!!!
After my shopping "spree" I went for another facial. I typically get my eyebrows waxed every two weeks and I wondered if they did it here. I haven't found anyplace that does but today during my facial, she took the smallest razor I have ever seen and gently shaved the excess growth. My eyebrows look terrific and I'm curious to see how they grow in?!
I'm giving up on manicures cux even tho' it was only $1.50 it wasn't very good. And/but since I'm basically being a "princess" while we're here my nails look terrific anyway.
Yesterday Burt and I bought a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jam, rolls, juice, cups and napkins and this afternoon I am going to class and we're going to make peanut butter an d jelly sandwiches for everyone and then we'll do the same thing in tomorrow morning's class. I also expect to sit in on Burt's partner's class this afternoon. They share 50 students and I'm curious to see how differently (if at all) they learn and respond in another class.
Also yesterday we bumped into Burt's partner's TA and she was with one of his students so we have a budding romance going on!!
I've decided that I'm actually having a better learning experience than any of the teachers because I'm going out on my own and all the time and making friends (such as where I get my facials) with the locals.
We've decided that we don't really want to bring any yuans back to the States because there is a big penalty for exchanging them for dollars so if we have a lot left next week I'm going to see if I can get back to the museum we visited this past Sat and ship home a fantastice enamel plate and stand. It was about $300 American and we hadn't yet thought through how hard it would be to spend the equivalent of $800 (which is Burt's stipend) or 6000 yuan so we actually me Burt would have bought it on the spot) decided not to buy it when we were there and now I regret it so we'll see......
I'll let you know if the peanut butter and jelly is a success or....... We got the idea because one of the students put on his "what do you want out of this experience" questionnaire that he wanted to experience peanut butter and jelly and sloppy joes!
Love to all....Shelley
I just came back from a walk to the open air market. I discovered that the prices there are as inexpensive aa the little back streets I walked with Loretta on Thursday.
Things are so inexpensive that is really hard to stop buying. I decided that even tho' I brought an umbrella from Jax I wanted a "sun umbrella" which is made like our car sunscreens. Material on the outside and reflective "stuff" on the inside. Last night we stopped at a store about 100 feet from our hotel. They wanted 100 yuan (about $16) for a very fancy one and 60 yuan (about $9) for a plain one and they wouldn't negotiate. Today at the open market I bought a very pretty blue plain one for 20 yuan (about $2.50)!!!!
I've also bought bathing suits for my 6 youngest grandchildren for about $1.50 each. Just hope I guessed all the sizes! Haven't seen any small enough for Joey and sorry Ben, Deb, and Sam but I have no idea what size you are plus I don't think you'd wear the styles here!!!
After my shopping "spree" I went for another facial. I typically get my eyebrows waxed every two weeks and I wondered if they did it here. I haven't found anyplace that does but today during my facial, she took the smallest razor I have ever seen and gently shaved the excess growth. My eyebrows look terrific and I'm curious to see how they grow in?!
I'm giving up on manicures cux even tho' it was only $1.50 it wasn't very good. And/but since I'm basically being a "princess" while we're here my nails look terrific anyway.
Yesterday Burt and I bought a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jam, rolls, juice, cups and napkins and this afternoon I am going to class and we're going to make peanut butter an d jelly sandwiches for everyone and then we'll do the same thing in tomorrow morning's class. I also expect to sit in on Burt's partner's class this afternoon. They share 50 students and I'm curious to see how differently (if at all) they learn and respond in another class.
Also yesterday we bumped into Burt's partner's TA and she was with one of his students so we have a budding romance going on!!
I've decided that I'm actually having a better learning experience than any of the teachers because I'm going out on my own and all the time and making friends (such as where I get my facials) with the locals.
We've decided that we don't really want to bring any yuans back to the States because there is a big penalty for exchanging them for dollars so if we have a lot left next week I'm going to see if I can get back to the museum we visited this past Sat and ship home a fantastice enamel plate and stand. It was about $300 American and we hadn't yet thought through how hard it would be to spend the equivalent of $800 (which is Burt's stipend) or 6000 yuan so we actually me Burt would have bought it on the spot) decided not to buy it when we were there and now I regret it so we'll see......
I'll let you know if the peanut butter and jelly is a success or....... We got the idea because one of the students put on his "what do you want out of this experience" questionnaire that he wanted to experience peanut butter and jelly and sloppy joes!
Love to all....Shelley
Sunday afternoon
Hi Again:
In spite of Burt thinking we were going to cab all the way today,we actually took a jitney to the main street and then we walked to a large shopping mall in 90+ degree weather and 90+ humidity so once again if you touch me, you'll stick to me!
We had a fabulous lunch at a restaurant called the BullFighter. It looks like it's a franchise with venues all over China as near as we could tell.
We had the fixed price dinner for 2 188 rmb (about $28). We started with a salad bar, then we had 2 different kinds of soup (seafood chowder and beef vegetable), and a delicious appetizer of mushrooms in escargot sauce then we had triple entree.....a small tenderloin steak as good as Morton's, sole with a Japanese sauce and a stuffed crab. Burt also had ice cream and coffee and I paid 22 extra yuan ($2.50) for the BEST mango smoothie I've ever had. Lots of soft mangoe ice cream and whatever else they put in a smoothie. Needless to say Burt had 1/2 my smoothie which I shared willingly cuz it was huge. We're definitely going back to the restaurant again only this time I will get only steak.
We also saw a Japanese restaurant in the same area which looked good so we'll try it also.
Then we shopped for a change but this time it was all for Burt. I had seen men's shoes for about $10 each in some small shops across the street from the mall but as we were walking through a dept. store after lunch/dinner we spotted men's shoes on sale for about $20 each. Burt bought a pair of sandals and a pair of loafers and it's a good thing he did cuz we walked about a mile after that and I couldn't find the small shops I had been in on Thursday.
I am really shopped out except for a few small items but we still are going to have 3,000 more yuans to spend next week so we'll see..... We can hopefully cash them in once we get back in the States but for a big penalty.
We also brought one of the watches to be repaired. And as I struggled to explain what I needed, a young woman came up to me and offered to help. She took us to a watch repair place and they replaced the battery. Unfortunately an hour later the watch stopped again. What do I want for about $5/watch!!!
It's really fun going out without a TA to translate for us. Anyone who speaks any English at all when they hear us struggling offers to help.
And then Friday I met a lovely young woman in the lobby of our hotel. She is the TA to a woman who is not very gracious and it is too hot in her dorm for her to go back between classes so she just sits in our lobby for the 3 hours between class. Starting on Monday I'm going to have her come up to our room to relax. She gave me her cell phone number in case I needed any assistance. And today when the cabdriver cou ldn't understand the card we gave him to get us back to the hotel I called "Hugo" and she gave him directions and back we came!!!
Talk to you all again soon.
Love from us
In spite of Burt thinking we were going to cab all the way today,we actually took a jitney to the main street and then we walked to a large shopping mall in 90+ degree weather and 90+ humidity so once again if you touch me, you'll stick to me!
We had a fabulous lunch at a restaurant called the BullFighter. It looks like it's a franchise with venues all over China as near as we could tell.
We had the fixed price dinner for 2 188 rmb (about $28). We started with a salad bar, then we had 2 different kinds of soup (seafood chowder and beef vegetable), and a delicious appetizer of mushrooms in escargot sauce then we had triple entree.....a small tenderloin steak as good as Morton's, sole with a Japanese sauce and a stuffed crab. Burt also had ice cream and coffee and I paid 22 extra yuan ($2.50) for the BEST mango smoothie I've ever had. Lots of soft mangoe ice cream and whatever else they put in a smoothie. Needless to say Burt had 1/2 my smoothie which I shared willingly cuz it was huge. We're definitely going back to the restaurant again only this time I will get only steak.
We also saw a Japanese restaurant in the same area which looked good so we'll try it also.
Then we shopped for a change but this time it was all for Burt. I had seen men's shoes for about $10 each in some small shops across the street from the mall but as we were walking through a dept. store after lunch/dinner we spotted men's shoes on sale for about $20 each. Burt bought a pair of sandals and a pair of loafers and it's a good thing he did cuz we walked about a mile after that and I couldn't find the small shops I had been in on Thursday.
I am really shopped out except for a few small items but we still are going to have 3,000 more yuans to spend next week so we'll see..... We can hopefully cash them in once we get back in the States but for a big penalty.
We also brought one of the watches to be repaired. And as I struggled to explain what I needed, a young woman came up to me and offered to help. She took us to a watch repair place and they replaced the battery. Unfortunately an hour later the watch stopped again. What do I want for about $5/watch!!!
It's really fun going out without a TA to translate for us. Anyone who speaks any English at all when they hear us struggling offers to help.
And then Friday I met a lovely young woman in the lobby of our hotel. She is the TA to a woman who is not very gracious and it is too hot in her dorm for her to go back between classes so she just sits in our lobby for the 3 hours between class. Starting on Monday I'm going to have her come up to our room to relax. She gave me her cell phone number in case I needed any assistance. And today when the cabdriver cou ldn't understand the card we gave him to get us back to the hotel I called "Hugo" and she gave him directions and back we came!!!
Talk to you all again soon.
Love from us
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sunday morning
Hi all from Shelley:
First of all....Happy Birthday Sam. Can't believe you're 15 already.
As Burt said we went to the night market on Friday night. Once is definitely enough! It was unbelievably crowded and most of the merchandise was exactly the same as what I saw when I walked with Loretta on Thursday only it was more expensive. Interestingly enough there are very few knock-offs in Wuhan. Mostly just pocket books which don't interest me.
After we left Shanghai (which was loaded with knock-offs) I remembered that I need two baby girl gifts. I had seen really cute Polo little dresses so I kept looking for them here. No can find. However, I did find two cute little outfits so I bought them at the night market. It's hard to buy clothes for infants here cuz instead of putting snaps on the legs, they cut and bind a large hole in the crotch area. Most babies go around "bare-assed" most of the time and every 1/2 hour to hours their parents try to persuade them to pee or poop. They start this at 3 months and most Chinese children are toilet-trained by one year to eighteen months. I've been trying to capture a good picture but so far no luck.
Needless to say I didn't buy crotchless gifts but rather I got two cute outfits in about size 2 for next year.
Yesterday was amazing.....we toured from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm and then we went on a dinner cruise on the Yangtze River. All of this was at no expense to us except $2 for drinks. The University is amazingly generous and still I've heard some people complain!!!
Today we have no plans and that feels good. I think we may take a jitney to a very active part of Wuhan because I saw beautiful leather men's shoes for $10 but I don't know if they make them wide enough for Burt's foot.
And then Monday it's back to class. As I think I said earlier I am sitting in one class per day. And yesterday I asked Burt's teaching partner if I could sit in on her class cuz it's the same students in a different environment and I'm curious to see how the students behave/learn with a different teacher.
That's it for now.
Love to all...Shelley
s
First of all....Happy Birthday Sam. Can't believe you're 15 already.
As Burt said we went to the night market on Friday night. Once is definitely enough! It was unbelievably crowded and most of the merchandise was exactly the same as what I saw when I walked with Loretta on Thursday only it was more expensive. Interestingly enough there are very few knock-offs in Wuhan. Mostly just pocket books which don't interest me.
After we left Shanghai (which was loaded with knock-offs) I remembered that I need two baby girl gifts. I had seen really cute Polo little dresses so I kept looking for them here. No can find. However, I did find two cute little outfits so I bought them at the night market. It's hard to buy clothes for infants here cuz instead of putting snaps on the legs, they cut and bind a large hole in the crotch area. Most babies go around "bare-assed" most of the time and every 1/2 hour to hours their parents try to persuade them to pee or poop. They start this at 3 months and most Chinese children are toilet-trained by one year to eighteen months. I've been trying to capture a good picture but so far no luck.
Needless to say I didn't buy crotchless gifts but rather I got two cute outfits in about size 2 for next year.
Yesterday was amazing.....we toured from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm and then we went on a dinner cruise on the Yangtze River. All of this was at no expense to us except $2 for drinks. The University is amazingly generous and still I've heard some people complain!!!
Today we have no plans and that feels good. I think we may take a jitney to a very active part of Wuhan because I saw beautiful leather men's shoes for $10 but I don't know if they make them wide enough for Burt's foot.
And then Monday it's back to class. As I think I said earlier I am sitting in one class per day. And yesterday I asked Burt's teaching partner if I could sit in on her class cuz it's the same students in a different environment and I'm curious to see how the students behave/learn with a different teacher.
That's it for now.
Love to all...Shelley
s
Sunday morning
Delighted to see that Elise added a comment. And I also have a twinge of pride that I can leave a little bit of Uncle Moe in China. I think of him often when I stop to speak to any young person or child that I can. I don't have all his Origami tricks but I do keep them all entertained with tales about America. If I am not understood by my words, I use my meager acting talent to tell them what I mean. That works well and they are doubly entertained by my contortions.
Yesterday, Shelley and I spent the whole day on a tour provided as a courtesy for all teachers in our group by the University, HUST. We started at about 8:30 in the morning and returned after 10 PM. First we drove around Wuhan and our guide, who spoke excellent English, entertained us with lots of funny stories and facts. There was a second busload but I think that we were lucky to chose the one we were on because I cannot believe that the other guide was as knowedgeable or as much fun. We stopped at a major attraction in Wuhan, the Yellow Crane Temple. It is Taoist and apparently very important in China. From what I can understand, the big difference between Taoism and Buddism is that Taoism does not believe in an afterlife while Buddism does. The Yellow Crane Temple is very old in concept but the current structure is quite modern, built within the last 20 or 30 years. It was originally built hundreds of years ago in the Soong Dynast as a 2 tier Temple. After it was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty with 3 tiers. Each Dynsty seems to have rebuilt the Temple because it was destroyed by eith natural disaster or during a war. It was completely destroyed by fire and was not rebuilt for 100 years, in about 1958 (? It may have been much later but I am guessing). Now it is 5 tiers and is beautiful. We were told that there are about 3 million visitors a year, probably mostly all are Chinese because Wuhan is not tourist city. We had a very delicious lunch and went on to a very old Buddist Temple. Interestingly, many Buddist Temples were destroyed by students during the Cultural Revolution, but this one was saved by the direct intervention of Cho En Lai. Finally, we were taken to a Pier on the Yangtse River for a dinner cruise for a couple of hours until about 9, getting back to the hotel after ten. Wuhan is a very large city with about 8.5 million people, but it is the largest city in China when talking about physical size.
We have seen no squallor or poverty anywhere in China and certainly none here in Wuhan. Of course, we have seen only major cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Wuhan, and I suspect that the countryside more refects what many people think of when they think of China. But everything is changing so fast for them. It is a standard joke for the tour guides to say, "I don't know that building, it was not here last month" And that is not far from the truth. So if the cities are changing rapidly for the better, I suspect that there are significant changes in the countryside. Even China makes a clear distinction between cities and countryside. For example, we all know of the 1 child policy in China, but I did not know that there was a change in the last couple of years to allow those people in the countryside to have 2 children. Additionally, while 90% of Chinese population are Han, the other 10% is broken into 58 different minority groups. Based upon the total population, that 10% is a sizable number. And all of those minority groups are exempted from the 1 child policy (though I do not know if the 2 child restriction applies.
In all, yesterday was an exhausting day, but terrific. Shelley and I slept like babies and are ready to go again today. We were going to take a very long walk to one of the major shopping areas, but it is very hot today. Wuhan is known as the furnace of China and is living up to its reputation. So, we will take a cab, for about $5 an hour, and spend our energy AT the stores instead of GOING TO them.
Love you all. If any of you talk to anyone else in the family or friends, tell them I think of all of them everyday and especially when I write this blog. Ask them to let me know how they are and tell them that I hope that they are following our adventures by reading this blog. I know its wordy but once I start, I want to share our fun with you all. Love from Shelley and me.
Yesterday, Shelley and I spent the whole day on a tour provided as a courtesy for all teachers in our group by the University, HUST. We started at about 8:30 in the morning and returned after 10 PM. First we drove around Wuhan and our guide, who spoke excellent English, entertained us with lots of funny stories and facts. There was a second busload but I think that we were lucky to chose the one we were on because I cannot believe that the other guide was as knowedgeable or as much fun. We stopped at a major attraction in Wuhan, the Yellow Crane Temple. It is Taoist and apparently very important in China. From what I can understand, the big difference between Taoism and Buddism is that Taoism does not believe in an afterlife while Buddism does. The Yellow Crane Temple is very old in concept but the current structure is quite modern, built within the last 20 or 30 years. It was originally built hundreds of years ago in the Soong Dynast as a 2 tier Temple. After it was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty with 3 tiers. Each Dynsty seems to have rebuilt the Temple because it was destroyed by eith natural disaster or during a war. It was completely destroyed by fire and was not rebuilt for 100 years, in about 1958 (? It may have been much later but I am guessing). Now it is 5 tiers and is beautiful. We were told that there are about 3 million visitors a year, probably mostly all are Chinese because Wuhan is not tourist city. We had a very delicious lunch and went on to a very old Buddist Temple. Interestingly, many Buddist Temples were destroyed by students during the Cultural Revolution, but this one was saved by the direct intervention of Cho En Lai. Finally, we were taken to a Pier on the Yangtse River for a dinner cruise for a couple of hours until about 9, getting back to the hotel after ten. Wuhan is a very large city with about 8.5 million people, but it is the largest city in China when talking about physical size.
We have seen no squallor or poverty anywhere in China and certainly none here in Wuhan. Of course, we have seen only major cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Wuhan, and I suspect that the countryside more refects what many people think of when they think of China. But everything is changing so fast for them. It is a standard joke for the tour guides to say, "I don't know that building, it was not here last month" And that is not far from the truth. So if the cities are changing rapidly for the better, I suspect that there are significant changes in the countryside. Even China makes a clear distinction between cities and countryside. For example, we all know of the 1 child policy in China, but I did not know that there was a change in the last couple of years to allow those people in the countryside to have 2 children. Additionally, while 90% of Chinese population are Han, the other 10% is broken into 58 different minority groups. Based upon the total population, that 10% is a sizable number. And all of those minority groups are exempted from the 1 child policy (though I do not know if the 2 child restriction applies.
In all, yesterday was an exhausting day, but terrific. Shelley and I slept like babies and are ready to go again today. We were going to take a very long walk to one of the major shopping areas, but it is very hot today. Wuhan is known as the furnace of China and is living up to its reputation. So, we will take a cab, for about $5 an hour, and spend our energy AT the stores instead of GOING TO them.
Love you all. If any of you talk to anyone else in the family or friends, tell them I think of all of them everyday and especially when I write this blog. Ask them to let me know how they are and tell them that I hope that they are following our adventures by reading this blog. I know its wordy but once I start, I want to share our fun with you all. Love from Shelley and me.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Friday in HUST
Hi, HUST is the name of the school, Huaguang University of Science and Technology. Huaguan is proounced (who ah jong to ryme with mah jong). My class starts in one half hour. I am late with my blog because I played Ping Pong. Of course I won every match. This old man still has the magic!!!! It is like a bicycle. Once you learn you never forget. Of course the peopele I played were not the Olympic stars, but a win is a win.
Todays class was very interesting. I had given each student a post card that some of you readers sent to me. The students researched the information about the picture on the front and after discussing among themselves in rotating groups of five, they reported to the whole class. Thanks to all of you for helping me have such an interesting class.
As my gift to each student, I gave each one a brand new dollar bill and led them through the ring making process. It was a real hit.
Special note to Robyn: Of course I know what a pressie is. I am disappointed to think that you thought I might not know. It is just my American nationlism that refuses to understand and acknowledge those people that insist on destroying our sacred language. So I ain't gonna accept no more gibberish.
Ooops, here come the students for my afternoon class. Shelley is out shopping (again) but did spend the whole morning with me. Tonight we should be going to the flea market to look around but not buy (ha ha) (sure).
TGIF (I taught that to the students today) Tomorrow the school is giving a whole day tour for the teachers including an evening dinner cruise on the Yangtse River. I don't know what we are doing Sunday but I may not get a chance to blog agan until Monday. So all have a healthy and happy weekend. Love from Shelley nd me to all.
Todays class was very interesting. I had given each student a post card that some of you readers sent to me. The students researched the information about the picture on the front and after discussing among themselves in rotating groups of five, they reported to the whole class. Thanks to all of you for helping me have such an interesting class.
As my gift to each student, I gave each one a brand new dollar bill and led them through the ring making process. It was a real hit.
Special note to Robyn: Of course I know what a pressie is. I am disappointed to think that you thought I might not know. It is just my American nationlism that refuses to understand and acknowledge those people that insist on destroying our sacred language. So I ain't gonna accept no more gibberish.
Ooops, here come the students for my afternoon class. Shelley is out shopping (again) but did spend the whole morning with me. Tonight we should be going to the flea market to look around but not buy (ha ha) (sure).
TGIF (I taught that to the students today) Tomorrow the school is giving a whole day tour for the teachers including an evening dinner cruise on the Yangtse River. I don't know what we are doing Sunday but I may not get a chance to blog agan until Monday. So all have a healthy and happy weekend. Love from Shelley nd me to all.
Friday morning
What a wonderful day I had yesterday. Another non-teacher, Lorretta, and I walked for 5+ hours. We walked to the back of the campus and then off the campus through alley-like streets where the local residents live. It rained a good deal of the time which made walking very comfortable. There were small local shops along the way. I bought wonderful manicure scissors for $.25 and good tweezers for $.15. I regret not buying a dozen of each so Burt and I are going to try to find the area on Sunday and I will buy more.
We came out of the local area further away from the campus than the Ramada Hotel which we took a cab to on Wed. night. Again we stopped in local stores and I bought really cute, comfortable shoes for $3. At these prices I feel badly bartering so I'm pretty much paying what they ask. The shoe stores also had really good looking men's loafers for about $10 each so again Burt and I will go back on Sunday and see if Chinese shoes fit him.
Then loretta and I got brave and went in to a local restaurant for lunch. By accident we chose a really good place. The dishes and utensils were shrink-wrapped so we knew they were clean. Now the toilet was another story....
We found one man who spoke enough English to help us order. We had beef with what looked like aspargus ends, wonderful egg and tomato soup (one order would feed about 10 people), cabbage, rice and beer for a total for $4 each. I had the man write the Chinese for the food in my pocket diary so that if we're alone we can order it again by showing them the words.
The food in the hotel is tolerable but it's convenient and cheap so we eat there most nights.
After lunch we walked to where the jitneys take you back to campus for one yuan ($.066).
All in all a wonderful day.
Tonight we're going to the night market. Tomorrow during the day we're touring and then tomorrow night there is a cruise on the Yangtze River.
Cheers.....Shelley
We came out of the local area further away from the campus than the Ramada Hotel which we took a cab to on Wed. night. Again we stopped in local stores and I bought really cute, comfortable shoes for $3. At these prices I feel badly bartering so I'm pretty much paying what they ask. The shoe stores also had really good looking men's loafers for about $10 each so again Burt and I will go back on Sunday and see if Chinese shoes fit him.
Then loretta and I got brave and went in to a local restaurant for lunch. By accident we chose a really good place. The dishes and utensils were shrink-wrapped so we knew they were clean. Now the toilet was another story....
We found one man who spoke enough English to help us order. We had beef with what looked like aspargus ends, wonderful egg and tomato soup (one order would feed about 10 people), cabbage, rice and beer for a total for $4 each. I had the man write the Chinese for the food in my pocket diary so that if we're alone we can order it again by showing them the words.
The food in the hotel is tolerable but it's convenient and cheap so we eat there most nights.
After lunch we walked to where the jitneys take you back to campus for one yuan ($.066).
All in all a wonderful day.
Tonight we're going to the night market. Tomorrow during the day we're touring and then tomorrow night there is a cruise on the Yangtze River.
Cheers.....Shelley
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Just a small comment about the bloggers out there
Mitch, at least I have the decency to put in the translation and pronunciation when I add foreign words. And I guess that I had better add some comments about our tour before I forget that we were in China. Maybe tomorrow I will try to tackle that assignment.
Robyn, YOU TOO! TRANSLATION please. Pressies! If I can't understand it, you don't get it!!!
Before you know it you will be saying LOO and Elly or lift. COME HOME!!!
Tracy, my new blogger! I already asked about Kraft, and have seen plenty of Oreos but noone ever heard of Kraft. Maybe they are knockoffs!
Love to you all and reporting that Shelley and I are in great spirits and in good health. Love again.
Robyn, YOU TOO! TRANSLATION please. Pressies! If I can't understand it, you don't get it!!!
Before you know it you will be saying LOO and Elly or lift. COME HOME!!!
Tracy, my new blogger! I already asked about Kraft, and have seen plenty of Oreos but noone ever heard of Kraft. Maybe they are knockoffs!
Love to you all and reporting that Shelley and I are in great spirits and in good health. Love again.
here again on Thursday
Just finished lunch on campus. A big bowl of rice with beef and vegetables, two bottles of water, an ice cream and I am out almost 5 Yuan, about $.85. Last night, though, I spent much more that I had suggested I'd spend. We took a 15 minute taxi ride with another couple from our hotel to the 5-star Ramada Inn. The ride cost about $1.20 each way. The Ramada Inn was truly 5-star. A beautiful building in a very busy area with magnificent eating facilities. We asked to eat Western food as they had several restaurants in the hotel. We must have been there early because we were the only ones in a top-of-the-line large dining room. There were people there when we left at 9:15. We had a pizza for appetizer, two drinks (alcohol) each, Shelley had a wonderful cheeseburger with fries, I had a prime sirloin with fries and veggies, bread butter and water and the other couple had about the same. Total cost to me was about $50.00 so it wasn't like the cost at the school. But it was a wonderful treat after three weeks of Chinese (albeit good) food. We will probably go out at least once a week to relieve ourselves of the tedium of having to choose from a Chinese food buffet table of 40 items each meal.
Mitch, you wanted to learn a few Chinese words. Well, this morning I would have said Ni Hao (knee how) (hello) to everybody and then asked Ni Hao Ma (Knee how ma{with a rising tone or the second tone} meaning How are ou?) I'll explain the four tones some other time.
Today's class was very interesting. After only three days I have learned that the students are much more advanced than I had been led to believe they would be. And I have the most elementary of the group. I have discovered that they all can read very well, write very well and do research very well. It is their speaking and pronunciation that is below their desired level. In their self-evaluation forms, they all said that they wanted to learn how to speak english better so that they could converse with all foreigners and learn about the American culture. So today, I made a new rule. They no longer could do their homework research and read their reports to me or the class. If I let them, I will get total google printouts about the subject that they read. If I flash words on the screen from the computer output, they pronounce them well after I give them the correct pronunciation but they can read them. So now they must listen to me, hear the word and pronounce it back. it makes a big difference.
We played Simon Says! as a short diversion and after another language exercise, sang This Old Man. We broke into groups to do some small group work that was outlined in their textbooks. Most of the other teachers say that they don't like the book but use some of it so that the student can feel justified in making the expense for it. However, I did like the book exercise and will continue to choose more. It gets the students talking and that is what it is all about.
Some of the students would be very happy and excited if they could start an e-mail correspondence with an American. I have told them about Ben, Deb and Sam and will give out their e-mail IDs but I cannot promise that they will be used. But if they do, I will ask them to put Hello from Wuhan in the subject so that you will know that you can look at it. If anyone else wants to invite a Chinese student (finished with the first year) to begin communications, let me know. I have about 30 male students and 20 females.
The secnd class of the same material starts shortly, so Goodbye for now. Love to all.
Mitch, you wanted to learn a few Chinese words. Well, this morning I would have said Ni Hao (knee how) (hello) to everybody and then asked Ni Hao Ma (Knee how ma{with a rising tone or the second tone} meaning How are ou?) I'll explain the four tones some other time.
Today's class was very interesting. After only three days I have learned that the students are much more advanced than I had been led to believe they would be. And I have the most elementary of the group. I have discovered that they all can read very well, write very well and do research very well. It is their speaking and pronunciation that is below their desired level. In their self-evaluation forms, they all said that they wanted to learn how to speak english better so that they could converse with all foreigners and learn about the American culture. So today, I made a new rule. They no longer could do their homework research and read their reports to me or the class. If I let them, I will get total google printouts about the subject that they read. If I flash words on the screen from the computer output, they pronounce them well after I give them the correct pronunciation but they can read them. So now they must listen to me, hear the word and pronounce it back. it makes a big difference.
We played Simon Says! as a short diversion and after another language exercise, sang This Old Man. We broke into groups to do some small group work that was outlined in their textbooks. Most of the other teachers say that they don't like the book but use some of it so that the student can feel justified in making the expense for it. However, I did like the book exercise and will continue to choose more. It gets the students talking and that is what it is all about.
Some of the students would be very happy and excited if they could start an e-mail correspondence with an American. I have told them about Ben, Deb and Sam and will give out their e-mail IDs but I cannot promise that they will be used. But if they do, I will ask them to put Hello from Wuhan in the subject so that you will know that you can look at it. If anyone else wants to invite a Chinese student (finished with the first year) to begin communications, let me know. I have about 30 male students and 20 females.
The secnd class of the same material starts shortly, so Goodbye for now. Love to all.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
From Shelley
Hi All. Burt and I decided that we can use the same blog. I spent a leisurely morning reading and on the internet (It's a tough life!!) And now I'm in the classroom with Burt. I plan to attend one class each day, alternating mornings and afternoons. I really enjoy the class but two of the same material in one day is a little much when you're not teaching. I enjoy helping Burt when the class is divided into groups but I'm still glad I didn't take the responsibility of a full class cuz I'm not sure I would have the stamina to do 6 hours/day. It's a lot of hours to fill.
It is wonderful experiencing Burt as a teacher because he has such a wealth of knowledge about the US and US history. And since I majored in math specifically to avoid history both in high school and college I don't have the same information.
Also, Kagen/Leyser family we must NEVER let Burt get away with sloppy writing again. I couldn't believe my eyes when he printed absolutely clearly on the board. It was truly amazing.
I'll keep blogging periodically but I'm not going to give up sending periodic e-mails also cuz I think that many of our friends are not into blogging.
It is wonderful experiencing Burt as a teacher because he has such a wealth of knowledge about the US and US history. And since I majored in math specifically to avoid history both in high school and college I don't have the same information.
Also, Kagen/Leyser family we must NEVER let Burt get away with sloppy writing again. I couldn't believe my eyes when he printed absolutely clearly on the board. It was truly amazing.
I'll keep blogging periodically but I'm not going to give up sending periodic e-mails also cuz I think that many of our friends are not into blogging.
Wednesday noon
It is between classes again and I have about another hour and a half before the next one starts. Let me explain. my first class starts at 8:30 and goes to 11:40. There should be a twenty minute break in the middle but none of the students get up. They do not want to take the rest so I keep right on. The second class begins at 2:30 and ends at 5:40. The same thing is true for the afternoon break. I have designed the programs so they are both the same. I was afraid that it would get boring doing the same stuff all over again but because the students are all different and their reactions are different, I am often led down a different path. But I try to get back to the lesson so that I finish the same material for both.
The rule of the class is that no Chinese is spoken inside the four walls of the room. However, I do take the privilege of the teacher to say, AN JING (pronounces ahn jin) and it means Be Quiet.The students all laugh when I say it just as my old Russian students laughed when I said, TEE KHA which also means Quiet. (or at least I hope so in both languages. Who knows? With my pronunciation, it could mean something else.) I then welcome them all in English and ask them about their evening (or morning) and make trivial conversation. It is all about getting them to speak English. (American English!) I plan to start each class as I did today and yesterday, with an Articulation lession. Yesterday was L and R, Today was P and F. They mispronounce many words and I will correct them if the error they make is important to correct. For example, if they say STAH instead of Stop or LITTA insteat of little, I make them repeat it correctly.
Then we broke into groups of 5 (25 students) and they discussed among themselves their homework that involved American Idioms. I walked around the room, joined each group, answered questions and encouraged them to keep the conversation going. I must say that no one seems to need encouragement. All of the students are highly motivated and eager to learn and contribute. They have filled out Self-evaluation forms and almost everyone said that they have a strong desire to learn English, talk to foreigners, learn about American culture and improve their ability to have a discussion in English. After the group discussion, they retook their original seats and each student stood up and explained the three idioms that they were assigned. Almost all of them found out the meanings from Google by typing in "what means horse of a different color." or the like. Google is remarkable. However, even with a full Google explanation, their understanding of the explanation often needed further explanation. That is where I help and demonstrate the use of the idiom by giving them an example of how it is used. This is when the actor in me comes out the the students like that very much. We finished about 1/2 of the assigned idioms when I had to stop it and move on. We will finish tomorrow. Everyone will get a chance to speak to the whole class.
Instead of a break, I taught them "Row, Row, Row your boat" and we all sang it together. Then I called up one student to help lead the song with one half of the class and we sang it in a two part round. Then I broke the class into four groups and we sang in four part. It was a little noisy but fun. Still with time, I taught themn the Hokey Pokey and they loved it. I will have to look for more of that kind of activity.
I continued the class by breaking them into groups again, (but different people is each group this time) to discuss the American money that they researched. And we finished by having each pair of students explain the money they investigated. Unfortunately, they do TOO MUCH work and we ran out of time before we got to the bills. We did the Jefferson nickle, the FDR dime, the JFK half dollar, the Sacagewea dollar coin with one student explaing what is on the front and what is on the back. They are extremely thorough and love the chance to practice speaking. Even I am learning. I never knew that Sacagewea is holding her baby and the baby's name is Baptiste. One is never too old to learn!!!!
I ate with Harry, my TA, and really enjoyed my lunch. My lunch, his lunch, another ice cream(of course) and a water cost about 1 and a half dollars. That is about 11 Yuan. That is my expense for the day. Considering I got half my stipend of 3000 Yuan last evening, I had better get active and spend more money!!!!
Shelley is joining me for this afternoon's class and we are going out for an expensive dinner tonight with some other teachers, to the Ramada Inn. I think that I may have to spend about 50 Yuan tonght, (about $7.00) but I could be wrong. I will try to remember to report what we ate and what it cost.
Mitch and Robyn, thanks for the notes. It is nice to see that someone is reading this nonsense but nevertheless, I am enjoying writing it. This is an exhilerating experience and is only the third day of the teaching experience.
My love to all and if you get a minute, please post a comment on my blog.
The rule of the class is that no Chinese is spoken inside the four walls of the room. However, I do take the privilege of the teacher to say, AN JING (pronounces ahn jin) and it means Be Quiet.The students all laugh when I say it just as my old Russian students laughed when I said, TEE KHA which also means Quiet. (or at least I hope so in both languages. Who knows? With my pronunciation, it could mean something else.) I then welcome them all in English and ask them about their evening (or morning) and make trivial conversation. It is all about getting them to speak English. (American English!) I plan to start each class as I did today and yesterday, with an Articulation lession. Yesterday was L and R, Today was P and F. They mispronounce many words and I will correct them if the error they make is important to correct. For example, if they say STAH instead of Stop or LITTA insteat of little, I make them repeat it correctly.
Then we broke into groups of 5 (25 students) and they discussed among themselves their homework that involved American Idioms. I walked around the room, joined each group, answered questions and encouraged them to keep the conversation going. I must say that no one seems to need encouragement. All of the students are highly motivated and eager to learn and contribute. They have filled out Self-evaluation forms and almost everyone said that they have a strong desire to learn English, talk to foreigners, learn about American culture and improve their ability to have a discussion in English. After the group discussion, they retook their original seats and each student stood up and explained the three idioms that they were assigned. Almost all of them found out the meanings from Google by typing in "what means horse of a different color." or the like. Google is remarkable. However, even with a full Google explanation, their understanding of the explanation often needed further explanation. That is where I help and demonstrate the use of the idiom by giving them an example of how it is used. This is when the actor in me comes out the the students like that very much. We finished about 1/2 of the assigned idioms when I had to stop it and move on. We will finish tomorrow. Everyone will get a chance to speak to the whole class.
Instead of a break, I taught them "Row, Row, Row your boat" and we all sang it together. Then I called up one student to help lead the song with one half of the class and we sang it in a two part round. Then I broke the class into four groups and we sang in four part. It was a little noisy but fun. Still with time, I taught themn the Hokey Pokey and they loved it. I will have to look for more of that kind of activity.
I continued the class by breaking them into groups again, (but different people is each group this time) to discuss the American money that they researched. And we finished by having each pair of students explain the money they investigated. Unfortunately, they do TOO MUCH work and we ran out of time before we got to the bills. We did the Jefferson nickle, the FDR dime, the JFK half dollar, the Sacagewea dollar coin with one student explaing what is on the front and what is on the back. They are extremely thorough and love the chance to practice speaking. Even I am learning. I never knew that Sacagewea is holding her baby and the baby's name is Baptiste. One is never too old to learn!!!!
I ate with Harry, my TA, and really enjoyed my lunch. My lunch, his lunch, another ice cream(of course) and a water cost about 1 and a half dollars. That is about 11 Yuan. That is my expense for the day. Considering I got half my stipend of 3000 Yuan last evening, I had better get active and spend more money!!!!
Shelley is joining me for this afternoon's class and we are going out for an expensive dinner tonight with some other teachers, to the Ramada Inn. I think that I may have to spend about 50 Yuan tonght, (about $7.00) but I could be wrong. I will try to remember to report what we ate and what it cost.
Mitch and Robyn, thanks for the notes. It is nice to see that someone is reading this nonsense but nevertheless, I am enjoying writing it. This is an exhilerating experience and is only the third day of the teaching experience.
My love to all and if you get a minute, please post a comment on my blog.
Monday, July 7, 2008
tuesday after lunch
I just had lunch with Shelley and my TA (teaching assistant) I think that the bill was about 20 yuan, which equals about $3.00. I finished with an ice cream and spent the whooping amount of $.24 US. Oops! I forgot that it included a bottle of water. The weather is quite hot in Wuhan and humid but there is a small breeze. OUr hotel and my classroom is airconditined but neither place has the same cooling efficiency as in America. After my morning class, we walked to the student hall, (one of about many), had lunch and, s Shelley went back to the hotel to meet another non-teacher, I walked back to my classroom where I am now sitting at the computer that is in every classroom. This is my classroom for the next three weeks.
This morning we had a fine session and the students, who were so quiet yesterday, became very active and talkative. They are all quite polite with excellent senses of humor. Today they demonstrated that their English is not as limited as I thought it would be based upon the quiet session yesterday. For the first hour and a half, I worked on articulation, the letters L and R. After a break I put all the students in pairs and gave each two students two different American proverbs. Explanations of the proverbs were also given. I then gave them all about 15 minutes to develop a story that end with the proverb. I then split the pair and and had them tell their story to someone from another pair. This way, they developed a story with one partner and then told the story to a different partner. The new partner then returned the favor and told his story. After another 15 minutes, I visited each group and they told me the story and I added some comment. by the way, Shelley was very active and assisted me all morning. Finally, I asked about 5 students to come to the front of the class and tell their story to the whole group. This works real well, expecially for the very quiet and low spoken girls because the room is equipped with a microphone.
My homework assignment to them was to give them each 3 different US idiom. But no explanations were included. Each student must stand in front of the class for 1 to 2 minutes and explain the idiom. This should be great fun and I expect the whole class will have a good laugh when I explain how the idiom is really used. Imagine what a student will as about "a frog in the throat" or "cat got your tongue." I'm sure you can see the fun.
In addition, I divided the groups into pairs and gave each pair an example of American money, i.e., a penny, a nickel, ..... a 50 dollar bill, a one hundred dollar bill, (the paper monies are xeroxed and enlarged copies so that they cannot be confused as counterfeit. Their homework assignment is to comback tomorrow and tell me who is on one side and what is on the other. Two groups were asked to do the same for the Chinese paper money and coins.
It is now 1:45 and I will close and rest before my second class begins at 2:30. It will be the same lesson as the morning class but I am sure that I will have different responses.
If anybody is reading this stuff, please add to the blog and, if you have any questions, please ask.
This morning we had a fine session and the students, who were so quiet yesterday, became very active and talkative. They are all quite polite with excellent senses of humor. Today they demonstrated that their English is not as limited as I thought it would be based upon the quiet session yesterday. For the first hour and a half, I worked on articulation, the letters L and R. After a break I put all the students in pairs and gave each two students two different American proverbs. Explanations of the proverbs were also given. I then gave them all about 15 minutes to develop a story that end with the proverb. I then split the pair and and had them tell their story to someone from another pair. This way, they developed a story with one partner and then told the story to a different partner. The new partner then returned the favor and told his story. After another 15 minutes, I visited each group and they told me the story and I added some comment. by the way, Shelley was very active and assisted me all morning. Finally, I asked about 5 students to come to the front of the class and tell their story to the whole group. This works real well, expecially for the very quiet and low spoken girls because the room is equipped with a microphone.
My homework assignment to them was to give them each 3 different US idiom. But no explanations were included. Each student must stand in front of the class for 1 to 2 minutes and explain the idiom. This should be great fun and I expect the whole class will have a good laugh when I explain how the idiom is really used. Imagine what a student will as about "a frog in the throat" or "cat got your tongue." I'm sure you can see the fun.
In addition, I divided the groups into pairs and gave each pair an example of American money, i.e., a penny, a nickel, ..... a 50 dollar bill, a one hundred dollar bill, (the paper monies are xeroxed and enlarged copies so that they cannot be confused as counterfeit. Their homework assignment is to comback tomorrow and tell me who is on one side and what is on the other. Two groups were asked to do the same for the Chinese paper money and coins.
It is now 1:45 and I will close and rest before my second class begins at 2:30. It will be the same lesson as the morning class but I am sure that I will have different responses.
If anybody is reading this stuff, please add to the blog and, if you have any questions, please ask.
Second day before class
Today is Tuesday. Whil I am typing this blog before class starts, shelley is leading a discussion among all of the students that came in early. There are about 20 of the 26 here already nd there is still 15 minutes to go. They are an eager bunch and are beginning to loosen up and ask many questions. Yesterday, I spent the whole class time in introductions of myself and each of the students and covered some of the rules and trivia that surround the class time. I have two classes, each with about 26 students. One class is from 8 to 11:40 and one from 2:30 to 5:20.
Today we will start with Articulation practice and then divide the group into pairs for some conversation exercises. Their assignment for tonight is to explain who is on the front of all American coins and bills and explin them to their partners and to the class.
I am also distributing American proverbs to the students with explanations of them and ask them to tell us a story using the proverb at the end.
Now I have to ago and relieve Shellwy. Love an health to all. Burt
Today we will start with Articulation practice and then divide the group into pairs for some conversation exercises. Their assignment for tonight is to explain who is on the front of all American coins and bills and explin them to their partners and to the class.
I am also distributing American proverbs to the students with explanations of them and ask them to tell us a story using the proverb at the end.
Now I have to ago and relieve Shellwy. Love an health to all. Burt
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