Time flies when you’re having fun!
I’m realizing how difficult it is to keep up with my writing. I haven’t added any teaching to my schedule but I have somehow accumulated more Chinese friends. I can’t give you chronological run-down of my weeks because so much has happened and I would probably forget some of it anyway. So, I’ve decided to give you only the highlights. There may quite a few ‘highlights’ so hold on tight!
I have been getting to know my Qinghua University students much better in the past weeks. This is probably my favorite class to teach because their English level is quite high so instead of teaching them oral phrases/grammar/vocabulary/etc., I get to have discussions with them. This is really awesome! So far we’ve had discussions on travel, health care, the ‘global economic crisis’, and various other not-so-in-depth topics. They have strong opinions about certain topics and it is fun to listen to them argue with each other in English! 🙂 I have 2 (sometimes 3, sometimes 4) women in my class and the rest are men. The women rarely have much to say during discussions. Also–an interesting thing to note–something that normally would have bothered me in the states is students who answer their cell phones and respond to text messages in class. For some reason it doesn’t even phase me. My opinion about this is that they are all business men/women and if they have to answer a call…so be it. Most often, they will say, ‘sorry, excuse me’ and then leave the room if they get a call. However, every now and then, some will crawl under the table to take a call! Hilarious! The first time I saw this happen I stopped talking and just stared, confused by what I was seeing. Other students laughed and told me what the man was doing. I don’t think he knew that he was just as distracting by crawling under the table where he could still be heard. Oh, China!
This particular group of students was pretty excited with the second snowfall of the season. (More on the snow later) During the hour and a half class with them I give them a short break. When I said, ‘let’s take a break’ one of the men said, ‘snowball fight?’ 🙂 I could not resist the opportunity to pelt them with snow! I was one of the weirder experiences that I have had in China. We had a great time running around the classroom courtyard with snow in hand! Not even one minute into the fight, alliances had formed. It was a blast! During class that day we also discussed the structure and organization of the US Government. It was kind of fun for me to review what I knew about it and to share with them. They knew some of what I was sharing with them but were interested in the ‘balance of power’ that exists (or at least is supposed to) in the three branches. While discussing things like this with them it is easy to see that the Chinese people have an extreme loyalty to their own system. Because I get into these sorts of discussions with them, I have to do some research usually. I’m also reading more US news and will continue to Pr-y for the US. I hope that you will do the same!
About a week and a half ago, I had lunch with two of my Qinghua students, Maggie and Jay, at a hot pot place. For those who don’t know hot pot, allow me to describe. Hot pot is basically a pot filled with a soup base (spicy, regular, curry, etc.). Then you choose a type of raw meat and veggies to cook in your pot. This was an enjoyable experience with my two students. The only thing I would have had different about it would be to sit around a table instead of at a bar-like counter to eat. The set-up we had was not conducive to discussion. Next time, we will go somewhere where we can visit. They both agreed with me when I suggested this.
This past Sunday evening, Maggie invited me to go shopping with her. We met at a large shopping place, wandered around for a while and then decided to get some supper together. A friend/colleague of hers had sent her a message asking about supper. She asked if I minded if he ate with us. Of course, I didn’t and she and I proceeded to make our way to the restaurant. Little did I know that we were going quite a distance. All she told me was that we were going to the BeiDa East Gate. (Peking University) I thought that the restaurant was near the university. Nope. We were getting on the subway to travel a little ways away. We met her friend and then went into a buffet-style restaurant that was pretty expensive. I do not know how much it was exactly because her friend paid at the door and wouldn’t let us pay. Almost every type of sea food was available, unlimited drinks including coffee/tea/water/juice/beer/wine, and also many types of insects. 🙂 They offered me a silkworm but I politely declined because I have a hard time eating something that is looking at me. During supper, Maggie asked me if I like KTV. KTV is basically karaoke in your own private room. I told her, ‘yeah!’ Mistake! She said that we would do that next. Hmmm… so we ended the evening with three people–two Zhongguoren 中国人 and one Meiguoren 美国人–singing random songs in our native languages and not really understanding what the other was singing. Also one of my weirder China experiences!
I’ve been spending much of my ‘free time’ meeting with new friends for lunch or supper. I met my friend Kevin for supper about a week ago to help him with his English homework. He has a teacher from New York and is teaching him some not-so-appropriate phrases. When I read some of his dialogues I explained to him that much of what he was learning wasn’t a polite way to speak to people. I’m thankful that Kevin is still coming to one of our evening B studies. His English is getting better but still leaves much to be desired. I don’t know if he goes to the study because I go with him or if he would continue without me. Pr-y for him also! Just last night he and I and another friend went to see a movie. It was an enjoyable time!
My Sinopec men are also improving tremendously. When I first started teaching them, their English wasn’t so great. It is fun to see this happen. Two days ago they asked me if we could do less of the book and more discussion. Of course I said yes because I also hate the textbook. This is what I wanted from the beginning. I’m excited that they feel confident to discuss topics in English. I asked them what we should discuss on Tuesday and they told me Education. 🙂 I’m glad they picked something I have a background in. We’ll see how it goes! They also enjoyed the snofall and created a snowman/woman/??? on the roof where they take their breaks. This snowman is indescribable so I will include a picture. We named it a snowta because ‘ta’ is the word for he AND she in Chinese! 🙂 There was also a cigarette in the snowta’s mouth and so when I asked them if I could take a picture of them with it one of them said we had to light the cigarette! (also very China!)
We have had snow three times already. I’m a little disappointed that the government feels the need to cause it to snow. I was kind of hoping to get away from it. It makes it really difficult to bike. This past Monday, I was feeling a little lazy and decided to leave my bike at a subway stop close to my University and take the subway home. The next morning I was so glad that I had done this because I would have been late for class. It took me 45 minutes to travel what normally takes me about 15. Thankfully I am a perpetually early person because I arrived only two minutes early for class (instead of my usual 20-30). I may have to buy boots.
The past week we were blessed to have our fearless leader visit us in Beijing! It was so nice to have him here so that we could express our concerns and just chat about life. I didn’t realize how sad I would be to see him go. 🙁
I’m currently compiling a list of things I never thought I would do/say/feel/experience while I was in China. It’s kind of entertaining to look at things in a different way. Some are serious and other are just really funny. I hope to share this with you in the near future!
So, I leave you with a list of my favorite highlights of the past couple of weeks: Snowball fight with grown men who run like little girls when you come after them with a snowball, being asked by Kevin, “so J-s-s is G-d?”, Girls’ night with Shannon at KTV!, 7th grade class every week, finally giving someone a ride on my bike! I am so inexpressibly blessed! Feel free to visit at anytime so you can have a small taste of what I get to experience!
Below is a picture of the ‘snowta’ with six of my eight students. Have an awesome week in HIS Grace.
I couldn't resist taking this picture! They were such good sports! From L-R: Simon, Tommy, David, Bruce, Tom, Kobe.
