Yesterday on Christmas Eve, two reporters from the Xiuning TV station came to film the four foreign teachers at Xiuzhong and their "first Christmas in Xiuning." Michael and Brendan have been here for a year and a half, so it was a little funny that they said that. It was, nevertheless, Zoe and my first Christmas here in Xiuning.
Despite the short notice and unorthodox approach to filming us (interrupting class a little), it was certainly a wonderful feeling to share our Christmas with perhaps all of Anhui Province. We were all self-conscious of our Chinese speaking abilities, but in the end, I think our Christmas spirit was well communicated.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Holiday Spirit
We made latkes (potato + egg pancakes) last week. We found a simple recipe online for these Hanukkah treats. They ended up looking like hash browns, but they were delicious and healthy at the same time (healthy because of the eggs, delicious because of the deep-fried quality).
Our friend, Nate, was visiting from Hangzhou for the weekend. It was a festive weekend!
Our friend, Nate, was visiting from Hangzhou for the weekend. It was a festive weekend!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Christmas Decorations
Right after Thanksgiving, we began to decorate our apartments, classrooms, and little English library. I showed my students how we used to make snowflakes when we were little, and they enjoyed making some of their own. It was a meaningful way of getting more decorations (with the limited amount we already have).
From last year, we found a little Christmas tree, to which I added lights and ornaments. Now, it adds holiday cheer to my classroom!
We put up a bigger Christmas tree in the English library. We decorated it with many beautiful ornaments from America. Some of our students also made origami to add to the originality of it.
The best Christmas tree we have is in the boys' apartment. It certainly adds to the atmosphere of our conversations.
Can't wait to see presents under that tree!
From last year, we found a little Christmas tree, to which I added lights and ornaments. Now, it adds holiday cheer to my classroom!
We put up a bigger Christmas tree in the English library. We decorated it with many beautiful ornaments from America. Some of our students also made origami to add to the originality of it.
The best Christmas tree we have is in the boys' apartment. It certainly adds to the atmosphere of our conversations.
Can't wait to see presents under that tree!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving, we made traditional American food (stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, candied yams (sweet potatoes), cheese biscuits, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cream pie, and fudge. We invited several of our teacher friends to join us. The canteen cooks brought several dishes of Chinese food and it was all a great feast!
This was the dessert table and the American food that we made. Zoe made all the desserts and they were really good.
We also got our Xiuzhong uniforms on Thanksgiving. We think they are cool, but our students think we look like students when we wear them.
This was the dessert table and the American food that we made. Zoe made all the desserts and they were really good.
We also got our Xiuzhong uniforms on Thanksgiving. We think they are cool, but our students think we look like students when we wear them.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Guests and More Birthdays!
Chris came to visit right after we returned from Changsha. It was very fun!
We also went karaoking because Zoe really likes to sing karaoke.
Chrissy came to observe us that week, and she likes to sing karaoke also. Our Tunxi friend, Gloria, treated us to two full hours of karaoke!
Then we celebrated Brendan's birthday!
Presents from Brendan's students!
We also went karaoking because Zoe really likes to sing karaoke.
Chrissy came to observe us that week, and she likes to sing karaoke also. Our Tunxi friend, Gloria, treated us to two full hours of karaoke!
Then we celebrated Brendan's birthday!
Presents from Brendan's students!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sports Day
Every year, the students get two days off of studying to compete in a schoolwide athletic competition. Since there are over 2,000 students, only the best get to compete. The others write essays. We, as the foreign teachers, read and gave points for good English essays.
The Opening Ceremony for Sports Day began with a parade
Several of my students were flag-bearers.
Our neighbor's Grandmother (奶奶) and baby, who has learned to wave at the foreign teachers everytime she sees us now!
The four of us with some of our competitors, the other teachers who ran against us in the teacher relay.
Team Red.
The foreign teachers ran a relay race against the other teachers at Xiuning. Of course, we knew we would finish last. So we cheated. Zoe cut across the field. If you watch the video closely, you can see her cut. When she handed the baton to me, we played leap frog for a moment. Then, I ran to the end.
The Opening Ceremony for Sports Day began with a parade
Several of my students were flag-bearers.
Our neighbor's Grandmother (奶奶) and baby, who has learned to wave at the foreign teachers everytime she sees us now!
The four of us with some of our competitors, the other teachers who ran against us in the teacher relay.
Team Red.
The foreign teachers ran a relay race against the other teachers at Xiuning. Of course, we knew we would finish last. So we cheated. Zoe cut across the field. If you watch the video closely, you can see her cut. When she handed the baton to me, we played leap frog for a moment. Then, I ran to the end.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Day at the Resort
Today, we had a most unusual but pleasant experience, considering we are in the modest town of Xiuning. Gerald Chan, the head-honcho of the foundation that sponsors Yale-China's program at Xiuning Middle School, invited some 100 business men and women (from everywhere, but many from Shanghai and Beijing) to discover some natural wonders of Anhui province.
There was a model of the resort's intended extensions beyond just the hotel buildings. It looks like a huge project, with a big pool, spa rooms, horseback riding, and other things I'm sure we didn't catch. The lady to the left is Corinne, our liaison from Mr. Chan's Shanghai office. She was really helpful and just fun to talk to as she was closer to our age than most of the people we usually come in contact with.
We were first invited to a nice lunch at the hotel. It was staffed by at least 20 people. It was strange to be so well waited upon after a month and a half of Xiuning lifestyle. It was a reminder of what Western lifestyle is like.
Our table with Mr. Cai, the head of one of Mr. Chan's Mainland China organizations.
Grand piano!? Yamaha--not bad. I think someone needs to play it... once she's cut her nails!
For Sam J... who loves everything decorative but kind of a waste of money...
After lunch, we took at 40-minute shuttle to the edge of a lake. These gondolier-like rowers took us across the lake. Our gondolier was nice considering how many people squeezed into his small boat!
Zoe didn't know we were taking a picture...
The concert stage at the destination! Everything that was built here seemed to be very thoughtful of the natural surroundings. It appeared that whoever designed the walkways, seating area, and stage was conscious of the wildlife.
The ensemble played several famous pieces, including arrangements from famous works such as...
(Chopin Nocturne, Op. 9 No. 2)
We climbed up to a ridge, which probably wasn't meant to be climbed upon, considering we all got thrashed by rose thorns in our makeshift two-feet wide "trail." Many were skeptical that in my skirt and heels I could climb the steep, dirt trail. But the view seemed worth the risk. Turns out, with a Michael to make sure you don't fall, it works out fine.
This is the shot of the lake in the background from the same ridge. I couldn't wear one of the provided hats... it was just too... much like a
A pretty natural wonder!
Another group photo in front of the lake before we left the concert venue.
When we returned, it was nightfall. The sun sets very quickly here. We had an outdoor dinner with live jazz. It was such a wonderful revisit to all the jazz I had ever listened to or studied. I had never seen Chinese people play jazz before, so this was interesting. They were good. They were a band from Shanghai...
We had Huo Guo (火锅), or hot pot, for dinner. It was wonderful! We had dumplings and my favorite, 年糕!
Gerald Chan is the gentleman standing next to me, and the man behind him is Kyle, Yale '85! He was the first Chinese student admitted to Yale since the Cultural Revolution. While no Harvard-Yale rivalry arose between the five of us and Mr. Chan, we joked a little at the end of our evening about Ivy League plight these days.
Tomorrow, we return to the hotel to grab some neverending lunch. Then, we'll get a tour of the resort grounds and hopefully some of the private cottages and suites. It seems like a great place to host friends and family!
I'll leave you with a teeny bit of fireworks, which concluded our evening. (Sam J, you must think of theme music from Indiana Jones in order to watch this. It's too boring without music synced to it.)
There was a model of the resort's intended extensions beyond just the hotel buildings. It looks like a huge project, with a big pool, spa rooms, horseback riding, and other things I'm sure we didn't catch. The lady to the left is Corinne, our liaison from Mr. Chan's Shanghai office. She was really helpful and just fun to talk to as she was closer to our age than most of the people we usually come in contact with.
We were first invited to a nice lunch at the hotel. It was staffed by at least 20 people. It was strange to be so well waited upon after a month and a half of Xiuning lifestyle. It was a reminder of what Western lifestyle is like.
Our table with Mr. Cai, the head of one of Mr. Chan's Mainland China organizations.
Grand piano!? Yamaha--not bad. I think someone needs to play it... once she's cut her nails!
For Sam J... who loves everything decorative but kind of a waste of money...
After lunch, we took at 40-minute shuttle to the edge of a lake. These gondolier-like rowers took us across the lake. Our gondolier was nice considering how many people squeezed into his small boat!
Zoe didn't know we were taking a picture...
The concert stage at the destination! Everything that was built here seemed to be very thoughtful of the natural surroundings. It appeared that whoever designed the walkways, seating area, and stage was conscious of the wildlife.
The ensemble played several famous pieces, including arrangements from famous works such as...
(Chopin Nocturne, Op. 9 No. 2)
We climbed up to a ridge, which probably wasn't meant to be climbed upon, considering we all got thrashed by rose thorns in our makeshift two-feet wide "trail." Many were skeptical that in my skirt and heels I could climb the steep, dirt trail. But the view seemed worth the risk. Turns out, with a Michael to make sure you don't fall, it works out fine.
This is the shot of the lake in the background from the same ridge. I couldn't wear one of the provided hats... it was just too... much like a
A pretty natural wonder!
Another group photo in front of the lake before we left the concert venue.
When we returned, it was nightfall. The sun sets very quickly here. We had an outdoor dinner with live jazz. It was such a wonderful revisit to all the jazz I had ever listened to or studied. I had never seen Chinese people play jazz before, so this was interesting. They were good. They were a band from Shanghai...
We had Huo Guo (火锅), or hot pot, for dinner. It was wonderful! We had dumplings and my favorite, 年糕!
Gerald Chan is the gentleman standing next to me, and the man behind him is Kyle, Yale '85! He was the first Chinese student admitted to Yale since the Cultural Revolution. While no Harvard-Yale rivalry arose between the five of us and Mr. Chan, we joked a little at the end of our evening about Ivy League plight these days.
Tomorrow, we return to the hotel to grab some neverending lunch. Then, we'll get a tour of the resort grounds and hopefully some of the private cottages and suites. It seems like a great place to host friends and family!
I'll leave you with a teeny bit of fireworks, which concluded our evening. (Sam J, you must think of theme music from Indiana Jones in order to watch this. It's too boring without music synced to it.)
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