Our Holiday Plans

We will be finishing up the term this week and will then enjoy a break until the middle of February. It's great teaching at a university! We had not intended to do anything exciting. The Spring Festival time is very very busy for traveling because that's the one time each year that everyone goes home. Spending Chinese New Year with one's family is very important. But imagine the whole country moving around at the same time! Last year, because of the storm, many people didn't make it home. It was big news around the world. I remember watching CNN in Mexico and heard the sad stories. One student recently told me that he hadn't seen his father for 2 years because of the storm:(

Well, I'm happy to say that we will be spending Chinese New Year with our family. Yup, thanks to Sam (our lifeline here in China), we got great deals so we will be heading home for just over 3 weeks in the middle of January. See you all soon! J xoxo

Sunday Morning Exam.

Think back to your university days, now imagine that your prof. tells you that the exam will be on the weekend. Now imagine that it will be on Sunday morning at 8:00 A.M. Let me paint the picture for you, the temperature was -4C with a windchill of minus -14C. As I walked to the classroom to give the exam I was surprised to see groups of students playing basketball at 7:30 on a Sunday morning in that cold. I was equally surprised to see a steady stream of students heading over to the library to get an early start on the days work. No resting on the seventh day here.

I brought my $0.22 Santa hat with the idea that I could use it to try and lighten the mood I didn't need it. The students were there normally great selves. I posed a few of them with my hat just so I could prove to everyone how great they are. As you can see QiQi, Wendy, Bill and Aileen were not in need of cheering up. In fact it was the opposite they were all worried about me there in the cold room, so many of them offered to go to the library to get some hot water for me to drink. I know what you are saying but if you sat in a very cold, slightly heated classroom for 5 hours you would be happy for something hot to drink.

By the way did we mention that we have agreed to stay another six months here in Jinan. If you wonder why we signed up for another term just look at the smiles on the kids and remember that it was Sunday morning at 8:00 A.M. and the windchill was -14C. I think enough said. Have a great day. I know that I will as I have only 12 more oral exams to give and I am finished. Merry Christmas.
Don

Christmas Chinese Style

These are some shots that I took with my phone in the RT-mart, a big Chinese version of Walmart. It seemed so surreal to see all of these Christmas decorations in a country which doesn't really celebrate Christmas. It was amazing to see both what the store had in terms of decorations and trees and what it didn't have: wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, or Christmas cards.

The top photo is June modeling her new winter coat. I never really thought that it would get that cold here but I was wrong. I hope my three season jacket with some extra fleece jackets will do.

Children's Christmas Party

We were invited to Charles' work, a friend who is an administrator at a language school, to attend a Christmas party with lots and lots and lots of kids. Ok, we didn’t know there would be so many of them when we agreed. It was a pleasant surprise, hee hee. Don was asked to be Santa while I gave them mini English tests. We had such a good time that we agreed to go back the next night and do it all again with another group of kids!

Don got right into his role and only made one little girl cry. Not bad since he probably talked to a few hundred of them. He was a big hit!

The little ones had to go to different rooms in the school to do different activities. In one room, they had to try to blow out candles (a room full of fire for little kids didn't sound like such a good idea at first) to practice their English sounds. In another room, they had to pick out balloons according to colour and in yet another one, they were shelling peanuts. Hum, what for you ask? We think they were practicing their numbers or someone was just hungry so built in some free labour.

For each accomplishment, they would get a stamp. My station was a little English challenge. I had flashcards of words they were studying so I asked them if they could tell me what they were. They were so adorable when they would shout out "apple" or "monkey" or "ball". I also asked simple questions like: What’s your name? How old are you? It was a great test of their listening and speaking. Almost all of the little ones would answer how old they were with their little fingers. Very cute!

My question of “How are you?” was a hard one for many. Even for the adults, this sometimes gives them pause because it’s not a typical question they ask each other. When Chinese people see each other, the first question is usually “Have you eaten?” They have been taught the stock answer of "Fine thank you, and you?" Very endearing when a 4 year old says that to you in a little voice.

I sat with my interpreter Charles in a room and waited for the kids to come. At one point, I was surrounded by little kids and their parents. I got a bit claustrophobic because I was sitting on a little stool and when I looked up there was just this wall of people. While I was asking one child questions, everyone else would crowd around to listen, to hear what I was asking so they could prepare their child for their turn. It was mayhem at times. The parents were pushing their kids ahead of the others. You would think that I’m used to this by now. I'm not.

Last night, there was a little dance performance in my room. The little girls warmed up (check out how flexible they are!) while I continued with my little interviews. In between groups, they came over and “chatted” with me. They wanted me to test them with the flashcards. They also started jabbering at me. When they asked about me, Charles told them my story about being born in Hong Kong and going to Canada when I was their age and that I couldn’t speak Mandarin with them. I heard them remark that I was Chinese, just like everybody else here. I followed more or less what he was saying but at one point, their eyes grew wide and they were acting very surprised. I asked Charles what he had told them and he said that he told them that Santa was my husband. Ha ha!!!

Don didn’t have to contend with the crowds but did have to do a little song and dance with his helper. I wish I could have seen it and have a video to show you all. Unfortunately, I missed it too. I do have some precious pictures of him with the kids though and memories of all the adorable little ones.

Blustery Day in Jinan

The wind is howling outside. Earlier there was a mini snowstorm with great big fluffy snowflakes. A brief reminder of a winter's day in Ottawa. No, it's not anything like what you guys are faced with these days. The snow has melted already and we don't have to worry about shoveling. Guess we won’t have a white Christmas though. Christmas is not a big holiday here yet so it won't be a big deal for us this year either. It's hard to believe that we were in Mexico this time last year.

I had to go outside in this weather because we don’t have much to eat in the apartment and I was starving. I’ve just come back from getting my breakfast from the street vendors and it is COLD! The forecast says that it is -14C with the windchill but I think that it’s got to be colder than that. Something else about Ottawa I don't miss, feeling like my face is freezing! Check out my pics below. Notice that there aren't many street carts. There was a serious lack of choices this morning :(

While I’m toasty warm now, Don is sitting in a freezing classroom doing oral exams. He’s had to schedule them for a Sunday because there just isn’t enough time to do everyone’s exams during class time. His poor students will be popsicles by the time they make their way from the dormitories to the teaching buildings. It’s only about a 10 minute walk for them but there isn’t much protection from the wind. To lighten up the mood, Don is wearing a Santa hat while he gives them their oral interview. Imagine it!

English Contest

As foreign teachers, we have had the honour of judging a few English contests here. They are very popular as a way to encourage students to challenge themselves and to give them a heck of a way to practice their English skills.

Each contestant has to spend 7 minutes on stage in front of a panel of judges and an entire audience of fellow English students. The judging panel consist of the three of us (Don, Rob and I) and a few Chinese English teachers. In the first part, they have 3 minutes max. to deliver a prepared speech. The next section is the impromptu speech. Shortly before the contest began this morning, they were given a few minutes to prepare to describe an image for 2 minutes when they arrive on stage later. The last part is the most challenging for them. It's the part when one of the three of us asks them a question or two on what they have talked about so far. We have 2 minutes for this short interview. It can be a very long 2 minutes if they have difficulties answering the question, excruciating for both of us!

Today was a bit more personal than the others have been because both of us knew students in the contest. In fact, Don had helped his students quite a lot in the last few weeks. Being English majors creates added pressure for these kids and they worked so hard to do well today. We held our breaths as they delivered their speeches and answered our questions. We didn't have to worry. They did such a fantastic job and expressed themselves so well. We were both quite proud of them all.

I have such respect for all of the students. They look at this experience as an opportunity to do something different and challenging and were willing to face their fears. Never mind the fear of public speaking (we all know how difficult that can be), they have the additional challenge of expressing themselves in a second language - on the spot.

I have had a challenging time myself so far in China. Many of my students have been less than enthusiastic about being in English class. Unfortunately, there can be a huge difference in English levels in a class so some of them really can't follow my lessons and so they lose interest (at least that's what I'm sticking with). Teaching unreceptive students has been discouraging at times. Thank goodness for these kinds of events! These English contests, the English Corners and talking with Don's students have helped balance this for me. When I meet students who are so enthusiastic about learning English, it refills my well and helps me to see that we have a place here, a purpose.