December 2009

Tuesday, December 1. Can't believe it's December already.

John was locked in his bathroom yesterday for SEVEN hours. Finally, Micah heard him hollering and came to let him out. What a nightmare. Poor thing. There is no window in the boys' bathrooms, it was dark and cold and miserable. I can't even begin to imagine being in an enclosed space that long. An hour would be unbearable - seven is simply unthinkable. He missed his classes (of course), and I'm somewhat surprised that no one tried to find him.

English Corner this afternoon - the subject is clothing and fashion. I ask my group: what do you think about school uniforms? are they a good or a bad idea? As you might expect, theiy had mixed views about it. One of the more interesting arguments in favor of uniforms is that it makes them more like one "family." Then John, Katie, Rob, Micah and I go to dinner at the restaurant "up the hill" from the school. We have some of the same dishes that I had when I was here with the Senior 3 teachers: mutton stew, the red fried pork, the "ants climbing trees" (noodles with small pieces of vegetables and meat), and the carrot, celery, turnip "medley." And eggplant, of course!

Wednesday, December 2. It is beautiful weather this week - chilly but the sun is out. Today, on my way to class, I saw one of the grandfathers out with a cute little baby in a stroller. I have talked to them before (or at least made faces with the baby - the grandfather doesn't speak English!), so I stopped to say hello and coo at the baby. She must be about 8 months old - and because it is cold, she is dressed in many, many layers of clothing, so much so that her arms are practically sticking straight out to the sides. The only things showing are her little face and fingers. So when I pick her up, I'm surprised to feel her little bare bottom against my hands! The Chinese just don't do diapers, and I think they are on to something.

This afternoon, I tutor Larry from 3 - 5, then Wendy arrives at about 5:15 and stays for an hour. I really enjoy talking to her.

Thursday, December 3. Dinner with Katie, Micah and John at restaurant across the street: vegetarian with tofu!

Friday, December 4. Larry arrives at 3 for tutorng, then we leave at about 4:50 to pick up Jeff and Sarah (who are also tutoring him). Larry has invited us to dinner - and his father's driver takes us there in a big, black Toyota sedan with a Bluetooth sound system! The restaurant is in the Xin Tian Hong Dong Da Jiu Dian (Hotel). Amazing. Some unusual dishes that I've never seen before, including snake, dog, pork with rice served in something that looked like a log, a green vegetable, taro balls . . . Also at dinner: Amy (who used to teach at New Oriental with Rob and Jeff), and Larry's cousins - a young woman who studied in Australia for two years and her brother (English name Herbert) who is at univeristy, majoring in English. The young woman has to leave early because she has a 3-month old baby that she is nursing. More on all of this later.


Saturday, December 5. A little bird (sparrow?) came and sat on my birdfeeder today. The first time I've seen one there. Couldn't tell if he ate anything but at least he can advise his friends that there is food available. Of course, maybe they don't like anything I put out there, although I tried to make it a good mix: peanuts, sunflower seeds, crackers, apple, etc. I think perhaps in Hunan birds just don't go hungry in the winter. I have a feeling that they can always find food.

This morning, I "skyped" with JoAnn, Beth, Marie and Jo. It was great - except that I couldn't hear them. They could hear me so I talked a lot, and when I had questions, they wrote out the answers and held up a piece of paper to the camera! Hilarious.

Sunday, December 6. Trip to Changsha with Katie, Zhang Yong and his family, and the husband and wife who run the exchange program. They also brought an English speaking guide (Mr. Ying). We visited the Hunan Provincial Museum which is a terrific museum. Very happy to have the chance to see it again.

Afterwards lunch at the MaoJia restaurant which is fabulous.

Monday, December 7. Dinner with the Zhuzhou gang at the restaurant "up the hill" from the school.

Tuesday, December 8. Vegetarian dinner at restaurant across the street with Katie, John, Micah.

Wednesday, December 9.

Thursday, December 10.

Friday, December 11. First day of Hanukkah party at Sarah's apartment.

Saturday, December 12. Go to hair salon to get a perm - disaster! Instead of coming out with curls, I leave with no curls at all. Very late lunch with Rob, Katie and John in Rob's apartment. They made dumplings, I brought 3 eggplant, and John cooked greens. excellent.

Saturday Night at the Movies: John, Peter Joe, Amy and me. We watch the 5th Harry Potter movie, The Order of the Phoenix.

Sunday, December 13. Laundry. Catching up on stuff: handing in bi-monthly lesson plan to WT staff along with Video Observation. Organizing lesson plans for the rest of the term. Christmas songs, two weeks on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, then it will be time to give my exam - and then it's the end of the term.

This evening, Larry takes a bunch of us out to dinner tonight at a Korean restaurant in Zhuzhou - who knew? Amy (Chinese friend), Herbert (Larry's cousin), Jeff, Rob, Katie, Sarah Silberg, and Larry. The food is fabulous.

Monday, December 14. Finishing up my lesson plan about English Proverbs with Classes 4 and 2. Talk to Debbie and Cynthia about hair situation - decide that they will translate instructions and I will go back to A Long, which is what I want to do.

Dinner tonight at "ribs" restaurant over near Walking Street with Ted, Rob, Jeff, Micah, John. The ribs are fantastic. We decide the only thing lacking is BBQ sauce, which apparently can be had at the new Fancy Foods place above Carrefour. Definitely getting that for the next time. The rest of the food is great too. Dumplings, greens, eggplant with green beans, flat bread. yum!

After dinner, I go to Carrefour to stock up on orange juice and yogurt. Hit the Fancy Food place and score some Heinz BBQ sauce!

Tuesday, December 15. Cold and rainy (so what else is new?). In my classes this week, I am finishing up the Proverbs (since all of the groups didn't have a chance to present), then doing Christmas songs with the kids. Clearly, their favorite is going to be Mariah Carey doing "All I Want for Christmas is You."

No English Corner today as the students are cleaning their classrooms. Zhuzhou Department of Education coming tomorrow. We will have EC tomorrow instead. Topic: Christmas, what else?

Maybe I'll take a nap!

Wednesday, December 16.

Tutor Larry

English Corner - Christmas

Sean here. dinner. Micah: "bullshit is a measure word" !!

Thursday, December 17. dinner at small noodle restaurant and shopping with debbie and shi yan at the department store above Tian Yuan supermarket.

Friday, December 18. Very foggy this morning. Could see NOTHING beyond my balcony.

Zhuzhou-wide English Corner with primary school teachers - Katie, Rob, Micah and me - and all the primary teachers from Beishida. Mandy.

-dinner first in cafeteria. buffet-style!
-unusual man who is part Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian - later i film his dance routine, very strange.
-introducing myself in chinese
-YMCA
-dancing with Yang Fang
-ride home with Yang Fang and Mr. He

Saturday, December 19. lesson planning. Saturday Night at the Movies with Peter Joe, Stephen. We watch one of the Mr. Bean movies. I'm knitting furiously, trying to finish scarf for my secret santa person (Lucy).

Saturday, December 12. Go to hair salon to get a perm - disaster! Instead of coming out with curls, I leave with no curls at all. Very late lunch with Rob, Katie and John in Rob's apartment. They made dumplings, I brought 3 eggplant, and John cooked greens. excellent.

Saturday Night at the Movies: John, Peter Joe, Amy and me. We watch the 5th Harry Potter movie, The Order of the Phoenix.

Sunday, December 13. Laundry. Catching up on stuff: handing in bi-monthly lesson plan to WT staff along with Video Observation. Organizing lesson plans for the rest of the term. Christmas songs, two weeks on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, then it will be time to give my exam - and then it's the end of the term.

This evening, Larry takes a bunch of us out to dinner tonight at a Korean restaurant in Zhuzhou - who knew? Amy (Chinese friend), Herbert (Larry's cousin), Jeff, Rob, Katie, Sarah Silberg, and Larry. The food is fabulous.

Monday, December 14. Finishing up my lesson plan about English Proverbs with Classes 4 and 2. Talk to Debbie and Cynthia about hair situation - decide that they will translate instructions and I will go back to A Long, which is what I want to do.

Dinner tonight at "ribs" restaurant over near Walking Street with Ted, Rob, Jeff, Micah, John. The ribs are fantastic. We decide the only thing lacking is BBQ sauce, which apparently can be had at the new Fancy Foods place above Carrefour. Definitely getting that for the next time. The rest of the food is great too. Dumplings, greens, eggplant with green beans, flat bread. yum!

After dinner, I go to Carrefour to stock up on orange juice and yogurt. Hit the Fancy Food place and score some Heinz BBQ sauce!

Tuesday, December 15. Cold and rainy (so what else is new?). In my classes this week, I am finishing up the Proverbs (since all of the groups didn't have a chance to present), then doing Christmas songs with the kids. Clearly, their favorite is going to be Mariah Carey doing "All I Want for Christmas is You."

No English Corner today as the students are cleaning their classrooms. Zhuzhou Department of Education coming tomorrow. We will have EC tomorrow instead. Topic: Christmas, what else?

Maybe I'll take a nap!

Wednesday, December 16.

Tutor Larry

English Corner - Christmas

Sean here. dinner. Micah: bullshit is a measure word.

Thursday, December 17. dinner at small noodle restaurant and shopping with debbie and shi yan at the department store above Tian Yuan supermarket.

Friday, December 18. Very foggy this morning. Could see NOTHING beyond my balcony.

Zhuzhou-wide English Corner with primary school teachers - Katie, Rob, Micah and me - and all the primary teachers from Beishida. Mandy.

-dinner first in cafeteria. buffet-style!
-unusual man who is part Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian - later i film his dance routine - very strange.
-introducing myself in chinese
-YMCA
-dancing with Yang Fang
-ride home with Yang Fang and Mr. He

Saturday, December 19. lesson planning. Saturday Night at the Movies with Peter Joe, Stephen. We watch one of the Mr. Bean movies. I'm knitting furiously, trying to finish scarf for my secret santa person (Lucy).

Sunday, December 20. Nan Da Men, DVD market, Carrefour. very crowded but beautiful day - feeling very festive and Christmas-y! giant inflated santa across from book/dvd market! fun at nan da men, buying christmas stockings and other stuff. red socks at Carrefour.

knitting shop - owner finds someone who can speak some English: Flora and her mother - paying for my yarn. sometimes you can make more friends when you don't speak chinese!

kittens at school.

Monday, December 21. teach last Christmas songs lesson to classes 04 and 02. then go to copy center to make photocopies of handout for this week.

dinner in the evening at Kung Fu restaurant. afterwards go to supermarket to buy more stuff (cookies, candy) to fill Christmas gift bags. I'm trying to get as much American stuff as I can (Oreos, M&Ms) but in the interest of more bulk for the buck, i buy packages of Chinese cookies too.

Tuesday, December 22. I have a really hard time getting out of bed this morning - keep hitting the "snooze" button on my alarm clock. finally roll out at about 7:30.

nonetheless, i show up for my 9 a.m. class this morning all eager and enthusiastic about my lesson plan this week, but NO! Shi Yan (Debbie's husband) sees me in the hallway and starts talking to me in Chinese. the only thing i understand is "yue kao" which i figure out means "monthly exams" then i notice the sign on the door to the classroom (of course, it's in chinese so I can't read it) and the door is locked. i peer in the window and the students are all furiously writing. needless to say, no one has bothered to tell me that my classes are cancelled today because of monthly exams.

Shi Yan calls Tong Ya Ping who i think is a little sheepish to be getting a call from shi yan. she's very apologetic. but i'm completely bummed as I've had everything all planned out for the remaining weeks of the semester so now i'll have to reorganize some stuff and some classes will miss out.

in the meantime, another drama has been transpiring. Lyn sent me a package about 10 days ago, but she sent it by UPS instead of USPS. big mistake. i've been going back and forth with UPS in Guangzhou about sending necessary documentation to clear customs. I have to write a declaration letter and send a copy of my passport. fortunately, i was able to send these things by email. as a result, the package has been cleared and as of today, i'm still awaiting delivery (although oddly enough UPS told Lyn that it was delivered yesterday).

so this morning at about 8:45 a.m. a comedy unfolds with me getting a phone call from someone speaking Chinese which i assume is a wrong number, then calling back immediately so i think it is a crank call (that's happened before - people are so excited to be speaking to a foreigner that they call back multiple times!) and don't answer, then my phone rings again and i pick it up and the person starts speaking a little English having to do with "package" so naturally i then figure out what is going on. he said "how can i deliver to you?" so i said "beishida fuzhong" (the name of my school, it's on the package, dummy!). he then said he would meet me at the gate, so i throw on my coat, grab my school bag, and go to both front gates (large and small), but no one is there.

of course, as luck would have it, i am scheduled to teach in about 5 minutes. so i call him back to tell him i'm at the gate, but he wasn't there (i guess he had called me from the road). so we agreed to meet at the gate at 9:45. but then i get up to my class and the door was locked because the students are taking their monthly exams today, which means my classes are cancelled, but of course no one had bothered to tell me! (Ah, China)

So I call him back again! by then i had found one of the Chinese English teachers who could speak to him - and he said he would be here in 6 minutes. So i walk back out to the gate, meet him, sign for the package, and am back in my apartment at 9:15! what a drama. :) hilarious - but that's life in China.

so now i have a free day. i decide to first go back to bed and sleep from about 10 until noon! then i get up and clean the living daylights out of my apartment (except the kitchen which i'll finish another day).

Drag out my Christmas decorations and put them up. decorate tree.

Put gift bags together with the stuff i have so far: red Chinese New Year socks (5 yuan at Carrefour), Kiss My Face soap (brought from US), lots of candy, cookies etc, other miscellaneous stuff and a bottle of beer in some of them!

Wednesday, December 23. This week I'm teaching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Unfortunately, i'm going to have to keep tweaking it because it didn't go well during my first class. I think i was reading it too fast.

Go to the little fruit shop in the village to buy 10 bags of oranges to put in teachers' gift bags. Katie gives me 10 little candy canes so I tie one to the top of each bag with some tinsel!

Larry comes in the afternoon. But then we go out to see the Junior School finishing their 5K road race and watch the Senior School beginning their race.

Party at wine bar with Katie, Micah. party is given by the school where Katie teaches (CSR). dinner preceding with "Catherine". individual hot pots. (i've decided i really don't like hot pot dinners - except the one at the korean restaurant.)

Mr. He also at this party. Also lots of doctors from Zhuzhou Number 1 Hospital. It's fun but at 9 or so, i've had enough and head home with Mandy. One of the Chinese men at the party (along with a Chinese woman who is a doctor and who spent 3 years in Sierra Leone) give us a ride home.


Thursday, December 24. Christmas Eve. rooster crowing in the morning as he does every day. whether or not there is sun! sometimes he even crows at night!

up early to be ready for Christmas party in West Hartford! kids skype me in at about 9:30. so i get to visit with everyone. then listen to carol singing.

classes in the afternoon. i'm still trying to read the Grinch but it's not easy for students to understand. all i can hope is that they will pick up enough so that they will enjoy the movie version next week.

katie and i hang out in the evening - caf for dinner, then watching a movie (The Secret Life of Bees) while Katie fixes little gift bags for the primary teachers. i was really happy to have her around as i was feeling a little melancholy after "skyping" into Christmas party this morning. i really miss my children - and being with them at Thanksgiving and Christmas especially.

11:00 p.m. TOTALLY PSYCHED! just back from delivering gift bags to teachers' offices - with an assist from Santa's helpers, May and Jack! no other teachers were around so we were able to pull it off perfectly! even leaving bag for Tong Ya Ping with a note on it (in Chinese!) saying "to tong ya ping from "father christmas" !! after staggering over to the senior school building carrying 10 big bags, i practically ran back to my apartment and flew up the steps a la Rocky! woohoo! feeling so great.

in other exciting world news, i find out today that Eliza Walker, granddaughter of Lyn was born December 23, 2009 !!!!!


Friday, December 25. teach 2 classes. finally i have my class down well - reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas. only took me four tries before i got it right. Debbie and Cynthia come to observe my last class.

lunch with Debbie at the caf.

afernoon spent in preparation for party tonight. Rob and John come to make eggnog - they want me to supervise! so cute. i cut up lots of apples and start them cooking. larry calls to say he won't come today for tutoring because he's christmas shopping!

later, i try to take a nap but get phone call from "Flora" (from the knitting shop) who says that she and her mother (and, as it turns out, her "brother" and his mother) are at the front gate of the school and they have presents for me. so i get out of bed, put on a happy face, and go down to see them. here are the gifts: apples, the traditional chinese red couplets for my door, a huge gift box of dove chocolates. i guess they are going to want me to tutor the little boy, her "brother", who is about 6 years old and who doesn't seem all that interested in me!

go back and manage to get a very short nap. then up to get ready for party. packing up bags with food, secret santa gifts, stocking for Larry, etc etc. very exciting!

great party at Sarah Silberg's apartment. she has made an amazing "dip" to go with cut-up pieces of chicken and celery. it's made with home-made peanut butter - sort of a sesame sauce. jeff has made a wonderful "dip" with pork, salsa and cream cheese - spicy but terrific. ted reprises his mashed potatoes (also with cream cheese!). katie makes an even better version of her stuffing from thanksgiving: with bacon, bread, celery, onion etc. micah makes steak fritatas - they are superb! plenty of food, laughter and music.

secret santa is a huge success. best gift: Lucy's gift to Micah (a brown furry scarf terminating in bear-claw mittens!). katy gives john an electric foot warmer. i make a scarf for Lucy to match her hat from Scotland (blue tartan plaid). Sarah S gives three kinds of homemade peanut butter to Sarah B. Jeff gives me a cute Christmas bag filled with cookies. Rob gives Katy a bear muff for her hands, along with a plastic gun that shoots small pellets! pretty funny. more but i can't remember.

Saturday, December 26. Relax during the day. At 5:30, the five of us meet some of the teachers at the back gate for our Chinese Christmas dinner! There are representatives from each school: Debbie, Paul and Zhang Yong from the senior school; Stephen from the junior school; and Susan and Mandy from the primary school. So we are 11 for dinner. Great food and fellowship around the table.

And followed by the Senior School annual KTV holiday party! All of us troop along for a couple of hours of singing and dancing, then home in the rain.

Sunday, December 27. This morning it is SNOWING! It actually accumulates a tiny bit on the ground but disappears fairly quickly. In fact, this afternoon the sun is shining. I'm taking it easy today to rest up from all of the holiday revelries! Especially resting my voice. Felt a little like i might be getting sick but by the evening, i think i'm OK.

Catch up on a lot of things, especially downloading photos from camera, editing them and uploading to Walgreen's website, which takes forever. I work on scarf for Larry during all of the waiting time. also doing laundry, vacuuming, making Eight Treasure Rice for dinner. try to call both Paul and Eleanor but strike out on both counts. will try again in the morning.


Monday, December 28. Talk to Paul. Try to reach Eleanor but no luck. Showing the movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" this week. Dinner tonight with Jeff, Micah, John, Rob at the "chicken" restaurant: eggplant, beef, tofu, etc, and then of course banana fritters.

Tuesday, December 29.

Wednesday, December 30. Class parties tonight. I go to Senior 1 Classes 07, 08, 09, 10. And also to some of the Senior 2 classes.

Thursday, December 31. Two classes this afternoon. Dinner with John and then watch Driving Miss Daisy. not the most exciting New Year's Eve ever, but most of the Zhuzhou crew has gone to HongKong and Macau for two days. Crazy if you ask me. :)

Happy New Year!