Back home in Baoding

I made it back to Baoding without any problems. I'm really glad I broke up my domestic and international flights-I stayed in Seattle Tuesday night and then flew to Beijing on Wednesday. The flight wasn't full, so I had 2 seats to myself. Even so, it was still too long of a flight. I'm glad I brought my own food (turkey, cheese, crackers, and applesauce) or I would have been starving and grouchy. Plane food is horrible and Chinese plane food is even worse. I stayed in Beijing for a couple of nights and Curtis and Katie came to pick me up and help me haul my suitcases back to Baoding.

For entertainment, there was a fight at the train station in Beijing. Fighting is rare in China because they're so into "saving face" and losing your temper causes you to lose face. The only 2 fights I've seen have both been at train stations. I think it's because they're so disorganized-it's like herding cattle. The trains were full and it took us forever to hail a cab in Baoding. Everyone is coming back to university, so it was chaos at the train station here too, but we made it. I'm unpacked, but have junk strewn out everywhere-I'll work on that tomorrow.

I think I'm really going to like my class schedule this semester. The first half I have sophomores Writing I two days a week and History of the English language with juniors two days a week, which means 3 day weekends. The second half of the semester, I'm really spoiled. I only have Newspaper and Magazines with juniors on Tuesday and Thursday, which means 4 day weekends-I plan to do some traveling-Shanghai and the Three Gorges Dam are on the list and I may go visit Peter's hometown.

Thanks again for everyone hanging out with me while I was back-it was so good to see everyone!

Whirlwind

So much as happened since my last blog post. My mom made it safely to and from China. We had a great time-I'm so happy she was here for the holidays and was able to meet all of my students. They all loved her and visa versa. She's hoping to come back this summer for graduation and see everyone again.

I finally made it the Great Wall!! It was gorgeous, although the climb up almost did us in. It's so steep! It was worth the effort though. We also toured the Forbidden City, went to the National Centre of the Arts, Lao She Teahouse, Olympic Stadiums, Ming Tombs, and numerous other places. While in Baoding, we were super busy with numerous Christmas dinners and spending time with my students and the other American teachers.

My mom arrived on Thursday the 18th and Friday was my last class for junior writing and our Christmas party. So, my poor mom had to help bake many treats to take to
class that afternoon. It took all morning, but we got everything baked. It sure went fast-for such little people-they can really pack it in. The following evening Zoe, Iris, Jacqueline, Rodin, and Summer took mom and I to dinner at the Honey Bee. Sunday night we went to dinner at Tannry's house. Tannry is the 15 year old that I tutor on Sundays. Monday night Cassie and Felice took us to my favorite Chinese restaurant. I'm using the word favorite loosely. It's the only Chinese restaurant in Baoding that I actually eat at. Tuesday we made a traditional American Christmas dinner for my IELTS students. In my opinion the food was delicious-I think some of them agreed with me, but not all. Sunny made a sandwich out of a dinner roll and waldorf salad-to me that is gross, but she seemed to like it. Christmas eve the university took us out to dinner and bowling. Christmas morning we had a breakfast brunch at my place and that evening we had TURKEY with the other American teachers. Turkeys are hard to find and super pricey, but worth it! The next day, mom and I headed to Beijing for a busy 4 day weekend of sightseeing.

I will be in the States on Monday! I'm so ready for an American holiday and, hopefully, Twilight will still be at the Warren. Fingers crossed!

We took some of ladies from my writing class to Sandy's


Great Wall


Mom and I at the Great Wall (it was very cold that day, even for me)


Forbidden City


National Centre of the Arts (aka The Egg)


Government Building


Catholic Church in Baoding


The Engineers: Bruce, Peter, and Vincent


My lil' Christmas tree


IELTS guys: Philip, Peter, Bruce, and Vincent


IELTS ladies: Viola, Vicky, Sabrina, Sunny, and Della


Tannry and his parents


Mom and Jacqueline at the Honey Bee


Writing Class: Felice, Stefanie, Athena, Henry, and Jacqueline are up front


Writing Class: Gilda, Cassie, Dolphin, Celia, and Miles

One more day!

I will pick up my mom in Beijing tomorrow!!! I'm so excited to see her and to be able to show her where I've been living the past 3 1/2 months. She's been all over Europe, so China is a new experience. I'm so happy that she will be here for Christmas-it wouldn't have felt right without her. Plus, I've missed going shopping with her and out to lunch and doing lots of girlie things.

Last Saturday-Katie, Curtis, Josh, Justin, JinJing, Sabrina, and I went to Beijing for the day. We visited 3 different American eating establishments-all were delicious. I had orange sherbet at Baskin Robbins-it was fantastic. I love sherbet and hadn't had any in many months. The ladies went to the Silk Market, while the gentlemen stayed at a giant mall and shopped. I love the Silk Market-there's so much to buy, but it's exhausting constantly bartering for prices. And, since I'm obviously a foreigner-they really try to take advantage. I think I got good prices for my purchases. It was very good day!

Grateful

Recently, I was showing some students pictures from home. They wanted to see my "live" Christmas tree from last year. In the same photo album were pictures of my apartment in Wichita. They were amazed that my apartment was just for me. They thought it was so beautiful and that I was so lucky to live there. Granted, I love my apartment, but it is an apartment and just a one-bedroom one at that. However, that's the American mind-set. We're very spoiled. Don't get me wrong, I love my country. I think this is one reason why I enjoy moving abroad. I love experiencing new cultures-even though adapting takes time, but it makes me much more grateful for my own country. Remembering being an American is a privilege and something I should not take for granted so easily. Anyway, I think this China experience is very beneficial for me and reminds me to keep things in perspective.

Being away from home also makes me grateful for all of you in Kansas. I'm very thankful for my mom and grandma who always support me on all my random journeys. They may not understand why, but support me nonetheless. My mom is even flying all the way to China (in less than 2 weeks!) to spend Christmas here. We had planned to go to Paris this year for Christmas, so China was quite the change, but she's looking forward to a new adventure.

It's about 5 weeks before my American holiday and I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back January 12-February 17. It will be nice to have a Western shower (I think that has been my worse living adaption), excited about eating turkey, driving, shopping at Dillard's and Target, blending in, and seeing everyone!

Thanksgiving

I've been a bad blogger and I apologize. My schedule is crazy busy until my American holiday-I'm definitely never bored.

We had a good Thanksgiving dinner. Each American teacher brought something and then we played poker. We can't find turkey here, so we had chicken. Other than that, it was pretty traditional, except for me bringing pineapple. China has fresh pineapples in winter-they're grown in the south where it's warmer and shipped north to us. I love it! I eat pineapple pretty much everyday.

I had a pizza party with my IELTS students the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Some of them had never tried pizza (gasp!). It's expensive for them, but a bargain compared to US pizza prices. I can get a large, cheese pizza for $5.00. Anyway, they all loved it and we had fun.

Last Friday, I went bowling with my IELTS students. Some of them had never been before and were super funny to watch. We had fun and now have a discount card for the bowling alley, so it's about $1.00 per game.

My mom will be here two weeks from today!! I'm so, so excited! I flew back and forth more from England, so this is a record of being away from family and friends. Plus, I've yet to see the Great Wall and will be taking her there and numerous other tourist attractions.

Vickie and Sabrina (in blue) Sorry these are blurry-taken with my phone


Sabrina and Shannon


Peter (kind of sad because his ball kept going in the gutter)


Miss Sabrina


Miss Shannon

Ode to English Names

I've been meaning to blog about this subject for awhile, but keep forgetting. Anyway, most Chinese students pick their English names when they have a foreign teacher during their freshman year. Now, where they come up with their names is beyond me and, boy, are they creative. Josh and I both have Dolphin. Josh has Orange, Seven, and one student wanted his English name to be Copyright, but Josh (wisely) had him pick a different name. I subbed for a freshman class and had Baby McGrady, Wind, and Sword. I don't know if they hear it somewhere or read names in a magazine or book and think it sounds good so that's their name. Some of them are very amusing and it's hard to call them by their name with a straight face. They also have a tendency to change their name often. I finally learn everyone's English names and they tell me that they've changed it. I've been trying to learn my IELTS students' Pingyin names-I pronounce a few their first names correctly and most of their family names. They're determined that I learn them, so I guess I'll keep practicing.

Another thing that amuses me about the students is their curiosity. I guess some people would say that they're nosey, but I think it's more of an interest in learning about foreigners and how we live. At one point during the Halloween party, I glanced around watching my IELTS students. They all know me really well and are super comfortable with me, so they have no problem being curious. Anyway, I had Della and Vincent looking through my kitchen cabinets, Peter had my US phone and was taking pictures with it, Justin was going through my dvds, Sunny and Viola were trying on all of my lotions and perfumes, and my favorite was Philip. I walk into my room and find him reading my deodorant. They don't have deodorant in China (fortunately, they don't smell bad). He didn't know what it was, so he decided to take a close look at it. Again, I don't mind their curiosity in the least, I think it's quite funny.

Lots of pictures

I've been falling behind on the blogging-sorry! Things haven't slowed down much-if anything, I've been even more busy. I think Sundays are my busiest day of the week, which I don't really like. I'm used to (and enjoy) being lazy on Sundays. After Mass, I tutor a 15 year old named Tanry. He's really sweet. However, last week, his parents took me about for dumplings. I cannot get away from those things.

On Halloween, I had a party for my IELTS students at my apartment. I had an in-class party for my writing class-there's 30 of them and they won't all fit in my apartment. My IELTS students were good sports. We bobbed for apples and played the mini pumpkin pass game. They were super fascinated with the mini pumpkins and kept asking me "How do you eat them?"

I'm also including pictures from our dumpling making. I mentioned to my IELTS students that I wanted to make dumplings (this is before I tried them). Since they're crafty, they rented a room at restaurant and we were given the dough and fillings and made them ourselves. They were fun to make, but not to eat. To me, it's just wet dough with boiled eggs and carrots inside-I'll pass.

There's also pictures from English corner, which is just a place for students to practice their English. It's mostly for freshman-my students think they're too cool to go. Josh says some of the freshman have never seen a white person, so when we go, I usually just feel on display. Most students are too nervous to talk to us and just stare. Anyway, they had a special performance night and Josh and JinJing hosted.

English Corner: Josh and JinJing


English Corner, a performer


Sports Meeting Opening Ceremony (basically a big track meet)


Sports Meeting


Beijing (west train station)


Beijing


Longest staircase ever (Beijing subway)


The very disorganized Beijing West train station


Large lanterns to celebrate the university's 50th anniversary


One of three little kitties adopted by my apartment building. This is Calvin.


Calvin


The Harry Potter store in Boading


Steve taking my picture while I take his


Sunny and Sabrina


Everyone watching Vincent


Sabrina and Viola working hard on the dough


Steve being silly with a large knife with Sabrina


Lil dumpling


Finished Product


Halloween party


Sunny and Della


Punch with ice hand


Steve


Philip and Vincent (like I said, they really liked the mini pumpkins)


Peter and Bruce passing the pumpkin (the boys were really funny to watch)