Throughout the semester I have struggled with seeing my students only ever other week. I have to teach every other lesson out of the student’s textbook that leaves me with one of my own lessons a month. I have also struggled with how to get my students to speak in class as much as possible. I have tried teaching grammar lessons, vocabulary lessons, and listening lessons. After attending the CTC conference I spent the second half of the semester teaching activity based lessons with a much larger focus on communication skills and techniques.  I found that this worked much better and I hope to continue on this path next semester. However, I gave this all up to teach my students about the holidays for the last two weeks of the semester. I taught them about Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Christmas then they had to describe the Chinese New Year to Me before we rejoiced and sang Christmas carols and Justin Beiber together.  Repeating the story of Santa Clause twenty times is getting slightly ridiculous but I have been having fun with my students and enjoy hearing what they have to say about the holidays. Most people in China do not have any religion but yet there are Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE in Zhuzhou. I asked my students why they thought this was. I don’t know if it is because of a fascination with Western culture, the commercial appeal, or because of the economic effects but my students love Christmas even though they have no idea what the holiday symbolizes. It was very hard to be away from my family and friends for the first time ever over Christmas, especially to be surrounded by Christmas decorations when no one knows what they mean. There are icicles sticking up from the floor, upside down Christmas trees, and purple candy canes. I ended up having a great holiday season thanks to my students, site mate, friends, and video chat.  If you asked me last year where I thought I would be on Christmas Eve I never would have said rollerblading and eating McDonalds in China. So Random. On Christmas Day, I went to a “church” with my friend Cait and two teachers from her school. The church was in a recreational room on the third floor of a hospital. There was no church service but there were little kids dancing to techno music on a stage. People were running around screaming, dogs were barking, and an hour later when they asked if we were ready to leave I readily agreed because the cigarette smoke in the church was slightly too much for me. Despite the differences, everyone was extremely welcoming and three people came over to offer us gifts for the holidays. I had never gotten a “Chicken’s foot” for Christmas before, but it is the thought that counts. This Christmas I learned that Santa Claus knows no borders and neither does love, family, friendship, and the spirit of Christmas. Plus, eating Chinese food on Christmas definitely brought out my Jewish side.  View high resolution

Throughout the semester I have struggled with seeing my students only ever other week. I have to teach every other lesson out of the student’s textbook that leaves me with one of my own lessons a month. I have also struggled with how to get my students to speak in class as much as possible. I have tried teaching grammar lessons, vocabulary lessons, and listening lessons. After attending the CTC conference I spent the second half of the semester teaching activity based lessons with a much larger focus on communication skills and techniques.  I found that this worked much better and I hope to continue on this path next semester. However, I gave this all up to teach my students about the holidays for the last two weeks of the semester. I taught them about Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Christmas then they had to describe the Chinese New Year to Me before we rejoiced and sang Christmas carols and Justin Beiber together.  Repeating the story of Santa Clause twenty times is getting slightly ridiculous but I have been having fun with my students and enjoy hearing what they have to say about the holidays. Most people in China do not have any religion but yet there are Christmas decorations EVERYWHERE in Zhuzhou. I asked my students why they thought this was. I don’t know if it is because of a fascination with Western culture, the commercial appeal, or because of the economic effects but my students love Christmas even though they have no idea what the holiday symbolizes.

It was very hard to be away from my family and friends for the first time ever over Christmas, especially to be surrounded by Christmas decorations when no one knows what they mean. There are icicles sticking up from the floor, upside down Christmas trees, and purple candy canes. I ended up having a great holiday season thanks to my students, site mate, friends, and video chat.  If you asked me last year where I thought I would be on Christmas Eve I never would have said rollerblading and eating McDonalds in China. So Random. On Christmas Day, I went to a “church” with my friend Cait and two teachers from her school. The church was in a recreational room on the third floor of a hospital. There was no church service but there were little kids dancing to techno music on a stage. People were running around screaming, dogs were barking, and an hour later when they asked if we were ready to leave I readily agreed because the cigarette smoke in the church was slightly too much for me. Despite the differences, everyone was extremely welcoming and three people came over to offer us gifts for the holidays. I had never gotten a “Chicken’s foot” for Christmas before, but it is the thought that counts. This Christmas I learned that Santa Claus knows no borders and neither does love, family, friendship, and the spirit of Christmas. Plus, eating Chinese food on Christmas definitely brought out my Jewish side. 

[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

New Brilliant!! Zhouzhou Erzhong’s English Singing Competition!! 

I was asked to judge my school’s English song competition. I was flattered but also a little nervous because staying in tune and finding the rhythm of songs are not some of my strong suits. During the preliminary round of judging, the talent of my students blew me away! I found it very hard to remain impartial as my students belted out classics from High School Musical, My Heart Will Go On, Justin Beiber, and some classic rock songs. It was great to see my students outside of class doing something fun.

During the rehearsal that was the day before the final competition, I watched all of the acts and congratulated them on their hard work and wished them luck for the following day. About half way through a Chinese teacher pulled me aside and told me that I should not be so nice to the students and I should be offering critical advice instead. She told me to follow her example so for the next hour I sat by as she told the students they were out of tune, their pronunciation was awful, their dictation was horrible, and tons of other criticisms. I couldn’t bring myself to criticize the students the day before the performance, how could they possibly change anything with only one day?!? Instead, I offered some small tips such as to have more confidence or smile more.  I may not have been extremely helpful but I knew how hard they hard worked and didn’t want to criticize them so I took the softer American approach instead of the Chinese strict one.

Two days before the competition my students approached me and asked me to sing at the competition. I tried my hardest to refuse but they insisted that it is a foreign teacher tradition. They then begged me to sing “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. Leading up to the competition I practiced the song over and over and made up a little dance but I decided that I was going to do my performance karaoke style instead of belting out the lyrics without Miley. On the day of the performance, I was stunned to find 1,000 hopeful faces cheering me on as I rocked out to Miley on stage holding the microphone as far away from me as possible. I made a fool out of myself but they loved it.  After my performance, as I took my seat at the judging panel on the day of the final competition I was so grateful to have other judges with me because when my favorite students came on stage I found it so hard not to give them the highest marks. All of the students did an amazing job, I on the other hand made it through with a smile. 

In the theme of Chinese discipline versus American discipline this article is pretty interesting and from my observations - so true!! 

 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html

I spent Thanksgiving weekend in Guangzhou feasting on western food, getting my Indian Visa, and ended up at a random 70’s party. I missed my family and friends at home a lot during Thanksgiving but was so grateful for being able to have this experience in China and to be able to celebrate the holiday with new friends. 

Since I devoted the last post to some disgusting things I want to write about two things that I love about China: the massages and the hair salons. This may sound superficial but they are awesome and so cheap!! There is a great foot massage place right near my apartment where I am a frequent customer. A foot massage is an hour long and only 25 kuai – 4 dollars! Recently, I got a full body massage that was a very interesting experience. The masseuse not only walked on my back but also was doing all kinds of aerobics hanging from the ceiling. It was outrageous!!  The hair salons in China are fabulous! I have not washed my own hair in over two months. Instead, I go to a hair salon around the corner from me and pay 15 kuai – a little more than three dollars to have my hair washed and straightened for me. Not only is this relaxing but it is also so convenient because it is way too cold to wash my own hair in my apartment.  Many Chinese people go to salons to get their hair washed throughout the winter since both heat and hot water are commodities.  View high resolution

Since I devoted the last post to some disgusting things I want to write about two things that I love about China: the massages and the hair salons. This may sound superficial but they are awesome and so cheap!! There is a great foot massage place right near my apartment where I am a frequent customer. A foot massage is an hour long and only 25 kuai – 4 dollars! Recently, I got a full body massage that was a very interesting experience. The masseuse not only walked on my back but also was doing all kinds of aerobics hanging from the ceiling. It was outrageous!! 

The hair salons in China are fabulous! I have not washed my own hair in over two months. Instead, I go to a hair salon around the corner from me and pay 15 kuai – a little more than three dollars to have my hair washed and straightened for me. Not only is this relaxing but it is also so convenient because it is way too cold to wash my own hair in my apartment.  Many Chinese people go to salons to get their hair washed throughout the winter since both heat and hot water are commodities. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/christian-bale-attacked-by-chinese-guards.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

For the first time last week I experienced the first and hopefully the last infamous sickness from Chinese food, needless to say it was not fun. However, my new and weaker stomach has led me to reflect upon hygiene and health. Most things no longer shock me, some things no longer phase me, and some things I will never get used to.  Spitting, whether they are inside or outside people feel free to hack up a huge loogie. It is also okay to do this on public transportation, in the gym, in a store, or in a restaurant.  People also fart, burp, cough, and sneeze all over.  Babies going to the bathroom in the street is totally acceptable. Babies in China don’t wear diapers, instead they were split pants so all the mothers have to do is spread their babies legs apart and let them go whenever and wherever. When I was on an incredibly crowded train home from Beijing a mother let her baby pee into a plastic bag in the midst of everyone and held the bag for the rest of the trip.  People strive to be pale so all of the personal care products and makeup have skin whitening cream in them. I have been struggling to find products without skin lightener.  Bathrooms don’t have toilet paper, you must carry your own with you at all times. All bathrooms are squatters, which are basically a hole in the ground but I am lucky to have a western toilet in my apartment.   People smoke cigarettes inside and outside, on public transportation, in the gym, and basically everywhere else. It does not matter if there is a “no smoking sign.” The pollution here is worse some days than others but it is not as bad as Beijing and Zhuzhou is making an effort to plant more trees, hence the new lake.   View high resolution

For the first time last week I experienced the first and hopefully the last infamous sickness from Chinese food, needless to say it was not fun. However, my new and weaker stomach has led me to reflect upon hygiene and health. Most things no longer shock me, some things no longer phase me, and some things I will never get used to. 

  • Spitting, whether they are inside or outside people feel free to hack up a huge loogie. It is also okay to do this on public transportation, in the gym, in a store, or in a restaurant. 
  • People also fart, burp, cough, and sneeze all over. 
  • Babies going to the bathroom in the street is totally acceptable. Babies in China don’t wear diapers, instead they were split pants so all the mothers have to do is spread their babies legs apart and let them go whenever and wherever. When I was on an incredibly crowded train home from Beijing a mother let her baby pee into a plastic bag in the midst of everyone and held the bag for the rest of the trip. 
  • People strive to be pale so all of the personal care products and makeup have skin whitening cream in them. I have been struggling to find products without skin lightener. 
  • Bathrooms don’t have toilet paper, you must carry your own with you at all times. All bathrooms are squatters, which are basically a hole in the ground but I am lucky to have a western toilet in my apartment.  
  • People smoke cigarettes inside and outside, on public transportation, in the gym, and basically everywhere else. It does not matter if there is a “no smoking sign.”
  • The pollution here is worse some days than others but it is not as bad as Beijing and Zhuzhou is making an effort to plant more trees, hence the new lake.  

November Flying By…

The weekend of November 12-13th I went to the China Teachers Consortium (CTC) Conference in Changsha which was invigorating because it validated my frustrations with the administrative and classroom challenges I am facing while teaching in China. The conference was also refreshing because I got a lot of new ideas that I am hoping will keep me feeling productive and efficient for the rest of the semester. —- Since this conference, I have had three weeks full of great lessons, two classes cancelled with out being informed, and am still working off my notes from the conference for lesson planning. 

Out with my friends and fellow WorldTeacher’s at the Song&Song in Changsha during the CTC conference. Picture was taken after: random wasted Chinese guys spilled boiling hot tea and broken glass all over me. Picture was taken before: different random wasted Chinese guys bought our drinks for the rest of the night without even attempting to speak or dance with us. (There are pluses and minuses of going out in China). 

The following weekend, I stayed in Zhuzhou to get some work done, exercise, and hang out with some of my friends from the University and some other foreign teachers. I am so lucky to have so many great foreign teachers in the same city, we have a lot of fun at our favorite restaurants and the one club/bar in Zhuzhou - SOHO. We have formed the Zhuzhou Basketball Association to combat the huge amount of rice, oil, and salt that we can’t seem to get rid of in Chinese food. 

Michael Jackson impersonator at SOHO. At one point in the night there was a nun, Marilyn Monroe, Lady Gage, and Micheal Jackson on stage together. 

Normal versus  gigantic apple at the local grocery store - Tian Yuan. 

Getting a package was the best thing ever! I now have COFFEE, cliff bars, clothes, backpacking supplies, flash cards, shoes, and an inhaler so I can actually breathe in all of this pollution! 

I cannot believe that there are only five/six more weeks left in the semester. I have been taking Chinese classes once/twice a week and just got a text book so I am hoping to make some improvements and fast! 

Pollution

Did you know that one-third of the pollution in Los Angelos comes from China? On most days, I am lucky if I get to see the sun. Usually the sky is gray…all day. It is hard to exercise outside without getting tired. I often try to practice my yoga breathing to make me feel better but it sometimes feels impossible to take a deep breath. I hope that the air in America will stay fresh and the sky will stay clear. 

I took a boat down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshou and took in the most scenic views I have seen in China thus far. Yanshou was definitely touristy but for good reason, once I was there I spent the afternoon bike riding and taking in the views. I also saw water buffalo!

The best part about Guilin was the area around Guilin. I hiked around the rice terraces in Dazhai and Ping’an. It was stunning.