Blue Sky

July 24, 2009

8:08 PM


Today we saw blue sky as we headed out to the street where Duo picks us up. WOW! It was the first time since being here that I've seen the clear sky and the puffy individual clouds (which had merged and changed the sky to overcast by the time we got to BCBUU, but still, we had a moment!) When we got to the school, we couldn’t park in our usual spot in front--there were dozens of cars already there and hundreds of people milling about. Must be registration day for new students, we figured. The building we’re really supposed to teach in was open (it’s been being cleaned all week) so we were able to walk through and see the big sign that advertises our course. Funny to see one’s name & picture thus displayed!


The professors’ class was great. Two students brought in lengthy, well-edited powerpoints about themselves. These stories are getting more personal and detailed. Logan told us about coming from a family of six children, from a small town (population only about 30,000) in the South of China. He showed pictures of his family, the town, and the landscape--the major crop is navel oranges. (He was one of 20 in his elementary school class of 600 who went on to middle school, and one of four from his middle school class who went on to University.)


Susan’s powerpoint showed many highlights of her life--lots about her husband & baby (her son, who is now seven), the day she received her PhD, the day last winter when her son thanked her & his father publically during a school assembly for all they do for him. She showed pictures of her little motor bike, her BMW, which gets her to work in 15 minutes, the model of a Dragon Ship she and her son built (97 pieces)!, and her parents who have always been so wonderful. She said at the end that when she had started this class, she had intended just to listen and to say nothing, but had been moved by others’ presentations.


Then I did my powerpoint on American Sports and Pastimes. Lucky for me, Mark Buehrle picthed a perfect game yesterday, so in discussing America’s National Sport, I could sing someone’s praises (since Our Boys have been letting us down. The Red Sox slide should stop, though--I did wear my RS earrings today.) By the time I had finished, we only had time for me to show my computer Scrabble (four people clustered around) and one woman brought out her deck of 108 cards to play poker, but no one joined in that.


In the students’ class, no one had brought in any games and the kids weren’t talking much today. Ah well. I had them pair up and practice giving “How to” speeches in English by explaining to each other how to use chopsticks. (Some of them gave very good explanations, but I have to admit I still can only use the way I invented when I was 12 years old and have been using ever since.) Then I whisked through my powerpoint and we played Hangman (they loved it and were VERY GOOD, guessing words after having only 3 letters placed on the llines) for a few rounds. We ended the class by playing The Name Game, which was as popular with them as it always was with my 8th graders or at family parties. On Monday each student is supposed to present a speech in English on a game, hobby, or sport.


After school, Kacie and I went to the Silk Market (where I had been before) and we each made a few purchases. She LOVED it because she likes to bargain and haggle. In the taxi on the way back to our apartment, she told me more about her 100 days traveling around the world with Semester at Sea. 10 Ports of Call, each for 5 days and 50 days of classes while cruising to the next port. Amazing adventures. She’s been to 17 other countries, 27 in all. Her enthusiasm and joie de vivre is pleasant.


Today is a day to celebrate: two babies born into our family yesterday. Cousin Russell’s son Jonathan and his wife Heather welcomed Mary Jordan and Cousin Pauline’s son Adrien and his wife Jess welcomed Victoria Ann. Aren’t we so lucky?


More another day--thanks for reading.