It is:
mild.
bland.
white.
mild.
bland.
white.
It is:
YAK CHEESE.
Which I ate in a very remote village far away in the hills of China.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
China and the Open Door Policy
I thought the Open Door Policy in China referred to letting foreign countries and foreign visitors come in to this vast country.
Silly me!
What China's open door policy means is literally that - leave every door open - especially when it is forty degrees outside!
On Sunday when we gave our final listening exam to our students, the room was colder than it was outside, and that was mighty cold. The students were wearing scarves, hats, earmuffs, boots, and gloves on the hand that wasn't writing. On Monday, when Jane arrived in the classroom, she was literally shivering. There is no heat in the dorm rooms and the students are not allowed to use plug-in heaters.
In our apartment building, there is a large foyer. The double doors are kept open 24/7 and the workers are not allowed to use plug-in heaters behind their desk, even though it is terribly COLD! Susan carries around a hand warmer with her at all times. I asked if she could use one on her feet, and she said she moves too much to put a hand warmer on her feet. I would.
So, now you know what Open Door Policy really means...
Silly me!
What China's open door policy means is literally that - leave every door open - especially when it is forty degrees outside!
On Sunday when we gave our final listening exam to our students, the room was colder than it was outside, and that was mighty cold. The students were wearing scarves, hats, earmuffs, boots, and gloves on the hand that wasn't writing. On Monday, when Jane arrived in the classroom, she was literally shivering. There is no heat in the dorm rooms and the students are not allowed to use plug-in heaters.
In our apartment building, there is a large foyer. The double doors are kept open 24/7 and the workers are not allowed to use plug-in heaters behind their desk, even though it is terribly COLD! Susan carries around a hand warmer with her at all times. I asked if she could use one on her feet, and she said she moves too much to put a hand warmer on her feet. I would.
So, now you know what Open Door Policy really means...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Not a Good Day
Thursday morning – one of my favorite classes.
Student: Mrs. Hackworth, do we have you next semester?
Me: I hope so, I have asked to have you again. I just love this class, so of course, I'm hoping that I will be your teacher next term....why?
Student: Because I looked on the internet and we have someone named Kathy.
Sucker punch to the stomach!
Kathy gets them. She's young, pretty, energetic, fun, and now, she's also very lucky!
I LOVE these kids. They are bright, articulate, so fun, eager, humorous, happy to sing the songs, delightful.
My heart sank. I almost started to cry. Not very professional. But, I recovered long enough to say, “You will really like Kathy. She is so much fun. She's pretty. She's great and you will learn a lot.”
My heart still hurts.
They will forget me after one week of having Kathy, but I will never forget the Thursday morning 8:30 a.m. class!
Student: Mrs. Hackworth, do we have you next semester?
Me: I hope so, I have asked to have you again. I just love this class, so of course, I'm hoping that I will be your teacher next term....why?
Student: Because I looked on the internet and we have someone named Kathy.
Sucker punch to the stomach!
Kathy gets them. She's young, pretty, energetic, fun, and now, she's also very lucky!
I LOVE these kids. They are bright, articulate, so fun, eager, humorous, happy to sing the songs, delightful.
My heart sank. I almost started to cry. Not very professional. But, I recovered long enough to say, “You will really like Kathy. She is so much fun. She's pretty. She's great and you will learn a lot.”
My heart still hurts.
They will forget me after one week of having Kathy, but I will never forget the Thursday morning 8:30 a.m. class!
Taking Roll
Several times during the semester, I have asked the students to answer a question when I call the roll. A couple of the questions were:
“What is something about you that no one in this room knows?”
“What would you do with a 100 yuan bill if it came to you anonymously in the mail?”
But, today's question was one I wish so badly that I had videoed the answers...
“What have you learned about YOURSELF in this your first term of university?”
Random sampling of answers:
I've learned:
how to drink from Coco - he drinks a lot! (Coco turns a bright red and everyone laughs heartily! But that may explain Coco's low grades.)
that I need to tighten my belt! (One of the idioms on the final exam.)
that I was quite dependent on my parents.
to not be so afraid to speak English to foreigners.
that many students speak much better English than I do.
that I didn't manage my time very well.
to be a better manager of my time.
that I can rely on my friends and classmates. They will help me. I used to be very dependent and try to figure things out, but my friends can help me solve problems.
that I really missed my parents.
that I can get up in front of a class and give a presentation.
that I need to do my homework!
that I couldn't get up for my first class because my parents weren't here to wake me up.
Ah, the same lessons learned round the world by college freshmen.
“What is something about you that no one in this room knows?”
“What would you do with a 100 yuan bill if it came to you anonymously in the mail?”
But, today's question was one I wish so badly that I had videoed the answers...
“What have you learned about YOURSELF in this your first term of university?”
Random sampling of answers:
I've learned:
how to drink from Coco - he drinks a lot! (Coco turns a bright red and everyone laughs heartily! But that may explain Coco's low grades.)
that I need to tighten my belt! (One of the idioms on the final exam.)
that I was quite dependent on my parents.
to not be so afraid to speak English to foreigners.
that many students speak much better English than I do.
that I didn't manage my time very well.
to be a better manager of my time.
that I can rely on my friends and classmates. They will help me. I used to be very dependent and try to figure things out, but my friends can help me solve problems.
that I really missed my parents.
that I can get up in front of a class and give a presentation.
that I need to do my homework!
that I couldn't get up for my first class because my parents weren't here to wake me up.
Ah, the same lessons learned round the world by college freshmen.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Meanwhile Back in the States
He's eight....
and he's adorable.
And, he's curious about lots of things.
Maybe that is why he Googled this question,
"Is Santa Claus real?"
Ah, you gotta love kids, technology and Google.
And, you guessed it...
Google gave the correct answer,
"Yes, Oscar, there IS a Santa Claus.
and he's adorable.
And, he's curious about lots of things.
Maybe that is why he Googled this question,
"Is Santa Claus real?"
Ah, you gotta love kids, technology and Google.
And, you guessed it...
Google gave the correct answer,
"Yes, Oscar, there IS a Santa Claus.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Questions Without Any Answers
LGH: Since school was canceled on our final exam day, do you know when it will be rescheduled, as there are only four days left in the term?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Can you tell me yet if we will have the same students we had this term as I have an assignment I'd like them to work on over Spring festival?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Could you tell me when we will be out in July as our family is planning a big get together and they wondered when we would be coming home?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Could you tell me what keeps this university up and running?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Can you tell me yet if we will have the same students we had this term as I have an assignment I'd like them to work on over Spring festival?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Could you tell me when we will be out in July as our family is planning a big get together and they wondered when we would be coming home?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
LGH: Could you tell me what keeps this university up and running?
Administrator: That has not yet been determined.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Random Ramblings
1. Walking by the elementary/middle school at noon, I often hear classical music piped out on the playground. It's seeping into those children's brains -that is awesome.
2. We went to an elementary school production recently where the little children performed everything in English. It was a New Year celebration of English culture. Here they are putting on a little skit of Puss N' Boots.
I'm sure their parents couldn't understsand one word, but I've never seen a more adorable production of "Little Red Riding Hood," than the one the third graders put on. The wolf was vicious in his wolf costume, speaking in his little Chinese accent, "I'm going to eat you up!" Red Riding Hood was absolutely delightful as she skipped to grandma's house and said in her Chinese accent, "What big ears you have!" Oh, so so cute.
3. And, you've never really seen a Michael Jackson's "Beat It," performed quite like it was with a Chinese sixth grader on the drums and an adorable Chinese sixth-grader singing his heart out to the cheering middle school students. Or, you've never heard, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," quite like it being sung by 45 first graders in little Chinese accents. Oh, it was a delightful afternoon, indeed.
4. Western habits creep into these students' daily lives as we see some of them getting chubbier. They eat chips, soda, fries - all recent inductees into their diets. Oh so so sad!
5. I will ALWAYS be grateful for this remarkable opportunity!
2. We went to an elementary school production recently where the little children performed everything in English. It was a New Year celebration of English culture. Here they are putting on a little skit of Puss N' Boots.
I'm sure their parents couldn't understsand one word, but I've never seen a more adorable production of "Little Red Riding Hood," than the one the third graders put on. The wolf was vicious in his wolf costume, speaking in his little Chinese accent, "I'm going to eat you up!" Red Riding Hood was absolutely delightful as she skipped to grandma's house and said in her Chinese accent, "What big ears you have!" Oh, so so cute.
3. And, you've never really seen a Michael Jackson's "Beat It," performed quite like it was with a Chinese sixth grader on the drums and an adorable Chinese sixth-grader singing his heart out to the cheering middle school students. Or, you've never heard, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," quite like it being sung by 45 first graders in little Chinese accents. Oh, it was a delightful afternoon, indeed.
4. Western habits creep into these students' daily lives as we see some of them getting chubbier. They eat chips, soda, fries - all recent inductees into their diets. Oh so so sad!
5. I will ALWAYS be grateful for this remarkable opportunity!
Church in China
I love going to church in our little branch in Guangzhou. It's always interesting to see who shows up in the little hotel room. The Branch Presidency consists of the President from the United Kingdom, the first counselor from America, the second counselor from China.
Each week, we hear some amazing stories of strength and faith. Today the speakers came from America, Africa (actually 2 from Africa), China. One talked about trying to find the church in Beijing last Sunday. It was so interesting as he told about trying to locate the building, which, of course, is never really a church at all, and that is what makes it challenging.
Two young brothers from China spoke. One told of how cheating is so prevalent among his peers at a private high school here. Joshua was so pressured for time to write up his science experiemnt. He wanted to surf the Internet to find the explanation. As he began to do this, he wondered if googling his science project would be considered cheating. So, he looked in the Bible dictionary and nothing was listed there about googling for answers. He was so cute in telling this story. He totally made me laugh out loud.
He is Chinese - age 14 - and has a very strong accent. He pondered about if there was a scripture that would help him in knowing what to do. The 13th article of faith came to his mind. ".....if there is anything praiseworthy...we seek after these things." He decided that copying from the Internet was definitely NOT praiseworthy, so he did the work himself.
Lucky me - I get to teach Joshua and his older brother in Sunday School.
Yes, it's always an adventure...going there and getting home.
And, the meetings themselves are powerful and humbling. Thanks again, Heavenly Father, for this unique blessing/opporutnity.
Each week, we hear some amazing stories of strength and faith. Today the speakers came from America, Africa (actually 2 from Africa), China. One talked about trying to find the church in Beijing last Sunday. It was so interesting as he told about trying to locate the building, which, of course, is never really a church at all, and that is what makes it challenging.
Two young brothers from China spoke. One told of how cheating is so prevalent among his peers at a private high school here. Joshua was so pressured for time to write up his science experiemnt. He wanted to surf the Internet to find the explanation. As he began to do this, he wondered if googling his science project would be considered cheating. So, he looked in the Bible dictionary and nothing was listed there about googling for answers. He was so cute in telling this story. He totally made me laugh out loud.
He is Chinese - age 14 - and has a very strong accent. He pondered about if there was a scripture that would help him in knowing what to do. The 13th article of faith came to his mind. ".....if there is anything praiseworthy...we seek after these things." He decided that copying from the Internet was definitely NOT praiseworthy, so he did the work himself.
Lucky me - I get to teach Joshua and his older brother in Sunday School.
Yes, it's always an adventure...going there and getting home.
And, the meetings themselves are powerful and humbling. Thanks again, Heavenly Father, for this unique blessing/opporutnity.
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