So, the past week flew by and was pretty uneventful, but I did get a lot of studying done. As part of my studying I have decided to start over with book 1 and review all the vocabulary again and then to translate all the sentences at the end of each chapter. I am then going to have a tutor look over and correct my work to help me see where I am making mistakes. Once I am finished with book 1 I will move on to book 2 and do the same. I feel like the reviewing is definitely helping me to improve with my language.
Yesterday my friends and I decided to spend our weekly time together to do something different, so we spent the day at a mountain skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. I just went tubing since skiing and I have never really gotten along (always some injury occurs). And while I successfully made it without an injury by choosing to not ski, one of my friends was not so lucky and broke his wrist the last hour. Unfortunately for him it wasn't even his fault as a Chinese person crashed into him and landed on his arm. So, out came my athletic training education and first aid skills. My conclusion was a fracture to his wrist, so using some cardboard and socks I created a splint for his arm, and then made a sling with some scarves. He went to the hospital as soon as we got back into town and it was confirmed that he had a green-stick fracture to the ulna and minor fractures to two carpal bones. So he got a cast, and is doing well. Despite the injury everyone had a blast. The mountain that we went to provides free transportation to the ski place and back home again, so the whole day only cost us each between $9-24 ($9 for tubing, and $15 for skiing/snowboarding rental). I honestly can say I do not know anywhere else that I could have an entire day of fun in the snow for under $10. I posted a few pictures of the mountain in case you were interested.
I am closing here for now, but the countdown until Chinese New Year is now 10 days!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Part 2 of Village Teaching and an Update
Hey again! Well, last week I filled you in on my opportunity to teach in a village in Hanzhong. Well, a few days after writing my blog about it, I received an email from a student that I wanted to share with you. I left her name out for various reasons, but did copy the email just like I received it.
'Dear Ms.Andrea,
Hello! Do you still remember me? On last Friday in Chenggu, you attended an English class, I'm that girl who was wearing a blue coat sitting near the door, and after the class, I asked you for giving me your E-mail. That English class made an impression on me, you are friendly, extroversion and easy-going, you know, there is seldom such teacher like you here, teachers and students ofen have a generation gap, so I spent a happy time with you thai night. What makes me more excited is the song happy birthday to you. Do you know, it was my 17-year-old birthday, I couldn't express my feeling that time, maybe it's beyond words.
I hope you can visit Chenggu next time, maybe I can talk with you more fluently, do you think so? Best whishes to you.
ps.This is my first time to write an e-mail in English, if I have made any mistakes, please tell me, I will be thanksfull.'
To explain the Happy Birthday comment - the last five minutes of class I gave the students the opportunity to ask me questions. I was asked to say something in Chinese and to sing a song in Chinese. I have not learned any Chinese songs yet, but remembered that I taught myself Happy Birthday in Chinese to sing to my mom for her birthday, so that is what I sang, with a little help from the students. When I received the email I was genuinely touched because I really did not feel that I had made a difference at all in my teaching that weekend. I also received additional positive feedback this week when Ryan (my school Director) returned from a weekend trip to Hanzhong where the teachers and students there asked him if I could come back again. So, I will most likely be teaching again sometime in April or May in Hanzhong.
Ok, time for an update. Well, around here everyone is gearing up for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, which all begins in 17 days. It promises to be a month of celebration unlike any other I am told. I will keep you all informed as the holiday gets closer.
Due to the upcoming holiday I am off from class for the next 5 weeks. Many people, including my teachers go back to the homes of their families in the village to spend the holidays with them. So, classes take a winter break during that time (I choose not to come back to the States during this time because it is not the most feasible for my parents with it being tax season). I have been studying vocabulary and reviewing grammar a lot this week, but am still considering getting a tutor during the next month. One of my friends here has a tutor who is looking for work during the holiday, so I may see about meeting with her a few days a week to keep my language skills up to par. On a side note, a friend and I were talking about my language progression today and I told her that I want to be that person that goes from A to Z with Mandarin, but that I know that is not going to happen. She agreed that this language is not as easy to master as Spanish or some other languages, but that I was still further along in 5 months than she was after a year. So I was definitely encouraged by that.
In other news, tonight I apparently became an aunt to a 2 year old Chinese girl named Annie. At about 8pm I had a knock on the door and when I opened the door a lady whom I met a few days earlier on the elevator (she caught me off guard by speaking English to me) and her daughter were standing there. She introduced me to her daughter as auntie - I don't really think that is a Chinese thing, but thought it was kind of funny. Long story short, Linda is my neighbor and a long-time friend of my landlord. My landlord and his wife were trying to get a hold of me the other day (which we finally connected), but in the meantime they were worried that something might be wrong, so they asked Linda to check on me and see if she could help with anything. So, Linda and Annie came by to do just that and we had a good 10 minute visit. I am really going to enjoy seeing more of them. Annie has been learning English from the Lighthouse Center, which is the building where my school is run from, so she was practicing her English with me tonight. Maybe I should just start hanging out with Annie - she can teach me Chinese and I can teach her English! Anyways, it was a nice surprise to meet a neighbor that can speak English and is so willing to help.
Alright, this has probably been long enough for you to read, so I will close here for now. Again I hope you all are well.
'Dear Ms.Andrea,
Hello! Do you still remember me? On last Friday in Chenggu, you attended an English class, I'm that girl who was wearing a blue coat sitting near the door, and after the class, I asked you for giving me your E-mail. That English class made an impression on me, you are friendly, extroversion and easy-going, you know, there is seldom such teacher like you here, teachers and students ofen have a generation gap, so I spent a happy time with you thai night. What makes me more excited is the song happy birthday to you. Do you know, it was my 17-year-old birthday, I couldn't express my feeling that time, maybe it's beyond words.
I hope you can visit Chenggu next time, maybe I can talk with you more fluently, do you think so? Best whishes to you.
ps.This is my first time to write an e-mail in English, if I have made any mistakes, please tell me, I will be thanksfull.'
To explain the Happy Birthday comment - the last five minutes of class I gave the students the opportunity to ask me questions. I was asked to say something in Chinese and to sing a song in Chinese. I have not learned any Chinese songs yet, but remembered that I taught myself Happy Birthday in Chinese to sing to my mom for her birthday, so that is what I sang, with a little help from the students. When I received the email I was genuinely touched because I really did not feel that I had made a difference at all in my teaching that weekend. I also received additional positive feedback this week when Ryan (my school Director) returned from a weekend trip to Hanzhong where the teachers and students there asked him if I could come back again. So, I will most likely be teaching again sometime in April or May in Hanzhong.
Ok, time for an update. Well, around here everyone is gearing up for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, which all begins in 17 days. It promises to be a month of celebration unlike any other I am told. I will keep you all informed as the holiday gets closer.
Due to the upcoming holiday I am off from class for the next 5 weeks. Many people, including my teachers go back to the homes of their families in the village to spend the holidays with them. So, classes take a winter break during that time (I choose not to come back to the States during this time because it is not the most feasible for my parents with it being tax season). I have been studying vocabulary and reviewing grammar a lot this week, but am still considering getting a tutor during the next month. One of my friends here has a tutor who is looking for work during the holiday, so I may see about meeting with her a few days a week to keep my language skills up to par. On a side note, a friend and I were talking about my language progression today and I told her that I want to be that person that goes from A to Z with Mandarin, but that I know that is not going to happen. She agreed that this language is not as easy to master as Spanish or some other languages, but that I was still further along in 5 months than she was after a year. So I was definitely encouraged by that.
In other news, tonight I apparently became an aunt to a 2 year old Chinese girl named Annie. At about 8pm I had a knock on the door and when I opened the door a lady whom I met a few days earlier on the elevator (she caught me off guard by speaking English to me) and her daughter were standing there. She introduced me to her daughter as auntie - I don't really think that is a Chinese thing, but thought it was kind of funny. Long story short, Linda is my neighbor and a long-time friend of my landlord. My landlord and his wife were trying to get a hold of me the other day (which we finally connected), but in the meantime they were worried that something might be wrong, so they asked Linda to check on me and see if she could help with anything. So, Linda and Annie came by to do just that and we had a good 10 minute visit. I am really going to enjoy seeing more of them. Annie has been learning English from the Lighthouse Center, which is the building where my school is run from, so she was practicing her English with me tonight. Maybe I should just start hanging out with Annie - she can teach me Chinese and I can teach her English! Anyways, it was a nice surprise to meet a neighbor that can speak English and is so willing to help.
Alright, this has probably been long enough for you to read, so I will close here for now. Again I hope you all are well.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Teaching in a Village
Hey everyone! I had an exciting adventure over the weekend that I wanted to share with you. I taught English to students (elementary - high school) in a village in the city of Hanzhong. My school Director, Ryan, is from Hanzhong and from time to time arranges for a native English speaker to visit his hometown to teach the students there (Hanzhong is primarily a poor city and most people are farmers). Ryan decided to send one of my school teachers with me for logistical purposes and for any help that I may need, so Victoria and I went on this trip together. The schedule was to teach middle / high schoolers Friday night from 6-8pm and then on Saturday teach elementary school kids from 8-10am and more middle / high schoolers from 10am-12pm.
Victoria and I left on Friday at 2:30pm on the bus, which was to be a 3 hour trip, but due to some traffic jam somewhere we arrived at 7:45pm instead of 5:30pm. We immediately went to the school where I instead taught from 8-10pm (the Chinese are very serious about school and are there until that time anyways). I had 38 students for the night. After teaching we went to a little restaurant for dinner where my host teacher ordered me a pork sandwich and a bowl of noodles. The sandwich was really good, but the noodles were really spicy, and I don't do spicy very often. We then checked into the hotel at 11:30pm and were pretty much asleep by 12:15am.
On Saturday we were picked up at 7:30am and taken to a little restaurant for breakfast, which was porridge (it is some bean flavored soup that looks like milk), more spicy noodles, and a pastry. I enjoyed the pastry, was not crazy about more spicy noodles, especially for breakfast, and only enjoyed the porridge somewhat because it helped with my mouth that was on fire. I then taught the two classes (28 students for the first class and 25 students for the second) before our host and a group of the teachers and three students took us to lunch. We went to the best restuarant there for Chinese hot pot. Hot pot is best described as a beef bouillon base with a few carrots and celery for flavor that is in a huge pot in the center of the table. A fire under the pot is started and the base begins to boil. You then add anything you want to add to it and let it cook. Once things are cooked you take the meat, vegetables, or noodles out with your chopsticks and place it on your plate to eat. Then later you laddle out the soup part into a bowl to drink. I have to admit I ate things that I would not normally eat and things that I dislike, but I did it to be culturally sensitive and to not offend my hosts and their delicacies (I had to eat tofu - sorry for those of you who like it, but it is really bad, as well as mushrooms and mushroom noodles - yes, my parents laughed about this since they have tried for years to get me to eat mushrooms). Typically the Chinese custom is to serve your guest every time they need food - so the host would get food every few minutes and put it on your plate until you were done eating. If you were being treated like family, as I was on this day, then you serve yourself. I am not up to par with my chopstick skills, so not only did my friends and I get a good laugh out of it, but I ended up being served in the long run because of it.
Victoria and I left at 2:30pm for another 3 hour bus ride, but were delayed an hour on the way home for a traffic jam at the same place, but just on the other side of the highway. I had a good time and enjoyed seeing a different part of China. I have posted some pictures from this weekend for you to see including highway signs - some are "normal" and some are just funny due to Chinese-English translation.
Here are a few random observations from the weekend:
* I had my travel size hairspray confiscated at the bus station in Xi'an for fear that it could be a bomb; yet anyone was allowed to carry lighters, water bottles and jugs of liquids through without screening (I did get my hairspray back when we came back the next day, but just thought it was a little interesting since you didn't really know what was in those containers of liquids)
* After every meal in Hanzhong I was given a piece of Doublemint gum to chew. Apparently that is what you do after a meal
* I got to watch the same movie on my bus rides, which was about Chinese poker - couldn't understand a word of it, but the Chinese on the bus loved it and laughed a lot during the movie
* The mountains of Hanzhong are beautiful and the air there is clearer allowing you to really see them
Hope you enjoyed hearing about my adventure over the weekend. This week I have been working on language and trying to get over this sinus infection that wants to stick around. Looking forward to checking in again soon.
Victoria and I left on Friday at 2:30pm on the bus, which was to be a 3 hour trip, but due to some traffic jam somewhere we arrived at 7:45pm instead of 5:30pm. We immediately went to the school where I instead taught from 8-10pm (the Chinese are very serious about school and are there until that time anyways). I had 38 students for the night. After teaching we went to a little restaurant for dinner where my host teacher ordered me a pork sandwich and a bowl of noodles. The sandwich was really good, but the noodles were really spicy, and I don't do spicy very often. We then checked into the hotel at 11:30pm and were pretty much asleep by 12:15am.
On Saturday we were picked up at 7:30am and taken to a little restaurant for breakfast, which was porridge (it is some bean flavored soup that looks like milk), more spicy noodles, and a pastry. I enjoyed the pastry, was not crazy about more spicy noodles, especially for breakfast, and only enjoyed the porridge somewhat because it helped with my mouth that was on fire. I then taught the two classes (28 students for the first class and 25 students for the second) before our host and a group of the teachers and three students took us to lunch. We went to the best restuarant there for Chinese hot pot. Hot pot is best described as a beef bouillon base with a few carrots and celery for flavor that is in a huge pot in the center of the table. A fire under the pot is started and the base begins to boil. You then add anything you want to add to it and let it cook. Once things are cooked you take the meat, vegetables, or noodles out with your chopsticks and place it on your plate to eat. Then later you laddle out the soup part into a bowl to drink. I have to admit I ate things that I would not normally eat and things that I dislike, but I did it to be culturally sensitive and to not offend my hosts and their delicacies (I had to eat tofu - sorry for those of you who like it, but it is really bad, as well as mushrooms and mushroom noodles - yes, my parents laughed about this since they have tried for years to get me to eat mushrooms). Typically the Chinese custom is to serve your guest every time they need food - so the host would get food every few minutes and put it on your plate until you were done eating. If you were being treated like family, as I was on this day, then you serve yourself. I am not up to par with my chopstick skills, so not only did my friends and I get a good laugh out of it, but I ended up being served in the long run because of it.
Victoria and I left at 2:30pm for another 3 hour bus ride, but were delayed an hour on the way home for a traffic jam at the same place, but just on the other side of the highway. I had a good time and enjoyed seeing a different part of China. I have posted some pictures from this weekend for you to see including highway signs - some are "normal" and some are just funny due to Chinese-English translation.
Here are a few random observations from the weekend:
* I had my travel size hairspray confiscated at the bus station in Xi'an for fear that it could be a bomb; yet anyone was allowed to carry lighters, water bottles and jugs of liquids through without screening (I did get my hairspray back when we came back the next day, but just thought it was a little interesting since you didn't really know what was in those containers of liquids)
* After every meal in Hanzhong I was given a piece of Doublemint gum to chew. Apparently that is what you do after a meal
* I got to watch the same movie on my bus rides, which was about Chinese poker - couldn't understand a word of it, but the Chinese on the bus loved it and laughed a lot during the movie
* The mountains of Hanzhong are beautiful and the air there is clearer allowing you to really see them
Hope you enjoyed hearing about my adventure over the weekend. This week I have been working on language and trying to get over this sinus infection that wants to stick around. Looking forward to checking in again soon.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
New Perspective
Hey! Well, I definitely enjoyed my time in the States, but had to get back into the swing of things once I returned since I still had classes to attend. Monday's class went well since I was able to retain the new chapter that I studied over the weekend, but by Tuesday I had quickly regressed in that knowledge. I did have to remind myself that I did not study the three weeks I missed of class either. My teachers said that they were still impressed with my progress to this point and to keep practicing my tones and vocabulary and it will all come naturally soon enough.
I am going to shift the focus of my blog for a minute and share with you something that I have been pondering this weekend. I don't claim to have this all figured out or that I am even right in this matter - it is just what's on my heart that I would love to share with you. I would also welcome any thoughts or feedback that you may have on the matter.
I have been thinking about disappointment and how in life we all experience it in some form or fashion. Whether it is being disappointed in someone or in a situation, it is a natural part of life. In my process of thinking I started to wonder what life would be like if I viewed disappointment in a different way - if I gave a new definition to disappointment. Various dictionaries define "disappointment" as: dashing one's hopes, to be frustrated, to being defeated or a failure. What if instead the word was broken into two parts: 'dis' and 'appointment.' 'Dis' used as a prefix would mean: not, undo, or free from. And 'appointment' would mean: the act of selecting or designating someone to a position.
What if instead of viewing "disappointment" when a friend chooses to walk out of my life as being someone who is defeated, I instead viewed it as an opportunity of 'free form' for another person to be 'appointed to that position' in that season of my life? In place of being disappointed in people and choosing to close myself off to the world, what if I allowed room for others to become my friends? Would it change my perspective of disappointment and maybe even theirs?
What if instead of viewing "disappointment" when the hope I had of teaching English to Chinese Olympic athletes gets put on hold, and instead viewed it as an opportunity to 'undo' the obstacles standing in my way of 'appointing me to learn another language' so that lives can be changed? Would it change my perspective of disappointment?
And my answer to all of those questions is: YES! My perspective has changed and been opened up to a new realm of possibilities. I have realized that a lot of this journey is about learning more about who I am becoming and allowing myself to be appointed to the positions that were chosen for me by Someone who knows me better than I know myself. It is about allowing my life to be re-defined in order to allow for greater growth.
Thank you for continuing to read my blog as you allowed me the opportunity to express my thoughts there for a moment. I wish you all a continued happy and healthy new year!
I am going to shift the focus of my blog for a minute and share with you something that I have been pondering this weekend. I don't claim to have this all figured out or that I am even right in this matter - it is just what's on my heart that I would love to share with you. I would also welcome any thoughts or feedback that you may have on the matter.
I have been thinking about disappointment and how in life we all experience it in some form or fashion. Whether it is being disappointed in someone or in a situation, it is a natural part of life. In my process of thinking I started to wonder what life would be like if I viewed disappointment in a different way - if I gave a new definition to disappointment. Various dictionaries define "disappointment" as: dashing one's hopes, to be frustrated, to being defeated or a failure. What if instead the word was broken into two parts: 'dis' and 'appointment.' 'Dis' used as a prefix would mean: not, undo, or free from. And 'appointment' would mean: the act of selecting or designating someone to a position.
What if instead of viewing "disappointment" when a friend chooses to walk out of my life as being someone who is defeated, I instead viewed it as an opportunity of 'free form' for another person to be 'appointed to that position' in that season of my life? In place of being disappointed in people and choosing to close myself off to the world, what if I allowed room for others to become my friends? Would it change my perspective of disappointment and maybe even theirs?
What if instead of viewing "disappointment" when the hope I had of teaching English to Chinese Olympic athletes gets put on hold, and instead viewed it as an opportunity to 'undo' the obstacles standing in my way of 'appointing me to learn another language' so that lives can be changed? Would it change my perspective of disappointment?
And my answer to all of those questions is: YES! My perspective has changed and been opened up to a new realm of possibilities. I have realized that a lot of this journey is about learning more about who I am becoming and allowing myself to be appointed to the positions that were chosen for me by Someone who knows me better than I know myself. It is about allowing my life to be re-defined in order to allow for greater growth.
Thank you for continuing to read my blog as you allowed me the opportunity to express my thoughts there for a moment. I wish you all a continued happy and healthy new year!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Back in Xi'an
It's me again! Just wanted to let you all know that I am back in Xi'an. I will be updating again in a few days, but in the meantime wanted you to all know that I safely made it back. Hope you all are enjoying the holiday weekend.
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