I have this huge apartment with just me this term. I grew up in a home centered around the dinner table. I loved every min of it, even when I was sent away to my room,  those mins right before were always worth it!

I was making plans for this place even before I moved in, top of the list was a good dinner get together with the gang, Bonnie and the Japanese teachers. The good old shrimp and french fries was always a hit so I scheduled an evening and set to work.

In my enthusiasm for a good meal I forgot how terribly labor intensive breaded shrimp was when starting from scratch. Katie and Thomas were kind enough to take over the cooking. They got a head start while Bonnie and I were out buying train tickets to Harbin.

They had the first batch ready to go when we arrived and the Japanese teachers came right on time. I know bad hostess still learning, I entertained in the living room while Katie, Thomas and their friend Anna took over kitchen duty, shelling, battering and frying all evening. The food was delicious.

I love the Japanese teachers, Shiggy is hilarious and Mr. Kobayashi is sweet. I have to admit regardless of what he thinks of his English I think its amazing. We talked about classes and vacation plans. Since they were fellow foreigners I related some of my more interesting Student outburst stories. (Please feel free to ask me once I’m back in the States) As we talked Mr. Kobayashi asked if the Korean teachers would be joining us, I had not invited them as I was under the impression they didn’t speak English.

Lack of prep left us a few eggs short and the Japanese teachers were out. I decided to just cross the landing a ask my Korean neighbors, yes the ones I hadn’t invited. I found the word for egg in Chinese hoping they possibly spoke a little Chinese. I muddled through, “I need eggs, please” in Chinese and she kindly brought me a few.

When I returned with the eggs Shiggy asked why I used Chinese, “They speak English.” My jaw dropped. What, now I feel horrible. I had not invited them assuming they didn’t speak English and it would be uncomfortable for them. I specifically remember someone telling me they didn’t speak English. “Oh I don’t think the girls speak it well but the guy speaks great we chat all the time in English” Shiggy said. Really are we talking about the same Korean, the one I pass in the hall and ask “How are you?” to and he gets completely flustered nods his head then takes the stairs three at a time to escape.

Well now that the language barrier has been cleared up two days before the end of term I feel much better about ignoring them this whole time. Okay honest effort next term will be put in to get to know my neighbors.

The rest of the evening went well, learned a lot about Japanese culture. Looking forward to another term with my Japanese colleagues.

Today was the shortest day of the year. As a traditional Chinese superstition if you eat dumplings, which are shaped like and ear, your ears will stay warm the rest of the winter. In turn you will remain warm throughout the cold months.

Bonnie filled me in on this little tidbit of information while at lunch. While in China do as the Chinese, so I planned on grabbing some dumplings for dinner. I willing to participate in just about anything to get one step ahead of the cold. After the English competition I headed to Cantina #3 Window 15 ahh my favorite. Really I didn’t need any excuse to head for the dumplings as they are my favorites. Then I saw the line, or should I more accurately say the mob.

Unlike the British, the Chinese can’t queue for the life of ‘em. I’m afraid I’ll have to relearn manners when I touch down again in the US. Pushing, shoving and the good ol’ elbow jab has become a way of life. I’ve sadly adopted this mentality for buses, train lines and and any ticket counter,perhaps to quickly at that. Although this new method of impatience has easily been adopted in other areas of my life it is not so in the dinner line. I don’t know maybe the possibility that the person I elbow jab could be  a curious student who always yells “hello” once I’ve past or worse yet a student I would have to see the following day.

This said, I opted not to secure warm ears for the winter and avoid the good 30min wait. So Chinese burrito it was.

You can never get too many dumplings!!

No worries about the dumplings, I should have remembered I have the world’s best friend, Wendy would never let such a day pass. Just as I sat down for my burrito Wendy called and asked about my dinner plans and if I had eaten any dumplings for the day, I confessed I had just bought dinner. She explained she wanted to drop by some dumplings as it was tradition. I of course, gladly accepted.

So leek and meat dumplings it is! Delicious. Yum, why is it that the taste of street food and small shops can knock the socks of any restaurant in the US?

A few weeks ago I was approached by a student about judging and English competition I figured I’d wait for Wendy to mention something before I made any inquires. I’m not going to lie, I was hoping the comment would come to nothing, what do I know about judging an English competition.

No luck, Wendy approached me last Friday and asked if I would be willing to participate. Of course, for Wendy I’d do anything. As the Foreign Teacher I was to ask questions for the practical application section.

2009 Business English Speech Competition. Yes, I know it says 2008 but "Welcome to China!"

The competition consisted of three parts. First: Read a provided text regarding business. [Students would be judged on pronunciation, intonation and fluency]

Second: Provide and explanation on a graph displayed. The topics varied and so did the graphs. [Students would be judged on content, clarity and explanation]

Third: My part, Answer questions from the foreign teacher using an advertisement provided. No pressure just direct the questions and confuse the poor nervous participants.

I’ve never participated or even watched a language competition before, so can some one please tell me how I qualified to be a judge. Yes I know I speak English but what qualification is that in the world today?

Some examples of the above stated advertisements.

Questions: What three services are provided by this company? Is this a convenient service for the customer?

Questions: To what group of people is this advertisement marketed towards? What are the selling features of this product?

Robinson and Roxanne hosted the event, their English was great! I'm not going to lie they are my top students.

During an intermission a few students sang songs, it took me about two verses to figure out these girls were singing in English.

Matinda took 1st! I felt it was well deserved. (She is my Chinese tutor, she teaches in English)

The panel of judges and winners.

After the competition the teachers presented me with a beautiful kite.

"Zhou Jing" one of the Seven Beauties in Chinese Literature

Adam and Dantzelle have left Weifang. I am left alone at the school. My circle of Western friends has begun to shrink. Over the next month and a half that circle will continue to shrink. I cling to two rays of sunshine, I will always have Katie and Thomas across town and Kelly will join me in the Spring!

I can hardly believe it is already December, and half way through at that. I feel like I got here last month some days, others I feel the 3 months 2 weeks 5 days and 15hours. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to meet Adam and Dantzelle and all their help in adjusting to life in China. I think it safe and only honest to admit I couldn’t have adjusted so quickly without them. I will feel their absence but am grateful for their time.

Best of luck you two, with all your future travels. The memories we’ve shared will always be dear and thank goodness when all else fails I can call you when I need someone to understand life in China.

At lunch today Wendy dropped a bombshell. With head hung she said, ”There is something I need to tell you.” Red lights flashing, I had just asked her to review some lesson plans I have to turn in, and my heart sank. I thought I was in trouble or the school was asking one more thing of me. I don’t know what was worse, what she said or what I had anticipated.   

The school has asked her to take a business job next semester so can apply the theories she teaches and come back in the fall to teach more business courses. I am losing my lunch buddy and best friend next semester! I was devastated to say the least. My only consolation is that I will have Kelly. I was so hoping there would be three of us next semester for lunch but Wendy has promised to come by and see me.

So new goal get my Chinese at a conversational level and bug Peter next semester. I did ask Wendy to put in a good word for me.

 I met up with Wendy at 8:40 this morning. The chairman’s daughter and her classmate met us at the at t

 

Wood-Cut station, amazing details.

 

Watching the printing was breath taking, the maticulous efforts that are applied are awe inspiring to say the least.

 

The kites are made from thin sheets of silk. The paint is applied one color at a time let each color dry before applying the next.

 

Bamboo framework, all done by hand from selection to completion.

 

 

 

All the kites are handmade. The large one was Y600, reasonable I felt after seeing the entire process.

 

Yi, me & Yi, the wood-cuts on the door are protective deities to keep evil spirits from entering.

 

Intricate Paper-cuts, handmade

 

"Original" Ming Dynasty home.

 

Yi & me, can you see our personal stoves?

 

Hot Pot, it just might be my new favorite.

 

Driver, Yi & Wendy

 

Lobby, Largest Kite Museum in the World

 

My favorite kite in the Museum. Gold meddal winner at the Kite Festival.

 

An international kite donated to the Museum after one of the International Kite Festivals

 

a Ledgendary kite that is recognizable all over China

 

How many old men do you see? (answer: 3)

 

An aerial of Weifang, really if only I could expereince such a clear day.

 

Cabbage is a winter flower here, it does provide beautiful color in an otherwise dull landscape.

 

I never asked what this particular pagoda is currently used for but my guess is observation.

 

The path ran right along the water, more than once I gave Wendy a scare by walking too close to the edge.

 

______ Park, I just loved the Pagoda.

Today was delightful. From start to finish it was a great.

After five weekends of traveling and nonstop activities I was looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend curled up in my apartment only seeing people for my scheduled cooking lessons. But alas such plans have been ripped from my grip once again.

Wendy called me yesterday morning two min after I had fallen out of bed. She asked if I would meet with the President’s daughter on Saturday so she could talk with me. I was still groggy and out of it, yes I know it was 8:30 but I had had another late night. I was confused and asked if we could chat over lunch.

So my new plans for Saturday, hang out with the President’s daughter who will be coming into town for the weekend to visit with her father. She would like to practice her Oral English. Dantzelle already had plans to go to Qingdao and Adam is swamped with homework and finals for school back home. Luckily Wendy will join us. I am completely nervous. I’ve never met the President! Wendy didn’t make me feel any better when she admitted her nervousness. I know, I know really how bad can it be but let me honest people in high places in China make me a little nervous.

We have been offered a University car for our disposal, but I have do idea what to do? Am I suppose to be planning the agenda? I don’t even know how old this girl is. Luckily I have Wendy for translation I would be terrified if it was just me. Well I guess tomorrow I will find out! Wish me luck.

Isn't she just drop dead gorgeous!

At lunch today Wendy invited me to come to her Wedding celebration. I completely misunderstood the event. She said James could meet me at my apartment and walk with me over. I figured it was just a little group reception in her office. Yeah, wrong, I turned the corner to building #11  and there were 2 buses, I mean 2 big tour buses full of people. We were lucky to find seats together in the back of the second bus.

I felt under-dressed wearing jeans and a pullover but as everyone was getting off work, and China does not seem to have a special occasions dress code I fit right in.

Traditional Wedding gift - Red Envelope with Money

The Reception was held in a posh hotel downtown.0

There were multiple banquet halls. This was ours.

James and Me!

Adam and Dantzelle

Duck - quickly becoming a favorite

Double Happiness Meatballs

—

Traditional dish served at weddings. As four is an unlucky number they serve a double serving of two meatballs as two is a very lucky number. So with the Chinese way of thinking when you see the FOUR meatballs in front of you, you should think oh Double twos not four.

Still learning to eat fish with eyes.

Celery and Octopus, who would have thought.

Traditional, Rice-Jelly-Dates Dish, yeah I stayed away from that after one bite.

Toasts and Speeches

There were so many guests two banquet halls were filled. Toasts, speeches and introductions were preformed in both rooms. I really must learn Chinese as by the middle of events they are too enthralled or drunk with the with festivities to translate and explain to the Foreigner. I’m pretty sure it is the equivalent of the Wedding Party toasts.

After the General Toasts at the head of the hall, Wendy and Peter made their way around to each and every table toasting with the guests. Needless to say the entire point of this tradition is to get the Groom as sloshed as physically possible. I would hate to see the statistics of Alcohol Poisoning in Grooms on this night.

This concluded the evening as the Bride and Groom passed out the customery sweets to the guests as they left their tables. I don’t know how long they’ve been using Chocolate but I wasn’t about to complain, I’m still not a huge fan of Chinese candy.

Chocolates are a traditional party favor - no complaints here.

It was a beautiful reception, although most went over my head the traditions, food, music and atmosphere made for a delightful evening. A little bird told me James is engaged with with a Spring Wedding planned, who knows I might get an invite!

Wendy had a lunch at her house for three students who had helped her correct some tests she kindly invited me along to join them.

Peter, our fabulous cook.

Peter cooked the entire meal which was to die for. We ate in true Chinese fashion, family style with no plates. Everyone has their chopsticks and you just dig into the bowls. Peter loves to cook and with his skills I know why.

Chinese food is growing on me!

The conversation was a mixture of Chinese and English. Wendy encouraged the English conversation as all three students were second year English Majors.

As we were walking into their apartment complex the guard stopped us and asked who we were visiting. Wendy explained she lived there and we were all her guests. Wendy suspected I raised their curiosity as I was probably the first foreigner to come to the complex. On our way out the guard asked where I was from.

I have a standing lunch date with Wendy each day at 11:55, one of my highlights! I’m not just saying that because I know you read this Wendy, I truly love lunch together. I am learning so much about the culture! I really feel as if I don’t contribute anything to our friendship. Wendy just gives gives gives. You are AMAZING!

Well today I was late, I stayed after class a few mins to talk with a few students, my favorite class of course. Anyway Wendy was not at our usually waiting spot. I waited a few min and was afraid I had missed her. The Japanese teachers were passing on their way to lunch and I asked if I could join them.

Japanese Teachers

I had an absolutely delightful lunch! I have come to appreciate my classes after speaking with the Japanese teachers. My students all have prior English experience most having at least 6 years. The Japanese students on the other hand are in the first year of the language. Also I am beginning to like having large classes as there is more that I can do in groups.

Sitting with the two teachers was very informative. I asked tons of questions about Japan and fortunately for me they both speak English. The younger teacher was an exchange student to Florida in college and has very good English even if he insists he doesn’t. I learned the polite greeting to beginning and ending a meal.

I don’t know how to write Japanese characters but here is the pronunciation:

Before you start eating you say: i ta da ki ma su

Once finished you say: go chi sau sam ma de shi ta

I also learned unlike Chinese Pinyin there is no official Latin Alphabet translation for Japanese. Japanese characters are a lot simpler than Chinese as Japanese characters where taken from Chinese and then simplified.

 A wonderful lunch, the teachers here are all just so much fun to get to know. I look forward to getting to know the Japanese teachers better. They will both be here for the entire year as well.