DAILY LIFE AT SCHOOL

Our lives are full in China. We have or could have constant contact. Besides our own students we have two campuses full of students who would like to talk with us and get to know us. Two examples: on Friday night an art student from HongHe was at XingHu. He saw us and spent as much time as he could and I tried to arrange an English tutor for him. Last night we went to another party and the photographer of the event - a student - came up to us afterward to tell us he had many pictures of us and he wants to show them to us. Both evenings we had to untangle ourselves to get home. We have community - neighbors both Chinese and international who would like to talk. We have town friends from the two churches we are attending and from the English Corner where some town people get an English taste. Tonight we go to one of the businessmen's birthday party.

Today we plan to share typical a day in our school lives.

Rich leaves the house at 7:20 on Tuesday mornings. He takes a bus from XingHu to HongHe where he teaches. The bus ride is shared with many colleagues but on Tuesday especially with "Colin" a Chinese classics teacher. This Tuesday he shared a book of classic Chinese poetry. After the 35 minute bus ride he walks across campus to his class. His class is made up of 30 English majors who plan to be teachers. The class runs for 100 minutes with a 10 minute break. The object is to work on oral English skills and provide opportunity for them to speak.

After class he goes to his office in another building on the fifth floor. It is large with a corner view and many windows. He quickly walks to the art room nearby where a friend from Russia teaches and compliments the young artists. At 10:30 he has office hours. Today five people show up to talk: Three senior girls (all English majors, a young man from the Industrial Economy, and a business English major.) The main topic of conversation is the state of the economy in the West and how it impacts China. They have been given hope by the American election and think that the economy will turn around quickly "now that Obama is President." At 11:30 the girls excuse themselves. The men evaluate the morning and think about lunch. The three have lunch of noodles and conversation. They are joined by a couple of other students and leisurely eat their meal. The picture is a view from the fourth floor classroom into the courtyard of the mamouth building.

At 1:00 he heads back to his office to meet his Tuesday Chinese tutor. The session this day is a continuation of learning the names of body parts and then using them in conversation. The session is supposed to be over at 2 but always lingers on, as they like each other company. Rich heads off to a 2:30 class. It is the same lesson as the morning so the class is easy. While each class has its own personality, the point is pretty much the same. After class he heads to the library. There he reads the English language newspapers and visits with his librarian friend. On this day they discuss how busy the Chinese teachers are because of schoolwide exams - the students this weekend had one of various exams necessary for graduation or certificate - computer knowledge, Chinese Speaking (Mandarin), and Oral English proficiency. Back at the office he goes next door to visit the art class and his two art major friends who are learning English. He has arranged tutors for them with his students. He retreats to his office where he reviews his Chinese lesson and vocabulary. One other ritual of Tuesday afternoon is to try and make contact in the English department. After a quick hello to several and on this day no extended conversations, he is back to the office.

Always checking the time because he can't miss his bus, in the dark at 6 he leaves the office for the bus. The bus leaves at 6:10. The 35 minute ride home is conversation with Jerry or Herbert , two men who live in our apartment complex. After what now seems like a trek across campus - the square, the playground, the hill, he arrives home at 7. One day done.

Well, I cannot top that, but here goes my Tuesday. Some things about it are not at all typical. After checking the weather forecast on the computer, I dress for class, fix and eat breakfast, say goodby to Rich, and leave for my class. It is about a 7 minute walk. Today I want to arrive early because I have some information that I want to write on the board for their exam next week. When two of the boys arrive (most of my students are girls), I request that they go down to the guard's office and retrieve my amplifier and microphone. I used to lug it back and forth from our apartment, but the guard has kindly let me keep it in a corner of his home. It would be nice to have my own classroom, but such is not the case. Today I have also brought the computer. (Students and teachers whom I do not even know sometimes stop me on campus and ask "Why do you carry so many things around with you?" I wish I had a good answer. Too many ideas. The picture is a view from my teaching building.

I have the computer because I want to show my students a short power point about the fall leaves in Pennsylvania. They are properly impressed. One student blurts, "Is this real?" Indeed. The best I can understand the leaves do not change color around here, perhaps because of a different sort of climate -- a bit warmer and very wet. Then I give the directions for our oral exam next week. I hope it is manageable. I am trying to see every student individually in four minute time allotments. By this time we are near the break. I ask my students to take out their homework - a basic reponse to the chapter. I love to ask students "What are you thinking?" and today they are thinking a lot because the chapter is about relationships. True love, they like to say. They work in groups to answer such questions as "Describe the perfect wife/husband." "At what age should girls marry? Boys? Why" It is my best lesson in China so far. I should have been observed:)

The second class is not so successful -- telephoning is not nearly as interesting as true love.

Then it's home to lunch. Some students keep me company on the walk home. Today I call a friend of former Peace Corps volunteers, Becky, who manages a DVD store in YongChuan. I am going to see her. That requires a 10 minute walk to the bus stop and a 40 minute ride on the bus to town and a 20 minute walk from the bus stop to Becky's. It is pleasant, though, and I have my little treats that I buy along the way -- a sweet bean filled roll and some popcorn.

I bring my knitting and sit on a stool on the sidewalk outside of Becky's store and knit. Maybe women stop buy and chat (as well as we can). There are two yarn shops nearby. After awhile I talk to Becky about visiting a student of mine in the hospital. She says she will accompany me and we enjoy a 20 minute walk and chat back toward the bus stop.

One of my students has broken her leg. Becky and I visited. Suffice it to see, if you can stay healthy and out of the hospital, that is always the best thing. Since then she has had surgery and is mending -- perfectly I hope. I also have a student with a very serious injury suffered in a fall at the Sports Meet over the past weekend. I do not know where he is.

Picture of one of Rich's students shot putting. Picture of Sean #4 our good friend and masseur

the school 5000M walk champion.

Then it's back on the bus. Becky and my student are both worried about me and want to know that I have gotten home safely. I do. The bus ride is uneventful, which is fine. I walk 10 minutes back home and work on dinner. Rich arrives. We eat. I clean up. We work a little, and try to get to bed around 10:00. I miss my chiropractor. I need a tune-up and my poor shoulders where I carry my stress are not happy. Anyway, you can see that we have plenty to do. We're sure that you do too. A common student expression -- "I have something to do." -- can be used to end any interaction at any time, abruptly. It's pretty interesting.