Saturday, December 27, 2008

CHRISTMAS

People started asking us if we would go home for Christmas (Sheng Dan Jie) many weeks ago. Just the thought made us homesick. They understand that Christmas is a family holiday so they assumed we would join our family just like they will for their Spring Festival. Except for this reminder we mostly were too busy to worry about Christmas.

  • Our first Christmas party was sponsored by the Electricity and Engineering Department. They invited Renee and I to be part of their entertainment for the party. We were to be the feature of a game like Name That Tune. We arrived early and practiced. They gave us ear phones and played a Chinese tune. We were to hum or sing along and contestants were to name that tune and sing it. We weren't sure anybody could, but we agreed to "have a try." We didn't always get the words, but Renee can pick out any tune. The contestants or the audience got every one. Our gift was a too large Santa as you can see in the picture with other gifts. It was fun and an honor to be invited.
  • On December 18 Renee and several of the other foreign teachers went to Chongqing for a celebration. (Some of us had classes and had to work.) It was a long ride and a long day. The program was entertainment by foreign students from the province. Renee got to see our other Peace Corps friends, so it was worth the time and effort to attend, but barely.
  • Both Renee and I had our classes do Pollyannas. We included ourselves. I gave Welsh Cookies for my gift and Renee gave a crocheted rose for hers. Of course, our Pollyanna's loved their gifts. The students each got a gift - made or bought for 7 RMB ($1) or less. The students loved every minute of it. We talked about giving and receiving gifts American style. It's very interesting that in China when a person receives a gift he or she puts it aside to open later in private. You know, of course, in America we can hardly wait to see what is inside the wrapping. The gift giving speeches should have been recorded. The receiving couldn't be. There were mostly shrieks of joy and hugs all around for the simple gifts. We were thanked often for the great activity. Even the boys who were the special targets got into the spirit.
  • For the last month we both taught our Freshmen classes a Christmas song each week. They learned Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, and Silent Night. The purpose was so that we could go caroling. They learned the songs with gusto. The night wasn't so nice with a slight mist and a solid chill. About 100 showed up - by the end of the evening maybe 50 or so. Many brought candles and that was a thrill for them. We sang at many of the dorms and were well received by those who knew we were there. The Physical Education dorm especially went crazy. Caroling was a first for the students. They had some interesting reflections. One said that she had experienced American culture. Another said that when we bring happiness to others, that is our happiness. Indeed. We could not pull together hot chocolate and cookies but maybe next year.

  • Christmas Eve Day we began to get presents. The most common present is an apple. We aren't clear about the why, but it is the time for apple parties where they paint, carve, and at midnight eat an apple. It has something to do with healthy and happy or safety and the new year or purity and wholeness or full life - the story is not clear. The students were generous in their good wishes and gifts. They want us to be "happy every day." The Foreign Language Department had a Christmas entertainment. There was little Christmasy about it, but it was fun. Renee was included in the program singing her lullaby with her students. My song "When Christmas Comes to Town," which I was to do with one of classes was axed from the program. (to Rich's chagrin) The school provided transportation so the other teachers and students got a free ride back to our XingHu
    campus.
  • I said others because Renee and I didn't go back. To the consternation of those who watch over us we went by public transport to church. We missed the Protestant celebration at 7:30, but the Catholic service was at 9:30. When we got off the bus, the street was crowded with people as was the walkway up to the church (You can't see the church from the street.) The gate to the church was blocked by the police. They readily admitted us - we think they were keeping drunks out. Inside the whole area was lit with lights as was the steeple of the church as seen in the picture to the left. The courtyard was mobbed and we could have been swallowed up in it. There were fireworks, music, entertainments, foods, and people everywhere. We still do not understand that scene of revelry and what exactly the people are celebrating here in China at Christmas time. It seemed like a medieval fair. A stage was set up at one end of the courtyard and people were running around in funny lighted hats. Vendors provided snacks. Finally, we made our way to the church itself. There were mobs of people there as well. We went to where we usually sit hoping to find our seat mates from Sunday, but no. We found a good place to stand, but the choir director was looking for us. She is a librarian at our school and she had taught Richard -- in Chinese, mind you -- the song for Christmas Eve. She had us pulled through the crowd and we joined the choir in the front - conspicuous we were. The church seats 600 and there wasn't any standing room so perhaps 1000 were there. Balloons and lights and flowers were everywhere and the crowd never really quieted. There were three processions - the priests and leaders == children carrying a creche to the altar -- wise men bringing gifts which were the communion elements as well as a bucket to receive an offering. The choir that night was made up of some students from the college and the choir leader and organist, who is also from the college. They were careful to guard us in the crowd and around midnight we returned home.
    Christmas Day was Thursday my (Rich) heavy class load day. My Chinese tutors had arranged, though, to have lunch with me. They also brought along a small collection of student friends, but not those I teach. We went out for lunch and had a grand time, planning the next two years and all they want me to do. It was fun. The most interesting of these guests was an art student who barely speaks English. I have been working with him for a month or so. He has made great progress. (Not the point but I love the piece he is working on which is a block print = he has to make 5. I hope I get one of them) He pulled me aside and gave me a hand carved block so I can seal my writings, another example of the kindness in their extreme busyness of holidays and exams. This was followed by a gathering of the foreign teachers in the Russian artist apartment. We shared some laughs and some food and cheer and hopefully made a new bond between us.
  • My (Renee) students too outdid themselves to keep our spirits up. Thanks to them we have a little Christmas tree with flashing lights on the TV and a huge red happiness knot hanging from the ceiling, and two Chinese lanterns displayed on the balcony. I also have a huge teddy bear and a lion pillow in which can be imbedded my Ipod so I can listen to music while I sleep. Nonetheless, we could hardly bear to think much about Christmas with family and friends at home.
  • Soon we will travel to Chengdu (January 7) to participate in a few days of further training.
  • For the moment the Peace Corps has nixed our travel plans after that, so we are not sure what will happen. We have quite a long vacation; school does not begin again until mid-February, but we can only be away from our site for a limited number of days. Ah, sweet mystery of life, complicated by many, many rules and restrictions.
Those of you who pray -- pray for our Chinese language test on January 7. We are trying not to obsess about it. Our Chinese works well enough for us to do our daily living and then some, but we have a long way to go:),

Saturday, December 6, 2008

PARTY TIME

The weather has turned cold. Today the temperature was in the high 40's. It seems colder than that because it is a wet cold. In the past two weeks we have had some beautiful weather even into the 60's with sun. Then there were several days in a row where there was drizzle and clouds and the feeling of cold. Supposedly, December is better and it becomes drier. (Then our skin will dry out and our lips will crack:) We will see. Of course, the Chinese thought that winter was here when the temperature dropped below 70 here in Yongchuan. I may soon have to get out my winter coat!
There have been three parties of note since we wrote last. (The Chinese call almost any gathering a party = I will have to think what they call them in Chinese. In English it is party.) The first was a birthday party. I had met a businessman from Yongchuan at English Corner. He came because he is going to American next year on business and he is working on his English. Jerry hopes to make that good enough that one of the companies he will visit will offer him a job in America. He has taken me to lunch and to dinner. He called and invited us to his birthday party. He met us and took us by taxi to a restaurant. There we joined his friends. As is common in China, they are his friends from Middle School (High School days) In total 12 people. We had a delicious meal around a Chicken hot pot. Maybe it was mild because of the western guests. They (we) had a good time around the table talking and laughing. Then the drinking games began. Each person took turns challenging one by one the others to a game in which the loser drinks. They did it well and everyone survived nicely. From there we went to a Karaoke bar (here it is called KTV. We actually had a private room with our own technology. ) They sang and we sang and danced. They had a grand time and we tried to relax. The next day was a school and work day so we were not late. Jerry saw us to and arranged a taxi to take us back to campus since the busses stop running at 8. Good time was had by all.

The second party was the Freshman English Majors turn to run an entertainment for the campus. It was one of the Saturday night affairs we have described before. There is some singing and dancing and usually a funny skit or two and an audience participation game. This show featured Renee and two of her students playing guitar and singing. They sang a Chinese lullaby. The students and audience went wild that a foreigner could sing in Chinese. Crowd estimates are hard, but it filled the basketball court and most of the seats surroundding it. I think about a 1000 attend. The night ends with a dance - bunny hop, chacha, and waltz. The dance lasts until 9:30 and then the crowd disperses.
Party number three was Thanksgiving. We went to Chongqing to celebrate on Saturday after the fact (we taught on the day). We managed the transportation and with some help the big city public busses as well to arrive at Renee Vetch's (Can you believe that in our small group of volunteers there is another Renee??!!)apartment. Renee is another volunteer who is working in Chongqing. Renee had the meal well in hand with many things at a good stage of preparation. We arrived and talked and planned. Jason LaBoyer, another volunteer from California, then joined us . Jason and I went out to get some last minute items and the women folk worked in the kitchen. The party was joined by their language tutor and Renee's waiban. The last guest was another foreign teacher. Margaret is from Kentucky by way of England. What American accent are the students learning?? We had a grand time around the table. It felt like Thanksgiving.
Christmas is coming and there are some plans in the air, maybe. There are suppose to be two Christmas parties that the school runs - one at each campus and we will be invited. Renee and I have been invited to sing but so far that seems an idea rather than a reality. Renee and the other foreign teachers will go to a big deal Christmas program in Chongqing on the 18th while I am teaching. We think the churches have Christmas eve services and we are trying to arrange being able to attend. We are teaching our classes some Christmas carols and plan to take them caroling. They are excited about the idea. We get raisins on Tuesday and will try to make a slew of Welsh cookins, an Erickson treat, to give as gifts. There are too many people here we would like to give to so we have some figuring out to do. The students have studied about Christmas every year since they started learning English. They can sing Jingle Bells, Silent Night, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. We hope to share the meaning of Christmas so they can hear it anew and from a new perspective.

Things feel a bit breathless. This last picture is of me and several of Rich's students. One of his class leaders is arranging small dinner gatherings, about 8 students at a time, so that Rich will have a chance to talk more with his students and vice versa. I have been invited to join them, and sometimes I do. I am amazed at the level of English skill that his juniors have in comparison to my freshmen. My students have a long way to go. Rich and I just discovered that we have to take a Mardarin Chinese test when we go for our triaining meeting in January. Yikes! Talk about having a long way to go. We do. And I hate tests!!! Oh well.