#106 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Newport News, Virgina, the Sister City of Taizhou, visits the campus of TTC)

For the past weeks I have been dealing with "writer's block", and hundreds of photos began to accummulate in my Blog, as I was trying to overcome my daily anxiety dealing with the 2008 Presidential election in America. I have now survived the strain and the stress of the daily English news about the direction and conclusion of the election on China's television CCTV-9, and the internet coverage of MSNBC, CNN, and the New York Times.

I have also noticed that my hair has become more gray and a little thinner, something a "political junkie" like me has to expect every four years.

The news of Mr. Obama's election as America's new President has been greeted in China with applause by most of those here interested in international affairs. I have added some photos of the front page of several of China's newspapers.

Some of my students followed the election with greater enthusiasm, when I showed them my absentee ballot from Florida's Dade County, as I marked my choices, and mailed it from the local post office here in Taizhou. They were surprised, that I would spend 200 RMB ( $25.00) to register the envelope, making sure that it would arrive in Miami safely and on time to be counted. For many Chinese, 200 RMB is about three day's wages.

With it they understood, that I took my obligation as an American citizen seriously. I explained to them, that every individual's vote in our democracy was valuable and important, and that I could not take my right to select my new President of my America for granted. (For luck and good measure, quite a number of my students kissed the envelope after sealing it, and many of them now credit their kiss for Mr. Obama's success.)

I respect all of my friend's and family's choices as they have cast their ballots, but my very liberal/progressive bias is no secret among anyone who knows me. And so it should come as no surprise, that I cried tears of joy when I watched the election-day events on my laptop in my little apartment, at Taizhou Teachers College in Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, so far away from my beloved home.

I must say, that for the last 2 presidential elections I "swallowed hard" as I had to congratulate those in opposition to my personal political views. Now, finally has come the day, when I can hope, that my small "personal" victory at the ballot might also be appreciated.

I am thrilled, that my country once again has been blessed with the feelings, the hope and the euphoria I once experienced with the 1962 election of JFK, at the home of my dear friends, the Schirmer family, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

With the election now behind me, I can once again focus on my more immediate life here at Taizhou Teachers College. Much happens every week to keep me entertained, and so I will let the photos in this entry speak for themselves.

The events include a visit from Taizhou's Sister City of Newport News, Virginia, who sent a wonderful delegation to the city.

Our college is so appreciative, that the visitors from Newport News, Virginia spared some of their limited time at Taizhou to pay our small campus a visit. They were greeted by College President Mr. Xu, and after a small tour of the campus grounds shared a table discussion, commentary and question/answer session.

For me personally, it was a very happy day to be among so many and such a diverse group of my country-men/women. We bonded quickly as friends, and they listened carefully to our thoughts, suggestions and requests.

I wish so much, that we can continue a fruitful and productive relationship with the beautiful city of Newport News, Virigina now and into the future. Both cities will benefit greatly from continued and open communication, potential educational exchanges and sharing in such friendly visits.

To each of the representatives, who delighted Taizhou Teachers College with their visit, WE THANK YOU AND WELCOME YOUR RETURN!

The rest of the photos will highlight a few additional events of the past month and importantly, the Japanese Festival on the campus of Taizhou Teachers College. This important week-long event has done much to ease some of the negative feelings of our students, as they still remember the days of the Japanese occupation.

It is an event, that has been deeply edged in the minds of all Chinese citizens, and it will take generations to overcome. I was happy to see the enthusiastic participation of our students in all of the activities, including the presentation of a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The students studying Japanese offered much of the other entertainment of the week.

The colorful and exciting closing ceremony, presented in our Sports-hall, will be the highlight of my next TravelBlog.

******Greetings to all of my family and my friends and best wishes for a great Thanksgiving 2008. I hope, that as you sit around the dinner table to enjoy the traditional turkey dinner, you continue to appreciate and give thanks for all of the blessings of life. I wish to give thanks for your continued love and friendship, and want to let you know, that you will always be in my thoughts and in my heart. I wish I could share the festivities with you on this special day.********

PLEASE ENLARGE THE 134 PHOTOS FOR GREATER DETAILS.

TAIZHOU TEACHERS COLLEGE ALSO WISHES TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE OPEN POSITIONS FOR NATIVE ENGLISH TEACHERS AT OUR WONDERFUL CAMPUS. YOU ARE WELCOME TO APPLY FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFE-TIME.

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