Blogs from Jiangsu, China, Asia - page 112

My visit to "Number One Middle School of Taizhou Municipality" was the highlight of the day; an eye-opening experience, reminiscent of my childhood of the 50's, i (n Germany. Taizhou College offered me to observe the instruction in several of that school's English classes, and to collect thoughts and ideas for some in-service training for Chinese teachers of English during the month of July at the college. This Middle School is very proud of honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao as one of its former students and alumni. I was impressed by the beautiful and inviting landscaping of the school's campus. The students are young teenagers, never shy to yell a friendly hello, and eager to great even an older yet "handsome" Western face. :-) The teachers looked young, perhaps in their twenties and thirties, and both ... read more

Though the plane arrived two hours late in Shanghai, Arthur (the Foreign Affairs Director of Taizhou Teachers College and my good friend) waited patiently to meet me at the massive Shanghai Pudong Airport, and help me with my luggage, for which I had to pay an additional $25 for the over-weight. They told me, that there was no charge for my body's overweight :-) ... lucky me. From Miami to Chicago, the flight took almost 4hrs, and from Chicago to Shanghai another 15 hrs. But as luck would have it, in my row, I had 5 seats to myself, and it became a comfortable bed. Though the meals activated a volcanic heart-burn, airline-food seems to get more plastic with every trip, the direct flight seemed easier, though more expensive. Arrival at Shanghai-Pudong Airport was harmless, and ... read more

The time has arrived and the suitcases are near the door, packed solid, and hopefully not over-weight. I'm experiencing bouts of nervousness, more sustained stomach-butterflies, and the sense of anticipation: Falling asleep in "my world" and being re-born to a another. The "Auf Wiedersehn" and "Good-bye's" of the past week have taken their toll, and the realization, that the coming days will never be the same again, offers a kind repose for reflection. The final days have arrived so quickly, and the one year departure for China is on Thursday morning at 5a.m. I hope I have offered my gratitude and affection to everyone, and there are many: To my wonderful and beautiful students, I need to express my deepest affection for the many kind and generous words you have expressed in your deeds, your conversations ... read more

The American Postal Office has a service called "the M-Bag". A strong and frosted plastic sack provides the opportunity to send books to China cheaper, in larger and heavier quantities. The use of this service helps to keep the weight of my travel-luggage to clothing, personal items, and gifts. I am carrying a 4 cup coffee-maker with me, along with a few pounds of coffee as well as the lap-top. Men have become very loyal to their personal toiletries, and I will be packing a several month supply. Visiting a number of stores around the College on the last visit to Taizhou, I noticed few empty shelves and ample wares around the city. The consumer-selections do have limitations, and if one might look for "fresher" markets, plan on not being dissappointed. For a Western first-time visitor, ... read more

Since the last entry, I have been receiving some extra-ordinary commentary from an Australian teacher of 30 years, who is presently teaching at the same college, Taizhou Teachers College in Jiangsu Province of China, where, so it seems, I will become her colleague in only a few weeks. If there have been any lingering doubts or concerns about my time teaching in China, her encouraging and kind words have settled these apprehensions. She shared with me, that she had been a teacher in Australia for 30 years and semi-retired, and upon contracting with the College this past semester, made these observations about her experiences: "...I have been a teacher in many "guises" for over 30 years in Australia, and I can honestly say this (teaching "communicative" English at Taizhou College) is probably the most satisfying teaching ... read more