You've done it again! Hi Hans, yet another wonderful blog that brings so many cherished memories of my time at TTC flooding back! As usual you have pipped me at the post. I've been working on my next blog but it still needs a lot of work. You have now motivated me to finish it this weekend before Xmas! P.S. Sorry to hear about your laptop, that's such a frustrating thing to happen at any time, but especially at this time of year. Hugs to all at TTC. Xmas emails coming soon too! Suexxx
scenes from school I always enjoy seeing the faces of your students - so hopeful and hard-working. I sent an email recently- hope you received it(regarding a Christmas gift I want to make for you). I know you are so busy but these scenes of Taizhou are always so enjoyable! A Taoist temple in the heart of Taizhou - who knew?
Hi! ,I came in I hve resd your blog .and I know that your life is very busy .
hahao()_))o... You should keep fit with exercise daily .
A NEW LUCK WEEK!
Schneider wie geht es dir? Hallo,
Hier ist Hans und Cyril und wir schreiben zusammen von Chicago. Heute war thanksgiving und wir haben ein grosses abendessen genossen mit meine schwester Corinne.
----switching to english---- hehe
We were talking about the past and had wondered what and where you had disappeared to. It's great to see your blog and that you seem to be very happy in the Far East. It would be great to here from you and catch up a little on all the years past since Gables in 2003.
Greetings from Obama country,
Hans and Cyril
I cried too! I was one of the lucky several hundreds in Grant Park the night of the elections! It was incredible!
Miss you terribly...You should visit Chicago, Hans :]
Deine,
Sandra
Hi from the US of A! Hi Hans
Another great blog and am pleased that the new Japanese teachers are involving themselves in college ctivities. I wish I could be with you to celebrate but I am now in San Diego my last port of call before returning to Oz! I have a challenge for you- learn another song!!
John Nanchang China Hans, I’m intrigued by many of your photographs, as you seem always to be taking an active part in the ‘running’ and ‘administration’ of your college where you work simply as an English teacher. I assume that the meetings you show in your photographs were conducted in English, though for that to happen the level of English amongst the Chinese staff must be good. I write this; because nothing like this happens at the university I work for. I am simply given a classroom, a textbook and some students and told to get on with it. In fact, I have suggested many times that it would be a very good idea for the foreign teachers here to have a regular meeting let alone attending any other meetings that might be helpful -, but my words always fall upon deaf ears. Sometimes, because foreign teachers work between two campuses and the accommodation is spread out, we really don’t know any of the other foreign teachers here until well into the term .......” 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.” Hans, how old are your students? You make an interesting comment, as I too have visited the Museum in Nanjing, which has documented the massacre, but the students I went with (they were employed as teachers) were certainly more interested in shopping than what the Japanese got up to in the 1930s. At least this provided me with the opportunity to walk around the museum while taking my time and thoroughly enjoying reading the English descriptions . I know nothing of American politics I admit, but I did read the comments of an African President once, who commented that his citizens should be allowed to vote in the American election, because their country was bombarded with news about the forthcoming election. This viewpoint I sympathize with. Students often ask me how I celebrate Thanksgiving, though I am British. Sadly, not a single students asks what I do on the 5th, November, though they find to time to bemoan American hegemony.
hurray for the USA I am very proud to be an American now. The excitement in Atlanta, GA when Obama was elected was phenomonal. No deviseiveness (sp?). Black and white celebrating together. We have come together with hope. I like the optimism.
Vielen Dank, Herr Schneider Thank you for posting your insights. While I don't agree with you about the outcome of the election, it is moving to see the hunger for the opportunity to choose one's government your vote had on your students. I cannot think of a more humane act. God bless, mein Lehrer.
Translation problems a. "End of the World " ?
The southern tip of Hainan Island was described by poets as " Tien Ya, Hai Jiow" , not the " End of the World ".
In fact Hai Jiow means a corner of the sea.
The phrase probably means " this is the end of the land and the start of the sea with the horizon far beyond ".
b. " Dissenters and Critics " ?
In history, Su Dong Po was a poet, never a dissenter or a critic.
During those days, there were no lawyers to defend you.
Dissenters will lose their lives and critics will get punished.
There were no records, in fact, to show Su Dong Po did anything to get himself into the black book of the Emperor.
Probably he offended the Emperor after having too much of the alcohols and got himself banished because the Emperor did not want to see him anymore.
Dear Hans, I wonder if you´ve ever tried a ride on a man-powered riksha in China? In Taizhou, that´s one of the major transport means, particularly for people who want to save money or can´t afford a taxi. Showing some photos of those vehicles and their drivers (pedallers) may be interesting? (sorry, riksha photos might have been shown in this blog, as I'm unable to open photos beyond this page due to failure of my computer).
And what about people who are still using those old public wells for washing-up? And those narrow old lanes (Gasse) hiding behind the brick houses, which are to be demolished soon?
recall the cold Hi, Hans, I was out of breath as I read through the story about your sufferings. You are brave and frank to share a common embarresment which everyone would have experienced in life. That is only natural and normal, but, when I told the others about my own simílar story, they just burst out laugh!
The beginning of 2008 in southern China was unusually cold and dismal. I was shivering in the flat while standing on the floor of paved marble feeling the chill came from beneath the foot. That was early Feb this year and finding warmer sandles in the city Shenzhen was just un easy. However, the weather turned suddenly dry-hot after 3 weeks and the metropolis was shrouded in heavy mist under the blazing sun and I suffered from a sever chest infection.
The holiday resort Longmen Iron-spring was a nice place to go. It´s not far from Shenzhen and the price was reasonable. Lying in the hot spring under those banana trees was quite a kind of "Geniessen".
Invitation to a second visit to Hainan Hi Hans, unfortunately you did not have a memorable
visit to Hainan due to your unfortunate physical conditions
and contant rain.I sugest a return visit to Sanya,the southern
resort city of Hainan where most tourists visit when they are
in Hainan.
Hi, Hans, in this story, the reactions of those students at the first encounters with you are vivid and very true. Due to a completely different cultural background and the isolation, this kind of behavior is rather a failed coverage in a reserved way for the excitement deep inside. Just wish more opportunities for these young people to exchange with the world beyond.
Oh, military training for students and civilians isn't a new thing at all. It's really an old tradition and many had fun of it.
Really happy to see the white clouds drifting in the blue sky in the photos. Hope the sky stays that way!
Dear teacher Hans
I'm pleased to read this entry. Your descriptions and photos have refleted the reality of students' life today in China from various aspects. Indeed, great needs of improvements not only for education, but also for everything in the country will last a long period. We shouldn't forget, China may have become much stronger now, however, it's regarded just as an emerging-market by the western powers. That's the reason, that many students are keen to search for opportuinities of sudying abroad, and you've brought exactly what they desire for. Isn't it great? You deserve our love! To stay for teaching over a long period is kind of major committment or even some sacrifice. Best regards, and enjoy your days there! June
After 38 years as a Foreign Language Teacher and Foreign Language Dept. Chair at Coral Gables Sr. H.S., and A.J. Professor of German at the University of Miami, I have left Florida in June of 2006, where my home is in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. I have just signed another year's teaching-contract (my 8th year now) with Taizhou University in the city of Taizhou, located about 3hrs north of Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province, CHINA.
I thought it would be informative for others and rewarding for me personally, to log the progress of my efforts from beginning to end, as a Travel and Photo Jo... full info
Sue
non-member comment
You've done it again!
Hi Hans, yet another wonderful blog that brings so many cherished memories of my time at TTC flooding back! As usual you have pipped me at the post. I've been working on my next blog but it still needs a lot of work. You have now motivated me to finish it this weekend before Xmas! P.S. Sorry to hear about your laptop, that's such a frustrating thing to happen at any time, but especially at this time of year. Hugs to all at TTC. Xmas emails coming soon too! Suexxx