TO MY LOVING FAMILY, TO MY WONDERFUL FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD, TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS AT CORAL GABLES SR. HIGH SCHOOL, THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AND REVERE HIGH SCHOOL IN BOSTON, AND TO MY CURRENT, KIND COLLEAGUES AND SWEET STUDENTS AT TAIZHOU TEACHERS COLLEGE IN CHINA: IT IS TIME TO BEGIN ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE. THIS PRESENTS THE SATISFYING OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE FOR THE BLESSINGS OF SHARING A LIFE WITH SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. I AM REACHING THE AGE, WHERE EVERY YEAR IS A GIFT FROM GOD, PROVIDING VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENRICH [View Full Entry]

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ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS ARRIVED AND THE NEW YEAR 2009 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. FEW EVENTS IN ONE'S LIFE , OTHER THAN A BIRTHDAY, REMIND HOW QUICKLY TIME AND THE YEARS PASS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE YEARS IN MY SECOND HOME, TAIZHOU TEACHERS COLLEGE IN TAIZHOU, CHINA, (THE YEAR OF THE PIG, THE YEAR OF THE RAT, AND SOON TO BE THE YEAR OF THE OX). AS ONE'S AGE ADVANCES IT IS TRUE, THAT TIME SEEMS TO BE MORE FLEETING; BUT I AM GRATEFUL TO SAY, THAT THESE PAST 2 YEARS WITH MY STUDENTS, STAFF AND MANY CARING FRIENDS AT TAIZHOU [View Full Entry]

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There is no more doubt, that winter has arrived in Taizhou. Students are huddling and holding each other for warmth, as they rush to their early morning classes. The students now sport their down-winter-jackets in all the most fashionable colors, but their smiles are more temporary as they pass me on their way to "where-ever". These colder months begin the time, when I miss the warm Florida weather the most. Since none of the classrooms of the schools, colleges and universities are heated in my region of China, I too have to wear my sexy "long-johns", as well as additional and [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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One of the important Blogs I have neglected to publish earlier this year, 2008, concerns our school's evaluation by the Education Department of the Province of Jiangsu, China. It is a process that is mandated for the provincial educational institutions every 5 years, and Taizhou Teachers College was ready for this rigorous examination of its academia and facilities. I observed the faculty and staff of our college work day and night and into the weekends, making sure that no questions would be left un-answered for the visiting team of educators, who would look into every aspect of colleg [View Full Entry]

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One of the most surprising experiences for a first year student during college and university life in China has little to do with academic endeavor or performance. The Chinese college freshmen, who usually arrive 2 weeks after the classes for the upper classmen have already begun, must first participate in compulsory and strenuous two to three week "military training". That national practice will end a few days before China's National Holiday, October 1st. This military training is obligatory for all entering students to any college or university, anywhere in China. In other words, it is [View Full Entry]

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Over 5,000 years of history, the Chinese have created a brilliant and vibrant culture, and at the same time they have formed their own "moral code", that has played an important role in Chinese social development and progress. The "moral code' is based what are called "Traditional Virtues", which still have great significance today. Their values to the development of human civilization have also received world-wide recognition. These include: 1. Filial Virtue, respecting and taking care of the aged parents. 2. Respecting the aged and loving the young. 3. Integrity and Credit meaning rig [View Full Entry]

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My visit to the LU SHAN Mountain Retreat and LU SHAN National Park, in China's province of Jiangxi, became the most strenuous journeys during my time in China. I made my first visit to the Province of Jiangxi this summer, wishing and dreaming to experience the natural beauty of one of China's most fabled natural regions. Poets and painters of every one of China's Dynasties have eulogized this cool, peaceful and lush mountain region and natural landscape. The LU SHAN mountains are located in the north of the province of Jiangxi, and have been declared by UNESCO as one of China's [View Full Entry]

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It has been sometime since my last entry, and much has happened in my life here in China. I am trying to gather my thoughts, and compile them and all of the hundreds of pictures of my past eventful weeks into my computer for a next series of TravelBlogs. It will take me some time, and I hope to become more prolific in presenting you so many of my joys and adventures in China from this past summer. The classes at my college have also commenced, and my focus will once again be more on my work, and in sharing many [View Full Entry]

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One of the most joyfull days during my teaching assignment at Taizhou Teachers College came on Monday, May 26th, 2008. The Olympic Torch Run through China was about to reach the city of Taizhou. There had been a delay, since China was still deep in mourning on the 23rd of May, the day originally scheduled for the presentation of the Olympic Torch Run in Taizhou. Taizhou, the "City of the Phoenix", was only one of five cities in the prosperous province of Jiangsu, to host this once in a life-time, historical event. The four others were the garden-city of Suzhou, the [View Full Entry]

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