http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Katie 923/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Katie 923 en-us Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:18:13 BST Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:18:13 BST Maggie and Jo have been telling us how great it is to visit the hot springs during the winter. The temperature dropped and Cori's sister Jessi was in town so we decided to make the trip. When we woke up at 6 we peeked out the windows to find the trees topped with fresh snow. Cori Jo Jessi and I left at 7am to begin our 4 hour journey outside of the city. We drove through the rural areas as http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hebei/blog-237312.html We had a wonderful week traveling through Hong Kong. Our plans changed a million times due to finals schedules and the fact that we as Americans really enjoy planning ahead whereas the Chinese dont even have a schedule until the week of. It has made things difficult while we are planning our travels but Sarah and I made it work and we went to Hong Kong for one week. Dan and his girlfriend Jo w http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/blog-235534.html China loves Christmas almost as much as I do thank GodI have been lucky enough to have many pieces of home with me during this Christmas season. My wonderful Mother has been giving me gifts each day of December. Many of the gifts have been crafts and projects which I love lots My friends have soon learned how I lack will power because I will try and open gifts days too early. I have en http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-229479.html David invited us see a traditional Chinese music concert at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. He and Barbara had been invited by the owner of a music shop where they had previously purchased some instruments. Tuesday night six of us piled into a black market van taxi and arrived at the store where the owner was waiting to walk us to the conservatory. We found out that it was an ErHu air hoo con http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-223630.html Thanksgiving was beginning to look pretty grim for us Americans living in a country where people have never even seen a turkey before let alone stuffing. We were going to make the best with what we had until we were invited by our American friend who works at the Shang ri La to a western buffet. The seven of us and the two Seamens took the trip across the river to this really nice hotel. We we http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-223040.html We have been so lucky to have had the most beautiful fall weather last week. It is amazing to walk outside and feel as though it is September at home when in reality it is the day before thanksgiving. This week we spent time with our friends Jo and Maggie. Maggie wanted to cook some traditional dishes for us and sarah makes a mean scrambler so we decided to have a banquet as Jo called it at http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-222689.html So we decided as tourists of Wuhan we needed to find all of the things we have been spotting in China that are different to our American eyes and get photo documentation. Cori created a list of things that we see everyday and have become used to seeing but are not common things to see in America. We split into two teams. I was on team HeyHeyHey like Fat Albert which consisted of Cori Sarah a http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/blog-217570.html We have been fortunate enough to meet two graduate students Maggie and Jo. These girls sit in on Sarah's classes to improve their English which needs little improvement. They have befriended us and taken us to many places throughout Wuhan. Jo is a local and so she wants to show us everything in the city. Last night we went with them to Hankou to a haunted house. The haunted house was locate http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-217564.html The last three weeks have been a whirl wind. I will try to recap the most exciting moments just so I can be caught up into November.We have neighbors in our building Mr. and Mrs. Seamen. They are Americans from Georgia. David is a teacher at CCNU starting the French program here and teaches French at Georgia southern university. David is 67 and acts like he is our age and Barbara celebrated http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-216696.html I haven't been doing anything of any grand importance but I have had a lot of time wandering our beautiful campus and observing people. One of the greatest parts about teaching early in the morning is that on my way to the English building I pass the park. The park has many trees and benches and a large concrete area where many people gather. Around 7 am there are about 5 different groups of pe http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-211719.html We have just returned from our week long vacation in Shanghai. Three years ago we had the opportunity to have a one day visit in Shanghai on Asian term. Unfortunately this was the day of the US Presidential election where Bush was reelected. Our advisor Norm had a radio tuned in all day on the bus and we arrived in Shanghai only to glance at the surroundings and return to the radio in hopes t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Shanghai/blog-208730.html Monday I started to feel a little sick. We all have some weird stomach thing so it makes it really hard to eat and leave the house. So we have been taking it easy. However Tuesday was the Holiday of the MidAutumn festival. This is the day where the moon is the most round and friends and families gather to look and the moon and think of one another. Sarah and I had been invited to celebrate wi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-206327.html Alexes' birthday was the 22nd so we had a weekend long celebration for both of us. Friday we had two of laura's students come over and one of their mothers cooked jiao zi dumplings for us. It was a great home cooked meal. Then we went over to Hankou across the river and we went to the Blue sky bar its a western bar. We ended up getting these little keg things and drank there all night. Ou http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-205621.html Saturday we took it easy and went to International House Coffee Language. It is a great place to relax chat and grade papers. Afterward I graded more papers and many of my students talked in great detail of their vacations. Some of my favorite lines include The cool sea wind was bloing gently across my face jsut like my mother was stroking meSunny we walked along the seashore barefooted http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-202641.html So I have been MIA for the last few days but I am back to recap. Wednesday I woke early and held office hours. My student Rita returned for her second week. She was really interested in School in America and leisure time. I tried my best to explain activities and clubs but she was confused how people can meet who share the same interests. I also attempted to explain sororities and fraternitie http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-202114.html So my first week has been off to a great start. Yesterday my class was very talkative and quick to participate. I taught a class explaining American college. Lots of my students want to learn about how students study what the application process is what is the difference in schools. So I explained all about liberal arts and what the admissions officers are looking for. We then had an exerci http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-200950.html I am slacking on my journal writing sorry. Saturday we all lounged around and watched some movies we have bought. I tried my hand at cooking at my place and we made dumplings for lunch. Sarah and I have agreed to tutor the daughter of the Vice President of the college. Her name is meng lin and she is 16. She attends the foreign language school in Wuhan and is in her third year. She has stud http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-200605.html I am currently listening to the drive it streams live world wide so of course we listen. Just thought I would share that with you all.Yesterday Sarah and I walked around campus and the town and took photos of the area. Today I had another oral english class. When I walked in they all clapped and cheered. This job is such an ego boost they also told me I am lovely and they want to be my fri http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-199748.html This morning I was happy to sleep in until 10 when I heard a rapid knocking on my door. I assumed it was Laura wanting to borrow something so I just called out 'hold on' while I threw on some lounging clothes and ran to the door. It turns out that it was one of my students wanting to talk with me for office hours. Whoops I still dont know what day it is and I thought it was Thursday not realiz http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-199185.html I hope everyone had a great labor day Today tuesday I had my second class at 8am. I was later than I would have liked because I am not feeling great I think muslim noodle place is bad tummy food so I woke up later and took forever getting ready just cause I am not myself. My students in my writing class were much quieter than my first oral english class but their skill level seems to be b http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/China/Hubei/Wuhan/Huazhong-University/blog-198803.html