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


Advertisement
Asia » China » Jiangsu » Taizhou » Taizhou University
November 22nd 2008
Published: November 22nd 2008
Edit Blog Post

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 ... Read Full Entry



Photos are below
Photos: 134, Displayed: 21


Advertisement

Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #27Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #27
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #27

The Student Entertainment #8
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #28Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #28
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #28

The Student Entertainment #9
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #29Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #29
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #29

The Student Entertainment #10
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #30Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #30
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #30

The Student Entertainment #11
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #31Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #31
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #31

The Student Entertainment #12
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #32Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #32
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #32

Mr. and Mrs. Kitano seem now eager to show some of their entertainment skills.
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #33Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #33
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #33

Japanese songs are delivered with overwhelming enthusiasm by Mr. Akihiko Kitano.
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #34Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #34
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #34

Mr. and Mrs. Kitano render Japanese songs as a duet to the delight of the audience.
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #35Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #35
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #35

The joy of music is an international experience.
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #36Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #36
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #36

Mr. Takahashi was the next Japanese Teacher to offer his talents to an appreciative audience.
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #37Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #37
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #37

No party evening is complete without a request to hear the voice of "the Panda Bear".
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #38Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #38
Japanese Festival at TTC, Photo #38

The balloons were given in appreciation of my "professional" rendition of "Que sera sera..."
Birthday Banquet for Mr Akihiko Kitano, Photo #1Birthday Banquet for Mr Akihiko Kitano, Photo #1
Birthday Banquet for Mr Akihiko Kitano, Photo #1

A table of the finest Chinese delicacies are served during the birthday banquet.
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #2Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #2
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #2

Ready for the evening's festivities.
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #3Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #3
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #3

The invited guests celebrate the happy occasion: (From Left to Right: Mr. & Mrs. Kim with their daughter and their son, Beli, Ms. Lu Wen, Mr. Takahashi, Mrs. Kitano, and the birthday "child", Mr. Kitano.)
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #4Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #4
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #4

L to R: Mr. Takahashi, Mr. & Mrs. Kitano, Arthur, and the "Panda".
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #5Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #5
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #5

L to R: Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Arthur Lee, the "Panda", Mr. & Mrs. Kim, the foreign Korean teachers.
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #6Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #6
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #6

Mr. & Mrs. Kim and I have become wonderful friends, and are now less surprised at my more Western greeting.
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #7Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #7
Birthday Banquet for Mr. Akihiko Kitano, Photo #7

The Kim family are a very special and kind family from Korea. Mr. and Mrs. Kim are the visiting teachers and are beloved by our students at TTC.
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #8Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #8
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #8

These young teachers are also in charge of helping foreign teachers with their more personal needs. Susie and Beli are invaluable as is Ms. Lu Wen, the aid to the Japanese teachers on the far right.
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #9Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #9
Birthday Banquet for Mr.Akihiko Kitano, Photo #9

The banquet table is overflowing with a variety of Taizhou delicacies.



22nd November 2008

:)
I was definitely a cryer on election night and so happy that I wasn't disappointed yet again. We miss you!
22nd November 2008

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.
23rd November 2008

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.
23rd November 2008

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.
24th November 2008

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!!
24th November 2008

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
28th November 2008

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
1st December 2008

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!
23rd December 2008

hello
yes,you a great man

Tot: 0.049s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 7; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0254s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb