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Published: December 31st 2006
Star of Taizhou Traffic Award
The front page of the Taizhou Newspaper on the 25th of Dec. 2006 has a photo of this crazy American directing traffic at a major Taizhou intersection. In an effort to educate the citizen on better traffic behavior,
they asked me to become a spokes-person.There hasn't been much time to think about being away from home this Christmas, and every day of this holiday weekend 2006 in Taizhou, China and at Taizhou Teachers College has been filled with surprising and spontanious activities. A kalaidescope of photos taken over the past few days is the better way to share all of the fun of my first Christmas in China.
Thoughtful and touching efforts were made every day by the College, including Christmas-Monday off, to provide us a wonderful holiday away from home. "Thank you"!! EVERYONE at Taizhou Teachers College, especially Mr. Xu, Arthur, Ms. Fan, Vivian, Sue and Stephanie, for the many cheers, and for making me feel so much part of the Campus Family. Everyones kindness made me appreciate my stay here so much more, and I'm grateful. I will enthusiastically remember my first Christmas in Taizhou, always.
A special blessing was: Being comforted and surrounded by my 370 gentle students, through whom I could imitate the joy and enthusiasm of sharing this strange Western holiday in China called Christmas, as if with 20 year old "children". It was easy to feel their appreciation, knowing I had come so far from home to
Ms. Fan, Dean of the English Department...
surprises with Christmas greetings and a special gift. spend my time with them. The Christmas holiday also seemed of greater significance to them, having Western teachers on their campus, though their concept of this Western-Christian tradition and their understanding of its meaning is quite simplistic.
The festival is not recognized so much in its religious significance, but the persona of Santa has arrived in China and is now successfully accepted as China's spokesman for this proven opportunity to adopt a rather capitalistic Western trend,and of course to lure money from the pockets of China's growing number of affluent citizens. It has arrived as another reason to spoil each family's "one little emperor" with gifts, glitz, and mountains of attention, while food-consumption keeps restaurants, banquet halls, and hotels struggling with the demand for space and exotic dishes of every kind.
I hope you injoy the following 3 pages of images of "My First Christmas in China".
To each a peaceful and prosperous New Year 2007 !!!! :-)
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Ingrid Robledo
non-member comment
I love to see that you're doing well in China. I can just imagine how much your students enjoy you as a teacher and as a friend. I hope you have a great new year and I hope to see you again in the future.