Blogs from Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, Asia - page 8

Despite being in China for over a year, I had yet to experience one of the local festivals in my “home” region of Taizhou. Consequently I was very keen to attend the now internationally famous Qintong Boating Festival. The Qintong Boating Festival is held during Qingming Festival (around April 4-6) every year. The Qingming Festival (Clear and Bright Festival or Pure Brightness Festival) denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime and also to tend to the graves of departed ones. Consequently a common English translation is Tomb Sweeping Day. However tomb-sweeping is definitely not on the agenda of this particular series of events. Last year I missed the opportunity to attend the reportedly most spectacular event in the festival, the opening ceremony, due to the fact that it ... read more

Most of China's massive (1.4 billion) population live in rural areas, in the country-side, and in small villages, where most are still dreaming about the prosperity, that might reach them one day, perhaps sooner?; while China's mega-cities continue to flourish and expand in amazing speed. Nine months have passed since arriving in China, and on my return visits to various large and small cities, there appear constant transformations, most noticable in their sky-lines. (Remember that 5 million inhabitants qualifies a town in the P.R.China to be recognized as a "medium" city.) Their city-centers begin to display a bouquet of glass, steel, and concrete structures in all shapes and colors. Unfortunately, these are also being erected exactly on the locals, where China's old and traditional neighborhoods simply vanish, almost overnight. I believe, many people will one day ... read more

It's April at Taizhou Teachers College in Jiangsu Province of China, and spring is in the air. The sky is bluer, and the warmer days are more frequent and very pleasant. Campus life at our college is at fever pitch, especially since this is also the month, when our small teachers college is to receive its five year evaluation by the Education Dept. of Jiangsu. This most important report will present the success and short-comings of the college's academic performance to the city, to the province, and to China. Administrators, Department Chairs, Teachers, Support Staff, as well as the Students are totally committed to a successful outcome, and are working 12 hours a day and 7 days a week, attending to all of the details, making sure the college maintains its good standing as Taizhou's "premier" ... read more

Please, permit me to dedicate this journal entry to my genteel, thoughtful, kindhearted, and courteous Chinese students of English, who have, each in their own way, contributed to making my stay here at Taizhou Teachers College a most rewarding experience. ::::::::::::: Few vocations in life are more edifying as that of a teacher, no matter the country. Though monetary and material benefits may be limited in the teaching profession, the joy and love which each day brings cannot be bought, even with gold and diamonds. This was true as a teacher in Revere/Boston, Mass. and Miami/Coral Gables, Fl. USA, and it has been no less a fact here in China, at Taizhou Teachers College in Jiangsu Province. My last six months, teaching at our small college-campus of 7,000 students, has rewarded me with a daily overdose ... read more

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 ... read more