14 January 2015

Gentlefolk

I've just downloaded my photos from the last 3 weeks or so.  This post is a selection of some of those photos, to illustrate the things which have been going on in our lives.

On Xmas Eve we were invited for dinner at the home of Professor Zhang Wei Shan.  The photo shows son Tommy ready for the feast.  Although she was very pregnant wife Wang Yi, made us very welcome.  24 hours later, 3 weeks early, she gave birth to a baby boy!

With my 'Liaison Teacher'  Zhang Qi (Carol) and her fiance Zhang Yong.  Carol was  a great help to me during this semester. 

Some of the students in my Monday night Oral English class   They were a fun class.  Front row from left: Kofi; Blake; Janet; Sunny; me; Basma; Shelly; Kay; Shaun; and Chaos.

Getting into the Xmas spirit with the students in my Wednesday Oral English class.

Dinner in our apartment with some of the other foreign teachers. From left: Michael, Steven (obscured), Paul, Andros, Carol, Maria.  Sun Yu entertained us on the 'er hu' instrument.

Steven getting some Er Hu pointers from Sun Yu.

In December I taught a group from Xi Bu Drilling Company, Xinjiang.  Nice bunch of guys.  When they have completed the
3 month intensive English course they will be assigned to work overseas in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Uzbekistan.

Lunch with two of our favorite students, Fan Jing Yi (Tony) and Liu Xiao Li (Lily).

With other judges in the Shandong provincial finals of the National College English Speaking competition.

Some of the contestants in the Shandong provincial finals of the National College English Speaking competition.  

The top three winners of the College English Speaking competition: Zhen Bo Hui (Ocean University); Li Qiu Yan (Ludong University); and Yuan Li (Shandong University).  They will go on to the next round - the National Finals in Beijing in March 2015.

UPC hosted an End-of-year Dinner for all the foreign teachers. Front row, from left: Jiang Da Sen (Deputy Director); Yan Zi Fen (Director, International Office); Maria (German teacher); Oleg (Russian Teacher); Zha Ming (Vice President in charge of International Affairs); Qi Mei Juan (Steven's wife); Vera; Li Hong Bin (from NZ); Liu Li Na (International Office).

Vera (harmonica) and Sun Yu (Er Hu) jamming at the end-of-year party in our apartment.

We invited some students for lunch to celebrate the New Year. From left: Nie Cong (Vicky), Wang Peng (William) Ma Chen  Ru (Christina); Liu Feng Qiang (Oliver); Hong Ying (Faith); Zi Hong (Jordan, from NZ); Ma Yan Xiao (Jason).

Vera waiting for the bus to Qingdao City, 2 January 2015.  Our new apartment building is in the background (we are on the 13th floor).  We visited the impressive Underwater World aquarium in Qingdao City.

Vera with Eddie in Hong Kong, 13 January 2015. Cute kid, he sure is growing fast.

...

That's it for this post, folks.

Keep well, and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn/english/
Wednesday, 14 January 2015