8 November 2015

Gentlefolk,

This post covers some of the things we have been doing over the last 2 weeks.

Weather

Well, colder weather has finally caught up with us here.

We had a brilliant autumn - bright and clear days, maximum temperature in the mid-20sC.  I swam in the Yellow Sea near our campus since returning to Qingdao in early September until late October.  On 26 October a cooler change came through, and temperatures have been falling ever since. Yesterday was our first really unpleasant day, showers and maximum of 9C, but a nasty wind made it feel colder.

It snowed in Beijing yesterday, which means still colder temperatures are definitely on their way.

Time to dig out the long-johns.

In this area the central heating (hot water) normally starts on 15 November. It is an effective system, and our apartment is quite comfortable.

Visit to Rizhao

On Sunday 25 October 2015, with colleague Gautier and his wife Hao Yu, we visited a city called Rizhao, about 100 km south-west of Huangdao, the suburb of Qingdao where our campus is located.

Map of Shandong Province, showing Qingdao and Rizhao. 

Enroute to Rizhao we stopped at "Movie Metropolis" a new development about 10 km south of Huangdao, a project by property-tycoon Wang Jian Lin, China's richest man.  Leonardo Di Caprio and Cate Blanchett attended the launch about 18 months ago.  Several movie studios are already operating.  Five months ago I met two Aussie cameramen who were filming a joint US-China movie - they were based here for 3 months and were full of praise for the facilities.  

Gautier, Vera and Hao Yu at "Movie Metropolis". 

The new area of Rizhao has parks, high-rise buildings and wide avenues.  We were impressed; it has a good feel.

Rizhao is a coastal city, with nice beaches.  They have developed a kind of eco-park between the coast and the city itself.

Hao Yu, Gautier and Vera at the main beach.  It was a cool, overcast day. Gautier felt right at home - said it reminded him of beaches in Brittany!

As we walked along the esplanade, a guy was flying a beautiful kite - very skilful.

Part of the large bay and marina just behind the main beach.

Lunch and tea ceremony

We were walking in a park in Rizhao.  It was 12.15 and time for lunch.  We saw some people go into a building and followed them, thinking it might be a restaurant.  It was, but only banquet-style for large groups.  We were leaving when a man called us over. He indicated some spare places and invited us to join them - he said there would be no charge (in fact, he quoted a saying from Confucius: "Guests from afar should be shown proper courtesy").  

We were touched by this generous and friendly gesture.

It turned out that the group was participating in a course to learn traditional tea-ceremony.

After lunch the organiser invited us to participate in the next session.  Gautier, Hao Yu and Vera took up the offer, squatted at the back of the room and tried to follow the intricate sequence of actions by the instructor at the front. See photos below.

It was all very serious and focussed. The session lasted about 30 minutes.

As we were saying our goodbyes, the organiser asked us to pay for the lunch ($6.50 each).  We protested, but without great conviction, that we had been invited,  We had had an interesting time, so we didn't really mind paying.  

We reflected afterwards on the truth of the old saying: "there's nothing like a free lunch"!

We were invited to join this table for a "free lunch".

After lunch we were invited to watch and participate in a segment of the tea-ceremony course.

A view of the tea-ceremony class, from the back of the room. The students were emulating the motions of the teacher sitting on the stage at the front of the room. Gautier (left) took part.

Freshmen student's welcome concert

Freshmen students in the College of Arts (English, Russian and Music Majors) put on a 'welcome concert'. 

Two of the 'hosts' of the welcome concert who introduced the acts.  Hosts are older, more experienced students. The boy, Jason, is in my Thursday night Oral English class. 

The Music Majors played some lovely music. The girls looked stunning in their long white gowns.

Some of the students in my class English Major 1503 put on a short play.

They all came on the stage for the finale.

Carol

Carol Zhang Qi, my 'liaison teacher' spoke to my Western Culture class about her experiences in the US. She recently spent a year on an exchange program at a private college in Portland, Oregon. 

Carol addressing my Western Culture class.

Carol was amazing. She spoke for 40 minutes, without notes, and then answered questions.  Impressive performance. 

Sunday

Sunday Fu Xiao was my "Liaison Teacher" when we arrived in Dongying back in August 2009 at the beginning of our teaching in China.

The first time we met she wore a tiny mini-skirt and I mistook her for a student! 

She's a lovely person and helped me find my feet during the first few months, when everything was so strange. We've kept in touch.

Sunday got married about 3 years ago and is now expecting a baby (for late-December).   Her husband and parents live in Dongying, so she has gone there to wait for the baby's arrival. She will have 6 months maternity leave, and will return to teaching duties in May 2016.

Vera saying goodbye to Sunday (Fu Xiao) who has gone to Dongying for the birth. 

Speech contest

The China University of Petroleum has about 1,000 foreign students.  The biggest contingents come from Pakistan and Kazakhstan; there are many students from Africa, and some even from South America.  There are 6 students, 3 girls and 3 boys, from Papua New Guinea.

The International Students Union's annual English Speech Contest was held last night and I was one of the judges.  

There were 16 finalists: 4 China; 2 Tanzania; 2 Zimbabwe; 2 Pakistan; 2 South Sudan; and 1 each from Somalia, Ghana, Ecuador, and PNG.

There were four topics, and they chose one from a hat. The topics were:

• What it means to be a hero.
• It is better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
• Experience is the best teacher.
• Equality is a myth.

They were given two days to prepare a four-minute speech.

There were four judges: Gautier Plassais, Liu Cheng Jiang, Liu Da Peng, and myself.  We had to give points based on content, fluency, and presentation.

It turned out to be an interesting and enjoyable night.

The winner was Tatenda Marapira from Zimbabwe.  Brilliant speaker.

The runners-up were Felix Doku from Ghana and Resala Gol from South Sudan.  Resala was amazing - spoke like a rap singer - the crowd favorite.

The contestant from PNG, Tessie Tanda, performed very well and was ranked just outside the top three. 

The ISU's annual English Speech contest last night.  Gautier and I were judges, as were two Chinese lecturers.

The top performers: from left, Felix, Resala, Tatenda, and the Guest of Honour Vice Dean Zhang Zhi Yin.

Some of the contestants in the English Speech contest. 

...

That's it for anther post.

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Vera & Alex Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Qingdao, Sunday 8 November 2015