Monday 18 January 2016

Post #90 18 January 2016

Gentlefolk,

This post contains Indexes of my blog posts in 2014, 2015, and 2016 (1 - 18 January 2016).

The blog is a good record of our lives in China from February 2014 until January 2016; while the focus is on living and teaching in Qingdao, other subjects are covered as well.

Favorite posts


My favorite posts are:

Post #13  Olah Family history - a snapshot
Post #14  The world's most prolific inventor, Australian Kia Silverbrook
Post #30   Memories of the Australian Embassy Beijing, 1984-86
Post #34   Love poems with an international trade theme
Post #58   Have World Expos reached their use-by date?
Post #79   Why have so few Chinese been awarded the Nobel prize?

Visits

I consciously tried to keep the focus on teaching and students, and not make the blog a "travelogue". But of course it has descriptions of places we visited, such as:

2014: Beijing (April); Chengdu (May); Dalian (October).
2015: Qufu (April); Xian (May); Nanjing (May); Shanghai (July); Suzhou (July); Zoucheng (October); Rizhao (November).

We usually visit Australia twice a year (via Hong Kong), in the long university breaks: "winter" (mainly February) and "summer" (mainly August).

TV program


In December 2014 Qingdao TV produced a series of programs describing foreigners living and working in Qingdao.  One of the programs was about two foreign teachers at universities in Huangdao, Dr Laxmisha Rai and me; it goes for about 25 minutes, alternating between the two of us.  To view on YouTube click HERE

Index of Posts


Alex Olah’s blog:  alexolah.blogspot.com

Describing the lives of Alex & Vera Olah as English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong Province.

Table 1: Index for 2014 (Post # 01 – Post #39)

Post number & date

Events described

Post #1
15 February 2014
In Kuala Lumpur
Andrew helped me set up this blog when we visited Caroline and him in Kuala Lumpur in February 2014.  He convinced me that a blog is the best way to keep family and friends informed of our activities teaching in China.
The first post includes:
·         photos of our family holiday in Hawaii in January 2014
·         photos of the cruise of the Hawaiian Islands by Vera and me
·         photos with Caroline and Andrew in KL (Caroline was 8 months pregnant)

Post #2
8 March 2014
In Qingdao
Teaching at China University of Petroleum, Qingdao (UPC)
Terrorist attack in Kunming
Ukraine crisis
Kevin Rudd’s new position
Meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing
  • China’s defence budget
Assessing students
Missing flight MH370

Post #3
16 Mar 2014
About Fu Ying, China’s ambassador to Australia 10 years ago
Student ‘news’
Welcome to Eddie, our new grandson, born 14 March 2014
Medical & dental issues
The mystery of MH370
Ukraine crisis

Post #4
23 Mar 2014
Mystery of flight MH370
Visit to China by Michelle Obama, her daughters and mother
Grandkids – photos of Eddie in KL and Kurt, Nate & Sid in Brisbane
World’s most expensive cities
World’s biggest economies
Doctor – patient stress in China
Has Spring arrived?

Post #5
28 Mar 2014
Description of China University of Petroleum, Qingdao www.upc.edu.cn
My teaching schedule this semester (March – July 2014)
Summaries of my classes
Weekly class timetable for Double Major students
My teaching approach

Post #6
30 Mar 2014
News summary for March 2014 (from China Daily)
PM Abbott’s re-introduction of British honours
Flight MH370
Paul Bulcke, CEO of Nestle
Vanessa Mae, renowned violinist and now Olympic skier

Post #7
6 April 2014
Flight MH370
Changes in the Cuban economy
The Qing Ming Festival
Poetry
Student opinions on recent issues
Fast Eddie

Post #8
13 April 2014
Sun, where art thou?
Award for ‘favorite foreign teacher’
Coming of age – new 5 star hotels in Huangdao
A mystery – China’s property market
Student comments on high school and university

Post #9
20 April 2014
Student comments about college
The F-word dilemma
Australia comes to town – huge business delegation
My public lecture; and question "were you a spy"?
Visit to Ling Shan Island
Shandong Educational TV
Flash Eddie

Post #10
29 April 2014
Trip to Beijing for the Favorite Teacher Award
Building activity around Huangdao
Ranking of cities

Post #11
6 May 2014
News summary for April 2014
Operations of China’s 4 biggest banks
Time Magazine’s 2014 List of 100 Most Influential People
The Wen Zhang affair
Disappearance of Flight MH370
Crisis in Ukraine

Post #12
8 May 2014
Our visit to Chengdu, Sichuan Province


Post #13
18 May 2014
Olah Family history
·         Photos of my mother
·         Messages from Angie and Aniko
Blast from the past – Burton & Garran Hall’s 50th anniversary celebrations
Student ‘Super One’

Post #14
25 May 2014
Compiling exam papers
Model teacher
Five year rule for foreign teachers in Shandong
My new phone
APEC comes to town (Heath McMichael)
Nobel Prize
List of Prolific Inventors; Kia Silverbrook and Paul Lapstun
Photo with UPC President
Peter’s Ice Cream goes French
Vale, Reg Gasnier

Post #15
2 June 2014
Duan Wu (Dragon Boat) Festival
Footy
Adventurer extraordinaire Fedor Konyukhov
The China – Vietnam dispute
Jack Brabham, RIP
News summary for May 2014

Post #16
7 June 2014
Graduating class
Steve’s birthday
Student opinions on recent events
Feedback on the semester from Double Major students
China’s leading ladies: Peng Li Yuan and Cheng Hong
Eddie goes to Paris

Post #17
14 June 2014
Big month of Sport: World Cup starts in Brazil; NBA Championships won by San Antonio Spurs; French Open won by Nadal and Sharapova
Which part of American Culture did you find most interesting?
Teaching the CNOOC group
Students selling belongings
Our seniors bus passes
The dreaded Gao Kao
The world’s most popular woman (Yao Chen)
Grandkids

Post #18
22 June 2014
Campus news:
·         CCTV English News channel
·         The godfather of UPC
·         Culture exam
·         Farewell to Mashine
·         Homeward bound
The Queen meets the Premier
One of the best World Cup goals ever?
Spurs beat Heat to win NBA Championships
News summary for first half of June 2014
A bit of nostalgia (Jakarta 1972)
Photo of Caroline and Eddie

Post #19
27 June 2014
In Kuala Lumpur
Index of Posts #1 to  #18
Disappearance of Flight MH370
Ukraine crisis
Angie & Rotary Club of Narooma

Post #20
14 September 2014
Mid Autumn Festival
In Kuala Lumpur, photos with Eddie
Time with the Roberts family in Brisbane
Robertstour2014.wordpress.com
Photos of our stay in Australia (July & August 2014)
2014-15 Academic Year: key dates

Post #21
21 Sept 2014
Photos of Kuala Lumpur
UPC students:  living conditions
Military training for Freshmen students
Bill Clinton’s book “My life: the Presidential Years

Post #22
27 Sept 2014
Move to our new apartment
Military training – photos of final parade
Qingdao Golden Beach Hilton Hotel

Post #23
1 October 2014
China’s National Day
Photos of new apartment
Meeting with Qingdao TV
Vera with former student Zhang Ya Xuan
Han Han (possibly the world’s most popular male blogger)

Post # 24
7 Oct 2014
Visit to Dalian and Lushun (Port Arthur), 2 – 6 October during the National Day holiday.
Photos of Dalian and Lushun

Post #25
20 Oct 2014
Photos of bicycling
Qingdao TV interviews and videos
Our 41st wedding anniversary
17th Asian Games, Incheon, South Korea
News summary for September 2014


Post #26
24 Oct 2014
My teaching schedule this semester, September to December 2014
Class summaries & explanations
Weekly workload of class EM1301
Vale, Gough Whitlam

Post #27
31 Oct 2014
Photos of new apartment & Tang Dao Wan Bay
An explanation of Chinese names
Photo of Papa Andy with Hinamoana

Post #28
1 November 2014
House of Cards TV series
Great Wall Drilling Company
News summary for October 2014

Post #29
8 Nov 2014
Whitlam’s Memorial Service
Western Sydney Wanderers win Asian Champions League
Visit to Bin Hai University
Photo with Fu Xiao
Robertstour2014
Photos of Andrew, Caz & Eddie in Hong Kong

Post #30
16 Nov 2014
APEC & Bob Hawke
Working at the Australian Embassy Beijing 1983-86, and memories of Beijing 30 years ago
Pictures related to Channar Project
Main actors: Paul Barratt; Kevin Rudd; Ross Garnaut; Richard Rigby; Denis Gastin; Jocelyn Chey.

Post #31
24 Nov 2014

Left-handedness in China
Postscript

Post #32
1 December 2014
Recent photos (including visit to Qingdao Naval Museum)
Breaking Bad TV series
Turn-out rate at US elections

Post #33
4 Dec 2014

News summary for November 2014
Post #34
6 Dec 2014
Love poems with International Trade theme
Students’ questions during the  Western Culture course
Some suggested changes to the US political system
The intrepid travellers – the Roberts family ‘turn left’

Post #35
11 Dec 2014

About Omi (3rd anniversary of her death)
Post #36
14 Dec 2014

Analysis of the Forbes 2014 “List of 72 Most Powerful People”
Post #37
24 Dec 2014

About UPC students:
  • Class timetable
  • Student workloads
  • My teaching schedule
  • University degrees

Post #38
27 Dec 2014
China’s development
Comparison of college China/USA

Post #39
29 Dec 2014

Robin Williams, RIP




Table 2: Index for 2015 (Post # 40 - Post #84)

Post number & date

Events described

Post #40
2 January 2015

Olah family highlights of 2014
The South-North Water Diversion Project

Post #41
10 Jan 2015

News summary for December 2014
Post #42
13 Jan 2015

Description of Western Culture exam held 4 January 2015
Post #43
14 Jan 2015

Photos of last 3 weeks of semester (classes, dinners)
Post #44
15 Jan 2015
In Hong Kong

Comments on Hong Kong
YouTube link to Qingdao TV program about Rai and me
Index of blog posts #19 - #43

Post #45
23 Jan 2015

The billion dollar house (No. 75 Peak Road, Hong Kong)
Post #46
4 March 2015
Photos of our time in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Hong Kong


Post #47
21 March 2015
Teaching:  British Culture; English News
Weather
Our sojourn in China
Brumbies Super Rugby team

Post #48
28 March 2015
Gym
English News class
Cricket World Cup
Craigengower Cricket Club in HK

Post # 49
3 April 2015
News summary for March 2015


Post #50
12 April 2015
Visit to Qufu, Shandong Province (home town of Confucius)


Post #51
21 April 2015
Recent photos
The fall of Bi Fu Jian (Lao Bi)

Post #52
30 April 2015

News summary for April 2015
Post #53
11 May 2015

Visit to Xian, Shaanxi Province  (terracotta warriors, etc)
Post #54
14 May 2015
Format of ‘English News’ class
Examples of articles discussed in News class

Post #55
24 May 2015

Trip to Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
Post #56
3 June 2015

News summary for May 2015
Post #57
7 June 2015
Contract for 2015-16 academic year
Gym
Accident
Exams
Upcoming travel
Recent photos

Post #58
8 June 2015

About the Bureau of International Expositions and World Expos
Post #59
28 June 2015

Recent photos:
  • Golden Beach
  • MIX-C mall in Qingdao
  • Charles & family & apricot farm
  • Fu Xiao

Post #60
28 June 2015

Photos of classes & students in the March – June 2015 semester
Photos of campus; student market; graduating students
Post #61
6 July 2015

News summary for June 2015
Post #62
20 July 2015

Describes two written exams from this semester:
  • Western Culture
  • English News

Post #63
21 July 2015

Our visit to Shanghai, 8 – 17 July 2015
Post #64
23 July 2015

Our visit to Suzhou, 14 – 15 July 2015
Post #65
24 July 2015

Photos of our stay in Hong Kong, 17 – 24 July 2015
Post #66
2 September 2015

Photos of Sid & Nate playing rugby, and end-of-season presentations
Hilder Road Primary School weekly assembly
Brisbane’s South Bank

Post #67
3 Sept 2015

Photos of our visit to Australia in July & August 2015:
  • Canberra
  • Sydney  
  • Hong Kong

Post #68
3 Sept 2015
Photos of UPC graduation ceremonies in July 2015 (in the UPC gymnasium and in the Yi Fu Center)
Lunch with students

Post #69
3 October 2015
My teaching schedule for semester Sept – Dec 2015
New contract – increased salary
Recent photos:
  • Rugby 7s in Qingdao
  • Carol’s wedding
  • Freshmen’s military parade
  • Eddie & Reddie

Post #70
10 Oct 2015

News summary for September 2015
Post #71
14 Oct 2015

Visit to Zoucheng, 28 Sept – 1 October 2015
Post #72
24 Oct 2015

Weather
Swimming at Silver Beach
Our 42nd wedding anniversary
Trudeau, father & son
Jung Chang’s book on Mao

Post #73
28 Oct 2015

Class schedules for EM1502 & IT1403 this semester
Student comments on College life
Student recollections of doing the Gao Kao (National College Entrance Exam)

Post #74
3 November 2015

News summary for October 2015
Post #75
8 Nov 2015

Weather
Trip to Rizhao
Carol Zhang Qi
Sunday Fu Xiao
Speech contest

Post #76
15 Nov 2015

Background on China University of Petroleum (UPC)
Photos of Shandong, Qingdao, and UPC
Post #77
3 December 2015

English is crazy
The little word UP
A typical Tuesday Middle School day for Scarlett Liu Si Qi

Post #78
6 Dec 2015

News summary for November 2015
Post #79
13 Dec 2015

Tu You You, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine
Student comments on “Why have so few Chinese won the Nobel Prize”?
List of “Most Prolific Inventors”

Post #80
14 Dec 2015

Analysis of Forbes magazine’s 2015 List of 73 Most Powerful People

Post #81
16 Dec 2015

Our membership of the Gold Coast Gym
Photos:
  • Little Oliver Zhao Yin Xin
  • Dinner with teachers

Post #82
22 Dec 2015

Tribute to Kobe Bryant
Post #83
23 Dec 2015
Our swimming pool
Charles Yu Zhi Chao and Jessica Hinde
First birthday of Zhang Zhi Jie
Presenting book to Cristina Zhang Jia Min

Post #84
29 Dec 2015
How we spent Xmas Week 21 – 28 December 2015
Photos:
  • Classes this semester
  • Roberts boyz and Little Eddie




Table 3: Index for 2016 (Post #85 - Post #90)

Post number & date

Events described

Post #85
5 January 2016

Dispute about my Culture exam
How we spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Recent photos (Tamara & Felix; Award for Outstanding Contribution; lunch at Blue Horizon; visit to Daniel and Hayley)

Post #86
7 Jan 2016
A comment on the Chinese stock market
News summary for December 2015

Post #87
9 Jan 2016

Description of the Western Culture exam


Post #88
11 Jan 2016

English, with a twist:
  • Sayings
  • Definitions
  • Prose

Post #89
17 Jan 2016
Freshman comments on College life and future job aspirations
Non Major students feedback on my Oral English course

Post #90
18 Jan 2016
Index of blog posts:
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016


(Number of visits to my blog from 16 Feb 2014 to 18 Jan 2016: 8,720. Last three months quite a few from France and Russia - the Russian ones are probably fake!)





...

That's it for this post.

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah (aka The Intrepid Duo)
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Monday 18 January 2016 
(posted in Hong Kong enroute to Australia)