Post #101 25 May 2016

Gentlefolk,

This post comprises photographs of three recent events: English Speech Contest; the University's annual two-day Sports Meet; and the visit by Walter Vollenweider.

English Speech Contest

Michael and I were invited to be judges in UPC's 20th Post-graduate English Speech Contest, 7pm on Saturday 7 May 2016.

The student organisers from the College of Petroleum Engineering were Cui Yan Chun and Li Tian Liang.  Hosts were Li Cheng and Xie Hui (Xie was also a competitor).

Judges were Guo Yue Qin, Shen Dan, Zheng Lin, Zhang Chang Yan, Michael Christensen, and myself. Judging criteria: Appearance (10%); Content (35%); Pronunciation, fluency, presentation (35%); Q & A (20%).

Twelve contestants made the final round. They had to present a 5 minute prepared speech on the topic "Better late than never", and then answer two questions from the judges.

Final placings were based 90% on judges and 10% on audience voting.

The winner was a girl, Yin Xia; she had lived in Canada and her spoken English was very good.  The two runners-up were Xie Hui and Zhao Qian.

I'm always impressed by the level of spoken English exhibited by students in these contests.

It was a fun night.

The Judging Panel for the Post-graduate English Speech Contest

I was asked to make some remarks at the end of the speeches, while the scores were being tallied up.

The audience also voted - by giving blue stickers to their preferred speakers. The girl in the red skirt, Yin Xia, was the winner, while the girl in the pink dress, Xie Hui, and the boy next to her, Zhao Qian, were runners-up.

UPC Annual Sports Meet, 20 & 21 May 2016

Vera and I attended the opening ceremony of the University's annual track & field sports meet. The Opening Ceremony went 7.30 - 8.30am, followed by the start of the competition.

The leaders of the University were there to watch the Opening Ceremony.  There was a parade, short speeches, and a display of gymnastics and dancing on the oval.

The parade was led by students in the Army Reserve.

Students in the Army Reserve carrying the Chinese Flag.

Students in the Army Reserve.

Competitors from one of UPC's Colleges.

The International Students Union also participated in the parade.

Competitors from various Colleges lined up at the end of the parade.  The University's iconic gymnasium is in the background.

Fireworks marked the end of the formal opening.

After the parade, speeches and fireworks were done, students and teachers performed gymnastics and dancing.

A 'Fan Dance' by students, boys and girls.  Most impressive.

These students demonstrated their yoga skills..

Female teachers and staff showed their dancing skills.

Visit by Walter Vollenweider

Old friend Walter Vollenweider visited us 20 - 22 May 2016. It was wonderful to see him again.

We knew Walter and his wife Susan in Rio de Janeiro 1980 - 82. Walter was manager of Swiss Air in Rio.  We met on the tennis courts of the Paissandu Club in Leblon, and kept in touch.

After retirement Walter wrote a book about his 30-year career with Swiss Air (search Amazon 'Business Class' by Walter Vollenweider). They had postings in Moscow, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, and New York. Among other things, he gives his take on the extraordinary demise of the once-famous airline which folded in 2002.

Walter's book - but you need to be able to read German.

Vera and Walter at Beach #1 in Qingdao, 21 May 2016. Walter flew from Shanghai to Qingdao yesterday - his flight arrived 20 minutes early, a miracle!

One of Qingdao's many coffee shops, this one is called "Kaffee Haus".

We visited the German Governor's Palace which was built in 1903 (Qingdao was a German colony from 1898 to 1914, when a joint British - Japanese army took over). 

The Lutheran Church built by Curt Rothkegel in 1908 is very popular for wedding photos.

Qingdao's best #6 Beach, nice but not as good as the beaches in Huangdao!

Vera and Alex in front of the May 4 Monument. It commemorates the student demonstrations which started on 4 May 1919 when the Versailles Treaty 'gave' Qingdao to Japan.

A visit to the "Food Alleys", built in 1902.

Vera buying a snack in the Food Alleys.

A visit to St Michael's Catholic Church, built in 1934.

Many couples were taking wedding photos in front of St Michael's Church.

A local group welcoming a couple for the wedding party/banquet in this restaurant.

St Michael's Catholic Church as recently re-opened following major restoration. Good job.

The refurbished alter in St Michael's Church.

We had coffee and sandwiches for lunch at a recently-opened French bakery.

Farewell tea at the Prince Hotel, fronting the promenade in Qingdao.  Under Germany this hotel was originally named Prince Heinrich Hotel, but the 'Heinrich' was dropped when the Germans were defeated during the First World War.  On Sunday afternoon Walter took the bullet train back to Shanghai (1,200 km in 6.5 hours!).

We thoroughly enjoyed showing Walter around Huangdao and Qingdao City.  Let's hope it's not another 20 years before we see him again!

...

We're starting to run out of time here.

Next weekend we will visit Shenyang in Liaoning Province, and the weekend after we'll go to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province.  So much still to do, but so little time left.

The final exams will be in late-June, then grading and packing up.  We will leave Qingdao on 9 July 2016; first a couple of months in Europe (mainly Hungary and Germany) and then head for home, Down Under.

...

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Wednesday 25 May 2016