Post #112 5 July 2016

Gentlefolk,

This post is about saying goodbye to two leaders of the University, President Shan Hong Hong and ex-Vice President Zha Ming.

Professor Shan Hong Hong

Yesterday we met with Shan Hong Hong, President of China University of Petroleum (UPC), to say goodbye (called 'Vice Chancellor'  in Australia - they are responsible for the day-to-day running of the university).

The last three Presidents of UPC have been:

Professor Liu Xiu Sheng (1992-98)
Professor Tong Zhao Qi (1998-2005. He initiated the move from Dongying to Qingdao)
Professor Shan Hong Hong (2005 - present; last year there was a rumour that all the leaders would be replaced, but luckily (for us) she got an extension)

There is one statue of a former President on the UPC campus, in front of the Yi Fu Conference Center; Professor Yang Guang Hua (1980-88).

In China it is rare for a woman to achieve the top job, let alone in a science-based university such as UPC; she is obviously a very talented researcher and administrator.  She was a Professor of Chemical Engineering before assuming the top role in 2005.

It's unusual for a foreign teacher to meet the president, and we were honoured that she invited us to her office (I was lucky to write a book, newspaper articles, appear on TV, etc).  We chatted for about 45 minutes, much longer than expected; we had met her previously, but only for a few minutes so this was different.  She is an impressive person.

From left: Vera, Liu Li Na (in charge of foreign teachers in the International Office); Wang Ling (also in the International Office; she acted as interpreter); me; President Shan.  We were fairly crowded in her office and she explained that the Government's austerity drive meant that all leaders had 'lost' about half their office space.

Add caption

Another view of the meeting with President Shan.

President Shan gave Vera a silk scarf.

President Shan presented us with a personalised scroll. The character "Fu" means good health and good fortune.

The President's office is on the 16th floor of the Admin Building - great views - and I took some photos. This photo looks directly down the main axis to the South Gate and Tang Dao Wan Bay.

This photo looks kinda South-West, across the top of the Library.  The orange-clad buildings are residential buildings for Undergraduates. They live 6 to a dormitory.

This photo looks West.

This photo looks North-West. The University's iconic Gymnasium is center-left. Construction of this campus started in 2002, and is on-going. Can you imagine that none of the tall apartment buildings in the distance existed 10 years ago! The rate of development here is phenomenal.

This photo looks North, across the top o f the old Science Teaching Building and across the University Sports Oval., and over to the new Howard Johnson Hotel in the center. None of the tall buildings in the distance existed 10 years ago.

Later, after the meeting with the President, the Deputy Director of the International Office, Jiang Da Sen, presented us with another scroll. We'll have to buy a bigger apartment in Canberra to be able to hang  all these gifts!

Professor Zha Ming

Professor Zha Ming was the Vice President of UPC in charge of International Affairs from 2011 - 2015.  He stepped down at the end of last year.

He has authored or co-authored 10 books on geology.

We met Prof Zha and his wife Tang Qi Rong through Zhu Shan (Susie) who was my Liaison Teacher back in 2011-12.

When Prof Zha heard about the long (monthly) letters to my mother about our life in China, he suggested I turn them into a book.  Depending on the result, Prof Zha said that the University would publish the book as part of its 60th Anniversary celebrations (October 2013).

I thought it would be relatively easy to convert the letters into a book, but not so.  Anyway, to cut a long story short, a book finally emerged (English title: "It's all about the students"; Chinese "UPC through foreign eyes" Yang Yan Kan Shi Da).

Then Susie volunteered to translate it into Chinese. My initial reaction was that a translation would be superfluous, but I'm delighted that she insisted as the bi-lingual result makes the book much more accessible to Chinese.

Writing a book, and then having it published, is an incredible experience.

Thank you for your support and encouragement, Professor Zha and Zhu laoshi!!!

From left: Tang Qi Rong, Vera, Zhu Shan (Susie).  Vera met with Tang Qi Rong every Wednesday for 3 years to improve her spoken English. They became good friends.

From left: Zhu Shan (Susie); Tang Qi Rong; Prof Zha Ming; me; Vera.  Their son did a PhD at Columbia University (in Geophysics) and is now working for Philips Conoco in Houston.

Vera & I with Zhu Shan (Susie). We first met in Dongying in 2009.  Later she was appointed as my Liaison Teacher (each foreign teacher is given a local 'liaison' to help us with any admin & teaching issues).  She did her Masters degree at University of Western Sydney, and loved her time there.  Without Susie's support the book would never have happened.  She loves translation and teaching and works incredibly hard - she has just published her third book!

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That's it for this post.

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Tuesday 5 July 2016

Post #111 5 July 2016

Gentlefolk,

This post is about the visit of our son and his family last weekend.

Andrew and Caroline live in Hong Kong, 3 hours flight from Qingdao.  Andrew is a Team Leader in Google's HK Office; Caroline has developed a furniture retail website (www.reddie.co).  Little two-year-old Eddie makes up the family.

Hong Kong had a public holiday on Friday ('Establishment Day', to commemorate the return of HK to China in 1997) and they decided to visit Qingdao for the long weekend, before our departure next Saturday.

We all stayed at the sumptuous Shangri-la Hotel in Qingdao City.  Their treat - thank you!

Actually, the hotel I stayed at when I left Australia for the first time way back in February 1972 was the Shangri-la in Singapore.  It was an incredibly exotic and luxurious hotel, and kicked off my love affair with Asia.  It was a strange, but altogether appropriate, coincidence that the last hotel I would stay in before our departure for Australia was another Shangri-la.

I've spent a lot of time in Asia since 1972; lived in Indonesia (1972-73 and 1988-91), Thailand (1974), Singapore (1994-96), and China (1984-86 and 2009-2016); a total of about 18 years.  What a marvellous experience it has been.

We also lived in Canada (1975-78) and Brazil (1979-82), but Asia takes the cake.

Qingdao has a deserved reputation as one of China's most liveable cities and Vera and I were delighted to have this opportunity to show them around our "adopted home".  It's a pity we didn't have time to go to Huangdao, the suburb where our campus is located (about 30km from Qingdao City itself), but there wasn't enough time and Andrew & Caroline had visited us there four years ago.

Here is a summary of what we did with Andrew, Caroline and Little Eddie.

Friday 1 July 2016

Met them at Qingdao Airport at 2pm; transfer to Shangri-la Hotel; swim in hotel pool; walk through May 4 Square and along the esplanade; dinner.

Saturday 2 July 2016

Swim; breakfast; drive around Ba Da Guan; look at #1 Beach; visit Zhong Shan Park & Zoo; back to hotel for swim and rest; lunch in MIX-C Mall; visit St Michael's Church & Square; coffee & cake at Tous les Jours; look at Prince Hotel; walk along esplanade; Food Alleys at end of Zhong Shan Road; back to hotel for supper.

Sunday 3 July 2016

Swim; breakfast; walk along esplanade; check out of hotel; taxi to Qingdao Airport; flight to Hong Kong departed at 2.30pm, arrived in HK Airport at 5.30pm, they were home in Happy Valley by 7pm.


Herewith some photos (before the battery in my camera stopped)

The university very kindly gave us a car and driver to pick up the visitors - what a nice gesture!  We drove along the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the longest over-water bridge in the world (40km) - an engineering marvel - always a thrill.

Qingdao Liu Ting Airport.  A big new airport is under construction and will be ready in 3 years. Qingdao's new subway (60 km) will open by the end of this year - so much development here. 

The lobby of the Shangri-la Hotel on Xianggang Zhong Lu in the "New City".

Nice indoor swimming pool, which we used a lot.

Andrew and Eddie having a shower after using the swimming pool. Eddie is two and getting used to water.

The impressive May 4 Monument, commemorating student revolt which started on 4 May 1919 against the Versailles Treaty which gave Qingdao to Japan.

Vera buying some 'bubbles' for Eddie in May 4 Square.

The esplanade which runs around the shoreline up to the 2008 Olympic Sailing Center.

Little Eddie enjoying some yogurt for breakfast.

At #1 Beach, the biggest beach in Qingdao City.  The weather was pleasant, lots of people on the beach, but not many swimming yet. Another month and the water will be comfortable for swimming.

An impromptu "jam" session in Zhong Shan Park.

Chinese love babies and kids; the 'singer' insisted on meeting Little Eddie.

The zoo included a petting area with rabbits.

Unfortunately the battery in my camera expired, so that's all the photos.

It was a lovely visit, albeit too short.

Thanks Andrew & Caroline for making the effort to visit us and for your hospitality!

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That's it for this post.

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao

www.upc.edu.cn

Tuesday 5 July 2016 (4 more sleeps before our departure!)

Post #110 3 July 2016

Gentlefolk,

This post is about farewells with Vera's private students.

Jack & Jenny

Every Friday night from 7 to 8.30pm Vera taught English to Jia Su (Jack) and Xue Zi Xuan (Jenny).

She started 4 years ago - now they are 15 years old and about to enter Senior High School. Their parents are friends, and decided that the kids should learn together.  Jack is a good boy, but hyper-active, always full of energy and willing to express an opinion. Jenny is much quieter, lovely girl.

Bright kids, they both have very good spoken English now.

Their parents gave us a scroll as a farewell gift, and invited us to dinner.

Jack & Jenny presenting Vera with the scroll.

Jack's father, Jia Qiang, explaining the scroll to Vera.

From left: Jia Qiang (Jack's father); Wang Xiao Yue (Wendy, Jack's cousin); Xue Zi Xuan (Jenny); Vera & me; Jia Su (Jac); Xue Fang Shu (Jenny's father); Gao Li Wei (Jack's mother); Dong Xiao Jing (Jenny's mother).

Wendy, Jenny's father, Jenny, Jack & Vera

Rachel and Ruby

On Saturday afternoons from 4 - 5pm Vera taught English to two young girls, Gao Xuan Yue (Rachel, now 9 years old) and Yan Ru Yu (Ruby, now 11 years old).

Their parents are friends, and wanted the kids to learn together.

Rachel was not even 5 when Vera started teaching them. Not easy, keeping a such a young girl interested for an hour - it's actually harder work than teaching older children.

Have they made progress?  Difficult to judge, but I'm sure that they absorbed much of Vera's teaching.  Time will tell.

We are constantly surprised at how Chinese parents give their kids a range of extra-curriculum activities - push them  - and are willing to spend significant money on private tutoring. This is such a competitive society that parents seek any advantage for their kids (also have lessons in a musical instrument, and calligraphy, etc, etc)

Can't imagine too  many Aussie primary school kids spending their Saturday afternoons learning another language, can you?

Vera with Rachel and Ruby.

The girls with their mothers, Cui Ai Xia and Liu Ran Feng.

Having dinner.

From left: Liu Ran Feng (Ruby's mother); Vera; Ruby; me; Yan Fang Jing (Ruby's father, a specialist at the big hospital in Jiaonan, he has a bad leg - maybe from polio? very nice guy); Gao Si Yong (Rachel's father, works for Unicom Telecom); Cui Ai Xia (Rachel's mother); and Rachel.

Scarlett

One of Vera's students when she taught Primary School in Dongying was Liu Si Qi (Scarlett).

We met Scarlett and her parents Professor Liu Bao and Wang Jun Hong when we came to this campus 5 years ago, and Vera offered to chat with Scarlett every Saturday morning from 8 - 9am.

Well, Scarlett is now 15 years old and will shortly start Senior High School. She has turned into a lovely young lady.

Vera with Scarlett.

We just realised that Scarlett is now taller than Vera!

Vera with Wang Jun Hong (Scarlett's mother). We became good friends with Scarlett's parents.

Dr Shi Tian Ming and Professor Liu Bao (Scarlett's father). Prof Liu brought some special "bamboo spirit" - tasty but strong. I actually got a bit tipsy, and had to walk home (didn't trust myself on the bike!).

Helen & Gavin

Every Saturday night from 7 to 8.30pm Vera taught English to Shu Ming and her daughter Song Shu Xian (Helen) and a family friend Gong Zhao Ting (Gavin).

From left: Shu Ming (Helen's mother); Gong Zhao Ting (Gavin); Song Shu Xian (Helen), Vera.

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Vera has known these students for 4 or 5 years now.  She has watched them grow and change and (hopefully) improve their English skills.

They were only children, but Vera took her role as an English teacher seriously and prepared lesson plans each week. I'm sure the kids, and their parents, understood and appreciated her dedication.  She has a special way with children, which facilitated communication and learning.

After so long, Vera regarded them as family.  They were a big part of her life here. So it's been tough saying goodbye; lots of emotional scenes in the last week, on all sides, as she bade farewell to "her kids".

We're hoping to return here for a visit in about 3 years, and hopefully will get to see all these good friends again.

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That's it for this post.

Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Sunday 3 July 2016

PS  Two hours ago we saw our son, Andrew, and his wife Caroline and Little Eddie off at Qingdao Airport.  They visited from Hong Kong for a long weekend, to see us before our departure from China in a week.  It was fun showing them around our "adopted city".

Post #109 1 July 2016

Gentlefolk,

With our imminent departure from China, we've been saying goodbye to friends.  This post is about a couple of "farewells" we hosted recently for colleagues and friends.

I'll do another post on going out with friends.

Our social life is limited in China. Not that I'm complaining, but it's a different lifestyle to back home. Here we have small group of foreign and Chinese friends, mainly teachers, who we see fairly regularly.

Of the UPC teachers, we are firm friends with Michael and Steven - have lunch together in the Tang Dao Wan Canteen most days (sometimes Karishma and/or Jens join us, or some foreign students), and a group goes out to dinner every Sunday night,

This semester I had classes 4 nights a week to start, and later 2 nights a week.  Vera had private students on Wednesday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night.  So most of our nights were committed.  We never went to a movie, or dancing, or lectures, or played golf, as we often did in Canberra.

The younger teachers sometimes went out to bars, but after teaching a night class for a couple of hours (7 - 8.50pm) we'd just want to kick back and relax by watching a DVD or reading the China Daily, or surfing the internet - frightening how much time one can spend (waste?) on the net!

Facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc are blocked in China (The Great Cyber-Wall of China protects citizens from insidious Western ideas), but Sykpe and email are available.  Although our internet access was sometimes volatile (would send us into a panic, we are so reliant on computers and the internet now), communicating with family and friends these days is so much easier than even 10 years ago.

Our days were taken up with reading, preparing lesson plans, biking, gym (3 mornings a week), occasionally meeting friends, swimming (on Sundays), watching the occasional rugby test at Knuckles or Legends, and of course teaching.

You couldn't call the life of a foreign English teacher 'strenuous', but one way or another the days seemed to fill up.  It's a relatively easy job, but having said that I always took time to prepare detailed lesson plans and to think what and how I should teach to achieve the greatest effect.

Chinese college students, overall, are great - respectful and eager to learn.  It was a pleasure teaching them.  They realised that I was dedicated to develop their skills/knowledge, and responded accordingly.

Dinner at home, Sunday 12 June 2016

This semester we have hosted a dinner every month for friends and colleagues. The June dinner was our chance to say goodbye to them.

I really don't know how Vera does it - she can conjure up food for a dinner or lunch, seemingly 'at the drop of a hat'.  Fortunately she enjoys cooking, and is keen to introduce Indonesian cuisine, which few people have tried.

After dinner Sun Yu entertained us with her Er Hu, a traditional Chinese string instrument.  Then Steven got his guitar and sang some songs (he does a great rendition of House of the Rising Sun!).

Later we played  a team variation of "20 Questions" - always fun.

We started at 6.30 and everyone was gone by about 10pm (some had early classes Monday morning). It was a casual, enjoyable night with a nice group of friends.

Vera made a range of dishes, including 'Gado-Gado' an Indonesian salad.

'Mine hosts' - but it was all Vera's work. We only have a small kitchen, and limited cooking facilities, but somehow she cooks up a storm.  Everyone loves her cooking.

Our female guests, from left: Sun Yu (International Office); Hao Yu (Gautier's wife); Wang Si Qi (French teacher); Karishma Prasad (Australia)

Our male guests, from left:  Steven McCune (US); Gautier Plassais (France); Graham Kendall and William Ong (Australia); Dr Laxmisha Rai (India); not shown Michael Christensen (US).

It's chow time! From left front: Gautier, Graham, Michael, Steven, Rai, and Vera.

Sun Yu entertained us on the Er Hu, a traditional Chinese instrument. She is very good.

Vera & Hao Yu. She met Gautier while studying in Lille, France. They have a beautiful daughter.

Our guests brought a big cake to mark the occasion. From left: Vera, Sun Yu, Wang Si Qi, Gautier, and Karishma.

Lunch at home, Friday 24 June

UPC runs an intensive German course for students planning to study in Germany. We got to know two of the German teachers fairly well, Thomas Weische and Jens Schmidke.  Both were accomplished linguists. Thomas spoke fluent Chinese and Arabic, as well as English and German. Last year Jens completed a PhD at Michigan State University, and is fluent in Spanish, English and German.

Next week Jens will leave for his new position as German lecturer at a university in Jordan, so Vera put on a 'farewell lunch' for him. Nice guy, we wish him well. 

From left: Steven McCune; Gautier Plassais; Vera; Jens Schmidke; Karishma Prasad; Thomas Weische; and Michael Christensen.

Dinner, Monday 27 June

As Michael, Steven and I all had Monday nights free this semester we organised "Monday Night @ the Movies" in our apartment. Vera made dinner and then we would watch the latest episode of 'Better Call Saul' (a spin-off of Breaking Bad), and more recently 'Game of Thrones'.  

Michael is a whiz at downloading stuff from Chinese websites.

Monday 27 June was the final episode for this season of Game of Thrones - exciting stuff: blond Dragon Queen; lovable Dwarf; good-guy Jon Snow; assassin Arya; scheming Queen Cersai & her brother Jamie;  etc, etc.

From left: Michael, Steven (patting his belly as he usually did after another great home-cooked meal), and Vera. We'd get together every Monday night for a home movie.

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Well, that's it for this post.  

It's actually been quite an emotional couple of weeks, saying goodbye.  

I'll do another post on outside dinners with friends.

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Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao

www.upc.edu.cn

Friday, 1 July 2016

PS Today my blog has received 11,000 hits, since the start in February 2014.