Teaching In China

Hello Everyone,
If you have come to this page then must be at least slightly interested in my exploration and experiences in China. This opportunity has been provided to me, and my fellow participants by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, if you are interested in learning more please do not hesitate to look at some of the amazing work this organization is doing. I am participating in the NCUSCR's Teacher Exchange Program which has been sending K-12 educators to china since 1996. Please enjoy my PG-13 Chinese exploits.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas!!!

Nimon Hao

     So every year Er Wai does a Christmas performance, the students and staff show off some of their talents.
The anxious crowd

Ribbon Dancing

The School Choir

These students performed a very entertaining play... I didn't have a clue what they were saying, but the crowed sure enjoyed it.


Be sure to check out the video below

One of the few English performances, these kids sang Taylor Swift song

and then... unfortunately... a Justin Bieber song, sooooo....

Then it was the teachers turn

These lovely English teachers dances to "Nobody"

Check out the Video below

This guy played the according, and it was pretty awesome... never really thought I'd say that...

These girls are waiting for their turn

Dueling Violins

They were kind of like the Backstreet Boys... But with actual singing talent

And they can dance!


This traditional Chinese dance was pretty impressive


Teh show was wrapped up with Teaching Staff Cheerleaders

Here are some students demonstrating Wushu

Some Junior 3 students showing a less traditional dance.

Here are my colleagues, (Li, Jing, Amy, Barbra, Zhong Li, and Catherine)
practiced for weeks and the kids loved it.

     Now what is missing from this post is the necessary evidence of my amazing performance as Santa Claus.  As far as I know, there really aren't any pictures... so sad... Well Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone back home.

Zaijian!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sights and Smells of Luoyang

Nimon Hao!

Which One it Not Like The Other?

Who new that steamed Rice would smell so enticing

Pet or Meal... All a matter of time
Definitely going to be lunch...

Hard not to be attracted to a giant flame!

especially one that results in such tasty fried baozi

Everybody's gotta work, this kid stokes the forge while his mom makes the candy

The small tributary near school is lined with private gardens worked by the near by neighborhoods
Always good advise...

Burning is a Chinese National pass time; Here they are burning money for their ancestors

Burned Cornstalks, even though

A healthy mix of cornstalks and trash.... stinky

This is one way to get rid of your trash

Not done burning

This'll get burned eventually, but until then it just stinks of trash...


Zaijian

Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy Turkey Day!

Nimen Hao!
our Thanksgiving Day dinner:
Not a turkey, but this duck will have to do

How about some stewed beef?
More posts to come...
Zaijian

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The sites around Luoyang - New Post 1 of 2

Nimen Hao!

WHERE'RE MY PANTS!!!

Longmen Grottoes boast over 2,400 Buddha caves carved over 8 Dynasties

A victim of the Cultural Revolution, students came a broke the heads off of some of the many buddhas

Some caves are larger than others, bu tall have (or had) a buddha in it

It really is amazing to see these hand made caves

Now that is one serene ...

These 4 cm Buddhas are only a few of the 4000 in this 1 cave

Lotus Cave

Dancing Buddhas at the Longmen Grottos

Hitching a ride

Tower of Kaifung


The kids love the costumes

4 lovely ladies at Halloween

Cheap baby sitter...
Hard to get confused on what to do here...


Shaolin... the birthplace of David Carradine (as I'm sure you all already knew) ... was awesome! This dude threw a pin through a piece of 1/8 inch glass... eventually.

Zaijian

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Karaoke!!! - New Post 2 of 2

Nimen Hao,

Three nights of Karaoke... and yes I actually sang not just chanted or "Shatner-d"...
Karaoke is a strange part of the culture here, some folks just hangout, some folks drink really, REALLY hard, and others just love to sing.  I never really enjoyed Karaoke, until now...

Han warming up for all of us.

Husband and Wife Duet... so sweet...

Teaching the Macarena... not actually sure why
Who's that handsome, untalented, singer?

It's not really fair to Karaoke with the music teacher

Bless those rains down in Africa!

Andy, Matthew, and Ling-Ling feeling the groove!

Day 2 - Sing it Brandy!

Ahhhh... Mr. Zhai, the center of attention again

Lucky man, Matthew, lucky man

Andy showing us how it's done!

Apparently our waitress didn't know which direction to point the camera... language barrier...

Han is unimpressed, so now he's farming online.

Get down with your bad-selves...

Sing it Jing... even if the song is from China's version of Barny

"Hey Jude" never sounded so good!

Han's Chicken dance!

Matthew's really "feeling the music" now...

The Chinese Polka!

Awwww so sweet
ANDY!!!!
Zaijian