A few weeks back, the university asked us foreign teacher's to cover for one of the Chinese teacher's that was sick. We had to be creative to figure out how we'd cover it and still be following our contract which only allows for us to teach 16 course hours each week. We ended up splitting up the classes and each picking lessons we wanted to cover. The course? American culture!
I chose to cover families, weddings, and sports in America.
For the wedding lesson we actually had a pretend ceremony. I had the students pick cards to decide who would play what role... except I ran into a problem when it came to groom's men - as there were only 3 boys in this class of 30. One had to be the groom, one the father of the bride, and the other, the best man. Afterward we had some "wedding cake" as I explained more about weddings in America.
And for the sports lesson, what's more all-American than kickball? Well, I guess you could say baseball, but kickball's a lot easier to play and teach. A few people had trouble knowing when and where to run (or to stop after you get to home plate). After about the 3rd inning they started to get the hang of it.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
MAY SNAPSHOTS
When it comes to spring in Harbin, the two most beautiful places in the whole city are 林大 (the university where I teach) and the 植物园 (the botanical gardens which happens to be right next to my university). I'm not kidding, either. Check out these pictures!
Too bad the smell-o-net (smell-o-vision over the internet) has't been invented yet...If it had, I'd capture the smell of all the lilacs around campus and post them here for you.
Too bad the smell-o-net (smell-o-vision over the internet) has't been invented yet...If it had, I'd capture the smell of all the lilacs around campus and post them here for you.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
APRIL SNAPSHOT
This semester, I've been teaching an intercultural communication class again, this time to sophomores with English as their 2nd major. I organized another field-trip, to the Jewish museum in Harbin, like I did last semester. 25 students came! Since we took public transportation, we ended up having to take 2 buses, but everyone made it! And they all enjoyed seeing a part of the history of Harbin many did not know even existed.
Over a period of about 100 years, 20,000 Jews lived in Harbin. Most came from Russia after 1917. The last Harbin Jew died in 1985. The museum is housed in on of the two standing synagogues near the river.
Over a period of about 100 years, 20,000 Jews lived in Harbin. Most came from Russia after 1917. The last Harbin Jew died in 1985. The museum is housed in on of the two standing synagogues near the river.
Friday, April 16, 2010
"SPRINGTIME" IN HARBIN
I was loath to put on my down coat this past Monday. Something about wearing a down coat in April doesn't feel natural, but once I stepped outside into the wind and snow and pulled my hood tight over my head, I was glad I had put it on. 
At least the snow wasn't sticking to the roads, my co-teacher and I noted as we walked back home from lunch.
That afternoon, I had office hours, and running a bit late, I decided to take my bike. The roads were clear, after all... But when the doorman saw I wanted to get my bike, he quickly said "It's snowing!" "I know," I replied. "You'll break your head open, the roads are slippery!" I looked out the door... "Oh!" He was right, there was 2 inches of snow on the road! I decided to walk.
That evening, after my class ended at 8 PM, two students walked me home, umbrellas in hand. By the time we reach my apartment, there was a thick layer of snow on the umbrellas.
Umbrellas in the snow ... that reminds me of a story ... I should have known that Harbin was under the White Witch's curse.
Tuesday, it kept coming. It didn't keep me from going to the pool, though, but I think trudging through drifts of snow up to my knees and walking against the wind was as much exercise as I got while swimming! I wonder how long it took for this taxi that I passed to get out...
All the locals say this snow was really abnormal - a once in 50 years kind of thing. I admit, it was bit fun to see all this snow at once, but I'm still left wondering, how much longer until Aslan comes? How much longer until Spring?
At least the snow wasn't sticking to the roads, my co-teacher and I noted as we walked back home from lunch.
That afternoon, I had office hours, and running a bit late, I decided to take my bike. The roads were clear, after all... But when the doorman saw I wanted to get my bike, he quickly said "It's snowing!" "I know," I replied. "You'll break your head open, the roads are slippery!" I looked out the door... "Oh!" He was right, there was 2 inches of snow on the road! I decided to walk.
That evening, after my class ended at 8 PM, two students walked me home, umbrellas in hand. By the time we reach my apartment, there was a thick layer of snow on the umbrellas.
Umbrellas in the snow ... that reminds me of a story ... I should have known that Harbin was under the White Witch's curse.
Tuesday, it kept coming. It didn't keep me from going to the pool, though, but I think trudging through drifts of snow up to my knees and walking against the wind was as much exercise as I got while swimming! I wonder how long it took for this taxi that I passed to get out...
All the locals say this snow was really abnormal - a once in 50 years kind of thing. I admit, it was bit fun to see all this snow at once, but I'm still left wondering, how much longer until Aslan comes? How much longer until Spring?
Sunday, April 11, 2010
SUNDAY SNAPSHOT
It turns out that this year Easter was followed by 清明节 Tomb Sweeping Day. While riding the bus back from Easter fellowship last week, I had the opportunity to talk with a good Chinese friend about this.
It's interesting to see these two holidays back to back. On the surface, these two spring holidays seem to have something in common. They both involve something related to tombs, right? But in one, they sweep and clean off the still-full tombs. The other, we remember the empty tomb! One is full of mournful remembering, solemn processions, and the giving of paper money and food to the dead. The other is full of joy and song, feasting, and is all about the resurrection!
[On Tomb Sweeping Day in Harbin, you see carts of paper money for the dead being sold throughout the city]
[On the evening of Tomb Sweeping Day, people burn the money on street corners to remember those who have passed away. The origin behind burning money is so that those in the other world will have money to use.]
It's interesting to see these two holidays back to back. On the surface, these two spring holidays seem to have something in common. They both involve something related to tombs, right? But in one, they sweep and clean off the still-full tombs. The other, we remember the empty tomb! One is full of mournful remembering, solemn processions, and the giving of paper money and food to the dead. The other is full of joy and song, feasting, and is all about the resurrection!
[On Tomb Sweeping Day in Harbin, you see carts of paper money for the dead being sold throughout the city]
[On the evening of Tomb Sweeping Day, people burn the money on street corners to remember those who have passed away. The origin behind burning money is so that those in the other world will have money to use.]
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