Christmas Yichang 2010

So what is a Christmas in Yichang, China like? For me this year it has gone a bit like this... Some classes were changed around and some were cancelled during this week (nothing unusual there).  Tuesday afternoon the kids from Junior Two had a singing contest. I joined some other junior two teachers to help judge. I actually really enjoyed seeing the kids sing and have fun, made me have a lot of fun too. Wednesday afternoon I did some much needed grocery shopping (was down to noodles) but had too much to carry home on the bus to do any Christmas gift shopping. Thursday night the kids at school held their Christmas parties and as I teach so many classes I had many class parties to try and attend, I did manage to get round to quite a few. I took Moli along with me and the kids in every class I went to quickly took her out of my hands and thoroughly enjoyed fussing and cuddling her. Owning a dog as a pet is only really a relatively new thing here in China and few kids have dogs as pets, but many would love to.

Friday morning I had first period but then managed to go to the city for really last minute Chrissie shopping, had a Macca's for lunch, caught the bus home just in time for going back to school for the 5th period class...then...straight after class I headed down to our schools media room for the 2nd Yichang Foreign Teachers Party, this year hosted by our school.

 13 Foreign teachers are based here in Yichang this year, I know a few of them, but not many. We participated in games and watched our kids sing and dance. After the event we headed out to dinner. I think last years party scared a few away this year...really very different when they want us to perform and participate in games, give speeches etc...Only 6 of the 13 of us showed up which I feel a little sad about. I don't like these things much myself, but it is genuinely done in good spirit and heart by the Yichang Education Bureau and some people cancelled right at the last minute leaving the department with their very beautiful gifts (that had been hand picked by students) and other stuff. I know our school also put a lot of effort into the whole thing and I really appreciate that they did try and make us feel a little wanted at Christmas time. After dinner Nettie drove me back to my apartment and we picked up Moli and my stuff and headed to her apartment which brings us to ...Christmas Day.
Actually Christmas eve spent by me organising lessons and Christmas day...lessons...but in between I tried to explain how things are done at Christmas and we opened presents, played games etc. Going to friends of ours for Chinese Christmas Dinner tonight, HOTPOT :-)....and I wonder why I always feel tired?

Early Birthday Pressie

I walked through the fresh new snow to my early class, Wednesday mornings are challenging for me, 4 classes all in a row starting at 8.10 and going through until lunch time. It is also a bigger challenge as the classes are all Junior 3, who are in a busy important year of study and often prefer to do homework during my classes, no matter how fun and interesting I try and make the lessons. It can really hurt when you spend hours finding lessons for them and they don't want to listen. Not as bad as when they think your lesson doesn't meet their fun expectation so they would rather play cards or talk though. Junior 3 is really very very difficult and you have to build your strength and try not to take it to heart otherwise it can be very hurtful. That being said I must also mention that some J'3 students are the exception and great kids and some classes are better than others. My Junior Two classes have had the opportunity to have been with me from their first days at school and we mostly seem to have a good understanding of each other and with Nettie's help, my junior 2 classes are really very very good, not the same problems in these classes. It really makes much more sense to me to just teach Junior 1 and 2 from Day 1, they will get the same amount of lessons from me for a full two years and wont impose into the busy Junior 3 schedule. Oh well, mei ban fa!
Anyway, I have wondered off down a different path, back to where I started,
I walked through the fresh new snow to my early class, up the 6 flights of stairs to my class and got ready for my mornings classes, the bell went and no students arrived, the start of class bell rang and still no students. I tried to ring some of the teachers...no luck, so I locked up class and started back down the stairs to the office. On the way I met Tina who gave me a huge early birthday present, the news that Junior 3's have exams today and tomorrow and they wont have my classes. I only have Junior 3's on both of these days, so I don't have to teach until Friday! I walked back through the snow singing "Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me.....a day early, how cool :-)
You really never know what will happen until it happens here in China. It keeps you on your toes :-)

First Winter Snow

Today brought the first snow for this winter, it's currently 1 degree Celsius and lightly snowing but frosty cold.
As you know Christmas isn't celebrated here and in past years I still put up my own decorations and have my own little internal celebration. This year I have been toying with the idea of not putting up the tree and tinsel etc, but it would be the first year ever that I have not partaken in the tradition which may feel too strange for me, maybe just a few bits to acknowledge what was always the most exciting time of the year for me are called for. My reasoning for not decorating has been  that no one will get to enjoy my decorations except for Moli and myself...but then why should we consider ourselves not important? Don't misunderstand, whilst it is definitely not the same as Christmas at home, my friends do celebrate with me (but out and about), the school will have some kind of Christmas party and many shops and big stores decorate for Christmas. It really is very different though,  kind of superficial, the meaning of giving and family at Christmas is not understood in the same way and that warm fuzzy feeling is missing somewhat. Have we really taught the Chinese that Christmas is just about the glitz?