Connecting Mandarin and English,
Chinese and
American,
people
with people
Plans are Evolving - We're Headed to China
(September 5, 2008) (return
to Homepage)
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This
evening was our most non-Chinese experience we've had since we're in China.
The international teachers concocted an evening of dinner together and by
a vote of no descensions we ended up in downtown Nanchang in a place with
a non-Chinese menu and silverware, but no chopsticks. Gail had cottage pie
and I had a chircken curry. Interestingly the potpie was spicier than the
curry. The we went next door for more conversation and drinks. While Gail
and I babied our CocaColas others discussed the merits of our presidential
candidates and the philosophy of human existence. When the conversation
became intense we found the pool table. As the time approached that when
the carriage becomes a pumpkin again, we asked someone to flag a taxi and
we headed home.
Another international teacher, from Florida,
(that makes four Americans) just moved in onto the seventh floor. Oh, goodness,
there is no elevator and we're moaning on the fourth floor. Welcome Sally.
Below is a short essay written by a student
as one our first assignments. The topic was their reaction to the Olympics.
The English may be perfect but all communication is not through captial
letters and proper punctuation. I think you get the point. By the way, this
is very typical of how the Chinese feel about this event-"...carried
forward the spirit of peace."
A note from
a Chinese student about
the Olympics:
The staff
placed their hopes that every guest could leave the table early
so we could watch the rare and spectacular opening ceremony and
enjoy the wonderful performance entirely that night. The clock on
the TV was counting down but guests didn’t leave as we hoped.
Our waiter’s eyes glanced at the screen now and then while
they were moving. People in the dining hall changed their position
to the front of the TV.
With the
time moving on, the opening ceremony started on schedule. Waiters
couldn’t move anymore; guest’s chopsticks seemed to
be stopped: it seemed that the delicious food lost their attraction:
and taxies or pedestrians were hardly seen on the road outside.
The screens at the square displayed the same pictures, which attracted
goer’s eyes.
This minute
froze in my eyes. Beijing’s victory made me feel very proud
of China. The splendid performance drove hundreds and thousands
of audiences to emotion. China carried forward the spirit of peace. |
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