Jess, Brad, Tony, Newt, and Shannon before the 100 meter dash.
Our adventures in China have been leading us to many new places in the past few weeks. It has been delightful spending time with kids, and getting to know the Chinese culture at the same time. What follows is a collection of short stories from our past two weeks:
Brad had James Bond and Bruno over to our place, and taught them Settlers (his favorite strategy board game). They had a good time, so Brad is hoping to recruit more boys to play in the future.
Vicki took me to a seamstress to have a pair of dress pants mended. After sewing on a button and repairing the hem on one leg, she charged me 2 yuan (less than 25 cents) for the two things.
For Peter’s birthday we went to the ever-popular “KTV.” Karaoke is serious business in China! For one hour and 54 yuan (about $8), we were given a private room with soundproof walls, cushioned seating, microphones, and wall-size television to sing our favorite American songs at the top of our lungs. It was Peter’s request, and we had a blast goofing off and dancing around, while our Chinese hosts peeked into the little window on the door.
A student named Faye rode her bicycle from the capital of the province to Beijing for National Day. This ride took her 2.5 days. When she returned, she gave me an Olympic card that had been given to her at the conclusion of her travels. Afterward, she and Felicia took me out to lunch in the school cafeteria for a real student lunch!
We found out that the kids have “Dancing” every Monday and Wednesday night at 8:00 pm in the English Department courtyard. It is so fun to see over a hundred kids forming a giant circle around a couple of students who teach them American dances!
I admired Morgan’s headband at dinner one night, so a week later she showed up in class with one for me. It is brown with bronze gemstones.
Diane, Morgan, Jody, Polaris, Nichole, and Grace insisted on taking me out to lunch on two different occasions. I tried Chinese “Hot Pot” for the first time, discovering that it is one of the few Chinese dishes that I don’t really care for. I also had the experience of being shown a live fish in a bag, before it was served to me! This is a Chinese tradition, and proves that the fish I will eat is fresh!
A student Shannon invited to dinner brought us both beautiful scarves! It is Chinese tradition to bring a gift when you are invited to a meal.
Classes were cancelled on Thursday and Friday last week for the “Sports Meeting.” The meeting began with field performances (marching bands, dance groups, tai chi, releasing of doves, etc) that would have easily been equal with any university in the U.S. They were AMAZING. The crowd was HUGE, with students filling the stadium, and surrounding the track and grounds. Shannon, Brad, and I were asked by the students to compete in the 100-meter dash. Shannon and I competed with the women (30 and under), where Shannon received 2nd and I received 7th out of 8 runners. Brad laughed because they put him in the “31 and older” category for men. He also received 7th out of 8 runners. We were excited to participate, and the kids had a great time encouraging and cheering for us.
For the weekend, Shannon, Brad, and I went to Beijing alone! It was our first time traveling such a distance without a Chinese escort. We made it safely, with the girls staying with Lily, and Brad staying with Peter. On Saturday we ate a late breakfast, and then relaxed at Peter’s. We watched movies, played Phase 10, and met Peter’s friends Dan, Ben, and Michael.
Sunday morning was the Beijing Marathon. We met at Peter’s place just after 6 am and headed to the Olympic stadium. Over 23,000 runners competed in the various races, with over 7,000 registered in the full-marathon alone. Needless to say, it was crowded! The boys fought their way through the crowds, and ran well. Peter finished in 3 hours and 7 minutes, 3 minutes faster than his goal time. Brad finished in 4 hours and 36 minutes, just 6 minutes shy of his goal time. The weather was fantastic, the course had few hills, the crowds were enthusiastic and cheerful, and the start and finish took place in the Olympic stadium. The boys just savored the atmosphere; It was Peter’s first marathon ever, and Brad’s first marathon outside of the Maryland/Pennsylvania region. Shannon and I met the boys at four points along the way to add our shouts to the crowds yelling, “Jai Oh!” (Come On!) It was a great time, and a wonderful memory for the four of us.
There are a few things that you can keep in mind for the future. Brad has arranged transportation to the Western Campus for an “English Corner” once a month. Our first one will be this Friday, led by Brad, Shannon, and me. We will probably grab some of our English majors as well for the trip. Second, “English Week” is currently taking place in Qinhuangdao. You can be thinking of those Americans as they help lead evening events, help teach classes, and travel to Beijing and the beach for sightseeing.
We love hearing from you, and appreciate all of your thoughtfulness. Take care!
Love,
Jess and Brad
