New Year's Party

 This week on Monday night was a special New Year's party for all the teachers here at the Beijing National Day School. We gathered in the gym for a meal together and then enjoyed a talent show/competition made up of acts from each department. A wide variety of acts were performed, ranging from Beijing Opera to Spanish dances to Chinese drama sketches. It was a really fun and culturally enriching evening to say the least. We foreign teachers even performed a song, and then sang another one in Chinese with the other staff from the international department. It actually went really well, so well that our group won the first prize of 1,000 yuan for the international department to spend!

Although I don't have pictures from our performance, here are some shots from the rest of the evening.

The stage before the show. Happy Year of the Ox!

All the teachers.

Everyone had a clapper. It was great.

There were so many different acts--I think 17 in all. This one involved some of the students, including the girl in the middle of this picture who is in one of my classes.

The Teacher's Waltz, another great act.

The hosts of the evening posing afterward.

This is Zhou Bin and Ms. Wu, two of our "bosses" here at Shi Yi.

They're such wonderful people.

If Only In My Dreams...

Spending the holidays in another country feels a little different. Let's be honest, I would have rather been at home over Christmas this year, but that just doesn't happen when you live and work in a country where no one (except us) even takes the day off on the 25th. So, I spent my first Christmas in China this year with new friends. It was definitely unlike any Christmas that I've had before, but it was also a very good day too. 

Here are some pictures from the Christmas season here in China. Merry Christmas to you!

In the days leading up to Christmas, we hosted a number of different parties at our apartments. I learned to make gingerbread men in the process. :-)

Stores and malls here love to gear up for the Christmas season for the same reason they do in America. I guess it works.

On Christmas Eve, all the ERAP teachers came to Shi Yi to hang out and celebrate Christmas.

This is Greg, me, Cherie, and Josh.

All the presents in Nate and Jess' apartment on Christmas Day. We had a brunch together and then opened gifts as a team.

The Shi Yi team post-gift unwrapping. I think each of us is wearing one or more things that we received.

On Christmas night some of us went to walk around at this place where there are lots of lights and decorations. Janna and I even found Santa there.

me, Micah, and Micah.

Merry Christmas from China.

Temple Tour

On Saturday, Bill, one of my Junior 2 students, invited me to go to his home and spend the day with his family. He and his father took me up in the mountains west of Beijing to visit two temples--Tan Zhe Si and Jie Tai Si. The weather was incredibly cold, but it was a worthwhile visit to a place that I would otherwise probably not have found. The temples are very old and picturesque. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own home, without the freezing temperatures and smell of burning incense. 

Grass growing on the roof.

a beautiful view.

People are so lost.

This is Bill and me with some weird idol things in the background.

A big bell at Jie Tai Si. I even got to ring it.

Apartment 308

I have been going to put up pictures of my apartment for some time, so here they finally are. Nothing too exciting, but I know that some of you wanted to know where I lived and what it looked like. Talk to you later!

The view from the front door.

This is the living room. 

dining area

the fabulous kitchen

my desk, where I spend too much time.

my bedroom.

p.s. I bought that tree for $7 and carried it home across 8 lanes of traffic. :-)

My "Christmas Tree."

Spaghetti with Chopsticks

The past couple of weeks have been really busy, but one of the highlights has been having students over to eat a few different times. The other night I had Bill, Tony, and Robin over for dinner after classes. They seemed to enjoy the spaghetti that I made, but I was glad that I had put chopsticks on the table for them to use. (To be honest, I might start eating my spaghetti with chopsticks--it's actually much easier than a knife and fork!)

I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but these guys are pretty great.

 L to R--Tony, Robin, and Bill.

They brought me this basket and fruit to put inside it. Is that nice or what? 

An apple for the teacher. :-)

Here at School

I thought you might want to see a few pictures of the school where I live and teach:

That's what it's called--Beijing National Day School

Home Sweet Home. It's hard to show you exactly where I live, but my apartment is pretty much in the very center of this picture, on the third floor. Come and visit if you like.

This is the Junior building, where I teach most of my classes.

The International Building, where I also teach.

We're all about fitness.

Chinese students are much more active than American students during the day. These tables are often occupied by budding ping pong stars while others practice basketball or soccer elsewhere. I have yet to whip out my paddles and play with them, but it's always fun to watch and hang out.

I love that this is right below one of the classroom buildings, the one that holds the science labs. 

The West Gate of our school

Progress.

Beihai Park

Last Friday in office hours, two of my Senior 2 students from American Culture class came in to chat. During our conversation, I found out that they enjoyed photography like I do, and so I suggested that we get together sometime and go take pictures, just for fun. They sounded pretty excited about it, and we ended up planning to go the next day to Beihai Park, a well-known place here in Beijing. Here are a few shots from the day.

Here I am with my students, Grace and Black. They were so kind to show me around and to explain all the historical things in the park.

I guess it's never too early in the day for a waltz.

Part of the 9 Dragon Wall.

It was a beautiful day.