apples and potatoes

Stereotypical teacher gifts back home: An apple. A plastic apple ornament. A big #1 teacher coffee mug.

Gifts my students give me: scraps of paper, drawings, sticky pieces of candy they were just about to pop into their own mouths, oragami ornaments, random stickers stealthily stuck to my clothes, arms, and legs without my knowledge, hand crafted miniature super heroes, and most recently...a potato.

Say Cheese

We weren't the only tourists in Beijing during May holiday. People from all around China flocked to the capital city. They crowded the streets and historical attractions. These homegrown tourists eagerly documented their trips. Jumping with excitement at the chance to take snap shots of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and to my surprise us foreigners. More than a dozen approached with cameras. Olivia and I are now featured in the family photos of people from all around the country.

China Welcomes Olivia

My friend Olivia just visited me for two weeks. I met her in Beijing. We spent a few nights in the capital before we flew to Shanghai. Afterwards we spent the majority of her trip in good old dusty Wuhan. I saw her off today. My students and I were sad to see her go. To any potential visitors...we had an awesome time! COME TO CHINA! :)

Sentence of The Week

Early Monday morning: Music blares and the students march out onto the field, filling it with straight lines and uniforms. Standing at attention they raise the flag, give speeches, and sing songs. I'm not quite sure what goes on. I'm assuming they are reminded to love their parents, to love their country, and to work hard in school. Each week a foreign teacher is invited on the stage to greet the students and to teach them an English saying. (the school often chooses the saying) I've stood on the platform, microphone in hand, many times. I've told them "Don't take any chances", "Never look back", and that "Sharing is caring".

In their eyes.....





I let my students draw on their tests when they finish early. They often draw portraits of me. Here are three recent depictions of what I look to my third grade Chinese students.