Classes started this week and I couldn't be happier. Today, I taught my first classes, 3 of them, all on the upper, new campus. Actually, all of my classes are on new campus, located straight-up the hill from my apartment building, and it's a serious, vertical, 15-minute, heart pounding stair climb.
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| library |
Classes meet for 90 minutes, once a week for 16 weeks. After 40 minutes, there's a mid-class 10 minute break. No classes are scheduled between 12-2:30 during the national rest time. I didn't want to make the sweat producing hike down the mountain and back, so I hung out in an awesome spot: the rooftop cafe at the library. I was surprise only a few students were hanging out there, and most of them were sleeping. It was so quiet and tranquil!
They were still sleeping when I went to use the bathroom before I left. The bathrooms in China are open with no main door, probably because they smell so bad. The tiny stalls have a door, but there's barely any room to squat. Since the floors are usually wet, I left by bag, with my computer, just outside the door. I had just gotten into position, when I had one of those creepy feelings, and without even thinking, I flung open the door. The most startled boy ran out, and I'm really glad he didn't grab my bag. A few minutes later, I saw him in the stairwell, and he looked equally startled again, and ran again.
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| upper most level, new student dorms, and more construction |
The upper campus has 3 levels.
The upper most is the student dorms area, with dorms, and a few shops and restaurants.
The mid level has the soccer field and track.
The lower level has the classroom buildings, library, and more new construction.
This campus is beautiful.
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| view looking across the mid-level, towards tops of classroom buildings |
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| upper campus, classroom building, lower-level |
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| plaza in front of classroom buildings |
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| mostly female students |
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| stairs to mid-level, soccer field area |
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| buildings where I teach |
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| classrooms under construction |
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| I finally got the kitchen clean enough to cook in! Today's dinner-- noodles. |
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| yesterday's dinner--noodles |
I've been looking for alternatives to white rice and white noodles, so I was really happy when I found some buckwheat noodles.
Good to see you picked up on chopstick skills! Keep up the effort, you are an inspiration as always!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people on the stairs, is that typical daily. I love the ABC wall, caught my eye, was looking for more cultural things. I miss you a bunch, newbies not as entertaining.No news on Rich, still in coma, but head injury not a good sign.
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