Sunday Morning Classes, July 22

The only reason I know today is Sunday is because it says so on my I-Phone! For this enrichment program, students and staff are on 5 days and then off one. As the program started on a Sunday, our first day off was last Friday, and our next day off will be the upcoming Wednesday.

When I started class this morning I told my students that if I were in Rochester, I would be going to church today. I explained that in Minnesota, most people are Christian, and there are many churches. When I asked if they had any religion, there was a pretty blank look and then the T.A. piped in that older people sometimes go to the temple to pray... would be interesting to find out more about religious beliefs or lack thereof.

In any event, I would say that God is alive and well in the people of Yuyao! Sincerely friendly and warm. Very respectful of other and unassuming. Today, at lunch, the T.A. with whom II was eating didn't have any watermelon on her tray. I had a large hunk. One of helpers was passing out watermelon. I asked her if she wanted some, but she said she didn't want to ask. "Really? Why not?" "I don't think it is for me," she said. "I think it is for the students." I quickly got up and got her some watermelon.

Standing in the long lunch lines, no one shoves or pushes ahead. Students seem to wait patiently until it is their turn to go to the window and be given a tray of food. Every day, lunch consists of a large square hunk of sticky rice, some chunks of beef or pork on bones in a broth and vegetables in a sauce. Vegetables consist of cabbage and/or peas with tofu in a tasty broth. And everyday, there is a slice of watermelon for dessert. When you are finished eating, you take your tray to an area and dump the uneaten food in a large garbage bin, rinse off your tray at one of many spigots along the wall and throw your spoon into a container. The floor is gross and you have to be careful where you step! Workers are rinsing trays and I don't know how they get washed after that! There are no napkins or beverage provided with the meal.

I thought it was appropriate that today I introduced the song by Hannah Montana called "The Climb". I explained that life is a journey and each of us is on our own journey. My T.A. translated so I was sure they understood the gist.... and then we sang...

"There's always gonna to be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, got to be strong
Just keep pushing on...

There's always gonna be another mountain...
IT'S THE CLIMB"

zai Jian
Joan

P.S. I used the gonnas and wannas to talk about American reduced speech!! *(Don't worry Mom!)

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Location:Yuyao Experimental School