In the run up to all hallows eve, Siobhan, Stuart and I were busy trying to come up with decorations for the students’ parties and designing our own costumes.
On the 30th we went to the kindergarten Halloween party, and I finally got to meet all the little ones that Siobhan teaches. Quite a [...]
The celebration of China’s 60th birthday was an interesting time here at the school. My junior classes had a little party and they asked me to host. I thought this seemed like a rather un-chinese idea, but as it turned out I was co-hosting with the dean of the junior grades. There we [...]
Eek. H1N1 hit one of my classes yesterday.
What did this mean? I went to the class and found out it was canceled, all the student had gone home for the week and I had an extra afternoon off.
I am pretty sure I know which of the students was the vector – during a few lessons [...]
Ahh, life here is a little hectic right now.
I still can’t really believe I am a teacher. Seriously. Me? It is strange because I am teaching a pretty wide range of students, ages 13-19 and of such varying skill levels even in the same grade that it is really hard. The younger ones are actually [...]
Dressing conservatively for my new role. Well, at least for the first week.
So the kids are a *bit* spoiled. There were more Mercedes, BMW, VW, and other such fancy cars here on the the first day than I think I had ever seen anywhere. On my first [...]
The first few nights here consisted of many trips to the grocery store filling up on little necessities. Stuart, Siobhan, and I looked rather like a bunch of freaks as the only white faces in a sea of Chinese people. The people are mostly curious, but the stares do get a little tiring, [...]
Welcome to our posh private school on the outskirts of Suzhou.
So much going on! The place is nice, almost too nice. I don’t think this is really what most of China is like, but …
The school looks pretty amazing.
Spacious grounds …
… canals …
… [...]