Crash Landing

China


As most of you know the site has been down for the past week. I’ll spare you the technical details and just say I am still adjusting to life without a regular connection to the internet. Hopefully I’ll have something worked out in the coming weeks.

I have been waist deep in teaching since Monday. The first days of any new term are always a challenge but these last few days have been particularly difficult. My fellow foreign teacher, Annie from Canada, and I are still without textbooks or an office. Our living situation continues to improve but getting things done in a timely manner has proven tricky. Such is life in China.

Three hours a day I teach seniors preparing to study in English speaking universities. We are slowly warming up to each other and while we have lots of work ahead, I am optimistic. I also teach a classroom full of sophomores for an hour in the evenings. I foresee a great many challenges dealing with their multiple attitudes, abilities, and personalities. Should be interesting.

The school’s English department has been extremely welcoming and friendly. On Saturday there was an awards ceremony and series of performances by various departments in honor of “Teacher’s Day.” It was followed by a huge meal at a nearby hotel. Both the food and company were superb.

Teacher's Day Meal

Qingdao No. 2

China

Monday was the first day for most of the students at Qingdao No. 2 Middle School. (China midddle school= US high school). Like returning students everywhere folks were excited and more than a little nervous, myself included! Luckily I don’t start teaching until next week. I’ll try an fill you in on details about the school and my living accomodations in the coming days.

In the meantime there are more photos at my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewsnews/.

Quick Update

Uncategorized

Just a short note to let everyone know I have arrived in Qingdao.  Although today was the first day of school for the students， I do not start until next week.  The school administrators figure I need at least that long to re-adjust to living in China. 

Until I have some interesting to say I suggest reading about my friends Andy and Sarah and their new baby：http://lewisesintheham.blogspot.com/. Congrats！

Qingdao Bound

Uncategorized

I have accepted a position teaching in Qingdao, China (AKA Tsingdao-yes, where the beer is from). As loyal readers know, I have being trying to find a way to return to China for a number of years, and have finally found a position that will get me there, on what I think are pretty good terms. I will be working with a program administered by Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. The program prepares High School seniors for study in English speaking counties, focusing on the Canadian Assessment of English Language (CAEL).

The CAEL is a very unique exam, sometimes called “the Canadian TOEFL,” but it is really very different than that test. It is a centered on a single topic, revealed on the day of the test. Basically students listen to a lecture, read articles, answer questions, write an essay, and record a speech on the topic. The test is designed to truly reflect those skills students will need as an undergrad.

Qingdao is a moderately sized (for China) city on the northeast coast. It is an hour flight from Beijing and Seoul and two hours from Tokyo. I briefly visited Qingdao during my travels in 2002 and was impressed with its seaside beauty and friendly citizens. It reminded me a little of Seattle. The city has been chosen to host the 2008 Olympic Sailing events so there is a lot of money coming in these days, should be anything but boring.

I am very excited about the move and new job; unfortunately this means I will not be seeing most of you anytime soon. I should have easy access to email so please keep in touch. I’ll try and be a little timelier with updates to Stewsnews.

GG Sunset2

Men at Temple of Heaven

China

I have been thinking a lot about China recently. I am desperately trying to find my way back after a four year absence. It will happen; it is just a matter of time. Here is a photo I took of two men  visiting Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. The temple was built in 1420 and used for ceremonies preformed by the Emperor. For more see the following Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven.

For more of my pictures of China visit my Flickr photo set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewsnews/sets/72057594065783548/

Rainier

Seattle
Mount Rainier

Spring is quickly becoming summer. How is this possible? Wasn’t it January just last week? Time marches on, whether we like it or not. Weeks become months, and before you know it you’re way behind, playing catch-up.

This time of year, I often see Mount Rainer on my way work in the mornings. Its presence is both comforting and intimidating. A contradiction to be sure. As one travels south from Seattle the mountain changes from background to center-stage. It draws my eye, an unavoidable landmark. Time moves forward but the mountain remains, or so it seems.

I am really looking forward to the start of the World Cup this week. Back when “Germany 2006” was a convenient phrase I had hopes of going. Even if I could not get tickets to a game, I just wanted to be with a crowd of rabid soccer fans, close to the action. A good friend and I were in France during the 1998 Cup championship match. It was incredible.

A student of mine predicted a USA vs. Holland final, which would be great. We shall see.

V for Varsity

Seattle

Last month, I went to see The Fallen Idol, a 1948 film based upon a short story by Graham Greene. The movie is about the young son of a diplomat who does all he can to protect his hero, the family butler. I had seen the film on video but was really looking forward to seeing a new print in the theater. About an hour into the movie the fire alarm went off and everyone calmly exited the theater. After standing around outside for nearly 20 minutes people began to file back in. The interruption disrupted my movie going mood and I asked for a refund. The theater staff was very understanding and gave me my money without any trouble.

Normally such a minor occurrence would never make it to Stewsnews where loyal readers usually find hard hitting news. However, it just so happens that a very similar thing happened to me, at the very same theater, last summer. That time it was Wong Kar-Wai’s Days of Being Wild. Instead of the fire alarm interrupting the cinema atmosphere it was a reel of film which was displayed backwards. This made it a little tough to read the subtitles. Again, the staff was very help and offered no resistance to my request for a refund. I suspect a conspiracy.