and it made me laugh. Is this really on TV somewhere?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACi1VO9JP0A
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Are you married?
I was in the middle of working one-on-one with my first graders during math today. One girl waited patiently in line for her turn to talk with me. Then she said, "Miss Reed, are you married?"
I asked, "Why are you talking about that right now? You're supposed to be doing math."
She pointed at her math book, where she was to draw pictures of three things shorter than herself, three things the same size as herself, and three things taller than herself. And she said, "We'll you're taller than us, so we thought you must be married."
"Oh, I see. No, I'm not married. That's why my name is Miss Reed."
And from across the room another boy piped in, "Yeah, and if she got married her last name would change, too."
And another student across the room: "And she'd have kids, too."
By this time another girl had come to the front of the line, and she said, "Everybody has to have two."
Ok... what? So I asked, "What do you mean? Everybody has to have two?"
Get this - "My mom says she wants four grandchildren, so that means my sister and I both have to have two kids each. And my sister doesn't want to have kids when she's an adult, so that means I have to have four! Ugh... I don't wanna think about it." She sighed...
And so I checked her math page, and that was the end of it. First graders! Gotta love 'em! :-)
I asked, "Why are you talking about that right now? You're supposed to be doing math."
She pointed at her math book, where she was to draw pictures of three things shorter than herself, three things the same size as herself, and three things taller than herself. And she said, "We'll you're taller than us, so we thought you must be married."
"Oh, I see. No, I'm not married. That's why my name is Miss Reed."
And from across the room another boy piped in, "Yeah, and if she got married her last name would change, too."
And another student across the room: "And she'd have kids, too."
By this time another girl had come to the front of the line, and she said, "Everybody has to have two."
Ok... what? So I asked, "What do you mean? Everybody has to have two?"
Get this - "My mom says she wants four grandchildren, so that means my sister and I both have to have two kids each. And my sister doesn't want to have kids when she's an adult, so that means I have to have four! Ugh... I don't wanna think about it." She sighed...
And so I checked her math page, and that was the end of it. First graders! Gotta love 'em! :-)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
First Grade Word Play
The other day a few of my boys were standing in line waiting to talk to me, and I overheard their conversation:
A - I know a bunch of girls who say "whatever" like this - "what-ev-er" (you know, valley girl-style)
J - Yeah, what-ev-er
Teacher - What girls do you know that say it like that?
A - Well, I don't know. But I know about them. There are lots of girls who say it like that.
Teacher - Right...
And another boy, who probably needs some English-language tutoring, was told to write a story using as many words in the -ide Word Family as he could. This was a homework assignment, and he wrote a great story - with no idea what the adults would think when they read it:
I try to hide from my bride
because she wants to ride on me!
I ride the bike to get away from her.
He-he-he... :-)
A - I know a bunch of girls who say "whatever" like this - "what-ev-er" (you know, valley girl-style)
J - Yeah, what-ev-er
Teacher - What girls do you know that say it like that?
A - Well, I don't know. But I know about them. There are lots of girls who say it like that.
Teacher - Right...
And another boy, who probably needs some English-language tutoring, was told to write a story using as many words in the -ide Word Family as he could. This was a homework assignment, and he wrote a great story - with no idea what the adults would think when they read it:
I try to hide from my bride
because she wants to ride on me!
I ride the bike to get away from her.
He-he-he... :-)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Yearbook-ed
Lots of friends have been posting pictures of themselves using the "Yearbook Yourself" site. I decided to check it out, and the results were fun and interesting. Try it yourself at www.yearbookyourself.com
In this first one I see a sure family resemblance to my Granny! (Circa 1952)
And this one reminds me of pictures of my dad's sisters hanging up in my Grandma's house. (Circa 1960)
This one is what I would have looked like if I were on "The Brady Bunch." (Circa 1974)
And this one is scary because I actually have a year book picture that looks pretty similar! (Circa 1990)
In this first one I see a sure family resemblance to my Granny! (Circa 1952)
And this one reminds me of pictures of my dad's sisters hanging up in my Grandma's house. (Circa 1960)
This one is what I would have looked like if I were on "The Brady Bunch." (Circa 1974)
And this one is scary because I actually have a year book picture that looks pretty similar! (Circa 1990)
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mountains
During our Landform Unit, I've been teaching each of the first and second grade classes two days of lessons about mountains. The other day I was working with a group of first graders, and we had a big discussion about the reasons people go to the mountains, what kinds of things they do in the mountains (If you wanted to go diving would you go to the mountains?), how mountains affect what people wear, what kinds of things can grow in the mountains (If you wanted to be a farmer would you move to the mountains?), altitude sickness, and so on. Then I told the kids to draw a picture showing what people do in the mountains. They were supposed to prove they understood how mountains affect people's lives. Here's one picture I got:
I definitely think he has the right idea, don't you?
I definitely think he has the right idea, don't you?Friday, October 10, 2008
He Fixed My Shower
My master bathroom has a detachable shower head that fits into a clip, which is meant to let you adjust it to point up or down. When I first arrived at the apartment, the shower head wouldn't ratchet to stay in place; it pointed down and back toward the wall behind it. I left instructions for it to be fixed, and when I arrived back a month later it was. The shower head stayed put for almost a month before it started dropping down and spraying water all over the wall behind it.
I took it apart myself to try to figure out what the issue was, but no luck. I was able to jiggle it and get it to cooperate just long enough for a shower, but this was no long-term solution. The management office here is quite unresponsive to all requests for repairs, and I was about to try a stick-on hook and some string to tie it in place.
But then. The repairman actually showed up the other night! He stood on the edge of the tub and jiggled the shower head. Then he removed it from the hook and showed me that the clip worked just fine. So then I had to put the shower head back and show him that it didn't! He couldn't figure out what to do, so I took it apart for him. My confidence in his ability to fix it was lagging at this point... He unscrewed the hook from the wall - and a little folded up piece of paper fell out from behind it! We realized at the same time that the previous "fix" had been made by jamming this paper into the clip. We both had a laugh. And then, yes, you guessed it. He asked me to go get him some more paper to add to what was already jammed inside. Ha! Guess we'll see how long the fix lasts this time!
I took it apart myself to try to figure out what the issue was, but no luck. I was able to jiggle it and get it to cooperate just long enough for a shower, but this was no long-term solution. The management office here is quite unresponsive to all requests for repairs, and I was about to try a stick-on hook and some string to tie it in place.
But then. The repairman actually showed up the other night! He stood on the edge of the tub and jiggled the shower head. Then he removed it from the hook and showed me that the clip worked just fine. So then I had to put the shower head back and show him that it didn't! He couldn't figure out what to do, so I took it apart for him. My confidence in his ability to fix it was lagging at this point... He unscrewed the hook from the wall - and a little folded up piece of paper fell out from behind it! We realized at the same time that the previous "fix" had been made by jamming this paper into the clip. We both had a laugh. And then, yes, you guessed it. He asked me to go get him some more paper to add to what was already jammed inside. Ha! Guess we'll see how long the fix lasts this time!
Monday, October 6, 2008
October Holiday
We had October 1-5 off for the Chinese labor holiday. I didn't think five days was really enough time to go anywhere, plus last October holiday I learned a good lesson about not going to an island during the October typhoon season! So... I decided to save my vacation money, stay in Shanghai, and go shopping instead! Here's a rundown of what I did:
Wednesday - Learned how to make homemade tortillas at a friend's house and went furniture shopping for about six hours at a Chinese antique place, an upholstery store with six floors, and IKEA. Bought 12 pieces at IKEA!!
Thursday - Went to the Pudong Flower Market and bought seven plants for my balcony. It's a great little secluded get-away now! Had my birthday dinner with some friends at my favorite restaurant in PuXi - Lapis Lazuli.
Friday - Went shopping at a furniture warehouse here in Pudong and bought a REALLY cool wooden chair and furniture for my balcony get-away. They're still making the cushion for the chair... Also went shopping for lamps for the living room.
Saturday - Proctored the SAT for seniors at our high school, had Thai food for lunch, played card games for hours at a friend's house.
Sunday - Stayed home all day. IKEA promised to deliver some time between 9am and 2pm and assemble my 12 pieces sometime between 2pm and 8pm. I scheduled the other furniture delivery and lamp delivery for Sunday, too, since I knew I'd have to be home all day. While waiting around, a friend and I planned our Chinese New Year trip to Vietnam (coming up in January) and I leveled and stickered about 100 books from my classroom library. I promise to post pictures of my apartment soon. It's feeling much more homey now!
Assembly in progress...
Wednesday - Learned how to make homemade tortillas at a friend's house and went furniture shopping for about six hours at a Chinese antique place, an upholstery store with six floors, and IKEA. Bought 12 pieces at IKEA!!
Thursday - Went to the Pudong Flower Market and bought seven plants for my balcony. It's a great little secluded get-away now! Had my birthday dinner with some friends at my favorite restaurant in PuXi - Lapis Lazuli.
Friday - Went shopping at a furniture warehouse here in Pudong and bought a REALLY cool wooden chair and furniture for my balcony get-away. They're still making the cushion for the chair... Also went shopping for lamps for the living room.
Saturday - Proctored the SAT for seniors at our high school, had Thai food for lunch, played card games for hours at a friend's house.
Sunday - Stayed home all day. IKEA promised to deliver some time between 9am and 2pm and assemble my 12 pieces sometime between 2pm and 8pm. I scheduled the other furniture delivery and lamp delivery for Sunday, too, since I knew I'd have to be home all day. While waiting around, a friend and I planned our Chinese New Year trip to Vietnam (coming up in January) and I leveled and stickered about 100 books from my classroom library. I promise to post pictures of my apartment soon. It's feeling much more homey now!
Assembly in progress...Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Today I'm having...
An "I Love China" day! Not every day here is one that makes us love living here, and we have to remind ourselves that we do love China. But today has been the kind of day that reminds me it's really true.
I decided to go to the flower market on my side of the river, only about 20 minutes away. I wandered around admiring potted plants and outdoor furniture before going upstairs, where I browsed stalls of glassware, oil paintings, and Chinese furniture. I stumbled upon a stall filled with grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, antique cameras and sewing machines, and-oh joy!-the antique style telephones I'd been wanting! (What an odd place to discover. In China. In flower market.) There were some beautiful phones, and I asked to see one locked behind glass. The vendor started to unlock the cabinet, and the lock broke off in his hand! I felt terrible, and I knew I was going to end up buying a phone after that. He started to pry o
pen the glass with his hands, and I suggested he just get one of the boxes stacked on top of the cabinet instead. (LOL) He proceeded to put the phone together for me, plug it in, call his mobile using it, and have a forty-minute conversation with me through it all! He didn't speak any English, and I don't speak Chinese, but I found out he's been to several European countries, Japan, and Yemen. He used to have a car, but he got rid of it in 1995. His daughter is 18, and he thinks she'll go to America. He loves Celine Deon, and he thinks his tape player/radio is about the same age as me. It's 23 years old. :-) When we tested the phone, he walked away using his mobile, and I talked to him on the new antique. When he showed me how to redail, he said, "Mushi mush" and asked if I spoke Japanese! He carefully wrapped up the phone, since it didn't fit back in the box, and told me that if I had summa wen tie (some problem) I could come back. When I circled back past his stall, I heard him telling his friends about Jennifen. :-)
I wandered through the fresh cut flowers and saw that it was about to start raining, so I made a quick selection. I was five yuan short, and the vendor told me mei wen tie (no problem). How sweet!
I managed to catch a cab just before a torential deluge started. And when we arrived at my apartment, I paid and was about to get out when the driver asked, "You don't have an umbrella?" (in Chinese), got out in the pouring rain, opened his trunk, and came around to open my door and walk me up the steps to my apartment entrance!
I seriously need to learn how to say a stronger version of "Thank you!" And I really do love China. :-)
I decided to go to the flower market on my side of the river, only about 20 minutes away. I wandered around admiring potted plants and outdoor furniture before going upstairs, where I browsed stalls of glassware, oil paintings, and Chinese furniture. I stumbled upon a stall filled with grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, antique cameras and sewing machines, and-oh joy!-the antique style telephones I'd been wanting! (What an odd place to discover. In China. In flower market.) There were some beautiful phones, and I asked to see one locked behind glass. The vendor started to unlock the cabinet, and the lock broke off in his hand! I felt terrible, and I knew I was going to end up buying a phone after that. He started to pry o
pen the glass with his hands, and I suggested he just get one of the boxes stacked on top of the cabinet instead. (LOL) He proceeded to put the phone together for me, plug it in, call his mobile using it, and have a forty-minute conversation with me through it all! He didn't speak any English, and I don't speak Chinese, but I found out he's been to several European countries, Japan, and Yemen. He used to have a car, but he got rid of it in 1995. His daughter is 18, and he thinks she'll go to America. He loves Celine Deon, and he thinks his tape player/radio is about the same age as me. It's 23 years old. :-) When we tested the phone, he walked away using his mobile, and I talked to him on the new antique. When he showed me how to redail, he said, "Mushi mush" and asked if I spoke Japanese! He carefully wrapped up the phone, since it didn't fit back in the box, and told me that if I had summa wen tie (some problem) I could come back. When I circled back past his stall, I heard him telling his friends about Jennifen. :-)I wandered through the fresh cut flowers and saw that it was about to start raining, so I made a quick selection. I was five yuan short, and the vendor told me mei wen tie (no problem). How sweet!
I managed to catch a cab just before a torential deluge started. And when we arrived at my apartment, I paid and was about to get out when the driver asked, "You don't have an umbrella?" (in Chinese), got out in the pouring rain, opened his trunk, and came around to open my door and walk me up the steps to my apartment entrance!
I seriously need to learn how to say a stronger version of "Thank you!" And I really do love China. :-)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Writing Workshop
I'm trying to teach writing using the Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop model this year, and I'm LOVING it! Writing has always been one of the most difficult things for me to teach. I have a long way to go, but I'm already seeing results with the kids. Today I had a conference with a little boy, and just as I was about to move on to the next kid, he said...
"Miss Reed, sometimes, you know what I do? When I'm writing, I have to go back and read what I already wrote so that I don't forget what I want to say next." And then he proceeded to do just that.
AHH! You rock, my little writer! They're learning the language and they're using the skills. This little guy's working on a true small moment story about one time when a bear came into his grandma's backyard and knocked down the bird feeder.
Then, at the end of Workshop during the Teaching Share, another little boy said, "Miss Reed, today I imagined." He looked at me expectantly because he knew I'd be proud, so I said, "You mean you closed your eyes and imagined everything that happened in that moment so that you could add more details to your story?" "Yeah." Big smile and he skipped off for lunch. I love when what I'm doing actually gets through to them!
"Miss Reed, sometimes, you know what I do? When I'm writing, I have to go back and read what I already wrote so that I don't forget what I want to say next." And then he proceeded to do just that.
AHH! You rock, my little writer! They're learning the language and they're using the skills. This little guy's working on a true small moment story about one time when a bear came into his grandma's backyard and knocked down the bird feeder.
Then, at the end of Workshop during the Teaching Share, another little boy said, "Miss Reed, today I imagined." He looked at me expectantly because he knew I'd be proud, so I said, "You mean you closed your eyes and imagined everything that happened in that moment so that you could add more details to your story?" "Yeah." Big smile and he skipped off for lunch. I love when what I'm doing actually gets through to them!
Yesterday I learned...
Yesterday I learned how to say "She threw up," in Chinese. Yeah, that's a fun one to need to know! I guess it comes with the first grade territory. I think the little girl actually handled it much better than I did! But praise God for the ayis who clean up. :-) Just in case you ever need to know - "Ta too-luh."
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
54 Hours
I got to school this morning after a three-day weekend and learned that, while working on building the new high school building, construction workers had severed a main power line to the elementary building. It took them 54 hours to fix it! I bet they were bummed because Monday was supposed to be a national holiday, and they were working. And I'm totally bummed because I had just gotten my first ever HaagenDazs mooncakes as a gift for Mid-Autumn Festival from one of my students, and I had left them in the freezer at school. I'm scared to even look at them now! Maybe they had enough dry ice with them to hold them over. Ya think?
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Overheard in First Grade
Overheard at the first grade lunch table:
J: "There's two kinds of 'hot,' you know. There's hot like (waves hands in front of face signaling hot temperature), and there's hot like (puts one hand on hip, sways back and forth, rubs chest with other hand, and rolls eyes upward)."
(Pause)
E: "Actually, there are three kinds of hot. There's hot like (waves hands in front of face signaling hot temperature), and there's hot like (puts one hand on hip, holds other out, and sashays back and forth), and there's hot like (sticks tongue out and waves hand in front of it, signaling spicy food)."
Miss Reed thinks: "Oh dear... What am I going to do with these girls?!"
Overheard during first grade writing workshop:
J: "My mom's forty years old."
S: "My mom's, like, forty-four years old. And her hair is starting to turn brown."
J: "Oh no! Don't tell me that! I don't want to hear that!"
S: "Yep; it's true."
Conversation during lunch:
O: "MIss Reed, this french fry looks weird."
Miss Reed: "Yeah, it does. But that's ok, because everything looks weird when it gets to your stomach."
(Pause)
O: "Did you know there's this long tube thing inside of you?"
Miss Reed: "It's your intestine."
O: "Yeah. And the food goes in (rubs hand over stomach, mimicking path of food through digestion process) and then... it goes to your penis.
Miss Reed: "Oh. Right." (Yikes!?!)
At recess:
J: "Miss Reed... I love you."
:-)
J: "There's two kinds of 'hot,' you know. There's hot like (waves hands in front of face signaling hot temperature), and there's hot like (puts one hand on hip, sways back and forth, rubs chest with other hand, and rolls eyes upward)."
(Pause)
E: "Actually, there are three kinds of hot. There's hot like (waves hands in front of face signaling hot temperature), and there's hot like (puts one hand on hip, holds other out, and sashays back and forth), and there's hot like (sticks tongue out and waves hand in front of it, signaling spicy food)."
Miss Reed thinks: "Oh dear... What am I going to do with these girls?!"
Overheard during first grade writing workshop:
J: "My mom's forty years old."
S: "My mom's, like, forty-four years old. And her hair is starting to turn brown."
J: "Oh no! Don't tell me that! I don't want to hear that!"
S: "Yep; it's true."
Conversation during lunch:
O: "MIss Reed, this french fry looks weird."
Miss Reed: "Yeah, it does. But that's ok, because everything looks weird when it gets to your stomach."
(Pause)
O: "Did you know there's this long tube thing inside of you?"
Miss Reed: "It's your intestine."
O: "Yeah. And the food goes in (rubs hand over stomach, mimicking path of food through digestion process) and then... it goes to your penis.
Miss Reed: "Oh. Right." (Yikes!?!)
At recess:
J: "Miss Reed... I love you."
:-)
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Score!
After Jen and I watched some high school soccer yesterday morning (it was a beautiful weekend to be outside!), Meg and I headed to my favorite market - the HongQiao flower market. I broke down and shelled out the bucks to buy an oil painting I'd been admiring all year. And then we found two orange throw pillows to match! I also got a little black-brown ceramic stool for my entryway, and some pretty orange wine glasses that will carry the new orange decorating scheme into the dining area. After I got home, I googled "orange pillow" and found this -
was only 45 RMB -- that's $6.42!!! Yay for good deals in China! After we unpacked our goodies at home, Meg and I headed over to the river for a German dinner at Paulaner and for some pictures on the Bund.
for $64.95. But mine -
was only 45 RMB -- that's $6.42!!! Yay for good deals in China! After we unpacked our goodies at home, Meg and I headed over to the river for a German dinner at Paulaner and for some pictures on the Bund.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
School Auction
Last night was our school's annual school auction fund raiser, and my class had given me a ticket as a Christmas gift, so I went. My Lutheran elementary school used to have auctions every year when I was growing up, but those were held in the school gym and had themes -- I remember one year when everyone wore overalls! Not last night... we were in the grand ball room at the Shangri-La on the Bund, and I thought the best thing about the evening (besides the free-flowing wine) was seeing what everyone wore! Not many of the younger teachers went, and I was bored out of my mind during the live auction. But when the dancing started, things quickly improved! I think they probably raised about 1 million RMB for the school (none of that was mine, since I didn't even look at what my bidding number was), so I guess it was a good night!
Some good-lookin' first and second grade teachers!
I made Roger get out on the dance floor, but he didn't move his feet the whole time!
Some good-lookin' first and second grade teachers!I made Roger get out on the dance floor, but he didn't move his feet the whole time!Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Prayer
One of the standards at our school is that students will become "Reflective Spiritual Beings." I've seen a lot of evidence of that in my first and second graders' prayers each morning. This week we've been talking about the death of a high school student named Marco, which occurred over the weekend, and my kids prayed:
- Please help all the high school kids.
- Help the family be comfortable and not scared.
- Thank you for dying on the cross so we can go to Heaven like Marco.
- Thank you for beating the devil so we can live forever with you.
- Please help Marco have fun in Heaven.
And my favorite is the boy who prays the exact same thing every day: I know Jesus died on the cross to take away all my sins (which he pronounces seens) and I know that the juice stands for the blood and the bread stands for the body. Amen.
- Please help all the high school kids.
- Help the family be comfortable and not scared.
- Thank you for dying on the cross so we can go to Heaven like Marco.
- Thank you for beating the devil so we can live forever with you.
- Please help Marco have fun in Heaven.
And my favorite is the boy who prays the exact same thing every day: I know Jesus died on the cross to take away all my sins (which he pronounces seens) and I know that the juice stands for the blood and the bread stands for the body. Amen.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Weekend in Review
What a great "China" weekend! I haven't had much time to explore or enjoy China this year, and I've been telling other newbies how important it is to do China in order to love China. So... that's what we did this weekend!
On Saturday morning I went with a friend to the Wedding Market to pick up the dress I ordered a couple of weeks ago for our school auction. That in itself was quite an experience; the dress shop ladies don't speak any English and the shops all have little changing areas with stages and curtains that look like they're made from old bridesmaids' dresses from the early 90's - peach and lacy (and a bit see-through, as my friend found out!). The shops are full of crazy, pouffy, dresses in all colors of the rainbow, but I managed to find a lovely black halter dress for under $100! You'll see pictures soon...
After the ladies fixed the length of my dress, we headed over to Yu Yuan (Yu Gardens) for lunch at the famous dumpling restaurant. We sat on the third floor and looked out over the little fish pond and zigzag bridge, watching all the tourists. After lunch we began explori ng and wandering the local neighborhoods, where we took some great pictures of old buildings, bicycles, street vendors, and kids. I love seeing the elderly Chinese ladies who have so much character in their faces. Our last stop was a new choloate shop called Whisk, which is owned by a New Zelander - not exactly a Chinese experience, but I can't wait to go back for more chocolate chip cookies!
On Saturday morning I went with a friend to the Wedding Market to pick up the dress I ordered a couple of weeks ago for our school auction. That in itself was quite an experience; the dress shop ladies don't speak any English and the shops all have little changing areas with stages and curtains that look like they're made from old bridesmaids' dresses from the early 90's - peach and lacy (and a bit see-through, as my friend found out!). The shops are full of crazy, pouffy, dresses in all colors of the rainbow, but I managed to find a lovely black halter dress for under $100! You'll see pictures soon...
After the ladies fixed the length of my dress, we headed over to Yu Yuan (Yu Gardens) for lunch at the famous dumpling restaurant. We sat on the third floor and looked out over the little fish pond and zigzag bridge, watching all the tourists. After lunch we began explori ng and wandering the local neighborhoods, where we took some great pictures of old buildings, bicycles, street vendors, and kids. I love seeing the elderly Chinese ladies who have so much character in their faces. Our last stop was a new choloate shop called Whisk, which is owned by a New Zelander - not exactly a Chinese experience, but I can't wait to go back for more chocolate chip cookies!
Our Lunch
In the Neighborhood - Note the flag!
On Saturday evening, a few of us went back to PuXi on the other side of the river to have dinner at Hot Pot King. I LOVE hot pot, and it was the perfect meal for the damp, cold evening. We went to celebrate a birthday, and the food was awesome. I have to admit - I love dumping the raw shrimp into the boiling broth and watching them turn pink. And, another odd thing, my favorite thing to eat out of the soup is the gultinous rice sticks! For dessert we had the weird but awesome crepe-sort-of thing with peanut butter and banannas. Yummy! It was a good weekend...
At Dinner with Kirsten
Friday, March 28, 2008
Why "Zhong Guo Jen"?
I had a blog when I lived in the US, and, when I moved to China last July, the site was blocked and I couldn't figure out how to update it. I've finally found a way around all that, and it's high time I start a blog about my overseas adventures! Why is this blog called "Zhong Guo Jen"? Zhong Guo is the Chiniese word for China (meaning Middle Kingdom) - say "chung whoah". To say a person is Chinese you say they are "Zhong Guo ren" - literally, China Person. Instead of being China Person, I thought it appropriate that I be China Jen. So... I'm Zhong Guo Jen. And here begins the record of my China adventures, along with stories from school, phrases in Chinese, and all manner of other tidbits about my life and work. Enjoy - and leave lots of comments!
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