Hangzhou High School

 (Allison)

Thursday, March 5th

I cannot believe that it is Thursday already..our time here in the city of Hangzhou is flying by..

It is still raining…ho hum.. it has rained every day, except one, since we have been here…

Last week, I spoke to the twelve different classes (about two or three per day -- in the morning). They were all grade one (age equivalent of a U.S. sophomore in high school)  English classes here at Hangzhou High School.  The students were great -- they were so warm and welcoming!

I spoke to them about schools in the United States.  I shared some pictures of my family and friends, and then, if there was time…we discussed holidays that we celebrate in the U.S. The students seemed particularly interested in Easter and Thanksgiving… All of the grade one English classes are learning about festivals celebrated around the world.  The students were so enthusiastic.

Each class consists of about 54 students, yes 54.. The students stay in the same classroom, with the same students, all day long – and they will stay with the same students for all three years that they attend the school . In China, it is the teachers that come and go from the classrooms, not the students.  All of the teachers have a designated cubicle in their department's office.

The schedule here is much different than back at DSMS. The class periods are 45 minutes (about the same), but there is 10 to 15 minutes between classes. Everyone gets an hour and ten minutes for lunch. It is so nice..the students can eat at the school, or leave the campus and get food somewhere in the city. Some of the teachers even sneak in naps…so nice..  Although all the extra time makes the school day is a little bit longer (academic classes end at 3:50…and then students use 4:00-5:00 to attend clubs, extra-help, or self-study), it is such a nicer pace than my days at DSMS sprinting up and down the stairs. 

Another thing that I observed -- it is amazing… when the bell rings – the students do not grab their stuff and run for the door.. (It is ok Team Moon – we will just have to work on this when I get back..) The students actually stay in their seats and listen to the teacher finish the lesson before they pack up.

 This past Tuesday, I was able to observe Sue's history class! Bruce, our translator, came with me. He is the best! The topic of the class was European Exploration. It was such a wonderful experience to be able to observe someone doing your job..but in a different country! The teacher was fantastic, she was enthusiastic, and held her students attention by using a fantastic PowerPoint with lots of notes, photographs, maps and video clips!

Rose is going to try to schedule a time, next week, for me to go to the middle school where her sister teaches English! I am looking forward to this experience...

Tuesday night – Derek and his wife Susan took me to out for dinner to a Japanese noodle house! Then we went to the movies to see Red Cliff Part Two (with English subtitles) .. Derek had loaned me Red Cliff Part One – and I had watched it on Monday night..

Red Cliff Part One was the number one blockbuster last year (and actually of all time in China – it beat out Titanic – which he held the previous record..)  It is a fantastic movie! It takes place during the end of the Han Dynasty – it is about the wars between the emperor and some competing warlords..very similar to Troy or Gladiator – but a little more humor thrown in…  A shorter version will be released in the U.S – at some point this year..

Yesterday (Wednesday), was Helen's birthday. In the morning, Li and I enthusiastically headed out of the school gates in search of a cake! There are bakeries in Hangzhou everywhere…it is actually insane – Ganso, Dan Be, Sep, Free Muri, Rita's, Romantic Event, Christina's, Donghua – to name a few. Hangzhouians are cake crazy!  There are actually four bakeries within three minutes from the school gate.. We entered the closest – Ganso…the cakes were beautiful – but -- it hit us that we had no way of knowing what kind or flavor the cakes were¦.so we pressed on.  Romantic event…no luck, yet again…Dan Be was closed…so we turned the corner and went to Sep.  Slightly defeated by our lack of knowledge of the Chinese language, we opted to point to a bunch of different cake slices (we could see whether they were chocolate, green tea, or something else…) within a glass case, the baker put them into a lovely box, we even managed to communicate with her that we needed forks  = mission accomplished!

Off to P.E. for some kung fu, ping pong, badminton, then lunch, then English corner…after E.C.  we went back to the English office to look for Helen in order to celebrate, but she was not in the office…so we went off to cooking claass!

Our teacher is the manager of the school cafeteria, but – Brruce told us that he was previously a renowned Chinese chef - - and has been featured on a Chinese cooking show. He is very talented ¦he loves to make art out of food..he can cut a carrot into a rose, or a cactus out of a cucumber. Last week, he taught us how to create a butterfly – out of sliced mangos, banana, and tomatoes.  This week he showed us how to cut up a fish (it had already been gutted). He cut off the head, and then slit the fish in half…he then sliced the meaty part of the fish (but left the skin intact) into a grid. Then, he fried it. When you fry fish that has been sliced like this it comes out looking like flowers!  Beautiful and yummy!

Then, back to the English office to find Helen! We sang Happy Birthday to her in both English and Chinese and then enjoyed the cake!  Rose popped in and asked me if I wanted to go shopping -- and we were off!

Guitar Hero in Hangzhou

(Allison)

March 2nd

We had a fantastic weekend… Saturday we all met at the school.. I arrived at the school gate...and did not see anyone..A very nice guard came out and tried talking to me..but he only spoke Chinese...and I, for the most part, only speak English...he was being so nice, and trying so hard...

Luckily, Mark and his host brother Harry showed up and Harry was able to translate.. turns out he was trying to tell me that Lianna had already gone outside.. and that I could enter as well..

 

Two English teachers, Wang Huo and Michelle, a history teacher, Li Wang Ping ( I am going to observe her class this week), and Mr. Li who works in the Student Affairs Office.. accompanied us to a museum called-- An Exhibition of Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Relics -- pottery of the Song Dynasty!!

 

The museum featured many pieces of my two favorite types of pottery - the beautiful Chinese celadon green pottery! and the classic Chinese blue and white pottery...

The celadon pieces in the museum were mostly discovered in Hangzhou near the West Lake. Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty.

 

At the end of the exhibit there were several stalls that featured an activity where you could try to piece together an ancient pot, like an archeologist.....the students enjoyed this!

 

Then -- it was time to make some pottery ourselves -- using a pottery wheel... A very talented man..who works at the museum-- came over and centered the clay for us..then we went to work..

It brought me back to art class in high school...

I attempted to make a tall narrow vase..but it did not come out that well...

 

After lunch, we attempted to go to the West Lake Museum—but it  was closed – so the kids decided that they wanted to go bowling..I tagged along with them because, I was invited to have dinner at Josh's apartment – and felt it would be easy if I just stayed with them. Unfortunately, China has not yet passed a non-smoking in public places law…and you can still smoke in bowling alleys = gross.

After bowling, Josh’s father picked Alex, Josh and I up! Josh’s parents are so nice.  We had a lovely meal – Alex practiced his Chinese with Josh's parents… Josh’s  father did not believe me when I told him (through Josh’s translation), that the fish we ate was the best fish that I had during my stay in China! 

I know that Mark is going to blog about this – but I just cannot help myself. Sunday -- we went over William's apartment (the teacher who came to DS last year)! He is the cutest man alive! He picked us up in his red Jetta (but it is called something else here in China-there are Volkswagons everywhere here). William and his wife Helen (not to be confused with Helen – one of the English teachers at Hangzhou High) just had an adorable baby, in November – Emma!!  In the U.S., he purchased PS3 – and he just purchased Guitar Hero World Tour – which is amazing… we spent the day admiring Emma and making music! Of course, William was a wonderful host and provided us with a delicious lunch (Li says the best dumplings she has had in China!) and lots of snacks, Pringles, banana chips, dove chocolate and fruit!

After William's house – we met up with Harry and Sue – and traveled to Wushan Square to meet Bruce and his parents for dinner!!  Bruce's parents are awesome! Just like him. I embarrassed Bruce by making him translate to tell them how much we love him – and cannot imagine our experiience here in China without him!

This morning we had Chinese calligraphy, and our Chinese language class. In calligraphy, we learned how to paint our numbers, as well as some basic beautiful characters such as fire, mountain, and forever.  During Chinese class, we watched the movie Nanking – about the devastating invasion in 1937 --by the Japannese.

After lunch, we had English corner (which has been moved indoors because of all the rain). The regulars (the sweet girls from Class 9) and some new faces showed up. Mark provided some chocolate.  After discussing some ancient history (they are very interested in Egypt), the girls told me some Chinese folk tales that took place around the West Lake!

 After English corner, we headed to the English office to warm up..  Helen whisked us away, and took us shopping (umbrellas in tow)  for the lining of our silk dress and suits! Li and I are getting traditional silk Chinese dresses made. Alex and Mark are getting silk suits made. Last Friday, Helen took us on a very fun shopping trip to purchase the silk.

I had dinner at school, prepared by the amazing chef!  --Now I am going to watch a movie that Derek loaned me-- Red Cliff Part One (more information regarding the movie below…).