Author Archives: connieinasia

    Winter Homework: International Women’s Day               When I assigned winter homework during the Chinese Spring Festival, my students groaned.  Winter homework assignments are something Chinese students always have to do in junior high and high school, not in … Continue reading →

                January 12th was my birthday.              At 45, I had so much to celebrate.  New placement, new  friends,  a new life in yet another part of China, which I love – A lot to be grateful and … Continue reading →

  A 2010 Celebration Arrives In Little Longzhou               When I first arrived in China 18 years ago,  January 1st was not a holiday.              Schools and government offices remained open, shops had no special winter sales and citizens … Continue reading →

  In the Classroom               December 24th sent me to class early morning for the last lesson of the week before Christmas Day.  The students were in for a treat for my infamous “Merry Christmas!” bingo game, a review … Continue reading →

              “Do you have any Christmas lights?”             I’ve been asking that question around this tiny town for weeks — at our small two-story department  store, in the mom-and-pop utility shops, in the outdoor market’s electronic stalls, even in the … Continue reading →

               All last week, I was loaded down on my trips to teach — a bulging book bag slung over my shoulder, a bamboo rod in one hand and a small suitcase in tow in the other.             “Connie, where … Continue reading →

                 Last Saturday, our previously chilly temperatures soared into the 80s, making it the perfect day for a picnic.             The new English Center inductees along with the former members invited me along to their first picnic in … Continue reading →