Mr. Wieck, My Dad

Posted on February 9, 2015 by connieinasia
Me and my Dad, Valentine's Day, 2013 while I was in Marshall for my Chinese New Year vacation

Me and my Dad, Valentine’s Day, 2013 while I was in Marshall for my Chinese New Year vacation

After my last post, there have been a few days of silence on my end.

My father died on Friday morning in the hospital as my mom, brother and I were driving over to meet with the discharge planner about options.  The day before, we had visited an end-of-life facility in our area, not exactly a perfect choice because my father was suffering.  “End-of-life” is more like intensive hospital care where all medicines continue to be given.  Hospice allows someone to be monitored and made comfortable with medication while family are around until the person passes away. That is more of what we wanted.

The dread of our final decision as we drove over was lifted when the call came on my mom’s cellphone:  My dad was no longer with us.

He had just died, 20 minutes before our arrival.  My brother, mom and I were able to spend time with him in his room without all the hook-ups and machines pumping away.

It was very quiet, peaceful and comforting in the hospital room now, something we had not experienced since my dad’s admittance 10 days before.

For about a week, he was almost continually on the by-pap (a full-face mask that pumps oxygen into the lungs) because he couldn’t breath except for about 45 minutes when it was taken off for him to eat.   The nurse told us they’d taken off the by-pap,  he’d had his breakfast, they’d given him a sponge bath, turned on the TV for him to watch and were returning for his inhaler treatment when he passed away.

It was a great blessing, for all of us.

A Beloved, Respected Teacher and Community Figure

Because my father taught at Marshall High School for 30 years as a history and civics teacher,  he was very well-known in the surrounding community.  In the hospital, we had 3 nurses who’d had him as a teacher before he retired.  Even if they weren’t assigned to my dad, they came by to see how he was doing, talk to him and tell humorous stories about his classes.

And my dad was humorous!  He was quick-witted and had the best one-liners of anyone I know.

Because he  had struggled in high school due to learning difficulties, he understood students who were not considered the best or the brightest.  Civics and U.S. History were courses that all had to pass in order to graduate from high school.  Those were the subjects my father taught and he made sure to give extra help to anyone who needed it.  He’d stay after school, coach at-risk students so they’d be able to pass his tests and patiently explain concepts that were difficult or new.  That extra help gave him the respect and admiration of everyone, including parents worried their kids wouldn’t get a high school diploma.

Within the community, he was very active and always rooted for the underdog.  One of the greatest achievements in life for both my mom and dad was organizing and leading a local activist group called Concerned Citizens of Clark County.  This group was specifically formed to voice their concerns and adamant opinions against  having a nuclear waste facility put in our county.  This was a 10-year battle against the State of Illinois, the government itself which sent down all their lawyers, researchers and experts to tell our community that this was a wonderful thing for our area.

It was not!

Concerned Citizens of Clark County, with my dad as the chairman, eventually won the battle to protect our land from becoming a nuclear waste dump.  This accomplishment was an amazing feat, one which my mom and dad were so pleased to have been a part of.

Visit the Funeral Home Website To Really Know My Dad

If you would like to know what a truly wonderful father I’ve had, please go to our local funeral home’s website to read his obituary and all the touching stories people have been sending in about Mr. Wieck.  Pearcefuneralservices.com

Just click on “William Y. Wieck” under obituaries and “View all” under the daily posted condolences.

I will add a note that the date of birth and death “Feb. 7, 2015 – Feb. 6, 2015” is wrong (duh!) unless it’s been corrected by the time you log on.    Just one more thing for my dad to get a huge kick out of if he were alive.

One thing that would really please my dad is that he will have a military send-off after the memorial service on Wed. morning.  He will have his color guard, his gun salute,  taps played and the folded American flag which will be presented to my mom.

His service to his country as a US Marine was very dear to his heart.  It will be a fitting way for all of us to to say “goodbye.”

From Marshall, here’s wishing you Ping An (Peace) for your day and ours here in the Wieck family.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Hospital Experiences: USA and China

Posted on February 5, 2015 by connieinasia

When the ambulance appears in the front of anyone’s house in my small Mid-western town , the whole world seems to know.

Next door neighbors peer out of windows to see who is in such urgent peril.  Cars slow their speed so those inside can glimpse who’s being carried outside.  Dog walkers stop to gawk while their pooches strain at their leashes to continue onward.

In other words, news travels fast that someone in our community is being rushed to the nearest hospital, 20 miles away in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Just days after my arrival from China, such news was making its way all around town, not about one of our family’s neighbors or friends, but about my dad.

A Serious Medical Situation

Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, 20 minutes from my hometown.

Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, 20 minutes from my hometown.

Last week, my father was taken by ambulance to Terre Haute Union Hospital’s emergency room because he literally could not breath.

After 3 days in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit), he was diagnosed with acute pneumonia.  His lungs have been quite fragile for many years now so for him, pneumonia is deadly and life-threatening. At present, he is being loaded up with antibiotics, steroids, breathing treatments and anything else his doctors can do to make him feel better.

He is currently in a regular hospital room but in no shape to leave or be transferred.  My mom and I drive over from our Illinois town, Marshall, every day to stay with him during the day before returning home in the evening to take care of Lao-lao, our Chinese earthquake rescue Chihuahua, and rest up for the next day’s visit.

Aside from our daily to-and-from hospital trips, we also deal with another challenging venture:   Since we live next to the Illinois/ Indiana state border, which happens to be a time zone, we in Illinois are one hour behind the Indiana hospital time.  Makes for a bit of confusion  when converting “our” time to “their” time, especially when some doctors begin their rounds at 7 a.m. which is 6 a.m. for us, meaning if we’d like to get first-hand information, we need get out our front door by 5:20 or we’ll miss them!

Union Hospital: The Place to Be

The front lobby area, with ground floor offices, gift shop and cafeteria; second floor hallway waiting area for updates on surgeries

The front lobby area, with ground floor offices, gift shop and cafeteria; second floor hallway waiting area for updates on surgeries

For anyone reading, especially my Chinese followers, I can tell you that the newly built Union Hospital is a good place to be.

Gorgeous, airy building with open lighting and spacious waiting areas.  The doctors are conscientious and knowledgeable.  The ICU nurses (both male and female) are utterly amazing in patient care and their colleagues on other wings are likewise excellent.  The specialty staff, such as the nutritionists and respiratory therapists, certainly know their stuff.   Everyone is caring, helpful, and answers patient and family questions thoroughly.

Ashley, one of my dad's ICU nurses, at her station outside my dad's room. Excellent care-giver!

Ashley, one of my dad’s ICU nurses, at her station outside my dad’s room. Excellent care-giver!

There is definitely a close bond that is formed between those of us who are worried and concerned, and our healthcare professionals who are treating our loved ones.  Since this is the first time I’ve actually been involved in any long-term hospital stay for my dad, I am learning quite a lot about our medical system and how wonderful it is compared to that in China.

Things American Readers Might Not Know About China’s Healthcare System

While I am no expert in Chinese hospital care, I can only report on my own personal experiences or what other Chinese have told me.

Many Americans may not know that healthcare in China is not free.  Yes, Chinese have to pay for their medicines, doctors’ visits, operations and so on.  The cost will be substantially lower than in the States, and a percentage is covered by insurance, but a substantial amount is out-of-pocket.  If you have a serious illness or you must receive a life-saving operation yet don’t have the money upfront to cover the treatments needed, then you will not get the care needed to live.

When you read over past blog entries, you will notice this was true for Jason’s (Ji Ke’s) sister who had congenital heart disease.  The non-evasive procedure she needed to fix the hole in her heart, which had been left undetected from birth until she was 21 years old, cost around $5,000.  Her family, farmers from the countryside, could only scrape together a small percentage of this.  Without the full amount, the hospital would not admit her so I stepped in to cover what the family could not.

She received wonderful care at Chengdu’s Hua Xi Hospital, one of the best in the city.  I visited for a short time while she was in a large room with 12 others who were recuperating from their own operations and treatments.  Everyone had their own cot, lined up alongside the wall, with a chair for a guest visitor beside it and a small cabinet to place their things on.  This was in the recovery wing for high mobility patients.  They were chatting and visiting with family members who were sharing huge baskets of fresh fruit, a favorite gift to those in the hospital.  The room and medical facility was clean, the staff professional but not present often as they were extremely busy, and the conditions acceptable, in my opinion.

City Hospital Care for the Foreigner

My other hospital experiences involved those who were Amity teachers, those I was teaching with.

Years ago in Luzhou, my American colleague Beth (in her 50’s and new to China) had a respiratory illness that sent her to our Luzhou Medical College hospital.  Beth had the money for her treatment and paid for a private room at $22 a day.  It had a TV, its own bathroom (most are shared among 4 to 6 people depending on the room size) and an extra bed which Beth paid for so another person wouldn’t be in the room with her.   She was on intravenous drips for 2 weeks and not allowed to leave until she was 100% recovered. Doctors in China are never quick to discharge anyone.  Even new mothers get coddled and cared for in the hospital for 2 weeks or longer after giving birth.   America is a   very different story, where those who are able are hustled out as soon as possible.  (For my Chinese readers, a new mother in my country, one who has no complications, usually remains in the hospital for 2 days or 48 hours before going home.)

As for Beth’s hospital stay, I remember that two of our students took turns being with her 24/7, which is the custom in China.  Nurses are overworked and have little time to attend to the hundreds of patients they are in charge of so basic patient needs (feeding, monitoring, comforting, bathing, hygiene upkeep) comes from family members.  They stay with their loved one around the clock, making sure they are comfortable.  They are also the ones to hustle off to get the nurse if there’s a problem, such as an IV runs dry or a patient requires something beyond their help.

This was 10 years ago but I believe the same watchful care from Chinese families still continues today.

A 1994 Experience in a Rural County Hospital

Twenty years ago, another of my older Amity colleagues (56-year-old Jean from Great Britain) wound up in a county hospital when we went traveling and she became sick.  It was some sort of stomach thing which had her on constant IV fluids being pumped into her system.  The hospital had never had a foreigner before but did have a private wing for the privileged.  This wing opened out into the open-air walkway with the rooms having never been used because no one privileged enough had ever been in them.

That was, until Jean arrived and she was quickly ushered inside.

Wallpaper was peeling off in clumps from the molding cement walls. The private bathroom was filthy and had no running water.  The metal-framed bed was harder than a rock with a thin, lumpy padding placed on planks of wood.   I was in charge of cleaning the room and food runs, which mostly included noodle soups I picked up at venders lined up alongside the streets.  (In the larger public hospital rooms, crammed with 20 people, the family had set up coal braziers next to the beds and woked up meals for everyone.  I remember the food smelled pretty darn good!)

We also had someone’s sad-looking mongrel roaming about.  He was being treated for mange and had spots of purple iodine (a Chinese cure-all) over his hairless skin patches in the hopes this would cure his skin ailment.

He was a sweet little thing but Jean was always discouraging me from being too friendly with him.  In her miserable state, I don’t think she was too pleased by his presence, which became just another reminder that we certainly weren’t in Kansas anymore.

Jean spent 4 days in the hospital with the doctors trying desperately to get rid of us.  At that time, being responsible for a foreigner’s well-being was a huge commitment and one which could get the hospital into huge trouble if, heaven forbid, Jean took a turn for the worse.

Although she was in no shape to be released, the staff pulled some strings and got us both into a sleeping car for the 5-hour train ride back to our school’s city, Nanchang.   Jean was then able to get better medical care from our school and the big city doctors. However, by that time, she was pretty much over whatever it was she’d picked up.

Closing Off with Visuals

While I have many more stories to tell about Chinese hospital, I’ll close this off more for my Chinese readers who might be curious about hospitals in the States.  The following are more pictures taken at Union Hospital, where my dad continues to remain.

From Marshall, IL, here’s sending you a huge Ping An (Peace) for your day.

Note: My dad is not doing well.   I am just very grateful to be in the States and be able to spend time with him, my mom and my brother.

Posted in A Visit Home to America, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Smalltown American Life, Tales of China, Travel | 2 Comments

From Along the Yangtze: 50th Birthday Celebrations Finally End

Posted on January 17, 2015 by connieinasia
 

Yesterday evening had me celebrating my Luzhou birthday dinner surrounded by Chinese friends and  Peace Corp colleagues, Angela and Geoff.  It was such a unique,  wonderful evening that I felt I should give you all the details.

As mentioned in the last post, I had a gathering in Chengdu with the young folk eating hotpot and was awaiting a more upscale, posh dinner in Luzhou the next Friday.  That took place last night and it certainly was an amazing event.

Cathy (Li Xiaolian, my former departmental dean at this college) has been my best friend for 12 years now and she was the one to arrange the gathering for my 50th.

When I turned 40, Cathy was also in charge of my birthday banquet here in Luzhou.  She booked a restaurant for me so I could share my celebrations with not only a few friends, but the entire English language department and the leaders as well.  It was a huge affair, with 4 tables of 12 people each.  I remember loyal Cathy as a constant presence next to me.  She’d poke me when it was time to toast this leader or that, encourage me to keep the conversation flowing with my pitiful  Chinese small talk, and nudge me to pay attention to the other tables so I could adequately include all in my birthday invite. My dear Cathy was the one ushering me  into the tricky world of banquet etiquette which I was ineptly stumbling along to perform.

Yes, for my 40th, it was a bit of a stressful evening on my part, one that I hadn’t expected due to my unfamiliarity with being the hostess in a  formal Chinese dining affair.

Make It Simple

10 years later, I am certainly better skilled to handle such a situation with more poise and dignity but I decided to scale down my party for a couple of reasons.

At present, everyone at our school is too busy with wrapping up the end of the year.  Students are still having final exams and teachers are scrambling to get grades finished.  Administrators are also rushing about, dealing with all that needs dealt with before holidays begin.

Yet another reason is that I’ve been gone so much from this area for the past 5 years that I am just starting up relationships that had been firmly established 10 years ago.  Leaving Sichuan, being in Guangxi for 3 years, returning to Luzhou for 1 year, and then having to leave again  last year due to the work visa business strained most of my ties formed before.  I am  now having to re-establish those, meaning the closeness I once felt to my school staff here is not quite as strong as it was in the past.

Cathy and I decided that a small gathering of her special friends who are now my special friends would be better.  And I must say, we were both right.  No stiff, formal leaders to impress or tons of colleagues to manage as a hostess.  It was just one table of 12, jovial, easy banter, private one-on-one toasting and a warm feeling of friendship.

Yes, there was cake which we ate first because Cathy insisted we’d have no room to stuff it in if we waited for all the dishes to arrive.

Having dessert first was not something I wanted for my 50th but I bowed to Cathy’s decision.  And, as always,  that was a wise move on my part.  We managed to down only half of the light, whipped-cream sponge cake before over 20 stir-fried dishes started to fill our table.  No way could we have dug into cake after such a full-course, meat-and-vegetable fanfare.

Thus we began with lighting the candles, the Happy Birthday song, me serving cake pieces to everyone and then my thank you toast to all before digging into the feast set before us.

“好吃! 好吃!” Good Eats!  Good Eats!

I must say, that was the best dinner I’ve ever had in my 20 years in China.

Ms. Liu, Cathy’s elementary school classmate and one of our attendees, had selected  the dishes from the restaurant’s menu. This is always a challenge when ordering for foreigners because we can get pretty picky.  We are not guts-and-gore type of folk who delight in fatty meats, strange animal innards and odd flavors invading our delicate stomachs.  These are what Chinese enjoy for their palates but far from anything foreigners such as myself care for.  This difference often makes it difficult for Chinese to understand a foreigner’s tastebuds, thus we overseas folk usually find ourselves hungry after leaving a fully-loaded Chinese table.

But Ms. Liu did an outstanding job.  Everything was perfectly catered to this American’s food preferences and I left nothing  untouched.  Not only that but we 12 actually finished off everything!  That is quite unusual when so much food is set before us.

The only thing I just absolutely couldn’t bring to eat was my bowl of noodles and an egg, courtesy of  the hotel.  This was placed before me at the tail end of our dinner.

Noodles with a fried egg on top are to bring long life to the birthday individual.  It’s a tradition in China to have this on your birthday but one which I just couldn’t bring myself to eat, not because it was unwanted or unappreciated but because I just couldn’t stuff anything more in!  I just hope my disregard for this custom doesn’t cause the  Chinese gods to snap off a extra few years from my hoped-for age of 100.

Leaving for the States on Tuesday

Now that my Luzhou dinner is finished, today is all about getting ready for my visit to the States.  I leave on Monday for Shanghai, straight from our tiny Luzhou airport, and then head off to Illinois on Tuesday.  This will therefore most likely be the last post until then.

I finish off this post  with the visuals of my birthday celebrations for you to also enjoy.  Thank you again for making my 50th so very special with your website visits, cards and notes.  Ping An (Peace!)

My Happy Birthday Nikes, a gift from Gao Pei (Frank)

My Happy Birthday Nikes, a gift from Gao Pei (Frank)

My Chengdu birthday celebration with the young folk.

My Chengdu birthday celebration with the young folk.

Jason (Ji Ke) presents me with a warm scarf.

Jason (Ji Ke) presents me with a warm scarf.

Zhang Ou (Rebecca) gave me a lovely silk scarf for my dress-up wardrobe.

Zhang Ou (Rebecca) gave me a lovely silk scarf for my dress-up wardrobe.

Gao Pei, presenting me with cool pink Nikes.

Gao Pei, presenting me with cool pink Nikes.

The traditional hotpot

The traditional hotpot

In Chengdu, a pizza birthday dinner treated by Mrs. Zhao for me and Frank.

In Chengdu, a pizza birthday dinner treated by Mrs. Zhao for me and Frank.

Another birthday dinner with Little Flower's sitters (Mrs. He, center, and husband) with her friend. Very cozy home gathering.

Another birthday dinner with Little Flower’s sitters (Mrs. He, center, and husband) with her friend. Very cozy home gathering.

On January 12, I joined my Dog walking companions on the Sichuan University campus: Madame Zhao (curlers), Ms. Yang (center) and Mrs. Zhao (red)

On January 12, I joined my Dog walking companions on the Sichuan University campus: Madame Zhao (curlers), Ms. Yang (center) and Mrs. Zhao (red)

My Luzhou Birthday gathering: Me and Li Xiaolian (Cathy) with my birthday cake.

My Luzhou Birthday gathering: Me and Li Xiaolian (Cathy) with my birthday cake.

Ms. Liu (left), who ordered all our dishes, and Cathy, presenting me with a birthday necklace.

Ms. Liu (left), who ordered all our dishes, and Cathy, presenting me with a birthday necklace.

Here's to the birthday girl!

Here’s to the birthday girl!

Having my cake and eating it, too. Yes, we eat with chopsticks!

Having my cake and eating it, too. Yes, we eat with chopsticks!

Toasting to friendship: Cathy and her elementary school classmates, my new friends

Toasting to friendship: Cathy and her elementary school classmates, my new friends.

Posted in From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown Stories, Tales of China, Travel | 1 Comment

She’s 50 Today, Folks! A Note from the Birthday Girl

Posted on January 12, 2015 by connieinasia

Currently, I am in Chengdu where the rental room’s XP computer limits my website use of all the bells and whistles it usually has. No ability to post pictures and the homepage is all ascew but I did check my stats.  As of today, I have had 7,340 visits, which is still shy of my hoped for 10,000 for my special day but nothing to sneeze at.

Best of all, despite the computer’s outdated software, what I can do at present  is post an entry about my birthday!

Surprise!  An Extra Few Days in the Big City

I arrived in Chengdu for my holiday R&R last Monday, with the assumption that I’d be returning earlier than I’d hoped. In the last post, I mentioned a 2-day workshop on Jan. 14th and 15th which I was asked to lead for area educators. The topic was Activities in the Classroom. After putting together hand-outs, preparing a very nice power point presentation and writing up an outline of the event, it was ready to go and I was happily on my way to Sichuan’s capital.

Then came the text from my vice-dean, Lisa Zhang.

“Connie, so sorry! The lectures are canceled.”

While a little disappointed, I can’t say I was too crushed. This would allow me to spend a few more days in Chengdu than expected, so that’s exactly what I’m doing. Those extra days include my fiftieth birthday, which is today.

So what has the birthday girl been up to and what’s to come? Let’s get started!

A Week of Relaxation 

Since I arrived, every morning has been enjoying my pool time at my favorite exercise hang-out, the Meng Zhui Wan Natatorium. My swimming buddies have been wondering where I’ve been for the past 4 months. Many don’t realize I actually live in Luzhou, not in Chengdu, so they’ve been discussing among themselves where the foreigner with the amazing swimming skills has disappeared to. Mystery has been solved now that I’ve informed everyone during our pool deck or locker room chit-chat of my where-abouts.

After the pool, it’s 3 p.m. doggie playdate with Mrs. Zhao, Hairy Bean (her poodle) and our other canine partners. At times, we’ve had as many as 9 pooches frolicking on the Sichuan University campus lawn in front of the graduate school classroom buildings. All breeds of various sizes, including their owners, join in the fun so we’ve had quite a crowd at times.

Also meeting up with me has been Gao Pei (Frank), who is a Sichuan University senior majoring in international economics. Last year, he accompanied me on daily walks while at the same time practicing his spoken English. His hope is to attend a US university after graudation to pursue his MA degree. I’ve likewise helped a bit with his application essays, all outstanding but in need of a little tweeking here and there. He’s applied to numerous top-notch schools so we’ll see what comes of that after acceptance announcements are sent out within the next few months.

Lots of Pre-50 Eat Outs

As for my evenings, I’ve been most fortunate to have had some excellent pre-birthday meals with friends.

The first was Mrs. Zhao, who invited me and Frank for a pizza dinner at a local Chinese pizza place.  I haven’t had pizza in quite some time so that was a very rare treat for me.  Frank likewise enjoyed the  3 selections we made:  Hawaiian, Southwestern flavor and chicken.  All were personal size pizzas which we shared.  Great way to start off my time in Chengdu.

Next was my invite to others on Friday evening for my Chengdu birthday dinner.

In China, it’s often the custom for those of us celebrating an event (birthday, winning a contest, getting a good job or acceptance into a great university) to invite and treat friends to a big dinner. What a better way to bring in my 50th than to surround myself with an energetic group, those half my age? For my city birthday gathering, I chose the young Chengdu crowd: Jason (Ji Ke, former Luzhou student), Rebecca (Zhang Ou, friend working at a bank in Chengdu) and Frank to eat hotpot with me.

Sichuan hotpot is quite popular in this province and is a specialty item which everyone enjoys. If you’re not familiar with the Chinese huo guo, or “fire pot,” which is the direct translation, it’s basically this: a huge pot of broth (either unbearably spicy or mild and plain, you choose), with a burner underneath, set in the center of the table.  The hug pot bubbles away to await what is placed into the turbulent liquid. We customers order raw vegetables, meats, fish and noodles which come on plates to our table. We then throw these into the broth, wait for them to boil up and then chopstick them out to eat.

I chose my favorite place, The Old Ghost Hotpot Restaurant, because they have a half-and-half hotpot where half the bowl is spicy and half is plain. This allows the patrons to choose which is best for their tastebuds and their stomachs. 

The establishment was packed full when we arrived at 6:30 p.m. but all the noise and bustle didn’t stop us from sharing our stories, chatting and catching up. I hadn’t seen Jason or Rebecca since October so we had a lot to discuss.

Much to my dismay, Rebecca had to suddenly leave. Her workmate forgot the keys to the office and she needed to unlock the door for him so he could finish a weekend project. That didn’t stop her from making sure I received my birthday present, a lovely silk scarf with a Chinese fan design. Jason’s turn was next with a very warm checkered winter scarf.

And Frank had actually found out my shoe size, gone online and ordered a very trendy, pretty pink-and-gray pair of Nikes for me. Not only were they quite an eye-catching item, but they fit perfectly.

Now that’s a birthday with young folk for you!

Yet another dinner had me at Mrs. He’s home along with her husband. This older couple and I go back a long way. They are the ones who for 10 years took care of Xiao Hua (Little Flower, my dog) while I visited the States. Although my little Chi no longer brings us together, our decade-old friendship still has me visiting their home every time I’m in Chengdu. We had a very simple dinner in their home yesterday and caught up on all the happenings since we last talked.  It was very pleasant to sit back and enjoy their cozy home rather than be stuck in my simple, one-room rental for the evening.

Today’s Birthday Jaunts Around Town

For the day itself, which is today, I’ve certainly been making the most of it.

The staff at both indoor and outdoor pools received lots of candy from me. The more candy I bestowed upon them, the more “Happy Birthday!”s I received.

Even the taxi drivers to and from the pool had a handful of sweets to brighten their day, and mine, due to their “Happy Birthday!” greetings after I told them why the give-away.

Best yet was when my return driver gasped in surprise at my age, which I had proudly announced as we drove along.

“50?!” he asked  in astonishement. “No, no.  I think younger.  You look 30.”

Yeah, you know it.  I’ll take that compliment any day!

Afternoon walks with the dog owners are soon to come and then to finish off the night, it’s a nice evening watching pirated DVDs I’ve loaded up on.

When I return to Luzhou on Thursday, I’ll be having my Luzhou birthday gathering on Friday night. This has been arranged by my best friend and former departmental dean, Li Xiaolian (Cathy).  I’m paying for the dinner at a very nice restaurant and she’s providing the birthday cake.

There will be about 10 of us, both foreigners and Chinese, and I’m truly looking forward to more birthday wishes sent my way, and most likely a few more gifts to boot. 

Finished after that?  Not by far!

 The last celebration will have me trekking across the ocean next week, back to Illinois to be with my parents and earthquake rescue Xiao Lao-lao (Little Old-old), whom I brought back to the States 5 years ago. (He is one very lucky, currently spoiled, little dog.)  I’ll be in my hometown for a month before returning to China  after the Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb. 18. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on happenings during that time.

Grateful Thanks to So Many

I end this with a special blessing and thank you to those who have sent email birthday greetings, text messages and overseas’ cards which have recently been landing at the college. I’m sure there will be even more envelopes waiting for me when I return in a few days. Lots of birthday surprises yet to open!  Excellent!

All I can say is that it’s very nice to be thought of on such a special day by so many.

Half a century old! My goodness. That’s a milestone.

From China, here’s wishing everyone Ping An (Peace) for your day and your week.

Posted in Chengdu Daily Life, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown Stories, Travel | Leave a comment

Christmas Eve at the Luzhou Protestant Church

Posted on January 2, 2015 by connieinasia
Getting ready for Christmas Eve worship: The Luzhou Protestant Church (1913)
Getting ready for Christmas Eve worship: The Luzhou Protestant Church (Our  sanctuary, the original 1913 decore)

For 2015, let me finally give you the highlights of our Luzhou Protestant Church Christmas Eve festivities.

Every year, our celebrations are a little different as the worship committee plans what’s best for everyone involved. For two years now, the church has given two worship services for Christmas in order to reach as many as possible. Monday evening, Dec. 22, was for the Christian church members and then Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) was for the public.

Both evenings, with 40 minutes of traditional worship (choir processional, anthems, hymns, prayers, clery message) then 2 hours of performances followed by a quiet, solemn countdown to midnight, are exactly the same but with different audience members.

I was asked to attend both, since Pastor Liao and I had planned to sing together, but sorry to say, I was not able to attend Monday evening. I had a full day of testing, with two more yet to go, and just didn’t feel I could invest two nights of celebrations to keep fresh enough for my own students the next day.

Christmas Eve, however, was a definite go.

Christmas Eve celebrations for the public and congregation members had us at full capacity. (Balconies were crowded as well.)

Christmas Eve celebrations for the public and congregation members had us at full capacity. (Balconies were crowded as well.)

My Personal Observations for The Church’s 2014 Christmas Eve

We didn’t have quite as many dance performances this year as last. I did miss the elderly fan dancers and some of the traditional Chinese folk numbers with floaty, elegant garb. We’ve also had Xinjiang Province belly dancers in our midst who had lovely dance moves and our young teen girls’ “Santa Baby” swivel numbers which had us cheering. This year brought more choir numbers and solos.

This was also the first year we opened with an orchestral performance accompanied by a professional singer.

Our hosts introduce the opening number, soloist accompanied by an orchestra

Our hosts introduce the opening number, soloist accompanied by an orchestra

This turned out to be a bit too dirgy for my taste. It was a Hebrewesque number, perhaps translated into Chinese, with the theme music to Schindler’s List thrown in at very odd moments. Our soloist — slow, dark, mournful wailing with overly dramatic gestures and sorrowful facial expressions.

Our soloist's pained expressions during her Schindler's List moments created a rather dismal atmosphere.

Our soloist’s pained expressions during her Schindler’s List moments created a rather dismal atmosphere.

The orchestra – too loud (especially the horns) and the violins off. Plus is went on forever! There seemed to be no end, leaving those in attendance to start talking to one another, answering cellphones, texting friends or squeezing through the standing-room-only populace to find a better vantage point.

Usually, we start with joyfulness, with the elementary kids in their colorful outfits doing their well-choreographed moves. Did make me wonder what in the world the public thought about Christianity after being put through that tormented lament but one thing I will say: We could go nowhere but up after that, which we certainly did as the kids immediately followed.

Finally! Here came the laughter, smiles and delight I always expect for our Chinese services on Christmas Eve.

Foreign Students Once Again Show Their Supportive Presence

For the first time, Overseas' Guests have their own placard on the pews! Seats of honor, near the front.

For the first time, Overseas’ Guests have their own placard on the pews! Seats of honor, near the front.

The foreign Christian students, about 20, from the Medical College always do something for our evening.

Here we are: America (me), Pakistan, India and Nepal

Here we are: America (me), Pakistan, India and Nepal

At our local medical college, there are enrolled about 500 foreign students from Pakistan, Nepal, India and different African nations. They study in the medical school here in China mainly because they were not able to pass their medical school entrance exams in their own countries.

Their instruction is all in English by Chinese professors since their program is separate from the Chinese students, who are taught in Chinese. They also have a few professors, sent by their separate countries, who give classes as well.

It’s a very strange set-up, in my opinion, but an extremely profitable one for the Medical College which charges about $5,000 a year per foreign student to attend. The Chinese students pay about $2,000. This is one of the reasons why the Medical College was able to build a gorgeous new campus outside of the city limits, where all the foreign students are currently placed. The older, rather run-down campus, near the city center, is comprised of all the rest: the Chinese students whose majors include dentistry, Chinese traditional medicine, Western medicine and medical English.

These foreign students study at our Luzhou Medical College for 5 years, then return to their own countries where they take their medical exams once again to see if they pass or not.   While a majority are Muslim or Buddhist, there is a small Christian community who come to our Luzhou church from time to time, even though they don’t speak Chinese.

Last year, they performed an updated version of the birth of Jesus, including doctors in medical coats to assist during Mary’s labor. The entire skit was in English, which no one understood, but there was honestly no need. We all got the humor of the scenes, not to mention the meaningful ending where everyone sang Silent Night as Mary rocked Jesus to sleep. It was quite moving and touching, a real addition to our evening together as Christians.

This year, the group scaled down a bit and sang Joy to the World.

Singing "Joy to the World": the medical college foreign students.

Singing “Joy to the World”: the medical college foreign students.

I know the Chinese church members always appreciate their participation, as do I so I’m not the only non-Chinese in the bunch to share in the festivities of our Christian holiday.

Enjoy the Gallery of Photos!

To finish off this post, I hope you enjoy the gallery of photos from my Christmas Eve.  As you can see, it was a joyful night for all.

Ping An (Peace) sent your way this first week in 2015.

Posted in From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown Stories, Tales from The Yangtze River, Tales of China, Travel | 1 Comment

Happy 2015 from Along the Yangtze!

Posted on January 1, 2015 by connieinasia
New Year's Eve had my 2014 Christmas lights ushering in 2015.

New Year’s Eve had my 2014 Christmas lights ushering in 2015.

Farewell, Christmas 2014!

Farewell, Christmas 2014!

It was a quiet ringing in of the New Year here along the Yangtze River for the Luzhou Vocational College foreign language teachers­­.

Chinese are receiving 3 days off (Thursday to Saturday), including all those in schools and government public service workers, with everyone going into their offices or classrooms on Sunday to make up for the Friday that was generously bestowed on them by the government. Yes, the make-up-your-work-day-for-a-holiday is still kicking all across China. Continues to bewilder me how making up a holiday makes it a holiday to begin with but that’s just another enigma of the country.

Years ago, when I first came to China, we never celebrated January 1st. It was business as usual. But within the last 10 years, the government decided to add one more no-work day to an already sparse national holiday schedule so January 1st was it.

Angela, Geoff and I have finished testing for our classes but the Chinese teachers will begin their testing schedules starting Monday, January 5-7. After that, students are dismissed for the school year to return home to their families for Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), which begins Feb. 19.

Most Chinese in the smaller cities such as ours don’t do much for Yuan Dan Jie (   ) aside from shopping past midnight at stores whose hours have been extended to accompany the millions of shoppers going out on the streets. No special count-downs, fireworks, drinking binges or holiday snacks. Just hanging out with family or friends.

However, I did read this morning of a New Year’s midnight countdown stampede in Shanghai’s downtown district, near the Peace Hotel, that killed 35 people and injured even more. The annual event was organized by city officials, with over 300,000 attending last year, to mimic overseas’ traditions and give the big city folk a taste of joining in on such celebrations worldwide.  If you remember in the last entry, I wrote of Chinese dissing “western” holidays and encouraging their countrymen to ignore festivities that are not considered their own.

Perhaps in this instance, they have a point. How sad for those wishing to ring in the New Year with the rest of the world, only to have it end in great tragedy. I have a feeling next year will not see such events planned in the country as government officials take precautions to make sure what happened last night does not happen again.

As for us three Americans, New Year’s Eve had us in my home, enjoying hot cocoa and finishing up the Christmas cookies and fudge while my remaining decorations sparkled away. These have mostly come down with only the inside lights yet to disappear into their boxes so we still had a little leftover Christmas cheer to brighten our evening.

We eventually called it quits at 1:30 a.m.

Plans for the First Day of 2015

It is a dark and dreary day outside, unlike a week ago for Christmas Day when bright sunshine gave us temps close to 70. I had a lovely walk along the Yangtze shoreline but probably not today.

Last week's Yangtze river walk was a great way to begin Christmas morning last week. Views today are much dimmer and colder.

Last week’s Yangtze river walk was a great way to begin Christmas morning last week. Views today are much dimmer and colder.

I will, however, head across the street to our city’s beloved Buddhist temple. There will most likely be several coming to burn joss sticks or candles to celebrate the new year, although this is usually something that Chinese do for Spring Festival or special Buddhist festivals.

I will also be working on a 2-day workshop presentation which I was asked to do on January 14 and 15 here at our college. Our English Department is sponsoring a Classroom Activities Lecture for area school teachers and our vice-dean, Lisa Zhang, asked if I’d take the lead on this. Since I will be leaving on Monday for Chengdu (my favorite R&R destination), I would like to get my materials, hand-outs and power point completed so when I land after a week, there will be little for me to do aside from give the presentation.

Next entry:  Christmas Eve pictures!  Ping An.

Posted in From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown | Tagged | 1 Comment

How Many Visitors in 2014? My WordPress Stats!

Posted on December 30, 2014 by connieinasia

For those interested, here are my blog stats compiled by the WordPress team for 2014.  Although I won’t be reaching my goal of 10,000 visits for my 50th birthday (Jan. 12), you have all helped me surpass previous years as far as readers are concerned.

Thank you so much for checking up on my experiences in China.  Here’s wishing you Ping An (peace) for 2015!

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,900 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Posted in From Along the Yangtze, Luzhou, Luzhou Vocational and Technical College, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown Stories, Tales of China, Travel | 1 Comment

China Cashing in on Christmas Commercialism

Posted on December 28, 2014 by connieinasia

Note: Before you read this, I’d like to add a few notes concerning the below entry. A friend sent me an article from the New York Times concerning the recent banning and “humbugging” of Christmas by certain provinces in the country. University students carrying banners for the public to dis foreign holidays, schools forbidding Christmas holiday decore (Santa hats, Christmas trees, flashing wands, etc), lectures being given to “return to your Chinese roots,” and so forth criss-crossed the country as December 25th approached. In Sichuan, just the opposite took place as Christmas exploded into 100% commercialism with the public having not a clue what the festival was about but enjoying their new-found shopping spree all the same. This just goes to prove, once again, that China is a very big country where what is true in one area is certainly not in another.

Luzhou's Christmas Alley, located in the downtown business district, carries stalls where anything Christmas can be found.

Luzhou’s Christmas Alley, located in the downtown business district, carries stalls where anything Christmas can be found.

Streets packed with shoppers.

Malls crammed with buyers picking over advertised sale items

Sidewalk snack venders and discount clothes stalls overrun with the masses.

This was what greeted me fighting my way to the church on Christmas Eve at about 7 p.m.

Yes, it’s China cashing in on Christmas commercialism! While the Christian world prepared for a joyful evening of worship and ushering in Christ’s birth with solemn prayer, this country was busy holding midnight specials for millions of consumers eager to find a bargain.

Mixed in with the everyday goods were those considered special only for the foreigner’s holiday. Santa hats, flashing wands, colorful floral masks, confetti canisters, reindeer and devil horn headgear were being sold to children all along my route leading toward my final destination, the Luzhou Protestant Church. The little ones eagerly picked over the wares while parents pulled out their wallets to pay for these items which everyone believes is a part of the Christian celebration. Trying to convince them otherwise is a never-ending battle so I have stopped trying.

A New Holiday Emerges: 平安夜 Ping An Ye (Peace Night)

During the past 10 years, Christmas Eve has taken on the name Ping An Ye (平安夜,Peace Night), celebrated by Chinese of all ages. Very little of this invented name has to do with peace. It’s all about stocking up for the upcoming Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) while sending greetings to those you love or know with the gift of an apple packaged in a decorated cardboard box or enclosed in pretty wrapping paper.

How this commercialism business got started is beyond me but it has really exploded.

“Merry Christmas! Have an Apple.”

Sellers up and down the crowded streets selling "peace" apples in Luzhou

Sellers up and down the crowded streets selling “peace” apples in Luzhou

I find the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day apple offerings especially curious, although not quite as curious as you’d think.

In Chinese, the word for “apple” is ping guo (苹果); the word for “peace,” ping an (平安). The two “ping” characters are different but the sound is the same, thus the relationship between “apple” and “peace.” For Peace Night (Christmas Eve), an apple bestowed upon others brings them wishes of peace for the upcoming year.

Knowing the clever Chinese, my guess is that this apple gift-giving venture was an incredibly masterful idea, thought up by some brilliant business entrepreneur to make money. Since its first appearance in some Chinese city somewhere, it’s now caught on like wildfire and has spread throughout the entire country of 1.3 billion.

Even outside our church, apples were being bought and given to congregation members before the service.

Even outside our church, apples were being bought and given to congregation members before the service.

That’s why I am currently inundated with apples by students, faculty, friends and even my Chinese church members who thrust them into my hands before I left the church Christmas Eve.

A few of my specially boxed peace apple gifts, sold for about 75 each.

A few of my specially boxed peace apple gifts, sold for about 75 each.

One Last Party to Go

Before launching into my church Peace Night, including pictures, I’ll post this so as not delay any further on updates. I have one more gathering of Chinese friends to go in my Christmas Home and then two more days of final conversation testing before my school year finally ends before January 1st. Great way to end the year with the beginning of a long vacation! Can’t wait.

Last party snapshot, December 27.

Last party snapshot, December 27.

From along the Yangtze, here’s wishing you Ping An (Peace) for your week.

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Posted in Luzhou, Luzhou: Yangtze Rivertown, Tales from Sichuan's Yangtze Rivertown, Travel | Tagged | 2 Comments

Christmas Along the Yangtze

Posted on December 24, 2014 by connieinasia

Fragrant evergreen, scented candles, sticks of cinnamon, spiced cider – these are the smells I associate with Christmas.

But in my apartment here in China, at least for the past 3 weeks, it’s the aroma of one thing and one thing only that consistently permeates my tiny 3 rooms: coffee.

Morning, noon and night, coffee is made and guzzled in shameful quantities to get me through the holiday that keeps me extremely busy, but also extremely happy.  Here we are, Christmas Eve, and I am finally able to catch you up on everything.

Setting Up

Yes, it’s Christmas along the Yangtze in this foreigner’s home!

For five days, Christmas boxes stuffed with decorations were hauled down from the top of my wardrobe, opened, and unpacked for extravagant display. After 2 years of slumbering in deep, peaceful sleep, it was time to wake everyone up.

Stuffed animals, battery-operated toys, desktop trees, colored lights, tinsel roping, colorful Christmas stockings, miniature creche scenes, figurines, votives, wall hangings, Santa hats and reindeer ears – Welcome to Connie’s winter wonderland.

This was my time to make my home inviting for all and get ready for the open houses soon to follow.

5 boxes of Christmas things, evenly distributed among 3 rooms.

5 boxes of Christmas things, evenly distributed among 3 rooms.

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The pet Christmas tree is at the entrance and is a favorite for all animal lovers.

The pet Christmas tree is at the entrance and is a favorite for all animal lovers.

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My sitting room

My sitting room

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The religious corner

The religious corner

My Christmas Tree

My Christmas Tree

So many toys to play with!

So many toys to play with!

In the Classroom: Prepping for Christmas Festivities

Along with in-home decorating, my classroom lessons had me pulling my suitcase of materials to and from the classroom numerous times over the last 2 weeks. We began with the Christmas story, going over a simple script of Jesus’ birth and then re-enacting this in the classroom with costumes and props.

In the classroom, Gabriel tells Mary she will have a baby

Gabriel tells Mary she will have a baby

Joseph is encouraged by the angel to marry Mary, even though the child is not his.

Joseph is encouraged by the angel to marry Mary, even though the child is not his.

Pregnant Mary and Joseph come to the inn door in Bethlehem.

Pregnant Mary and Joseph come to the inn door in Bethlehem.

Joseph: "Please,sir, do you have any room?" Innkeeper 1: "No room here. Try down the street."

Joseph: “Please,sir, do you have any room?”
Innkeeper 1: “No room here. Try down the street.”

Shepherds and wisemen await their entry into the story.

Shepherds and wisemen await their entry into the story.

Shepherd 1: "Do you hear something? It sounds like singing." Shepherd 2: "It's the sheep! Go back to sleep."

Shepherd 1: “Do you hear something? It sounds like singing.”
Shepherd 2: “It’s the sheep! Go back to sleep.”

Angels: "Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth and good will toward men. Follow the star to see the baby!"

Angels: “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth and good will toward men. Follow the star to see the baby!”

There's the star! Let's go.

There’s the star! Let’s go.

Wiseman 1 brings his gift to the child.

Wiseman 1 brings his gift to the child.

Wiseman 3 and his gift.

Wiseman 3 and his gift.

Class photo of everyone, including characters, were taken for our final curtain call.

Class photo of everyone, including characters, were taken for our final curtain call.

The next week followed with a showcase of traditional items (tree, stocking, Santa Claus, candy cane) and a Christmas bingo game to nail home the newly learned vocab. Candy as prizes is always a must, giving students ample time to sample even more fun that is soon to come: Invitations to my Christmas open house.

A Week of Visitors

The first class of freshmen came two weeks ago, keeping me occupied from 7 – 9 p.m as wave after wave of groups arrived. Candy baskets were everywhere, strategically placed and heaped high with goodies. Keeping them replenished was a challenge, especially while being pulled this way and that for photo ops at the many different areas in my home. Every backdrop was different; every corner filled.

Welcome for photo ops!

Welcome for photo ops!

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Nothing like playing with the decorations.

Nothing like playing with the decorations.

In my home, it was pictures galore for my first freshmen class of visitors.

In my home, it was pictures galore for my first freshmen class of visitors.

Squeeze together!

Squeeze together!

Everyone's cellphones with photography ability were passed around constantly.

Everyone’s cellphones with photography ability were passed around constantly.

We even managed a timed shot using my camera to fit everyone in.

We even managed a timed shot using my camera to fit everyone in.

Another group shot for yet another gathering.

Another group shot for yet another gathering.

Word went flying around campus that Connie’s open houses had begun.  Freshmen began pestering me in every class  when their turn would come. My last one took place last Monday, followed on Friday by the faculty.

The departmental staff and English teachers were invited to my home on Dec. 19 for our foreigners’ open house. After the Friday departmental meeting finished, those who had time came to enjoy the decorations  but they received a grander spread than the students.

The Chinese teachers and staff need extra energy to get through their busy schedules at this time of year. That includes hours of test grading. My infamous cut-out sugar cookies, chocolate truffles, fresh tangerines, soft drinks, coffee and tea gave all who attended a feeling of the true Christmas spirit, as shown by us 3 Americans.

Our teacher's and faculty staff in my home.

Our teacher’s and faculty staff in my home.

We had one grandma visit with grand-daughter.

We had one grandma visit with grand-daughter.

Vice-dean Lisa Zhang, her son (Santa beard) and the foreign teachers

Vice-dean Lisa Zhang, her son (Santa beard) and the foreign teachers

Teacher Huang, who arrived too late for the group picture, had his own special picture with us all.

Teacher Huang, who arrived too late for the group picture, had his own special picture with us all.

Teacher Sun and me, showing off my trendy straw hat which was a Christmas gift.

Teacher Sun and me, showing off my trendy straw hat which was a Christmas gift.

Assistant foreign affair's director, Bruce Lu, and his wife, just recently married.

Assistant foreign affair’s director, Bruce Lu, and his wife, just recently married.

Adding even more to the occasion were visits from their kids.  We had about 15 children of all ages, toddlers to elementary school ages, who likewise participated in the festivities.  Not a single toy or stuffed animal was left untouched or not played with, which is the way I like to have it.

Welcome, kids, to Connie's Christmas house!

Welcome, kids, to Connie’s Christmas house!

A Crazy Saturday Morning of Pictures

Students of any age need something special for Christmas from their foreign teacher.   This is one of the reasons I’ve placed on my wish lists holiday pencils, which many of my American friends and church members have graciously sent. Such pencils are difficult to find in China, at least in huge quantities, so such presents add great joy to the classroom one they are displayed for choosing.

But by far the most precious gift is a photograph.

When I was on my own, I’d have holiday photos taken of me and Little Flower which were laminated and copied for every student I had. Now, there are 3 foreign teachers at our college. Two years ago, I blogged about the photo session with me, John and Ashley in my home. John set up his state-of-the-art camera on a tripod and we maneuvered ourselves into numerous poses for pictures.

The biggest hassle was continually positioning the camera at just the right angle to center us. Took about 1 ½ hours before we managed to get in the shots we wanted.

None of that this year!

I enlisted the help of Guo Shiyu and her husband, Liang Yong, for this year’s pictures. The couple, in their 40s, owns a small photography shop across from the school’s front gate. They have cornered the market for official school pictures since they are the only ones around.

I have known this couple for 12 years, when I first came to Sichuan. I’d have my holiday photos and others taken in their tiny studio with one of their 4 backdrops. My dogs Little Flower and earthquake rescue Lao-lao (now in America) still hold a place of honor in their photo display at their shop.

This is the first time, however, that I made arrangements for them to visit my home for our foreigners’ Christmas photo session.

I could tell the two were a little put out when I asked. There are only two of them working. To leave the shop, they have to close their doors, perhaps losing business while their gone. Both of them felt they should come, bringing 2 different cameras. They are a close-knit pair and always work together for the school pictures so rarely do I see them on their own.

As we walked the 10 minutes to my home, I prepared them for the grand showing. “You will see so many things for Christmas,” I told them in Chinese. “It’s really beautiful and special.” I was so excited to have my first Chinese guests see my decorations that I think my enthusiasm was contagious. By the time we hiked up to the 3rd floor, my key in the lock, their faces were eagerly and anxiously awaiting what was within.

For an hour, Guo Shiyu and her husband, Liang Yong, snapped away while Geoff, Angela and I struck our poses for our student gift-giving photos. Over 100 were taken and four were eventually chosen to give to our students.

A Joyful Week of Gift Giving

700 picture copies were made, titled in English and Chinese, laminated and ready to present to our leaders, English department and students last week.

Our faculty and leader gift photo

Our faculty and leader gift photo

For Angela's students

For Angela’s students

For Geoff's students and our shared third year (graduating) seniors

For Geoff’s students

For the seniors: Angel Angela, shepherd Geoff and Wiseman Connie

For the seniors: Angel Angela, shepherd Geoff and Wiseman Connie

A back-up, which was almost selected.

A back-up, which was almost selected.

Another possibility that we nixed

Another possibility that we nixed

I must say, everyone was extremely excited and moved by our gifts. This also included Christmas pencils which so many of you in the States have sent to me as requested on my wish lists.

Being able to share the Christmas spirit with others in this way has really made the holiday worthwhile, at least for me.

It’s Christmas Eve Tonight!!

Tonight, it’s the Christmas Eve service in church where my religious cards, pencils and individual photo will be presented to our pastors and church members that I know. The service begins at 7:30 with a worship hour and then at 8:45, the performances begin. There will be dancing, singing, solos, musical instrumentalists, skits and a visit from Santa Claus before ending at around 11 p.m. I also will be singing my yearly solo, Away in a Manger, in English and Chinese.

After that, the curious public will disappear and leave us Christians to a quieter, prayerful hour: the count down to midnight to welcome in Christ’s birth.

From along the Yangtze, here’s hoping your Christmas will be just as full of joyfulness as mine.

Ping An, everyone! Blessings for your Christmas!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Month of Silence: Catching up with Our College Job Fair

Posted on November 29, 2014 by connieinasia
Welcome to our college job fair!

Welcome to our college job fair!

On Friday morning, in the nasty drizzling rain, I was quickly heading off to my 3rd year (senior students) class. It was nearing 10 a.m. and I was thinking, “Will anyone even be in class? Today is our job fair!”

As it turned out, all the classrooms were vacant and empty of desks and chairs that had been dragged out to the basketball courts where our school’s annual job fair was taking place. No one bothered to tell me that my classes had been canceled. After years of teaching in China, I really should know better than to expect someone to tell me. The foreign teacher really needs to be more proactive and ask.

Since I was already up and dressed, and quite curious about the fair, I headed over to the basketball courts where over 200 booths, set under tents, were crowded together along with hundreds of our students cruising by each one.

Small Colleges Working Hard to Give Students Employment Opportunities

When I was teaching here 12 years ago, we never had such an event on our campus. Students were to go out into the world and search for their own jobs. Departments didn’t help with resumes or instructions on how to go about finding a job. The Internet was not used very often to job search, mostly because many Chinese didn’t have computers or know how to use them. Students truly struggled.

But many 3-year colleges such as ours are now into full swing of making sure their students have every opportunity possible to get employed. When it comes to these small schools, which are not prestigious universities, high student enrollment depends a lot on how much help departments are willing to give these young people to find jobs. Students will choose colleges many times on the fact that they will be employed after they finish. Just like in the States, colleges need to make money so the more students enrolled, the more money they make. Giving students assistance and immediate opportunities to be hired is becoming a number one priority for training schools and teacher’s colleges such as this one. Thus the big job fair on Friday.

“Looking for a Great Job? Visit Our booth!”

An Impressive sight as students gather around the booths for our job fair.

An Impressive sight as students gather around the booths for our job fair.

I was quite impressed by our job fair set-up.

When I popped over to take a look at the event, I found it crowded with students. Many were congregating around the display of companies, factories, schools and businesses looking for prospective employees. Chengdu, Yibin, Luzhou, Chongqing, Neijiang – Sichuan cities big and small were represented on the list of 212 visiting employers promising starting salaries of 2,000 to 4,000 yuan a month ($330 – $660).   Very enticing for young people whose parents often make less than $100 a month as farmers or work as migrants in big-city factories, 12 hour a day shifts, for a more substantial $400 a month.

The over 200 employers listed at our fair.

The over 200 employers listed at our fair.

Scanning the aisles, I saw lines of eager young people with their resumes in hand, signing up for on-the-spot interviews or hearing from job scouts about what’s expected of them.

Resumes in hand, my students excitedly walk the rows in the hopes of getting a position.

Resumes in hand, my students excitedly walk the rows in the hopes of getting a position.

Hopeful and excited: My senior English education majors on the look out for teaching positions

Hopeful and excited: My senior English education majors on the look out for teaching positions

Teaching job offers brought out eager students.

Teaching job offers brought out eager students.

The Private English Language Training Schools Snatching Up Handfuls of Hopefuls

Chengdu Halloween, Qi Ping 041

My own students, the English teaching majors, were crowded around private training school and public school booths looking for new teachers to fill vacancies.

The private training schools are always looking for teachers and are the most willing to hire newbies. That’s because they pay hardly anything at all the first year. I found that out after one of my students went through the interview and was chosen. He signed the contract already, being offered a measly 1,000 yuan ($166) a month. He’ll be overworked with a lot of office duties, many teaching hours (including the weekends), no perks and be under pressure to recruit students for the classes. If he fails to get the students required, he will be reprimanded or terminated.

In my mind, it would be better to hold out for a public school teaching position which will offer stability, a tad better salary, payment into health care within the system and look good on a resume after putting in 3 or 5 years. Training schools are known to hire just about anybody, even if their English is so-so, because they want the bodies. Public schools have stricter requirements for their teachers, but those jobs are also more competitve to get.

Many of our young people are just too eager to get any job they can, thus they quickly settle for such private schools without really looking at more options.

Quite a few in my senior classes have accepted these jobs already and many are regretting it. To break the contract, however, they must pay $166 to get out of it. Since they don’t have that kind of money, they are passing up better offers that their classmates are now looking at, and all the while regretting their hasty decision.

Xichang County Looking for Teachers: No Takers

Scanning the rows of teaching jobs offered, I was rooting for the Xichang County public school position: starting salary for 3,500 yuan a month ($583), new school facility, free campus housing provided for all teachers and free meals at the student cafeteria. Great deal!

But most of my students passed that booth by. Xichang County is one of the poorer counties in the province, in the Yi ethnic minority people’s homeland. To help these struggling areas, the government has been building schools where students can live and study but the distance to populated towns is great. Out in the boonies, these schools don’t have access to great Internet, are located in remote places far from convenient transportation or shopping and the students are not the best or brightest China has to offer. They are minority tribal peoples, come from poverty-striken backgrounds, parents with little education themselves, and a lot of hard work is needed to bring the children up to the expected standards of most Chinese schools.

Also, the contract was for 3 years, making our young, future teachers balk at the idea of giving up 3 years of their lives for a challenging teaching situation in countryside areas.

I heard that several went for the interviews, which were quite extensive: tests in grammar, writing and conversation/pronunciation. Seems the Chinese government is looking for the best teachers they can get for the disenfranchised but I didn’t hear of any takers, at least not from among my students, anyway.

Thanksgiving Day Weekend Upon Us

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Today is Saturday, bringing with it shopping all over the States and China as well. For some reason, the Chinese have adopted our Black Friday as a means to gear up for our Christmas celebrations, which in turn means the coming of their Chinese Spring Festival, this year falling on February 19.

Tomorrow after church, I will be heading down Christmas Alley. This is a small, ancient alleyway sandwiched in between the downtown district’s shopping malls.  It explodes with Christmas decorations at this time of year. I am buying more lights for the balcony display, which is sparkling away at present but just not enough to satisfy my enthusiastic Christmas spirit.

This is also the weekend to put up Christmas decorations in my home. Shelves have been cleared, windows washed, table tops and counters dusted, all in preparation for hauling down the 5 Christmas boxes of things which will soon be displayed throughout my tiny apartment. I missed doing in 2013 since I wasn’t living here so time to make up for 2 years’ worth of waiting.

Here’s wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving and Ping An for the upcoming Advent season.

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