FEBRUARY 28, 2009
Last day of the month...help...need to get that visiting teaching done. I haven't been diligent in getting this done since we started spring vacation. To redeem myself, I thought I'd spend some time in the kitchen and make some banana bread for my church friends.
Everything was on the go...I have bananas, oil, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and all that's required. For a moment I was very proud of myself for keeping all the ingredients. After all, this is China and it just doesn't have all those American ingredients we need to do any serious baking. But, I got all the things I needed...no worries! Besides, I have purchased a super duper blender that could make smoothies, chop nuts, even make soy bean milk as it has a little cylinder filter that sits in the middle of the blender cup. Best of all, it even has a recipe to make banana bread mix right in the blender. Yummm...I can't wait.
The mixture in the blender cup is looking very good. Now it 's time to put in some brown sugar. I love Chinese brown sugar. It has the smell and taste of sorghum. It's a little lumpy, so I popped a little lump into my mouth as I did when I was a little girl watching mom cook. The inside of the lump was very soft...no problems. I turned on the blender and for a second, it seemed to be doing its job. But, no, the whole blender is shaking, making big noises like it's ready to blow up. I held the lid tight and turned the jar clock- wise to turn it off...but too late! The mixture started shooting out...within seconds, anything near the blender was covered with banana bread soot. Worst of all, most of it landed inside of the toaster that was sitting next to the blender. The rest of it landed on the window, the wondow screen, the counter top, woozing down the front...it was the most disgusting sight! So, get out the bucket, go to the bathroom to fetch some hot water (no hot water in the kitchen) and start cleaning...
What was I thinking? This is China! I could walk out of our apartment and with minutes, I could purchase delicious, ready made bakery goods easily and cheaply. I could have been answering my e-mail, surfing on the Internet. Oh, yes, I missed my weekly UEN faculty lounge workshop on Saturday, at 6:30 AM. Oh, no...
Sorry, my visiting teaching sisters, I'm going out to get you some of those delicious cream puffs. They are better than my banana bread any day.
Prologue: Came to find out the lumps in the brown super brew a hole on the side of the blender jar. The force pushed the batter out at the speed of light, or may be not quite, but close. We took the blender back to Wal Mart. For a non-Wal Mart shopper, I have new respect for this place. They gave me a new jar. Life is good.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Spring Semester Starts!
February 23, 2009 - school starts!
School finally got started again! Never thought I was going to be excited about school starting, but we've been back from our spring vacation since Jan. 26, almost a month ago. We've done some short trips, such as visiting the "Thousand Buddha Mountain", "Baotuoquan Springs", and a few other places, but most of the time we were reading, surfing, shopping, and in general, preparing for the new semester.
Our new semester is awesome. I have all my 5 classes of sophomores and 2 classes of freshmen back, plus we picked up two more freshmen classes. Since Elwin would not be having his junior writing classes this semester, he and I will be sharing the 9 classes. As it turned out we are going to be team teaching 5 classes, and each teaches 2 individually. It seems to be more work but with large class size of 50 and more in each class, the students will benefit from this set up as long as we don't kill each other first. :-) Amazingly enough, we both are excited to give this a try.
The administration scheduled us to teach on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so we can go on trips visiting China on other days. We love the administrators here. They are very considerate of our situations here. They invited us to attend their first faculty meeting on Friday, Feb. 20. Most of the people attending were adjunct professors, instructors and a few professors. The highlight was meeting the English reading, English listening teachers and medical English teachers. Since we are teaching the same students, it was especially helpful to meet them and share ideas with them.
As one can see, Shandong University medical students take a lot of English classes. Their textbooks are in English and the instructors are supposed to teach them in English. Most professors prepared their materials in English, but speak to the students in Chinese. Since medical students have to have the highest entrance exam scores, they are the cream of the crop and are treated very well. The majority of these students are hardworkers and care very much or too much about their achievements (test scores). Taking off a point on any assignment can be a shock to them. They would come and ask what they could do to improve.
We are in for a wonderful semester!
School finally got started again! Never thought I was going to be excited about school starting, but we've been back from our spring vacation since Jan. 26, almost a month ago. We've done some short trips, such as visiting the "Thousand Buddha Mountain", "Baotuoquan Springs", and a few other places, but most of the time we were reading, surfing, shopping, and in general, preparing for the new semester.
Our new semester is awesome. I have all my 5 classes of sophomores and 2 classes of freshmen back, plus we picked up two more freshmen classes. Since Elwin would not be having his junior writing classes this semester, he and I will be sharing the 9 classes. As it turned out we are going to be team teaching 5 classes, and each teaches 2 individually. It seems to be more work but with large class size of 50 and more in each class, the students will benefit from this set up as long as we don't kill each other first. :-) Amazingly enough, we both are excited to give this a try.
The administration scheduled us to teach on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, so we can go on trips visiting China on other days. We love the administrators here. They are very considerate of our situations here. They invited us to attend their first faculty meeting on Friday, Feb. 20. Most of the people attending were adjunct professors, instructors and a few professors. The highlight was meeting the English reading, English listening teachers and medical English teachers. Since we are teaching the same students, it was especially helpful to meet them and share ideas with them.
As one can see, Shandong University medical students take a lot of English classes. Their textbooks are in English and the instructors are supposed to teach them in English. Most professors prepared their materials in English, but speak to the students in Chinese. Since medical students have to have the highest entrance exam scores, they are the cream of the crop and are treated very well. The majority of these students are hardworkers and care very much or too much about their achievements (test scores). Taking off a point on any assignment can be a shock to them. They would come and ask what they could do to improve.
We are in for a wonderful semester!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Chinese Lantern Festival
Lantern Festival in TaipeiFalling on the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar Year, the Lantern Festival takes place under a full moon, and marks the end of Chinese New Year festivities. The Lantern Festival dates back to shrouded legends of the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago.
Legend of the Lantern Festival's Origin
In one such legend, the Jade Emperor in Heaven was so angered at a town for killing his favorite goose, that he decided to destroy it with a storm of fire. However, a good-hearted fairy heard of this act of vengeance, and warned the people of the town to light lanterns throughout the town on the appointed day. The townsfolk did as they were told, and from the Heavens, it looked as if the village was ablaze. Satisfied that his goose had already been avenged, the Jade Emperor decided not to destroy the town. From that day on, people celebrated the anniversary of their deliverance by carried lanterns of different shapes and colors through the streets on the first full moon of the year, providing a spectacular backdrop for lion dances, dragon dances, and fireworks.
While the Lantern Festival has changed very little over the last two millennia, technological advances have made the celebration more and more complex and visually stimulating. Indeed, the festival as celebrated in some places (such as Taipei, Taiwan) can put even the most garish American Christmas decorations to shame. They often sport unique displays of light that leave the viewer in awe.
Taken from: http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/lantern/lantern.html
Peacock made of blue and white spoons and cups @Baotu Spring in Jinan
Lantern Festival @Baotu Spring in Jinan On the night of the Lantern Festival, fireworks started at dusk and intensified between 7 and 9. Our 2nd floor apartment was surrounded with fireworks, smoke and firecrackers setting off in the courtyard below. It was indeed like living in the war zone. Elwin came into the kitchen several times thinking something was burning in the kitchen. The noises went on until about 1 AM. We were glad the celebration finally waned down. Below is a short video of the fireworks.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Baotuquan (Baotu Spring)
February 5, 2009
Baotu Spring is located in the center of Baotu Spring Park and is renowned as the best of the 72 springs in Jinan. Since ancient times, many famous poems and prose have been written relating to its unique beauty. According to some experts' research, this spring has a history of 3,543 years, dating back to the Shang Dynasty (16th –11th BC). The special geographical structure in Jinan creates the special Baotu Spring.
The spring retains its temperature at 18 degree Celsius (64.4 degree Fahrenheit) all year round. In cold winter, water mist rises and floats over the spring pool like clouds. Ancient pavilions and halls with colorful drawings and carvings reflect in the clear water creating a landscape virtually emulating paradise. (a couple of slides show the reflection and more...be sure to see them)
Several of us went to visit the traditional and very popular Lantern Festival and Chrysanthemum Show at the Baotu Spring Thursday night. We saw the highlights of the cultural significance and importance of this beautiful and very impressive scenic spot. We had a great time as you can see from the slideshow below. Elwin commented that the place had turned from a sacred ground into an amusement park.
Baotu Spring is located in the center of Baotu Spring Park and is renowned as the best of the 72 springs in Jinan. Since ancient times, many famous poems and prose have been written relating to its unique beauty. According to some experts' research, this spring has a history of 3,543 years, dating back to the Shang Dynasty (16th –11th BC). The special geographical structure in Jinan creates the special Baotu Spring.
The spring retains its temperature at 18 degree Celsius (64.4 degree Fahrenheit) all year round. In cold winter, water mist rises and floats over the spring pool like clouds. Ancient pavilions and halls with colorful drawings and carvings reflect in the clear water creating a landscape virtually emulating paradise. (a couple of slides show the reflection and more...be sure to see them)
Several of us went to visit the traditional and very popular Lantern Festival and Chrysanthemum Show at the Baotu Spring Thursday night. We saw the highlights of the cultural significance and importance of this beautiful and very impressive scenic spot. We had a great time as you can see from the slideshow below. Elwin commented that the place had turned from a sacred ground into an amusement park.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Hotpot dinner and the Noodle Man
Several of us went out for the "hotpot" dinner last night for Family Home Evening. We ordered the yuan-yang pot to accommodate the different tastes, one was broth based, the other curried flavored. After putting in all the vegetables, meats, shrimp and whatnots, the noodle man came and started twirling around with a strip of noodle no bigger than 2 inches by 10 inches. It got longer and longer as he twirled it around himself like orbiting planets. It was at least 10 feet long when he stopped and folded up the noodles and put it all in the hotpot. It was delicious.
The choo-choos (Lehigh Valley, Alaska,... ) carry trays of food around the restaurant. You pick up what you want when it comes by. It's a lot of fun. 
Noodle-man at work!
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