Those Sporty Wileys

Chip was asked to join the English faculty basketball team. By American standards, it's not really "his game," but in a country where everybody loves the NBA, nobody cares a hoot about baseball. So he enjoys playing a little basketball, getting the exercise, and tonight he is even out to dinner with the team.

Mallary joined a yoga/dance class. Monday/Wednesday/Friday is killer I-can't bend-my-body-like-that-little-Chinese-girl yoga, and Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday is "learn a dance routine" (jazz, zumba, hint of ballet, maybe martial arts). As a former Jazzercise instructor, I really do enjoy the class. But tonight was not my best performance. . .

We were learning a jazz routine. I was in the back row. It was hard for me to see the instructor. I can't understand Chinese, but I do understand the counts and I can mimic body movements pretty well. . .usually. I was struggling tremendously with one particular move. My arms and legs just could not coordinate the motion. This soon became clear to the instructor. Her solution? Pull me up on stage. Yep, that's right. A good game of "laugh at the foreigner." She kept me up there with her for the next 20 minutes! We became partners in a tango-like section of the routine. It was dramatic. I did my best to play the role. I can't even describe it. I flipped my leg up at one point and nearly fell over as she continued directing me to upcoming moves all in Chinese. I wish the evening could have been video recorded. It would have been some good comic relief.

Two English students talked to me afterward. They were very complimentary of their foreign teacher's dance skills. They recommended that I teach the dance to Chip so we could do it together on the beaches of Qingdao because it would be so romantic. Hmm. I'm not so sure I can convince Chip, but if I do, I will be sure there is video footage!

Practicing my yoga

Chip's Chewables: An Overhead View of China's Pollution

Chew on this:  "To get a sense of how China’s air quality compares with the rest of the world, there’s a new map of global air-particulate pollution from Canadian scientists using National Aeronautics and Space Administration satellite data. The verdict: It doesn’t look good." (Please click on the link to read the rest of the article)

Also note.  We currently living in the very dark red section.

Village Harvest

Cotton-pickin' Grandma

Many hands make light work

Grinding stone in the village

Goats in the street

Drying corn on the side of the road

Add caption

Crops ready for harvest

Ivy vines covering the aged stone

Stately red doorways opening to homes

Biking through the beautiful villages

Last weekend we went for a bike ride in the villages. Living in a small Chinese city means living only a short distance from the countryside. It is the season of harvest. Above are images we captured as we biked.  We love the peacefulness and simplicity of life in the Chinese villages.

Mid-Autumn Jiaozi

Mallary's Handmade Jiaozi

We started with mounds of homemade dough

Molded it into balls, flattened into circles (see video), and fill with meat and veggies, then seal

  

Boiled jiaozi--Ready to eat!

For the Mid-Autumn Festival, students have a few days off of class to spend with their families.  We stayed on campus and spent time with some students who were unable to go home.  I (Mallary) learned how to make jiaozi with a group of university students.  The students kept correcting my inexperienced jiaozi-making and perfecting my technique.  We laughed a lot and by the end of the afternoon, I was covered in flour!

Bold Bright-Eyed Freshman

The Freshmen Choral Performance

For the past couple of weeks, the freshman on campus have been participating in "military training."  During military training, the freshman learn to march in unison, count loudly, and sing patriotic songs.  The freshman are easy to identify because they are required to wear camouflage from head to toe.
 
For many of the freshmen, we are the first foreigners they have ever met. Case in Point.

Last Saturday, I was walking back to my apartment after visiting the book sale on campus.  I didn't get far before a bold bright-eyed freshman stopped me.  Our conversation went something like this:

Freshman:  Can I practice my English with you?
Chip:  Yes. Are you an English major?
Freshman:  No, but I like English very much. Where are you from?
Chip:  America.
Freshman:  You are first American I ever meet.
Chip:  Oh.  Glad to meet you.
Freshman:  I really like making friend with Americans.
Chip:  Oh.
Freshman:  Can I have your phone number?
Chip:  Sure.  (I gave him my phone number).
Freshman:  I must go now.
Two minutes later, I received the following text message.
"To make our communication more convenient, you can call me Jack (my first English name), can I ask what you name is? OK HOPE that we can be very good friend!"
I responded with the following message. "My name is Chip.  Thanks."
A few minutes later, I got a second message.
"Uncle Chip, if there are something you cannot do in your daily life in China, you can phone me directly.  I will help you if you are in trouble."

Residence Life

After serving as a Resident Director for five years, I (Mallary) was particularly curious about the residence halls at our Chinese university.  Three of my students invited me over to their room.  It was fascinating!  There are no Resident Assistants on the floors, but there is an "auntie" in charge of the building.  Students live in the same room and with the same roommates all four years.  Their roommates are determined by their major.  Below you will see photos of Qufu's Dormitory #1. (In the professional field of Residence Life in America, it is taboo to say "dormitory" because the term does not represent the kind of warm atmosphere and educational environment we aim to provide.  

In China, trust me, the term is very fitting). 

Three of my Sophomore Oral students in their dorm room.  They live six residents to a room--three bunk beds and only three desks.  The floors are cement.  There is no air-conditioning.  But the walls are eclectically decorated, just like the U.S.

Sinks are used for washing hands, brushing teeth, and washing hair.  If students want to take a shower, they must go across campus and pay to shower.  Most students shower 2-3 times a week in the summer, and once a week in the winter.

The "toilets"--not very private and not very sanitary.

Where the girls wash their laundry by hand (no quarters required)

The exterior of the dormitory, and if you look closely, you will see the "dryers"

Rizhao

Carnival on the beach at sunset

Team Qufu

Dusk at the beach with Alison and Sarah

Fish Face!

The Pearl Market--Check out my new black pearls

Yeah, we don't know them.  They just really wanted their picture with Chip.

New friends on the train

Dinner with Team Rizhao

Team Qufu took the train to Rizhao (to the coast!) for the weekend.  It was great to double our team size, fellowship together on Sunday, and enjoy the calming waves at the beach.  The water was even warm (and clean) enough for swimming.  We felt encouraged after being with Team Rizhao.  They are rich in China experience and have a deep love for the Father.

One of the highlights was the train ride.  We only had standing tickets so we started out standing in the aisles, but soon people squished in tightly to make room for us.  People crowded around us to practice their English.  Alison was even offered a marriage proposal.  It was quite a ride!