Christmas, Round Two

The next day, I woke up bright and early for the Christmas party with my first years. I donned a festive, school-appropriate party dress (an oxymoron if I have ever heard of one) and a Santa hat (sans malfunctioning lights). I arrived; breakfast 美女雹 in hand, just in time to see another co-worker in a Santa outfit playing Christmas games with the class. The kids got up and sang songs and one girl gave a short performance. Although she is one of my best students academically, her performance was less than average- truly painful to watch. She used the music as a crutch, singly so softly that no one was able to hear her. In the middle of her song, she attempted a half dance move/ half jump (Mary Katherine Gallagher style) and fell. Trying to be helpful, another student turned down the music, which in turn flustered her even more. She snapped at him and after several seconds turned the music up louder than ever, which blasted our eardrums but helped her to regain the confidence needed to finish her performance.


Mary Katherine Gallagher character from Superstar/SNL.


After this uncomfortable exhibition, I had a performance of my own when the same girl invited me to join her in singing Edelweiss from the Sound of Music. Poor kids had their eardrums assaulted that day.

After the party and subsequent physics lesson, I raced home on my bike to make my apartment presentable for my Christmas Eve party later that night. Although I had not finished setting up, I had to leave for church that night as I had been invited to go with one of my students. I gave a ‘Hail Mary’ in order to find a cab during rush hour and was sitting in a taxi no less than five minutes later- a true Christmas miracle. The church service itself was unreal. There was the requisite choir but the alter background was emblazoned with signs that said "Merry Christmas" and a picture of a gingerbread man which served an interesting background as we joined the choir in singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah- in Chinese. After singing and sermon, they acted out the nativity scene, complete with a smoke machine.


Despite all the smoke and mirrors (pardon the pun), the sermon was actually quite excellent and biblically based. The preacher would speak briefly in Chinese and then translate into English. As a result, the church service was two and a half hours long. I lost track of time and didn’t realize that I was late for my own party until I received a text message from several partygoers waiting for me back home.

Christmas, round two. Check.

An Early Christmas Present

I have been blessed with many wonderful students. They are all special in their own way, with unique interests and talents. One of my students, whose name has been changed, is very dedicated to the construction of robots, even sleeping on the couch (for several days at a time) in the room at school where he and other students construct the machines. After physics class a couple of weeks ago, he and several other students invited me to follow them to a room in the main building where they have been constructing robots. When I told them that a professor of mine at Purdue was involved in Purdue's Robotics club, their eyes lit up. They said that would like to start a club and fight the robots but that their teacher said ix nay on the ighting fay. I told them to study hard and concentrate on getting into a good college with a robotics club that encourages robot fighting. Tonight, I opened up my inbox and was greeted with the following picture and email.
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Subject: Surprise Trailer

Message:
Hi! Miss. Molly.
This is Billy.
Now the students in Class 13 such as Charlly,Hank and others are working hard about robots.
They told me that they want to finish 4 robots before the 25th in December.
They want to invent you and some other teachers to drive them and have a game as Christmas presents for you all.
I was so excited.
So I decided to join them.
I think that's wonderful.
Are you expecting that day to come?

The Best Way to Spread Holiday Cheer

....

If you answered, "singing loud for all to hear" ala the movie 'Elf', then you are wrong. The best way to spread holiday cheer is by Clark Griswalding your home ala 'Christmas Vacation.'

Last week, I was feeling a little homesick and depressed about the upcoming Christmas festivus. I realized I could continue being depressed or I could take action: If I couldn't go home, I would bring home to China and create a winter wonderland in my apartment. Grabbing my eco-friendly shopping bag, I walked next door to Sam's Club (which I can now correctly pronounce in Chinese) and stuffed an entire shopping cart full of Christmas decorations- made in China of course. I am now the proud owner of a "Happy Christmas" sign, a pink Santa, a 6 ft Christmas tree, a ridiculous amount of garland and fake snow. Yes, that is right. My apartment has fake snow. For right now, it is only the windows but there is more to come.

I am determined to be the Clark Griswald of China this year. My apartment may not have the electrical capacity though- it's like my sister's Passat. Looks good to the eye but there are always problems underneath the hood. Just two days ago, a government work crew came to our apartment to fix the lights. I had no idea what was going on when all the power shut off in my apartment at 8am. I frantically called my boss and handed the phone to the workers at the entrance of my apartment building, to find out that no, my refrigerator hadn't broken for a forth time (we are still only on 3 breaks). I would have appreciated some advanced notice but I am grateful for the fix as the wiring in my place has caused a lightbulb to shoot out of the socket and kick off the fuse box on several occasions. It’s always quite a fright when something shoots out of the ceiling and lands next to your feet.

As a side note, I am constantly reminding myself (or being gently reminded) that China is a developing country with quite a bit of growing until it has the modern connivances that I am fortunate enough to be love and know as a product that is ‘made in the USA.’ Yes, KFC and McDonald’s delivery is very cool but it cannot replace an emergency repairman that comes within 4 days of a telephone call or proper electrical wiring.

It’s getting late and I have papers to grade. 再见

There's No Place Like Home

Feeling a wee bit homesick today. I have had a rough past week and would like nothing more than to click my heels and come home, especially this month to celebrate Christmas with my family. Having to deal with the struggles that inevitably come with living in a country where I don't speak the language makes me appreciate home even more.