Xin Xiao and Lao Xiao happenings (What's going on at the new and old campuses)

Life is moving along here... This morning I had two classes in a row. The first class was good and then I had my challenging class. I walked into the challenging class with a positive attitude and I left feeling a bit dismayed. It is difficult to have patience with them. About half of the class pays attention and the other half won't. I moved some of the talkative people to the very front and they were actually engaged. Some days I really wish there weren't 50 plus people in my class. It is hard to engage every single one of them.

In today's lesson we talked about "travel:" the places you can travel to, how you get there, and what to bring. I had them imagine we were all flying to America together and I asked what we needed to bring. They listed the normal items, like passport, visa, and ticket. Most of them were pretty adamant that we bring a compass to America. I said that wasn't probably necessary, but we could bring it just in case. Then they said that we would have to bring a gun. What is with my students and guns? It almost makes me want to laugh. They imagine America like they see in the movies--amazing, exciting, and extremely violent. I'm not here to teach American culture, but sometimes I like to try to correct some of those misconceptions.

The weather was so hot and muggy today. I felt almost suffocated, especially when I was teaching. However, this week marks the beginning of the "winter" calendar for the university. That means afternoon classes start at 2 p.m. and end at 4 p.m.-- a half hour earlier than the normal schedule. I guess it doesn't really mean that the temperature is cooler, though.

For dinner Jodi and I decided to go out the back gate to one of our favorite little family restaurants. Jodi bought an awesome old bike from a student and we were going to try to ride it. Jodi, who is about 7 inches shorter than I am, started peddling. I was perched on the back seat rack thing. We were doing okay at first, and then the apartment building walls got closer and closer and closer... Then the bike fell over. Jodi's legs got smashed, and my behind hit the concrete. We were a little bruised and scratched, but it was worth the laughs. You could tell the other students outside thought it was pretty funny, too, although most of them were trying to help us save face. They were probably thinking, "who are these people that they can't ride a bike?"

Our meal at the restaurant was great as usual. We got sliced potatoes, egg and onion, and chicken. The big family recognizes us now, and two of them have the cutest baby. The dad was chatting outside with just pants and an apron on, but no shirt. Another man was lounging on a moped seat and a guy in a blue guard uniform was standing there. He took his uniform cap and tie off and put them on the baby. The baby was so cute. Eventually the cap ended up in the baby's mouth and then on the wet floor.

When we left the restaurant, the temperature had dropped about 20 degrees. The wind was blowing strongly. I think it's cooling down! I went to buy a watermelon slice from the elderly lady on the corner. I visit her every day now and she always grabs my hand and shakes it heartily. Today she wouldn't even let me pay for my watermelon slice. I munched on the slice all the way down the alley and back through the gate, dodging mopeds, crowds of students, and basketball players. It was a great day in the neighborhood.

P.S. It just started raining!! I haven't seen rain in the whole time that I've been here! Rachael and I are sitting in our apartment and we heard a lot of screaming. We threw open the windows and watched as rain gushed from the sky. Dozens of students were running across the basketball courts and sidewalks, yelling their heads off. What a sight! I'm glad it's raining, although I'm afraid it probably will never stop for the next few months. The rain is washing away all the polluted air and the dirt on the streets. It is a refreshing torrential downpour.