Tofu skin

(These are my rambunctious Business English kiddos--all 50 of them!)


Happy Thursday, faithful blog readers!

There hasn't been too much happening lately. We are just teaching, loving, eating, and sometimes sleeping. The weather has been pretty warm--about 80 or 85--but I'm not complaining, because at least my toes and hands aren't frozen anymore.

My students have been presenting about Chinese culture this whole week. It's been a good project for them, I think. They get to work with a partner and practice speaking English in front of the class, while trying to be creative. All of these aspects are challenging for them.

There have been some great topics--the Great Wall, Beijing Olympics, ancient writing, traditional paper-cutting, etc. Several of my students also sang songs. Even a really painfully shy boy in one of my classes sang a high-pitched rendition of "One night in Beijing." It seems like that is a mandatory song for every Chinese person to know. Toward the end of his singing, the whole class joined in.

My favorite presentation was probably about tofu, though. This group brought several soggy samples of tofu that were dripping all over my papers on the podium. They also brought "stinky tofu," which indeed smells awful, and all the students wanted to eat it.

However, the crowning moment came at the end of their presentation. They posed a peculiar question to the class: "Can you guess who has skin like tofu, tender and white? Miss Laura, of course."

Wow, I didn't see that coming--just like most things in China. Tender tofu skin? Words can't even explain... :)

In other news, yesterday Jonathan and I went to the new campus back gate to eat lunch with my student, John. He is fascinated with the Son and wants to read the word. So he will be studying the word with Jonathan! Please keep that in your thoughts!

Well, this is my last blog for a few days probably. My team and I are taking the slow train north to a city in Anhui Province, Wuhu. (Pronounced "Woo-hoo"). We will be there from Friday to Monday.

Thanks as always for your thoughts and love and encouragement. Have a great weekend!