Joanne on China Field School: Baotou Day 4

Another busy day, the usual. We started at 8:30 with a Cultural Activity - a demonstation of Tai Chi and Martial Arts. Again, inappropriate shoes and body so an hour of learning taichi with cameras flashing was less fun than it should have been. I did like it though, I may try to find a Rec Centre version of TaiChi for the weak of body and will back in Victoria.

Side note, this event made the local paper. I didn't get a copy but I saw the front page with a couple of the guys doing some moves. We are famous! Apparently, I only took a picture of the teacher, not any of us. We are in the mirror if you really need proof we were there.

After that, we got another Cultural Activity, a cooking class. I can't remember the name of the little rice packets we made but the cultural lesson we got at the same time was about how they are served during dragon boat festivals. Story goes: Some guy threw himself in a river for some reason and the people loved him so much that they made these rice packets to throw in the river from their dragon boats so the fish would eat those instead of his body. Yum!

Dead guy or not, we weren't very good at making the rice & fig stay in the leaf wrappers. And then after all that, I didn't even like them that much, not like our glutonous balls from last time. But we had fun making them and, dark subject aside, I liked the history behind the food.

I found a wiki page with the name, Zongzi, and story if you are interested.

Michael tasting the inedible leaf wrapping

They had to boil for 40 minutes.

Lunch. I think this was the day that Lily made me lunch. Scrambled eggs with tomatoes. And a nap! Glorious day, time for a 20 minute nap!!

Next stop, Classroom visit from 3-5.

I should mention the kids we were meeting and observing and teaching while we were there. That weird day with the autobot kids on Xuzhou was not the norm. Every other classroom was full of normal college kids (18-20 years) learning English, some better than others but always spontaneous and curious and respectful. These times were some of my favourite in China, just interacting with students. Students in China may have quirks different than Canadian students' quirks, but students are students and they were awesome.

That day, I was in with Cuma and Dahlia. No power point presentation this time. Even if we had wanted to, there was no computer or screen for us.

We each gave a little talk on what we do and a bit about ourselves and then we just opened up the class to questions and discussion. Lots of questions about what college is like in Canada. I think we hurt their Chinese-student brains talking about flexibility in schedules and course choices and course load and working while a student and living off campus and freedom to choose courses and majors and attendance... BOOM!!!!

One girl asked if she could sing us a song and another did a dance for us. This just does not happen in a Canadian classroom past grade 4! We loved it! Did I mention that if you go to China, prepare a song, they are going to want you to sing.

Student dancing traditional Mongolian dance for us, you know, the usual.

Us with our class, all girls (and Cuma)

That evening we planned to meet as a group for a dinner away from our official functions. Niya booked us at a Mongolian restaurant in a yurt!.

She asked if we wanted the 'traditional Mongolian singers and dancers' for an extra fee. We all said yes. But then when we got there, we discovered that if we just sat in the common area to start, we would get the same show for free. So we ordered beer and watched the show before dinner. Only downside, they had a huge tv screen behind the performers which took away from their performances somewhat, especially when the news and then cartoons came on.

Sit here for free show

These are a traditional Mongolian stringed instrument called a morin khuur . I liked the music.

Just keep singing there guy, we won't notice the news on behind you.

After the show, we went to our yurt. We got to chose our own menu. We barely ordered anything. Some lamb skewers, a mutton leg, some bread, and some veggies. We are very cheap dates when left to our own devices.