Judy had her first auditions today for BISS Idol.  She had three kindergarten students perform piano pieces.  All three students came in, very well prepared, and performed confidently.  She was impressed with their talent, and level of preparation.  Auditions should be interesting as the week moves on, and she hears some of the older students.

My day is spent with school work and a swim session.  The weather here is a contrast to what I’m hearing about in Texas.  North Texas is having a period of high temps, followed by abrupt drops to extremely low temps and ice.  In Beijing, we’ve had several weeks of below freezing nights, followed by daytime temps slightly above freezing.  For a month previous to that, we had slightly colder weather, where the temp seldom got above freezing.  The wind doesn’t blow much so walking outdoors is manageable.  Now we’re seeing temps at night right around freezing, and highs in the middle 40’s.  Next week, the temps are supposed to rise to the 50’s.  We haven’t had any of the extreme temperature rise and fall we’re used to experiencing in DFW.  I’m almost afraid to say it, but I think the severe cold part of the winter may be over. 

I was prepared for much colder weather.  The people at BISS that kept telling us how bad it was going to be are a little disappointed that we haven’t suffered more.  It’s fun to tell them how much worse it is in Texas.

A new work-week begins, after a successful “Annie” presentation.  BISS is beginning auditions for BISS Idol, the school talent show.  Judy has auditions scheduled for the elementary students Tuesday thru Thursday.  She’s curious what she’s going to see and hear.

I’m putting together materials for my classes this week, and several weeks to come.  We’ve been doing some talking about “The Beatles”, and there are great videos available on YouTube.  Internet access and speed varies widely, so I have to download and save anything I want to use.  I have a program that lets me save a YouTube video for later use, but depending on the internet speed, it could take 2 minutes, or an hour.  On a day when we’ve got good internet, I have to work like crazy.  On the slow internet days, it’s a real beating.

I’m not sure what kind of information you might be getting in the U.S., but for the next two weeks, the CPCC (Central Party of the Chinese Communist party), and the NPC (National Party Congress) are meeting in Beijing.  The meetings are held at the Great Hall of the People, near Tian’anmen Square, just down the street from my school.  We received an email reminding us of the meetings, and the possibility for traffic issues.  I travel by train so I don’t anticipate any problems when I go at the end of the week. 

There is definitely a heavier security network in place, due to the government meetings, but also due to the attack at the Kunming Train Station (not in Beijing).  As I went through the usual subway security this morning, all bags are scanned.  Today, however, there was someone with a wand, randomly scanning people walking through.  They stopped me and pointed at my water bottle.  I thought they were telling me to throw it away, like at the airport.  Actually, they only wanted me to drink a little bit of it, I guess to prove it wasn’t explosive.  It’ll be an interesting two weeks.

Judy is ready for a change of pace after all the work on “Annie”.  We decide to visit a Beijing landmark, the Lama Temple.  We head out to the train, stopping at McDonalds for breakfast.  I had been going through the Lama Temple train station all year on my way to BHSFIC, but hadn’t come above ground.  The street to the temple was narrow, crowded, and lined with shops selling incense.

Lots of incense in the air

This is just one of about 15 buildings, where similar prayers and incense burning were taking place.

The Lama Temple is the largest “lamasery” in China. One of the monks wandering by.

The temple grounds are really big, with numerous large buildings filled with statues.  It is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temples in the world, and the center of worship in Beijing. There are areas in front of each building to kneel and pray to whichever religious icon is inside.  There are people everywhere carrying large packets of incense sticks, and the smell of incense is everywhere.  We worked our way through the complex and were rewarded with a view of “The Big Buddha”.  It’s a huge statue, at least 60 feet tall.

Some of the Lama Temple sights. Pictures inside the buildings was discouraged.

We head home after our visit to relax.  We watch a few West Wing episodes, and when we get hungry, head over to our newest favorite place, Fatburger.  This is a habit we’re probably going to have to break, but later is better than sooner.

We’re able to sleep late after the big day yesterday for Judy and all her performances.  She gets rolling late in the morning, and leaves around 11:30 to prepare for the 2:00 pm matinee.  I kill a little more time and finally get away, arriving 20 minutes early.  The audience fills the room by the time the show starts.  It’s another fun performance.  There have been two students sharing the role of Annie.  Today the lead role is played by an Australian student.  Last night, it was played by an Indian student.  The two performances definitely had a different flavor.

After the show, there is a cast party with a cake and snacks.  Lots of relief on the faces of the faculty is evident.  The secondary principal is nice enough to stay with the students till it’s over, and allow Judy to leave the cast party early.  Shannon, Judy’s faculty friend (and next year’s Elementary Principal) has plans for Judy this evening.  She takes her to a salon in Sanlitun for a pedicure and massage.  While the “girls” do their thing, I accompany her husband.  We find our own massage location.

Later we meet the wives at Homeplate BBQ.  I decide to try the ribs!  They’re really good.  As usual, ribs seem to end up everywhere on my face and body, but they were worth it.  I can’t remember the last time I felt this stuffed since I’ve been in Beijing.

This photo came from a performance Judy’s students did two weeks ago.

Today is “D” Day for Annie.  Performance #1 is tonight.  But Judy has so much more to do today than that.  The Pre-K class is performing at the assembly today.  Also, the BISS choir, which is now all the grade 3, 4, & 5 students, is singing today.  Of course, she’ll be expected to meet all her other classes as well.  This would be a busy day, without the performance tonight.

I travel to BHSFIC for my Friday classes, and get back to the apartment around 3:00.  Our travel agent comes by with our last ticket purchase for our summer travel.  It’s a big relief to finally get all that planning finished.  Now all I have to do is line up a few tours in Hong Kong and Amsterdam, and book our cruise excursions.

I arrive at BISS for the performance about ½ hour before the show starts.  Students and teachers are excited.  It’s a fun show and a good crowd in attendance.  Most of the student-actors are non-English speakers, leading to some really funny accents, and humorous moments in the dialog.  There are some nice musical moments, and overall the performance is well done.  Everyone loves it, and Judy is swarmed by people bragging on the job, she, and the other staff have done.

WEDNESDAY, 2/26/14

Well, this is a new one for us!  Just as Judy was going out the door this morning, she got a text from an administrator announcing that school was cancelled.  Smog!   It’s a smog day.  Teachers were told to stay home and post online assignments for their students.  Lara, the first grade teacher, had been talking about setting up Skype sessions with her students, maybe even two.  The smog readings have been high for a week, but they’re supposed to go down tonight.  A cold front is blowing in.

What to do?  Just like a snow day, we take time to enjoy the morning, then we start working.  Judy gets caught up on work she’s been too busy to finish.  Later in the afternoon, she goes up to school to do some printing.  She has to print a color page for every student’s portfolio (over 100 students).

While she’s gone, I head out for my swim session.  After swimming, it’s back to home and work.  No rest for the wicked.

THURSDAY, 2/27/14

Judy is back to the grind today, after “Smog Day.”  “Annie” performances are Friday and Saturday, so there are lots of little details as it comes down to the wire.

I’m back on schedule at BHSFIC today.  I’m anticipating meeting the orchestra club after school.  I’m also supposed to meet the 10^th grade students in the elective music class.  The weather is beautiful as I walk to the train. 

At school, I find out there is some kind of meeting after school, so no orchestra class after school.  I hang around and attend the faculty meeting that I usually have to miss because of the club rehearsal.  Not much information, except for the discussion about the new grading program we’re all supposed to login and set-up.  I’ve already done it, so I’m feeling “ahead of the game.”