TODAY IS THE MODEL LESSON! After teaching her regular morning load at BISS, Judy gets on the bus with all her gear, the 2nd graders from BISS, their teacher, Roger, Shannon, and several BISS administrators. They arrive at the Chinese school, and Judy hits the ground running. There are 12 students from BISS, 16 students from the school, the BISS adults, and about 15 adults/faculty from the Chinese school.
Shannon reported later that Judy did a great job. (Surprise, surprise). All the kids had a great time, singing, and playing boomwhackers. Apparently, BISS and the Chinese school are working on a merger of sorts. The Chinese school is near the Olympic Center, and is a tennis academy for less-privileged talented students from throughout China. BISS will have access to their sports facilities, and the academy would have access to observation and training for their academic teachers. They want to adjust their curriculum more toward the IB style of education used by BISS.
After school, it’s time to celebrate/relax/recover. Judy joins Shannon at Lily Nails in Sanlitun, her new favorite destination. I decide it’s time to create a little of my own excitement, so I walk to a neighborhood foot massage spot Deb and Graham pointed out to us Wednesday night. I tried the 1-hour foot massage (68rmb, or about $11). It started like any other foot massage with a soak, and then some really aggressive rubbing. Then came the excitement!
The masseuse left and returned with some glass bulb looking things, and some large metal rods with a swab at the end??? She lit one of the swabs, stuck it inside one of the glass bulbs, quickly pulled it out, pressing the bulb to the bottom of my foot, where it suctioned. She pulled it off, and ran through the sequence several more times. After 8-10 rounds, she left it stuck on and moved to the other foot. She eventually had both bulbs stuck on my feet, and walked out. Welcome to cupping! I had heard a little bit about it, but certainly never experienced it.
Thought a picture might help the explanation. Man, I have some ugly man feet!
She returned after 5 or so minutes, bringing a couple of large rubber mallets. After she removed the bulbs from my feet, she started hammering on my calves with the mallets. When it was all finished, my feet and calves felt great. I wish she could do for my knees what she did for my feet.
Dom (Shannon’s husband), and I taxi over to Sanlitun later and meet Judy & Shannon at Homeplate BBQ. Last time here, I had some really good ribs. This trip, I try out the BBQ half-chicken. I don’t know why I seem to prefer food that is destined to end up all over my face and hands. We sit and talk till late in the evening, finding out more about life in Australia.