WEDNESDAY, 12/18/13

Goodbye Sanya!  We’re flying back to Beijing today.  It’s been a relaxing four days.  We’re not looking forward to the 4-hour flight, but we’re using it as a warm-up for the US flight on Friday.

The airport taxi trip is problem-free, and the same for our gate check-in.  The flight is on time and smooth.  The Beijing airport is kinda crazy.  It’s a different terminal than we’ve flown into before, so finding the taxi stand took some time.  There are lots of people in line, but it moves quickly.  The taxi driver was confused about our destination, so the route wasn’t the most direct, but we eventually arrived at UHN, walking into our room at 6:30 pm.  We start the unpacking task and making checklists for our re-pack.

THURSDAY, 12/19/13

This is a weird day.  I’m going to school, and Judy’s staying home.  She’s got lots of chores, and my classes await.  Since it’s Christmas in the US, I have a little fun in class singing through holiday music with the kids (Jingle Bells, etc.)  Judy put together some great power-point presentations so they could read the lyrics.  Some vocabulary lessons are required for “bells on bob-tails ring”, and a few of the other phrases.  We watched some You-Tube videos of “Extreme Home Christmas Lights” with coordinated music tracks.  It’s my attempt at some cultural familiarization.  In two years, these students will be in the US, attending a university somewhere.

BHSFIC is having a talent show while I’m in the US, so today is the last chance to work with my clubs and put some finishing touches on their programs.  The Guitar Club is performing a Green Day song, and rep it several times.  The singer (he auditioned for Oberlin last month) is really adding some energy today that I hadn’t seen before.  At the end of our session, they give me a gift with a note.  The memento is nice, but the note is really genuine and heartfelt, and such a surprise.  I was at a loss for words.

The Orchestra Club is performing an arrangement of “Londonderry Air”.  I came to rehearsal ready to tell them they just weren’t ready yet.  What a surprise to find out they rehearsed twice on their own since our last meeting, and sound pretty good.  I had assigned one of the piano players (the Beijing champ) to conduct the group to hold them together.  He showed up with a baton, having listened to several different arrangements to prepare himself.  They’re going to do fine at the talent show.  I leave school feeling like I’ve accomplished something this semester.  I wasn’t really sure until today.

At home, Judy is beginning to fold clothes for the suitcases.  We’ve packed our two largest suitcases full of fun stuff for our families.  We have two more suitcases with clothes, and everything else we’ll need to live.  Two weeks in the US are going to require so much.  We also have another box we’re bringing home full of items.  Tomorrow should be interesting trying to get out of here.  We have so much stuff!  We’re checking and re-checking our lists.  It would be irritating to get home without something we really needed.