We get a tour of the B4 main campus.\u00a0 It was founded in 1907, and there is a ton of history.\u00a0 There is even a large museum, six or seven rooms, with many carefully organized displays.\u00a0 In Beijing, #1 HS was founded for the emperor\u2019s family, #2 HS was founded for the children of nobles, #3 HS was founded for members of the People\u2019s Congress, and #4 was founded for the citizens of Beijing.\u00a0 The administration is quick to tell us their student body and school is the best in China.\u00a0 The current head of the People\u2019s Congress is an alumnus.\u00a0 A member of the ruling committee (9 top politicians) is an alumnus.\u00a0 There are many \u201cperks\u201d that fall to the school through these, and many other connections.<\/p>\n
![\"BHSF](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/IMG_0327.jpg\")
<\/a>BHSF Campus Tour<\/p><\/div>\n
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<\/a>Headmaster’s Home, built in 1907.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Our guide joked about the observatory’s lack of usefulness, due to Beijing pollution.<\/p><\/div>\n
Wall in the Auditorium Foyer<\/p><\/div>\n Confucius<\/p><\/div>\n Thought provoking campus artwork<\/p><\/div>\n BHSF Museum<\/p><\/div>\n BHSF Museum<\/p><\/div>\n BHSF Museum<\/p><\/div>\n Tuned bells. I was prompted to improvise a quick performance. It sounded a little like “Variations on a Korean Folk Song”.<\/p><\/div>\n Olympic Torch, carried by the BHSF principal<\/p><\/div>\n I can\u2019t believe my luck.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to be teaching at what may be the best HS in China, next door to the top music school.\u00a0 I\u2019m able to determine my own curriculum.\u00a0 Actually, the decision what to teach is tough.\u00a0 There are so many directions to go.\u00a0 I\u2019m still not sure.\u00a0 Bill Huff, retired AISD Fine Arts Coordinator, introduced me to a great resource, online, \u201cThe Great Courses\u201d.\u00a0 I bought several series, and have been studying them for ideas.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be teaching two days a week, four-45 minute classes each day, with 15 to 20 students per class.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have to go back until Aug. 28th<\/sup> when we get started with a 3-day orientation. \u00a0I\u2019m also supposed to sponsor an after-school activity for instrumental music.\u00a0 I\u2019m anxious to see how that group evolves.<\/p>\n We ate lunch and the afternoon is spent with an introduction to teaching and living in China.\u00a0 Several of the teachers don\u2019t have apartments yet, and are spending every spare moment looking for a place.\u00a0 BISS has a good plan for handling newbies, finding an apartment before you arrive.\u00a0 The language barrier and lack of knowledge about location makes apartment searching really hard.\u00a0 Proximity to a subway station is paramount for most.<\/p>\n After our afternoon session, Dr. Prettyman, the International Campus (IC) Academic Principal, guides a few of us over to the IC building.\u00a0 It\u2019s four subway stops away.\u00a0 It\u2019s still under renovation, so it\u2019s hard to tell much about it, except its 5 floors.\u00a0 At least I know how to find it from a subway station now.\u00a0 It\u2019s one block from a station, which will be great on those frigid winter days we keep hearing about.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Transitioning from one train to another<\/p><\/div>\n I head home on the subway, and arrive at the apartment about an hour later.\u00a0 For the first time, Judy has beaten me home.\u00a0 She\u2019s unwinding, and working on lesson plans.\u00a0 I can barely move.\u00a0\u00a0 Humidity was close to 100%, and I\u2019ve walked several miles.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure I\u2019ve sweated off ten pounds (not).\u00a0 No early morning for me tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today is my first \u201cofficial\u201d meeting with faculty and staff at Beijing High School Four International Campus (B4 from now on).\u00a0 The new faculty met together at 8:30.\u00a0 We mostly visit individually with each other while the HR department gets … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>