WEDNESDAY, 12\/18\/13<\/b><\/p>\n
Goodbye Sanya!\u00a0 We\u2019re flying back to Beijing today.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a relaxing four days.\u00a0 We\u2019re not looking forward to the 4-hour flight, but we\u2019re using it as a warm-up for the US flight on Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n The airport taxi trip is problem-free, and the same for our gate check-in.\u00a0 The flight is on time and smooth.\u00a0 The Beijing airport is kinda crazy.\u00a0 It\u2019s a different terminal than we\u2019ve flown into before, so finding the taxi stand took some time.\u00a0 There are lots of people in line, but it moves quickly.\u00a0 The taxi driver was confused about our destination, so the route wasn\u2019t the most direct, but we eventually arrived at UHN, walking into our room at 6:30 pm.\u00a0 We start the unpacking task and making checklists for our re-pack.<\/p>\n THURSDAY, 12\/19\/13<\/b><\/p>\n This is a weird day.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to school, and Judy\u2019s staying home.\u00a0 She\u2019s got lots of chores, and my classes await.\u00a0 Since it\u2019s Christmas in the US, I have a little fun in class singing through holiday music with the kids (Jingle Bells, etc.)\u00a0 Judy put together some great power-point presentations so they could read the lyrics.\u00a0 Some vocabulary lessons are required for \u201cbells on bob-tails ring\u201d, and a few of the other phrases.\u00a0 We watched some You-Tube videos of \u201cExtreme Home Christmas Lights\u201d with coordinated music tracks.\u00a0 It\u2019s my attempt at some cultural familiarization.\u00a0 In two years, these students will be in the US, attending a university somewhere.<\/span><\/p>\n BHSFIC is having a talent show while I\u2019m in the US, so today is the last chance to work with my clubs and put some finishing touches on their programs.\u00a0 The Guitar Club is performing a Green Day song, and rep it several times.\u00a0 The singer (he auditioned for Oberlin last month) is really adding some energy today that I hadn\u2019t seen before.\u00a0 At the end of our session, they give me a gift with a note.\u00a0 The memento is nice, but the note is really genuine and heartfelt, and such a surprise.\u00a0 I was at a loss for words.<\/span><\/p>\n The Orchestra Club is performing an arrangement of \u201cLondonderry Air\u201d.\u00a0 I came to rehearsal ready to tell them they just weren\u2019t ready yet.\u00a0 What a surprise to find out they rehearsed twice on their own since our last meeting, and sound pretty good.\u00a0 I had assigned one of the piano players (the Beijing champ) to conduct the group to hold them together.\u00a0 He showed up with a baton, having listened to several different arrangements to prepare himself.\u00a0 They\u2019re going to do fine at the talent show.\u00a0 I leave school feeling like I\u2019ve accomplished something this semester.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t really sure until today.<\/span><\/p>\n At home, Judy is beginning to fold clothes for the suitcases.\u00a0 We\u2019ve packed our two largest suitcases full of fun stuff for our families.\u00a0 We have two more suitcases with clothes, and everything else we\u2019ll need to live.\u00a0 Two weeks in the US are going to require so much. \u00a0We also have another box we\u2019re bringing home full of items.\u00a0 Tomorrow should be interesting trying to get out of here.\u00a0 We have so much stuff!\u00a0 We\u2019re checking and re-checking our lists.\u00a0 It would be irritating to get home without something we really needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" WEDNESDAY, 12\/18\/13 Goodbye Sanya!\u00a0 We\u2019re flying back to Beijing today.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a relaxing four days.\u00a0 We\u2019re not looking forward to the 4-hour flight, but we\u2019re using it as a warm-up for the US flight on Friday. The airport taxi … Continue reading