February 11, 2007

Dear Friends,

I have bought a space heater. It was just too cold, even with moving a chair and radio into the bedroom to “live.” It was 52 to 54F in the living room, kitchen, and bath. Too cold for these old bones. The bedroom had the heater and has become my drying room. I turned everything off when I plugged in the space heater; then gradually added the other appliances, one at a time. Nothing blew, so I am toasty warm, and can still read and listen to BBC and VOA.

My wet laundry goes on hangers and decorates the door knobs of the wardrobe. That keeps some moisture in the bedroom as well. Better for my health and comfort. I bought a combination thermometer and hydrometer to keep track of the moisture level.

I put my Christmas tree up alone. I thought about inviting some students over, but that opens Pandora’s box to “favoritism.” So I went to some of the places I often run into students, but didn’t happen to see any. I was going to just invite students I met “on the spur of the moment,” but ended up putting on the lights, hanging the ornaments, adding some Chinese items, and a few assorted things by myself. It was fun. I put on Christmas music and went at it.

I could give myself atta boys for the cross-stitch ornaments and for figuring out how to hang them with no frames. I had a wee bit of wine, too. We have an OK brand that has 8 percent alcohol, so I imbibe on occasion, with no consequence. I ended up backing the fabric with cut-out circles (a drinking glass was right for the middle size, the lid of the tea cup for the bigger. Some of the backing was cut from boxes from the moon cake gift boxes, cardboard forms from clothing purchases. One has to get creative. So I have front and back remembrances each time I look at the ornaments. Anyway, I really enjoy it. I dragged a table to the window and put the tree on that. I light it each night for any passers-by to see in my window. I hope it brings a smile to others as it does to me.

An Amity friend came up to Nanchang and we went to a “Western buffet” at a hotel not too far from our campus on Christmas Day. It was expensive, but worth it. We do get two days off as part of the Amity contract with the schools. It was fun to have her company. There was an English Christmas Eve service in my building, so we enjoyed going downstairs to sing and celebrate familiar things. It made Christmas seem more normal.

I thought of having an open house for the students on the 24th, but with no classes on the 25th and 26th, the students have been given the long weekend and will all go home to their families. They are having a party for us on the Thursday before, so the open-house idea will go the way of all things. I just thought there should be some celebration, but their party does the trick. They’ve asked me to do some music. They distributed copies of “We Shall Overcome,” and we sang that a few times. It has become a favorite with an easy tune and meaningful words. I hear them humming it from time to time.

I had interested students over to learn bridge on Tuesday afternoon, 14 to 16 in a two-room apartment with no table. We played on the seat of my desk chair. One student who got the “dummy” hand didn’t want to sit out and kept putting in his choice of cards for his partner. I don’t think we ever convinced him that that isn’t done. Some couldn’t make it on Tuesday and are coming over today. I really enjoy the adult students. We seem to all enjoy our time together.

I was asked to teach at a company in town last week. Their Chinese English teacher (who also teaches in our department) met me at the our main gate and off we went in the taxi; a rush-hour ride that can strike fear into the hearts of foreigners. The students are employees, in their twenties to their forties, and have begun English lessons twice a week, about 30 of them, with varying levels of grammar-school English. We chatted and they asked questions for a while. Then I distributed pictures to each student. In groups of three to five, they must make up a story about the pictures, each telling their part to the whole class later. They really got into it and were creative. Too funny. We roared laughing more than once.

The original request for was two nights. I had agreed to one, and told the dean I would decide on the second class after teaching this one (three hours is a lot of time for each class, plus travel and preparation). I will go back. The students were eager and interested. As I was leaving I also heard someone comment, “She’s a good teacher.” That didn’t hurt any. And this will look good on my resume (do I still need one?).

I get requests almost daily for “tutoring,” “can you spend time talking with me,” “can you come teach in my class,” “what are you doing this afternoon?” “can I talk to you?” “would you like to teach at a language school in the evenings, weekends, afternoons?” I pretty much have my excuse ready when I meet someone. One can get too much attention. I guard my comments, not giving out my telephone number, or promising any future meetings. Spontaneous seems to work best, since “required” things pop up with no notice.

I hope you enjoyed the blessed season. Peace to you and yours.

Lucretia