N: We'll Always Go On

For New Year’s Eve, our teammates had a small party at their house. It was pretty fun to be together for the New Year. I don’t think K and I have made it to midnight since we’ve been married. Usually we konk out in the 11th hour and end up going to bed. At our teammates home we talked, played games, had fresh vegetable & ranch dip, sweet fried peanuts, Chinese Tea Eggs, Apples with Caramel Dipping Sauce, and Spinach Dip. It was mighty tasty. We also watched a little Chinese TV. Nothing special happened as the New Year clock was ticking down. There was a group of Chinese Celebs counting down when the clock had only 10 seconds left, but when compared to the States, there wasn’t nearly as much grandeur. That comes out for Chinese New Year on February 7.

Earlier in the day we went to the eye doctor to get our prescription checked out and to buy some glasses. We had previously thought that we would get that done during the last summer holiday, but decided at some point that we could get a better deal in China. I think 80% of all my students wear glasses. The checking of the eyes couldn’t be that different right? To be honest, it was very similar when you got down to what they were testing for. It was their method that was slightly off. When explaining to our Chinese friend that came along with us our experience in how doctors figure out the correct strength of your prescription he responded with “you have a machine that does all this?” It then took a minute to explain that the doctor operates the machine and that the doctor is of some importance to the process. The machine that our Dr. uses in the states just simplifies and makes the process a little more convenient for the Dr. Everything the Chinese Dr. did was done by hand, changing out disks of glass, turning and twisting the sample, measuring width of the eyes etc etc.   A number of students have some pretty interesting styles for their glasses.  K decided to get something with more "funk" for her frames.

Thanks to everyone who sent us Christmas cards and New Years cards. They are a real treasure to get here.

In just a few days, we’ll be packing up and starting our journey south for the annual conference we go to each winter holiday. We leave our city on Sunday night, taking an overnight train to Xi’an. From there we have a flight to Kunming, where we will spend a few days with friends before we continue south to Thailand. But before all this takes place, we have to write a couple a papers, give a couple makeup exams to students (we were told about that just yesterday), take down Christmas decorations and a couple other things.

The staff of the English department had a banquet in celebration of the New Year and for completion of another semester.  We went to a nice restaurant, enjoyed some great food, and then went to KTV.  For those of you that don't know, KTV is karaoke.  There is probably a karaoke establishment on every corner we have been on in China.  Many foreign teachers truly dislike the experience.  I however, find it thrilling.   One reason I think many foreigners don't like it is because they don't know any Chinese songs.  Now, I only know 2 songs in Chinese, but I have a goal:  learn 10 new songs by the end of next semester.

A colleague and I did a duet of a popular Celine Dion song.  Enjoy the music!