Student Self-Discipline Association

Quite a curious group, don't you think? I've just learned that the main activity of the Student Self-Discipline Association here and at other Chinese Universities is to keep students from getting physically close. They patrol the campus and pull apart cuddling couples. I've heard that in Suzhou, they are particularly forceful in doing so.

Interesting News Links

1. On the Middle Kingdom's Secret Jails
   
2. Jon Stewart shows Fox at its lowest Go to 12:00 more or less. Note how on both days they just label it as "Earlier" which is deceptive, yet true.
   
3. No more using guests as props in congress with some Lewis Black

The leaves aren't off the trees yet

November 12th is early for snow in Jinan, very early. So this surprised everyone. October 31st it was 75F/24C. It's supposed to be below freezing tomorrow. I realize my light winter jackets won't do the trick. I planned to get something with real insulation today, but it was too cold to journey downtown. Maybe tomorrow.

Rumor has it we may get central heat tomorrow, three days early.

First Snow, Jinan 2009

Fox: Talk about Shoddy Journalism

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Doha Debates

To prepare for their first attempt at formal debates I've had my students watch some examples including the The Doha Debates. I find them fascinating. Yesterday I watched a debate over whether Muslim women should have the right to choose their husbands. All the participants were eloquent and modern, though they of course ranged from modern to traditional in their views. It was an intimate, intelligent look inside this culture.

I also had them watch the U.S. Intelligence Squared, which I reviewed before I think and which I highly recommend. Same with the Australian Intelligence Squared.

Beijing again?

A former student from Sogang is visiting a friend in Beijing and wondered if I could visit her. She is a dear student and has become a friend, but it's really cold and walking around Beijing won't be fun. Also her time is limited and we'd just be able to have coffee or a quick lunch. Seems it may not be worth a three hour each way trip. I have been to Beijing twice in October so it's not like I'm dying to get back. I feel satisfied with my Beijing experiences. So I'm leaning towards no. Then I think I could do a cooking course on Saturday afternoon

Is That So?

Genevieve who's got a sore throat asked about getting heat before the November 15th sanctioned date and was told no. Evidently, it's good for our health to get used to the cold. Is there any proof of that?


I'm dubious. Aren't I always? It's been exceptionally cold for this time of year so it's not like the nanny state really has planned to let us get adjusted, it just happened because usually it doesn't get cold till late November when the heat is allowed.


The poor students have no heat. Then right now I don't as the heater is wheezing and in it's resting mode, when not even the few blows of hot air are emitted.

Food for Thought

I Like This Idea

Thom Hartmann suggests that representatives wear patches that identify the corporations that contribute to their campaigns. He says it can be fashionable and suggests a kind of robe of office like judges wear and that they'd just wear them while in session. (Though I think we mainly see them on the news so I'd like them to don the robes then too.)

So these patches would have the logos of their backers. I'd add that they should be proportionate to the contributions. Big patches for Big PAC money. Yes, they might look rather like NASCAR drivers, but it's honest and they can use subdued hues.

Troublemaker

A student was sick for the midterm and was sent home so I let him take the exam. I'd had trouble getting help reserving rooms so I first suggested he come to my apartment thinking he could work on the test in the living room while I was on my computer working in the bedroom. I'd proctor and confiscate any electronic devices. He was a bit put off about that. I considered reserving a classroom, but it's taken three weeks to get a room to watch the second half of a movie.

Then I thought, I can do this in the library. I had popped into the library a month ago out of curiosity. Our requests in the spring for a tour were all passively aggressively denied. I just looked around the periodicals room briefly before the sentry figured out how to get me out.

So I met my student in front of the library and casually sauntered past the sentry, who did stop my student to find out what was going on. The student apparently explained and I did hear the sentry use the word for foreigner. We breezed into the periodicals room and I told Hector to sit at a table. I gave him the test and began to catch up on my reading with one eye on my student. Soon the sentry reappeared and talked with the woman whose job it is to sit by the door to the periodicals room and watch students read. Much of the time she seemed away from her post.

I have no idea what they decided, but the guard then stood outside the periodicals room and glared at me. Eventually, he went back to the entrance. You know, if I were working with the other foreigners they could have all sneaked into the library and gotten up to the books on the third floor. Anyway, Hector finished the test 90 minutes later. Though he's usually good student and he could choose the day to take this, he did very poorly. Still a 71% sure beats 0% and by the end of the term, he can improve.

I remind myself that this guard has a mind-numbing job and this kerfuffle with the foreigner gave him something to converse about with his pals.

On Debate

I'm beginning to teach my students to debate. They choose the topics (safe I'm sure, which is fine) and I'll teach the techniques. It's turning out to be harder than I thought. I knew it would be hard, but after reading their essay answers, I think this will be a semi-fiasco.

In preparation, I found this video of The Festival Dangerous Ideas. I do love that title. I've got to get myself to one of these festivals.

As I work on this, I do see that debate is so helpful in developing one's ability to think well.

Grading Degrading

Reading 150 some students' generalities and vague musing about the book they didn't read is not much fun. Some students are on the money and pay attention, but many are just so vague. In part, I think it's their education, which doesn't require much beyond superficialities of them. That criticism can be said of so many countries - including the US where so much depends on what your school is like. On the one hand, multiple choice tests would be so quick to grade, but I want to see how they use the language, what they've learned. So I'm wading though banal paragraphs and illogical sentences and my head is spinning.

I may have to break this cleanse and get some reward chocolate.

What's that gurgling?

I am embarking on a cleanse for a couple weeks, maybe. I've heard of these diets where for two weeks you clean out your digestive system by drinking lots of water, eating lots of healthy veggies and no processed foods. Also, you take herbal supplements.

I tried this before hoping for the regenerative, invigorating results that I've heard about. I did have one friend who did this in Japan. Well, I was so weakened and so tied to the bathroom that it just wasn't worth it. I gave up after a few days.

Yet I feel like such a quitter and I do want to see if this is a good thing. Can't hurt to eat more fruits and vegetables, right? So I've started today. I may eat some bread. I may cheat a little, but I'm going to try to follow this plan for two weeks or till the supplements are gone.

A good job but not for me

The Detroit Tigers are looking for a bilingual Chinese-Taiwanese/English candidate to be the personal translator/teacher for a minor league Taiwanese professional baseball player. The position will start in late February. 2010, and continue throughout the end of August, 2010.

The ideal candidate is fully bilingual with excellent spoken English, is active, enthusiastic and must be able to work flexible hours and be willing to travel. Someone in the sports/health/training field would be ideal. An ability to teach ESL is also a desired quality.

Please send resume and cover letter to:

Sharon P. Lockwood, MA

Coordinator, International Player Programs

Detroit Tigers at Tigertown

2125 North Lake Avenue

Lakeland, FL 33805

Getting To Know You

Here Is What You Are Supposed To Do...And Please Do Not Spoil The Fun!

1. Hit Forward

2. Delete My Answers

3. Type In Your Answers

4. Then Send This To A Whole Bunch Of People That You Know... And Send It Back To Me So I Can See Your Answers

The theory is that your friends will learn a lot of little known facts about you.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My mom has a cousin who's also "Susan Marie" I wasn't named after her, but I think my mom just liked the sound of this.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Watching a movie, maybe Emma.

3. Do you like your handwriting?

I do

4 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

rare roast beef

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

No.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU

I think so.

7. Do you use sarcasm?

When necessary. Getting over that . . . slowly, at my own convenience

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yes, but don't give them much thought.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

No

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Granola

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

If there are laces and so that's just for gym shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Yes.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Depends on my mood and what's available. Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia is a favorite, so is anything with dark chocolate. Starbucks new mocha is good, but it kept me up all night when I tried it.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

They don't say.

15. Red or Pink?

red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?

my grumpiness

17. WHAT DO YOU MISS?

good deep dish pizza

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?

Only if they want to.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

blue and purple flip flops

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Dark chocolate raisins, the last of my stash from Trader Joe's. Luckily there's Dove Dark chocolate here.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW

A dog's barking

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Midnight blue

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

cinnamon, rosemary. coffee, baking bread, rain

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOUTALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

A reservation agent at China's Northwest Airlines.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?

yes.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Diving,

27. HAIR COLOR ?

Gray, God knows how much, covered by strawberry blonde or light brown or whatever I've bought

28. EYE COLOR?

blue

29. Do you wear contacts

Yes

30. FAVORITE FOODS?

fried eggplant, dumplings, fried cabbage, ratatouille, mashed potatoes, asparagus goat cheese, and sundried tomato pasta salad

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

The September Issue

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

maroon

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

summer, although winter's here are pretty awesome.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

Depends on who's involved

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

chocolate mousse - yes, I agree (copying Bridget's answer)

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND

?

39. What books are you reading now?

Sea Change, Three Cups of Tea, The Guernsey Literary Society and Potato Peel Pie Club or some such thing, which I'm weary of but plugging through

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE Pad?

A Chinese print

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V.. LAST NIGHT?

nothing - I went out and later graded tests. I did watch some Daily Show on the computer

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

Rain on the roof

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

China

45. Any new news in your life?

What qualifies as news?

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Chicago

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Any and all

I miss facebook's regular features like this. Trivial, yet revealing.

Back to Beijing

Friday I returned to Beijing because I had to speak at a teachers' conference. Normally, I wouldn't go back so soon, but the last two weeks schedules were out of my hands.

I returned to the Far East Hostel, which has become my Beijing home. It was a perfect location since the conference hotel (special price of $66/night compared with $9.90) was just down the main drag 5 minutes south. I got the same room so this does feel like "home."

Friday I wasn't so lucky with the roommates as I got someone who came in at 2am or something. So she woke me, but wasn't rambunctious about it. Saturday I got an Aussie woman who just finished a practicum in acupuncture in South China. She had good tales to tell. Then there was a more quiet Swiss woman. No one noisy.

The conference didn't start till Sunday so on Saturday, I got up, treated myself to a Western breakfast - scone and cappuccino and headed for the Forbidden City. I wanted to see the post-Olympics renovation and get some pictures. The sky wasn't all that blue, but I have no idea when I'll be back so carpe diem.

On the weekends one expects crowds at any sight in Beijing and there were hordes of people, lots of groups on Saturday, but it wasn't horrible till the end.

This time I went to the Picture and Calligraphy Gallery out through a gate on the left once you enter the first courtyard. That was a smart choice. The gallery has been renovated and has lots of bilingual multimedia explaining the various works. It's beautifully displayed and it wasn't crowded so you could leisurely enjoy the art work. It's just one floor and three main galleries so it doesn't add that much time to your trip. Oh, it's free, or no extra charge.

I then spent hours taking pictures (soon to be posted here) and wandering around the magnificent Imperial Palace.

I did long for the Starbucks that Bridget and I never found. They have a few cafes, but they weren't the same, close but not the same. Too generic. I would say they could use an upscale tea place for visitors to relish some tea in real porcelain cups, not paper and something to nibble on like petite dumplings.

There are some new gift shops, very nice and so expensive. For example, they had T-shirts for 168 rmb at various shops, which is about 100 rmb more than you'd normally pay. I did find the Red China Mao playing cards that Genevieve admired at a good price though.

After the Forbidden City, I trekked over to the Hilton for a leisurely lunch. It's hard for one person to find a meal since so many restaurants cater to groups. Chynna at the Hilton was a lucky choice for a good lunch set at 108 rmb for several courses.

Afterwards I went up to the Olympic grounds to get some photos of the Bird's Nest and the Cube since the one's I took in May were lost.

Then I tried to find the electronics part of town to buy an adapter for my laptop, but it was 6-ish and too dark to search a new part of town. I wandered a bit and went to the conference site to register.

If you need a laugh

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
You've Got Fail
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis