Lori Robinson, Teacher

The students here seem to be having a ball with us. As teachers, we’re having the time of our lives. I practiced some tongue twisters with them. We discussed pickles and pecks and picking things. 
(Gee, guess which tongue twister we tried out?) One thing that I have noticed is that the students in my classes have very nice handwriting. They must practice a lot. 

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Steve Zoni, Teacher x
My biggest thrill so far has been the looks on the faces of the Chinese children and my colleagues as they all learn about new and exciting things. My children are learning how to make movies and put them on the Internet. My colleagues are learning how to cross the street and live to tell about it. The atmosphere at the camp is amazing. I love to walk from room to room and watch our teachers in action. They are having so much fun. They will return from China with a better understanding of the Chinese people and how kind they are. We all feel honored to be here, and it shows in our quality of work and our enthusiasm for working with the Chinese children. At dinner the night before last, Principal Wang, Principal Zhoung, Director Lu and Principal Li all told me of the many positive, uplifting reports and compliments they are receiving from the parents and children.

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Holly Mickler, Teacher
It’s hard to believe we’ve been here a little over a week. Or have we? I can’t keep track with all the time changes! I have had some incredible experiences that I will carry with me forever. Many good times!

It’s interesting that this trip has been a bonding experience for some of the staff. I work with these people every single day of the school year; but, I’ll admit, I never truly knew some of them. We have had an amazing time together! When we’re in the hotel at night or in the morning, it’s like a college dorm! We walk in and out of each other’s rooms constantly, and it’s not uncommon to hear laughter, music and the occasional “Can I use your hair dryer?” echoing through the hall.

Yet another good time was our dinner with the top administrators of the school. The Chinese culture is rich with tradition, and that night we quickly learned the tradition of the toast! Believe it or not, the appearance of questionable food items on the Lazy Susan has become something we all look forward to as well! Could you please spin the Susan?

Last night also brought with it one of many good times. A friend and I began to feel this burning sensation in our pockets, almost like a hole was being burned right through. We checked, and yes, sure enough, there was money in there trying to get out! Unable to ignore it, we made our way to the downtown area for Pizza Hut, Haagen-Dazs and jewelry shopping! We had the best time, and we managed to fix the burning problem! We decided we would definitely head back there! After all, we only made it through half of the jewelry floor! What about the other half of it and the other four floors of shoes, purses, and other important items?

Have you noticed a trend of “Good Times?” This morning, we gathered all the students together in a big auditorium. The technology was failing us for a few minutes (imagine that). As I was working with the gentlemen, who speak no English, to fix it, I turned to see my fellow staff members teaching the kids the “wave.” Such a cool moment! The moment was quickly ruined when I heard a certain chant begin—“It’s great to be a Gator,” or something like that. With no hesitation, I began a tomahawk chop in order to teach our friends what they really needed to know! Ha!

So far, we’ve had our share of good times, and I look forward to those that are yet to come!

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Carson Brock, Student


Another great day meeting new faces and seeing new places. Today in the classroom, we discussed fairy tales like Cinderella and other classic tales.  It was really cool to walk into Deb Alexander’s class and see all of the kids acting out Cinderella and to be in my mom’s class and see her going wild with fun and laughter. I could be with these kids all of my life and never get tired of their ongoing laughter and joy. 

We can all tell that they are hungry to talk with us and learn English, and it shows. After teaching, a group of us headed over to Confucius Temple for dinner and shopping.  I have named myself “the Bargain King.” If my mom is having trouble, she calls me over, and I take it from there.  I do think that I am the only man in America that can bargain and be good at it.  After our bargaining extravaganza, we stopped for dinner at a Burger King for a much-needed double Whopper. It was so good; it tasted like candy. It was the best thing that I have ever put in to my mouth.

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The blog will be updated with photos tomorrow. But the team has posted its first podcasts and photos. To see and hear what they are doing in China, go to http://web.mac.com/glcpodcast/iWeb/GLC%20Podcast%20Sit/Welcome.html

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Ric Roberts, Teacher
These people are amazing in their resolve to solve problems and get things done. Everywhere I look, I see something that makes me say that is a good idea. They are very helpful to me, watching me limp along they will move things for me and carry my stuff if I let them.

There are not many non-Asians on the street, and we gather many long stares and smiles. I do like this food, but I’m missing a good steak and potato.

I have been given an aviation magazine that I saw a student reading and he quickly put it away when I came by. I told him it was OK and that I flew an airplane. He brought it by after class and said it was for me.  His English name is Jack William. I can’t pronounce his real name.

The school campus is so beautifully landscaped. It’s like being in a really posh resort.

Oh yeah. They make Buicks here too.

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Deb Alexander, Teacher

I saw the most amazing thing today. While walking home from school, after watching Carson playing soccer with some Chinese students, Lori Robinson and I passed a bank. I stopped dead in my tracks in front of the building.

There inside on a window ledge sat three poodles. Two of them were just trimmed up, looking very spiffy. The third poodle was all trimmed up also, but its ears were a bright pink and its tail was fluorescent orange. I have never seen a dog dyed in colors before.  We laughed and laughed.

We motioned to the lady inside the bank and asked if we could take a picture of him. She smiled as big as she could. It was as if these were her babies and she was a very proud mama. Smiles are universal.

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Natalie Brock, Parent

How do I choose the best part of the day to write about?  Believe it or not, it was all fabulous. Our lessons today included American holidays, picture captions and word choice in writing. I was given a beautiful valentine by a girl named Lillian who is an exchange student from Paris. She told me about the challenge of trying to learn two languages at once. I had to laugh because she was the one to tutor me on the correct Chinese pronunciation of “water.”

After classes, Carson, the Kassabaums and I set out for a little shopping and sightseeing. We had a blast walking through the downtown area and seeing all of the sights. I think I could be here a year and still be amazed every time I looked outside.

One highlight of the afternoon was a soccer game between 5 or 6 Chinese students and Carson. No language barrier can stop 5 or 6 kids with a soccer ball. I got terrific pictures with my newly fixed camera, and there was even a cheering section: Deb Alexander and Lori Robinson came to watch.

After dinner, a group of us gathered in my room to have a video call with Mr. Lane and Mrs. Johnson.  We were all bursting to tell them what is going on in the classrooms. I think they will be proud of all the hard work and relationship-building that is happening here. I pray that we continue to please our host school and that this GLC program thrives.

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Carson Brock, Student

Another wonderful day. My mom and I started bright and early in the classroom, taking the first session of teaching.  The students here had a wonderful time making valentines and singing the worm song. ("Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me. Guess I’ll go eat worms.") It was really cool to watch 36 kids make valentines with only two pairs of scissors and four boxes of crayons to go for everyone.  Nobody argued or grabbed or got mad waiting for a turn.

After teaching, we returned to the hotel for lunch and then departed again to pick up my mom’s camera. The man at the camera shop recognized us right away and had the camera ready to go.  Along the way we stopped to shop and found some great things. I bought a really cool Kappa shirt and some American-style snacks at a two-story grocery store.

I finished up the day with a soccer game at the school fields. It was so much fun to play with kids I have never met before and be able to play without conflict. It was truly awesome. Six guys and a soccer ball on a field: the new definition of fun.

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Jen O’Connor, Teacher

Amazing! That is all that that I have been able to say for the past couple of days. The people, the food, the accommodations, the food, the cit ... Did I mention the food??
I have to admit that before making this trip I was a Chinese food junkie. I come by it honestly. I believe my Uncle Pat received Christmas cards from the local restaurant, so when I was selected for this adventure, many comments and questions were in regards to the food. In an effort to answer many questions, this first blog entry from me will be about the food.

Meals are served and everyone sits at a large round table. In the middle of the table is a lazy Susan that is glass and extends almost over the entire table. The table setting consists of a plate the size of a bread plate back home. Chopsticks, I have found, are usually black and plastic. They are washed and reused as silverware would be back home. There is also a small white bowl for soup. Although they have been gracious and also set the table with a fork and knife for us Westerners, you would be proud to know that we are all getting very efficient at eating with the chopsticks.

The first items on the table are what we in USA would consider appetizers; they are shredded white fish, cherry tomatoes and nuts served in oval small bowls or plates. The plate patterns are mixed patterns and sizes. The courses served are vegetables. Some of the vegetables that we have had are: eggplant, celery, bok choy, green vegetables (That is what they call them.), black fungus (This is shaped like a ribbon and has the consistency of the top layer of Jell-o after you have put it in the fridge and it has set.) and beans of many varieties. Items come out one at a time about 5-10 minutes apart. Meat is not served whole, as a pot roast would be.  It is served sliced - sometimes in sauces, with white oniony material that is cut in very thick strips. We have had: duck (Nanjing is apparently known for their duck.), pork, pigeon, fish, and eel. On an aside, I need to let my brother know that eel really does taste like chicken.

There are many dishes on the table with different sizes and shapes. There is always a soup, some of the soups that we have had are: spicy, wonton, egg drop and green vegetables, fish, and duck. Near the end of the meal either rice or noodles are served; they do not serve both. Lastly, fruit is brought. Some of the fruits that we have had are: apples, watermelon, honeydew, grapes, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Fruit is always served last, as everything is cut into small pieces you take from the lazy susan and eat directly as well as putting some on your plate.

Mary Kassabaum continues to impress me by trying everything, without regard or hesitation. She bit the head off the shrimp and peeled it in her mouth. I, on the other hand, find myself still asking what everything is on the table before I try it.

Okay, well, for now from China. Please know that whatever might be going wrong today, don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world. It is already tomorrow here. Have a great day, and be sure to check out the sky tonight (as we are 12 hours ahead of you). It will be beautiful!

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Lori Sabatelli-Harris, Teacher

Hello everyone. I just wanted to say what a wonderful day I had yesterday. The students are doing wonderful with their efforts to learn our language in a conversational setting. So far, they have been taught how to play Simon Says, and yesterday I taught them how to play Head’s Up 7-Up.  They are just amazed at out games. We worked on learning different vocabulary by playing a modified version of Wheel of Fortune. These students are very competitive.

It just amazes me how well behaved they are. Their teachers can leave them unattended without fear of serious misbehavior. The most one might do is to talk, which is acceptable when the teacher is out of the room. 

We are all having a wonderful time here in China.

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Natalie Brock, Parent

I had the honor of teaching another beautiful class of children today. We worked on word choice, fluency, ideas and organization in writing by doing activities related to families and colors. I continue to be amazed at the willingness of the students to reach out and try new things. Their teachers, too, are hungry to learn how we do things in our classrooms.

After school, Carson and I went to the athletic facility where he kicked the soccer ball around with a man who must have realized that I was no match for a young boy with a ball. I watched in amazement as two people who could not talk to each other bonded instantly. After the game, Carson jogged around the campus, and I enjoyed some time by the beautiful coy pond. If you can imagine one of the loveliest places in the world, you can see the koi pond. Surrounded by willow trees and beautiful gardens, it is fabulous. Hundreds of coy in all sizes and colors swim right up and open their mouths as if to say hello to all who come near. 

Our day ended with an elegant dinner at the Nanjing Hotel’s International Club.  Our hosts, the Big Potato and all of the other principals, were beyond generous and kind. Our meal consisted of about 15 different dishes, all presented beautifully. I kept my eyes on Zhou Li, one of our translators, to make sure I was not going to embarrass myself.  There are a lot of things to remember! We are all getting pretty good with chopsticks, small bowls and different plates and glasses.

I have to pinch myself every once in a while to make sure all of this is real. 

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B.J. McCabe, Teacher

I cannot believe how comfortable I am in China. Teaching English to the students was never a fear, but I am surprised with the comfort level I have with the people in general. At first, I was overwhelmed with the size of the city and the number of cars and bicycles. I see women dressed and headed to work in suits and high heel,s pedaling along on a bike. I learned early to look both ways when I am walking to school. 

The hospitality of the school has been unbelievable.  If we need something for our class, they will try to find it.

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Lori Robinson, Teacher

The first two days have been phenomenal! Everyone here is so helpful and kind. We have been overwhelmed with kindness and generosity. Deb Alexander and I have been team-teaching this week. Her lesson was based on fairy tales, and the students were so cute when they read their parts for the reader’s theater. One little girl won a “Wonderful Whining Award” because she read her lines so well. She posed with a big smile and her candy bar reward. My balloon animal lesson was a big hit, too. My students created dogs, mice, a swan and even a giraffe. They each stood up and described their new pets in English.  I couldn’t really call this work, since I am having so much fun. 

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Carson Brock, Student

Hello again! We had another wonderful day of eating and teaching in the classroom at Nanjing Shu Ren. After classes ended, my mom and I ventured down the street to the high school’s athletic complex. I was happy to find soccer goals, but they didn’t have nets in them; so my plans changed from shooting to passing with my mom. She is definitely not a soccer “baller.” After a few minutes of trying to explain to my mom how to kick the ball straight, a Chinese man came over and joined the fun. When it was over I was thinking how cool it was to play soccer in China. No language barrier, no cultural barrier, and no skill barrier - just two guys and a soccer ball. 

Later that night we went to dinner with the top principal of the school. The school has about thirty different principals, and they are all called “potatoes.” But this top principal, the king of principals, emperor principal, lord principal. Whatever you may want to call him, he is called the “Big Potato” by the students. The dinner was wonderful, and afterward I was so tired I got back and fell asleep right away. 
See you next time.
Carson

P.S.: From now on, I would like to be called the “Big Potato.”

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