Friday May 14 - Saturday May 15

Today is Sunday morning at 6:08 am. This will be my third day here in China. It is about an 13 hour differance than back in the states. It has been really good so far and I anticipate the next few weeks. So far we have been adjusting to jet lag and such and really haven't started teaching because of the weekend. When we arrived here friday we were met at the airport by the international relations representative from the university. We then drove to the university. Driving is good and I enjoy this part when I am traveling because if gives you a chance to see the country side of a country. We arrived at the university and decided to unpack and then go out to lunch. We are living in an apartment type place that we share with two great girls from Zambia. We had lunch at "kfc" which isn't really like our kfc at all. We all just pointed to something on the menu and had an adventure, but it was good. One thing I've learned I've like from doing that is dumplings. They are made excellent. The rest of the day was spent trying not fall asleep in order to overcome jet lag.
Saturday morning we went shopping for the things we forgot or needed like food to cook (attempt to cook well) in the apartment. We actually went shopping at walmart first but then we went to Rt mart which I enjoyed so much. Looking at the FRESH fruit and fish (frogs/eels/turtles included). there were things I've never seen before that I look forward to trying. Speaking of food, it is amazing by the way. After shopping we ate again and went back to the university and got the internet working so we could work on lessons. During which we got a call about attending a concert that night so we all took a nap. The concert was good. It was a piano recital for kids between the ages 4-9ish. The kids played amazing and I really enjoyed the concert experience as well. Some of the songs were recognizable like a jazzy rendition of Mary had a little lamb, darling clemtine, and American soldior. They sat two at a piano and did some crazy duet work with 10 piano. Their rhythm was impecable. One possible explanation for this was the way they moved together to the rhythm. This was really impressive with 20 kids playing all together. The concert atmosphere was differnet. It seemed to me, remember I can always be wrong these are just my observances, that it was relaxed and not rude to talk during a performance. I greatly enjoyed seeing a musical side as well as everything else.
During the concert we met up with other teachers here and went out to a little restraunt around the corner. It was delicious we had lamb, dumplings, fried rice, greens (amazing), and tof (tofu that was delicious). All the food is family style where you just order and eat as a family. Everyone just grabs with their chopsticks out of the middle.
We aren't sure yet what exactly we will be doing here yet monday we will get our class teaching schedule and such. They have asked alot about my music degree and would like me to do a small lecture about something. I'm not sure what to do as I am not far along. Some possible Ideas right now that we will discuss monday are talking about the french horn and other western instruments (from the surface it doesn't seem they know about them, but that may be different among the students of music, I'm holding off to see). Another idea is talking about american music (bluegrass, country, etc.). They want to learn about the American culture from what I gather through the conversations with the director. I'm still waiting till monday to gather more information. They showed us the performig arts center. It is right around the corner from campus. I knew the WPAC at ACU was amazing but this building is truly amazing in architecture and size. We've only seen the outside but it is gorgeous and huge. As I said what we were called here to do or what He wants from us isn't quite clear yet but that is in our thoughts and I ask it be in your thoughts to so we can be shown what He wants us to do. I feel when we meet with the other teachers who have been here for a year they can help make it clear. monday we also get what we will actually be doing at the university as far as classes.
I hope to keep everyone updated as the weeks progress. This has been amazing and I am already learning alot about being flexible and their are many more lessons to be taught and expanded on as well as chinese learning. It is a little overwhelming seeing chinese characters and not even being able to guess what it says like with other foreign languages. Well I'm going to try going back to sleep but I love all of you and thank you for the support you give me back home.
GB,
Lindsay Smith