Julia's Adventures in China: Thursday, June 21

So twice in 10 seconds this morning, as we were walking to the bus stop, we were nearly run off the street by cars singlemindedly zooming through the community. There is no regard for the pedestrian at all; it’s so surprising. Before we agree to reduce regulations, we ought to live in a community with fewer rules for a while; many rules are taken for granted, and much appreciated, if only we knew!

Julia bided her time until play date by arranging the furnishings in this little house model—we have this in the classroom because I asked the aide to order some doll house furniture, and this is what she found! Get this: it came in 100s of pieces, and we had to cut them out, glue them together, and otherwise build the whole tiny set! I have used it once, so far; a stumbling child knocked against the table and tossed a tiny glued desk to the floor—needless to say, it came all unglued! Ah well; it was as cheap as dirt.

Julia zipped off to her play date for the day; again, no documentation. This is my least photographed day, I believe. We had a normal and quiet day in the classroom, with a steadily decreasing number of children, as families take trips, etc. I did conduct my 5^th parenting conversation with a mother. I swear, we should all go into the business of providing parent training to the burgeoning middle and upper classes in China; they want it and they have reason to think they need it.

Practicing some writing

Working together

I also provided the aides with recommendations for their teacher-training program. We gratified one another by being awed by what I had to say; Sabrina said, “This is my goal, to be the person you’ve described.” Kind of takes one’s breath away. I hope that the administrator who printed them onto letterhead read them, to hear what an ‘objective outsider’ has to say about the work these two women are providing to the school and the children. Anyway, it was a nice opportunity for me to return the good service the aides have provided to me during this adventure.

I heard a (final) update on the algae today! When the algae appeared just before the Olympics in 2008, it was the first time ever that this algae had appeared at Qingdao. So the disturbance caused was in the context of the total surprise of the occurrence. This summer, then, is the 5^th for the algae to appear. Scientists have been assigned to the situation, and it was determined that the algae is a significant form of food for the sea population. So rather than kill it, methods are being developed to cope. This year, the procedures have been started as early as possible. What will the outcome be?

When we hit the hill at 6:30 pm, there was one of yesterday’s interlocutors, the boy in the orange shirt and cap. He was particularly amused during yesterday’s q & a!