Thanksgiving Celebration

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and family back in the USofA. I hope you were able to enjoy some delicious food and enjoy the time with your family. Thanksgiving here was very eventful....so much fun. Starting at 9:30 am we had an American Football tournament (I say American Football cause that is what I have to tell my students). This tournament was called The Turkey Bowl. We had four teams in the tournament so we only played two games. Both games we played came down to the wire...seriously..to the end. Our first game was tight the entire game, we went into overtime to take the win on a last second touchdown pass from Steve to Joel as time expired. We won by one score and went on to play in the championship game. This game was not as close as the first game at first. We went into halftime of this game with a 4-2 touchdown lead. The second half, our opponents made a push for a comeback. They made their come back and took the lead at one point but with a little more than a minute remaining in the game the score was knotted up 6-6. We picked the defense apart to get into close range of winning the game. It was down to the final play of the game, time was all out. Once again Steve throws a bullet of a pass really low to Joel who is double covered. Joel goes to his knees and makes the catch. We win the game and The Turkey Bowl Championship. It was so much fun.

After The Turkey Bowl was Thanksgiving day lunch. Sias Cafe, a restaurant on campus here, prepared a delicious Thanksgiving feast for the foreign faculty. Yes a feast, they had provided s much food. Pasta, rice, potatoes (baked and mashed), gravy, pork, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, beef and most of all TURKEY. It was so delicous and I ate with some really awesome people. Andy and Lacy, Steve and Rachael and Joel and Amanda. Yes, three married couples...but they are a blast to hang out with. Took pictures with people, I tried to charge my camera while we were playing football but the charger only works when it wants to work. So yesterday it did not want to work, but I got about four pictures before the camera died so I will post them later today. Then I had to do the traditional Thanksgiving Nap....oh I slept for a few hours and woke up about thirty minutes before dinner. So I took a shower then went down and had some mexican food in our cafeteria. It too was really good, Thanksgiving Day was just a day of good food.

After dinner Andy came and found me to tell me something and was going to dinner so I told him I would go with him but I would not eat. He said he was gonna go to HotPot so I knew it would be a struggle to not eat there. I love the noodles at this place, they are some of the best noodles I have ever tasted. So I gave into my desires and ate some of the noodles, which let to eating some of the other food which led to me eating too much. Oh well...we finished eating there and came back.

Something that I had said at lunch reminded Racheal of a line from Napolean Dynamite. So she asked if we wanted to watch Napolean Dynamite. So we all said yes, so when we got back from HotPot the people from lunch went to Andy and Lacys room to watch Napolean Dynamite. The movie was funny and we had fun watching the movie. Then after the movie I went down stairs and talked to mom for a while on skype and Jenn got on for a little while. Then after talking on there for a long time I came up to my room and read sports stuff then went to bed.

That was my Thanksgiving day so hopefully yours was very eventful just as mine was...

Holla

Time with students usually means laughter

I have only one class on Tuesday at 8:00...my favorite class by far. They are funny, they get my humor and everyone of the participate...well maybe one or two will slack off...but they are by far my best. After class this morning some students wanted to come visit. They made an appointment yesterday for today at 10:00. I enjoy meeting with big groups of students as opposed to just two or three. It is a lot more fun and it opens up more conversation. Yes in a large group there are still those who do not talk and just sit back and watch and occasionally laugh but the fact they are understanding what I say (or so I think) makes my day so much better. Today, I thought there would be a mixed gender group....boy was I wrong. Only girls today...nice of them to be exact. Well eight because one of them showed the others my room and then left. But eight girls and me...I would have thought it would be really odd to try and entertain these girls for however long they would stay. It was the opposite...it was very easy. I always get this question..."Teacher..do you have a gf?" So I tell them.."No..I do not have a girlfriend." Today I got this reply, "Teacher, we are all single."....How the crap do I reply to that??? Oh well...we moved. We talked about normal things...culture, food my family. My students love to talk about my neice. I also love to talk about her too. I have pictures that I show them and they love to look at them and laugh. I think it is my favorite topic with my students.

I had lunch with some students today...one student was mine and one was my friend Heathers. They took me to this noodle place. It was very good. I was impressed with the stuff we talked about. In fact...after we ate I wanted to buy a China flag to hang in my room...we found a flag but they were asking way too much for it...30 yuan for a flag that looked awful...the students tried to bargain for me but they would not go down...oh well..then we walked back to SIAS. On the way back one of the girls started singing Amazing Love....I was shocked. She then started talking about that song and how she had no idea what it meant. But the thing is...she downloaded it on her computer. (If you don't know the words to Amazing Love please look them up) But anyways...I told her about the meaning of the song and how we as believers view the song. She then told me they she, along with the other student does not believe in Jsus or Bdda h...but the fact that she began to sing that song opened up a door for me to kind of step into. So, her singing Amazing Love allowed me to do a little bit of menistree...

I just wanted to tell you that story because I thought it was really cool...anyways..I know I misspelled words in this thing....It was intentional...I will try and get some pictures of these students up asap

Not a bad weekend

So...this weekend has been relaxing and all that good stuff. PS...I love three day weekends...one of the best things about working here at SIAS University. Friday I had to wake up early to go to the PSB but then we got back to eat lunch and shortly afterward I took a nap. 4 hours I slept...it was ridiculous...I missed some good volleyball because I slept so long..oh well. So I had dinner that night in Peter Hall (where I live) with some cool peeps. I ask everyone what they were doing that night and the girls were doing a ladies night while the guys were doing a guys night. I was looking forward to it. We met at 7:00 in the lobby to do whatever. We were gonna go watch a movie but instead we went to this little park down the street to try and drive some go carts. They were not open...but this little park had other things to do. They had these balloons on a wall and a little bb guns to shoot them with. It was really cheap and pretty entertaining. I tore them poor balloons up. Steve, a guy I was with, decided to shoot me while we were doing this. Right in the butt. Glad those things were not powerful. Then we went to these arcade type thing where they had bigger guys to shoot targets. Some targets were stationary and some were moving. It was too expensive...even for here. So Steve, who was working really hard to bargain, asked if we could take the bb guys in the woods and shoot each other. They guy could not speak English but he knew what we were talking about but would not allow us to do it. Steve kept asking him and the little kid who was there was laughing at us. So then we left the park and found this little arcade. Not much to do, or so we thought. We played a moto racing game, which by the way I suck at, so after that we left. Walking back I bought a beanie for 15 yuan. Oh, when they were telling me about the price I thought the lady was saying 50. I happily declined that. I was even doing numbers on my hand. 5-0? I kept asking and she was saying yes. But what she was really saying was 15...but if she was saying 15 why would you say yes to 5-0? Oh well...so I got a nice beanie for 15 yuan. Then we guys went up to see the new restaurant they build across from SIAS. It is really nice and fancy in there but the English is only in Chinese. So if I go I will have to go with a student to eat. We then left there and was gonna go play some pool. The place was way too smoky. It was worse than bars and pubs in the states...so we left. I called Andy to see if he wanted to join us...he wanted to go to an arcade. We are going there and it is the same exact arcade. We thought the place sucked the first time. We then sat down at a machine. We did not know the first time we came here that you had to turn the video game on yourself. It was awesome. Each machine had all these old school games we used to play as a kid. It was elementary school all over again. Such a good time enjoying the kid in us...We then left the arcade and went to a massage place. I wasnt gonna get one but I thought about it and decided I could do one. I got a back massage and man it felt so good. The girl did a good job on my back then she massaged my head and some of my face...man...it was wonderful. Oh girl did wonderful. Then we called it a night and came back to Peter Hall...oh course I took a 4 hour nap that day so I was up real late.

Saturday was a just chill day. I did all my laundry including all my dirty clothes, sweaters/hoodies and my bedding. I love when I get to sleep on a bed with clean sheets. Always a good feeling. Did not do to much after that. Went to dinner at Charlies with Shea, Matt, Gabe and Sarah Willson. Then came back and Sarah Suttles Joined us for either a game or movie. We decided to play Guesstures. It was pretty fun. After that I just chilled in my room and looked a flights to Hong Kong and Thailand to see what would be cheaper since I need to get my visa done. I think I am going to get my visa done in Thailand. I am really excited about it too.

Today...allergies/sinuses killed me today. I did not go to Power Hour this morning and I did not go to Kid Castle either. But I attempted to play volleyball with the others here. It went well until the sun went down. It was too dark. Went to dinner afterwards with Joe, Coral, Jared, Heather, Kim, Ole, Kat, Twomey, and Becky. I had never been to this place before but it was pretty good. I love tang cu li ji (sweet and shower pork), I only know the chinese name cause some of my students wrote it on my board in my living room. But we had that with our meal. So so good. Then I came back to lesson plan and that did not take long. But ESPN Australia was showing NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad so I worked on my lesson plan and watched some TV. Now I am finished with my lesson plan and all I have to do is do a chart with the V sound. This week we are teaching freshman about Dr. Visits. and I am gonna teach the V sound this week.

Anyways, gonna make my chart and chill for the rest of the night.

Holla

Beautiful Days and Visa Issues

So...I was supposed to go to Hong Kong this past week to get my visa done for the rest of the year. I was ready to go (I think). I was dreading going to Hong Kong because that place is expensive, or so I've been told. I was probably gonna take a train there and possibly fly back or maybe a train both ways. That is why I did not wanna go...because it takes about 27 hours by train to get from Zhengzhou to Hong Kong. But on Thursday (last week) I got a message saying not to buy train tickets yet. Why? I went to talk to this lady who sent this message and she said it is possible that I would be able to get the visa I have now extended 30 more days....Wow, I thought that would be wonderful. So Friday (last week) I get a message from her. "We got approved for the extension."....I was extremely excited. Now I can take care of the visa for good over the winter holiday.

Last weekend I went to Zhengzhou to do some shopping. I needed to get a few things but ended up not getting so much. I got some candles (Vanilla), bathroom things and some apple juice. Man I love apple juice....its so delicursh (that's how most students here say delicious)...I still have a little bit left so I need to get some again soon. I wanted to get a beanie or two but I could not find one that I liked. Well I did find one that I like but it was too expensive. Also in Zhengzhou, we had lunch and this Brazilian BBQ restaurant. This place was soooooo gooooooood....They have buffet items you can get but they also have these waiters go table to table with slabs of meat on swords. When they stop at your table, you can get meat from them. You have tweezers type things to hold on to the meat as they cut it off the sword. There are so many different types of meats...chicken wings, pork, ribs, sirloin, and rib-eye...just to name a few....this place is ALL YOU CAN EAT.....man I tore up some Brazilian BBQ...

This past week of classes were really good. Our topic was Food, Recreation and Entertainment....For the food they would do a skit after we compared American Style and China Style Restaurants. The skits were usually really funny..sometimes not so funny. But many times, the group who would do the American style restaurant, they would order food such as a Hamburger or Steak...or some kind of food that I would love to eat soon...Oh well, I think I can wait until June 2009 for a juicy steak at home (hint hint mom) But when they would order their fake food my mouth would seriously salivate....its all good...

Kid Castle on Tuesday night was pretty good. I taught happy birthday AGAIN...I just taught happy birthday two weeks ago here at SIAS and I was tired of that song...seriously...So I had to teach happy birthday two more times...Oh well...the kids are funny and hopefully they enjoyed it....



This past week we had three really beautiful days in a row. It was awesome. Blue skies, mountains and most importantly...sun. Here are a few pictures...you might think this is lame but its rare to have one day like this here...In the second picture the sun is so bright I can not keep my eyes open...crazy...then the sun setting behind the mountains...



Last night I went with Andy, Lacy and George to eat some ghetto hot pot (sorry Andy and Lacy...I jacked your pictures)...Let me explain hot pot to ya...Hot Pot is a place where you have a pot in the middle of your table boiling. You can buy vegetables and stuff to put into the water to cook and you also get thin slices of raw meat that you put into the pot to let cook. It does not take it too long to cook. Last night we had tofu, sliced potatoes and potato noodles, regular noodles and various veggies. Last time I had this place we only had one flavor..just the regular. This time we had a divider in our bowl...one said was regular and one was spicy. I was very excited because I love me some spicy food. So there was this ball thing (the brown thing beside my mouth in that photo) that was in the spicy side...So I get my chopsticks and grab the ball...blow on it a little and shove it in my mouth. Wow...I was on fire...I don't think I have ever had anything so spicy in my life. It was almost unbearable to me. But I hate more spicy stuff even though I was tearing up after the first thing I ate. George, however, tore up the spicy, I threw in the white towel eventually but he is a soldier. He kept tearing but that spicy food. I had to stop cause I was in too much pain.

Today I had to go back to Zhengzhou to the PSB (Public Security Bureau..I think)...Like I said early my visa got extended another 30 days so I had to go to the PSB today and answer a few questions. It wasn't bad at all...but it was a little cold in there.

Anyways...that has been my past week...so hopefully you enjoyed it...maybe I will start posting more ofter

Holla

Kid Castle

So I started a new job this Tuesday teaching English to children ages 5-12. The first day was a blast and went very smooth. When I teach the small child I am given flashcards to help the kids learn letters, numbers and pictures. When I teach the older kids I do not use flashcards. On Tuesday I taught the 5-7 year old children the numbers 15-19, meal names and a few other things. I taught the 8-10 year old kids a few fruits but how to initiate and end a conversation with a friend in English. For example:
Kid 1: Hello Kerry
Kid 2: Hey Korey
Kid 1: How are doing doing?
Kid 2: I'm fine. How are you?
Kid 1: I'm doing great. Thank you.
Kid 2: OK see you
Kid 1: See you later

On today (Friday) I taught the 5-7 year old kids the letters x, y and z and also box, yo-yo and zoo. For the 8-10 year old kids I was asked to tell the stories the whole time. Do not forget the classes are 40 minute long...well it is not that long but I had to tell different stories for 40 minutes. Kids can not sit still and listen for 40 minutes. So they talked and I did not let it bother me. I told the store of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, My trip from Texas to Sias, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. I have not heard to told those stories in years so I was trying to drag them out as long as possible. Oh well. So I told stories for about 35 minutes and after wards the guy who would help me/translate for me told me to play a game using the stories. Seriously? I had to make up a game on the spot for these kids to answer questions when only one or two might have listened to me...or maybe three. So a ball rolled and hit me in the foot so I picked it up to put it back...NO...I used the ball for my game...I had the kids sit in a circle and I would ask a question then I would toss the ball to one of the students and they would answer. So glad that ball rolled out. It was lame but it got the job done.

Tomorrow I am going shopping with many of the teachers here at Sias at Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou is maybe an hour away from Sias but I need to buy a few things. I want to buy a few beanies since I left mine in Center, Texas like an idiot. Oh well. Hopefully I can can find some nice/cool beanies tomorrow and also to eat some good food.

Anyways...it is 1:46 am here on Saturday morning so I am going to try and get some sleep...oh yeah...tonight is the last night if will be cold inside my room. Our heat gets turned on tomorrow so it should be a wonderful day. We are doing a progressive housewarming party tomorrow night and some people have volunteered to make food and host things in their room while some just go around and check things out and eat some food. I am one of the ones just chilling going to check things out. It should be fun....

Update...

So mid-term examinations are over and now back to teaching regular class topics. This week will be really fun because our topic is Birthdays. The functions we are teaching this week are extending an invitation, accepting an invitation and gratuity. I observed Sarah Suttles (a Sophomore Oral English Teacher) my first week at Sias and the topic that week was Birthdays. So I am probably going to be using her lesson because I liked it very much and the students responded well to it. We'll I have not posted in a while so I will tell you a few things about my past week or so. Culture week was a blast and European Day (my main day) went much much much better than I thought it would go. I was figuring it would be lame and not much but it was the opposite of both of those. Only in China will one be able to see me, Kerry Bryan, in a freakin kilt. Even though it was really weird to be in a kilt the people seemed to love it and most of my students say my performance (yes I did a Scottish dance with a girl I work with) and they said they loved it. We also did games where the countries we represented (Scotland, Germany, Spain and Greece) would do an olympics type things and have students come and particpate. I am pretty sure, in fact I know, that my athelete was the best. Even if Josh, who represented Greece, could not say her name right she still performed at a high level. But overall, it was an amazing week. This past week I have been giving Oral English Exams. It was boring at times and entertaining at times. I really enjoyed hearing some of the unique answers I got to some of my questions and got really annoying at hearing "My English is very poor teacher I am sorry". Oh well, it is over now. I have roughly 225 students so hearing the same answer to some of the questions over and over got old very fast. Yesterday was an eventful day/night. Played volleyball that was a blast, by far the best volleyball I have seen in China. Then I went to dinner with Gabe and Sarah Willson (two girls I work with) and then went to a dvd store on campus. While at the store Gabe got a call from a student to come to this dance so I told her I would go but I didn't want to stay long cause I was invited by a few students but thought it would be very awkward with me and lots of students there. So she asked me to go and I went and the student who invited me say me and came and tried to teach me this line dance thing that was really not that much fun at all. But I tried to make the best of it. My students really enjoyed teaching me the dance but when 10 of your students are teaching you a dance it gets kind of annoying. Oh well, then we left the dance and came back and watched Get Smart. I thought the movie was very funny and I laughed a lot. As did the others I watched it with. But now I am about to go and play more volleyball in about 30 minutes and who knows what I will do tonight....

Holla...