Teachers' Insights and Comments:

Lauren Anneberg, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 2006, talking about the Summer Institute program in Shanghai

Dear Alice,

Ni hao! I am sorry I haven't written since I arrived...we've been so wonderfully busy. I am so grateful for the Summer Institute, thank you Alice. I can't imagine going into my teaching placement without the insight and guidance of Jane, Kim, James and Sandra. They have been incredible, in addition to being lovely, kind people. We are so lucky to have them!

Yesterday's trip to Tong Li was memorable, mostly due to the scintillating sex museum - how unexpected! The canals were charming, and the shaded boat ride a welcome respite from the sun. I think we might have sweat off about a half a stone. Last night a few of us ate at the Punjabi Indian restaurant near Nanchang Lu - huge buffet, many laughs... and tonight Jane's going to take us to a local hot pot place. Days seem to revolve around the next meal, full of things I can honestly say I have never seen or tried, but we're all well and enjoying each other's company. (minus the ubiquitous 'digestive trouble!'). I have loved walking through the park in the early morning, visiting the fabric market (where Joel and Todd had suits made), eating steaming soup-filled dumplings, and being ever-impressed with the students at Feng Hua High School. I would say that Shanghai is far more sprawling and glamourous than I expected. Joel and I ventured into the Shanghai Centre near to where the acrobats performed (amazing) and wandered past every haute couture label I could never afford in my lifetime. It seemed out of place and yet strangely established. I was envisioning the neighborhood around Zha Bei to be more of the standard, and perhaps it is. I haven't done enough exploring on my own to get a fair sense of the place. This afternoon I'm heading to the Shanghai Museum, so I better get going if I hope to make it back by dinner!

Thanks for continuing to nag the university for our teaching assignments. I'm in a better position than most to come back into Shanghai for books and supplies if I need them in a few weeks time, so I'm not too worried.

I can tell you, you have a very happy and appreciative bunch of Colorado China Council'ers in Shanghai these days. We're going to miss each other when we go our separate ways. But the conference in Kunming in Nov will be a perfect reunion.

Thanks Alice,


Kaleb Moore and Robyn Stringfellow , Nanhai University of South China Normal University, Guangzhou. Life in China right after arrival.

We are loving China!! Our students are great, smart and eager to learn. It is a joy to teach them. Everybody at the University so far has been great, they are very friendly and warm. The campus is a little isolated, so there is not a lot to do, but it is also nice because it allows us plenty of time to study Mandarin and plan our lessons.

Sometimes the Chinese are very frustrating! It makes you wonder how this country runs. We have been teaching for a week, and it wasn't until Thursday that we meet the deans and other staff to tell us what they expected out of us. And they gave Robyn the wrong text book, and the other teacher Mitchell the wrong text book twice. I don't know how anything ever gets done! Despite the confusion though, they were very willing to help us figure everything out and were apologetic about the mistakes.

All in all, things are just fine here. The program is very great and helpful, and I feel we would reccommend it to anyone thinking of coming to China. That's it for now!


Tim G. Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce, Shanghai University, 2005

Hi Alice....

Hard to believe a year has gone by.....so many experiences....travel......cultural exchanges.....it has been a TRIP in more ways than one......but a wonderful one that I wouldn't trade for anything......

Thanks for all your help and support.........


Susan Keogh Boyd, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 2003. They took their adopted daughter Haley with them to Nanjing.

Alice,

I want to add we all had such a wonderful time in China. I tell people it
was like a one year vacation. We met such wonderful people, saw
fascinating places, ate wonderful food, and learned about Haley's
birthplace. We could not have asked for more. Nanjing was a great place
for us.

When we got to visit Haley's city of Liuzhou what an opportunity. I will
treasure those memories. When the lady in Yanshou spotted her and yelled
Zhuang Zhu, Zhuang Zhu. I had always suspected she was Zhuang just from
her birthplace but to have it confirmed by the people there was great.
After seeing the Zhuang population Haley looks really Zhuang.
We had such a great experience in China. Thanks for helping us find a job
in China.

Julie Hutto, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 2003
I wanted to send my own greeting to tell you that I am having such a wonderful experience here in Nanjing!  At times I like to give myself a pat on the back for choosing to go through the Colorado China Council ­ a very good instinct!  You prepared us so well, Alice, and now that we are here Henry has been like a knight in shining armor!

Jonathan Tien, Shanghai University, Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce, 2003
I hope this email finds you well.  I have now been here for five weeks and I must say things are going quite well.  I have become good friends with all the foreign teachers here.  The living arrangement is better than anything I imagined.  The students are intelligent, hard-working, and funny.  I have already traveled to Xiamen and Suzhou.  For the week-long national day vacation, I will visit Chengdu and Kunming.  Life is good, Alice.  It's good.  Again, thank you for the opportunity.

Jennie Koeplin, May 28, 2002, Nanjing, China
I can honestly say that despite innumerable trials and tribulations, the good still far outweighs the bad.  The frustration of always being stared at is balanced by the opportunity to sign autographs and being treated like a celebrity... the frustration of not being able to get my point across is balanced by the times I'll share a priceless moment with someone despite zero verbal communication, the times of feeling like China is TOO crowded is balanced by the times I can take walk and be surrounded with so much life and activity...and I could go on and on and on....   I think that overall I have had a well-rounded experience here and I would be more than willing to talk to any future teachers you work with that are interested in talking with someone who's been-there-done-that. .....
Peace,