Obama Doesn't Use Twitter Either. I Rest My Case.

My President came to China this past week.  It was was a much-anticipated visit.  Most Chinese seem to like Obama, even if he slaps tariffs on their tires.  He came to Shanghai and spoke to a group of "priveleged" Chinese students (a.k.a the ones allowed to go to a prestigious Chinese school).  Nothing revolutionary was said--the students' questions were obviously handpicked by officials--but nothing was censored over the internets or the limited TV coverage it received. Anyone with a computer and connection could hear his well-reasoned remarks on internet freedom and Taiwan--yes, the times are a' changin'.

I decided to use Obama's visit in class.  I asked my students to pretend that they were the "priveleged" and to draft questions for the President.  Of course I got to be the President.  As expected (and to my delight) there were some pointed questions about US-China tensions and Taiwan.  I did my best to channel Obama, saying again and again that the US did not seek to undermine Chinese growth (and with a straight face) and was committed to the "One-China" policy; It was very hard to explain that even though we did not consider Taiwan independent, it was still regarded a distinct autonomous province...if that makes any sense whatsoever.  

Me: "So...um...basically their are two systems for one China and...er....."

Student: "But Peter, why then does the US give Taiwan weapons?"   

Me: "So...uh...your system doesn't invade their system, silly!"  Sigh....

I wouldn't regard it as one of my successes.  I talked way too much and didn't always allow time for follow-up questions (as if there would be any...) an I'm afraid I may have come across as condescending sometimes.  I don't like doing most of the talking, but they rarely leave me any other choice in these discussions.  Frankly I don't think I did that great a job explaining the US perspective any better than the Chinese media would.  If war breaks out due to my bad ambassadorial skills, please forgive me world.

Oh and might as well while I'm at it: FREE TIBET!  (With purchase of another Tibet of equal or greater value).

Leb Wohl

Close Encounters of the Middle-Kingdom Kind

So, a few weeks ago (late as usual) our class theme was "outer space."  One of our "stellar" (pun, get it?) activities was one I called "First Contact."  In this activity students took on the role of either a human or extra-terrestrial and created a skit in which humans meet aliens for the first time.  

The set up was: "Two friends are camping in the woods.  Maybe they are best buds from high school or maybe they are sweethearts (cue giggles from about 30 girls).  They are roasting marshmallows (or making out) when suddenly they see bright, descending lights in the sky.  They follow the lights to where they land.  They walk into a large clearing and before them lies a strange craft.  Suddenly a door opens and out of the bright interior light steps a strange creature (or creatures), the likes of which they never could have imagined...."

I had the students brainstorm questions each party would ask the other.  Most were about their home planet or the purpose of their visit.  Often the aliens had come to take over the earth or save humanity from some kind of cataclysm.  Others came to find suitable husbands for their daughters.  Often each group would teach the other a custom from their planet, like walking, the concept of money, or inviting them to a dinner of traditional Chinese food.

Without costumes they had to rely on mannerisms and funny voices to display their other-worldliness.  One pair spoke in monotonic unison, another student was a robot, so he moved  and spoke like a machine (and slowed down when his batteries were drained).  Other features were revealed through rather funny dialogue ("Which head do you use?")  I also had them draw pictures of themselves on the board.  I picked some of the most creative ones to show you.

Leb wohl (and prosper).

My First Chinese Halloween

I was in Beijing the last weekend visiting a friend.  Wanting to celebrate, we found a Halloween party and dressed up in makeshift costumes comprised of sunglasses and Soviet cossack hats.  The party was fun...until one tiny incident occurred to ruin the rest of the evening.  That story is for another time, but suffice it to say that it put me in a foul mood for Monday.

Halloween in Chinese is "Wan sheng jie."  It isn't exactly a popular holiday, but it is one most of my students have heard of.  Some of them even went to the local Dinosaur-themed park to celebrate.  To celebrate the holiday in class (and get rid of my funk from Beijing) I told them a "ghost story."  This one I remembered from my childhood, and it is about a boy who loves a girl who always wears a yellow ribbon around her neck.  As the grow old together he keeps asking her about the ribbon and she never gives him a straight answer.   It isn't exactly a tale for scaring people around a campfire, but it is still creepy, and that counts.  Personally I think it is a great tale, but my students didn't seem to like the somewhat anti-climactic (but absolutely perfect) ending.  I won't tell you how it ends, but you can probably guess when you think about it (what "Halloween" image does "neck" conjure up?).  

After my tale, I had them write there own ghost stories.  Some were absolutely wonderful original (I think) works about vengeful ghosts, spiritual mediums, and creepy collegiate murder mysteries.  I gave them the option of translating a traditional Chinese tale into English (in their own words of course).  One that was particularly interesting was tale which they called "Rebirth."  It was about a mother who gave her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth to her "faceless" daughter so that she could marry her true love.  The mother is then reincarnated as her granddaughter, still "faceless" and the mother then gives her sensory organs to the new daughter.  And the cycle keeps going on.  Not exactly a ghost story, but certainly creepy.

My students do know how to spin a good yarn.  Sometimes you just have to force them to do it. 

Leb Wohl.