Christmas in Jinan

Mia, our Chinese “daughter”, made this little Santa from a polymer type product.  (She is a physics major)  She and Wade, our Chinese “son”, gave us this beautiful book of horses drawn by Chinese artists.  Rick had expressed interest in several of the drawings and they were quick to answer with this beautiful gift.

Wade was awarded a special scholarship and took “us” to dinner to celebrate.  The menu included roasted fish, sweet potatoes with blueberry sauce, crunchy corn on the cob.  It was all different and delicious.  Orchids garnished the plates.  Who could ask for a better holiday kick-off.

Young Chinese Santas!  We found them in downtown Jinan promoting a TV station.  They were full of energy and handed us tiny pieces of candy.  What a fun discovery.  “Ho, Ho, Ho” sounds the same in any language.

Giving gold coins is a Chinese tradition at the New Year.  I gave my students “chocolate” gold coins and they were thrilled.  They are holding them in the air for you to see.  All my classes were surprised and grateful.  These students are wonderful!!  We were also doing oral finals that day.  I completed 40, Rick listened to finals for 58 students.  That was a new way to celebrate Christmas.  It was a long but rewarding day on campus.  Our holiday meal was a PB&J sandwich, eaten one bite at a time, between finals.

We discussed Christmas in America for three weeks.  I placed particular emphasis on service.  They loved all of it, especially pictures of my family at holiday time.  They think all Americans eat apples on Christmas Eve.  Rick and I received several cards and many small gift boxes with a single apple inside.  My students gladly proclaimed, “Merry Christmas, Professor Hafen”, the entire day.  Thankfully, political correctness has not yet reached their lives.  They have no religious affiliations but freely expressed their holiday greetings to us so we might feel happy on our special holiday and not miss our home and children.  They said and did all they could to add to the festivities of our last class period and the beginning of final exams.  Is it any wonder we love these students so much!!

Christmas evening was spent with several language teachers from many countries.  This was an event to remember.  Phil was our host and music leader.  He is a former member of the Tabernacle Choir and knows how to lead a group of non-musicians in lively singing.

This beautiful Christian Korean family sang several carols in Korean.

Mel Gibson (his English name) and his lovely wife are from Sudan.  He teaches Arabic.  Although they are Muslim, they joined in singing carols and he sang a traditional piece in Arabic while she sang a sweet song in Iraqi.

Kathy, our lovely hostess, provided tasty treats.  What is more American than seven layer dip and tortilla chips?  I haven’t had that dish in months and it was delicious and perfect with hot chocolate and wassail.   Rick was thrilled with the Rice Krispy treats.  Oh, the things that suddenly have more value.

Lulu, on the right, is a member of our branch group.  She is from South Africa and a medical student at Shandong University.  Her friend joined us for the party.

Three more great English teachers from the BYU CTP program.

Patrice, sitting next to me, teaches French at Shandong Normal University.  He was quite a lively character at the party.  His French accent is a pleasure to hear.

Phil led us in singing “Silent Night” in English.  Then, versus were also sung in Spanish, French, German, Zulu, Italian, and Korean.  What a powerful message the event proclaimed.  We must always be cautious about any religious expressions.  It is more difficult to control how we feel when touched by the spirit.  The music conveyed an unmistakable declaration of the miracle that is Christmas.  This is one holiday I shall long remember that truly celebrated the birth of the Savior.   

Christmas greetings from Jinan, China!

We are teaching freshmen oral English at Shandong University, medical campus.  Rick discovered this opportunity through the BYU Kennedy International Center.  There are 72 teachers representing the China Teacher’s Program throughout 20 different universities in China. 

The students are fabulous!  It is a treat to intereact with them each week.  In between lesson preparations and school days we are trying to see various parts of the country.

China is crazy and wonderful at any given time.  The people have been so kind to us and we are growing accustomed to our “celebrity” status.  We have never posed for so many pictures.

All our children are in college this year.  It seemed like the perfect time for our new adventure.  Konrad is in the first year of his Master’s program at USU.  Chalese works for the Fluvial Habitat Center at USU.  They are a happy couple enjoying life together. 

Paul is a senior accounting major at Dixie State University.  He also manages everything at home and the ranch.    The rent is the perfect price for him.

Thomas is in his second year at USU and doesn’t love the math classes but works hard at them anyway.  He works in the campus fish laboratory.

MaryAnne will complete her Oxford study abroad semester in December and Return to Oglethorpe University for final classes before May graduation.

It was a cold day at the Great Wall of China.  This is truly a world wonder and we enjoyed seeing such a great piece of history.

Although we will be teaching classes on December 25, our thoughts will still be with our family and loved ones.  Thank you for enriching our lives.

May holiday joy fill your homes and thoughts of Christ fill your hearts.

Have a joyous season!!  Susan and Rick Hafen 

Mount Tai

The University hosted a Saturday excursion to Mt. Tai for all foreign teachers.  They warned of the rigorous nature of the event which automatically eliminated a handful of teachers.  It was a beautiful day in October and we were excited for the event.  Mt. Tai is one of the most famous peaks in China.  Its picture is on their $5 paper bill (not really worth 5 dollars).

Mount Tai is about a two hour drive south of Jinan.  We cheated and took the tram car for the middle portion of the trek and reserved our strength for the final ascent.  I do not remember the number of steps it takes to climb to the top.  The sunrise view is most famous.  Many youth accept the evening climb as a “must do” while visiting Jinan.  It reminded me of the many who climb Mt. Timpanogas at night to watch the sun rise.

Here are some of the younger foreign teachers.  Notice Rick is there.

Who would want to climb all those stairs!!

I made it all the way to the top.  Unfortunately, the pollution was so bad we couldn’t see the city of Jinan.  Truthfully, we couldn’t see anything but haze.  It was nice to see blue skies for a day.

It was another busy sight-seeing day in China.  Notice the crowds at this site.

The writing is on the walls – we just don’t know what it says.

Most major sites in China have the Buddha markings also.  Each red ribbon is for a good luck wish of life or happiness.  There is also incense burning inside the temple.

November 2015 Weekend in Beijing

Four BYU China Teacher couples visited the great wall on a cold November Saturday.  It was very crowded!  I would like to see a different part of the wall the next time we come.  This location caters to tourists; other spots require a steeper climb with fewer people.  The structure is amazing.  It deserves another look.

The Bird’s Nest (National Stadium)

          I was anxious to see the famous 2008 Olympic stadium.  We were running behind so our only view was from the freeway on a day when the air pollution was at horrid levels.   Compare the ideal picture to the one I snapped.  Am I really such a lousy photographer?

The Summer Palace

Rick is standing on the Marco Polo Bridge.  Every lion on each pillar has a different facial expression.  They paid so much attention to details where the royalty were concerned.

I still don’t know enough Chinese history to appreciate these amazing sites.  Notice the Asian tourist group in orange hats.

Temple of Heaven

          This is one of the temples reserved for Emperors to worship.  They prayed over the crops, rains, all things to do with harvests and nature.  Commoners were  not allowed here.  This is interesting in a country that no longer recognizes religion.

Laundry in China

This is our balcony.  It also serves as the clothes dryer.  Laundry is now an intensive labor that takes a chunk of time a few days each week.

The piece of PVC pipe we found in the bathroom was more effective as a laundry prop.  It is the only way I can reach the hanging clothes wires outside.

The foldable drying rack has been a substantial time saver.

This clothes pin contraption is perfect for socks. 

Rick is very thorough at sweeping and mopping the floors.

The kitchen sink sprays (all over the kitchen) only cold water.  We boil water to rinse the dishes.  Rick is a great help with this task also.  (Note the washing machine in the background.)

Our consolidated kitchen is smaller than the bathroom.  The tiny washing machine is also in this room.  I can reach the fridge, hot plate, microwave, and sink without leaving my seat.  Is that efficiency or insanity??

Note the exposed electrical wiring.  No, I’m not at all concerned.  All of China is wired the same way.  Remember how much they like fireworks?  We could all be part of the show at any time.  The thought is electrifying!!

PRC 66th Anniversary

The PRC (People’s Republic of China) celebrated its 66 anniversary on September 29.  Rick and I were among four teachers invited to represent the 72 foreign teachers at Shandong University.  It was likely a random selection but we were thrilled to attend the formal banquet at the Shandong Hotel.

The conference center was beautiful and every table was neatly set with three forks, knives, and goblets.  Chop sticks were also provided, of course.  The servers were elegantly dressed in long, red dresses and bowed as we entered the room. 

I will attach a few photos of our multi course dinner.  The goblets included wine, champagne, and a beverage of our choice.  There was endless toasting throughout the evening and we held our glasses for each and then replaced them at our table.  Word of the strange foreigners must have spread because guests from every table came to offer a toast.  They immediately stared as we replaced our glasses.  Imagine the private conversations that followed the event.

Our photo was taken with a few university officials and many, many strangers.  Remember, we are celebrities in Jinan.

MaryAnne, the culinary creation photos are for you!!

The appetizer was splendid and very Italian.

We enjoyed three main courses – beef, fish, and something else.  All were delicious.  There was also soup, salad and rice.  I lost count of the courses.

Dessert was almost too beautiful to eat but I did manage to devour every bite.

The dinner entertainment included Romanian Dancers (go figure – at the Chinese anniversary?) and beautiful musicians playing their unique string instruments.

Delightful evening!!

Halloween at Shandong Medical School

Halloween was a delight with these Chinese students unaccustomed to this American Holiday.  I told them they could wear hats instead of costumes (as they had a full day of many classes) and they were to bring two tissues.  Several girls wore witch hats.  They bought them online.  One boy carved a hat/mask from a large green gourd.  A few boys made hats from paper plates and food boxes.  And some wore purchases masks.  It was a fun and festive atmosphere.

They especially enjoyed the family pictures I included in my lesson to show them how we celebrated Halloween at home.  They oohed and ahhed at our family costumes and carved pumpkins.  I missed our neighborhood “trick or treat” time but relished in the joyous faces of college students tasting this American custom.  They are wonderful youth!

I displayed a short video clip demonstrating how to make a tissue ghost.  There were no words.  I stopped it every few seconds so they could explain each step to me, in English. They struggled with the right words to use but every class was victorious.  They liked this little holiday decoration and I saw several attached to backpacks, some were fastened to thermoses, one boy tied it to his hair. 

We also sang along with “Witches Brew”, “Five Little Pumpkins”, and “The Skeleton Dance”.  That was their favorite.  We did it twice in each class.  After all, they are medical students. Skeletons are not “scary” to them.