big sigh...
Ni hao blog-people!
So what are the haps? This week I invigilated an exam (which for contractual and sheer boredom reasons I won't go into) with a chap who was the spitting image of militant protestant leader Ian Paisley. To steal one of Fritz's gags (jokes that is), I hear he has a new calender out - January, February, March! March! March!
Christmas in China is a strange experience. In the westernised district of Chaoyang, all the trappings are there (decorations, trees etc.), perhaps in even more bad taste than back home:
However, in our slightly less well-heeled district of Fengtai, you see the odd picture of 'Santy Claws', but nothing more. The commercialsation is certainly there, but not the reason behind it - no Carol singing kids, Queen's speech and tramps wearing filthy Santa hats here!
Speaking of which, today I asked the kids to write a letter to Santa. I didn't even need to write anything on the board before Mr. Huge stood up and shouted 'I want a beeeg peeeg!' There seem to be no depths to his comedy genius.
The tape player broke today, meaning that I had to sing the Mariah Carey hit 'All I want for Christmas is you' to the kids. Just look up 'Humiliation' in the dictionary, that'll tell you roughly how it went. In truth I didn't see this coming last year...
New feature! Amusing things my students wrote in their exam. Number 1. (Holiday talk) 'I will go boating on the river thames, as the water there is clear and beautiful'. Hmmm.
Aaaaanyway, time to sign off for another week. My camera is coming with me to see the Juniors next week, so I may have the Christmas present you've all been wishing for... a picture of Mr. Huge! Until then my friends,
Zaijian,
Thomas
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PRESENTS, UNDERNEATH THE CHRISTMAS TREEEE - ARGH!
Singing "All I want for Christmas is you" to a room full of children? Are your lesson plans written by a P.Gadd of Ho Ho Ho Chi Min? All sounds a bit sleazy to me.