I showed this video in my class this week, and every time I turned the lights back on after the video finished, I saw 30 teary-eyed faces looking back at me.
One girl even had to bust out the tissues because she was crying so hard.
I knew this was an emotional movie, but it has a happy ending! I didn't expect so much crying!
Anyway, since it seemed to have such an impact on my students, I thought I'd post the video up here for anyone who hasn't seen it yet:
Turn out the lights and prepare your Kleenex!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Cardboard Christmas Tree Cutout
Thanksgiving is over, which means it is unofficially Christmas time!
People in China don't really celebrate Christmas like Americans do, so finding Christmas decorations is not exactly as simple as going to the nearest party store. In fact, I don't even know if party stores exist here.
That being said, without a bunch of department stores and malls showcasing holiday-themed gifts and radio stations playing Christmas music 24/7, feeling the "Christmas spirit" is a little difficult. All that really means is that I need to put a little more effort into creating a Christmas atmosphere in my home, so this weekend I made my own Christmas tree!
Technically, I COULD have just gone down to Walmart and bought a plastic Christmas tree, but I didn't want to spend the money on something I will only use for one month of one year.
So instead, I went to the little market next to my dorm and bought two big styrofoam boards (cardboard will work too). By some Christmas miracle, the boards were already painted green!
Next, because I am not really a good artist, I went on Google and found an outline of a Christmas tree that I liked. Even with the Google image as a reference, just drawing the tree outline freehand on the giant green board was too difficult for me, so I superimposed the tree picture onto a grid. I then drew a corresponding grid onto one of the green boards and drew the tree outline grid by grid.
Actually, the tree outline I chose was symmetrical, so I only did this for the left side of the tree. Then after I cut it out using a razor blade, I took the leftover section that I had just cut off, flipped it over onto the other side, and traced the right side of the tree onto the board.
After you cut out one tree, trace the outline onto the other board and cut that one out too, so you end up with two identical Christmas tree cut outs.
Next, draw a straight line exactly down the middle of both trees. One one tree, cut a slit from the top to halfway down the tree. On the other tree, cut a slit from the bottom up to halfway up the tree.
Now comes the tricky part. Turn the two cutouts perpendicular to each other and using the slits you just cut, slide one tree on top of the other.
If all goes well, your tree should be able to stand up on its own like this!
And then as a party activity or kids craft you can have people make their own paper ornaments and tape them onto the tree branches!
Happy crafting!
People in China don't really celebrate Christmas like Americans do, so finding Christmas decorations is not exactly as simple as going to the nearest party store. In fact, I don't even know if party stores exist here.
That being said, without a bunch of department stores and malls showcasing holiday-themed gifts and radio stations playing Christmas music 24/7, feeling the "Christmas spirit" is a little difficult. All that really means is that I need to put a little more effort into creating a Christmas atmosphere in my home, so this weekend I made my own Christmas tree!
Technically, I COULD have just gone down to Walmart and bought a plastic Christmas tree, but I didn't want to spend the money on something I will only use for one month of one year.
So instead, I went to the little market next to my dorm and bought two big styrofoam boards (cardboard will work too). By some Christmas miracle, the boards were already painted green!
Actually, the tree outline I chose was symmetrical, so I only did this for the left side of the tree. Then after I cut it out using a razor blade, I took the leftover section that I had just cut off, flipped it over onto the other side, and traced the right side of the tree onto the board.
After you cut out one tree, trace the outline onto the other board and cut that one out too, so you end up with two identical Christmas tree cut outs.
Next, draw a straight line exactly down the middle of both trees. One one tree, cut a slit from the top to halfway down the tree. On the other tree, cut a slit from the bottom up to halfway up the tree.
Now comes the tricky part. Turn the two cutouts perpendicular to each other and using the slits you just cut, slide one tree on top of the other.
If all goes well, your tree should be able to stand up on its own like this!
And then as a party activity or kids craft you can have people make their own paper ornaments and tape them onto the tree branches!
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| I had some little helpers make ornaments for the tree! |
Happy crafting!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Things My Students Say: Enjoy Yourself Beauty
I am saying goodbye to students, signing off their instant messaging program...
Mike 05:50:01
i will do my assignment now,enjoy yourself beauty!
Later..
Me: What was that even supposed to mean?
Betsy: Maybe go look in the mirror for a while.
Any guesses?
Mike 05:50:01
i will do my assignment now,enjoy yourself beauty!
Later..
Me: What was that even supposed to mean?
Betsy: Maybe go look in the mirror for a while.
Any guesses?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Things My Students Say: Name Change
Hope: Teacher, I want to change my English name.
Me: Okay, what do you want to change it to?
Hope: I wanted a meaningful name, so I want to be Shell. Because I like seashells very much. They are so strong.
Me: ......
Me: Okay, what do you want to change it to?
Hope: I wanted a meaningful name, so I want to be Shell. Because I like seashells very much. They are so strong.
Me: ......
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
More Hotpot!
Last weekend Vicky and Christina came over to cook some delicious hotpot with me! It was just clear soup with veggies, tofu, pork, and mushrooms, but it was so yummy!
First, Vicky used the fat from the pork to make some oil.
She put it in the pot, added water and salt, and there was our soup broth! After that we just dumped in tofu, meatballs, pork slices, and mushrooms, brought it to a boil, and it was ready to eat!
So easy and so delicious! Of course, the best part was the dipping sauce of ground dried chili peppers and green onions. Yum! So spicy and flavorful! I don't think I can eat hotpot without it anymore.
 |
| Here's Christina washing veggies! |
She put it in the pot, added water and salt, and there was our soup broth! After that we just dumped in tofu, meatballs, pork slices, and mushrooms, brought it to a boil, and it was ready to eat!
So easy and so delicious! Of course, the best part was the dipping sauce of ground dried chili peppers and green onions. Yum! So spicy and flavorful! I don't think I can eat hotpot without it anymore.
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