My moon cake's bigger than yours

Giant moon cake compared to
typical moon cake

I am happy to live very simply while I’m here.  Last Saturday was not a simple living day.  It was a gorging day with the delightful company of Ted’s family.  In the morning he came to the apartment to collect me so that we could travel together to his Grandma’s place.  On the bus ride to Han Yang district from Wuchang, (my area to Ted’s), Ted pointed out some of the sights.  The overcast and smoggy day didn’t help with seeing the sights, but some of the buildings are so immense that you could see them in torrential downpours.  The memorials buildings and Yellow Crane tower are all in beautiful natural areas with lots of trees.  I certainly miss seeing this from my apartment view. 

When we got to Grandma’s place she had pomegranate, longan fruits, and peanuts ready for us to snack. Lunch was marvelous.  Grandma surprised me with a Budweiser beer.  She had two cans, and they appeared to be both for me.  After I told her I could only drink one, she mildly tolerated Ted drinking the second one.  At first he poured it into a bowl, but later he also drank from the can as I was doing.  Grandma served us cooked Chinese cabbage, baked chub with ginger, black fungus of some sort, spicy chicken, duck cooked in beer, and pork dumplings.  The dumplings were AMAZING, but after the first ten I was stuffed.  I could not eat another bite, but somehow this did not matter to Grandma.  She stuffed me until all of the dumplings were devoured, (I probably ate about 30 in one sitting). 

After lunch we went for a little walk and Ted bought a pair of 15 RMB ping-pong paddles with three balls.  We made do and played until Ted broke a sweat and had to stop for water.  I continued to play with an 8-year-old boy from the neighborhood.  Ted came back with water and then joined his grandma on the air walkers from the exercise equipment in the park.  The boy was good, but I was feeling on top of my game and pride would not allow me to lose. 

On Monday I met with the teachers for a workshop about establishing ground rules.  We all acted out various scenarios on what do to when a child misbehaves.  I could see that everyone had a natural ability to take on the challenge even though they appeared apprehensive at first.  I also participated and acted out a scenario with Ted.  Later on he told me than it had embarrassed him.  I told him that some of the best teachers are often great actors. 

Each day, (Tuesday through Friday), I worked in the classrooms during the morning work period.  The classrooms have many practical life activities, sensorial materials, and various math materials.  Some classrooms have additional language materials and others have more materials for geography and cultural studies.  All of the classrooms have art presented in different ways.  My goal this week was to help the teachers understand the benefits of a long uninterrupted independent work time.  Each classroom has its unique challenges, but I see that there is a greater desire for change than I saw last week.  In the afternoons I was able to meet with each teacher and discuss the morning. 

Although the days at work are long, (8-5:30), there is a two hour break in the middle.  This gives me a chance to go to the market or go for a walk around the campus.  I was very happy this week to find a few Eucommia ulmoides and a few Lycoris radiata in the middle of a green forest area.  There is also a small road lined with Eriobotrya japonica.  I can’t wait for these fruits to start forming!

Speaking of fruits around this time of the season, there are plenty of dragon fruit, pomegranate, and melons.  These fruits are great accompaniments to the traditional moon cakes shared at this time of year for the Mid-Autumn Moon festival.  On Tuesday I received the largest moon cake that I’ve ever seen for national Teacher’s Day, (Sept. 10).  It is filled with lotus seeds, nuts, and sugar baked in a simple pastry dough covered with sesame seeds and oil.  Another classroom delivered a bouquet of flowers with a tiny teddy bear in the center.  I gave each one of the teachers a dragon fruit in thanks for sharing their classrooms with me. 

Perhaps the sweetness of the moon cakes brings out the best in others.  As I walked Ted to the bus stop on Thursday an older man wheeling a cart of pomegranates lost a fruit.  A young man stopped to pick it up and delivered it back to the vender.  On Friday a young boy gave me his drawing of a robot.  I put it in my office next to my world’s saddest looking cactus.  Hopefully the cactus will perk up with a bit of care and some robotic protection.

After work I've been exercising in a local work out park.  There are small areas all over the city for people to stretch, twist, and move (just a little).  I’ve developed a way to run on the air walkers and break a sweat with most of the other machines.  The majority of the people I see using the equipment are either under 10 or over 60 years old. Both times I’ve gone to these places I have seen someone just hanging out on the rowing machine.  One woman took off her shoes and socks and picked the dead skin off her feet.  Another guy took a nap on it after finishing his cigarette.  I have the feeling that most people try to ignore me as I hustle and sweat.  I stand out all over the city, but in this park people act like I am just like any other person making the most of free city space.

Tonight I will travel with Ted and another teacher to the theater.  I’m not sure what to expect, but I hope it will have a lot of action.  It may be rude for Ted to translate during the entire show.  This week I look forward to finishing off the moon cake.