All posts filed under: Blog

End of the Year Banquet

Published by Sula H.

This is it! Another year of school has come and gone. The foreign faculty celebrated this with our annual “end of the year banquet.” This year’s motto: “A Night with the Oscars.” Sounds exciting? Well, it was just another dinner with several courses, plus lots of speeches, and a fun slide show. I wish, I’d had photos of the dinner, but the lights were so dim, that it was nearly impossible to get a good shot. Anyways, with about half of the foreign teachers leaving this summer, it was also time to say good-bye to those who are parting. And now, the summer may come …

Dragon Boat Festival

Published by Sula H.

It’s another holiday in China today: Dragon Boat Festival. For the average Chinese (at least where I’m at), it means today everyone has to eat “Zongzi.” That’s some sort of rice (pudding) enriched with dates, or peanuts, or red beans, or meat, etc. and all of this is neatly wrapped into bamboo leaves. For our school, Dragon Boat Festival means, another day without class. So, a lot of students are gone for a long weekend, either home, or to visit their friends. For me, Dragon Boat Festival meant I had an extra chance to play tennis, since there are no classes today at the tennis court. Well then, happy Dragon Boat Festival, everyone!

Commencement

Published by Sula H.

It is done! For several thousands of senior students, their lives at university has come to an end. The occasion was celebrated this morning with lots of speeches and congratulations both from national and international representatives of delegations present at the graduation ceremony. And for us it is time to say good bye, or “Zai Jian” as it is said in Chinese!

Homecoming Day

Published by Sula H.

We had a very busy morning today, with the first ever Homecoming Parade of our university, followed by the Homecoming Ceremony and Performance. But instead of getting ahead of myself, I’d better let the pictures speak … Homecoming Parade   Homecoming Performance

Graduation Weekend

Published by Sula H.

Graduation weekend is coming up with lots of events all weekend. Saturday Morning Homecoming Parade (the first ever in the history of our university) Homecoming Ceremony (with speeches by representatives of various delegations, and the awarding of scholarships Homecoming Performance Sunday Morning Graduation Ceremony (Commencement)

Around Campus: Preparing for Graduation

Published by Sula H.

It’s been rather busy around here, these days: graduation is coming up. For the students who have been with us for four years now. Everywhere on campus preparations are underway. Lot’s of delegations are around and a busy weekend is ahead. Will keep you posted with all the events, as soon as I can. But I have to share this picture with you, today: it shows the German and Chinese flags together. Usually, the American and Chinese flags get put together, so this is something special for me ;-).

Food Corner: Meat with Onions and Carrots

Published by Sula H.

Here’s another very common dish: meat, fried together with onions and carrots. It comes with a delicious sauce, though I can’t even tell whether it’s real sweet and sour, or just one of the two. In any case, it is a very popular dish around here and often ordered in restaurants, and served in our cafeteria several times a week.

The mysteries of book shipping …

Published by Sula H.

I never told you, because I never thought this would be worth a story, but … Last month, I ordered some books in the U.S. that were supposed to arrive no later than May 2. They didn’t arrive, even weeks later (though they made it to Beijing within just a few days after I had placed the order). So I began talking to the retail company, and especially the shipping company (many times), because that’s where the main problem was. Long story short, I was promised that the books would arrive as soon as they were cleared through customs. Just a few days later, however, I discovered the books had been sent back to the U.S. – “undeliverable.” I was told to place a new order. Hadn’t done so due to all the trouble I’d had with this order, but today, I was notified that a package had arrived for me: The books! Oh, the mysteries of international shipping!