I found myself at the main square again. To watch my friends play street hockey together. And trying to keep myself from being hit by any out-of-control ball that would come my way. Because remember: not everyone is as adept at playing hockey as my Canadian friends. And I assure you, not all who played today were Canadians. I survived, however, as did everyone else involved, and so I’d say that’s good news in itself. Isn’t it?

Fright night is over, and I’m really glad we made it through a couple of days with skeletons hanging in our (new) lobby, and skulls welcoming visitors as they enter our building. Not being from a country where Halloween is a big event, I can never understand why people would want to scare each other with ghostly activities, when it’s so much better to share life and joy with one another. Anyhow, fright night is over, and Europe Day commenced today. Of course, being from Europe, every year, Europe Day upsets me, because my dear American colleagues never think of Europe as anything but ancient and medieval (a perspective, which is neither shared by the Chinese, nor can it be appreciated by a true European!). Luckily, I was so busy with other things today, that I didn’t even have the time to go and take pictures of the events in the square (must have missed that one Viking which has survived through the centuries and annually makes his appearance at Culture Week). I didn’t even get …

Things around culture week seem to be little more low-key compared to previous years. Anyhow, nothing can compete with China day, when it comes to drawing the crowds to the main square each day. This year I missed the little African hut, which was replaced by one only half as authentic. But it’s just as much a photogenic spot as the old one. In fact, I had to wait in line quite a bit to get at least one decent shot without any people around. I was sneaky, though. I waited for that split second when one student had just gone inside that little hut for her picture, and couldn’t be seen from the angle where I was standing. There’s always a way to get your shot – if you know how to …

Culture week continues with Asia day. And while there are lots of activities organized by the foreign faculty during the day, the great highlight, of course, always is the show that’s put on every night during culture week. For Asia Night, a lot of the foreign students performed, making the job for the foreign faculty an easy one.

  It’s almost November. And that usually means the annual Culture Week is upon us. And since we’re talking about the usual already, our school’s international culture week usually starts with China day. This year is no exception. So, for China day, local trades people gather in the main square on campus to offer their goods and services, which include anything from selling cotton candy to cutting silhouettes and painting portraits. Even glass sculpturing and musical performances were part of this year’s China day. And of course, I had to go and record it all!