An interesting dancing lesson

The Central South University teachers had an interesting and funny dancing lesson with our respectable and lovely instructors this afternoon. To be more specific, this time the dancing instructors are Siggy and Jane, who taught us American sexy dance and Chinese square dance respectively.

Jane danced beautifully

At first we stood in lines to learn square dance. Jane chose a typical Chinese folk song, which is said to be related to Buddhism. Jane did a good job with enough patience. She told us how to stretch our legs and move our hands separately. It’s funny that it’s hard to combine them together harmoniously and beautifully. So I made some awkward mistakes, especially when we switch between the sections of the song. But it’s fun to move our bodies and do some exercises.

The exciting moment comes with the sexy dance. Siggy told us it’s a kind of Jazz music, so we’d better squat the legs a bit when dancing. We watch the video and imitate the dancing steps. The singer was in sexy skirt and we joked if we were dressed like this, we would learn it quickly. How interesting scene it is! I bet our Chinese students would burst into laughter when watching those serious and strict English teachers are doing a variety of luring movements in Yale. 

A good book sale

Carrie informed us that there would be a trip to the Pequot Library Summer Book Sale in Southport, CT, which is considered the best book sale in New England, and offers high quality books at reasonable prices. As a result, everyone is waiting for it, Summer and Amanda even changed their schedule to New York for the book sale on July 27.

books in white tent

When we arrived at the Pequot Library, it’s approximately 1:30pm. Since there are only 2 hours left to explore, I gave up the idea to observe the fabulous villas of those wealthy Americans. The Summer Book Sale composed of two parts, inside the library and in a large spacious tent outside. Carrie told me classic and literature works were sold inside, so I went directly to the tent because I was in search of books about teaching methodology. It does not exaggerate to say there are mountains of books and CDs, DVDs, even some old-fashioned gramophone records, which are piled according to different subject categories. 

mountains of books

people are busy in selecting books

Compared with its original price, the used books were pretty cheaper. Frankly speaking, the time is only enough for me to find needed books in two categories, one is education, and another is books for children. At last I bought 6 books with only $6dollars. How amazing it is! I hope to buy more, but the books are too heavy and we plan to go west and have a trip. I’m afraid that there are no spaces for more books in my luggages.

books I bought

Why there is no such book sale in China? It’s a great pity.   

Master’s Tea at Yale

Every Friday at Yale is colorful and wonderful for those summer session students. This Friday is not an exception. Most of my colleagues go to New York by school bus, including my roommate, Amanda. Bell is so diligent to go to library to look for reference books for her doctor thesis. Rich and I just stay at home, writing blogs. Susan told us there is a Master’s Tea to be held at 3pm, which provides an opportunity for Yale students to interact in a relaxed, informal setting with a distinguished visitor who has excelled in their chosen field. So we decided to go there and have a look. 

poster for the Master's Tea 

Today’s visitor is George Takei, an actor best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television and film series Star Trek. Frankly speaking, I have never heard of his name and know nothing about him. We first appreciated a documentary about George Takei’s life with his lifelong partner, Brad Takei. As a political activist, Takei has received international acclaim by helping change political discourses around the US internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. He is also a prominent spokesperson for the LGBT issues and gay marriage. Homosexuals and gays are abnormal persons in mainstream culture, especially in China. The most famous gay is Leslie Cheung, a well-known pop singer and actor in Hong Kong, who committed suicide on April 1, 2003. From my perspective, it’s hard to understand why persons would be attracted by members of the same sex, which is totally contrary to the universal theory—opposites attract. But nowadays there are more and more homosexuals and gays, who are eager to get rid of the prejudice upon them and even legalize gay marriage. From the documentary, George Takei and Brad Altman vowed to each other during their wedding ceremony at the Democracy Forum of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles on September 14, 2008. They have been together for 21years and Brad works as a broker and companion, who manage Takei’s professional and personal affairs. He even took care of Takei’s sick mother for a long time. It was arranged that Takei and his husband would come to the site and answer questions. But to our regret, they did not show up till the end. Only the producer and director of the documentary were present to answer some questions and reveal some interesting stories during the shooting time. 

George Takei and his partner 

To conclude, I would like to say everyone has his right to choose his lover, but it’s not fair for the children who are adopted by the gay couples because they cannot have the same normal family as others. 

A month in America

Time is fleeting! It has been more than a month since I came to USA. Reflecting upon the various persons and affairs I encountered, I find it really hard to express my feeling in words. Amazement, excitement, enjoyment, warmth, sorrow or nostalgia? 
I am excited for it’s the very first time for me to go abroad, especially to America, the most developed country in the world. Amazement comes from the beautiful natural scenery: blue sky, fleecy white clouds, wide green grasslands, clean sand  beach and fresh air without pollution. 

Washington Memorial 

beautiful rainbow at Niagara Fall

I enjoy the moment of class observation; the teaching inspiration from these dedicated and energetic instructors, particularly from Siggy and Carrie; the funny time during discussion and debate. 

Dr. Kirk Hughes

I feel warm and moved by enormous tiny matters and those nice and considerate people I came across in Yale—cab drivers, policemen, drivers of bus shuttle, the elder couple in the church… 
Sorrow or unhappiness overwhelmed me when I was in New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. It reminds me of the dark time in Chinese history when so many precious and rare culture relics were robbed and shipped to other countries. 

Chinese culture relics in New York Metropolitan Museum of Art

Nostalgia influences me from time to time because I miss my family members, my parents, my elder sister, especially my beloved husband and daughter. I haven’t been away from my husband and daughter for such a long time. What is their daily life? How does my daughter deal with the personal and learning problems without my companion and help? Now it’s so hot in Changsha whereas I enjoy the cool weather in New Haven. Are they suffering from the terribly high temperature? Can they sleep well and have a good appetite? Consequently, I am in a dilemma. On the one hand, I wish that I would stay a longer time in Yale, to learn more and experience more; on the other hand, I hope to go home immediately and enjoy the happy family time. Is there any miraculous power that can separate me in half? I wonder. However, life is filled with pleasure and regret. You can’t have your cake and eat it, which is a universal puzzle that even the philosopher can’t solve. How could I?   

my husband and daughter

   

Busy tourists

With the development of social wealth and the improvement of people’s lives, an increasing number of people intend to go traveling on vacation. Consequently, there are oceans of people in places of interest and scenery. Most of them follow the tour guides and do not have the freedom to decide their own routes and time. That’s why they are busy in taking photos before landmarks; it even takes ten to fifteen minutes to wait for their turn to pose before camera.

crowded tourists on the Great Wall

 In this case, there is little time left for those busy tourists to know history of places or appreciate beautiful scenery in details. Unfortunately, I am one of those busy tourists. Actually, that’s not the real trip I dream of. I hope to have leisure time to see more, hear more, feel more and reflect more. Travelling should enrich our experience and broaden our horizon. 

quiet beach 

I still remembered clearly the moment I had before the White House. Tourists from different countries rushed to there, each of them is eager to take photos before the political headquarters of America. It’s interesting, different colures of face, different languages emerge into a bustling picture. I also tried to take photos but in vain. I really wish one day I can have enough money and time to be a leisure tourist, travel around the world with my beloved. To meet different people and experience different cultures, just as what I have done in Yale now. 

solemn Sunday Worship at First Methodist Church

the First Methodist Church

    

the welcome board in front of the church

    Bell, Amanda and I went to attend the Sunday Worship at First Methodist Church this morning. It is the first time to go to the church, so everything is new and fresh to me.

   The church is located at 425 College Street. When we arrived there at about 9:45am, an elder lady greeted us warmly and gave each of us a handout about the procedure of the ceremony. The solemn moment began at 10:00am, which is composed of the following steps: prelude, call to worship, hymn, opening prayer, children’s moment, hymn, gospel lesson, psalter, sermon, announcement, offering, offertory, doxology, prayer of dedication, hymn, benediction and postlude. Among the 17 steps, two of them gave me a deep impression. One is the children’s time, 5 children went out and sat down in a circle with a middle-aged woman. She worked as an instructor to tell those children to be passionate and friendly to others, not be selfish and mean, which was told by Jesus Christ, God. The other impressive moment is the Offertory. An elder black lady’s beautiful songs announced the beginning of it. She is dressed in formal gown, with a black and white hat, elaborately designed jewelry, which looks like a delicate and elegant woman in classic movies. Her voice is so magnetic and penetrating that we all cannot help clapping and singing with the rhythm. Accompanied by her moving hymn, participants donated cash into two big metal bowls.

beautiful window inside 

  

    We were invited to join fellowship hour after the worship service. Snacks, desserts and drinks were provided free in the basement. Those nice and kind-hearted Christian expressed their hospitable welcome and all of us enjoyed a pleasant time. On the way home, two questions came into my mind: why most participants are white people whereas the majority I see on the street are black? Why most Christians are seniors, do those juniors not believe in God or they are too busy to attend the Sunday worship? Dear Carrie, could you do me a favor and give me the answers?    

senior Christian walking with difficulty 

   

Colorful Thursday afternoon (part II)

Carrie and I in the courtyard

The last part of the trip is the climax of the whole afternoon. We went to Carrie’s house. It’s is the very first time for me to visit an American home, so I am full of questions and curiosities. It is a two-story building with a huge courtyard and several old trees providing shades for family members and those grasslands and vegetables. The first thing comes to my eyes was some odd plants in the front yard. They are green plants with some small purple flowers. But when I touched the leaves, it seems that they felt like rough pleuche, a kind of textile fabrics. How weird they are! Carrie told me its name but I didn’t get the exact word.

weird plants

We were glad to enter Carrie’s house with her permission. There are a neat kitchen, an exquisite dining room, a spacious living room and a guest room on the first floor. I even took a photo when sitting in one of comfortable sofa. The images came into my mind immediately—how exhausted Carrie was after a day’s teaching and how busy she was in reading our blogs and giving comments. Strange imagination, isn’t it?

The vegetable garden in the courtyard attracted me at once. Lettuce, cucumbers, green tomatoes and beautiful squash flowers, what a lovely and harmonious pictures it is! In china it is impossible to plant vegetable beside your house in cities unless you are wealthy enough to purchase a villa. I was shocked when informed about the price of the house. The old house with beautiful views and spacious courtyard only cost Carrie $140,000. What a bargain! Now even in Changsha, it will cost us about &150,000 to buy a three-bedroom apartment, no furniture, no decoration, entirely empty.

beautiful squash flowers

lettuce

Ricky, Amanda and I enjoying snacks in Carrie's courtyard 

When considering the price of the house, I am puzzled by the big difference between Chinese and American concerning buying a house or not. According to a survey, New Yorker was accustomed to a renter culture; even at the peak of the bubble, only one third of New Yorkers owned their homes.  It seems that some Americans have no interest in buying a home.  Instead, they love the freedom of picking up luggages and moving anywhere. There is no need to be responsible for maintenance. On the contrary, Chinese tend to buy houses in spite of the high and incredible prices. Many people who buy property in China do so with their spouse. Only in this way do we feel that we are the permanent residents of a place and our occupation and life can be steady enough. What’s more, the children can be raised in a comfortable and familiar place, which is extremely essential for the next generation to receive better education and grow up more healthily and strongly.  

In my opinion, the issue about whether to purchase a house or not sheds light on a culture difference between America and Chinese. Chinese is characterized for rootedness and the word “place” means both location in space and position in society. To be tied to place is also to be bound to one’s status in life. On the other hand, American sometimes is criticized for rootlessness, which is a result of ideals they admire, namely, social mobility and optimism about future. 
Thank you Carrie for inviting me to your home, which is a really unforgettable moment in Yale.