Pandas, Peppers and an earful of pandemonium!

It’s been a strange old sort of day, with so much going on that I am beginning to feel exhausted! The school part of the trip is almost a welcome return to routine, as the rest of the time, events here seem quite bizarre.

Take today for instance, I have been mugged by a rather large bamboo stalk that seemed to intrinsically attach itself to my rucksack, as I simply sat resting on a bench, (an event that the terrible trio seemed to find hilarious for some reason, and rather than rush to my aid, all rushed to get their cameras out to photograph said event!) a panda tried to claim squatters rights on my hotel room, (Miss Butler is bound to elaborate!) and a small fish that I was demonstrating my excellent chopsticks technique on at dinner, suddenly miraculously came back to life and proceeded to do double somersaults out of my bowl. (Now might be a good time to mention that Miss Harrington no longer holds the title of Chopstick Queen – her badly splashed blouse will be used as future evidence as to the reason why!) I was going to give the title to Miss Butler, but after she demonstrated her canoe technique, where she was able to dip both ends of the sticks into different bowls at the same time, I have to pass the title to Mrs. Thompson.

Talking of Miss Harrington, although she has taken on the title of Fashion reporter, she has badly neglected to mention that strange headwear seems to be in fashion in Chengdu.

 

The latest fashion as modelled by Miss Butler.



Finally, I thought I would mention that we managed to buy a couple of gifts for people back home today. I do hope Miss Harrington’s fiancée likes bright colours! (Ivan, wear some shades when she opens her bag!)

Mr. Golightly

Well the coats actually came off today as the temperature reached 18 degrees this afternoon! 

Miss Butler and I taught an English lesson today to grade one children (5 year olds).  We played the nursery rhyme DVD that my class performed.  It went very well!

After school today we were taken to Wuhou temple and to some traditional streets where local craft goods were sold.  The area was stunning and the cameras were snapping away like never before!  We even got the chance to dress up in traditional costume…..Mr Golightly particularly enjoyed this experience! 



Emperor Golightly and servants.



We learned all about the past kings and military leaders, it was fascinating!  Whilst we were walking around this area it was amazing to see the interest we caused!  I was asked to have a photo taken with a Chinese couple and we spotted a few camera lenses pointing our way!  We think it is due to the lack of westerners in Chengdu.  There have been too many new and exciting experiences to tell you about, but my first ever professional ear cleaning session is worth a mention!

Our evening meal was interesting again, of course!  I’m afraid I may have lost my ‘Master of the chopsticks title’…..Mr Golightly will embarrass me about this I’m sure!

It is great to hear all of your comments, keep them coming.  James Cresswell – I haven’t spotted Kung Fu Panda yet but came close today at the panda breeding centre…..I’ll keep looking. 

Susan Tarrant – The ladies are quite stylish here in Chengdu.  They mainly wear leggings or short skirts with leggings and shiny puffer coats.  They all seem to have lovely silky long hair!

Time to pass the laptop over now…….keep reading and commenting!  

 Miss Harrington

I’m going to put a cat amongst the pigeons and begin my blog with Miss Butlers’ increasingly famous saying this week!!! ‘It gave me the greatest pleasure’ to take all your fabulous buildings artwork into Wuhou School this morning in preparation for the lessons we were teaching today.  The children loved it and were keen to do their own paintings in the same way.  Mr Golightly and I were fortunate enough to be able teach Grade 3, the equivalent of our year 3 and caused quite a stir when we showed the children photographs of traditional buildings in and around Ashby. 

 

Sharing artwork with Chinese class.



The children found it fascinating and cheered with every new slide.  They used a variety of media and have begun their masterpieces.  The children worked with such enthusiasm and we are hoping to see some of their finished pieces of work on Friday at the farewell party.  I thoroughly enjoyed the lesson, although both the children and I had some difficulties communicating when using art related language. 

Back in my role as ‘Food Critic’, we have continued to sample a wide variety of foods and have regularly lost the feeling in our mouths due to the famous Sichuen pepper! – I must start eating with my eyes open!!  Lunch today was fantastic!  After lessons we stopped quickly in Jin Lin Street, in the grounds of the Wuhou Temple and tasted peanut noodles, wanton dumplings, sticky rice wrapped in string and uncooked vine leaf parcels with sticky rice in the centre.  Our understanding is that, as well as being eaten, these special vine leaf parcels represent the symbolic dragon and that they are thrown into the water during Dragon Boat races.

And last but not least…seeing the pandas today was certainly an experience I will never forget.  My camera was constantly clicking away and we all have pandas now as the background on our mobile phones!  The pandas were beautiful creatures and seeing them so close was breathtaking!  I can’t wait to show you all more photographs of these beautiful creatures.

Mrs. Thompson

It was an incredible experience today being able to teach at Wuhou School. I taught a lesson on Nursery Rhymes alongside Miss Harrington which was great fun! The children were all so very excited to join in with the words and the actions, myself included in this – loved it! All of the Grade 1 children could say, “Hello Teacher!” and were clearly very proud to speak to us in English. Mrs Thompson videoed the children performing their version of our Nursery Rhymes so that we can show this to you all when we get back. At the end of the lesson it was great fun when the children tried to teach Miss Harrington and myself some English rhymes they had learnt together at school. Mr Golightly ensured that the technology worked for us!





Excited children after the nursery rhymes.



Also, it was a real pleasure to talk to the Chinese Art teacher about the buildings artwork that the children at Ashby CE Primary had produced in the Art lesson today. It looked wonderful pinned up on the board. It inspired the Chinese children to begin their own artwork with great enthusiasm.

A magical moment for me today was seeing my first ever panda in real life…so much to mention to fit in here. Incredible!

During our visit, Mr Golightly caused near pandemonium when his hotel card accidentally slipped out of his pocket whilst he was busy clicking away at the pandas at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre. A local Chinese lady very politely pointed this out to him and we all reached over to retrieve it before it became the newest addition to panda food! The nearby sign clearly said in both Mandarin and English, “Do not feed the pandas.” Seemingly, Mr Golightly had noticed this! But…all ended well with the pandas sleeping whilst the rescue of the hotel card took place.

Thank you all for your messages which are keeping all of our teachers smiling each day reading them on the Blog.

Miss Butler

 

Almost forgot, we met a few of these things today!



 p.s. Keep the comments coming kids, and the football results Harry R.