Where is Elizabeth?

Probably only Chris and Anne will appreciate this: I watched Nathan play cricket today (more on that later) at the Nanjing Institute of Technology and while I was on the bleachers trying to get a closer shot, I wandered into what appeared to have once been a classroom.  It was dark and dusty and I just had to take some photos.  The windows were boarded up, but I could see the game through a hole in the boards.

ONCE UPON A TIME, two girls wandered into an enchanted forest.  They walked along the forest’s path until they came upon a bonsai garden.  The garden contained many miniature trees cultivated by a man unseen.  The girls loved the tiny trees and wished to be surrounded by them always.  They then left the bonsai garden and continued to follow the path until they came upon a blackberry patch.  The girls are forever hungry and so they stole into the patch and tasted some of the berries.

“They taste like summer!” said one of the girls.

After feasting on berries, they continued along the path until they noticed a flock of white birds in the distance.  They moved closer to the birds and found them to be quite friendly and tame.  They fed them almonds and listened to their gentle cooing.  Under a nearby tree lay two sinister looking black dogs.  The dogs did not move as the girls crept past them towards a large glass building.  The building was locked mostly empty but not for some plants in the distance.  They moved around the building and stumbled into a rose garden.  Here they encountered several people speaking a strange language and, after noting the different types of roses, moved on.  Next, they meandered through a pinetum and arboretum which led them to an area filled with flowers.  One girl, who has it in her blood to photograph flowers, snapped away while the other identified the flowers and called them by name.

“That one is burdock,” she said

“This one can be used as toilet paper in a pinch,” she noted.

There was deadly nightshade and echinacea and Queen Anne’s Lace among others.  Though astonished by her companion’s vast knowledge of flora, the girl photographing continued to visually catalogue each specimen.  Below is her work.

Tired and hot, the girls finally awoke from their enchantment, left the forest and boarded the public coach home.  However, they will not soon forget their magical day and the memories made.

THE END

Ni hao, Ms. Wu and The Charming Cheetahs Class at The Spence School in New York!  I hope you are enjoying learning about this new and different culture.  These are very good questions about China and I’m so happy to answer them for you:

1. Why did you choose to move to and work in China?

I chose to go to China to experience a different culture and do interesting things.  I studied to be a teacher in college, so teaching English in China was a good job for me.

2. Where in China do you live?

I live in Nanjing, which is in Jiangsu province.  It is in the east of China.  The name Nanjing means “south capital” because it used to be the capital of China before Beijing (which means “north capital”).

3. Is it hard living in a different country?

Yes, it is.  When I first moved to China, everything was new and interesting.  After I became used to living here, I noticed all the differences more.  The food, language, people and culture are very different from America.  I also miss my friends and family a lot.

4. Can you speak Chinese? If not, how do you talk to people?!?

When I first came to China, I could not speak any Chinese!  It was very difficult to go places, but Chinese friends helped me a lot.  Then I began to learn more words and could do things on my own.  My Chinese is still not very good, but I can easily do things like go shopping, order food at a restaurant, take a taxi or bus, and travel.  Reading is more difficult than speaking.  But even if you do not know any Chinese, the Chinese people are very helpful.

5. What is your favorite food? What is it like?

My favorite Chinese dish is Gong Bao Ji Ding (called “Kung Pow Chicken” in America).  It is small pieces of chicken with peanuts and hot chili peppers.  It is very spicy!

There is some very strange food in China.  I have eaten snake, pigeon, pig ears, and goose foot!

6. What’s been your most favorite thing about living in China?

I have really enjoyed traveling around China meeting different people and seeing interesting things.  I have been to many cities in China including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  I usually travel by train.  You can stay in a room with beds and travel overnight on the train!

7. Your least favorite?

The worst thing is being away from family and friends.

8. What kinds of things did you teach your elementary students?

I taught them the English words for things like colors, feelings, animals, clothing, actions, rooms in a house, places and transportation.  We played lots of games.

9. Have you seen a panda bear? What other animals have you seen?

Yes, I have seen several panda bears. They are in most zoos, including the Nanjing zoo.  I have also seen red pandas, giraffes, elephants, camels, sun bears, monkeys, ligers, and reptiles at zoos.  I often see live chickens, snakes, frogs, turtles, crayfish, fish, and eels for sale to eat.  And I have seen goats, monkeys, ducks, and water buffalo in the wild.

I had fun answering your questions.  I hope my answers and pictures help you learn more about China.  Let me know if you want to know more!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth

Two weekends ago we had a Friday off work for Tomb Sweeping Day and Lily and I went to Hangzhou.  We didn’t sweep any tombs, but we did go to West Lake and the Longjing Tea Village and ate great Mexican food.  We had quite a few technical difficulties with our hotel and bus tickets, but still managed to have a pretty tea-rific time.

I was looking at these photographs which put me in the mood to share.  So here is the first set of some of my favorite China photos.