Today is a school day here in China. I know that it is Saturday as I write this, a day that is not a school day. But today, though it is Saturday, September 25th, for the teachers and students, it is Friday, September 24th. Classes were postponed in order to allow students and teachers to have a three-day holiday for Mid-Autumn Festival. This moving of classes is also matched by moving workdays for bank and government employees.
With National Day holiday coming up in a week, a holiday with three official days off, the same thing will happen in order to give everyone a week long holiday. We work next Wednesday’s classes tomorrow, and then Thursday’s classes on Saturday October 9th. Trust me, it all works out in the end.
These two photos were taken by Maureen while we taught at a local public school (Grades 1 to 6 primary school). We get to teach there on Tuesday afternoons through arrangement by our university and the primary school’s administration. Of course it means extra money so that is good. The students are busy with “eye exercises” an activity repeated every school day in the afternoon all over China. It was interesting to watch. Our grandchildren Devon and Hunter will remember this event from when they visited us in the spring of 2008.
After teaching two afternoon periods, it was time for some of the students to head home. Here the parents and grandparents are waiting for their child to leave for the day. Not all the students leave at the same time. Classes take turns leaving in an orderly fashion.
We finished off the day holding an English Corner, an optional activity for those wanting to improve their English (or having parents who want them to improve their English). I get the grade 5 group and Maureen gets the grade fours. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Wow such organization. School here doesn’t lool like that when the final bell rings. Orderly and turn taking is the last thing on anyone’s mind.