Visit From BYU

This week our BYU directors of the China Teachers Program arrived in Jinan.  Jamie and Geneil spent most of the week visiting classes and checking out our "living arrangements."  They also met with university officials to coordinate communication, get feedback and resolve concerns.  We learned that the university was very happy with our teaching performance and wanted to invite us back for another year.  We wondered a little about that since NO ONE has been in our classes to observe.  Apparently, the report from the students has been favorable. 

Since Jamie and Geneil were here, we were fed well!  There was a luncheon with school officials, a dinner for us hosted by BYU and we had dinner with the Jinan BYU teachers before we attended a concert together.

 This was after the lunch sponsored by Shandong University.  Ji Rui is the Deputy Director or The Department of International Affairs.  He was accompanied by five other members of the international office staff.

The BYU China Teachers Program sponsored this dinner.  It was held at the Hanlin Hotel, where 5 of our group live.  It was nice spending time with Jamie and Geneil Ballentine, executive directors.  (They are the couple in the middle of the picture)

The concert was at Shandong University of Arts, which is not part of our university.  One of our church members has a mother who is a former Chinese opera singer and she had a solo part in a chorus.  Plus there was everything from Chinese musical instruments and dance to an "act" to rally nationalism for the Communist Party.  We understood that the President of the University as well as the University Secretary of the Communist Party were seated behind us.

Kathy's mom is in the middle, front.  She sang a part by herself and in spite of her age, (75), her voice was strong. 

This particular number was originally created and performed by the Beijing Opera during the early years of China's experience as a communist country.

The highlight of the night featured an all-girl group playing traditional Chinese instruments.  Their performance was exceptional. 

This dance number was quite unusual

On Wednesday Stan was asked to present some information about our hometown during a student international festival.  He wasn't really sure about the event and what they really wanted, but he prepared a ppt as requested.  When we arrived there were about 200+ students in the room!  It was decorated with balloons and rock music was playing.  Most of the presentations were skits, songs or dance numbers by various foreign student groups on campus and it was all in Mandarin.  There was one Australian exchange student who talked about his city and said he didn't understand a word of Chinese.  We wondered how he could attend classes here??  Anyway, Stan, feeling very "awkward" in these circumstances, quickly presented some facts about Hillsboro and then taught them  a "native American" camp song!  It actually turned out ok and he didn't make a complete fool of himself. 

This is picture of Stan's forehead and some of the students attending the Foreign Student Union Party.

We continue to learn many interesting things from our students.  They are remarkably open about their opinions and are not afraid to criticize government policies or practices.  One topic currently in the news is the "One child" policy.  In one of our writing assignments a student wrote,

"As the second child of my family, by birth violated the ONE CHILD Policy so I was sent to the countryside as soon as I was born and then brought up by my grandparents til I was 7."

 

At the recent CCP 3rd Plenum, a revised one child policy was announced.  Now if one marriage partner is an only child, a second child will be allowed.  Since 1979,  couples generally could only have one child unless both were only children, they had a disabled child or they had a girl and lived in a rural area.  Each province makes and enforces its own rules.  Many of our students have at least one sibling, although some of their parents had to pay a "fine" for the privilege of having another child.  Some "fines" are about $500 US, but can range up to $50,000!!

While we were touring in Beijing the previous weekend, our tour guide answered some questions.  Here are some interesting "tidbits' about life in China.
1.  Because of the pollution problem, car purchases are limited in China.  There is a lottery to get a registration for a vehicle.  They can cost $13,000!! Only about 20% of the applicants are successful. Some people get a license plate even if they don't own a car!  Then, they will have the registration if they get the money to purchase one in the future.  A Chinese manufactured car only costs about $5,000, but we have seen many BMW's, etc. on the streets!
2.  Mandatory retirement age is 55 for women and 60 for men, although there is some discussion about raising the limit.  We rarely see "senior citizens" working, except for sweeping the streets.  Most are caring for a grandchild in their retirement.
3.  Housing costs have skyrocketed in the past 5 years, especially in the big cities.  Modest condos can cost $1 million in downtown areas like Beijing.
4.  A recent college graduate with a BA can make $800 a month, but if they are in a large city, housing costs are quite high.
5.  When a couple decides to marry, the groom and his family is expected to help the couple get started in their life. 
1970...groom must have a bicycle, sewing machine and watch
1980...groom must have a motorcycle and color tv
1990...groom must have a computer, gold ring or necklace and a cheap car
2000...groom must have a condo, diamond ring and a fancy car!
Parents often give their life savings to the couple to buy a condo or help finance a loan.  Currently, privately owned housing will need to be returned to the government after 70 years.  (Since 70 years has not passed yet, no one knows if this will be enforced).  Before 1990 there was no private ownership of homes.  Apartments were provided by the government as part of your job and you often got "promoted" to a nicer place.  Where ever you lived at the time of your retirement was your permanent residence. 


Here are some pictures from our trip to Beijing that we did not include in our earlier post:

 

 We stopped at a China jade factory where they showed us "authentic" pieces of art.  The artisan is carving a "happy family ball."   It begins with a solid piece of jade and then is carved, through the holes.  Inside are a series of smaller and smaller spheres all quite intricate.

This ancient Chinese ship is carved totally of jade.  It is not one piece, however.  Nancy didn't think we could "cart" it home in our luggage.

 These are a few additional pictures of the Great Wall

 

At the entrance to The Great Wall are these Chinese characters written in Mao's handwriting.  It states something to the effect that "you are not a man until you climb the wall."

 These were taken at the Summer Palace and they feature the world's longest corridor???  This wooden framed corridor extends several kilometers and includes paintings of famous scenes in Chinese history.

The lake and buildings near the Summer Palace

 

This one was taken in the Olympic Park.  This is the "Water Cube."

 

Tiananmen square.  Notice - the air was clear.  No smog.

Also, Tiananmen Square and the Communist Party headquarters

 

There were many soldiers marching in the square that morning; no weapons, but plenty of "presence."

 

 Inside the Forbidden City

 

 Forbidden City

 

Inside the gardens of the Forbidden City is this unusual rock formation. 

  It is called the "Accummlated Beauty Hill."  Individual pieces were transported to the site and then put together to create an artificial mountain with a cave.  Included is a giant fountain with water flowing out of dragons mouths.  The emperor and his royal family would climb to the top one time each year to enjoy the scenery.