It's a Zoo Here! (Sept. 2016)

Sep 28

Sep 28 It's a Zoo Here! (Sept. 2016)

Brigg and Janet

Brigg and I teach on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, so last week we finished all our work on Monday so that we could go to the Beijing Zoo on Tuesday. The zoo is on the #4 subway line--same line we hop on at the East Gate Peking University stop--so it was very easy to get there. The subway dropped us off right at the gate. We showed our birthdates on our passports so that we could get in for half price and then paid our 19 kwai (yuan), which works out to less than $3 U.S. for both of us to enter the zoo. After the morning was over and we were a bit tired of walking, Brigg asked, "Did you get your $1.50 worth?"

I've been to zoos before, but this is the first time I've seen pandas! Lori told me that the panda is the only truly P.C. animal--it's black AND white AND Asian (and it's fat too!) Anyway, what a fun morning! We certainly did our walking--to and from the subway stations and then around the zoo--wish I had my step counter with me! While we were there, this darling little girl came up and tugged at me and said, "Hello!" As you know by now, this is not a new experience. I looked over her shoulder and saw a grandmother a few yards away who was clearly prompting and encouraging her. I visited with her for a second, gave her a keychain (which she's holding in her right hand), and then asked her grandmother if she would take our picture. She was very pleased to do so.

The grounds of the zoo were very park-like and pretty, which made our walk all the more pleasant.

You can take a look to see how my "big guy" compares to the wildlife here!

This next guy really caught my eye ("I like to move it, move it . . .")--and the next guy, well, what can I say?--there is apparently a real need for llama groomers in Beijing . . .

But the real treat for me--the pandas!! (I admit I was a bit photo-happy--but they're sooooooo cute!!) Just click on the pictures to see more . . .

It was a very pleasant morning, but after we left the park, we returned to the REAL zoo (yes, my bicycle is in there somewhere--yes, those chicken feet are people food, and yes, that is a four-lane highway/intersection--that's how we cross the street here!)

We’re Back!!

I can’t believe it, but at the invitation of PKU and with the encouragement of BYU, we returned to Beijing for the 2018-2019 teaching year.

Brigg continues to teach some of the most popular classes on campus — this, at least, according to many of my students who are hooked into PKU social media during registration time. It seems that there is continuous chatter about how to get into one of Mr. Steele’s Business English classes. The students have an allotment of “points” they can use to “bid” for priority in registration, and many students report using ALL of their points just to get into one of Brigg’s classes! He teaches these Business English classes on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again on Wednesdays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

I continue to teach four sections of Critical Thinking/Academic Writing — Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Both Brigg and I teach a section of Oral English for English Majors on Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. We enjoy teaching the same course, although in different buildings, and have even switched things up on occasion, sharing our “expertise” with each other’s classes.

We were asked this year if we would teach an additional children’s oral English class, available only to those affiliated with PKU. We were told that this was a request from parents who wanted to enroll their children, but only if we were going to be the teachers. I know! Flattering! How could we refuse?? So we’re teaching the same Grade 2 class we taught last year (with a few new faces) on Wednesday evenings, but we’re also teaching a group of “beginners” (mostly 6-year-olds) on Monday evenings. We’ve had a lot of fun sharing American culture with them, including the carving of Halloween jack-o-lanterns in October and the decorating of various holiday-themed treats.

I continue to tutor my 9-year-old Thomas as well, sometimes twice a week. He loves to come to our apartment even when not having a formal lesson just to play games or read stories. Brigg has to hide his treats, though, because Thomas eats EVERYTHING he can find!

We love our continuing relationships with our former students and friends, especially our BYU China Teacher colleagues, who are our “family” while we’re so far from home!

Hi.

Sep 28 It's a Zoo Here! (Sept. 2016)

The grounds of the zoo were very park-like and pretty, which made our walk all the more pleasant.

You can take a look to see how my "big guy" compares to the wildlife here!

This next guy really caught my eye ("I like to move it, move it . . .")--and the next guy, well, what can I say?--there is apparently a real need for llama groomers in Beijing . . .

But the real treat for me--the pandas!! (I admit I was a bit photo-happy--but they're sooooooo cute!!) Just click on the pictures to see more . . .

It was a very pleasant morning, but after we left the park, we returned to the REAL zoo (yes, my bicycle is in there somewhere--yes, those chicken feet are people food, and yes, that is a four-lane highway/intersection--that's how we cross the street here!)

Oct 7 Say What . . . . . . ????? (Oct. 2016)

Sep 14 PKU in the morning . . . (Sept. 2016)

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