Out and About . . . Exploring Beijing (Nov. 2017)

Dec 16

Dec 16 Out and About . . . Exploring Beijing (Nov. 2017)

Brigg and Janet

I really can't believe that we've been living here for over a year, yet there's so much of Beijing that we haven't seen! We spent several days in November visiting new places and checking things off the "list." To quote Brigg, who just LOVES it when I drag him around the city: "That looks like another tall building that we haven't seen yet . . ." We're lucky to have some adventurous friends, and the Forsyths also have Fridays free, so it's been a perfect time for all of us to explore. On one such Friday, we discovered the 798 Art District of Beijing and passed a pleasant but blustery morning strolling through galleries and gawking at the interesting sculptures lining the walkways.

The Art District is located in an old warehouse area of Beijing -- home to the first electronics factories built in the People's Republic of China. This year marked the 60th anniversary of the construction of the complex, built largely with Russian and East German technology. Although most of the buildings today house artists' galleries, studios, and lofts, there are still a few reminders of the early PRC days.

You never know what you're going to find in Beijing . . .

Stumbled upon this cute little parasol shop where the owner/craftsman was constructing and painting the parasols just as they have been crafted for thousands of years. Of course, I had to get one . . . don't know what I'm going to do with it . . . anyone need an authentic, artsy Chinese parasol?

The weather this autumn has been ridiculously beautiful with a sky that our students cynically refer to as "APEC blue." (When the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates meet in China, the government shuts down the factories and bans coal-burning, thus controlling the pollution while dignitaries are visiting.) Blame it on the Chinese Congress, which has been meeting in Beijing this fall (only happens every five years) or perhaps the Trump visit -- but we've gleefully tucked the masks away for now -- BREATHE DEEPLY!!

Although we missed the most beautiful fall foliage in the mountains by about a week, we still enjoyed a brisk afternoon with the Forsyths and about 1.5 million of our fellow Beijingers in the Fragrant Hills, where we hiked the trails, took in the scenery, and shivered on a ski lift as we rode to the top of the mountain (blurry photo -- hands were shaking).

Also in November -- finally found Lily's American Diner and the Lululemon "outlet" -- wandered through a very old, quaint section of the city looking for the Christian woodcarver (success!) -- and on November 15, the Shanghai Sharks came to Beijing, so of course we went to watch Jimmer. Fun evening! Very productive month!

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.

Dec 16 Out and About . . . Exploring Beijing (Nov. 2017)

You never know what you're going to find in Beijing . . .

Stumbled upon this cute little parasol shop where the owner/craftsman was constructing and painting the parasols just as they have been crafted for thousands of years. Of course, I had to get one . . . don't know what I'm going to do with it . . . anyone need an authentic, artsy Chinese parasol?

Jan 2 Happy New Year China Style! (January 2018)

Dec 15 Four More Steeles Runnin' Through China . . . (Oct. 2017)

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