Merry Christmas from Shanghai!!!!

My friend Mary sent this to me- a beer bottle Xmas tree in Shanghai. From the photo, it looks like it must be on Nanjing Road.
Enjoying Day 2 of a two-Day holiday. Will be back at work as usual tomorrow- and then two days of a Symposium to celebrate 50 years of Shanghai Foreign Languages School.
I have been asked to give a 10-minute "talk" on the theme of the conference - "Educating Future Leaders on the International Stage".........
I was asked on December 23rd. I was asked for the "draft" December 24th ( My Xmas Eve holiday) and I have written 10 words today - My XMAS DAY holiday...............oh well..............

Xmas Pot-Luck in he Dorm December 20

The room looked like Xmas- with the tree , the wreath and the candles

M. Jean had the honour of distributing the Secret Santa gifts. He got to kiss all the girls except me- I'm still full of cold…….Left to right: Bianca ( Germany) Adelia (  Kurdistan) Sant Clause ( M. Jean - France) Sunshine ( Shanghai), Laura ( U.S. via Mexico) and the "lone" Canadian

Chicken for Xmas anyone?

I've never seen a chicken vendor in my neighbourhood before - right in the ally-ways. Usually they are on the street to get more "visibility". But, maybe because it is close to Xmas, they move closer to where families live………….

Riddle: What do Ex-Pats bring to a Christmas Pot-Luck in Shanghai?

Anything they can get their hands on..................
My digital camera was not cooperating, so I will post pics from Vicky's email.
We were eight in total- M. Jean was in such good spirits, that he donned his Santa Claus outfit. He got my name in the Secret Santa and guess what, he's French, right?

A 2006 Bordeaux from the very region where he lives. Very, very, nice!

A Christmas Card from Home!!!!!!!!!! Guards gave it to me on my exit yesterday from School! Thanks Carol Anne- so cute- so Canadian!!!!!!
The leftovers from our feast

we enjoyed Pasta Salad ( moi- and it was not bad!), three different kinds of sushi, a mushroom dish from Sunshine that disappeared immediately ( Mmmmmm), caviar - yes- caviar on toasts, fish cakes, ham, sausage, cheese, spiced peanuts and a cheesecake. A feast!

Bianca, ( German teacher)Adelia ( married to Murray - English teacher), Santa Clause ( M Jean- French Teacher)) Sunshine ( my Translator and English teacher), Laura ( English teacher - with the Latino accent!) and me!

M.  Jean handed out the secret santa gifts

He got a kiss from all - except me with the nasty cold………..

It looks like the cheesecake went down well……………..

Thank you my Grade six Students for a lovely CHRISTMAS-Y Day

Xmas cards up:

Gifts to open on Xmas day!

Feeling BLUE in RED China…………..

Nothing a class of PreJuniors can't fix…………….

Go Ahead, ask me if I cried………..

Photos of the Chalk Board and students to follow…………..

Nin Hao, laoshi Ren!

My Mandarin (zhong wen - Chinese) laoshi (teacher) asked for my Blog address tonight in class. I am nervous about his perceptions of my perceptions of China.

Ren Guang Yuan ( my teacher's name) is a very nice man a very good (hen hao) teacher.
Laoshi Ren - are you reading this?

Laoshi Ren bought Bianca and I each a huo long duo ( dragon fruit) which we learned last week.
 We will have a lesson and greet each other next Wednesday December 25th:

Sheng dan jie kuai le

Merry Christmas!

Maybe I will bring

pu tao ( grapes)

Are you reading this Laoshi Ren? (teacher Ren?)

Wo ye hen hao ( I am very well)
Xeixie! (Thank you)
Zaijian! ( see you next time!)