Hello one and all.  I can’t believe how quick time is going this semester and how long it’s been since I last wrote something for the blog.  All I can say is I’m busy, just like everyone else around WuDa!

Classes are going well.  I’m teaching American culture this semester.  Some of you might not know what that means.  Others might make the joke, “America has culture?”  I actually think it’s funny…many people think that America just brings movies, television shows and McDonald’s.  That is true (ha ha), but we do have different ways of living and values compared to other cultures, which I think is worth learning.  So, I try my best to share a more accurate way of life in the U.S.  Chinese who watch American movies and television are learning about U.S. culture, but that doesn’t mean it’s all true.  In fact, the only way you can truly learn about life in another culture is to actually live there and be immersed in it.  I’m lucky to be able to do that in Chinese culture by living in China.  I try my best to have as many Chinese friends as possible so this can happen.

Anyways, I’m enjoying sharing my culture with the students.  I also am not shy to talk about the parts of American culture and American life that aren’t always positive.  I think some of the students might be shocked that I speak about my country in critical ways so easily…I mean that I don’t say only good things.  Some others students have thanked me for being forthcoming and honest.  I think that in our global society, that is getting smaller and smaller every day, it’s VERY important that we HONESTLY evaluate our own countries and cultures to assess what is working and what is not working.  I don’t want to say “good” and “bad”, because what is good and bad?  It’s different to each person and especially different cultures.  I want to be a responsible American, and I think one way to do that is to practice the rights I’ve been given.  Besides, I want to hear what Chinese think about the U.S. so I can take that information back to the U.S.  It’s what we call a dialogue, like diplomats and governments do.  I’m trying to do my part!

The cherry blossoms have come and gone, but the weather has been usually warm around Wuhan, much warmer than my hometown in Huron, Ohio.  In fact, my area back in the U.S. has had a lot of snow in the past couple of weeks.  So while we are here in the warm weather with t-shirt and jeans (at least me) my friends and family are shivering inside!  It’s like I’m on vacation! 

I also just returned from a trip to Xi’an with some of my fellow foreign teachers at WuDa.  It wasn’t a long trip, but one that allowed me to see a lot of cool things in Xi’an City area.  I’ll write more about that later.  Time to study some Chinese!  Until next time…

Eric