2017, June 17 – So, basically, that all happened on June the 7th. Technically my last day of the term. Other professors and students still continue until the end of June. But considering I’m old an all…they let me go early because I taught a 13 week course, teaching 18 hours a week. It was a specialized timeframe for this course – so…
Today is June the 17th. And all that you just saw happened 10 days ago. In two days, Monday the 19th. I start my journey back home. Even though his wild and crazy country and incredible people have made this my second home.
But the long strange trip isn’t over…August 2nd, I return for my Fall term teaching Abstract Painting. However, Mary is accompanying me on return. She will stay about 6 weeks and return to Rochester. But this is after she and I and a good friend and my next term interpreter / translator travel around China. Our hired, personal interpreter will accompany us and we will visit Beijing and the Great Wall, Xi’an and the Terracotta Warriors, Chengdu and the Giant Panda Reserve, Suzhou and the Suzhou Gardens and finally Shanghai. A 12 day excursion which will be quite amazing I’m sure. So, glad I was able to come here in advance and meet people that have been so helpful, courteous, kind and completely hospitable to the nth degree! This trip Mary and I are taking would not be possible if it weren’t for our interpreter, travel agent and guide. The language barrier is dramatic – very difficult to communicate on a simple everyday basis. And to decipher the written Chinese language concerning train and plane schedules, food, directions would be absolutely impossible!
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity not only to teach in China for an entire year, but to see this incredible country up close and personal with limited stress and inconvenience. Yes, this adventure of mine has been pretty hard on the family for sure; the isolation, frustration, logistical difficulties of being apart and all – but in the end! Wow! What a long strange trip to be continued…. Only half way to the finish line!!
Stay Tuned………Still More To Come……….