It's the final week, exam week to be precise and the summer school programme is coming to an end. There was an inauguration ceremony in June, which seems ages ago, but unfortunately there won't be a closing ceremony. We won't be able to say our goodbyes in a proper, festive way with emotional speeches, hugs, photos and best wishes. That's why group 3 has decided to hold a dinner party and invite us foreign teachers and two of the Chinese colleagues, whom they are very close with.
I was sent the name and the location of the place last week. The name didn't ring a bell, but my GPS showed it next to Luxun Park, so I assumed it's the place we had lunch once last summer. I asked if it is really there and was told that it is. Well, as it turns out, it isn't. We walk towards the park, pass it, only to find out, that it isn't there, but it's in a hotel directly opposite our guesthouse. So, we walk all the way back and arrive late. Tracy, as Tongtong (Childhood-Childhood, what her name means - I wrote about her in the inauguration ceremony post) is known, organised the event and is quite nervous because we got lost and aren't there yet. She's relieved when she sees us coming.
We enter the hotel and walk up to the first floor where the private rooms are. Half of group 3 is there waiting for us. They have formed a line in front of the entrance to our private room and welcome us warm-heartedly. The other half got lost with us. The waiters know already what to bring and start bringing in the food. Our students have bought some whiskey and pass the bottles around.
We have some great food, drink beers, whiskey, water and tea, take many photos, hold some speeches, talk to each other about this and that, hug each other and when it's time to go home, we are close to tears. Three long months have nearly passed. When we met, we were complete strangers, but over time we got to know each other more and more and got closer. We have communicated in class and over WeChat in the various group or private chats. We have had many fun times and had to face some hard times. All those feelings and memories come up now.
I don't know what to feel this evening. Should I be happy or sad? Soon all of us will depart and we won't see each other anymore. A long summer in hot and humid Shanghai will come to an end. Soon all that remains are many photos and memories. Good memories of a long summer with many ups and a few downs, feelings and thoughts that are now strong, but will fade away over time, as if the wind will carry them away, to a far away, forgotten land.
I was sent the name and the location of the place last week. The name didn't ring a bell, but my GPS showed it next to Luxun Park, so I assumed it's the place we had lunch once last summer. I asked if it is really there and was told that it is. Well, as it turns out, it isn't. We walk towards the park, pass it, only to find out, that it isn't there, but it's in a hotel directly opposite our guesthouse. So, we walk all the way back and arrive late. Tracy, as Tongtong (Childhood-Childhood, what her name means - I wrote about her in the inauguration ceremony post) is known, organised the event and is quite nervous because we got lost and aren't there yet. She's relieved when she sees us coming.
We enter the hotel and walk up to the first floor where the private rooms are. Half of group 3 is there waiting for us. They have formed a line in front of the entrance to our private room and welcome us warm-heartedly. The other half got lost with us. The waiters know already what to bring and start bringing in the food. Our students have bought some whiskey and pass the bottles around.
We have some great food, drink beers, whiskey, water and tea, take many photos, hold some speeches, talk to each other about this and that, hug each other and when it's time to go home, we are close to tears. Three long months have nearly passed. When we met, we were complete strangers, but over time we got to know each other more and more and got closer. We have communicated in class and over WeChat in the various group or private chats. We have had many fun times and had to face some hard times. All those feelings and memories come up now.
I don't know what to feel this evening. Should I be happy or sad? Soon all of us will depart and we won't see each other anymore. A long summer in hot and humid Shanghai will come to an end. Soon all that remains are many photos and memories. Good memories of a long summer with many ups and a few downs, feelings and thoughts that are now strong, but will fade away over time, as if the wind will carry them away, to a far away, forgotten land.
Some of the food. More is to come.
(from left to right) Tongtong, Andy, Miss Luo
Saimi, Sunny, Find and Doris
Leon, Crystal, Doris
My dear colleague Leslaw
yeah!
Find, Doris and Crystal (from left to right)
Someone's smirking
With the boss, Miss Tongtong (more about her in my next post)
Josephine seems to be angry with Genji.
Winnie
Winnie caught a mosquito with her bare hand in class, during one of my classes and killed it. She then joked around and said 'Chinese breakfast' and talked about eating insects and their nutritional value, etc. and referred to some lessons we had had. Tears run almost down my cheeks. I was so touched to see that she learnt what we did in class and still remembered.
With Daisy
With Josephine who learnt to copy my movements and laughter
Boys club
Genji, Wamay, Ely, Keven
It's that way...
group selfies
The Boss, the one and only.
With Andy
With Findy, whose WeChat nickname is 'Bullet F'. So cool!
I kneeled down next to her to take a selfie and she jumped up saying 'no, no, no, don't do that! You're my teacher, you're not supposed to do that!' Teachers are highly respected in China and that's why she stood up and we took this photo. Thank you Dandi (her Chinese name), it was a pleasure having you in my class.
I kneeled down next to her to take a selfie and she jumped up saying 'no, no, no, don't do that! You're my teacher, you're not supposed to do that!' Teachers are highly respected in China and that's why she stood up and we took this photo. Thank you Dandi (her Chinese name), it was a pleasure having you in my class.
With Sunny
With Miss Luo. She is constantly playing with her mobile phone. Doesn't seem to be taking part in the lesson, is absorbed by her device and doesn't notice if you talk to or address her, but somehow, she's doing fine. She gets good marks in the exams and answers correctly (most of the time) when asked a question. How do you do it, Miss Luo?
someone is shy - Leon, who looks like a Hip-Hopper.
Howard, Leslaw and their gang
Howard, our boss for the summer
Three Kings, Ian on the right, me and a Chinese colleague.
pouring whiskey
Speech time. Keven is holding his speech.
I'm holding a speech.
Ian is holding a speech
group photo time
selfie time
Three Kings (Ian, me, Leslaw)
drinking time
click, click
Cheers ladies!
shocked!
with a Chinese colleague
Leslaw is telling a very interesting story.
Girls just wanna have fun (Cindy Lauper song)
Howard and Ian
Howard, our boss for the summer.
Ian
having a high-level conversation with Keven
Looking serious
Leon is bored.
Boys time
Oops, a girl among the boys!
We have found a mirror on the way out
The four Wai guo ren (foreigners)
Having a hell of a time (because Josephine is directly opposite copying me)
With Josephine, Winnie and Ian.
If you would like to read more by me, find the following two on Amazon by typing in the name Theodore Goumas
I miss that time and I miss you very much.
ReplyDeleteI am Tracy.
DeleteI miss you too. That was a great night and a fantastic summer!
Delete