John and Helen

John teaches at Zhejiang Univeristy. His wife, Helen runs the China TEFL network connecting schools in China with foreign teachers. I first met John in 2000 when I taught at the Zhejiang University Summer English Camp. They are my best friends in Hangzhou and among the handful of people I have met in China with whom I can deal with trust.

John, Helen, and Car

China TEFL has gotten very successful over the last three years. One Saturday, John and Helen asked me to accompany them to a car dealership so they, or rather the company-China-TEFL, could buy its very first car. They chose GM. I spent 6 hours there with them helping them decide which of one model that comes in all of three colors (black, blue and white) to choose. Here's what they got. John's the first teacher in China I have met in four years here who has a car. Obviously, Chinese universities need to pay their professors more!

Foreign Teachers

John Rosenwald (L), a Fulbright Professor from Beloit College teaching here at Zhejiang Univeristy came up with the idea to have the foreign teachers present Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" in a One Act Play reading.

Here we are in all our (non) glory. Yeah, that's me in the hat I bought in Harbin last winter (See Harbin in the Photo Gallery). I was the Sheriff.

From L to R: John, Steve Ingeman, Moi, Martha Zenk, and Ann Arbor (true name!)

Maury McCullen

In the only picture you'll ever see of this guy NOT smiling.

Maury's another Fulbright Professor here this semester. He recently retired from The University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. but he has been coming to China on Fulbrights for the last fifteen years.

The jolliest guy I have met in China - and he just celebrated his XXth birthday. (I refuse to reveal the number. Just as I refuse to Donna's number (my old friend from Jinzhou). I will reveal, though, that neither of their numbers are the same; yet both are multiples of ten.

Great Play!

Here's a candid shot of the front row during the Trifles. The gesticulating guy in the red sweater is Maury. To his right, in the mustard-colored sweater is Carlyn Wei another foreign teacher here (from Iowa).

Next to her is Li Hua who runs the Foreign Expert Guest House where we all live. She is EASILY the best general manager for living conditions I have come across in four years and numerous schools in China. She has native fluency in English AND Japanese and can also speak some German. There is a diversity of foreign professors living in the Guest House, and she handles things flawlessly.

The little guy on the left with his hand to his face is Carlyn's son Alex. Obviously, he wasn't enjoying the play as much as Maury.

Adult Students

I had an evening class for adults who wanted to improve their English and they joined the class. The adult students often met after class, say, as here, at a tea house. It was Maggie's birthday. She's in the front, second from the right. The tall guy with the moustache standing behind Maggie is...well, you know who.

Lily, Ada, and Maggie

Lily is an English teacher, Ada works for a bank, and Maggie works for an Import-Export company.

Maggie, again

At the tea house on Maggie's birthday. Here's me singing Happy Birthday to her. NOT!

Vivian, Angela, Lily

I teach YET another evening class of adult workers. Once again, the students often get together. Here, three of them invited me out on New Year's Day (2002, Jan. 1).

Meet Vivian, Angela, and Lily. Vivian and Lily work for Zhejiang Airlines - Vivian in the Advertising Dept. and Lily (believe it or not) in the Plane Maintenance Dept. She's in charge of scheduling service on the planes! This is a great combination: I can get discounts on plane flights and be assured (knowing Lily's very responsible) that the plane makes it safely to it's destination. Angela is a secretary in an Import-Export firm and has quickly become one of my best friends in Hangzhou.

Angela, again

Angela hates this picture but I love it. She and I were climbing a mountain and there were wild flowers everywhere. I placed one behind her ear and snapped this photo. She claims that "proper" Chinese girls don't do such things (place flowers in their hair). Whatever, I think it's nice.

Jessica and friends

I met Jessica shortly after I arrived in Hanzghou. She's the one in the hat. Her English is excellent and she is a self-study student (teaching herself). I have found that most people in Hangzhou with excellent English are self-study students. They are not locked into the obsolete system of repitition and grammar, that is used to teach English in China.

Jin Yong & Renee

Lana is from Hangzhou. Renee is my old student from Jinzhou (featured at JZ Students-Class 98). She was visiting me in Hangzhou recently. We were all having dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel when a distinguished looking gentlemen came into the restaurant. Lana and Renee immediately went crazy. "Jin Yong! Jin Yong!" they cried. I knew of him but had never seen him. Jin Yong is the Dean of Humanities for all of Zhejiang University. More importantly, he is an icon of Chinese "Gong Fu" literature. Every student in China has read his books. I don't usually do such things, but I felt I owed it to two excited young women so I walked over to his table (at least I waited until after the waitress had taken his order). I introduced myself as a member of the Zhejiang U. faculty and then told him Renee was a big fan of his. The man was very gracious and polite despite my interruption. In fact HE offered to give his autograph. Then he agreed to pose for a picture. A very nice man.