First, thanks goes to Lizzie for the time to build this blog for Suzette and me. She did a great job.
Going to China is certainly a an unexpected adventure. Although I expressed some interest in teaching overseas, I honestly wondered if it would really be possible. Yet, here we are within 7 short weeks of leaving.
Qingdao, China is a coastal and port city. It was the host city for the sailing events during the Beijing Summer Olympics of 2008. It is a city of about 8 million people and located directly west of South Korea.
We will teach for Qindao University (http://english.qdu.edu.cn/). Suzette is scheduled to teach Business English to graduate students and I will teach the same to Freshman undergrads. The university really allows for freedom in the way we will the the courses. There is a textbook, but will will be able to add, embellish, and go in the direction the students need us to go. In addition, we are encouraged to have "Education Corners." These are opportunities to converse with the students in small groups away from the class room. It allows for the opportunity to develop relationships and further meet their individual needs.
Qingdao has a colorful history (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/607765/Qingdao). I am fascinated by the fact that it was under German control for a couple of decades. I understand that the German influence is still evident in the city and, of course, its brewery.
Many have asked if we are serving an LDS mission. Although this assignment is through Brigham Young University, it is not a mission. In addition, we are restricted from discussing religion. We are ambassadors of a sort. We will endeavor to represent the United States, the state of Utah, and Brigham Young University professionally and respectfully.We are in China to perform a great service in teaching. We will do our very best to contribute to the lives of the students we interact with.
I cannot wait to post to this blog pictures and experiences. I hope that each reader can experience some of what see through our blog.
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