Sunday 27th October, 2013           1500

I wasn’t expecting to blog quite so soon after last night but two things happened today. This won’t be a long one but before I get stuck in to the lesson plans I simply had to share.

I received  a text at lunchtime from Kevin, who this weekend has been in Hefei at the finals of the speaking contest together with Jim, Felicity (my student who came second) and another girl from the maths department. The latter never progressed from round one yesterday sadly but Jim went through to round two today and then unbelievably the final round for the province.

I haven’t stopped grinning since, for he came second and therefore is competing in the national finals in Beijing in December! The best of it is that A) I taught him during his first year while Kevin had him for the next three terms and B) it is the first time EVER this school has got that far. We have made a little Chinese education history today and a whole lot of Chizhou university kudos as well.

As you know, I was convinced that because we are not among the elite schools we would never be allowed anything beyond 3rd in the provincials and I don’t think I have ever been more happy to be so comprehensively made to look a fool in my life. Watch out Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing schools - Chizhou can and will get there one day, even if not this year!

Apologies for appearing a trifle over-excited here but I am passionate about this place.

The second thing that happened is that finally, after three days (yes it took that long) the video of the meal earlier this week is now on YouTube. You can see it here, it’s just over three minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=xBHKmLC1E0Q&ns=1&o=U

Unfortunately I think they used the wrong lens because it made me look fat!