As I'm sure you can tell from the photo, the university is really a beautiful campus. Mind you, its not the typical beautiful USA college campus (they let the grass grow longer here for instance), but Shandong University has a uniqueness about it. The campus is very spread out, especially when you consider there are 36,000 students here and at no time does it ever feel really crowded. The campus is also surrounded by mountains, which can usually be seen, although fog sometimes provides a cloak. We both have fairly easy teaching loads - 5 classes. Darbie teaches 3 listening classes, 1 oral English class, and one extensive reading Class. Kendall teaches 1 movie appreciation class, 2 Survey of English Speaking Countries classes, 1 oral English class, and 1 extensive reading class. So while we both will be busy with planning and preparing, we are both very thankful that we can usually enjoy 3 day weekends! The next picture is a view of the main gate which you'll see standing in the background. The building where we do most of our teaching is standing to the left there. 
There are many man-made water features here, though we would recommend you stay out of the water. The landscape is also filled with many different types of flowers. There is a huge field of rose bushes, but the one pictured below is the prettiest. These flowers are just about as tall as Darbie, and in the background you can see the school clock tower. 
There are also many different types of structures and statues decorating the campus. They include an area of about 7 statues of Western thinkers and scientists. Though, there are no plaques or info about the statues, so you have to guess who they might be. One of the most striking structures on the campus is below.
Once again, nothing that you'd find on a college campus back in the states. Through 2 classes, the students seem to be very well behaved and dedicated to their studies. They have English names (given to them in middle school) and some can be quite interesting/hilarious - Snoopy, Papaya, Echo are just a few. The average student here studies 9 hours a night according to one eager English student named Rainbow. At 6:30 each weekday, music plays over the loudspeakers around campus to wake the students. They also play pop music (from all over the world) around their other breaks (lunch, and after class). Unfortunately, it seems the selection is limited, and I've heard entirely too much Kelly Clarkson lately.
So, that's a little bit about the campus we're calling home for a year. Next time, we'll be sharing the apartments that are given to "Foreign Language Experts" at Shandong U. Here's a preview:
Oooo! Always leave them wanting more.
Until Next time,
DB&KM
8 comments:
Wow--that's not how it looked in my head at all. Everything's so pretty! What's the weather like right now--hot or cool?
I can't wait to see more pics of the apartment. Did y'all add the rug? It's very Darbie-ish, seeing as how it's the only thing in the whole room that has any color.
Love the English names too, especially Papaya! Can't wait to read more...keep blogging!
Everything looks and sounds so wonderful! Have you been shopping yet? What about the beach?
Hope you guys are having a great time.
Do the students all speak English pretty well? Has it been hard communicating and getting around?
Do they not have dryers there? I noticed in your first pic that everybody has their clothes hanging outside on their balconey. Interesting...
Fun! Keep us posted. I can't believe that you have a student named Rainbow. My students have such boring names like Shawn and Robby. And they certainly aren't studying 9 hours every night or being serenaded awake at 6:30 am by Kelly Clarkson. I should move to China to teach!
Is kendall going to include any Salinger in his extensive reading classes? I vote yes.
I also vote no Updike, because they already think thats what we're all like.
what a great adventure!! looks like tons of fun.
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