Sooo Excited!

[morgaina]

My Daughter-in-Law, Jenny teaches art in an International School in Beijing, as I've mentioned. She tells me that her school wants to develop their Ceramics Program and to that end they have been bringing in "Experts" to teach workshops for the children. Jenny complained several times about the experts they brought in not being good teachers and not having all that much ceramic knowledge (Grad Students). Several times she has said how much better I could do.

So she wrote me that she is writing a Grant to BRING ME TO CHINA TO TEACH CERAMICS FOR TWO WEEKS NEXT SPRING! (I have to go lie down after writing that.)
She and my son are going to help me pay the flight, although I have a ton of free miles from my credit card. And the grant will pay me a stipend for teaching.

The truth is, I feel a undeserving, China is (arguably) the birthplace of ceramics...very arguably. But their tradition is so, so, so venerable. They must have "real" experts there. (Of course I don't know about what happened to the traditional potters during the revolution and during industrialization?) And I do know ceramics and I am a good teacher of little guys. So I can do the job.

It's not a sure thing yet, so I am not posting on Facebook, but Jenny is not flighty and would not have written me if it wasn't a very good possibility.

My goals are within 5 months to become fluent in Mandarin, lose weight and get very fit so that I can climb all over the Great Wall. (I think that becoming fluent in Mandarin will be the easiest ;-))

I get to see Wee Beatrice!!!!

Comments

[freewaydiva.livejournal.com]

This is excellent news! How exciting! I'll ask my friend who teaches Chinese if he can recommend any cheap/free resources.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

That would be absolutely great. Especially something like audio books. I don't want to invest in Rosetta Stone lessons, but Audio tapes would be excellent.
I have a friend who teaches ESL at WSU, I thought I might ask her if she has a student who could tutor me, although they may not be teacher-types, or have enough English to help me.
But trying out wouldn't hurt.

I am still grateful to you for recommending your friend who was the Travel Agent and helped me with my Cambodian-Thailand trip.

[mrq-laurellen.livejournal.com]

HOLY MOLY!!!! Go, you!!!!

[tsuruko-sensei.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful!!! You'll have a great time!!

[loup_noir]

I'm crossing my fingers for you! You truly are an amazing ceramicist. Even if you aren't fluent, your hands will speak for you.

[the-thread-lady.livejournal.com]

That is so exciting! We will all expect a travelogue when you get home.

[corbaegirl.livejournal.com]

How wonderful! I'm so excited for you.

[viking-food-guy.livejournal.com]

Yay! How exciting.

[copper-oxide.livejournal.com]

I would love to do a lot of blogging and Facebook, with loads of photos. But wondering if it will be possible to get around the Great Firewall of China?

[rectangularcat]

Stupendous! I bet you won't need as much Mandarin as you think. There must be some specific ceramic words though that should prove interesting.

Yay you get to see Beatrice!