Yi, er, san ...

qiezi!
I heard a lot of that on graduation day. One, two, three ... eggplant! (for some reason they say eggplant instead of cheese - don't ask me...)
We had to arrive at 7:30 am for photos, the ceremony started at 9:00, and when I left at 12:30 (I snuck out a side door) it was still going strong. They didn't call the students up individually and hand them their diplomas (certificates here). They just got them all up there as a group, said something, and then everyone applauded. And of course they had to make their vows to the flag and put their fists up in the air several times. It seems a bit unnerving but the students tell me they don't really take much of it very seriously... The rest of the ceremony was taken up with the graduating classes putting on skits. The skits didn't seem to have any common thread or underlying messages - just a bunch of random stuff (and all in Chinese). And of course there were speeches by several big wigs. I don't think a short speech exists in China. Hence my early exit...
Last Monday was Dragon Boat Festival. Not much really happens here as there is no large body of water in Xián. The legend that it's based on goes back a couple thousand years. A short version: A famous Chinese poet/diplomat became distraught when his state was taken over by another (China was not unified at the time). He committed suicide by drowning in a lake or river. People raced out in boats (they all had dragons carved in the front)  to try to save and/or collect his body before the fish ate it. They threw food into the water so the fish would eat it instead of eating his body, and also medicine to ward off the evil ghosts. They beat drums in the boats to scare off the spirits. That's the nutshell version that probably has many errors but if you ask a Chinese you'll get a different version from everyone. So anyways, we ate these rice cone things that symbolize what they threw in the water, and bought several scent bags that contain the smelly medicine to ward off the evil spirits. So that, in addition to having the day off from school, was the extent of our Dragon Boat Festival!
Tomorrow begins our last week of school before the school year ends. It has been very painful for me these last few weeks as the students have completed their last exams back in May. This time is used to get a head start on next year. All of this material will get covered again in September, but it seems there is a race with the Chinese teachers to get as much covered as possible by July 4 (the last day of school). But the students know that what they are doing now isn't really important (since they'll get it again), so the motivation on their side is extremely low. And I'm sitting here thinking this is all really insane... Not all of the international schools here in China operate like the one I'm at - and some have already called it a year, but I guess I got lucky and landed at one that likes to do it this crazy way!
Ah well...
Sky's wedding is July 6. He's asked me to say some words and give a little toast. Since most of my talk will be in English (it has to be!), it will be short (I don't think most of the guests will understand it, but a few will...). I think I pretty much have my speech ready...
Then on the 7th I leave for Shangri-la in Yunnan province for 4-5 days. It is somewhat close to Tibet and promises clean skies and breathable air... Then back to Xián to return to Portland on the 14th.
The big question - will the Trailblazers have their roster set by then??
The Chinese were excited how well their women's soccer team was doing - but Sky says they simply were no match for the big and strong American women...
And, being a math teacher, I can't leave without saying Happy Tau Day! (Tau is the Greek symbol for 2 times Pi). 6.28!!