September 22, 2013

 

 

This past week the Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated in Nanjing.  Classes were not held on that day.  This is a family oriented holiday.

 

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese peoples. The festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, during a full moon, which is in late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar, close to the autumnal equinox.  Today, it is still an occasion for outdoor reunions among friends and relatives to eat moon cakes and watch the moon, a symbol of harmony and unity.   Making and sharing moon cakes is one of the hallmark traditions of this festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and unity. Thus, the sharing of round moon cakes among family members signify the completeness and unity of families.  In modern times, however, making moon cakes at home has given way to the more popular custom of giving moon cakes to family members, although the meaning of maintaining familial unity remains. ^"

 

We received gifts of moon cakes as shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The moon cakes have different fillings, some are savory and some are sweet.  My favorite was one that had a filling somewhat like a pineapple gum drop. 

 

The following are pictures of where we live and places on or near campus within walking distance of where we live.

Our kitchen, small but adequate.

 

Our living room.

The entrance to where we live.

 

 

A fountain on the way to class buildings on campus.

 

 

 

 



Vendors are active where there is space.

 

 

 

 



Where we have documents printed and copied for our classes.

 

 

There is an abundance and a tremendous variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

More vendors.

The entrance to the old campus.  I teach one class on this campus and one on the new campus.

 The students shower in this building.  Showers are not available in the dormitories.  We have complete facilities in our apartment.

 

 

 

 My barber at work.

 

 

 

 

Last week I asked my students for written input as to why they are taking the classes I teach and what they want to gain from class.  Many would like to study in America and want to be as prepared as possible for that experience.  Many want to experience as much as possible what American students experience in the class room.