A War Luncheon

Got an urgent call from Zoe for a scheduled luncheon on Friday (13 March) with Dean Jiang and selected members of the team setting up some kind of training program. She called it a "war luncheon." A WAR LUNCHEON! Sounded serious, so thought I had better attend.

Here Zoe, the General's Adjutant, awaits our arrival at the war luncheon. The place was a "secret and unknown location" where everyone had to be blindfolded so we could not know where it was located.

The warlords, Jon and Dave, had been invited to the war luncheon as mercenaries to help in the planning.

Operational plans for the upcoming mission were discussed. Here Bernice takes a drink of a memory enhancing drug so she would remember in great detail the operational plans that have been approved.

To prove that I am an important part of the mission, I pose here with the General himself. Of course, the General refused to acknowledge my high position and continues on with his directives to the more important members of the luncheon.

The General is making his pitch for a successful conclusion to the approved operational plans. Tom, his Chief of Staff, nervously drinks the enhancement drug so he will not forget what the General commands. Later, Tom would become the first casualty of the mission as he is overwhelmed by the opposing forces, captured and held for hostage. He would remain a "prisoner of war" for the duration of the hostilities.

Lt. General Robert impresses upon me the importance of knowing and using the secret hand signal. While making this sign we all must say the secret passwords - "that small?"

Zoe, the General's Adjutant, insures that everything was a success during the luncheon. V is really for victory here.

Great fish on the stick were provided to ease our fear of the upcoming battle.

This also went a long way in making our fears go away. It was great.

Hot peanuts are always welcomed at these dangerous war luncheons.

Here is the dish that proved to be the turning point in our acceptance of the operational plans. The red things are actually pickled peppers. One bite and one will agree with just about anything. We all took a bite.

With the operational plans approved, we all celebrated the plans' success. War was inevitable so we might as well make the most of it.

Actually we were toasting to the new program for establishing a program to improve the English of selected Jiaoda teachers. The program starts Monday, March 16. Ok, war luncheon it was not but don't you think it was more exciting to be at a war luncheon rather than a teaching luncheon?

Christmas Party (December 25) Sophomore Class 2

It's Christmas Morning! Time for another class Christmas Party. This time it is the Sophomore Two class of Newspaper and Journal Reading.

I arrived about ten minutes early to find a few students already preparing for the party. A Christmas tree had been set up in the front of the room and there were already a few presents under the tree. The party began right on time.

Here students are placing the gifts under the tree in hopes that Santa would soon be there.

Our beautiful Christmas Tree with the gifts ready to be opened by the students.

The students sitting around with smiles in hopes of seeing Saint Nicholas himself.

Smiles only allowed this Christmas morning.

We had a few minutes as the party officials were preparing the front for the party. Students lounged a bit and visited still hoping to get a glimpse of Santa Claus.

After officially starting the party, we were given Fantasy to lead us in Christmas caroling.

It is time to do some games so everyone is getting ready to participate.

Ladda gives directions to the class while the chosen subject is hidden outside. The class would do movements following a selected leader. The subject outside had to figure out who was the leader of the class.

A lot of the students did not understand so Ladda had to explain it again.

While the class was playing games, Harriet wrote the lyrics of a Christmas carol on the board that the class would be learning. The Christmas Carol of "It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas."

The games continue with another subject hiding outside. This time it is Terry forced to choose who is leading.

Terry has no trouble identifying that it is Tracy doing the bad deed of leading the group. How did he know?

Time for the gift exchange. Here Sunny shows her gift.

Ivy got something very small. I had no idea what it was but it was cute.

Daisy and Robin celebrate Christmas and their gifts.

Tracy tries to explain what her gift was and what it was for. I still had no idea.

Here Sunny tries to figure out the gift she got and explain what it is to Ladda. Good luck because I had no idea.

Hey this is a great gift! What is it?

Ladda smiles and shows off her gift. She was having a great time this Christmas.

These two were having a great time and showed it with their bunny signs.

The gathering of present grabbers in hopes that Santa would be good to them.

Nemo loves her present. Looked like a miniature something or other.

The Christmas 2008 Class picture. I ended up taking several of these pictures.


For this picture I had to hustle to get where I am in the front row. Still turned out great. Merry Christmas One And All!

Christmas Party (December 24) Sophomore Class 3

It's 1550 on December 24 and that means it is time for another class Christmas Party with Sophomore Class Three.

I arrived at about 1530 to find Lisa "growing" the Christmas tree on the board. The class did not have a tree so they had Lisa draw one on the board. I told her it would work great!. The tree turned out to be quite large as trees goes.

Here is Lisa growing our tree on the blackboard.

Slowly the students began to show up for the party. Many brought along to record the fun. As preparations were being made, many of the students relaxed and visited as they waited for the party to begin.

Here Hellena and Hermione carry on a friendly visit prior to the party.

The 2008 Christmas Party for Sophomore Class Three was officially started with some games.

Games for English students. A line of students one after the other play charades with a supplied word. The last student had to guess the word from the charade of the other student.

Pete was the designated Santa Claus but in his spare time, he was busy taking movies.

In the back, we also had Oliver recording the party.

Here Ms. Hermione leads the class in singing Christmas Carols. She did a great job even though it was because she had been victimized by one of the games played.

Oliver was also victimized by losing one of the games so he was forced to make a funny face. Ha ha. We all laughed.

More Christmas Carols

More games.

Finally we got to exchange gifts. Here Isabella is happy to get a gift she drew.

Pete hands Killua her gift.

The gift sucked!

Killua gives her reaction to the gift. All in fun, of course.

Wow! An official T-shirt from Thailand. What a great gift!

Oliver with his gift. I took lots of these pictures but just did not have the space for all of them.

Pete continued to play Santa Claus.


Marian was wondering what was in this little box?


An interesting gift for Henry. Wonder what he is thinking?

Chocolate is always a great gift for Grace and any other student.

Happiness is getting a gift for Christmas in China.

Lisa and Angel arguing over whose gift is whose. Pete was unsuccessful in making that decision. No problem as everyone ended up happy.

See what a great gift this is.

Now this is a great and cute gift.

Even Alice got a gift to her big surprise. Not really. I just made that up.

Now isn't this a cute little gift! What is it?

This class put on a really big time Christmas Party last year but ended up being a bit reserved this year. We had fun but most of the students were not as excited as last year. Maybe I had just worked them to hard during the semester. Overall it was a good party but not as dynamic as I had expected. I did not even get to take a class picture as I normally would have done. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.