CHINA NEWS

Hi Everyone,

Winter has certainly come to Shenyang now. We’ve had our first snow, although only about 3-4 inches; however this would be enough to cripple London! It went very cold before the snow, about -10C in the day, but when the snow came it was warmer. Temperatures are now around -7 to -10C at night, around 0C in the morning and around 5 to 8C in the afternoon. Very cold in London terms but quite mild for Shenyang at this time of year. I read that the UK is having its fair share of bad weather with very heavy rain in many places. Cumbria. Seems to have been pretty badly hit.

Not too much to report this month as no changes at this end regarding the school. Everything is running smoothly.

It will be Christmas in a month! How time flies by. As Insight will not be out before Christmas I will take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Christmas. I hope you and your families will have a good time together as you reflect on this special time of the year. As you know Christmas is not celebrated in China although there are more of the trappings of Christmas appearing, mainly Christmas trees and decorations. Stores play Christmas Carols and stay open late on Christmas Day holding sales. It is a good time for business in China these days but you see nothing around showing the real meaning of Christmas. As Christmas Day is a Friday I will have kindergarten in the morning and a lesson at the school in the afternoon. At the kindergarten I teach them Christmas Carols through December. Boxing Day is a Saturday so I will have 6 lessons at the school starting at 8-30am and finishing at 6pm. So a very busy day.

Take care and best wishes to you all.

Alan Hill
23rd November 2009