Day by Day

Today dawned clear as a bell. Bright blue skies and puffy clouds. Hard to believe it's the same city, and lest I get spoiled, I'm just enjoying it today with no thought of tomorrow. Of course, it's probably 95 but if the sky is clear, I will take the heat.

I'm sitting in the plenary hall of the multipurpose building where we've managed to eek out a whole week. It's a lovely large hall, brightly lit, comfortable blue plastic and metal chairs, and for here, quite clean. A young university student who is the "guardian of the hall" is at the piano expertly playing a classical piece that sounds familiar. Typically he's back in the sound booth. He speaks almost no English, but he's learned "screen down" or "up" and "Lights up" and lights "down." He’s a handsome kid and very pleasant. He told me one day, through translation, that this is a volunteer job. Most college students do not work but do volunteer jobs that will build their resume for later. He's switched songs now and gone to a Chinese tune and is singing along softly. There's a very unspoiled, unsophisticated, persona to most of these young people that is endearing.

We started the morning with only two classrooms and all student groups back in the plenary room; then classrooms opened and the students trooped up stairs to new locations. Many students are taking exams and they pre-empt the classroom space. As of this afternoon, we still have this building on Monday. Then we'll see. One day at a time. The team is earnestly praying that the deadline for departure just keeps getting moved out. Five days down out of fifteen when we were told we'd not have any is progress.

The plan, according to our sources, is to dig a 9 meter deep trench around this building and put in reinforcement for earthquake resistance. Our primary administrator just shakes his head, talks about a waste of money, and shakes his head again. At the moment, his office has been moved out of his regular place for the second summer in a row, and he'll move again next week. Meanwhile he has a full load of international students coming and going in groups that he has to tend.

Last Sunday night at the anniversary party, my husband and I sang the song “Day by Day” as the reason we’ve managed 40 years of marriage. Sounds like a good theme for this whole team and the teaching experience this summer.