Let it Snow!

The sound of shovels scraping the sidewalks awakens me in the mornings now. It is winter time in Harbin. Sometimes I forget I am living and working in a foreign country. The sounds of the shovels remind me of shoveling snow on the farm back home. Now it is the same freshmen who I teach in the classroom who are armed with shovels and brooms. 

This is one class of students out sweeping the rain before the snow came. Notice in left middle ground, Money's mittens attached with a string. In the middle Briana always needing to be seen. Middle background is Charles with a broom (he's the one who called an American restaurant during class).

Their class picture with the shiny shovels and brooms.

I taught them the word shoveling the same day I was teaching shortened speech. 

Example:

What are you doing? -> Wat'r ya' doin'?

Yesterday, when I asked them how the were doing, the students answered. "I'm so tired." <in a very whiny voice>  Knowing I always ask them "Why?" They told me, "We were clean snow." <insert them gesturing in their seats the motion of sweeping and shoveling>

Taking advantage of the opportunity to review, I said, "Oh, you were shoveling snow." I was met with puzzled looks. Slightly disappointed they didn't seem to remember the word, but not fully discouraged I said it again and wrote 'shoveling' on the board. The class did the "Ohhhh" sigh as they all said "SHOV' LIN' " 

Only one of the reasons I enjoy my classes, because they now actually understand my accent and whether they realize it or not, they are starting to sound a little more Kansan every day!

Stay warm! Lora