2004: Students descend on Xi'an for YMCA English activities
[as written in 2004] The folks on the staff of the YMCA were very busy this summer, greeting different groups of Virginia Baptists, arriving each Monday for three weeks, beginning July 12 and leaving August 2nd. The first arrivals were Bethany and Erin, college students who taught classes of English activities for middle school students for three weeks. Activities consisted of games, songs, interactive listening and speaking, and dialogues with each other and with Bethany and Erin. Highlights of the three weeks were the afternoon activities with the Chinese students who were their classroom helpers. In this way, the two Americans were immersed in many aspects of Chinese culture.
The Americans lived in the YMCA hotel and at least some of the class activities were held just across an alley from the hotel.
I arrived on Tuesday, July 13, and met with the YMCA staff to discuss the summer's activities and to talk about possible avenues of cooperation for the future. While waiting for various arrangements to be made for the classes, Bethany and Erin and I went to visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, the provincial museum, and the Great Mosque.
Muslims make up a significant minority in Xi'an and there are several mosques, but the Great Mosque is quite old, very large, and in the city center, very near one of the largest shopping areas for souvenirs, and for Muslim-style restaurants, so it is often visited by tourists. The participants in the worship activities do not seem to be disturbed by the guests, who are not allowed in the rooms reserved for worshippers.
Classes did begin, and continued for three weeks. The second group of Virginia Baptists, young people and a leader, came July 19. They were mostly involved with activities for children and senior high school students, as well as providing English practice for hotel staff. The third, larger, group came July 26 and for one week will be immersed in Chinese culture, along with Chinese young people from the city, going to the outskirts of the city to experience daily life of rural China. When they all leave August 2, they will go to Hong Kong for the Baptist World Alliance Youth Conference.
2005: Bobby and Ryan
[as written in 2005] For the third year, Virginia Baptist college students have led English activities for Xi'an YMCA. This year, Bobby and Ryan are the leaders of two classes, one for primary school children and one for teenagers. The classes meet each morning for three weeks and focus on oral English through skits, games, songs, and discussions. Usually, each day focuses on a topic, such as family, friends, school, etc.
The opening day was July 25, and will continue until August 19.