** EDIT ** Link should be working now, Thanks Mary ;)
Hey everyone.. just taking a quick break from correcting final exams to update my online photo gallery. Check out these pics from last month. Later I'll post a blog explaining the trip in its entirety, but I think the randomness is hilarious!
TEASER: I get married, eat scorpions, play real-life Counterstrike, and experience the worst hang over of my entire life. All in one University-sponsored vacation.
I am preparing a lesson plan for this week, using the 'Friends' TV show. It is hugely popular over here, used as a tool for English students to listen and comprehend "authentic" American English. I chose a holiday episode (season 6, episode 10 - "The Routine") to teach my students about some holiday traditions we have in the states. I plan to explain New Years traditions, the ball drop, and "Auld Lang Syne". While researching Auld Lang Syne, I learned quite a bit about the most popular song that no one really knows. This version on YouTube caught my interest and I loved the original Scottish rendition. Happy New Year friends, wish I could be there celebrating it with you all.
The song is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. Written by Robert Burns in the 1700's (some claim only partially written by him), it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotish tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."
TRADITIONAL LYRICS
Should old acquaintances be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne?
Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld Lang syne, We'll tak a cup o kindness yet, For auld lang syne!
Verse Two
And there's a hand my trusty fiere, And gie's a hand o thine And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught, For auld lang sine
Chorus (repeat)
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld Lang syne, We'll tak a cup o kindness yet, For auld lang syne!
-----
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
(Should old acquaintances be forgotten) (and never remembered) (Should old acquaintance be forgotten) (For old long ago)
Chorus
(For old long ago, my dear) ( For old long ago) (We will take a cup of kindness yet) (For old long ago)
(And there is a hand my trust friend) (And give me a hand of yours) (And we will take of a good drink/toast) (For old long ago)
(For old long ago, my dear) ( For old long ago) (We will take a cup of kindness yet) (For old long ago)
Oh. My. God. I thought the Pac NW was a cold place to reside during the holly jolly days of winter... While this may be true, my current city of Huangdao surely qualifies for the coldest place on mother earth. Located just off of the ocean, and between two (very nearby) mountain ranges, this university sits inside a literal wind tunnel. When I awoke this morning and prepared my fashion ensemble.. the misleading brightness that awoke me at 6:30AM led me to believe it would be warm. I wasn't expecting a balmy atmosphere, but I certainly wasn't prepared for what I found. 7:30AM as I walk to class, I am cursing the weather Gods because it is ABSOLUTELY FREEZING! This morning's temperature was a rigid nipple inducing 19 degrees, with a wind chill factor registering in the single digits.
"Damn the misleading brightness of the morning sun" I thought to myself as I walked to class wearing thin pants, a hooded sweatshirt, no gloves, all while attempting to eat an apple which was virtually freezing before my eyes.
