ELC and the East Gate.

This week there is an American Documentary Film Festival at Shantou University. Though we missed the first day (some of us missed... oops...) we were able to attend the main feature of the second day. It was a film called American Fork. I don't really know what to say about this film, but that it had that gritty feeling found in real life. When things go bad, well, they got worse. And when things got better, well, they got worse. I enjoyed the film as it showed what could be a real situation to real people and in the end of the fires of this man's life shines a bright ray of catharsis.

There were a few key moments though including when William Baldwin was demonstrating his skills as an actor by playing an actor who is demonstrating his skills as an actor by teaching others how to... act. This is best shown by his epic points about how life is real.

Put your hand on the chest of the person next to you, what do you feel? Their heart? Exactly. That is real. Then take their hand and put it on your chest so that they can feel your heart. That is also real. Really, this makes more sense if you have seen it, but it is hilarious. We were laughing hard for almost the entire duration of the movie. If you want more information check it out at: http://www.americanforkmovie.com/

Later that day (Tuesday) it was time for me and one other to do our first shift in the English Language Centre (ELC). We had gone on the previous Tuesday with the first set to do their time but this was our first "official" shift. When we arrived there were already a number of English speakers there and all of the Chinese students seemed to be talking with someone. This seemed somewhat disheartening as there was no one to talk to, but within a few minutes we were surrounded by a group of students.

We were happy to meet a number of Chinese students and even more happy to run into one student that we had met the week before. We were there for an hour and a half speaking to Chinese students and after it all I do feel like I have made a difference. They do not need us to teach them anything special; they just need us to speak with them.

I found the entire thing to be an enriching experience and one that I will not soon forget.

Our time there was completed in what seemed like moments and it was time to head home. The student that we had met before decided to walk with us since his dorm was near ours, and we convinced him that we should stop by the East Gate for some ice cream and drinks, my treat.

We made it to the East Gate and found ourselves some snacks. Ice cream for the three of us, a coke for me, and a beer for our friend. I do not know how much I have mentioned the East Gate before, but it is almost like a little town just outside of the east gate of the university (thus the name). There is a similar set-up in front of the main gate, but the East Gate is so much closer to our rooms.

Perhaps this video can explain what my words cannot...