4th to 6th November

4^th November

Today the Dean of our school (Humber) and the other faculty member who taught at NKUHT last year will arrive today for a 4 day stay of scheduled meetings.  I will meet up with them this afternoon when I go to school for my 4:30 class.  We will have a semi-formal dinner tomorrow evening with the President of NKUHT along with a few other faculty.

Today will be my second class of this particular theory group and shouldn’t be too challenging (physically) as I will administer their first test. 

I’ve noticed for the past couple days that the pain in my hip and leg seem to be more intense than previous days.  Not sure what this means but it truly is very uncomfortable.  I cannot recover soon enough.

I left for school at 2:30 because prior to my 4:30 class I’m going to meet one of the Chefs from the baking and pastry department and also Michelle and Susan.

Arrived just before 3 and no one was in the office.  Good thing I took the office key with me.  Was good to see Michelle and Susan and I’m quite sure the jet lag will probably hit them tomorrow.

The Chef instructor arrived to my desk just prior to Michelle and Susan and he brought me two organic papaya.  It was so thoughtful of him.  Eating fresh papaya (grown locally) is truly an gastronomic delight. I will save these for breakfast.

Jasmine (from International Office) will bring Michelle and Susan to the apartment tomorrow, as Susan has never seen it before.  They will come around 3:30 then afterwards I will go back with them to the school as we will do a Humber presentation to prospective/interested students who want to study at Humber next year and then a dinner with the President of NKUHT and a few faculty.

Today was test #1 for my one theory class.  When I write the tests for the students, I simplify the wording as much as possible because some students are not as proficient as others and it’s only fare to ensure everyone can understand.

For the first hour of class I did a continuation of the week prior and then a test review in order to have all the information fresh in their minds.  Little did I forget that the students here are very studious and it’s not really necessary to do any last minute review. 

I anticipated the students to take the final hour of class in completing the test.  The entire class was finished in 30 minutes.  I was in awe!!

Either the test was too easy (I don’t think so) or the students were well prepared (I think the latter).  I’m now very curious to see the outcome.

This is why it is such a pleasure teaching the students here as they are very motivated, enthusiastic and disciplined in the sense that their education takes priority within their lives.

5^th November

I don’t have classes on Wednesdays so it was a day of doing not much.

At 3:30 this afternoon Jasmine brought Dean Susan and Michelle to the apartment.  Susan had never visited the faculty apartment before so it was a good time for her to do this.  I rode back with them to the school as they were giving a Humber Recruitment presentation at 5 and I would attend this and at 6:30 dinner with the President.

We had some challenges with having the videos to play properly.  Not sure if it was the Internet connection or what the issue was.  We got to view one of the videos but the others were not playing.  This issue will be taken care of before tomorrow’s presentation.

The presentation was slightly more than an hour and we had the lecture theatre filled to around 80% (approximately 90 students).

Susan started off the presentation with an introduction of Humber and the partnership.  I spoke for a short time about the courses and to inform the students I was the exchange faculty member at NKUHT and where they could reach me.  Michelle then finished off with more in depth information about Humber and the administrative facts.

After the presentation we made our way over to the building where the dinner was being held.  On the 7^th floor where the F&B students would prepare a delicious meal.

The President hosted:  VP of academic, Dean of International, Director Sophie of Tourism Management, Director Paul of Bachelor of Chinese Culinary (with who I work alongside) and of course Michelle, Susan and myself.

I cannot but mention that one of the server’s name was ‘Tomato’.  We of course had a chuckle over that but what truly made it memorable is that she was the student who introduced the second course of the dinner to us and guess what…..the second course was nothing but “puree of tomato soup”…hahaha   Now that just made the evening for us.  This student also has a strong desire to study at Humber next year.

We finished dinner around 9pm and then went our own ways.  Michelle and Susan went back to the Elite House (school run hotel rooms, on campus) and Jasmine gave me a ride home since she lives not so far from the apartment.

Tomorrow will be similar with the second Humber Recruitment presentation.

6^th November

I went to school earlier today as the presentation will begin at 12:30.  I met up with Susan and Michelle in Sophie’s office for lunch box prior to going to the presentation.

The presentation was well attended – I would say almost 100% capacity. 

All the videos were working now and that was a sigh of relief from all of us….

I did a short talk at the beginning of the presentation as I had a 1:30 theory class and it will take me longer than normal to get there since I’m on crutches.

I said good-bye to Susan, as I wouldn’t be seeing her prior to her departure tomorrow morning.  Michelle will stay 2 extra days so will meet up with her at some point on the weekend prior to her departure back to Toronto.

My class went well and because of my absence from prior weeks due to the accident, I told the students that the first test would be in 2 weeks instead of next week.  I didn’t hear any objections to that comment…hahaha

Tomorrow (Friday) I will be one of 6 judges for the preliminary selection for the upcoming ‘Mondial Du Pain’ International Competition being held in Paris.

There are 6 Taiwanese professional bakers competing over a 2-day period.  Three Chefs will compete on Friday and three Chefs will compete on Saturday.

More details and photos to be posted after the competition.

I of course will be in a wheelchair so somewhat cumbersome for me but I have no choice of the matter since crutches will be too difficult moving about especially at this large venue.  This is being held at the new Exhibition Centre, which is just down the street from the apartment.

Hsaio-I will meet me here then we will take a taxi together to the Centre.  One of the senior baking and pastry students will meet me at the Centre who will push me to where I need to go.  Should be fun/interesting.