Ann & Paul in China: Tradition Preserved: Decorating Christmas Cookie

We have been having all the students over to our apartment in groups of about 6. Great events. Our Fridays get dedicated to groups from about 3 PM to 9 PM. The kids need to take a one hour ride into the old campus to get to our place and then a one hour ride back out. If they can't get the school bus, they spend almost 2 hours on the public bus. But no one would miss it. They love being in our home. The love the extra English speaking and conversational activities. And they love the activities we do together. For the month of December we had the groups decorate Christmas Cookies - just like we do it at home.

None of them have ever done such a thing and most have not eaten anything as sweet as a decorated cookie. Most of them have never cooked at all. [Their moms take total care of them before college because they "need" to constantly prepare for the "monstrous" Chinese version of the SAT. During all four years of college must live in kitchenless dormitories and they eat 3 meals a day in the cafeteria for 60 cents to $1.50 per meal.] They have loved our cooking activities. We have loved them too.

As to the cookie decorating, even though they are total rookies at it, it is pretty much 100% like doing it with our kids at home during their high school and college years. It has really been fun. Our apartment decorated for Christmas, Josh Groban or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir playing Christmas Carols. A seasonal scent from a burning candle.

The evenings are great for their English, very rewarding for us, and super opportunities to talk about all things American, families, traditions, and more.