Now that I’m almost done with classes, I think it would be appropriate to explain how my university’s class schedule works. It resembles a high school more than an American university; classes start at 8:40 each morning and each period is 40 minutes long. A bell signals the end of each period. During ‘passing periods’ the entire campus is bombarded with songs, including one especially rousing tune that goes “one, two, three…” up to “eight!” and is accompanied by a detailed calisthenics routine. A more unsettling song features Chinese lyrics with the English chorus “Chin! Up! CHINA!”
Noon-2:30 is rest time. Don’t try to schedule any appointments.
Classes resume from 2:30 until 5:50. Overachievers can sign up for nighttime courses, which run from 7:30 until 10. Rumor has it that a wake-up song is broadcasted every morning, but I can’t corroborate this claim.
Note: I don’t have class every day from 8:30 to 5:00. Rather, my classes are held during the campus-wide time slots (for example, on Wednesday I have writing from 10:30-12:00 and then speaking from 2:30-4:00). A student’s schedule corresponds to his/her major. At least I think the majors for Chinese students work the same way. But I’m not positive.
I've been thinking about high school schedules recently myself. I'm pretty sure this is the first week since I graduated high school that I have consistently gotten out of bed before 6:30 am every day!
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