2 + 2 = it is not snowing

I just finished my first week of teaching and have a few things to report.  Firstly, inside the classroom I am treated like some sort of celebrity guest teacher.  I get a standing ovation at the beginning and end of most classes, and students attempt to take pictures of me while I am teaching.  The majority of my jokes are lost on my students, but they seem to enjoy themselves nonetheless.  My site-mate, Andy and I both taught a lesson on western logic, which is surprisingly different than Chinese logic.  Before the lesson, Andy told me, "In America we think that if all men are mortal and Socrates is a man, then Socrates is mortal.  But in China they think that if my teacher tells me Socrates is mortal then Socrates is mortal."  This point was too perfectly proven when multiple students made the following "logical" conclusion. 

 

If I only speak English in class, my oral English will improve.

If my oral English does not improve… then it is not snowing.

 

They did this because "It is not snowing" was the response to the initial example of 'If…then' statements.

 

If it is snowing, then it is cold.

If it is not cold, then it is not snowing.

 

I must try my hardest not to abuse what seems to be a God-like power of determining what is and is not logical for my 350+ students.  Then again, this could be interesting… 

 

Anyway, outside of the classroom, we had a department basketball game versus student affairs and/or the PE department.  (Ask 2 Chinese people the same question and get 3 different answers.  I've given up on trying to answer such questions.)  I was originally not on the team because the dean was not sure if I could play or not, but when I assured him of my ability, I was welcomed onto the team with open arms.  He even gave me his own jersey to play in.  After a hot mess of cherry-picking, shameful officiating, and more traveling than a year with Rick Steves, we lost the game 15-17, with yours truly scoring an astonishing 6 points.  Put on your rally caps though, because from here on out, the Kaili University foreign language department will go undefeated and walk away with the championship. JIA YOU!!! (ADD OIL!!! [LET'S GO TEAM!!!])