I have received this question literally every time I explain how
universities in China handle holiday schedules. For example, 4 April this year
was the date for Qingming Jie, or
the Tomb Sweeping festival. With the holiday on Wednesday, I was informed by my school that
we would have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off. (Before you get too excited,
remember the question above.) Even though the holiday was for three days, Monday
and Tuesday’s classes were to be made up on the Saturday and Sunday preceding
the holiday.
So what’s the point of having a holiday if you have to make it up on the
weekend? 不知道. I don't know. I bitterly asked
myself that question as I taught Saturday and again on Sunday, but the bitterness
quickly faded after class on Sunday, because I had plans to travel regardless.
