A Cold Per Month ...

As the three month mark slips by, I slip into my third cold.  I started feeling it last night after I came home from classes.  Didn't feel good at all when I woke up today, and have had a sinus headache all day.  I'm hoping this turns out like the other 2, and lasts only a couple days.  The worst part is feeling terrible in the morning.  I'm sure I'll live though.

May has been more exciting than the previous months.  I've been to Summer Palace, went onto Beijing to meet some teachers for quiz night and beer at an Irish pub, stayed in a hostel all night, and visited a hair salon operated by a group from Paris where I paid way too much to get my hair cut and highlighted.  The only thing french that's not expensive is french fries, it seems.

The teaching is coming along; I enjoy getting to know my students and especially love watching them change from shy little things with no confidence or ability to concentrate, to children who are actively participating in and enjoying my activities, making friends, and learning what's expected of them in the classroom.  I receive hugs and kisses all the time; they fight to be the student who gets to hold my hand when we do the "Hello" and "Good-bye" songs, bring me snacks, and follow me to my office on our break.  Not a bad gig at all.  Granted, I do have a couple of terrors, and it seems like every class has an alpha male, but they're just competing for my attention.

3 months down .. almost

I haven't blogged much lately, because there really isn't that much new happening.  In one week I'll hit the three month mark, and I must say I am much more comfortable here than I was before.  I'm still creeped out by the hygiene issue here (many people don't wash their hands after using the toilet), but oddly, I haven't gotten sick.  The noise from the renovations in my building has died down, so it's much more peaceful.

I'm eating a LOT less meat than what's typical for me.  I've been eating eggs, and tofu.  Occasionally I'll eat pork, which tends to be pretty lean, but even then, not in large amounts.  Chinese dishes that do have meat have it in much smaller portions than what I am used to seeing.  Works for me.  The 8 pounds I'd put on over the fall and winter (due to lots of drinking and NO exercising) have melted away.  Also, like in Europe, processed foods are rare.  It's easier to eat healthy here.

The teaching is coming along.  I have a couple of naughty students; both boys. One flat out does not like me (he receives NO discipline from his mother - I saw that for myself); probably because at home he is King, and in my class he's not.  The other just  seems to want my attention.  It's all good.  The classes are fun for them; they're learning, and the parents are happy, so I guess that's all that matters.

It's beginning to look a lot like summer.  We've had temps in the 30s this week, so the sandals and summer dresses are out.  I still have not done any tourist things, and I really should, since I'll be busy soon and won't have the time.  I keep saying I'm going to Summer Palace, but on my days off I just love to hang in my flat.  I'll get there eventually.

Nothing else new to report.  Peace and love to all.  The latest photos are here.

Today's Lunch

Late lunch, early dinner ... it's all good.  Freshly made hand-cut noodles with tomato, egg, and baby bok choi; washed down with a HUGE (600ml) Chinese beer, for a grand total of $2.12CAD.  It really is cheaper to eat out than to cook at home.

Games People Play

I had a pretty good day today; not as productive as usual, but good nonetheless.  I went to school with every intention to plan lessons.  Instead, we (Amy, Eva, and I) played Jenga and held an impromptu meeting.   I suppose it was productive in the sense that there's no longer a need for meeting on Friday, but I didn't get much else done.  We had bought Jenga for school, and spent some time talking about how we could incorporate it into the English lessons for the older groups.  We also discussed how we would deal with a  particular problem student (a 10 year old of course; the toddlers are actually a breeze to handle).

I got a letter in the mail today from Mom and Dad.  They sent it mainly to see how long it would take to arrive, if it arrived at all.  Of course, Mom decided to throw in a few Tetley tea bags, one of which I will be savoring later tonight, and a few pairs of foam earplugs so I can try and get a little sleep with all the noise here.  Funny thing:  The mailman said they had trouble reading the address as it was written in English (of course!).  Eva told them that we had to do this, since the Canadian postal service would likely be unable to read the Chinese address.  We all agreed that next time, we'd put both.  Being the only anglophone in the area, something tells me from here on in, I probably won't have much trouble anyway now that they know where I am.

I decided to take my TA, Eva, for noodles this evening.  A new restaurant just opened here, downstairs from the school.  The noodles are hand cut, delicious, and cheap.  I had a HUGE beer (600ml) along with noodles with tomato and egg.  Eva had beef noodles.  The bill? 21RMB; exactly $3.43CAD.  At that price, why cook at home??  I think that restaurant will see much more of me.  They have rice dishes on the menu too.  I can't wait to go back again.

Speaking of food, I am almost a pro when it comes to eating with chopsticks.  In fact, I ate my noodles with them today.  I did ask for a spoon, but I didn't use it until the end, when I wanted to fish out the last remaining yummy noodles.  I was finished my meal before Eva, and she's Chinese!

The knee feels great today.  In fact, many times I forgot it had even hurt at all.  I may even go to the gym tomorrow.  Treadmill only though.  I'm not gonna push my luck with squats, lunges, burpees, or anything with too much bending.  I'll give it another week, just to be safe.  

Nothing else to report today.
Until next time, Zaijian! XO

Week 7

So, I've been here for 6 weeks, and am heading into week 7 here in Sujiatuo.  The initial culture shock has worn off; at least I think it has.  Last night I woke from a deep sleep to find myself thinking, "Holy shit, I'm in China!!  Have I lost my mind??"

I'm becoming a little more independent. As the saying goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."  That applies here too.  I sprained my knee.  Not sure how, but I woke up with pain on Sunday.  Saturday I did a lot of jumping around with the kids, plus we went picking strawberries.  I may have done it it at any point that day.  Anyway, Amy sent Tracy to the drug store to get me something, and they came back with a medication for joint pain.  Not what I needed, and of course it didn't work.  So ... I used Google translate, and went to the pharmacy myself today.  I'm still not convinced how rubbing odorless brown liquid on my leg will help, but I guess it can't hurt.  What I really needed yesterday was an ice pack.  Anyway, I have some Bufferin and an ice cube tray now.  Between that and my Chinese medicine, I should be OK in a day or so.  Luckily I don't have to teach until Saturday so I have a few days to rest it.  So much for sightseeing this week.

There are renovations going on in my building; have been since I moved in.  Hammering and drilling every damned day.  A lot of these units are unoccupied, and are new.  Unlike in Canada where condos are likely sold before a shovel even hits the ground, these were built before they were sold, and as a result, there are quite a few still empty.  Here, empty means the interiors haven't been completed (no flooring, no fixtures, no baseboards, no kitchen and bathroom fixtures, etc); the owner does that after it's purchased, at their own expense and to their specifications.  Up on the top floor, someone bought multiple units and removed some concrete walls (noisy).  In 302, next door to me, they're renovating this week.  I am hoping they hurry up and finish.  I've heard so much hammering, it's almost like white noise now, but the noise from drilling concrete might be the thing that pushes me over the edge.  They begin at 7am and work non-stop until 7pm.  China has been a noisy place for me so far.  Between my apartment, the school, and on the bus where the TV is always blaring, there's never much peace and quiet.


I've posted a few more photos, including some from the field trip with the kids: Click here to view them.


Until next time, love to all. XO

Today was my Saturday.

The last of the red tape has been completed.  I have my residency permit, and provided a copy of it to the police today.  I'm good until mid-January 2014.  I'm not sure why a one-year residency permit is valid for 10 months and I am not going to ask why.  Just like the time I asked about why there is no 14th floor in office buildings (for those who haven't read my earlier post:  # 4 is unlucky here), yet there's still a 4th floor, I am not going to understand the answer anyway.  And ... it's not my problem.  My employer covers all expenses related to my visa/residency permits for the remainder of my time here, no matter how many years I decide to stay.

I'm still teaching 2 days a week.  I'm not sure when that will change.  The weekend will always be the busiest time, since kids are our biggest (and littlest :)) clients.  As of April 6, I'll have 4 classes on Saturday: 3 preschool classes, and a class with elementary school-aged kids.  Each class is 90 minutes. I'll be pretty pooped in Saturday night, but it's all good.  So far, I have just 2 classes on Sunday, though I am sure that will change soon.  Even then, to have half of my work week completed in 2 days is pretty good.

I had a really good weekend.  The kids are learning more and more all the time, and are warming up to me, and I to them.  Our "crier" didn't cry this time; turns out granny had been letting him nap, and would not give him enough time to wake up before dropping him off at the lesson.  I'd probably cry too if that happened to me.  I happen to think 5 years old is too old for a nap at 1PM, but maybe granny needs the rest.

Teaching kids is so exhausting.  The more lively, silly, and goofy I am, the better they learn, pay attention, and become engaged in the activities and the material.  "Coasting" and "killing time" is not an option, nor is having a "bad day".  If they see that I'm stressed out, it affects them, and they act up.  So, I have to act happy and energetic even when I am not.  I'm so grateful for my TA.  She helps me keep them rounded up, looks after the naughty ones, and handles the kids who need extra help, not to mention grading the homework and preparing the classroom.  I plan the lessons, and teach them.  That's it; though that's enough.

I'd still rather teach snotty, sticky, germ-infested kids than have to deal with a bunch of backstabbers in suits any day of the week.

I've started another album of photos.  I'll add more eventually, but for now I've posted a few from the grocery store :)  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101702276616092.1073741828.28108784&type=1&l=64083a39cb

I just don't get it ...

I went into our Beijing office today for a meeting, to grab a teacher's manual, and to pick up my passport and visa (I am now entitled to stay here for a year, YAY!).  I was in the elevator, and noticed that the building does not have a 13th or 14th floor, but 12, 12a, 12B, 15, 16 etc.  I inquired as to why this is, and asked if it was common here.  In China, numbers are pretty important.  Some numbers are good luck (8), while others are bad.  This is evidenced by the cost of phone numbers.  Many 4s in a phone number will be cheaper than a mobile number with many 8s (highly sought after).  I am not sure why 8 is so popular, but 4 in Mandarin is "si", which sounds almost the same as "die", ("si" but with an accent on the "i"); hence the bad luck.  Also ... 13 is unlucky in China just like it is unlucky in most other places, hence the absence of the 13th floor.  There's no 14th floor because 4 is an unlucky number.  I have to wonder: if this is true, WHY is there a 4th floor????  If 4 is an unlucky number, why is there a 4th floor, but no 14th floor? For the record, a Chinese person explained this to me.  When I asked him why there's a 4th floor, he just didn't know.