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.

Helicopter Parents

So, I taught my first full weekend. 3 classes both today and yesterday.  I had three brand new classes this weekend; 2 yesterday, and one today.  Of the three, two of them are pre-schoolers.  I cannot say for certain if parents are any different in Canada, but I have to say I was pretty creeped out yesterday.  My classroom has 2 windows; they're sliders that have a frosted coating on the bottom half for privacy, and open into the hallway outside.  They lock, but they can slide open very easily if one's intent on doing so.  On several occasions, parents had opened the window, peering in on the lesson (they'd been to the demo last week, have met me, and know fully well what happens in the classroom).  Amy had walked up to the window and closed it, and yet they opened it mere seconds later.  Their hands and faces were literally plastered to the window (it reminded me of a horror movie I'd seen somewhere!), as they tried to peek inside.  From the noise, it was clear that the children were 1) happy 2) having fun and 3) learning English. What's the problem? It's creepy.

Parents know that they are allowed to attend the demo, OR the second class.  They are also allowed to attend the last class of the semester.  They sit quietly in the back and observe.  Occasionally we'll have the odd parent who will attend with their child and audit a class, to see if they want to enroll their child.  This is understandable, and welcome.  The problem is that parents of the other students (regular students), who are sitting outside waiting (where they should be), think that they can come in and sit in on the lessons also, at any time they wish.  We had a granny that creeped in last week, and we asked her to leave.  They don't speak English, so I am not sure what they expect to gain from hanging around.  I don't think the kids enjoy it, and it's distracting to them, and to me.

Then there are the parents who send their child to school half asleep and/or without breakfast. It's always the same kids, and they also happen to be the ones who have the most trouble learning (in our school, AND their regular school).  Of course some parents think the answer is to take them OUT of school because it's a waste of money (and don't dare suggest the sleep/breakfast thing, because it's NEVER a problem in the home - like it's not obvious anyway).  OK. Let's look at that option.  You're taking you're child OUT of English lessons because they're not learning at the same pace as everyone else (and yes, everyone else is learning.)  Isn't that all the more reason to keep them in? No one ever learned a second language without work.  How about putting them to bed on time and making sure they have food in their tummies in the morning?   Might be a good start.

Hump Day

Today's my Sunday actually.  My official "off" days this week are Tuesday and Wednesday (normally Wednesday and Thursday), but since I have to go take care of some visa issues tomorrow, I took Tuesday off.  In addition to enduring Chinese bureaucracy tomorrow, I have to stop by the Beijing office and pick up a teachers' guide for one of my lessons and have my photo taken so that they can put it on the wall at the school.  I have a cold and will likely look like hell.  If I have time, I may stop for a hot pot lunch.  The menu is in Chinese and I usually need someone to order for me, but I kept the receipt from the last time I was there.  So ... I'll order the same thing as before (tomato broth, tofu, spinach, mushrooms, and noodles) haha!!

There's not a lot happening here this week.  My cold has kinda knocked me off my feet, so I haven't been to the gym.  Maybe on Friday I'll feel up to it. Yesterday, I went to the mall and bought some sheets.  My bottom sheet was a double flat sheet, and since my bed is a queen, I'd wake up several times a night lying on the bare mattress.  That was driving me INSANE.  I've done all my lesson planning except for one lesson on Sunday.  It definitely helps when that's all done in advance.  I HATE lesson planning. It's necessary, and my classes run smoothly as a result; but I hate it.  I'm being smart about it though.  So far I am teaching 3 levels. Each level has a text.  Eventually I'll have lessons planned for every unit in the book, and won't have to spend a lot of time planning, because it'll have been done already.  So: much work now, but little work later.  Works for me.  I'd love to be one of those teachers who doesn't need to plan, but I'm not there yet. One day.

That's all for today folks. Love to all! XO

Teacher, Teacher, Can You Teach Me??

I taught 2 days this weekend, and it's only going to get busier from here.  In fact, we need to get a move-on and hire a second teacher. Considering it took 2 months to get me here - 2 months exactly from the day of my interview, December 17, until the day I arrived in Beijing, on February 17 - by the time our next teacher arrives, I'll be pretty busy.

On Saturday, I began the day with my preschool-ers. It's a big class, at 9 students, and the entire lesson lasts 90 minutes.  It was a success.  It's difficult to get them all on task at the same time, and the activities need to be changed quickly as they get bored very easily, but I managed to get them all seated and doing book work at the same time, for about 20 minutes consecutively (which is the time allotted for book work).  I think that deserves a pat on the back!!

The rest of the day I spent teaching demo lessons.  Demo lessons are shorter - 30 minute - lessons, intended to demonstrate our teaching style/methodology to parents of potential students.  Parents observe the class and watch us introduce the target language to the students, and if all goes well, have the children produce the target language. I was fairly nervous, as the first class had a few students under the age of 3, and many have not learned any English prior to this (I have very little experience here).  The second class was pretty much the same, except there were a couple of 4 year-olds. The third demo had a few 5-6 year olds, many who have already taken English lessons in school.  Overall, I'd say it was a resounding success. In fact, my workload has doubled.  My schedule has jumped from 3 lessons per week, to 6 lessons per week. It doesn't sound like much, but 4 teaching hours, with kids under 6, is exhausting.  It's fun, but man is it exhausting.

Today I taught 2 lessons.  My group of 5-6 year-olds, and the 7-9 year-olds.  The big kids are tiring too, because they're loud, disruptive, and hyper. They are almost as tiring as the toddlers, but not as cute :)  I am not sure if I have a favorite yet, since after every class I find myself thinking, "That was my favorite."  I'm sure after a few months  I'll have a more definite answer.

I'll be going into the office for an hour or 2 tomorrow, but I pretty much have the day off.  I'd like to get to the gym in the late morning/early afternoon of at all possible.  It's 10PM, and my eyelids are getting heavy, so I think it may be an early night.  Until next time, peace and love to all! XO

Water, Water, Everywhere!

While we're on the topic of fluids, I saw public urination today. Old man, about 70-80, in all his glory, at about 3PM.  Granted, he turned away so no one could see his junk, but he was still taking a whiz in a bush, about 10 feet from the side of a busy street. I guess when you gotta go, you gotta go!

Had a minor crisis last night.  Apparently I'd set the water pressure on the water heater too high and busted a couple radiator gaskets; one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom.  Also had water coming from the actual heater, which kinda freaked me out.  Turns out, Amy mistakenly told me that the water pressure should go no higher than 3, when 2 is actually the limit.  Anyway, it's fixed now.  Between that and my washing machine debacle, I'm fed up with water problems.

Didn't do a lot today; went to the school to print some things, followed by a trip to the gym, and then the supermarket. Managed to grab some tomatoes and oatmeal (with dates!!).  Tomorrow: lesson planning for the weekend.  I'll be teaching on Saturday and Sunday this week.  I'm moderately stressed about lesson planning these days since I don't have everything I need.  I am just now getting copies of the teachers' guides for the classes I am teaching, only to hear we may add a 5th grade class.  I have NO books for that.  Also, I am just getting a key to the school today.  I like the idea of planning my preparations on my own time, and not having to coordinate it with the owners and their schedule.  I like being able to go into my office when I feel like it so I can work quietly at my pace. I have to stay patient, though.  It's a brand new school, we're all trying to get ready, and we're all a little stressed. Luckily, it's the minor details causing the stress; the teaching is the easy and the fun part, and that's why I am here.

Teaching and living in China is already so different from my Prague experience, but being away from home before has definitely helped me. In Prague, I was a new teacher, and away from Canada for the first time.  That in itself caused a bit of stress, but I believe it's helped me settle in here and deal with the culture shock a bit.  I'm glad it did, because I am so much more dependent on others here than I have been in a long time.  In Prague, I found my own apartment, got lost several times and found my way home (my first day there in fact), bought my own mobile phone, opened my own bank account, went to the post office by myself etc.  I was in China for almost a week before I dared go anywhere alone.

Living here will be very different from Prague, and from anything I am accustomed to.  In Prague, I often joke that I did a lot of drinking with a little teaching on the side.  I had many English-speaking friends, mostly teachers, and a few new Czech friends too.  One had to merely send a text message or two and 20 minutes later there'd be a few us hanging out for beer at a pub or beer garden.  In Canada, I always did my own thing, went where I wanted to, when I wanted to, without a second thought.  Here, I am the only teacher, and the only people I know are my colleagues (the academic director and the school owner).  They're great people, but I don't really have a social life, and am not sure how active my social life will be here (I like to have my work and social life separate too).  I'm a 45 minute bus ride from the city, and the last bus comes out here at 9PM.  I'm also the only foreigner in the community.

I'll likely spend my free time at the gym, and maybe in the city doing some shopping or sight-seeing, but there won't be any occasions where I stumble home at 3AM on a Wednesday morning like in Europe, or even take in a movie on a Saturday night.  I am not complaining.  I knew all of this going in, and I am prepared to experience it for what it is.  Beijing has a lot to offer and a lot to see, and I'll take advantage while I can, but there are pros and cons to everything.  If I were closer to Beijing, I'd be paying 3-5 times the rent for a smaller, older, likely dirtier, apartment that I'd probably have to share with others.  My apartment is a palace by Chinese standards, and pretty nice by my own standards I might add.  My expenses are minimal (in fact, most of my utilities are already paid for the next 6-12 months), so I'll be able to save a little cash, which was a big problem in Prague.  I also have a better opportunity to develop as an EFL teacher.  I've never taught kids before until now (except teenagers), and we're a brand new school (with a LOT of academic support), so it's a chance to build something from the ground up; a great thing to say on a resume.

So you see; you really can't have it both ways.  Soon, I'll be able to say with more certainty what's the most important to me (those who know me know where my heart truly is).  Until then, I'll enjoy the peculiarities, appreciate how good I have it to be able to do all of this, and no doubt learn and experience many new things. Speaking of which: I now am a lover of tofu. Tried it and hated it in Canada; loving it here.  Fresh, frozen, tofu noodles. It's all good (except duck blood tofu; no thanks). Until next time, Peace and love to all! XO

Click here for the link to this week's photos, the newest ones are at the end.

Tuesday's Gone With the Wind

Well, Tuesday's not quite gone yet, but it will be in a couple hours, at least in this part of the world.  Slept late today; until 11.  Turns out I slept 10 hours.  Felt great when I woke up, but I'm exhausted now and it's barely 10PM.  Granted I went to the gym and did 45 minutes of cardio, spent a couple hours at the mall, and endured a one hour bus ride there and back. I guess that would make a lot of people tired.  Apparently it was 22C today.  I finally saw birds today too. Lots of them. I was afraid that Beijing was so polluted that even the birds had better sense. Speaking of pollution, it reached record levels on the night of the lantern festival, just over a week ago. The city had asked people to take it easy on the fireworks, but people didn't listen.  They really love fireworks, apparently.

Did a little shopping at the mall.  Bought a power pack for my phone.  I hate when I am out and my battery dies.  It's not a problem back home, but I rely on it here so much.  If I get lost and my phone is dead, I'm in big trouble.  Also bought a french press, some socks, a lint shaver (I HATE lint!!), and yogurt.  Except for the yogurt, I managed to talk the price down on everything I bought.  Mind you, Amy would probably have talked them down even further as she has a better idea of what the prices for certain things should be, but I am starting to to develop my negotiating skills :)

'Til next time! Love and peace.

This week's photos are here.

Settling In

I'm slowly settling in.  I finally found a gym and paid for a 6-month membership today, which worked out to around $25 a month. Not bad considering it also has a pool. It's not a fancy place by any stretch, but it has what I need, and will keep me from having to exercise outdoors, which I am opposed to due to the air quality.  I don't mind walking outside, but I am not OK with doing anything which will require me to take deep breaths of the smog; though it IS much better in Sujiatuo than it is in Beijing (you can actually taste it in there), it's still more than what I am used to.  Anyway, I must work off the beer belly I've developed over the past 6 months; besides, it'll help me keep up with the kids.

I have no classes until Saturday and Sunday.  I'll prep on Thursday and Friday; tomorrow I have to go into Beijing to take care of my residency permit.  If I have time, I'll swing by the gym ...

Went to a Chinese mall today with Amy, Kevin, and Tracy. They bought stuff for the school, and I grabbed a yoga mat and a swim cap (a must here, apparently).

Week 3 photos here:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101657750047692.1073741826.28108784&type=1&l=15d03d73b3

Day 1 of Teaching in China

I am going to hurt tomorrow; I can feel it already.  I taught three 90 minute classes today (a full day).  Started out with the toddlers at 8:30, then the bigger ones (7-9 years) after that.  After lunch we finished up with the 5-6 year olds.  The last group, though older than the youngest group, are the least advanced in their English. This makes it difficult, since they're too mature for the lower level class, and are not able to keep up with kids their own age. We'll see how it plays out.  I spent much of the day having them play games and do drills related to the material, but since they don't understand, I have to physically demonstrate.  And I haven't been to a gym in 6 months. Need I say more? I am in NO way complaining, though. It's good to end a work day tired when you love your job. It's worse to be tired from doing something  all day that you hate. This still does not feel like work. It's fun.

I don't have any classes until Saturday, so I am off for 5 days. I have 2 demo classes on Saturday (potential new students), and the usual three next Sunday.  By next month I should be up to working 2 full days a week.  Thank god I have a minimum guaranteed salary.

Tomorrow: Shopping with Amy. She knows of a gym, and is going to take me there.  I HAVE to get back into it.  I enjoy it too much not to.  There's also a pool nearby; I may check that out too. Living in Sujiatuo is nothing like living in Prague where I did a whole lotta partying, and a little teaching on the side. I'm far from the city center; the buses don't run out here past 9PM, so it's a more quiet life.  I'll need to keep busy during the times I am not working.

Now? A cold one while I wait for dinner :) Life is pretty good here.

Random Observations in Beijing ...

• Squat toilets.  That's right, squat toilets.  In most public places, including my school, there are squat toilets.  While I am grateful for the standard western-type toilet in my flat (and the occasional "water closet" in some shopping malls), as far as public restrooms go, I think I may even prefer the squat toilet.  Beijing has a different concept (if any at all) of hygiene, so you can imagine how nasty public toilet seats would be.  Not an issue when you use a squat toilet (though you still want to watch where you step and try not to let any hems touch the floor).  There are a few precautions one needs to take, though, such as emptying or zipping all pockets -  no one wants to fish out their smartphone, if that'd even be possible. Also, I am constantly fearing that I am gonna step into that hole in the floor. Lets hope that never happens.  
• All backpacks, tote bags, and purses must be put through an X-ray upon entering a subway station. Fortunately, it's a lot faster than at the airport.   
• Some restaurants require payment upon ordering your meal. Not all of them, though, but at least 50% so far.
• Chinese bread is awesome.  
• I was expecting little green-space, and while that might be true of the city center, it's a myth for the most part.  
• There are SOOOO many bikes; from motorcycles, to scooters, to mopeds, to bicycles.  Almost nobody wears a helmet. Some bikes are carrying trailers filled with various things, and it's not unusual to see someone loaded down with a couple hundred pounds of stuff.  All of these bikes use the street, bike lanes, AND the sidewalk. Some go the wrong way, most don't obey traffic rules, so if you manage to avoid getting run over by a car, you'd better watch out for an oncoming bike.  
• Crossing the street is very dangerous (cars and bikes do not stop for pedestrians). I've taken to crossing the big, busy streets along with large groups of people; I'll wait until they go.  I've also gone across alongside bikes (on the pedestrian crossing with the "walk" signal, of course); thank god I can manage to run a decent speed just to keep up.