I didn't realize just how much of a following I had on this site, until my posts became less frequent. Now I'm getting comments and emails (admittedly mostly from family) saying they hope I'm alright because they haven't seen me post in a few day! Ha! Well, thank you, one and all, for your concern.
I'm happy to say, though, that I'm just fine, and I haven't posted much recently simply because there hasn't been that much for me to write about.
I have this week off, and then next week must administer my finals (all on the same day...yippee) before I officially get my break.
For my break, it's looking like I'll be traveling with Aaron and one of his students up to Nanjing, Hangzhou, and potentially Shanghai... and yes, mom, if we get up there I'll be sure to give Ed a ring. We're now in the "how do we actually get up there" phase of planning. Fortunately, the Chinese do not operate on a future-looking mindset, so even though it seems like we're planning at the last minute, we're really doing just fine. All we need to do is avoid traveling on the Chinese New Year holiday.
So what am I doing with my time? Not too much. Going out on occasion, and meeting up with friends, but primarily just staying in, catching up on sleep, et al. I'm EXTREMELY happy to report that as of yesterday I have a brand new, coil-spring matress! No longer am I sleeping on a straw mat! Woot! And even better, the school paid for and delivered it! Granted, it's no Seely Posturepedic, or anything... but there's a marked improvement. I woke up this morning and wasn't near-paralyzed in my lower back.
My lovely Jienan is safe in New York, and I'm hoping to get her on Skype, sooner rather than later.
Other than that, not much else to say. I'm glad you all seemed to have such nice Christmases (snow GALORE!). I'll be bringing my gifts backs stateside over the summer, so don't fret! I just didn't want to deal with the monumental headache of the Chinese postal system.
I think they'd have better luck with carrier pigeons than with half the shady, stupid, ignorant semi-humans they hire... not that I've developed a bias, or anything...
Until next time.
(CS)WC Out.
The lycanthropic jottings of my fourth year prowling the Chinese moonlight.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
圣诞快乐 To All, And To All A Good Night!
I was scheduled to teach today - Christmas Eve - because in China, they've got a word for Christmas:
Thursday.
(Note: Their actual word for Christmas is 圣诞节 [shengdanjie])
My 3 Freshmen writing classes arrived, as usual, ready to buckle down and - in the vernacular of my little sister - "Do Work." But, being as it was the last class of the semester, and I was in the holiday spirit (read: lazy, tired, at-wits'-end), I opted to show them a movie... don't worry, kids, we've already reviewed extensively for the final.
Alas, I've misplaced my copy of The Muppet Christmas Carol - and so was forced to revert to an alternate choice. Out of both respect for my (few) male students' pride, as well as my own, my other Christmas-y movie: Love Actually, was completely out of the question. What, then, would foot the bill....?
I'd read last night that the Chinese government was preparing a pair of its Destroyer battleships (A-12, Hit!) to set sail for the Gulf of Aden, and join the ever-expanding international task force amassing there to "Do Glorious Battle" with the Somalian pirates lurking there. With this in mind, I opted for the clear choice:
Pirates of the Caribbean, of course! What could be better than a movie glorifying piracy for a country preparing to combat foreign piracy while acting as a shelter for, arguably, the largest source of information and technological piracy in the world?? Even after 5 months here, the irony is still not lost on me...
* * *
Nancy's officially gone. Blah. And yes, it sucks. She flew out for New York at the ass-crack of dawn on Tuesday, and I've yet to hear from her.... of course, the enormous flight time and time differential, coupled with communication difficulties (damn the SIM cards), it's not surprising. Just depressing.
I'm making my pell-mell plans for the holiday now. There's the possibility I could hitch up with Aaron - though his plans seem fairly... unformed, as well, which is discouraging. Nancy tried to pawn me off on some of our mutual friends with travel plans. One couple in particular is planning on going to Thailand (which I've always thought of as a place to go if you were single), and she was tell my sob-story to them before I cut in and said "no thanks." They were willing to let me come with them.... but I don't think anyone would begrudge me not wanting to me the awkward, last minute, quasi-unwanted third-wheel on anyone's travel arangements. In all likelyhood, I'll get up to Hangzhou, and perhaps Shanghai and/or Nanjing. None of that sounds particularly appealing, though... go figure.
The night before she left, Nancy and I went to the Taj Mahal retaurant a few blocks away and had a semi-impromptu early Christmas. She had bought me a bottle of nice cologne, and an enormous stuffed bear ("to take her place while she was gone"). I brought along a 2 page letter from me, and a pair of small stuffed monkeys I found at a toy shop. One monkey for me, and one for her in NYC. She liked it :)
And yes, the bear is very cuddly to sleep next to. Doesn't generate near the body heat, though... so I'm afraid it'll have to be a short-term affair.
(CS)WC Out.
Thursday.
(Note: Their actual word for Christmas is 圣诞节 [shengdanjie])
My 3 Freshmen writing classes arrived, as usual, ready to buckle down and - in the vernacular of my little sister - "Do Work." But, being as it was the last class of the semester, and I was in the holiday spirit (read: lazy, tired, at-wits'-end), I opted to show them a movie... don't worry, kids, we've already reviewed extensively for the final.
Alas, I've misplaced my copy of The Muppet Christmas Carol - and so was forced to revert to an alternate choice. Out of both respect for my (few) male students' pride, as well as my own, my other Christmas-y movie: Love Actually, was completely out of the question. What, then, would foot the bill....?
I'd read last night that the Chinese government was preparing a pair of its Destroyer battleships (A-12, Hit!) to set sail for the Gulf of Aden, and join the ever-expanding international task force amassing there to "Do Glorious Battle" with the Somalian pirates lurking there. With this in mind, I opted for the clear choice:
Pirates of the Caribbean, of course! What could be better than a movie glorifying piracy for a country preparing to combat foreign piracy while acting as a shelter for, arguably, the largest source of information and technological piracy in the world?? Even after 5 months here, the irony is still not lost on me...
* * *
Nancy's officially gone. Blah. And yes, it sucks. She flew out for New York at the ass-crack of dawn on Tuesday, and I've yet to hear from her.... of course, the enormous flight time and time differential, coupled with communication difficulties (damn the SIM cards), it's not surprising. Just depressing.
I'm making my pell-mell plans for the holiday now. There's the possibility I could hitch up with Aaron - though his plans seem fairly... unformed, as well, which is discouraging. Nancy tried to pawn me off on some of our mutual friends with travel plans. One couple in particular is planning on going to Thailand (which I've always thought of as a place to go if you were single), and she was tell my sob-story to them before I cut in and said "no thanks." They were willing to let me come with them.... but I don't think anyone would begrudge me not wanting to me the awkward, last minute, quasi-unwanted third-wheel on anyone's travel arangements. In all likelyhood, I'll get up to Hangzhou, and perhaps Shanghai and/or Nanjing. None of that sounds particularly appealing, though... go figure.
The night before she left, Nancy and I went to the Taj Mahal retaurant a few blocks away and had a semi-impromptu early Christmas. She had bought me a bottle of nice cologne, and an enormous stuffed bear ("to take her place while she was gone"). I brought along a 2 page letter from me, and a pair of small stuffed monkeys I found at a toy shop. One monkey for me, and one for her in NYC. She liked it :)
And yes, the bear is very cuddly to sleep next to. Doesn't generate near the body heat, though... so I'm afraid it'll have to be a short-term affair.
(CS)WC Out.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Deeply Disappointed
I'd been planning on spending the holidays with Nancy. I bought a little christmas tree to put presents under, had new years plans, and we'd also been planning to travel together on the month-long holiday from school I get in January. Add to that her birthday in the middle of January, and mine toward the end. It was set to be a busy, very enjoyable month.
Now it looks very much like the Hindenburg, post-ill-advised cigarette break.
Last night, Nancy was called home by her brother, because her uncle needed to talk to her. She was told, apparently, that his company had shipped some products to the USA, and now the buyer was unwilling to pay due to some quality issue (go figure, right?). The issue needed to be resolved immediately and, since this uncle doesn't speak a lick of English, has turned in desperation to one Ms. Nancy Sun to act as his traveling interpreter for the next.... oh..... month.
It's not her fault. She's pretty upset about it too. And since I realize this, I'm trying to put my "it's OK" face on, and suck it up so she doesn't feel any worse about it.
But, really, it's not OK.
A month, away, leaving me here in Wenzhou with extremely limited options for ... pretty much anything. Christmas? I'm back to "Santa" buying himself a bottle of liquor. New Years? Why bother? Travel? I may still be able to get up to Nanjing, but pretty much anything else is out of the question now. I have little, if any, desire at current to go places by myself, nevermind the extreme - nigh, impossible - difficulty of doing so without a translator. Her birthday? Kaput. Probably mine too.
Whoop de doo.
This is certainly a trial for her and I to go through. I don't know... I just don't know. I'm not mad at her, just very sad, very disappointed in the situation.
I'm not going to sit around and mope the whole time. That will accomplish nothing but making me more bitter at her about this. And yes, there is bitterness. She had to choose between work and me. She chose work. Can I be mad about that? No. It was for family and an emergency. But it's still a hard pill to swallow.
The strange thing is, before she flies out on Monday, she wants to spend lots of time with me... I, on the other hand, would rather be left alone. In spite of myself, I've found I've retreated away from her, emotionally... most likely out of self-preservation. This, I know, may exacerbate the situation - it makes me look like a cold, unfeeling jerk - but it's the only thing I think I can do right now: hold myself together.
I don't know what this means for her and I... but I don't like the feeling I have about it. I hate long distance things. Even temporary ones. I'd gone out of my way to avoid yet another doomed-to-failure scenario, and yet... here I am, exactly where I hoped to never be again.
Damn.
Now it looks very much like the Hindenburg, post-ill-advised cigarette break.
Last night, Nancy was called home by her brother, because her uncle needed to talk to her. She was told, apparently, that his company had shipped some products to the USA, and now the buyer was unwilling to pay due to some quality issue (go figure, right?). The issue needed to be resolved immediately and, since this uncle doesn't speak a lick of English, has turned in desperation to one Ms. Nancy Sun to act as his traveling interpreter for the next.... oh..... month.
It's not her fault. She's pretty upset about it too. And since I realize this, I'm trying to put my "it's OK" face on, and suck it up so she doesn't feel any worse about it.
But, really, it's not OK.
A month, away, leaving me here in Wenzhou with extremely limited options for ... pretty much anything. Christmas? I'm back to "Santa" buying himself a bottle of liquor. New Years? Why bother? Travel? I may still be able to get up to Nanjing, but pretty much anything else is out of the question now. I have little, if any, desire at current to go places by myself, nevermind the extreme - nigh, impossible - difficulty of doing so without a translator. Her birthday? Kaput. Probably mine too.
Whoop de doo.
This is certainly a trial for her and I to go through. I don't know... I just don't know. I'm not mad at her, just very sad, very disappointed in the situation.
I'm not going to sit around and mope the whole time. That will accomplish nothing but making me more bitter at her about this. And yes, there is bitterness. She had to choose between work and me. She chose work. Can I be mad about that? No. It was for family and an emergency. But it's still a hard pill to swallow.
The strange thing is, before she flies out on Monday, she wants to spend lots of time with me... I, on the other hand, would rather be left alone. In spite of myself, I've found I've retreated away from her, emotionally... most likely out of self-preservation. This, I know, may exacerbate the situation - it makes me look like a cold, unfeeling jerk - but it's the only thing I think I can do right now: hold myself together.
I don't know what this means for her and I... but I don't like the feeling I have about it. I hate long distance things. Even temporary ones. I'd gone out of my way to avoid yet another doomed-to-failure scenario, and yet... here I am, exactly where I hoped to never be again.
Damn.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
On holidays, next semester, and what lies beyond
It's rare here in Wenzhou that I really get (or take) the opportunity to say "time out" and think about what I'm going to do *next.* This is, obviously, because my job keeps me pretty busy (I'm running a homework deficit right now), and really, in my offtime, do I really really want to be contemplating my future? I'd rather write a blog, or play video games. But the question itself looms larger and larger with each passing day. I just realized last week that in less than a month, my stay here in China will be 1/2 over.....
What about after?
Certainly I have my options. It falls, ultimately, between returning home and staying on another year - either at the Medical College, or (more likely) another school/place entirely. Let's go over the options, shall we?
1. Stay in China
Following the summer return home (of course), there is the admittedly-tempting option to return to the PRC and continue teaching. Certainly I've met many people who've made precisely that decision. And it certainly does have its perks. We live, for lack of a better term, like kings here. What I am paid if far beyond what most people in China make. I can live extremely comfortably, and still actually save money. And here's the rub: every other foreigner I know working at a private school makes considerably more money than I do, all the while doing less actual work. All-too-often I'm given looks of amazement and pity when I disclose over a bar drink to a new friend that, yes, I am expected to give and grade homework.
There is also the girl factor. This, as anyone who knows me well, well-knows, often throws me for a loop in decision-making. Why would I want to leave a place where the girls are literally lining up to go out with me... attractive girls, at that. Chalk it up to, I dunno, maybe more maturity, though... but that particular allure doesn't seem to be holding nearly as much weight as it once did. Even factoring in current g/f... does that make me cold? hard? shallow? ... I don't think so.
2. Return to the U.S.
Option number 2 also has its share of allure. This, of course, was the de facto plan upon arriving here in lovely Wenzhou. Stay a year, GTFO. Go back to the states, and sit myself firmly back in the desk labelled "student." (A much more familiar position for me!) This option, despite the economic convulsions the world has been facing, has lost little of its lustre. I said (only 1/2 joking) that if McCain won the election, I was going to stay in China for at least 4 years. Well, he didn't. A man I truly believe in will be firmly planted in the White House by the time I set foot on U.S. soil again, making any possibility of returning all the more alluring. I've begun looking at schools with grad programs applicable to my areas of interest (haven't decided if I should be looking at education programs, history programs, or some other mysterious "door #3" program yet), and I find my appetite for continued learning once again whetted.
And despite my coninual (and completely sincere) adulation of the life I'm leading here, the people I'm meeting, and the job I'm doing... all that silver lining doesn't cover up the shit I see on a daily basis. China's developing, and developing rapidly (almostly dangerously fast, some might say)... but that doesn't change the fact that its still largely a 3rd world country full of ignorant, rude people living in shit-shacks, controlled by a government who tolerates as little dissent or free thought as its can manage in an era of Internet (I have to run many websites - even perfectly legitimate ones - through "proxy" servers which mask my location and identity so I can A. actually view the pages and B. not get arrested for it).
And despite the fact that I really like the people I meet here - they all offer completely unique and interesting perspectives on the world - there's something about the vast majority of them (I'm talking about the permanant residents, overwhelmingly) that strikes me as off... an example I wish of avoid following: many of them seem to be running from their lives. You read the correctly. China and its ilk (East-Asian, developing nations with a rabid desire for English teachers at all levels), offer this amazing safe-harbor for people simply unable to cope with the pressures and, yes, difficulties of the so-called "real world." As I said before, we live like kings here... and I'm the smallest king, doing the most work. I do not mind this. I consider it a learning experience; a chance to get some live-fire training in a potential carreer path. But if I wanted to - as several others have outright told me they're doing - simply avoid bacome a functional member of society ad infinitum, this is definitely the place to do it. Many private schools require that you basically show up, and you've done your job.... and you get paid ludicrously to do so. I'm making 5500 RMB/month, with no taxes. Though this converts to a mere ~$800/month if you do a direct exchange, it spends more like $3000 here. I have no living costs, so it's all gravy, too. And, I'll state once again, I'm at the very low end of the payment totem pole. Had I no aspirations other than living comfortably, why ever leave? I am paid simply because I am white. That's the end-all-be-all of it. I have this job, this pay, this life, because of the color of my skin, the language I naturally speak, and the country I am from. And that, in contrast to many others, is actually a reason for me not to stay.
If nothing else, this experience here has taught me that I do, in fact, have pretty high goals for myself. I may not always be able to spell them out, or define them... but I see myself a more than just someone paid to be a white English speaker.
Well, I guess the title was somewhat misleading. I'll get around to the holidys next time.
Sincerely Yours,
I Am,
(CS)WC Out.
What about after?
Certainly I have my options. It falls, ultimately, between returning home and staying on another year - either at the Medical College, or (more likely) another school/place entirely. Let's go over the options, shall we?
1. Stay in China
Following the summer return home (of course), there is the admittedly-tempting option to return to the PRC and continue teaching. Certainly I've met many people who've made precisely that decision. And it certainly does have its perks. We live, for lack of a better term, like kings here. What I am paid if far beyond what most people in China make. I can live extremely comfortably, and still actually save money. And here's the rub: every other foreigner I know working at a private school makes considerably more money than I do, all the while doing less actual work. All-too-often I'm given looks of amazement and pity when I disclose over a bar drink to a new friend that, yes, I am expected to give and grade homework.
There is also the girl factor. This, as anyone who knows me well, well-knows, often throws me for a loop in decision-making. Why would I want to leave a place where the girls are literally lining up to go out with me... attractive girls, at that. Chalk it up to, I dunno, maybe more maturity, though... but that particular allure doesn't seem to be holding nearly as much weight as it once did. Even factoring in current g/f... does that make me cold? hard? shallow? ... I don't think so.
2. Return to the U.S.
Option number 2 also has its share of allure. This, of course, was the de facto plan upon arriving here in lovely Wenzhou. Stay a year, GTFO. Go back to the states, and sit myself firmly back in the desk labelled "student." (A much more familiar position for me!) This option, despite the economic convulsions the world has been facing, has lost little of its lustre. I said (only 1/2 joking) that if McCain won the election, I was going to stay in China for at least 4 years. Well, he didn't. A man I truly believe in will be firmly planted in the White House by the time I set foot on U.S. soil again, making any possibility of returning all the more alluring. I've begun looking at schools with grad programs applicable to my areas of interest (haven't decided if I should be looking at education programs, history programs, or some other mysterious "door #3" program yet), and I find my appetite for continued learning once again whetted.
And despite my coninual (and completely sincere) adulation of the life I'm leading here, the people I'm meeting, and the job I'm doing... all that silver lining doesn't cover up the shit I see on a daily basis. China's developing, and developing rapidly (almostly dangerously fast, some might say)... but that doesn't change the fact that its still largely a 3rd world country full of ignorant, rude people living in shit-shacks, controlled by a government who tolerates as little dissent or free thought as its can manage in an era of Internet (I have to run many websites - even perfectly legitimate ones - through "proxy" servers which mask my location and identity so I can A. actually view the pages and B. not get arrested for it).
And despite the fact that I really like the people I meet here - they all offer completely unique and interesting perspectives on the world - there's something about the vast majority of them (I'm talking about the permanant residents, overwhelmingly) that strikes me as off... an example I wish of avoid following: many of them seem to be running from their lives. You read the correctly. China and its ilk (East-Asian, developing nations with a rabid desire for English teachers at all levels), offer this amazing safe-harbor for people simply unable to cope with the pressures and, yes, difficulties of the so-called "real world." As I said before, we live like kings here... and I'm the smallest king, doing the most work. I do not mind this. I consider it a learning experience; a chance to get some live-fire training in a potential carreer path. But if I wanted to - as several others have outright told me they're doing - simply avoid bacome a functional member of society ad infinitum, this is definitely the place to do it. Many private schools require that you basically show up, and you've done your job.... and you get paid ludicrously to do so. I'm making 5500 RMB/month, with no taxes. Though this converts to a mere ~$800/month if you do a direct exchange, it spends more like $3000 here. I have no living costs, so it's all gravy, too. And, I'll state once again, I'm at the very low end of the payment totem pole. Had I no aspirations other than living comfortably, why ever leave? I am paid simply because I am white. That's the end-all-be-all of it. I have this job, this pay, this life, because of the color of my skin, the language I naturally speak, and the country I am from. And that, in contrast to many others, is actually a reason for me not to stay.
If nothing else, this experience here has taught me that I do, in fact, have pretty high goals for myself. I may not always be able to spell them out, or define them... but I see myself a more than just someone paid to be a white English speaker.
Well, I guess the title was somewhat misleading. I'll get around to the holidys next time.
Sincerely Yours,
I Am,
(CS)WC Out.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Turkey Day!
It's been 10 days since I last posted here... far too long, if you ask me, but I've been quite busy. I've been correcting homework, homework, homework... trying to get reimbursed for my flight (that should go through very soon), and creating a written test to administer to my Oral class. This will be their only written test, I've decided. Their final exam will be verbal-only, since I have just been told that that is an acceptable possibility. In addition, I'm expected to have drafts of the finals for both my oral and written classes by the end of next week. It shouldn't be too terribly difficult. Just time-consuming. Right now, though, I'm hoping that the copy room I delivered my paper-test to will have my 90 copies done today. I don't want to have to put this test off yet another week because they couldn't get around to hitting the buttons "9" "0" and "Print."
But what I really wanted to post about today was that it's Thanksgiving here in China. The rest of you lugs have to wait another 12 hours for your Turkey Day to come around so HA! I win! Thinking on this holiday (which, once again, I'm one of the only people celebrating around here), I started thinking of all the things I was thankful for. This is really one of the first times I've done this of my own volition. But here, so far away from who and what I know, one often faces the choice of succumbing to homesickness and loneliness, or to remember what it is you do have. And so...
1. Of course, my family, who has helped me get here, and now continually help me get by here with their messages, emailed jokes, and calls. Thanks guys! Please keep em coming! This leads me to...
2. The Internet! Without the Internet here, I think I would've gone absolutely mad by now. It's my refuge in the storm, my contact-point back to the relatively sanity of a culture of my own. Add into this that wonderous tools it offers like Skype, blogging, Facebook, and email, and I've got a resource that lets me all-but-touch the people I care about back home.
3. My new expat and Chinese friends. Little enough to say here. They're the people who can either commiserate over a gin and tonic at the La Luna Bar, or explain to me why their people can be so damn weird and - let's face it - infuriating sometimes. Not the least of which is...
4. Sun Jienan. AKA Nancy Sun. My lady of the Asian persuasion. We're having a very good time with each other (as I'm sure the pictures I keep posting have shown.) Though she, too, drives like a bat out of hell, she has swiftly become a person I trust and care about. And that's done a lot to keep me going on my not-so-good days.
5. Cheap (i.e. >$2) DVDs. Though they may sometimes be the worst quality imaginable... dubbed in only Chinese, or half English/half Russian dialogue... in reality this cheap, renewable entertainment wellspring has given me many, many hours of entertainment. Thanks, "DVD Bass!" (sometimes known as "DVD Boss.")
6. And finally, I'm thankful for my own quirky, strange, sarcastic, sense of humor. It's the voice in my head making snide comments that only I would ever find funny. It's the reason I sometimes start laughing for absolutely no reason (the voices in my head told me a funny joke). And this weird sense of humor has probably been one of the biggest factors of keeping me sane while in China. Let's face it, the situation I'm in is utterly absurd, virtually everyday. I live, work, and interact in an environment where I'm largely at the mercy of people who have no idea what I'm saying. And yet, I'm treated as either a Hollywood celebrity, a demigod, or a handy marketing tool. If I couldn't laugh at the situations I find myself in, I'd have gone stark raving mad by now.
So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Sorry I cant be there with you eating tukrey and mashed potatoes and good wine (no, really, I really really REALLY wish I was!), but I hope that you all remember what you are thankful for as well. And I hope we'll be eating turkey together next T-Day!
(CS)WC Out.
But what I really wanted to post about today was that it's Thanksgiving here in China. The rest of you lugs have to wait another 12 hours for your Turkey Day to come around so HA! I win! Thinking on this holiday (which, once again, I'm one of the only people celebrating around here), I started thinking of all the things I was thankful for. This is really one of the first times I've done this of my own volition. But here, so far away from who and what I know, one often faces the choice of succumbing to homesickness and loneliness, or to remember what it is you do have. And so...
1. Of course, my family, who has helped me get here, and now continually help me get by here with their messages, emailed jokes, and calls. Thanks guys! Please keep em coming! This leads me to...
2. The Internet! Without the Internet here, I think I would've gone absolutely mad by now. It's my refuge in the storm, my contact-point back to the relatively sanity of a culture of my own. Add into this that wonderous tools it offers like Skype, blogging, Facebook, and email, and I've got a resource that lets me all-but-touch the people I care about back home.
3. My new expat and Chinese friends. Little enough to say here. They're the people who can either commiserate over a gin and tonic at the La Luna Bar, or explain to me why their people can be so damn weird and - let's face it - infuriating sometimes. Not the least of which is...
4. Sun Jienan. AKA Nancy Sun. My lady of the Asian persuasion. We're having a very good time with each other (as I'm sure the pictures I keep posting have shown.) Though she, too, drives like a bat out of hell, she has swiftly become a person I trust and care about. And that's done a lot to keep me going on my not-so-good days.
5. Cheap (i.e. >$2) DVDs. Though they may sometimes be the worst quality imaginable... dubbed in only Chinese, or half English/half Russian dialogue... in reality this cheap, renewable entertainment wellspring has given me many, many hours of entertainment. Thanks, "DVD Bass!" (sometimes known as "DVD Boss.")
6. And finally, I'm thankful for my own quirky, strange, sarcastic, sense of humor. It's the voice in my head making snide comments that only I would ever find funny. It's the reason I sometimes start laughing for absolutely no reason (the voices in my head told me a funny joke). And this weird sense of humor has probably been one of the biggest factors of keeping me sane while in China. Let's face it, the situation I'm in is utterly absurd, virtually everyday. I live, work, and interact in an environment where I'm largely at the mercy of people who have no idea what I'm saying. And yet, I'm treated as either a Hollywood celebrity, a demigod, or a handy marketing tool. If I couldn't laugh at the situations I find myself in, I'd have gone stark raving mad by now.
So Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Sorry I cant be there with you eating tukrey and mashed potatoes and good wine (no, really, I really really REALLY wish I was!), but I hope that you all remember what you are thankful for as well. And I hope we'll be eating turkey together next T-Day!
(CS)WC Out.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Pictures Galore
We (Nancy and I) decided to go out to the beach. Here's some old, junky boats.
Low tide... I hope.
These boats are going anywhere soon.
Ahoy!
This was in some kind of fishing village on an island on the coast. Out there in the water was what looked to be some kind of small-scale oil rig.
Neat little stone bridge on the beach.
The coast near sunset.
Nancy living it up.
It was a windy little cove, but fun :)
Look! Up in the sky! A bird! A plane!
The kung-fu is strong with this one...
Ahh! It's the ocean!
Smooth sailing? I think not...
Us, again.
Another of the numberless teeny tiny temples dotting the landscape. Despite the fact that they're literally everywhere, they're still fun to look at.
Lil' ol' me.
Zee Beach.
Yet another photo of suicidal Chinese driving... this is a 2-way, 2 lane road...and I'm pretty sure Nancy spent more time in the wrong lane than the right noe...
Hey! Another temple! go figure!
These guys are outside the entrances to many buildings. They're thought to bring good look and success. The only reason I took a picture of this one was because the lighting was great.
Rawr!
A (very) rare photo of a really nice blue sky.
The river.
Strips of fish set out in the sun to dry. The smell... leaves something to be desired...
This next series is the University during its 50th Anniversary. Cool stuff :)
The dress rehearsal to a concert in the Olympic stadium
Practicing his mad streetside pingpong skillZ
A nice fruit stand
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Ebs and Flows...
Another day full of ups and downs... I'll start with the bad stuff...
I got an email from Xiaoxian today with some student-made criticisms of my Oral English Class. That's not bad news. I want the critiques. I want to improve. I want to teach these kids.
Please, tell me, is this helpful?:
"What the teacher plans for our class is simple and not demanding and is not helping a lot to improve our Oral English."
That was all I was given, in terms of feedback. I was more than a little frustrated. So I, as requested, wrote a response. It follows:
"I feel I'm between the metaphorical rock and hard place. To whom, I ask anyone who can/will reply, should I be teaching? The top level students of the given class, who have a strong grasp of many of the elements I might be going over that day, and are consequentially bored? Or the students who don't "get it" - who don't understand, and would get completely lost were we to move faster, and at a more challenging pace? In any given class - be it writing, or conversation - I have a range of skill levels from "competent" all the way down to "unable to communicate." Who should I focus on, and who should be, for lack of a better word, forgotten?
The first time I became even remotely aware of my students' capabilities was on the first day of class. And only now, 10+ weeks into said plan am I getting any sort of feedback. I hope it can be understood that it's frustrating for me, as well. I've been given little, if any direction vis a vis class design. What is the goal for the conversation class, if not to promote continued growth and communication skills through class discussions and conversations? Moreover, how am I supposed to adjust my lesson plans accordingly, if the SUM TOTAL of 10 weeks of teachings' comments are "What the teacher plans for our class is simple and not demanding and is not helping a lot to improve our Oral English"???
Simple. Not demanding. Not helping.
In what ways? Where do the students feel improvement can be made? What do they feel are their strong points? their weak points?"
Sigh. I think that pretty well encompasses my frustration right now. 10+ weeks, and this is what I get. How am I supposed to work with that? I suppose I'll just have to make up a questionnaire and give it to the students myself.
But onto better news...
I HAVE A BASS GUITAR!!! AND AN AMP!!! And I got it ll for a screaming deal! It's a 5 string, dual-pick-up SX Custom Handmade Vintage Series... made for export. I found this music strong called "Dong Dong" I think, ad they had it all. The owner, without either Nancy or myself even asking about it, offered up a comprehensive 25% discount. The sticker-price for the bass itself was 2200RMB (~$330) which is a good deal anywhere! And especially since the best one I'd found prior to this was 2200, was a 4-stringer, and just generally crappier, I would've been happy with that. But I got this nice bass and a nice little practice amp for only 2060RMB! just incredible! Usually I'd be looking to pay at LEAST $750 for a setup like this. And instead I got it for less than $300. Additionally, He gave me "as gifts" a free shoulder strap and carrying bag. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was being buttered up for something... or maybe all the good karma's paying off. ;)
In other news, I'm pretty much chomping at the bit right now. The expansion to the game I play, World of Warcraft, has just been released. It's called The Wrath of the Lich King. I was able to download the client from the internet (don't worry, it's legal). However, I can't upgrade my account without purchasing a CD-Key. Sounds simple, right? Not so much. that entails me finding a US Copy of the game, and then buying it. not usually an issue, but here there's a relative dearth of US games. They've ot World of Warcraft...but it's the Chinese client version. I think I'm going to ask my parents to take $50 from my account, buy a copy for me, and then email me the CD-Key. It's just a string of numbers and letter... but to me that string is worth $50 ;D Months, if not years of entertainment lie within...
I got an email from Xiaoxian today with some student-made criticisms of my Oral English Class. That's not bad news. I want the critiques. I want to improve. I want to teach these kids.
Please, tell me, is this helpful?:
"What the teacher plans for our class is simple and not demanding and is not helping a lot to improve our Oral English."
That was all I was given, in terms of feedback. I was more than a little frustrated. So I, as requested, wrote a response. It follows:
"I feel I'm between the metaphorical rock and hard place. To whom, I ask anyone who can/will reply, should I be teaching? The top level students of the given class, who have a strong grasp of many of the elements I might be going over that day, and are consequentially bored? Or the students who don't "get it" - who don't understand, and would get completely lost were we to move faster, and at a more challenging pace? In any given class - be it writing, or conversation - I have a range of skill levels from "competent" all the way down to "unable to communicate." Who should I focus on, and who should be, for lack of a better word, forgotten?
The first time I became even remotely aware of my students' capabilities was on the first day of class. And only now, 10+ weeks into said plan am I getting any sort of feedback. I hope it can be understood that it's frustrating for me, as well. I've been given little, if any direction vis a vis class design. What is the goal for the conversation class, if not to promote continued growth and communication skills through class discussions and conversations? Moreover, how am I supposed to adjust my lesson plans accordingly, if the SUM TOTAL of 10 weeks of teachings' comments are "What the teacher plans for our class is simple and not demanding and is not helping a lot to improve our Oral English"???
Simple. Not demanding. Not helping.
In what ways? Where do the students feel improvement can be made? What do they feel are their strong points? their weak points?"
Sigh. I think that pretty well encompasses my frustration right now. 10+ weeks, and this is what I get. How am I supposed to work with that? I suppose I'll just have to make up a questionnaire and give it to the students myself.
But onto better news...
I HAVE A BASS GUITAR!!! AND AN AMP!!! And I got it ll for a screaming deal! It's a 5 string, dual-pick-up SX Custom Handmade Vintage Series... made for export. I found this music strong called "Dong Dong" I think, ad they had it all. The owner, without either Nancy or myself even asking about it, offered up a comprehensive 25% discount. The sticker-price for the bass itself was 2200RMB (~$330) which is a good deal anywhere! And especially since the best one I'd found prior to this was 2200, was a 4-stringer, and just generally crappier, I would've been happy with that. But I got this nice bass and a nice little practice amp for only 2060RMB! just incredible! Usually I'd be looking to pay at LEAST $750 for a setup like this. And instead I got it for less than $300. Additionally, He gave me "as gifts" a free shoulder strap and carrying bag. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was being buttered up for something... or maybe all the good karma's paying off. ;)
In other news, I'm pretty much chomping at the bit right now. The expansion to the game I play, World of Warcraft, has just been released. It's called The Wrath of the Lich King. I was able to download the client from the internet (don't worry, it's legal). However, I can't upgrade my account without purchasing a CD-Key. Sounds simple, right? Not so much. that entails me finding a US Copy of the game, and then buying it. not usually an issue, but here there's a relative dearth of US games. They've ot World of Warcraft...but it's the Chinese client version. I think I'm going to ask my parents to take $50 from my account, buy a copy for me, and then email me the CD-Key. It's just a string of numbers and letter... but to me that string is worth $50 ;D Months, if not years of entertainment lie within...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Catching Up
I'm sure you've been suitably perplexed at my lack on ongoing, 24 hr news cycle-style coverage of the goings on in the world, specifically the U.S. election. Suffice it to say, I've never marketed myself as CNN. I've been out, about... living la vida China. This is a country where it's remarkably easy to just lose touch with anything not immediately going on. Combine that with my natural predisposition to kind of lose focus and not pay attention, and...well... you end up with longish blog-gaps. On the other hand, I get the sneaking suspicion that life is a series of getting caught p in the given moment/environment. Even now I can hear my mom chiding me with her oft' repeated maxim: "Welcome to the 'real' world, Chris!" Yeah, yeah, yeah....
But take heart! I was closely following this election... my inner polysci nerd was overjoyed. I followed polls, read commentary... oh it was glorious! I was at lunch when McCain's concession speech came on CCTV... and though the over-dub of Chinese made it pretty much impossible tohear at the time, I rushed back to my trusty laptop and listened in. Suffice it to say, I could have been more pleased with the results! After work, we - Aaron, Warren, Xiaohong, and I - went to Naples to celebrate with a hearty Italian meal.
Following that, Nancy and I went to a party of sorts - a weekly gathering of a few expats for dinner and drinking - and found stars'n'stripes kindred spirits, and grateful people from all over the world. Believe me when I say the world thinks we made the right decision... and they think that by a LONG shot.
In fact, knowing this whole event was going to happen, I opted to give a speech on American Presidential Politics to students this week. I opted in for the topic... not the speech itself. That's contractual. I get no bonus from this... or at least that's how I understand it. I'll fill you in once I get this whole thing sorted out. But I've now got a Powerpoint detailing the whole race and beyond. It was kind of nice making Powerpoints again to be honest.
I didn't have to teach on Friday as I usually would, because the school had a Sports Meet for which all classes were cancelled. Aaron got roped into competing in some track event... and yet I was inexplicably able to avoid a similar fate. I'm honestly not sure how I got out of that. As such, I had a nice, long, relaxing weekend - much of which with Nancy, when she wasn't flying off to yet another business meeting... seriously, t happens all that time, all hours of the day/night. Bleck...business :P
In weather news, the temperature has dropped off rather sharply. In the span of just a few days, I've gone from t-shirt and shorts to long pants and my light jacket if it's dry. My big black leather jacket has even ome out of storage for when it rains. It's kind of nice to finally get into that "other half" of my clothes. I've been told that this is about as cold as it will get, though. The leaves don't even fall off the trees here. That hardly seems like it deserves the name "winter" at all...
Well, as it's late here and I have class tomorrow, I'd best be off to bed.
(CW)WC Out.
But take heart! I was closely following this election... my inner polysci nerd was overjoyed. I followed polls, read commentary... oh it was glorious! I was at lunch when McCain's concession speech came on CCTV... and though the over-dub of Chinese made it pretty much impossible tohear at the time, I rushed back to my trusty laptop and listened in. Suffice it to say, I could have been more pleased with the results! After work, we - Aaron, Warren, Xiaohong, and I - went to Naples to celebrate with a hearty Italian meal.
Following that, Nancy and I went to a party of sorts - a weekly gathering of a few expats for dinner and drinking - and found stars'n'stripes kindred spirits, and grateful people from all over the world. Believe me when I say the world thinks we made the right decision... and they think that by a LONG shot.
In fact, knowing this whole event was going to happen, I opted to give a speech on American Presidential Politics to students this week. I opted in for the topic... not the speech itself. That's contractual. I get no bonus from this... or at least that's how I understand it. I'll fill you in once I get this whole thing sorted out. But I've now got a Powerpoint detailing the whole race and beyond. It was kind of nice making Powerpoints again to be honest.
I didn't have to teach on Friday as I usually would, because the school had a Sports Meet for which all classes were cancelled. Aaron got roped into competing in some track event... and yet I was inexplicably able to avoid a similar fate. I'm honestly not sure how I got out of that. As such, I had a nice, long, relaxing weekend - much of which with Nancy, when she wasn't flying off to yet another business meeting... seriously, t happens all that time, all hours of the day/night. Bleck...business :P
In weather news, the temperature has dropped off rather sharply. In the span of just a few days, I've gone from t-shirt and shorts to long pants and my light jacket if it's dry. My big black leather jacket has even ome out of storage for when it rains. It's kind of nice to finally get into that "other half" of my clothes. I've been told that this is about as cold as it will get, though. The leaves don't even fall off the trees here. That hardly seems like it deserves the name "winter" at all...
Well, as it's late here and I have class tomorrow, I'd best be off to bed.
(CW)WC Out.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Quick Little clarification...
2 posts ago, I mentioned the JGGIDw Theory, explaining why people act the way they do online. I've just been reading through cnn.com and found this article which blatantly attempts to cast the Greater Internet Dickwad Theory as "new news."
Amateurs.
The true professionals ver at penny-arcade.com latched onto this bit of knowledge back in March of 2004. Observe.
Anyway, just thought I'd point out that I wasn't just making up some theory. It's real!
Amateurs.
The true professionals ver at penny-arcade.com latched onto this bit of knowledge back in March of 2004. Observe.
Anyway, just thought I'd point out that I wasn't just making up some theory. It's real!
And that's when we'll explode - and it won't be a pretty sight
Round about the cauldron go...
Halloween Party Pics!
Friday was, by all accounts a banner-year for Halloween festivities in Wenzhou. From 3 - count 'em - 3 foreign teachers doing seperate units on the history and celebrations of the holiday, to the first annual WZMC Halloween English Club Party (complete with gourds/grapefruits to carve!), and - of course - the obligatory Expat costume party extravaganza (which swamped the underprepared La Luna staff - I guess last year their party had drawn all of 10 people)... it was a fun night!
Me in my full costume. I wore the shirt to school, much to my students' delight. No facepaint though.
(Note: I made the shirt myself! And the facepaint is self-applied watercolor... so don't judge it too harshly... It was constructed with love, and in adverse conditions. They don't have ANY costumed holidays here, and so, no costume shops)
The psychotic Chinese girl, and the skeleton. Honestly, I'm not sure which one looks scarier...
Nancy and some crazy masked dude.
Group Shot! This was the greater bulk of the costumed persons, though not everyone :)
SUUUUPER Caeser (wrist-flop), the cheating husband, Jack Skellington, and Gandalf the Triclops
Now do you understand why I'm seeing a Chinese girl?! NOW DO YOU SEE?!?!
Makes you want to gouge your eyes out, no?
My very own Gourd O'Lantern!
Nancy and hetero-Caesar
I told her to dress up... I think she took it the wrong way... oh well...
A contemplative skeleton...
This adorable little girl was here with her mom, and absolutely loved my jack'o'lantern... she kept wanting to look inside to see how it glowed! So cute!
And of course, Satan made his obligatory appearance. This being such a satanic holiday and all. Not realizing he had arrived, I said something along the lines of "Man, I'd sell my soul for another G&T!"
... whoops...
Friday was, by all accounts a banner-year for Halloween festivities in Wenzhou. From 3 - count 'em - 3 foreign teachers doing seperate units on the history and celebrations of the holiday, to the first annual WZMC Halloween English Club Party (complete with gourds/grapefruits to carve!), and - of course - the obligatory Expat costume party extravaganza (which swamped the underprepared La Luna staff - I guess last year their party had drawn all of 10 people)... it was a fun night!
Me in my full costume. I wore the shirt to school, much to my students' delight. No facepaint though.
(Note: I made the shirt myself! And the facepaint is self-applied watercolor... so don't judge it too harshly... It was constructed with love, and in adverse conditions. They don't have ANY costumed holidays here, and so, no costume shops)
The psychotic Chinese girl, and the skeleton. Honestly, I'm not sure which one looks scarier...
Nancy and some crazy masked dude.
Group Shot! This was the greater bulk of the costumed persons, though not everyone :)
SUUUUPER Caeser (wrist-flop), the cheating husband, Jack Skellington, and Gandalf the Triclops
Now do you understand why I'm seeing a Chinese girl?! NOW DO YOU SEE?!?!
Makes you want to gouge your eyes out, no?
My very own Gourd O'Lantern!
Nancy and hetero-Caesar
I told her to dress up... I think she took it the wrong way... oh well...
A contemplative skeleton...
This adorable little girl was here with her mom, and absolutely loved my jack'o'lantern... she kept wanting to look inside to see how it glowed! So cute!
And of course, Satan made his obligatory appearance. This being such a satanic holiday and all. Not realizing he had arrived, I said something along the lines of "Man, I'd sell my soul for another G&T!"
... whoops...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
On a light-ish note
It's easy to get down on yourself when teaching English as a foreign language. It's really, really easy to forget just how difficult a language it is, especially coming from a Chinese background (and vice versa). Consequentially, I can sometimes be prone to thinking I'm not doing my job "right" if I'm not getting through to 100% of the students (even if the little bastard falls asleep in my class). Praise from above is all well and good, but - what can I say - I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I don't want anyone to fail.
As a cure for these occasional bouts of melancholy - languishing in the solemn knowledge that despite my best efforts, not all of these student will ever really be able to effectively utilize the language - I indulge in my sinful addiction...
I speak, of course, of cruising political blogs and forums. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi: "You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany." And wow, is it ever true! Ascribe it to the Jonathan Gabriel's Greater Internet Dickwad Theory (Normal Human + Anonymity + Wide Audience = Raving Dickwad), and then mix that with the normal rancor of partisan politics... and the result is... well... something approaching a true model of evil incarnate. Nevertheless, it's quite entertaining... especially when the facts are on your side.
But back to the main topic... how said internet cesspools help me out of these kinds of funks. Observe, from a conservative...uh... human...I think:
As a cure for these occasional bouts of melancholy - languishing in the solemn knowledge that despite my best efforts, not all of these student will ever really be able to effectively utilize the language - I indulge in my sinful addiction...
I speak, of course, of cruising political blogs and forums. In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi: "You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany." And wow, is it ever true! Ascribe it to the Jonathan Gabriel's Greater Internet Dickwad Theory (Normal Human + Anonymity + Wide Audience = Raving Dickwad), and then mix that with the normal rancor of partisan politics... and the result is... well... something approaching a true model of evil incarnate. Nevertheless, it's quite entertaining... especially when the facts are on your side.
But back to the main topic... how said internet cesspools help me out of these kinds of funks. Observe, from a conservative...uh... human...I think:
The contitution say if i am right [ we have the right to bear arms} thers was also an incident where the was thirteen yesr girl had a paper signup in a store window, the town councel made a big issue over it , they made them take it down it had noyhinthing do to politics ,But they ssayed it was a something agaist Omba. what is this country country coming to when a thirteen year old can't is all over the news. and embrassed for something .Omba is changing this this county into a comunist ountry. what and watch in time we will be paying out of our pocket to him.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Time Flies Like the Wind...
...fruit flies like bananas. - Marx, G.
Holy cow! How did I manage to not post anything for this long?! Event, events, events...
Saturday morning found me being forced into semi-consciousness by my phone ringing at 7:33am. It was - of course - the ever-babysitter-ish Xiaoxian calling since I (clearly) hadn't made the 7:30 bus out to Chashan which she was riding. Why, you might ask,would I be making that 40 minute jaunt at that ungodly hour on a weekend? Because I'd *been signed up* for a student/teacher pep-rally game-day...thing.
I make it sound like some awful thing. But my main gripe, really, was getting up so damn early. Once I was underway - via city bus (the 53, which I learned does an od series of loop-de-loops on its way out of the city) - it wasn't so bad. Nothing an iPod full of music can't fix, even on the earliest of mornings. And once there, they provided a bagged breakfast of sweet-ish bread, an orange, and some water (I was just as glad it wasn't milk... or eggs). The events were vaired, and I was only signed up for tug-o-war. Little did I know that it was just a clever ploy to get me into their web... and that once there, I would be asked - nigh, conscripted - into forced labor for no less than 2 other events: the team-whip relay race, and the half-inflated-volleyball-behind-the-back-team-passing game. Truly horrific, I know. You may want to keep small children and the elderly with heart difficulties from reading this... I don't want my plight scarring anyone permanantly.
With that behind me, I was able to catch a ride back into town with a woman named Luyi, who is the vice-dean of the Foreign Language School. We had a nice conversation, and she was kind enough to drop me off right outside of my apartment block. I then slept for most of the rest of the day. Heck, I told myself, it was Saturday... and by 11:30am I'd done more than most people do all day!
I awoke the next morning feeling something akin to what I imagine being trampled by an elephant feels like. My back was stiff, sore, and I was barely able to get up out of bed. The really super obvious answer as to "why" completely eluded me until... well let's just say it was a while. Taking a few ibuprofen, I was able - with a bit of subtle coercion - to convince Jienan (whom I've up 'til now referred to as Nancy) to take me to a local music store to investigate claims of an electric bass taking up residence there. Indeed, after a bit of perusing, I stumbled across the beast lurking in a plastic cover. It was 1000RMB for the little guy - some noname Chinese brand, I'm sure, called Gojira (which I think is literally the real way to say "Godzilla" in Japanese). Unfortunately, the store had neither cable nor amp to offer...making my thoughts of purchase a moot point until I could find these other rather important componants. We scoped out another music store, which turned out to have 2 bass guitars - one of which was a "Fender" for 2200RMB - but again, no amp. And so, the search continues. But THEY EXIST HERE! And by the Power of Greyskull, it shall be mine!
After that whole tirade, Jienan was tired and not feeling great, and so she took me to a spa for a massage. She was able to get 50% off, she told me, since she was a business owner and a frequent customer. Suffice it to say - as with all business/government dealings in China - she pulled some strings. The masseuse did a number on my back, loosening it up to the point where I could actually move it again... only to discover that it still *really* hurt to move. It was at this point the whole tug-o-war debacle popped into my head. DUH! But I was pressed for time since...
Jeff Barlow had arrived that very day, and Aaron and I had been *cordially* invited to attend a dinner with him, the dean, vice-dean, his liason and her husband (Warren). It was a delicious meal at - I was told - one of the most popular restaurants in town. It was great to see Jeff - hey, he brought me Nature Valley granola bars! I didn't know how great it'd be to see something like that, haha. Moreover, both the dean and v-d made a point to commend Aaron and I on our performance so far, saying that, while we certainly have lots of room for improvement, we're both doing quite well, and the students like us. She then made a point to tell Jeff that I was something of a "movie star" at the school. Sigh... it's embarrassing enough that it's true, but did she have to bring it up? Granted I'm certainly not complaining that about 80% of the girls there are virtually swooning over me (not complaining at all), but talking about it, for whatever reason, just makes me feel ridiculous.
Holy cow! How did I manage to not post anything for this long?! Event, events, events...
Saturday morning found me being forced into semi-consciousness by my phone ringing at 7:33am. It was - of course - the ever-babysitter-ish Xiaoxian calling since I (clearly) hadn't made the 7:30 bus out to Chashan which she was riding. Why, you might ask,would I be making that 40 minute jaunt at that ungodly hour on a weekend? Because I'd *been signed up* for a student/teacher pep-rally game-day...thing.
I make it sound like some awful thing. But my main gripe, really, was getting up so damn early. Once I was underway - via city bus (the 53, which I learned does an od series of loop-de-loops on its way out of the city) - it wasn't so bad. Nothing an iPod full of music can't fix, even on the earliest of mornings. And once there, they provided a bagged breakfast of sweet-ish bread, an orange, and some water (I was just as glad it wasn't milk... or eggs). The events were vaired, and I was only signed up for tug-o-war. Little did I know that it was just a clever ploy to get me into their web... and that once there, I would be asked - nigh, conscripted - into forced labor for no less than 2 other events: the team-whip relay race, and the half-inflated-volleyball-behind-the-back-team-passing game. Truly horrific, I know. You may want to keep small children and the elderly with heart difficulties from reading this... I don't want my plight scarring anyone permanantly.
With that behind me, I was able to catch a ride back into town with a woman named Luyi, who is the vice-dean of the Foreign Language School. We had a nice conversation, and she was kind enough to drop me off right outside of my apartment block. I then slept for most of the rest of the day. Heck, I told myself, it was Saturday... and by 11:30am I'd done more than most people do all day!
I awoke the next morning feeling something akin to what I imagine being trampled by an elephant feels like. My back was stiff, sore, and I was barely able to get up out of bed. The really super obvious answer as to "why" completely eluded me until... well let's just say it was a while. Taking a few ibuprofen, I was able - with a bit of subtle coercion - to convince Jienan (whom I've up 'til now referred to as Nancy) to take me to a local music store to investigate claims of an electric bass taking up residence there. Indeed, after a bit of perusing, I stumbled across the beast lurking in a plastic cover. It was 1000RMB for the little guy - some noname Chinese brand, I'm sure, called Gojira (which I think is literally the real way to say "Godzilla" in Japanese). Unfortunately, the store had neither cable nor amp to offer...making my thoughts of purchase a moot point until I could find these other rather important componants. We scoped out another music store, which turned out to have 2 bass guitars - one of which was a "Fender" for 2200RMB - but again, no amp. And so, the search continues. But THEY EXIST HERE! And by the Power of Greyskull, it shall be mine!
After that whole tirade, Jienan was tired and not feeling great, and so she took me to a spa for a massage. She was able to get 50% off, she told me, since she was a business owner and a frequent customer. Suffice it to say - as with all business/government dealings in China - she pulled some strings. The masseuse did a number on my back, loosening it up to the point where I could actually move it again... only to discover that it still *really* hurt to move. It was at this point the whole tug-o-war debacle popped into my head. DUH! But I was pressed for time since...
Jeff Barlow had arrived that very day, and Aaron and I had been *cordially* invited to attend a dinner with him, the dean, vice-dean, his liason and her husband (Warren). It was a delicious meal at - I was told - one of the most popular restaurants in town. It was great to see Jeff - hey, he brought me Nature Valley granola bars! I didn't know how great it'd be to see something like that, haha. Moreover, both the dean and v-d made a point to commend Aaron and I on our performance so far, saying that, while we certainly have lots of room for improvement, we're both doing quite well, and the students like us. She then made a point to tell Jeff that I was something of a "movie star" at the school. Sigh... it's embarrassing enough that it's true, but did she have to bring it up? Granted I'm certainly not complaining that about 80% of the girls there are virtually swooning over me (not complaining at all), but talking about it, for whatever reason, just makes me feel ridiculous.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Ripped from the Headlines!
With the continued plummeting of many American companies due to managerial greed and corruption, we may want to consider taking a page from the Chinese government regarding corruption and bribery - he says, tongue firmly in cheek... observe, from cnn.com:
-----------------------------------
Ex-Beijing official gets death sentence
BEIJING, China (AP) -- A former Beijing vice mayor in charge of overseeing Olympic construction projects has been given a death sentence for corruption, a court clerk and his lawyer said Sunday.
The Intermediate People's Court in Hengshui, a city outside Beijing, ordered the death sentence Saturday after finding Liu Zhihua guilty of taking bribes, said a court clerk who would only give his surname, Ma.
However, the sentence was "suspended" for two years, Ma said. The reprieve means if Liu shows good behavior, his sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
The government squelched all reporting on Liu's prosecution in the months leading up to the August Olympic Games to avoid tarnishing its image on the global stage.
Officials said Liu's misdeeds had nothing to do with Olympic projects, but his dismissal put a cloud over preparations for the games and prompted authorities to ratchet up anti-corruption efforts.
Liu was elected to his post as vice mayor of Beijing in 1999, and dismissed and kicked out of the Communist Party in 2006.
Liu faced 10 charges for accepting bribes totaling about 7 million yuan ($1 million) and gifts in return for favors to property development companies while vice mayor, his lawyer Mo Shaoping said.
Mo said some of the allegations were dubious. "Liu will probably appeal the verdict, and the final decision will be made soon," Mo said.
China reportedly spent $38 billion on urban renewal and infrastructure construction for the Olympics. Many officials have been charged with corruption in construction and real estate deals in the rapidly growing capital.
---------------------------
Wow! OK, for reals, I'm done for the day...
-----------------------------------
Ex-Beijing official gets death sentence
BEIJING, China (AP) -- A former Beijing vice mayor in charge of overseeing Olympic construction projects has been given a death sentence for corruption, a court clerk and his lawyer said Sunday.
The Intermediate People's Court in Hengshui, a city outside Beijing, ordered the death sentence Saturday after finding Liu Zhihua guilty of taking bribes, said a court clerk who would only give his surname, Ma.
However, the sentence was "suspended" for two years, Ma said. The reprieve means if Liu shows good behavior, his sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
The government squelched all reporting on Liu's prosecution in the months leading up to the August Olympic Games to avoid tarnishing its image on the global stage.
Officials said Liu's misdeeds had nothing to do with Olympic projects, but his dismissal put a cloud over preparations for the games and prompted authorities to ratchet up anti-corruption efforts.
Liu was elected to his post as vice mayor of Beijing in 1999, and dismissed and kicked out of the Communist Party in 2006.
Liu faced 10 charges for accepting bribes totaling about 7 million yuan ($1 million) and gifts in return for favors to property development companies while vice mayor, his lawyer Mo Shaoping said.
Mo said some of the allegations were dubious. "Liu will probably appeal the verdict, and the final decision will be made soon," Mo said.
China reportedly spent $38 billion on urban renewal and infrastructure construction for the Olympics. Many officials have been charged with corruption in construction and real estate deals in the rapidly growing capital.
---------------------------
Wow! OK, for reals, I'm done for the day...
The Question-Master (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Chinglish)
Somehow or another I was conscripted into judging one of the school's English "competitions," meaning I got to ride a city bus out to Chashan, listen to 16 kids speak, grade them, and then leave.
Or so I thought...
It turns out that the bubbly, giggly girl who prodded me into agreeing to this was not exactly completely forthcoming about all of the details. Upon arriving, I learned that the format would be as follows:
1. Prepared Speech - 3 min
2. Impromptu Speech - 2 min
3. Question and Answer Session - 1 min
Upon being introduced to the audience, I was abruptly made aware that I had been deemed the "Question Master," and was thus expected to ask all of the questions to the speakers regarding their topics, either prepared or impromptu.
Let me be clear about this... these were first/second-year students, often non-English majors, who spoke in Chinglish so thick as to occasionally lose me completely. I was thrown into a position of speaking into a microphone, asking a question that I essentially had to pull from the top of my head. When people get nervous - and believe me, I was - what happens to their speaking-patterns? Why they speed up exponentially, of course! With an ESL student, they cannot understand you unless... that's right... you slow...the...hell...down. This translated to more often than not the student staring blankly at me after I had asked my hastily thought up question, and asking me to repeat. Them not understanding me only increased my anxiety, and... well, you can imagine the vicious cycle...
Fortunately Xiaohong was also a judge, and she bailed me out by offering to trade off asking questions. Later I asked how I - 1st time teacher, and 1st time judge - had pulled the "Question Master" title, to which she shrugged and said I was a native speaker. Sigh. The irony is that me being a native speaker actually makes it harder for them to understand me, since they can much more easily listen to Chinese-English vocal patterns.
The prepared speeches were, all in all, boring as hell. Apparently the topic du jour was "being a new student at WZMC," and so it was chock full of half-baked English about how great campus life was and how everyone must work hard to succeed... and, of course, each speech was literally basted in innane quotes and tired cliches... who teaches these kids these sad, sad phrases? It's painful to listen to! Someone actually tells them at some point that these "canned phrases" are really, really great to use... and to that person I say "STOP LYING TO CHINESE KIDS!!!"
The impromptu phase was marginally more interesting. Occasionally their student's topic forced them to make a real argument, or take a position...but far too often the so-called "topic" was little more than 3 words strung together, as if that was a meaningful question. Some of the choice examples are: "Trust and Love," "Life and Death," and "Knowledge and Practice." In such cases,the student would basically stretch the answer of "both are important" to 1:30-2:00 by throwing in some weird story, lamely attempting to relate it to their original topic, or simply spouting more cliches and quotes to fill the time.
Finally, 16 arduous and interminable speech sessions later, I was once again called upon to give an impromptu "comment session" on the speeches as a whole. I fumbled around for a minute or two before running out of things to say except "uh" and "ah." Once again, Xiaohong bailed me out by offering her own assassment in Chinese. Whew. After that, it was the award ceremony, which - once again - I was surprised to learn that I was to be a presenter... photos were taken, books (the prizes) were handed out. I really, really, really wanted to leave.
First prize? An English dictionary... man, talk about a lame first prize! How about, like, a Harry Potter book at least?! About 1/2 of the participants wanted me to sign their book... like I was some star or something. Obligingly - and rather embarrassed - I agreed... they seemed to really like my signature, which admittedly I have crafted to be flashy and noticable... So I was at least glad that it worked. Finally, we judges were give a small red envelope which turned out to contain 200RMB. I didn't realize this was a paid position, so that was a nice bonus.
Really I just wish I'd been informed...about anything... prior to me actually sitting down in the chair...
Xiaohong finally made our way out, and caught a tricycle/taxi back to Xialupu... about 1/2 way back, though, there was a group of poeple and cars stopped in the street. A woman had been hit by a car. This was a busy, highspeed road at night with no crosswalks or overhead lights. Objectively, she deserved what she got... it's idiotic to be crossing a street like that: it's dangerous enough crossing on a well lit crosswalk with the light favoring you at midday! But her limp, unmoving body, and the spattering of blood on the pavement as our taxi eased its way through the crowd and right by the scene of the accident easily overrode that assessment. I don't know her fate, but I sincerely hope she survived. She looked dead... she certainly wasn't moving. Two men picked her limp form up and carried her out of the middle of the road as we passed. It's an image, I think, that I'll have in my head for a long, long time - a powerful reminder of just how dangerous life can be, and how fragile we really are.
I do hope she lived.
(CS)WC Out.
Or so I thought...
It turns out that the bubbly, giggly girl who prodded me into agreeing to this was not exactly completely forthcoming about all of the details. Upon arriving, I learned that the format would be as follows:
1. Prepared Speech - 3 min
2. Impromptu Speech - 2 min
3. Question and Answer Session - 1 min
Upon being introduced to the audience, I was abruptly made aware that I had been deemed the "Question Master," and was thus expected to ask all of the questions to the speakers regarding their topics, either prepared or impromptu.
Let me be clear about this... these were first/second-year students, often non-English majors, who spoke in Chinglish so thick as to occasionally lose me completely. I was thrown into a position of speaking into a microphone, asking a question that I essentially had to pull from the top of my head. When people get nervous - and believe me, I was - what happens to their speaking-patterns? Why they speed up exponentially, of course! With an ESL student, they cannot understand you unless... that's right... you slow...the...hell...down. This translated to more often than not the student staring blankly at me after I had asked my hastily thought up question, and asking me to repeat. Them not understanding me only increased my anxiety, and... well, you can imagine the vicious cycle...
Fortunately Xiaohong was also a judge, and she bailed me out by offering to trade off asking questions. Later I asked how I - 1st time teacher, and 1st time judge - had pulled the "Question Master" title, to which she shrugged and said I was a native speaker. Sigh. The irony is that me being a native speaker actually makes it harder for them to understand me, since they can much more easily listen to Chinese-English vocal patterns.
The prepared speeches were, all in all, boring as hell. Apparently the topic du jour was "being a new student at WZMC," and so it was chock full of half-baked English about how great campus life was and how everyone must work hard to succeed... and, of course, each speech was literally basted in innane quotes and tired cliches... who teaches these kids these sad, sad phrases? It's painful to listen to! Someone actually tells them at some point that these "canned phrases" are really, really great to use... and to that person I say "STOP LYING TO CHINESE KIDS!!!"
The impromptu phase was marginally more interesting. Occasionally their student's topic forced them to make a real argument, or take a position...but far too often the so-called "topic" was little more than 3 words strung together, as if that was a meaningful question. Some of the choice examples are: "Trust and Love," "Life and Death," and "Knowledge and Practice." In such cases,the student would basically stretch the answer of "both are important" to 1:30-2:00 by throwing in some weird story, lamely attempting to relate it to their original topic, or simply spouting more cliches and quotes to fill the time.
Finally, 16 arduous and interminable speech sessions later, I was once again called upon to give an impromptu "comment session" on the speeches as a whole. I fumbled around for a minute or two before running out of things to say except "uh" and "ah." Once again, Xiaohong bailed me out by offering her own assassment in Chinese. Whew. After that, it was the award ceremony, which - once again - I was surprised to learn that I was to be a presenter... photos were taken, books (the prizes) were handed out. I really, really, really wanted to leave.
First prize? An English dictionary... man, talk about a lame first prize! How about, like, a Harry Potter book at least?! About 1/2 of the participants wanted me to sign their book... like I was some star or something. Obligingly - and rather embarrassed - I agreed... they seemed to really like my signature, which admittedly I have crafted to be flashy and noticable... So I was at least glad that it worked. Finally, we judges were give a small red envelope which turned out to contain 200RMB. I didn't realize this was a paid position, so that was a nice bonus.
Really I just wish I'd been informed...about anything... prior to me actually sitting down in the chair...
Xiaohong finally made our way out, and caught a tricycle/taxi back to Xialupu... about 1/2 way back, though, there was a group of poeple and cars stopped in the street. A woman had been hit by a car. This was a busy, highspeed road at night with no crosswalks or overhead lights. Objectively, she deserved what she got... it's idiotic to be crossing a street like that: it's dangerous enough crossing on a well lit crosswalk with the light favoring you at midday! But her limp, unmoving body, and the spattering of blood on the pavement as our taxi eased its way through the crowd and right by the scene of the accident easily overrode that assessment. I don't know her fate, but I sincerely hope she survived. She looked dead... she certainly wasn't moving. Two men picked her limp form up and carried her out of the middle of the road as we passed. It's an image, I think, that I'll have in my head for a long, long time - a powerful reminder of just how dangerous life can be, and how fragile we really are.
I do hope she lived.
(CS)WC Out.
First Things First
As promised, my pictures from my walk...
Found this on the side of a bar. It really kind of explains itself.
These are the ties that are used to "pave" most of the sidewalks in Wenzhou. They seem to be exceptionally fragile, since the vast majority of them are broken... It looked like someone was getting ready to replace some of the broken ones.
A little rest area on a streetcorner nearby. On a bright sunny day like this one, it can be quite nice to take a few minutes, relax and enjoy life passing you by.
One of my attempts to be "artistically photographic." I think it was the combination of light, shadow, and the wood grain that caught my eye.
This was truly a uniquely beautiful day. It was the clearest, bluest sky I've seen since I've been here. It rained the night before, so the usual haze of smog was missing.
One of the most convenient, fun, and terrifying methods of short-mid-range transportation: The Tricycle! For only 5 RMB, the rider will take you up to 1.5 Km. They like to weave through traffic, though, which makes them a bit like a thrill ride... with no safety belt... They take some getting used to, but they're awully nice in a pinch. And for 1/2 the cost of a taxi, they are very well-used by locals and foreigners alike.
Renovation in progress. This guy apparently doesn't like his eyes and wishes them to be rid of their functionality ASAP. He's using a welder without any kind of eye-shield. Doing that is like a concentrated version of staring straight into the Sun...
Life on the riverfront.
Ah, progress... ha
Found this on the side of a bar. It really kind of explains itself.
These are the ties that are used to "pave" most of the sidewalks in Wenzhou. They seem to be exceptionally fragile, since the vast majority of them are broken... It looked like someone was getting ready to replace some of the broken ones.
A little rest area on a streetcorner nearby. On a bright sunny day like this one, it can be quite nice to take a few minutes, relax and enjoy life passing you by.
One of my attempts to be "artistically photographic." I think it was the combination of light, shadow, and the wood grain that caught my eye.
This was truly a uniquely beautiful day. It was the clearest, bluest sky I've seen since I've been here. It rained the night before, so the usual haze of smog was missing.
One of the most convenient, fun, and terrifying methods of short-mid-range transportation: The Tricycle! For only 5 RMB, the rider will take you up to 1.5 Km. They like to weave through traffic, though, which makes them a bit like a thrill ride... with no safety belt... They take some getting used to, but they're awully nice in a pinch. And for 1/2 the cost of a taxi, they are very well-used by locals and foreigners alike.
Renovation in progress. This guy apparently doesn't like his eyes and wishes them to be rid of their functionality ASAP. He's using a welder without any kind of eye-shield. Doing that is like a concentrated version of staring straight into the Sun...
Life on the riverfront.
Ah, progress... ha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)