as i was walking to school the other day, in my lovely black heels and stockings under jeans, i thought this might be a good topic to right about. i don't know about other cities or what not, but in this city, ladies.. uh.. women (more on this later) like to wear heels and dresses. at home, where i'm extremely comfortable in jeans, capris, sometimes skirts, i'd never wear dresses, nor have i yet bought any here. i will near the end of my stay. i actually think they are quite endearing. i mean, most of the dresses i would not wear at home. they're kinda really girly and i'm a bolder girl. i think. but yes, dresses and heels. no matter the function. teaching, the female teachers are all in heels, and mostly dresses, or at least skirts. some in soft pastelly colours, some the generic pink, red, blue-green, green that come for all dresses and fashionable wear. i love the shoes they have here. which reminds me.
their fricken market is huge. china is the place of product. everything is majorly cheap compared to canada, of course. but they have tonnes here. if you have been to warehouse, think of a warehouse times like, 8 or even 10, with many floors, of course. i remember the first day i was in my first chinese supermarket. i was in beijing with hongmei. the thing with the supermarkets is that everything tantalizes you. there is just so much. you get flabberghasted by the amount of merchandise, you totally get visually lost and really forget why you are there in the first place. apparently this happens when you are in a market that is not in your own country. just, everything is completely different. like every box, every package in the shop is different than your no frills, your loblaws.. hahaha.. or other..
so yes, the heels i wore. they're quite low, and i really like them. i wore stockings with them that day. they made me blister. i only walked to school, then took the bus home after being stood up by a friend (*cry). i could have walked to the market if i felt more better in my shoes. nonetheless, i really like heels now. i mean, i like them better. and dresses. i'm going to buy some before i return. i do want to be a girl, though a comfortable girl..
oh yeah.. "women." women here don't like to be called a "woman" here. it means that they are old, married, and something else i'm sure. i find that fact so strange. they all want to be called "girls" or "ladies." well, then.. okay.
20060908
20060901
Sanitation
i think i have food poisoning. it's not uncommon here for a foreigner. i bravely ate out, even though my stomache was in pain, from god knows what. lately, i've been feeling low. perhaps it's the weather here? well, actually, also because of some of the people here. i realize that the foreigners to the town all have different motives for being here. i found out something that morally effects the way i think about that person. it's only a little. it's only confirmed even more how i prefer distance away from this person. then, it makes me think about other negative people. i let these people effect my mood here. it's kinda sad. plus the weather. now, it's only the students that i relate to most here, as they are finishing the term, looking for work for the next term. when you're far from home, you're far..
my friend is right, i'm the foreigner, but i must trust everyone here. keep at distance here, but recognize that there are truly genuine people here. i'm realizing more of the negative recently, but have been trying to surround myself with the good, which keeps me from.. argh!
so, i got off topic. sanitation. yes, my diarrhea shots wore off exactly three months that i was here. i paid those two days.. and now i'm constantly paying more. my tummy is in pain. i have to eat less out. i think my mood has effected my interest in cooking or something. i know i must go to the supermarket tomorrow.
having a full blown tummy ache, i get to the department office. of course, this is china and people smoke everywhere. i'm extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke, coming from toronto, where smoking is banned almost everywhere. it immediately makes me feel worse, i could feel it in my blood. where people spit in the street, cab drivers hork it out out of the window, where tots pee and defecate on the streets, .. it's a huge reason, i'm not staying here more than i have to.
i had trouble on bus number 4. as soon as i got on, the driver asks me where i'm going.. something something "nar." i had prepared myself for something like this, but know that my accent is shit. "she yweh," i say. he says "what," and i go sit. he asks me three more lines. i can't say anything, but i'm not too burdened. i get up to leave and he says something something "meo," which means nothing. so, that experience led me to sleep in my office at school for the rest of the lunch period next day. the day after, i was ready for the bus again with a note hongmei wrote for me. i love hongmei.
with a tummy ache and hoa tcha, i'll sit and relax my tummy now. going to beijing with mona during the holiday. i wish i could be more excited. only 3 more days left. to freedom.
my friend is right, i'm the foreigner, but i must trust everyone here. keep at distance here, but recognize that there are truly genuine people here. i'm realizing more of the negative recently, but have been trying to surround myself with the good, which keeps me from.. argh!
so, i got off topic. sanitation. yes, my diarrhea shots wore off exactly three months that i was here. i paid those two days.. and now i'm constantly paying more. my tummy is in pain. i have to eat less out. i think my mood has effected my interest in cooking or something. i know i must go to the supermarket tomorrow.
having a full blown tummy ache, i get to the department office. of course, this is china and people smoke everywhere. i'm extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke, coming from toronto, where smoking is banned almost everywhere. it immediately makes me feel worse, i could feel it in my blood. where people spit in the street, cab drivers hork it out out of the window, where tots pee and defecate on the streets, .. it's a huge reason, i'm not staying here more than i have to.
i had trouble on bus number 4. as soon as i got on, the driver asks me where i'm going.. something something "nar." i had prepared myself for something like this, but know that my accent is shit. "she yweh," i say. he says "what," and i go sit. he asks me three more lines. i can't say anything, but i'm not too burdened. i get up to leave and he says something something "meo," which means nothing. so, that experience led me to sleep in my office at school for the rest of the lunch period next day. the day after, i was ready for the bus again with a note hongmei wrote for me. i love hongmei.
with a tummy ache and hoa tcha, i'll sit and relax my tummy now. going to beijing with mona during the holiday. i wish i could be more excited. only 3 more days left. to freedom.
20060820
love
i went out with Richard yesterday for breakfast. we ate at this place near main campus, but not near enough in that i didn't miss the bus. anyway, we walked about 2 blocks away on our side of the street, into an alleyway to a residential area. the alley was filled with the usual in a local Chinese market. veggies, some fruit, and some stands for food. Richard asks me what i want to eat, i say whatever, then he points to soft tofu. at the moment, my face cringed. that the worst kind of tofu i don't like. he quickly sees this and pulls me away. i promised him that i will try it next time. we walk back and i settle for 7-item porridge and steamed bun. it was good. i had been craving them.
we were sitting, and i saw a familiar man, in shorts and a jersey/tank. i recognized him as ms. Yong Yan Feng's husband. he saw me, i think. i tell Richard, and we later see [the couple] walk together. i realized that they are both in running clothes. it made me think of all the couples i knew in China. from what i see, they are so in love. i mean.. well.. in North America, we are so inclined to see couples do things separately. one person has their interests in own thing, and the other does other things. i mean, this is what we see on t.v. we have some need for personal independence.
i realize to do something together has great benefits. last week, i spent time with a local friend. they invited me to their house. i watched them cook together. even if she knew she wasn't as strong a cook as her husband, she still prepared [it with him]. i thought it was beautiful. time together doing something together is so wonderful. and i knew they really want to do it together. they were cooking for me, but they were cooking for each other, too.
it was the first time i had witnessed a couple like this. i don't think i have enough.. experiences to see this, or, i know couples, but, i just don't see people at home like this at all. it takes so little, and it's so special, you know? very simple.. reminds me.. that there is always time for everything together..
marriage on the other hand is different. more on that later..
we were sitting, and i saw a familiar man, in shorts and a jersey/tank. i recognized him as ms. Yong Yan Feng's husband. he saw me, i think. i tell Richard, and we later see [the couple] walk together. i realized that they are both in running clothes. it made me think of all the couples i knew in China. from what i see, they are so in love. i mean.. well.. in North America, we are so inclined to see couples do things separately. one person has their interests in own thing, and the other does other things. i mean, this is what we see on t.v. we have some need for personal independence.
i realize to do something together has great benefits. last week, i spent time with a local friend. they invited me to their house. i watched them cook together. even if she knew she wasn't as strong a cook as her husband, she still prepared [it with him]. i thought it was beautiful. time together doing something together is so wonderful. and i knew they really want to do it together. they were cooking for me, but they were cooking for each other, too.
it was the first time i had witnessed a couple like this. i don't think i have enough.. experiences to see this, or, i know couples, but, i just don't see people at home like this at all. it takes so little, and it's so special, you know? very simple.. reminds me.. that there is always time for everything together..
marriage on the other hand is different. more on that later..
20060819
my diet
so. i quit phys-ed in grade 10, and starting gaining weight. not too much, but not as tiny as i was before. i did take part in tennis, badminton and track. which. i was not so good in. but tried.
in 4th year uni, i started workin' at a restaurant. i had to be up most of the time. meaning, i was standing for long hours. not as much as when i worked at hmv music store, but. this also included running around. by the 2nd summer, i was pretty toned and slimmed down, having worked at the bar for 12/13 hours a day.
now, this is in my china blog because my diet has also changed since i got here. for one thing, i anticipated a big change in my diet. i thought i would not eat eggs or chicken. well, in the first morning that i was in beijing, i had egg. i also had mutton for the first time. yeah, and now i'm eating tofu and eggplant (food that my mother prepares totally differently, and not to my taste.)
didn't each much meat since i came. usually, well, all the time, my mother made meat. whenever she made a vegetarian dish,.. i went off to go find my ration somewhere else. since i knew that i'm not home, aware that my diet must change, i surprising have no strong inclination for meat. it's challenging to cook anyway. another factor in my change in diet.
after the first 2 months in china, i realized that i was slowly gaining some weight again. after the first unsuccessful running initative, i started to run. now i'm running about 1.6 km every other morning. it started off with 1.2 km (3 laps) but now it's 4 laps. i tried to do 2 km to make it even, but it was too much for my legs. i really enjoy it now, and am pretty motivated to do it.
it's nice to wake up, know i have to run, and run out. sometimes i think it's good that way at 5:30am in the morning. at that time, you're so groggy that you probably don't realize that you're up. you're just moving your weight. hahaha.. it's so true.
what is strange here is.. that when i'm up that early, there are about 3 people in the vicinity who are up also. i started to get up that early to avoid the students who get up at 6am. even though there are no students for the summer term at this campus, i like to keep the habit.
yes, so people have told me i lost weight. it's okay. i'm eating and exercising now, so it's not bad. i'm average, as usual. maybe just a little toner.
oh yeah, and i can see my blog online now, for some reason.
in 4th year uni, i started workin' at a restaurant. i had to be up most of the time. meaning, i was standing for long hours. not as much as when i worked at hmv music store, but. this also included running around. by the 2nd summer, i was pretty toned and slimmed down, having worked at the bar for 12/13 hours a day.
now, this is in my china blog because my diet has also changed since i got here. for one thing, i anticipated a big change in my diet. i thought i would not eat eggs or chicken. well, in the first morning that i was in beijing, i had egg. i also had mutton for the first time. yeah, and now i'm eating tofu and eggplant (food that my mother prepares totally differently, and not to my taste.)
didn't each much meat since i came. usually, well, all the time, my mother made meat. whenever she made a vegetarian dish,.. i went off to go find my ration somewhere else. since i knew that i'm not home, aware that my diet must change, i surprising have no strong inclination for meat. it's challenging to cook anyway. another factor in my change in diet.
after the first 2 months in china, i realized that i was slowly gaining some weight again. after the first unsuccessful running initative, i started to run. now i'm running about 1.6 km every other morning. it started off with 1.2 km (3 laps) but now it's 4 laps. i tried to do 2 km to make it even, but it was too much for my legs. i really enjoy it now, and am pretty motivated to do it.
it's nice to wake up, know i have to run, and run out. sometimes i think it's good that way at 5:30am in the morning. at that time, you're so groggy that you probably don't realize that you're up. you're just moving your weight. hahaha.. it's so true.
what is strange here is.. that when i'm up that early, there are about 3 people in the vicinity who are up also. i started to get up that early to avoid the students who get up at 6am. even though there are no students for the summer term at this campus, i like to keep the habit.
yes, so people have told me i lost weight. it's okay. i'm eating and exercising now, so it's not bad. i'm average, as usual. maybe just a little toner.
oh yeah, and i can see my blog online now, for some reason.
20060810
you wanna what?
dammit. i just get more and more excited about the day. i think it's the sunshine that i didn't have for 3 weeks. today is the 2nd day of sunshine. i'm truly.. like up and up.
i did wake up and run. i hurt myself running. i had pain. i think i'll start to run everyday. i really am up for it. i'm more awake and energetic for the day. i did take a nap today, more because i was full and satisfied from the food a fellow co-worker made. man.. pork. i can go to china, but i can't ask for meat behind the counter.. or anything behind the counter.
haha.. my co-worker mentioned how she had to ask for vaginal wash the other day. "yeah! you have to show them.. do the movement, you know, Cathy?!" hahaha, and she proceeds to show me. man, china.
20060803
the "city"
i was out with richard two days ago doing some errands with him. he wanted to get pants, so we did some shopping. we went into a jeans store near hao shang hao restaurant, in the brand name district. the attendents were very nice and asked me questions in english, of course. i saw some things i liked there, but had no money. there were these overalls, lovely skirt.. about 180 yuan. i'm sure i could get a nice one, cheaper somewhere else. but ... really the thing i want to report.
that day, there were these children performing body conforming acts. there were about 7 children, all about 4 to 8 years old, panhandling. i couldn't look at them. richard thinks it's sad to and tell me not to look. the little girl she was performing upsidedown with a thing she had to put her mouth on to keep her up. it seriously made me feel really, really bad. out of all things. one time.. we saw these men maltreating some local monkeys, making them perform tricks, abusing them. i saw a child who was just bones panhandling, couldn't get up, used a skateboard-like apparatus to pull himself around, very weak. another time, a man with no arms. it's really sad. i don't know. seriously, there is more to life.. we are very lucky, some of us just don't know it
the bus. i found finally the character that will signal the north or south direction. richard told me how. yay bus number 4.
that day, there were these children performing body conforming acts. there were about 7 children, all about 4 to 8 years old, panhandling. i couldn't look at them. richard thinks it's sad to and tell me not to look. the little girl she was performing upsidedown with a thing she had to put her mouth on to keep her up. it seriously made me feel really, really bad. out of all things. one time.. we saw these men maltreating some local monkeys, making them perform tricks, abusing them. i saw a child who was just bones panhandling, couldn't get up, used a skateboard-like apparatus to pull himself around, very weak. another time, a man with no arms. it's really sad. i don't know. seriously, there is more to life.. we are very lucky, some of us just don't know it
the bus. i found finally the character that will signal the north or south direction. richard told me how. yay bus number 4.
20060718
bus number 4
well, today is day 10 of our 10-day school cycle. i'm happy. it's only our first cycle, but i'm.. still dreading the rest of the summer. i guess it's alright for the teachers here, but for the students. where they have to wake up at 5:30 then go to class, with lunch and dinner breaks, until 9:30 at night is really, really stupid.he students had an opportunity to vote if they wanted two 5-day cycles or the full 10-cycle. so far, my two classes since yesterday said, the first. for me, i prefer the 2nd.. but i sympathize with them, so, really, whatever is better for them.
i took the bus today from west campus to xin tai hang supermarket. of course, for me, that is totally impossible for me to do if i was at main campus. there are two number 4 buses that run from main campus, one takes longer to go downtown than the other. but yeah.. i thought it would be easier than to walk to the market near main campus. i'd be carrying a big bag of rice so whichever is nearer to a bus stop is good.
i'm on the bus. i sit in the back, where there is the only seat left waiting for me. i think, "yes, homefree." i sit and recall the route as mary and i have already sat through this. i realize that there is a tv at the front of the bus, with a station on. i think, wow.. so impractical. people could be late watching it. there are people living in shacks in the city and there are flat tv screens on the public bus.my next worry is getting off at the next stop. initially, i was planning to go to feng zhan supermarket, not xin tai hang. i am more familiar with the stops near xin tai hang, so i change my mind and get off earlier.
a little disoriented, i get off the bus. i look around, and recall some of the stores. oh k. now a street. i stand at the side of the street trying to figure out how to cross it. jincheng streets are friggin' deadly. ok, i'm from canada, and that means rules and rules. the streets here seems disorganized to me. it takes me awhile. i stand, then ready to make my move, retreat, get ready.. then cower. i walk closer across the supermarket and see my chance. whenever you see a way, an opportunity, just do it. and cross the street. damn, it's a piece of accomplishment.
things in the market seem familiar. check my bag, get my ticket, find my goods. of course, i look chinese, so at least one person asked me if i needed help with something. i shake my head and slowly, casually walk away. i get almost everything i wanted. i realize the veggies at xin tai hang are not so good, so i will have to go elsewhere next time. i see my strawberry nectar for 4 yuan less than the market near my house, which is awesome. i have to get some next time.
i wanted to get some dried vermicelli, and decided to get it later. i gotta focus on the task at hand, dammit. got almost everything on my list, except for.. .. well, 2 out of 5 things. missed out on veggies and eggs. got some jello, potatoes, etc.what more do have to ramble on about?so my bus trip downtown is good. i just can do it from my campus. oh yeah.. i can't 'cause i can't read which number 4 bus i need to go on. on tai huan road, one number 4 turns right and the other turns left. i have to think about this when i'm moving about. i'm not yet brave to take the taxi by myself without a note. so far, i think i can ask for some places.. but of course.. a little shy. blah.. so, i'm shy.
20060715
no way out
these days have been blah. the weather is gray. i mean, literally for about a week now. just over that. my work is alright, i guess. i just have to stress on a class that has "to the floor" level English. the other classes, i don't have to produce too much new stuff.. just reorganize everything i have.
i have time i guess. when i do, i just let myself not do anything about it. i'm at a standstill again, for some reason. i don't know where my motivation is gone to. i think it's the weather. i think it's the grumpy students and the grumpy co-worker that .. gets me really agitated the most. there shouldn't be a summer term anyway. one of the students fainted yesterday. it's hot here. i mean, the students here have to work for 110 hours in a 10-day week in their school schedule. that's not including the 2 hours they have before classes, running their exercises (which they are used to), sweeping the school clean, eating.. reading apparently..
there is not another teacher coming in september, which makes me a little sad. the other foreign teacher likes to do his own thing, and so do i, which is okay. but, it would make me a little more happier if i were to have another companion.. i'll just do as i usually do. i think i've got to regroup my thoughts a little.
i took out all the garbage (minus the bad watermelon.. another story), and cleared the apartment. i'll be cleaning the floor tomorrow. i'm supposed to be running tomorrow. i skipped this morning. richard had called to cancel this morning, so i skipped. i run every other day. i gotta get my mojo going again. gotta do the editing.
this woman got hold of me for a while today. so far, as a foreign teacher, you may get the luxury of going on hospitable lunches with people. today, i think i realized that i really don't like them anymore. of course, mary liked them.. she handles well talking to people. i just never know what to say. is it appropriate to ask about this and that.. and blah blah. they want to hang out with me again next week. i said yes.. but i really don't want to. yes.. so the pattern is that i'm a pushover. she wanted me to come over to her house with the other guests to see her wedding pictures. after sitting there for half an hour, after i've finished eating.. i realized that.. i just didn't want to be there anymore. i'm definitely giving these people's childrens free oral English lessons. i mean, they are feeding me.. but i feel like i haven't said yes to this transaction..
and it's not even that fact that it's free.. i just have no time.. i could be editing.. (paid side work) or i could learn the guitar, start that scarf. like, really.. i wasn't learning anything more for myself. my work load is almost 3 times it was last term, with lesson planning and this new headache class that i have.
i told them, i needed to rest before my afternoon classes and promised her to see her pictures next week. i really don't mind seeing her pictures.. i just don't understand why i have to hang out with this family..
i have time i guess. when i do, i just let myself not do anything about it. i'm at a standstill again, for some reason. i don't know where my motivation is gone to. i think it's the weather. i think it's the grumpy students and the grumpy co-worker that .. gets me really agitated the most. there shouldn't be a summer term anyway. one of the students fainted yesterday. it's hot here. i mean, the students here have to work for 110 hours in a 10-day week in their school schedule. that's not including the 2 hours they have before classes, running their exercises (which they are used to), sweeping the school clean, eating.. reading apparently..
there is not another teacher coming in september, which makes me a little sad. the other foreign teacher likes to do his own thing, and so do i, which is okay. but, it would make me a little more happier if i were to have another companion.. i'll just do as i usually do. i think i've got to regroup my thoughts a little.
i took out all the garbage (minus the bad watermelon.. another story), and cleared the apartment. i'll be cleaning the floor tomorrow. i'm supposed to be running tomorrow. i skipped this morning. richard had called to cancel this morning, so i skipped. i run every other day. i gotta get my mojo going again. gotta do the editing.
this woman got hold of me for a while today. so far, as a foreign teacher, you may get the luxury of going on hospitable lunches with people. today, i think i realized that i really don't like them anymore. of course, mary liked them.. she handles well talking to people. i just never know what to say. is it appropriate to ask about this and that.. and blah blah. they want to hang out with me again next week. i said yes.. but i really don't want to. yes.. so the pattern is that i'm a pushover. she wanted me to come over to her house with the other guests to see her wedding pictures. after sitting there for half an hour, after i've finished eating.. i realized that.. i just didn't want to be there anymore. i'm definitely giving these people's childrens free oral English lessons. i mean, they are feeding me.. but i feel like i haven't said yes to this transaction..
and it's not even that fact that it's free.. i just have no time.. i could be editing.. (paid side work) or i could learn the guitar, start that scarf. like, really.. i wasn't learning anything more for myself. my work load is almost 3 times it was last term, with lesson planning and this new headache class that i have.
i told them, i needed to rest before my afternoon classes and promised her to see her pictures next week. i really don't mind seeing her pictures.. i just don't understand why i have to hang out with this family..
20060710
gray days are good, but gray clouds are not
geez.. i'm doing some editing work.. and like.. it's friggin' a lot of work. i mean, i'm correcting 2 out of 3 words. hongmei said she'd ask for more money for me. she's awesome.. i'm just thinking how relieved i will be when i finished correcting everything.. i'm probably 15% through all of it.. well, not even.. :(
i went to some mountain with two americans the other weekend. the day was dreary. actually, it's been gray for a week here already. it's nice that it's not blistering hot. i'm actually very happy about that. but! i really don't know how i will deal when i go to vietnam. i get heat rash.. suceptible to it. now, it's over.. but hahaha.. yeah.. my health skin problems you'd like to know.
the week after mary left was my week off from school, and, i was deathly bored. i kept indoors mostly. went out to hotpot actually a few times.. 4 times in 1.5 weeks.. good stuff. went swimming. the rest of the time.. i think i was going crazy. i had nothing to do.. (minus the editing, which i can't sit to do very long) and obsessed over available internet entertainment. saw some stephen chow movies (in viet) and some weird show online called, "soupmovie.com."
i just did my 2nd day of classes today. the schedule changed after the first time which got me a little agitated. now, i don't have any off my classes from last term, which is okay.. but i wished they had told me sooner. the other foreign teacher (yes mary, guess who it is) had a panic attacked because he was told that he would get all new classes from day 1. i really didn't mind if we had new students or not, but i was prepared to give my returning students new work. i feel like i work with a big gray cloud, at times it is not so gray, but most of the time it is. there should be a chinese word for this. hahaha..
someone asked me about my goals today.. and apparently they didn't like my answer. i really have no idea. and apparently, goals have nothing to do with feelings or subjectivity. uh.. i guess.. it makes me wonder. it makes me a little agitated, but it makes me wonder. i guess, 'cause i really don't talk to anyone about my thoughts on goals and the future. i mean, usually. so i was not prepared or something. i just really haven't thought about it. so now, i'm all confused. i have them somewhere.. maybe just put off to the side for a while. and so.. hahaa.. i will put it off some more. i'm just really content here for now. blah. i guess :P
hmm.. anything interesting i have seen, lately.. .. .. oh yeah. the other day, i went to eat grill muslim food, on the street with Wei Qi. soooooooooooooooo good. i realized i like hanging out with him. just mediocre, not too excitable time. hahaha.. just relaxing. we went to play pool again. when i get home, i'm going to be a pro for sure.
i went to some mountain with two americans the other weekend. the day was dreary. actually, it's been gray for a week here already. it's nice that it's not blistering hot. i'm actually very happy about that. but! i really don't know how i will deal when i go to vietnam. i get heat rash.. suceptible to it. now, it's over.. but hahaha.. yeah.. my health skin problems you'd like to know.
the week after mary left was my week off from school, and, i was deathly bored. i kept indoors mostly. went out to hotpot actually a few times.. 4 times in 1.5 weeks.. good stuff. went swimming. the rest of the time.. i think i was going crazy. i had nothing to do.. (minus the editing, which i can't sit to do very long) and obsessed over available internet entertainment. saw some stephen chow movies (in viet) and some weird show online called, "soupmovie.com."
i just did my 2nd day of classes today. the schedule changed after the first time which got me a little agitated. now, i don't have any off my classes from last term, which is okay.. but i wished they had told me sooner. the other foreign teacher (yes mary, guess who it is) had a panic attacked because he was told that he would get all new classes from day 1. i really didn't mind if we had new students or not, but i was prepared to give my returning students new work. i feel like i work with a big gray cloud, at times it is not so gray, but most of the time it is. there should be a chinese word for this. hahaha..
someone asked me about my goals today.. and apparently they didn't like my answer. i really have no idea. and apparently, goals have nothing to do with feelings or subjectivity. uh.. i guess.. it makes me wonder. it makes me a little agitated, but it makes me wonder. i guess, 'cause i really don't talk to anyone about my thoughts on goals and the future. i mean, usually. so i was not prepared or something. i just really haven't thought about it. so now, i'm all confused. i have them somewhere.. maybe just put off to the side for a while. and so.. hahaa.. i will put it off some more. i'm just really content here for now. blah. i guess :P
hmm.. anything interesting i have seen, lately.. .. .. oh yeah. the other day, i went to eat grill muslim food, on the street with Wei Qi. soooooooooooooooo good. i realized i like hanging out with him. just mediocre, not too excitable time. hahaha.. just relaxing. we went to play pool again. when i get home, i'm going to be a pro for sure.
20060616
prove it that you're a foreigner, speak English.
something reminded me of this.. something i was told not so long ago.
one thursday afternoon, hongmei called me. she asked me if i wanted to come with her and a friend to see some silk exhibition show in the city. i was tired, but of course, i will say yes, unless i'm 95% tired. i was not at that point. we went with her friend who spoke japanese, but no english. we got to the place, which was near the community pool to find it was closed for the day. well, they somehow got the word in that we were foreigners (not hongmei) for them to let us just look around. in the end, they convinced the evening workers there that i was a foreigner. they told me, "speak English Cathy." i'm like, "what the?! say what?!" hahaha.. well, it 'twas great. well, with my little chinese now, i can tell me people that i'm not chinese and that i'm vietnamese and.. blah blah..
oh yeah.. i love bedouin soundclash now.
one thursday afternoon, hongmei called me. she asked me if i wanted to come with her and a friend to see some silk exhibition show in the city. i was tired, but of course, i will say yes, unless i'm 95% tired. i was not at that point. we went with her friend who spoke japanese, but no english. we got to the place, which was near the community pool to find it was closed for the day. well, they somehow got the word in that we were foreigners (not hongmei) for them to let us just look around. in the end, they convinced the evening workers there that i was a foreigner. they told me, "speak English Cathy." i'm like, "what the?! say what?!" hahaha.. well, it 'twas great. well, with my little chinese now, i can tell me people that i'm not chinese and that i'm vietnamese and.. blah blah..
oh yeah.. i love bedouin soundclash now.
20060610
shummuh?
today, i went to a "brothel," as Mary says. to me, it was a sketchy karaoke places with female hostesses. i guess to me, a brothel is different.. or something. well, it was Richard's uncle's property where we visited. a lot of ladies walking around wearing less usual chinese-wear. that includes short skirts/shorts, tanks, etc. oh yes, Richard is a friend of Mary's from Beijing. his hometown is this city, so he visits often. he's an editor for a literary magazine and had worked at U of T for one year. also, he's published many books and has degrees in minorities cultures in China. it was a little odd that he brought us to this sketchy area, but whatever i guess. it's family, and it's life for him.
we got a room (of course without hostesses) from one of the room managers. he had some kenny g, but no other English music.. well, except for this horrid rendition of "i will always love you." Richard, Mary, "Little Fatty," and i danced until the last person fell, and that was Richard of course. man, for a young person, i can't not keep up with Richard and Mary. Mary kept wavin' her arms at the air conditioner (it was hot) and Richard kept on doing this semi-robot 80s move. Little Fatty had the best dance music i heard since i got here, that is, most similar to our dance music at home. i was so worn out. oh yes, it was about 6pm to 8pm that we were there. we walked there from bai li yuan park, along the "artificial river." we met his siblings and their families, who all live in that sketchy area.
we got a room (of course without hostesses) from one of the room managers. he had some kenny g, but no other English music.. well, except for this horrid rendition of "i will always love you." Richard, Mary, "Little Fatty," and i danced until the last person fell, and that was Richard of course. man, for a young person, i can't not keep up with Richard and Mary. Mary kept wavin' her arms at the air conditioner (it was hot) and Richard kept on doing this semi-robot 80s move. Little Fatty had the best dance music i heard since i got here, that is, most similar to our dance music at home. i was so worn out. oh yes, it was about 6pm to 8pm that we were there. we walked there from bai li yuan park, along the "artificial river." we met his siblings and their families, who all live in that sketchy area.
20060601
a lovely thursday afternoon
went on a boat ride in tse cho park, for an hour with wei qi. it was nice and relaxing. not as strenuous as i thought it would be. it was simple and nice. i really, really liked it. especially that we were in an artificial park that was not too artificial. also, i was not too close to the creepy camel.
20060525
judging English competitions
it is fun when they are your students. i had a great time at the first day at the competition, saw their full potential. i was really proud.
however.. yes, the however section.
the students who can't understand me, because i don't have a chinese accent.
apparently all the girls are "lovely girls" and all "love singing and dancing." where really, in class when i ask, they shake their head and say "i don't know how to."
it's not "smile" but smell.
blah blah..
however.. yes, the however section.
the students who can't understand me, because i don't have a chinese accent.
apparently all the girls are "lovely girls" and all "love singing and dancing." where really, in class when i ask, they shake their head and say "i don't know how to."
it's not "smile" but smell.
blah blah..
20060520
someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection for lovers and dreamers like me..
hey.. so, many things have happened in the last few weeks.
today, i met up with some students at the west campus gate. i wore my new sandals, which got me bleeding at the end of the day, along with a tank. i was weary about the "dress code" in this city. how skimpy can i wear it? haha.. well. a wide strap tank was good with jeans rolled up. it was pretty good. their whole dorm came. that's 8 girls. we got onto #3 bus, the first time for me on the route. we went to bai li yuan park. it was the 2nd time i went there, this time i knew the name. but! things were different. the garden was totally made up. the bridge was the same. the concrete mock tree logs were still there. boats were there. but! this time i got to ride it. the students didn't let me paddle. they sang and we chatted and blah blah. it was really good and fun. lots of pictures. they were really sweet.
we went to find some food. we were hungry and walking. i should have brought them to where i knew, but we were led to a place with mediocre food. haha.. well.. blah. we ended up walking to get snacks then to chill out at my apartment. so we did, and they didn't want to leave. i was sorta tired, but of course kept that to myself. they ended up cooking dinner for me. i, was abashed. they told me that the day they had with me was a wonderful and important day that they will never forget. as passive and indifferent as i am usually, i know that it won't be a day i will forget. i'm very happy to be where i am.
apart from that, i think i have a very notable culture shock memo to include. well, hongmei would always remind me not to be sitting wherever, ie. the concrete steps. "it's very dirty," she says. of course back home, this is not even questioned. i sat, whatever. well. okay, back home we walk dogs, right? okay, here in jincheng, we walk children. "can't they walk themselves?" ray questions. what i'm trying to say is that there is a reason we walk dogs. kiddies have the same reason, too. i'll leave it to that. i've just seen enough to mention it. i know i will see this for the rest of the time i am here, which is crazy a bit, -don't you think?!
oh yeah, i went swimming with du mei qing and friends a while ago. i don't feel too nauseous when ladies are totally naked in the change room, though i'm a little shy. i just don't get the scrubbing each other's back totally in the nude. "no thanks mei qing, no thanks."
hmm.. anything else to say? of course, loads. been downloading good stuff. practicing the guitar. getting a bit better. have a big urge to write, and write some more. planning when i'm going to beijing this summer, perhaps shanghai.. thinking of my expenses.
hmm.. i'm jaywalking. i do this because the crosswalk is not safe. *expletive. it's not safe anywhere.
i tried to cook some stuff this week, and it didn't turn out so well. tried to copy/mock what a student made when she was at my house earlier this week. i thought she put more salt, i swear.
i love stabilo.
i still can't read my blog online.
i love prince now, too.
i still love the streets.
today, i met up with some students at the west campus gate. i wore my new sandals, which got me bleeding at the end of the day, along with a tank. i was weary about the "dress code" in this city. how skimpy can i wear it? haha.. well. a wide strap tank was good with jeans rolled up. it was pretty good. their whole dorm came. that's 8 girls. we got onto #3 bus, the first time for me on the route. we went to bai li yuan park. it was the 2nd time i went there, this time i knew the name. but! things were different. the garden was totally made up. the bridge was the same. the concrete mock tree logs were still there. boats were there. but! this time i got to ride it. the students didn't let me paddle. they sang and we chatted and blah blah. it was really good and fun. lots of pictures. they were really sweet.
we went to find some food. we were hungry and walking. i should have brought them to where i knew, but we were led to a place with mediocre food. haha.. well.. blah. we ended up walking to get snacks then to chill out at my apartment. so we did, and they didn't want to leave. i was sorta tired, but of course kept that to myself. they ended up cooking dinner for me. i, was abashed. they told me that the day they had with me was a wonderful and important day that they will never forget. as passive and indifferent as i am usually, i know that it won't be a day i will forget. i'm very happy to be where i am.
apart from that, i think i have a very notable culture shock memo to include. well, hongmei would always remind me not to be sitting wherever, ie. the concrete steps. "it's very dirty," she says. of course back home, this is not even questioned. i sat, whatever. well. okay, back home we walk dogs, right? okay, here in jincheng, we walk children. "can't they walk themselves?" ray questions. what i'm trying to say is that there is a reason we walk dogs. kiddies have the same reason, too. i'll leave it to that. i've just seen enough to mention it. i know i will see this for the rest of the time i am here, which is crazy a bit, -don't you think?!
oh yeah, i went swimming with du mei qing and friends a while ago. i don't feel too nauseous when ladies are totally naked in the change room, though i'm a little shy. i just don't get the scrubbing each other's back totally in the nude. "no thanks mei qing, no thanks."
hmm.. anything else to say? of course, loads. been downloading good stuff. practicing the guitar. getting a bit better. have a big urge to write, and write some more. planning when i'm going to beijing this summer, perhaps shanghai.. thinking of my expenses.
hmm.. i'm jaywalking. i do this because the crosswalk is not safe. *expletive. it's not safe anywhere.
i tried to cook some stuff this week, and it didn't turn out so well. tried to copy/mock what a student made when she was at my house earlier this week. i thought she put more salt, i swear.
i love stabilo.
i still can't read my blog online.
i love prince now, too.
i still love the streets.
till death
about two weeks ago, we (teachers of JIT college) got news that a professor who had been missing for weeks before that, had took his life down a well. he leaves his wife and daughter.
while i can't personally talk to his wife, another professor who happens to teach Phys Ed, i can feel many things for her. we don't speak the same language. i don't know her very well, though i've played ping pong with her.
i recognize her. in my first few memories of her, i remember a purple track suit, that she wears well, walking down the path to or from her home to the school buildings.
Mary and i pass her once as she came back from seeing her daughter off on the city bus. she tells us that she is doing so in Chinese. Mary gets this because she is a Mandarin genius.
i feel for her. being human, for the sake of, and nothing else.
i feel that it is selfish, but i just don't know. selfish of her late husband. despite! any qualms, any quarrels that lasted for as long as it did.
Mary says and calls her "the widow," now. i've never heard this word used in it's true definition before. i don't know any widows myself, and death to me is not something true now.
i had been thinking, and i know a lot of my friends see this in me, that, i'm really good in denying. i don't know if that is inherent of everyone, or is it just me.
i'm thinking this because, i've grown to believe whatever we put aside, shall sit and wallow as it should. brush what we don't believe on the side and not see the truth for the truth.
i'm quite denying. i wish i could be constant. i've never wished for anything since i'd been 14. i'm wavering. i'm out of love, with everything. my religion has taken me over. how can i hold on to something that i want to keep forever?
while i can't personally talk to his wife, another professor who happens to teach Phys Ed, i can feel many things for her. we don't speak the same language. i don't know her very well, though i've played ping pong with her.
i recognize her. in my first few memories of her, i remember a purple track suit, that she wears well, walking down the path to or from her home to the school buildings.
Mary and i pass her once as she came back from seeing her daughter off on the city bus. she tells us that she is doing so in Chinese. Mary gets this because she is a Mandarin genius.
i feel for her. being human, for the sake of, and nothing else.
i feel that it is selfish, but i just don't know. selfish of her late husband. despite! any qualms, any quarrels that lasted for as long as it did.
Mary says and calls her "the widow," now. i've never heard this word used in it's true definition before. i don't know any widows myself, and death to me is not something true now.
i had been thinking, and i know a lot of my friends see this in me, that, i'm really good in denying. i don't know if that is inherent of everyone, or is it just me.
i'm thinking this because, i've grown to believe whatever we put aside, shall sit and wallow as it should. brush what we don't believe on the side and not see the truth for the truth.
i'm quite denying. i wish i could be constant. i've never wished for anything since i'd been 14. i'm wavering. i'm out of love, with everything. my religion has taken me over. how can i hold on to something that i want to keep forever?
20060505
up the mountain, down the mountain
i was partially right about what i said about China and religion. but! mostly wrong. Chinese people at some point were not allowed to practice religion as the government felt that it was just superstitious. up until 1978, many temples and other religious linked monuments were destroyed. after some Open policy, realizing that there is a need and whatever, people were permitted to practice it openly. in toronto, i know in chinatown, there are some falun gong protesters. i believed that they were a religion, and saw that people were punished for practicing it in china. actually, this religion is a new one, compared to millenium-old buddhism, confusinism (?), and taoism. many of my chinese friends who are about our age do not practice any religion. my coordinator here who about 33 doesn't either. mostly the older people do.
yesterday (thursday beijing before noon/wednesday while you were sleeping) i climbed at least 500 steps up and around, half way down some mountains (we took a van from the middle down). it was long, but we were really pumped, leaving my legs quivering on the way down. no bad jokes please. check out my pictures in the photo album.
yesterday (thursday beijing before noon/wednesday while you were sleeping) i climbed at least 500 steps up and around, half way down some mountains (we took a van from the middle down). it was long, but we were really pumped, leaving my legs quivering on the way down. no bad jokes please. check out my pictures in the photo album.
20060430
i don't want to hear, i don't know want to know.. please don't say you're sorry..
listening to madonna's song, "sorry." pretty good song.
went swimming yesterday. with goggles at 60yuan/9$cdn, perscription, -you can't beat that! i swam a kilometre, which is quite impressive. i owe it to the goggles. i love swimming!! went karaoke and dancing, and blah blah blah.
i have a week off started two days ago/friday. it is now sunday night beijing time. i've had a pretty good weekend despite the exasperation of a fellow teacher. honestly, i was a little peeved. it's really unfortunate, really..
tomorrow, i'm attending an english speech competition with Mary and Du Mei Qing. the day after we are going to see the mu dan (peony) flowers at Lua Yan, a city in henan province. apparently, we'll be late for it's bloom period, but, it should be beautiful nonetheless. lots of historical buildings, etc.
my hair is getting longer. and! because of the season, i'm shedding a lot. i really have to get a haircut soon. i should be getting one on wednesday. julia (a student) is staying over from the 5th, so she should go chill with me around the city. mary's also staying over from the 3rd, 'cause one of her mail friends from beijing is coming to stay in her apartment and she thought it would be better if she was not there, too.
what else do i have to say? well, i've done my 7th weekend here. that is 20% of my stay. again, it is an understatement to say that i am experiencing new things. i'm extremely in the right place, at the right time. i know this is where i would like to be at the moment. i'm learning new things, having time to find new hobbies, ie. cooking, more guitar.. hopefully more writing..
i'm definitely am learning mandarin on the way. i don't know what else to say.
went swimming yesterday. with goggles at 60yuan/9$cdn, perscription, -you can't beat that! i swam a kilometre, which is quite impressive. i owe it to the goggles. i love swimming!! went karaoke and dancing, and blah blah blah.
i have a week off started two days ago/friday. it is now sunday night beijing time. i've had a pretty good weekend despite the exasperation of a fellow teacher. honestly, i was a little peeved. it's really unfortunate, really..
tomorrow, i'm attending an english speech competition with Mary and Du Mei Qing. the day after we are going to see the mu dan (peony) flowers at Lua Yan, a city in henan province. apparently, we'll be late for it's bloom period, but, it should be beautiful nonetheless. lots of historical buildings, etc.
my hair is getting longer. and! because of the season, i'm shedding a lot. i really have to get a haircut soon. i should be getting one on wednesday. julia (a student) is staying over from the 5th, so she should go chill with me around the city. mary's also staying over from the 3rd, 'cause one of her mail friends from beijing is coming to stay in her apartment and she thought it would be better if she was not there, too.
what else do i have to say? well, i've done my 7th weekend here. that is 20% of my stay. again, it is an understatement to say that i am experiencing new things. i'm extremely in the right place, at the right time. i know this is where i would like to be at the moment. i'm learning new things, having time to find new hobbies, ie. cooking, more guitar.. hopefully more writing..
i'm definitely am learning mandarin on the way. i don't know what else to say.
20060428
My experience in China so far
i was writing to a friend who soon will be coming to china. here's the good stuff..
money: i brought only 1000yuan/150$cdn here, i could have used a bit more. you can probably bring 2000yuan/300$cdn and that would be more than fine. this is good for a month. when converting, i always think 100yuan=15$cdn or 20yuan = 3$cdn.
monthly local salary: local teachers make about 1000yuan a month, depending on their degree. make sure, as outlined in the contract, you just don't talk about what you make. "i can't talk about it," is what i say. i've been asked by a student and a local teacher.
toiletries: things like toothpaste, shampoo, and soap is much cheaper here than at home, so you should only have to bring one of everything to start off with.
food: food here is very, very cheap. for groceries, you need at least 400yuan/60$cdn a month, you can bring more than that if you want. the other day, i got a good meal/2 snacks for 2yuan/30cents at an outdoor market. new foods are always exciting. veggies are very cheap. you can get a good meal for two for about 20 yuan/3$cdn. junk food costs more (as oppose to in Canada), but who need junk anyway. you'll eat healthy here. people generally buy groceries for the meal the day of. i went to eat at a local teacher's house and she made noodles right before my eyes. that is, noodles from scratch.. mixed it, pounded it, then cut it. oh yes. and no tipping at restaurants. the ordering process is interesting. you shall see.
people love their veggies here. not so big on meat as we are in north america. you will try new things.
snacks: gum and candy is real cheap in china. the only snack item i would say you would miss is chocolate. the chocolate tastes very different. luckily, my mom made be bring some chocolate bars. they are still in my coffee table for a rainy day. lots of cookies and other snacks. you can spend all day in the supermarket or shopping centre. there is an abundant number of everything (except English books).
milk: milk in china is very different. it is very sweet here. they do not have yoghurt, but they have what we call "yop" in canada. a watery yogurt which is fantastic.
dictionary: bring a dictionary and perhaps a phrase book. i bought one from toronto, but it was missing some words that i was interested in finding. you can find lots of english-chinese dictionaries here, probably for much cheaper anyway.
chinese phrasebook: a friend gave me this. it was quite useful. "chinese phrases for dummies." it does not have any chinese characters in it. it is written using our english sounds, so it is easier for english speakers to use. it is also good, because it helps you learn the basics in the chinese language. i'm slowly learning and learning quite well. it is very good to learn numbers, and greetings.. and! "boo dong" = i don't understand.
bookstores: english books in bookstores are expensive. the english section is also limited, especially in my city (my city is similar size to ottawa).
bargain: when you go anywhere in china, it is best to go with a local speaker. they will help you bargain. you can bargain practically anywhere, but you can't bargain in some "supermarkets." supermarkets are like walmarts, they sell everything. if you do not bargain, you will spend perhaps 3 to 4 times too much.
tissue/napkins/kleenex: sometimes, public washrooms do not have toilet paper. it is good to carry a personal size tissue packets. warning: public washrooms can be very smelly.
location cards for getting around in the city/town: by taxi. you can carry cards with locations you'd like to go to in the city. you can ask your work supervisor about writing locations for you. i know one person who uses these cards. all he needs is a card for school, and one for bank. it is good to write down your contact numbers just in case you get lost, too. oh yes, in my city, the taxi fare is 4yuan/60 cents. if we go more than 2 kilometres, it will rise, by .10yuan. uh.. that is almost 2 cents. taxi is cheap.
the city bus: me and another foreign english teacher took a bus ride around the city just to explore, 1yuan/15 cents. that was really fun.
electrical outlets: the outlets here are different. although they are different, if you bring something that is made in china, it usually should fit. my camera plug works, but my haircurler plug doesn't.
keeping your money: i think the best way is keep your money in your front pockets. my fellow foreign teacher, she has a fanny pack (something around your waist) under her baggy shirt. people do carry purses, but i think it's really hazardous. a fellow local teacher had it snatched before. i also have a large over the shoulder bag that i wear across my body.
luggage: i can tell you now, that you will buy many things to bring home. i will at the end of my trip. do not pack full/overload two big suitcases. you will buy things to bring home.
mail: my fellow teacher said that mail that she had sent did not get home. i sent mail home a while ago, but, i'm not sure if it got there. i'll have to ask. to go to the post office, ask a local person to go with you. there is special envelopes for international mail. it costs maybe a few dimes cheaper than international postage in Canada.
bank: i'm not sure about the bank, i will be going next week for the first time. i get paid in cash, so i won't open a bank account. however, i need to pay off a credit card bill (airfare) so i have to figure that out.
canadian embassy: make sure you contact the embassy. they should know you're in china. another foreign teacher didn't want to be known his location, so he did not register. to me, i think it's important that canada knows i'm here. http://www.beijing.gc.ca/beijing/en/navmain/consular/registration/index.htm
local teachers and college students: all of the teachers are very nice. some had invited me out shopping, eating at their house, parks.. especially if you are female i think, they will respond very well to you. they are very interested in talking to you. most speak english very well, few have lots of trouble. if your students are old enough, you can encourage them to invite you out. college students are very receptive. and especially if you're female. they take you everywhere, helping you do your own errands, even grocery shopping. one thing, if someone invites you out in china, that person pays. you can insist, of course.. at least try to. oh yes, students will ask you personal questions. it is normal in the culture. if you do not want to answer, just say it's personal. encourage them to ask questions, but of course, tell them that you will tell them if it is personal.
when you are walking with them, female students/teachers may hold your hand. it's sweet, but that's what they do.
utilities: i don't know if it will happen in your city/campus, but my electricity and water has gone out for a few hours a few times. it's really not a big deal. people are very careful about their electricity usage. when they are finished with an appliance, they usually turn it off.. except the fridge, of course.
buildings: i live in school residence. when the heaters are off and the electric heater is on, it may still be cold. the building is made of concrete and doesn't keep heat well.
trips: for my first trip outside of my city, we went to an ancient city called Xi'an. it was incredible. you can check out/see the pictures that i had sent you a while ago. it was quite cheap/inexpensive. cost me 1300yuan/200$cdn for 4 days, hotel and lots and lots of sight seeing. it was very beautiful, despite the air pollution. all 5 of us had a driver for two of the days, it cost us 500yuan/75$cdn total. also, a tour guide offered her services one of those days for 60yuan/9$cdn. it was amazing. we splurged well i think. it is not a lot, at all. right now, i'm saving for beijing in august.
swifter pads/tissue: i think this is important. they probably have it in the supermarket here, and cheaper, too. i brought my own knowing that a new apartment would be dusty. it is constantly dusty here.
chalk from the board: i got sick twice in three weeks until i realized i was inhaling a lot of the chalk in class. in canada, we have dustless chalk. in china, it's everywhere. your hands will be all chalky, and the dryness in your mouth will be the chalk, too. just be careful with the chalk dust. cover your nose and mouth when you are erasing. there are student monitors who are in charge of erasing the board, you can simply ask them.
public security board: within 30 days of your arrival, your school should help you register with the local police of your residence. this must be done if you want to travel out of your city. they mark your passport with something to indicate it.
webcam/internet access: electronics are not necessarily cheap here. it's sort of hard to ask about items when we don't know the language well. luckily, i brought a webcam with me. i should have gotten a microphone, too. i borrowed one from another foreign teacher. it helps a lot, being able to talk to friends and family. phone cards from toronto to beijing is cheap, but chatting on the net is cheaper. i have access at home, so i don't have to go to internet cafe or go to the school.
new hobby: expect to learn a new hobby. hahahaha, this is my interest now. i have a lot of time off. the first time i was away from home and got really bored, i learnt to crochet/knit. now i'm focusing on playing the guitar (i'm buying one from here for 230yuan/34.50$cdn, made in canada!) and cooking. i have a lot of time off! even though, i still go out about 4 times a week with other teachers or students.
nightlife: my city has some nightlife, that i have not discovered much of yet. there are however afternoon and few evening dance clubs. no alcohol. mainly as a physical activity. in my city, there are a lot of hotels and bathhouses. i don't know why. i've been to karaoke at a brazilian bbq resto, which is a slight change from chinese food, of course.
money: i brought only 1000yuan/150$cdn here, i could have used a bit more. you can probably bring 2000yuan/300$cdn and that would be more than fine. this is good for a month. when converting, i always think 100yuan=15$cdn or 20yuan = 3$cdn.
monthly local salary: local teachers make about 1000yuan a month, depending on their degree. make sure, as outlined in the contract, you just don't talk about what you make. "i can't talk about it," is what i say. i've been asked by a student and a local teacher.
toiletries: things like toothpaste, shampoo, and soap is much cheaper here than at home, so you should only have to bring one of everything to start off with.
food: food here is very, very cheap. for groceries, you need at least 400yuan/60$cdn a month, you can bring more than that if you want. the other day, i got a good meal/2 snacks for 2yuan/30cents at an outdoor market. new foods are always exciting. veggies are very cheap. you can get a good meal for two for about 20 yuan/3$cdn. junk food costs more (as oppose to in Canada), but who need junk anyway. you'll eat healthy here. people generally buy groceries for the meal the day of. i went to eat at a local teacher's house and she made noodles right before my eyes. that is, noodles from scratch.. mixed it, pounded it, then cut it. oh yes. and no tipping at restaurants. the ordering process is interesting. you shall see.
people love their veggies here. not so big on meat as we are in north america. you will try new things.
snacks: gum and candy is real cheap in china. the only snack item i would say you would miss is chocolate. the chocolate tastes very different. luckily, my mom made be bring some chocolate bars. they are still in my coffee table for a rainy day. lots of cookies and other snacks. you can spend all day in the supermarket or shopping centre. there is an abundant number of everything (except English books).
milk: milk in china is very different. it is very sweet here. they do not have yoghurt, but they have what we call "yop" in canada. a watery yogurt which is fantastic.
dictionary: bring a dictionary and perhaps a phrase book. i bought one from toronto, but it was missing some words that i was interested in finding. you can find lots of english-chinese dictionaries here, probably for much cheaper anyway.
chinese phrasebook: a friend gave me this. it was quite useful. "chinese phrases for dummies." it does not have any chinese characters in it. it is written using our english sounds, so it is easier for english speakers to use. it is also good, because it helps you learn the basics in the chinese language. i'm slowly learning and learning quite well. it is very good to learn numbers, and greetings.. and! "boo dong" = i don't understand.
bookstores: english books in bookstores are expensive. the english section is also limited, especially in my city (my city is similar size to ottawa).
bargain: when you go anywhere in china, it is best to go with a local speaker. they will help you bargain. you can bargain practically anywhere, but you can't bargain in some "supermarkets." supermarkets are like walmarts, they sell everything. if you do not bargain, you will spend perhaps 3 to 4 times too much.
tissue/napkins/kleenex: sometimes, public washrooms do not have toilet paper. it is good to carry a personal size tissue packets. warning: public washrooms can be very smelly.
location cards for getting around in the city/town: by taxi. you can carry cards with locations you'd like to go to in the city. you can ask your work supervisor about writing locations for you. i know one person who uses these cards. all he needs is a card for school, and one for bank. it is good to write down your contact numbers just in case you get lost, too. oh yes, in my city, the taxi fare is 4yuan/60 cents. if we go more than 2 kilometres, it will rise, by .10yuan. uh.. that is almost 2 cents. taxi is cheap.
the city bus: me and another foreign english teacher took a bus ride around the city just to explore, 1yuan/15 cents. that was really fun.
electrical outlets: the outlets here are different. although they are different, if you bring something that is made in china, it usually should fit. my camera plug works, but my haircurler plug doesn't.
keeping your money: i think the best way is keep your money in your front pockets. my fellow foreign teacher, she has a fanny pack (something around your waist) under her baggy shirt. people do carry purses, but i think it's really hazardous. a fellow local teacher had it snatched before. i also have a large over the shoulder bag that i wear across my body.
luggage: i can tell you now, that you will buy many things to bring home. i will at the end of my trip. do not pack full/overload two big suitcases. you will buy things to bring home.
mail: my fellow teacher said that mail that she had sent did not get home. i sent mail home a while ago, but, i'm not sure if it got there. i'll have to ask. to go to the post office, ask a local person to go with you. there is special envelopes for international mail. it costs maybe a few dimes cheaper than international postage in Canada.
bank: i'm not sure about the bank, i will be going next week for the first time. i get paid in cash, so i won't open a bank account. however, i need to pay off a credit card bill (airfare) so i have to figure that out.
canadian embassy: make sure you contact the embassy. they should know you're in china. another foreign teacher didn't want to be known his location, so he did not register. to me, i think it's important that canada knows i'm here. http://www.beijing.gc.ca/beijing/en/navmain/consular/registration/index.htm
local teachers and college students: all of the teachers are very nice. some had invited me out shopping, eating at their house, parks.. especially if you are female i think, they will respond very well to you. they are very interested in talking to you. most speak english very well, few have lots of trouble. if your students are old enough, you can encourage them to invite you out. college students are very receptive. and especially if you're female. they take you everywhere, helping you do your own errands, even grocery shopping. one thing, if someone invites you out in china, that person pays. you can insist, of course.. at least try to. oh yes, students will ask you personal questions. it is normal in the culture. if you do not want to answer, just say it's personal. encourage them to ask questions, but of course, tell them that you will tell them if it is personal.
when you are walking with them, female students/teachers may hold your hand. it's sweet, but that's what they do.
utilities: i don't know if it will happen in your city/campus, but my electricity and water has gone out for a few hours a few times. it's really not a big deal. people are very careful about their electricity usage. when they are finished with an appliance, they usually turn it off.. except the fridge, of course.
buildings: i live in school residence. when the heaters are off and the electric heater is on, it may still be cold. the building is made of concrete and doesn't keep heat well.
trips: for my first trip outside of my city, we went to an ancient city called Xi'an. it was incredible. you can check out/see the pictures that i had sent you a while ago. it was quite cheap/inexpensive. cost me 1300yuan/200$cdn for 4 days, hotel and lots and lots of sight seeing. it was very beautiful, despite the air pollution. all 5 of us had a driver for two of the days, it cost us 500yuan/75$cdn total. also, a tour guide offered her services one of those days for 60yuan/9$cdn. it was amazing. we splurged well i think. it is not a lot, at all. right now, i'm saving for beijing in august.
swifter pads/tissue: i think this is important. they probably have it in the supermarket here, and cheaper, too. i brought my own knowing that a new apartment would be dusty. it is constantly dusty here.
chalk from the board: i got sick twice in three weeks until i realized i was inhaling a lot of the chalk in class. in canada, we have dustless chalk. in china, it's everywhere. your hands will be all chalky, and the dryness in your mouth will be the chalk, too. just be careful with the chalk dust. cover your nose and mouth when you are erasing. there are student monitors who are in charge of erasing the board, you can simply ask them.
public security board: within 30 days of your arrival, your school should help you register with the local police of your residence. this must be done if you want to travel out of your city. they mark your passport with something to indicate it.
webcam/internet access: electronics are not necessarily cheap here. it's sort of hard to ask about items when we don't know the language well. luckily, i brought a webcam with me. i should have gotten a microphone, too. i borrowed one from another foreign teacher. it helps a lot, being able to talk to friends and family. phone cards from toronto to beijing is cheap, but chatting on the net is cheaper. i have access at home, so i don't have to go to internet cafe or go to the school.
new hobby: expect to learn a new hobby. hahahaha, this is my interest now. i have a lot of time off. the first time i was away from home and got really bored, i learnt to crochet/knit. now i'm focusing on playing the guitar (i'm buying one from here for 230yuan/34.50$cdn, made in canada!) and cooking. i have a lot of time off! even though, i still go out about 4 times a week with other teachers or students.
nightlife: my city has some nightlife, that i have not discovered much of yet. there are however afternoon and few evening dance clubs. no alcohol. mainly as a physical activity. in my city, there are a lot of hotels and bathhouses. i don't know why. i've been to karaoke at a brazilian bbq resto, which is a slight change from chinese food, of course.
20060423
feng huan lieng park
so. yesterday, nothing much happened. i was supposed to meet my students, optional, to go to the park. no one came, so was free for the morning, which was great. i got to stay home for the cable guy, english channels! i will not see any until it's complete monday.
du mei qing, mary, and yang yong fang discuss good places for day trips for the may holiday. i say, sure whatever. for me, as long as there is little cost.
today, i woke up early, as usual, and went to meet lory, mary, and lory's students at the front gate. of course everyone was there including the hyperactive, expressive student who was just evidently having a hard time trying to contain himself. through the whole trip to the park, he was trying to tell me things, and of course you saw the physical outbursts of really remembering that i really don't understand. so, we made friends. i will teach him english, and he will teach me chinese.. and the guitar! damn, boys who sing in mandarin. hahaha.. it's lovely. reminds me of charles, my cousin, -minus the urges to eat vinegar packages mixed with whatever else.
lory brought a friend, who brought another. all teachers. they brought peter, a lovely boy that mary had met in the past. he was soooooooooooooooooooOo darling. he was very receptive to me, and understood English pretty well. of course, lory's students being from the art department don't understand anything i say.. well, very little. nothing but polite terms. mary and i wanted to visit the park more, but it was nearing lunchtime. we will do so another time.
we went to eat, very well! at a nice restaurant downtown. very, very good food. mary and i were stuff. i thought it was really unfortunate that we couldn't communicate with the family more. our translator, a local english teacher in the arts department unfortunately had poor english.
we went home to get ready for swimming with du mei qing and yang yong fang. i run around the house, putting my bathing suit on, sweeping (seems like i have to do that a lot in my apartment, i shed a lot, too), and getting things somewhat organized.
we go to the pool. it was a really, really nice pool. some students came up to mary and asked her where she was from. of course they can't tell that i am a foreigner. the pool, a little cold at first of course. i got to talk to some girls, and later some boys, while i get acclimated to the water. they were very keen, and some, were better than my own students at the college. the girls were 14 and 15, while the boys were 11 and 12.
i swam. and swam. i really suck, i thought. i stopped a bit. du mei qing lends me her goggles. it worked wonders. i feel way more confident with them. i will get them next time i go. they cost 60yuan/9cdn$. perscription is the word that must be highlighted. perrrrrscrrription goggles.
i went to du mei qing's place. mary went home for plans and yang yong fang had to wait for a friend. on the way, we stopped by a market and some snack stands. i cannot tell you enough, the snack food in this city, is sooooooooooooooooooooOOoo good.
i walked home her house in the dark, which was a bit scary. i could've taken a taxi, but i felt i could brave it. i walked briskly, quickly, passed the night workers who do talk to me. i just walk, i'm happy i don't understand. i come home take a shower (chlorine), and relax a bit.
i wanted to take an early sleep, but saw my cousin online and a friend. uploaded pictures and videos, please see them! good night!
p.s. one more thing at the park. to get to the park, we did not take the bus, as i had thought. we walked, -but what is so special? we walked on the highway. this freaked me out a bit, and mary terribly. but it was really good! hahaha.. oh yeah.. and when vehicles honk now, i don't move. i'm desensitized now mom. i will be trouble when i'm back home.
du mei qing, mary, and yang yong fang discuss good places for day trips for the may holiday. i say, sure whatever. for me, as long as there is little cost.
today, i woke up early, as usual, and went to meet lory, mary, and lory's students at the front gate. of course everyone was there including the hyperactive, expressive student who was just evidently having a hard time trying to contain himself. through the whole trip to the park, he was trying to tell me things, and of course you saw the physical outbursts of really remembering that i really don't understand. so, we made friends. i will teach him english, and he will teach me chinese.. and the guitar! damn, boys who sing in mandarin. hahaha.. it's lovely. reminds me of charles, my cousin, -minus the urges to eat vinegar packages mixed with whatever else.
lory brought a friend, who brought another. all teachers. they brought peter, a lovely boy that mary had met in the past. he was soooooooooooooooooooOo darling. he was very receptive to me, and understood English pretty well. of course, lory's students being from the art department don't understand anything i say.. well, very little. nothing but polite terms. mary and i wanted to visit the park more, but it was nearing lunchtime. we will do so another time.
we went to eat, very well! at a nice restaurant downtown. very, very good food. mary and i were stuff. i thought it was really unfortunate that we couldn't communicate with the family more. our translator, a local english teacher in the arts department unfortunately had poor english.
we went home to get ready for swimming with du mei qing and yang yong fang. i run around the house, putting my bathing suit on, sweeping (seems like i have to do that a lot in my apartment, i shed a lot, too), and getting things somewhat organized.
we go to the pool. it was a really, really nice pool. some students came up to mary and asked her where she was from. of course they can't tell that i am a foreigner. the pool, a little cold at first of course. i got to talk to some girls, and later some boys, while i get acclimated to the water. they were very keen, and some, were better than my own students at the college. the girls were 14 and 15, while the boys were 11 and 12.
i swam. and swam. i really suck, i thought. i stopped a bit. du mei qing lends me her goggles. it worked wonders. i feel way more confident with them. i will get them next time i go. they cost 60yuan/9cdn$. perscription is the word that must be highlighted. perrrrrscrrription goggles.
i went to du mei qing's place. mary went home for plans and yang yong fang had to wait for a friend. on the way, we stopped by a market and some snack stands. i cannot tell you enough, the snack food in this city, is sooooooooooooooooooooOOoo good.
i walked home her house in the dark, which was a bit scary. i could've taken a taxi, but i felt i could brave it. i walked briskly, quickly, passed the night workers who do talk to me. i just walk, i'm happy i don't understand. i come home take a shower (chlorine), and relax a bit.
i wanted to take an early sleep, but saw my cousin online and a friend. uploaded pictures and videos, please see them! good night!
p.s. one more thing at the park. to get to the park, we did not take the bus, as i had thought. we walked, -but what is so special? we walked on the highway. this freaked me out a bit, and mary terribly. but it was really good! hahaha.. oh yeah.. and when vehicles honk now, i don't move. i'm desensitized now mom. i will be trouble when i'm back home.
20060421
feng ming district
so, delightfully, ms yong yang fang invites me and mary to her house yesterday for today lunch. as usual, it is absolute great. i learnt a new recipe. after stuffing myself with two bowls of, get this, homemade wheat noodles, i get a little sleepy. i watched her twist and turn, slam the noodles, then put them in the pot to cook. mary, du mei qing, and ms yong talk about whatever when i am trying to get my composure, nodding off. pao la. too full.
we go off to play badminton for the second time this week (i have a renewed love for badminton now). i may get a racket here, maybe. we meet the cutest little girl. she is the daughter of a friend of ms. yong's. i hold hands with her while we all go for a walk.
we walk to find a bathing suit for mary. we hope to go swimming, all of us together on sunday. we walk into a textile store and find something that mary bought more expensive at bai feng supermarket. we refused the bargain price they set, (originally 160 yuan/24$cdn, now 95 yuan/14.25$), plan to search for it somewhere else, and find ourselves in a hidden part of our neighbourhood.
first, we visited ms yong's sister's salon, where i find out a haircut is only 5 yuan/75cents cdn. i probably will return. we walk down a street to find a busy quarter of snackers and local food. mary and i are fascinated. we find our xi'an delight, and this thing we'd call chinese stuffed pizza. it was all too good. we will go back to take pictures for sure. and eat yummy food.
we go off to play badminton for the second time this week (i have a renewed love for badminton now). i may get a racket here, maybe. we meet the cutest little girl. she is the daughter of a friend of ms. yong's. i hold hands with her while we all go for a walk.
we walk to find a bathing suit for mary. we hope to go swimming, all of us together on sunday. we walk into a textile store and find something that mary bought more expensive at bai feng supermarket. we refused the bargain price they set, (originally 160 yuan/24$cdn, now 95 yuan/14.25$), plan to search for it somewhere else, and find ourselves in a hidden part of our neighbourhood.
first, we visited ms yong's sister's salon, where i find out a haircut is only 5 yuan/75cents cdn. i probably will return. we walk down a street to find a busy quarter of snackers and local food. mary and i are fascinated. we find our xi'an delight, and this thing we'd call chinese stuffed pizza. it was all too good. we will go back to take pictures for sure. and eat yummy food.
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