This weekend was a little more relaxed than the others. We did celebrate two birthdays, Mel’s and Alyssa’s. On Friday, Mel’s birthday, us three Qingpuians ventured into the city for a 2 hour meal before we had to turn around to catch the bus back to the “boonies”. We went to another hot pot place (I did talk about those before) but this one was a little different. They had a giant station where you could mix your own sauce for dipping your boiled meat and vegetables in. Ingredients to choose from ranged from soy sauce, peanut sauce, hot sauces, garlic, pickles and so on. Some VERY interesting concoctions were made. The highlight of the night was the random chef at a hot top in the middle of the place making peanut butter banana pancakes. We weren’t sure why they had though, but we weren’t complaining! Sadly, poor Mel had an intense allergic reaction to seafood in the shrimp and had to leave early.
On Saturday, Alyssa and Sara ended up going into the city to teach 80 primary school principals (I was called to do it as well but I was called first and the message was not clear. I was led to believe I would be taking workshops hosted by primary school principals so I said no). I had my first actual semi-sleep in since coming to China and puttered around (the rain wasn’t very encouraging) before heading into the city for a surprised birthday party for Alyssa, some life advice from one of my supervisors (very helpful!) and a night on the town. Now, here is where the story begins. Somehow we ended up at a club in the middle of a park/garden. The exterior of club was covered on all sides with rainbow colored lights (like a Lite-Brite). Inside, the music was deafening. People (ranging from potential hired dancers to club guests) were dancing on EVERY surface. Giant plush couches housed big guys with their arms around their ladies and up to 8 bottles of whisky, neatly lined in rows, adorned the tables in front of them. Just when I was devising my escape plan, I tripped on something. I looked to my right and straight into the eyes of a clown on stilts. No kidding. A clown on stilts. I felt like I was on drugs and in a starring role in Across the Universe. It didn’t take much convincing to get Alyssa and Sara out of there and we parted from the group. After an adventure around the park, not finding an escape from within the giant fence, we climbed and hopped a thick padlocked gate, fled the scene and found a nice brewery – much more our pace (am I getting old?!). We then spent the night snuggling together in a friend’s bed – much to Alyssa’s dismay. Apparently I like face-palming people repeatedly in my sleep. I wish I could remember my dream!
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So most of that was pretty dull so here are some more stories to keep you entertained:
In closing, I just wanted to note that today in Wednesday. The school system here works on a 5 days cycle (the days of the week). I taught Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as planned and tomorrow’s classes will go on as planned BUT on Friday I am teaching Tuesday’s classes, Saturday I am teaching Monday’s classes and on Sunday I am teaching Friday’s classes. That makes sense, doesn’t it? HA! Oh, did I mention I have a 7 day teaching week this week before I go to…..wait for it….HONG KONG for three days then I come back for a 2 day week before another weekend. It’s a skewy system but sometimes it works! Until next time!
On Saturday, Alyssa and Sara ended up going into the city to teach 80 primary school principals (I was called to do it as well but I was called first and the message was not clear. I was led to believe I would be taking workshops hosted by primary school principals so I said no). I had my first actual semi-sleep in since coming to China and puttered around (the rain wasn’t very encouraging) before heading into the city for a surprised birthday party for Alyssa, some life advice from one of my supervisors (very helpful!) and a night on the town. Now, here is where the story begins. Somehow we ended up at a club in the middle of a park/garden. The exterior of club was covered on all sides with rainbow colored lights (like a Lite-Brite). Inside, the music was deafening. People (ranging from potential hired dancers to club guests) were dancing on EVERY surface. Giant plush couches housed big guys with their arms around their ladies and up to 8 bottles of whisky, neatly lined in rows, adorned the tables in front of them. Just when I was devising my escape plan, I tripped on something. I looked to my right and straight into the eyes of a clown on stilts. No kidding. A clown on stilts. I felt like I was on drugs and in a starring role in Across the Universe. It didn’t take much convincing to get Alyssa and Sara out of there and we parted from the group. After an adventure around the park, not finding an escape from within the giant fence, we climbed and hopped a thick padlocked gate, fled the scene and found a nice brewery – much more our pace (am I getting old?!). We then spent the night snuggling together in a friend’s bed – much to Alyssa’s dismay. Apparently I like face-palming people repeatedly in my sleep. I wish I could remember my dream!
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So most of that was pretty dull so here are some more stories to keep you entertained:
- My students have name cards (just paper tents) that they put on their desks with their English names. They randomly decide to change their names from time to time so these little tents certainly help. Oneday I came in to class had to hold back laughter. One of my students decided to change his name to White Mustache! What that came from, I’ll never know. I have had some students try Taylor Swift, Lincoln Park, Adele and Justin Bieber but this was a new one!
- On the topic of names, I was put in a little pickle one day. A young English teacher I am good friends with asked if she could ask me a serious question. In China, sometimes people are given their English names and sometimes they are self-selected. Apparently, her name, Lily, was given to her by a former English teach. When Chinese people are trying to pick names in Enlgish or vise versa (like when they were trying to give me a Chinese name), they try to make as similar in meaning or sound to the original name. Lily’s Chinese name means “smile” and she wants to call herself Smile in English. She wanted to check with me to see if this was ok. Her reasoning is that if Sunny could be a name, Smile could be, too. I was torn – do I let her just do it (she very apparently wanted to very badly) or do I tell her that I wouldn’t advise it? I t gently told her that it wasn’t technically a name we would consider an English name and, after consulting one of my roommates, that as an English teacher, I would advise her to keep Lily (I also told her how beautiful the name Lily was). She wasn’t too happy but understood. I wonder if I should have just let it be…
- As most people know, authentic Chinese food and Canadian Chinese food are NOT the same. That said, I had sweet and sour pork the other day at school – identical to the meal you may go order at any Chinese food place in Halifax. It was SOOOO good but so surprising!
- Annnnnd on the topic of food, I have a confession. While wandering Shanghai by myself on Saturday waiting for the crew I happened upon a Canadian bar. I ended up checking it out (for a potential night time spot and MAAAAAYBE catch a hockey game) chatting with the staff. Before I knew it, I had a poutine in front of me! I don’t know how that happened! Ha!
- I have an issue with kids giving the finger, saying s@!* and f*!@. They know this is bad but just think it’s a little inappropriate. Apparently they do it in front of their other teachers. I don’t want to over react and bring more attention to it (a SURE fire way to make a student cry. It really doesn’t take much). Most of the time it’s my best and brightest that do it, too! It’s an interesting little predicament to be in….
- My school bus home from school has a little TV at the front and in the past week has started playing REALLY cheesy Chinese karaoke videos. No one actually sings, but it’s definitely an amusing form of entertainment.
- One of my Chinese teaching friends is due in May with a baby. She is going to begin her leave next week and I’m sad I won’t be seeing her anymore. She was a really great Chinese tutor. Yesterday on the bus I was asking her about the baby. She told me that in China people call pregnant ladies “officer” or “leader” because many people in high positions have bigbellies! Haha! I loved it!
- Teacher’s here LOVE sleeping. It’s not rare for my two office mates to be passed out face first on their desks at the same time. Like, FACE first. No arms. Just their face on their desk. Teachers also sometimes do this during staff meetings haha
- Today is Alyssa’s birthday. Last night Sara and I blew up 75 balloons and this morning we hung a sheet in such a way that when Alyssa opened her bedroom door, the balloons fell on top of her. Usually she gets up after us so we knocked and got her up so we could take a video. Aren’t we the greatest? Tonight we’ll head out to her favourite spot (a great Indian place of all things) and have samples of all the mini cakes the local bakeries have to offer. I’m a little excited!
In closing, I just wanted to note that today in Wednesday. The school system here works on a 5 days cycle (the days of the week). I taught Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as planned and tomorrow’s classes will go on as planned BUT on Friday I am teaching Tuesday’s classes, Saturday I am teaching Monday’s classes and on Sunday I am teaching Friday’s classes. That makes sense, doesn’t it? HA! Oh, did I mention I have a 7 day teaching week this week before I go to…..wait for it….HONG KONG for three days then I come back for a 2 day week before another weekend. It’s a skewy system but sometimes it works! Until next time!