For reasons unknown, I have not been able to access my blog for 2 days. I still cannot read it myself, so I can't add pictures like I am (finally!) ready to do. At least I can tell you that it appears that at long last, I should be leaving for the south in the next couple of days.
The New Year's holiday continues, firework-wise, but much diminished, especially at night. Businesses, banks etc. are reopening, and my contact teacher is coming back to the college tomorrow. I will fly to Xiamen as soon as I can get a ticket after that and he will pick me up there. I can't wait, this whole period has been such a waste. I'm trying not to dwell on it, though, I don't want it be an omen.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Chinese New Year - II
Fireworks. When we lived here in the 70s, fireworks were illegal (totalitarian governments are uncomfortable with easy accessibility to explosives), but they are back now and with a vengeance. Today is Day 5 of the New Year's celebration and if anything there were more last night and so far today than there were New Year's Eve.
It is impossible to get a good night's sleep and people are getting a little frayed -- even my Chinese hosts are complaining. Fireworks come in two categories, aerial and loud. The "loud" seem to be preferred and go off constantly with enough concussive effect to set off car alarms, further adding to the din.
I have been a firworks junkie all my life and I never thought I would say this but "Enough Already!".
It is impossible to get a good night's sleep and people are getting a little frayed -- even my Chinese hosts are complaining. Fireworks come in two categories, aerial and loud. The "loud" seem to be preferred and go off constantly with enough concussive effect to set off car alarms, further adding to the din.
I have been a firworks junkie all my life and I never thought I would say this but "Enough Already!".
Chinese New Year --I
I did so much over this holiday and I have promised to venture into the world of high tech and attempt to illustrate this blog, that I will do this in segments.
Today is Sunday Feb. 10, here and Steve and I have just come back from a 5-day junket to Jinan and Beijing to celebrate the New Year. (Also maybe just to get out of here!). The one thing that would have to be said as true for the whole time was that it was bitter cold and that China has rediscovered fireworks with a vengeance!
We left for Jinan last Tuesday on a minibus (big mistake, learn from experience), to visit our friend JD. JD was here in the apartment when I arrived but left 3 days later allowing Steve to move in. He was able to get into his apartment at his university. JD is an amazing guy, probably 6'5" and 300 lbs if an ounce. He had spent some time in China before with his former employer and liked it so came back to teach for a year. He comes from Louisville, KY and between the size and the drawl, Chinese find him fascinating. He'll have a good year even though he knows nothing about teaching English. Turns out that standards are pretty low herein terms of education and experience.
Anyway, Shandong University where he will be teaching, is located with about 7 other universities in a cluster outside of the city in an area called "education city". It's 45 minutes on 2 buses from the downtown area of Jinan. Once you get used to that part, though, it's pretty nice. His apartment is very nice -- 2 BRs, modern kitchen, all things provided including a washing machine. If my apartment is half as nice I will be happy.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Life here
As it appears that I may be here for as much as two more weeks (!!!), a few words about my surroundings.
This is the home of Victor and Lily and their 17 -year old son, Nathan. It is a good sized flat on the 3rd floor of a 6-story building in a compound of other such apartments, conveniently located across the street from a nuclear power plant. The apartment is quite large -- 3 BRs and 2BAs with a big living room which doubles as the office of their recruiting business. There are 4 computers set up which are in daily use by a whole series of young girls who are in contact with foreign teachers. Due to the various time zones, the girls sort of come and go. They all speak some degree of English as does everyone except Lily.
Victor is very nice to us but is something of a pompous, loud mouthed bully to his wife and son which is becoming a little wearing. Besides the business, the is a "Senior Engineer for the Highway Department" which does not seem to require that he go to the office very often. It does give him the right to use this strange device that he operates off his lap when he drives. With it he can make air horn sounds, sirens, and a microphone to tell people to get out of the way. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. He is very proud of this device and uses it often.
All in all, I can't complain. I have my own room, there is plenty of heat and hot water and Lily cooks for us and does out laundry. Though it has previously been determined that I am the same age as HER mother, she mothers me to death. Basically my only complaint is boredom and wasted time.
This is the home of Victor and Lily and their 17 -year old son, Nathan. It is a good sized flat on the 3rd floor of a 6-story building in a compound of other such apartments, conveniently located across the street from a nuclear power plant. The apartment is quite large -- 3 BRs and 2BAs with a big living room which doubles as the office of their recruiting business. There are 4 computers set up which are in daily use by a whole series of young girls who are in contact with foreign teachers. Due to the various time zones, the girls sort of come and go. They all speak some degree of English as does everyone except Lily.
Victor is very nice to us but is something of a pompous, loud mouthed bully to his wife and son which is becoming a little wearing. Besides the business, the is a "Senior Engineer for the Highway Department" which does not seem to require that he go to the office very often. It does give him the right to use this strange device that he operates off his lap when he drives. With it he can make air horn sounds, sirens, and a microphone to tell people to get out of the way. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. He is very proud of this device and uses it often.
All in all, I can't complain. I have my own room, there is plenty of heat and hot water and Lily cooks for us and does out laundry. Though it has previously been determined that I am the same age as HER mother, she mothers me to death. Basically my only complaint is boredom and wasted time.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Arrival
This is the third time I have tried to post this. Though I do have internet access, it appears to be better "inbound" than "outbound".
Well, here I am in China, though not where I am supposed to be. There are people in life for whom things go smoothly but I am not one of them. First, it was the trip from hell, taking 4 days to arrive in Nanjing only to find that the winter camp that I had been hired to teach had been canceled! I had to spend a night there and fly up here to Shihjiajuang (not too far from Beijing) where I am staying at the home office of my recruiter. This is very strange but not uncomfortable as I am constantly reminded by news of the big snow storm in the south. I, too, could be one of the 500,000 people stranded at the Guangzhou train station!
I am staying in their apartment, have my own room, am warm and dry and fed but bored to death. The only salvation is a Canadian guy in a similar situation who is also here. He is teaching me to play cribbage to pass the time.
We spoke to my school yesterday and it appears it could be two more weeks (!!!) before I can go there. This snowstorm happened to occur back to back with the big Chinese New Year holiday ad some seem to be using it as an excuse to make a longer holiday. I am not happy but there seems to be little I can do.
Shihjiajuang is a nice enough place but the cold temperatures make it unpleasant to do much walking around.
Well, here I am in China, though not where I am supposed to be. There are people in life for whom things go smoothly but I am not one of them. First, it was the trip from hell, taking 4 days to arrive in Nanjing only to find that the winter camp that I had been hired to teach had been canceled! I had to spend a night there and fly up here to Shihjiajuang (not too far from Beijing) where I am staying at the home office of my recruiter. This is very strange but not uncomfortable as I am constantly reminded by news of the big snow storm in the south. I, too, could be one of the 500,000 people stranded at the Guangzhou train station!
I am staying in their apartment, have my own room, am warm and dry and fed but bored to death. The only salvation is a Canadian guy in a similar situation who is also here. He is teaching me to play cribbage to pass the time.
We spoke to my school yesterday and it appears it could be two more weeks (!!!) before I can go there. This snowstorm happened to occur back to back with the big Chinese New Year holiday ad some seem to be using it as an excuse to make a longer holiday. I am not happy but there seems to be little I can do.
Shihjiajuang is a nice enough place but the cold temperatures make it unpleasant to do much walking around.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)