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.
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