...Hopefully.
So, we are about to hit the road again - hard seat on the train, but only 4 hours this time. We are going to go out to the Tenggar Desert and see what's out there besides sand. Hopefully we will be able to get to some of the surrounding towns to see a little more of this area before we pack up and move out to Beijing.
So, I guess that is all for now, will post some more when I get back and I'm sure that I will have some more pictures to put up on Flickr too.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Goofin' Off in the Hall - Junior 2, Class 1
One of my favorite things to do between classes, is to visit my other classes and hang with the kids. This is one of my favorite classes at the Junior School. The kids are so friendly and fun to be with. Also, for the camera at least, they are little show-offs. So, I'm still trying to get a clip of the kicking/clapping game, but in the meantime, here are some of my kids goofing off in the hall.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Whoo-Hoo - Congratulations!
I just want to say congratulations to Brian and Debz! For the readers who don't know who these two wonderful people are, they are two of my friends from college who I don't get to see as often as I would like. I just can't even begin to tell about all of the good memories I have of these crazy cats.
Check out the proposal: www.briandearth.com
So, 6 years, 8 months...
Who won the pool?
Congratulations! Whip out the hikin' boots, it's time fer a weddin'!
Check out the proposal: www.briandearth.com
So, 6 years, 8 months...
Who won the pool?
Congratulations! Whip out the hikin' boots, it's time fer a weddin'!
My First Video Post!
Panda Brawl!
Watch the video
Okay, we haven't been able to stop laughing at these pandas since I shot the clip! They were definitely the most active captive animals we have ever seen.
Let me know if this works! If so, I have some other clips to put up - Enjoy!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
And the Winner Is....
Matt's Team Haircut - Yinchuan! Whoo-hoo!Okay, so my little Flickr counter says that my photostream has been viewed about 6000 times. But the number one photo is Matt's team haircut! This one picture has been viewed 64 times. What makes this a little more creepy is that the top 5 pictures are all of Matt getting his haircut. One of them has even been marked as someone's favorite.
Matt is creeped out by this.
Weirdos.
Disgusted with YOU!
Okay all of you -
I am thoroughly disappointed with all of you. Shame shame SHAME! I give you a simple request and how many of you even bother with the assignment? Three. Only three!
Okay, so I guess we have to try this again, won't we?
Usually, my kids are all looking at the floor uncomfortably at this point. But this is not for my kids this time.
Need more slang words people!
I have used: Tight, Shortie, Boo and Shady. So far the best reaction has been to shortie and boo. They seem to like to rat out who has a boyfriend and who so and so thinks is cute, etc. The slang is a great way to lighten the mood in the classroom.
Lay in on me, baby!
I am thoroughly disappointed with all of you. Shame shame SHAME! I give you a simple request and how many of you even bother with the assignment? Three. Only three!
Okay, so I guess we have to try this again, won't we?
Usually, my kids are all looking at the floor uncomfortably at this point. But this is not for my kids this time.
Need more slang words people!
I have used: Tight, Shortie, Boo and Shady. So far the best reaction has been to shortie and boo. They seem to like to rat out who has a boyfriend and who so and so thinks is cute, etc. The slang is a great way to lighten the mood in the classroom.
Lay in on me, baby!
Chicken Ramen
So, I haven't really been too good about posting this week. I just didn't have it in me. So, these are some of the highlights from this past week...
I am still limping around like a gimp. My kids have been increasingly worried about my leg. I am surprised that they haven't hauled me off to the hospital yet. Now, for some odd reason I have a pain in my knee. Thank goodness for Icy Hot - Icy to dull the pain, hot to relax it away.
Last weekend they had the first round of the English contest - we didn't have to judge for the first round, but may be called into action for a future round. I am so proud of all of my kids. All of the students that I helped except for one, made it through the first round! Yea kids! Hopefully I will be able to see them in action in a future round.
But with the contest success came quite an unfortunate incident. Yup, a dinner. Worse yet, it was a dinner with the dreaded math teacher. I feel like I was rather tricked into it. I was invited to a sit with this man months ago and I refused, but I guess the desire wasn't dropped. So, I was duped by confused English and the students' success with the contest. From what I could tell initially, was that the students were really happy that they did so well and really wanted to take me out to dinner, but what it turned out to be was the head teachers from two of the classes that I helped, one of which was math dude. Man, I have a bad feeling about this.... I can see the complications I was having when I first started just looming on the horizon. Luckily, this time, I am saved by the upcoming vacation.
Now, on a more pleasant note, my kids! So, next week I only teach on Monday because of mid-terms at the Junior School. So, I tried to spend some time with my chillins this past week. So, my lovely class 6.
Class was going pretty well, I was monitoring the group work discussions. I pass by a group of girls and hear a faint peeping noise. I investigate. I find that one of the girls has brought a little baby chicken to school. Stored conveniently in a little 4" x 4" ramen bag! The poor little thing couldn't even move. I told her that she should probably leave it at home at the lunch break. Hmmm...that was something that I wasn't quite prepared for.
These kids are a riot! In the hall one of my little boys, Bob, was showing me that he learned a new English word, "kiss". He demonstrated by kissing one of his little friends on the cheek several times. Then he grabbed one of my little buddies, Jack, and told me that he was his little sister because he was "beautiful like a girl" and then kissed him.
Later, they start this clapping/kicking game. I really don't know how to describe it, and I want to try to get some video on it because it is quite funny. A line of boys start to clap and walk/hop up to another line of boys and then they all start to kick each other to the rhythm of the clapping. It is a little bizarre.
Then on the walk home, we all were having fun, one of the boys said something to my overly enthusiastic and parasitical fan which made her sprint away. When I questioned him about it, he just shrugged his shoulders and pretended not to understand what I was saying (even though I know that he did). Right after the girl left, we were immediately joined by the other members of my lunch posse who have taken up the habit of meeting us at the corner where she turns off. So, we all shared some ice cream and craisins for the rest of the way home. Sam did something and sort of kicked someone off of a bike. I saw his leg up in the air one moment, and a little boy on the ground the next. Oh that Sam!
Later in the afternoon, I met up with them before classes began. They frantically motioned for me to come over, so I did. They all pointed at a hole and were shouting "TEACHER, MOUSE! MOUSE!" Then they filled up some water bottles and poured them down the hole to flush it out. Suddenly a gopher came flying out and about 9 boys went chasing it around the playground trying to catch it. I do feel rather honored that they want to share these special moments with me.
Hmmmm...what else...We have been swapping papercuts in the English office. I was really nervous about sharing mine because some of the people here have a certain way of giving a compliment that really isn't one - like "You look so much fatter in your picture!" and the like. I had told them that I was interested in papercutting and that I have been doing it for about 20 years. So, one of the teachers brought in some patterns for me to try - all pretty simple. It was really sweet of her to do so, but I don't think that they were that confident in my abilities. It was really interesting though because she told me about some of the symbolism. Anyhow, so I did bring in some of my cuttings to give them and, well, I rock as it turns out. They loved them! The teacher in charge of my schedule at the school has been bringing is around with her and showing it to everyone she can - "the Korean American made this!" So, now they want me to teach them about my technique for cutting as I can get a lot more detail than they are used to. I will have to try to jerry rig up some knives for them as we can't get them here.
Anyhow, I will part this post with my latest escalator story. I went to the underground grocery store and was all finished with the shopping and was heading up. I was watching a little toddler on the down side. He was so adorable! He was so excited to be on the escalator that he was jumping up and down, waving his fists in the air and squealing and shrieking with joy. When he saw me he started to wave, laugh and jump up and down more excitedly. As soon as I passed him and his mother he had a startling look down at the monster. The joyful squeals turned to terror filled screams as he neared the silver teeth of the greedy escalator monster. He tried to flee by scampering back up, but he just couldn't climb fast enough. Soon, he burst out in a terrified and frantic cry. His mother quickly scooped him up and jumped off of the beast. The little boy, once on solid ground, collapsed on the floor and starting bawling to the point of hyperventilation. The great moving silver beast grumbled as it just missed its snack.
I am still limping around like a gimp. My kids have been increasingly worried about my leg. I am surprised that they haven't hauled me off to the hospital yet. Now, for some odd reason I have a pain in my knee. Thank goodness for Icy Hot - Icy to dull the pain, hot to relax it away.
Last weekend they had the first round of the English contest - we didn't have to judge for the first round, but may be called into action for a future round. I am so proud of all of my kids. All of the students that I helped except for one, made it through the first round! Yea kids! Hopefully I will be able to see them in action in a future round.
But with the contest success came quite an unfortunate incident. Yup, a dinner. Worse yet, it was a dinner with the dreaded math teacher. I feel like I was rather tricked into it. I was invited to a sit with this man months ago and I refused, but I guess the desire wasn't dropped. So, I was duped by confused English and the students' success with the contest. From what I could tell initially, was that the students were really happy that they did so well and really wanted to take me out to dinner, but what it turned out to be was the head teachers from two of the classes that I helped, one of which was math dude. Man, I have a bad feeling about this.... I can see the complications I was having when I first started just looming on the horizon. Luckily, this time, I am saved by the upcoming vacation.
Now, on a more pleasant note, my kids! So, next week I only teach on Monday because of mid-terms at the Junior School. So, I tried to spend some time with my chillins this past week. So, my lovely class 6.
Class was going pretty well, I was monitoring the group work discussions. I pass by a group of girls and hear a faint peeping noise. I investigate. I find that one of the girls has brought a little baby chicken to school. Stored conveniently in a little 4" x 4" ramen bag! The poor little thing couldn't even move. I told her that she should probably leave it at home at the lunch break. Hmmm...that was something that I wasn't quite prepared for.
These kids are a riot! In the hall one of my little boys, Bob, was showing me that he learned a new English word, "kiss". He demonstrated by kissing one of his little friends on the cheek several times. Then he grabbed one of my little buddies, Jack, and told me that he was his little sister because he was "beautiful like a girl" and then kissed him.
Later, they start this clapping/kicking game. I really don't know how to describe it, and I want to try to get some video on it because it is quite funny. A line of boys start to clap and walk/hop up to another line of boys and then they all start to kick each other to the rhythm of the clapping. It is a little bizarre.
Then on the walk home, we all were having fun, one of the boys said something to my overly enthusiastic and parasitical fan which made her sprint away. When I questioned him about it, he just shrugged his shoulders and pretended not to understand what I was saying (even though I know that he did). Right after the girl left, we were immediately joined by the other members of my lunch posse who have taken up the habit of meeting us at the corner where she turns off. So, we all shared some ice cream and craisins for the rest of the way home. Sam did something and sort of kicked someone off of a bike. I saw his leg up in the air one moment, and a little boy on the ground the next. Oh that Sam!
Later in the afternoon, I met up with them before classes began. They frantically motioned for me to come over, so I did. They all pointed at a hole and were shouting "TEACHER, MOUSE! MOUSE!" Then they filled up some water bottles and poured them down the hole to flush it out. Suddenly a gopher came flying out and about 9 boys went chasing it around the playground trying to catch it. I do feel rather honored that they want to share these special moments with me.
Hmmmm...what else...We have been swapping papercuts in the English office. I was really nervous about sharing mine because some of the people here have a certain way of giving a compliment that really isn't one - like "You look so much fatter in your picture!" and the like. I had told them that I was interested in papercutting and that I have been doing it for about 20 years. So, one of the teachers brought in some patterns for me to try - all pretty simple. It was really sweet of her to do so, but I don't think that they were that confident in my abilities. It was really interesting though because she told me about some of the symbolism. Anyhow, so I did bring in some of my cuttings to give them and, well, I rock as it turns out. They loved them! The teacher in charge of my schedule at the school has been bringing is around with her and showing it to everyone she can - "the Korean American made this!" So, now they want me to teach them about my technique for cutting as I can get a lot more detail than they are used to. I will have to try to jerry rig up some knives for them as we can't get them here.
Anyhow, I will part this post with my latest escalator story. I went to the underground grocery store and was all finished with the shopping and was heading up. I was watching a little toddler on the down side. He was so adorable! He was so excited to be on the escalator that he was jumping up and down, waving his fists in the air and squealing and shrieking with joy. When he saw me he started to wave, laugh and jump up and down more excitedly. As soon as I passed him and his mother he had a startling look down at the monster. The joyful squeals turned to terror filled screams as he neared the silver teeth of the greedy escalator monster. He tried to flee by scampering back up, but he just couldn't climb fast enough. Soon, he burst out in a terrified and frantic cry. His mother quickly scooped him up and jumped off of the beast. The little boy, once on solid ground, collapsed on the floor and starting bawling to the point of hyperventilation. The great moving silver beast grumbled as it just missed its snack.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Slang
Hey -
I think that I am going to teach some of my kids some slag words - maybe a couple every class period. But, being that I am losing my language ability, I need your help - anything from the standard "cool" to Q's fav "rad" - if it is a little obscure, let me know what it means.
Thanks!
I think that I am going to teach some of my kids some slag words - maybe a couple every class period. But, being that I am losing my language ability, I need your help - anything from the standard "cool" to Q's fav "rad" - if it is a little obscure, let me know what it means.
Thanks!
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Step by Step...
No, not a NKOTB reference (that's New Kids on the Block for those of you not in the know).
This is basically a post dedicated to how inept I am when it comes to walking up and down stairs. Geez, I have managed to totally boff it going down the stairs on more occasions I care to admit to. I fully blame the little triangle step near the bottom of the staircase - it is at a bad angle and not wide enough for my entire foot on the side of the staircase I go down.
So, because of my bumpy past with the stairs I decided to go up really carefully. I had had problems going up in the past, but not to the extent of going down. So, carefully, so carefully I start my ascent. I am near the mid-way landing point and,
SPLAT!
HOLLER!
SWEAR!
SWEAR!
SWEAR!
I find myself curled up on the landing not able to actually get up. I landed a little weirdly on my thigh and shooting pain was now racing up and down my leg and back and I was oddly weak.
So, now I am limping all around like a gimp and my students are all worried, again (I enter the classroom to choruses of "Laoshi, you, hospital now!") When it snowed, I was escorted home by 8 students all grabbing hold of me in some manner or another to make sure I didn't slip on the snow. What a site it must have been to the locals who like sit on their front stoop to stare at the usual spectacle of me walking home with the kids! Today my SFS insisted on helping me down the stairs because he pointed out that there is no railing. Then one of my bigger kids grabbed my arm and had me ride side saddle on his bicycle (on the little rack on the back).
So far in Guyuan, I have found that my escalator skills are quite impressive and quite above par, but stair mastery has remained a mystery to me and I probably require a remedial 101 class. At least I am well taken care of by my kids whenever I do anything really stupid and usually embarrassing.
This is basically a post dedicated to how inept I am when it comes to walking up and down stairs. Geez, I have managed to totally boff it going down the stairs on more occasions I care to admit to. I fully blame the little triangle step near the bottom of the staircase - it is at a bad angle and not wide enough for my entire foot on the side of the staircase I go down.
So, because of my bumpy past with the stairs I decided to go up really carefully. I had had problems going up in the past, but not to the extent of going down. So, carefully, so carefully I start my ascent. I am near the mid-way landing point and,
SPLAT!
HOLLER!
SWEAR!
SWEAR!
SWEAR!
I find myself curled up on the landing not able to actually get up. I landed a little weirdly on my thigh and shooting pain was now racing up and down my leg and back and I was oddly weak.
So, now I am limping all around like a gimp and my students are all worried, again (I enter the classroom to choruses of "Laoshi, you, hospital now!") When it snowed, I was escorted home by 8 students all grabbing hold of me in some manner or another to make sure I didn't slip on the snow. What a site it must have been to the locals who like sit on their front stoop to stare at the usual spectacle of me walking home with the kids! Today my SFS insisted on helping me down the stairs because he pointed out that there is no railing. Then one of my bigger kids grabbed my arm and had me ride side saddle on his bicycle (on the little rack on the back).
So far in Guyuan, I have found that my escalator skills are quite impressive and quite above par, but stair mastery has remained a mystery to me and I probably require a remedial 101 class. At least I am well taken care of by my kids whenever I do anything really stupid and usually embarrassing.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
In the Past 24 Hours...
Well, more than that now that I am actually posting the message.
We have had:
Sunny, warm, 70+ degree temperature
Full blown sandstorm - made the sky a sickly yellow color
Sand-snow (before everything was wet, it was kinda snowing, but still sandstorming
Snow
Sleet
Snow with wicked wind
and,
Sam pantsed 12 people
We have had:
Sunny, warm, 70+ degree temperature
Full blown sandstorm - made the sky a sickly yellow color
Sand-snow (before everything was wet, it was kinda snowing, but still sandstorming
Snow
Sleet
Snow with wicked wind
and,
Sam pantsed 12 people
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Money to Burn
Well, it isn't real money, just special paper money to burn for festivals. Today, Matt and I were invited to go to a ceremony at a park where they have a memorial for the PLA soldiers who died serving their motherland.
We went out with 4 classes - chosen to represent their school, so they were very proud, two of Matt's and two of mine. Matt's 2 were his special classes - many are very poor, from the countryside and are attending Yi Zhong on a special scholarship, so they work really hard. The two senior classes I teach are the National Merit classes, meaning, they are damn smart kids. We were glad that we got to experience this special festival with these students.
We rode out to the event with one of Matt's classes - on the boy bus. They were fun! There was a little bit of a war between buses because some of the students wanted us on a different bus. So, Matt taught them 5 card draw and we were quizzed on our knowledge about the NBA and baseball. All in all, we know nothing.
We get out to the site and Matt was spotted by all of the hundreds of kids and the accompanying adults. He was getting his picture taken by both the obvious and the more stealthy individuals. He posed for many pictures with people we didn't know and there was a man with a camcorder who was just following him around for a little while, filming the white guy. It is pretty entertaining. Me jealous of the attention, hell no! I want a copy of the tape!
It was very interesting for us to witness and be a part of. Several students guided us around the area and translated everything for us so we could understand what was going on and what things were. Hopefully, I will have some pictures up tomorrow.
After the ceremony, we piled into a bus with my students and started the bumpy journey back. I had a very nice conversation with my kids and one of my best students told me some of the most heart warming things I have ever been told.
Eventually, we stopped off at a little place for the teachers to eat lunch. There was a mountain not too far away, so we went with the kids up the mountain. I must admit that the little journey up had a most inauspicious start. The initial bank down to get to the field plots was very steep and I tripped on my foot because I am so graceful, and took a nice dive. Oh well, klutzy.
So, Matt went off with some of his kids (I was still undecided about going up). I took some pictures of the area, including some of the caves houses. Eventually, I met up with some students who talked me into going up the mountain with them. One of our translators really helped me up - he actually was pulling me up some of the rises. It was fun - I was handed treats on the way up and they seemed to get a kick out of a teacher doing this with her students. They all got a good laugh out of my "You're half my age!" proclamation.
Anyhow, at the top we got a really nice view of the surrounding area and it was nice to be able to do make the climb with the students. Going down was, well, faster.... I got sapped by a number of trees I was aiming my body towards and was desperately grabbing hold of.
So, back to the flat land and back to the buses. We were waiting for the teachers to finish up their lunch only to find that they hadn't really started yet. We were not sure if they were waiting for us or not. We went inside of the restaurant to find them sitting around and talking and playing cards. They told us that our lunch has already been ordered. We get two bowls - one plain noodles, the other a good, spicy, noodle and mutton dish (you mix the two bowls together). From the other room there was quite a bit of interest in our chopstick abilities (they were peeking through the gap in the curtain).
Anyhow, after we left the restaurant, we got on to the bus with one of my favorite students (from Matt's classes) and we head for home. I have managed to miss all of my classes for the day (no word yet on if I am to make them up - I'll probably know at the last possible minute) and am quite dirty and tired, but really happy that we were able to spend this important day in China with so many of the students that we have come to love.
We went out with 4 classes - chosen to represent their school, so they were very proud, two of Matt's and two of mine. Matt's 2 were his special classes - many are very poor, from the countryside and are attending Yi Zhong on a special scholarship, so they work really hard. The two senior classes I teach are the National Merit classes, meaning, they are damn smart kids. We were glad that we got to experience this special festival with these students.
We rode out to the event with one of Matt's classes - on the boy bus. They were fun! There was a little bit of a war between buses because some of the students wanted us on a different bus. So, Matt taught them 5 card draw and we were quizzed on our knowledge about the NBA and baseball. All in all, we know nothing.
We get out to the site and Matt was spotted by all of the hundreds of kids and the accompanying adults. He was getting his picture taken by both the obvious and the more stealthy individuals. He posed for many pictures with people we didn't know and there was a man with a camcorder who was just following him around for a little while, filming the white guy. It is pretty entertaining. Me jealous of the attention, hell no! I want a copy of the tape!
It was very interesting for us to witness and be a part of. Several students guided us around the area and translated everything for us so we could understand what was going on and what things were. Hopefully, I will have some pictures up tomorrow.
After the ceremony, we piled into a bus with my students and started the bumpy journey back. I had a very nice conversation with my kids and one of my best students told me some of the most heart warming things I have ever been told.
Eventually, we stopped off at a little place for the teachers to eat lunch. There was a mountain not too far away, so we went with the kids up the mountain. I must admit that the little journey up had a most inauspicious start. The initial bank down to get to the field plots was very steep and I tripped on my foot because I am so graceful, and took a nice dive. Oh well, klutzy.
So, Matt went off with some of his kids (I was still undecided about going up). I took some pictures of the area, including some of the caves houses. Eventually, I met up with some students who talked me into going up the mountain with them. One of our translators really helped me up - he actually was pulling me up some of the rises. It was fun - I was handed treats on the way up and they seemed to get a kick out of a teacher doing this with her students. They all got a good laugh out of my "You're half my age!" proclamation.
Anyhow, at the top we got a really nice view of the surrounding area and it was nice to be able to do make the climb with the students. Going down was, well, faster.... I got sapped by a number of trees I was aiming my body towards and was desperately grabbing hold of.
So, back to the flat land and back to the buses. We were waiting for the teachers to finish up their lunch only to find that they hadn't really started yet. We were not sure if they were waiting for us or not. We went inside of the restaurant to find them sitting around and talking and playing cards. They told us that our lunch has already been ordered. We get two bowls - one plain noodles, the other a good, spicy, noodle and mutton dish (you mix the two bowls together). From the other room there was quite a bit of interest in our chopstick abilities (they were peeking through the gap in the curtain).
Anyhow, after we left the restaurant, we got on to the bus with one of my favorite students (from Matt's classes) and we head for home. I have managed to miss all of my classes for the day (no word yet on if I am to make them up - I'll probably know at the last possible minute) and am quite dirty and tired, but really happy that we were able to spend this important day in China with so many of the students that we have come to love.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
I Can't Believe I'm Doing This...
...I'm actually teaching the dreaded Macarena in class. Also, this brings about another equally disturbing realization for me: I actually remember the Macarena. Didn't have to Google it for the trip down the "not so great memory lane". I don't know what came over me. It just seemed like something I should do. That said, it is a riot! The kids get quite a kick out of it and seem to like to boogie down in the classroom and I am actually enjoying making them do it. Ahhh, power! Wha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
The most enthusiastic about it are the boys. Some have even climbed on top of their desks to shake it. They really like the hip swivel part of it - maybe too much as many a desk has been tipped over by too much hip action. When I call out that I need some people to help me do it up in the front of the room, little boy hands shoot up everywhere along with a chorus of "Teacher, me! Let me try please!". I have not yet been able to recruit a girl group to join me, but it is not for the lack of trying. I think I will be able to get some girls in my Thursday class.
On the walk home, I met my usual gang and we all went home together. Little Sam of course danced the Macarena the way home - except for when I had to hold him back so he wouldn't hit a girl who pushed/tripped him and caused him to scrape up his arm. This girl is probably the most irritating child that I have ever met. She won't leave me alone. She can't just walk near me, she has to suction herself to me and won't let go. She constantly interrupts me and the other chillins and now has taken up the hobby of taking things out of my bag and guffawing in my ear as loud as she can for no particular reason for a little attention. My little posse really doesn't like her (probably because she tries to physically hurt them so she can have my full undivided attention) and they try to shake her all the time. Today, My little Jack (one of the best English speakers in his year) just had enough of her and took off. We found him waiting at the corner for us after she turned off to cross the street. After that, we all shared some craisins and felt a lot better and were able to goof off like we normally do. We decided that this Sunday we are going to go fly a kite together and maybe go to the new little photo booth in town. I feel a little bad for Jenny because it doesn't really seem that she has a lot of friends, because well, she's down right annoying. Hopefully, she won't keep this up for very much longer. I guess I do have a bit of a history of picking up parasites in foreign countries. Mean, yes, I know.
Okay, enough of that. So, I have found myself doing all sorts of things that I would have never considered doing in the States. How low will I sink? What's next, the finer details of the Chicken Dance? Tune in next week.
The most enthusiastic about it are the boys. Some have even climbed on top of their desks to shake it. They really like the hip swivel part of it - maybe too much as many a desk has been tipped over by too much hip action. When I call out that I need some people to help me do it up in the front of the room, little boy hands shoot up everywhere along with a chorus of "Teacher, me! Let me try please!". I have not yet been able to recruit a girl group to join me, but it is not for the lack of trying. I think I will be able to get some girls in my Thursday class.
On the walk home, I met my usual gang and we all went home together. Little Sam of course danced the Macarena the way home - except for when I had to hold him back so he wouldn't hit a girl who pushed/tripped him and caused him to scrape up his arm. This girl is probably the most irritating child that I have ever met. She won't leave me alone. She can't just walk near me, she has to suction herself to me and won't let go. She constantly interrupts me and the other chillins and now has taken up the hobby of taking things out of my bag and guffawing in my ear as loud as she can for no particular reason for a little attention. My little posse really doesn't like her (probably because she tries to physically hurt them so she can have my full undivided attention) and they try to shake her all the time. Today, My little Jack (one of the best English speakers in his year) just had enough of her and took off. We found him waiting at the corner for us after she turned off to cross the street. After that, we all shared some craisins and felt a lot better and were able to goof off like we normally do. We decided that this Sunday we are going to go fly a kite together and maybe go to the new little photo booth in town. I feel a little bad for Jenny because it doesn't really seem that she has a lot of friends, because well, she's down right annoying. Hopefully, she won't keep this up for very much longer. I guess I do have a bit of a history of picking up parasites in foreign countries. Mean, yes, I know.
Okay, enough of that. So, I have found myself doing all sorts of things that I would have never considered doing in the States. How low will I sink? What's next, the finer details of the Chicken Dance? Tune in next week.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
EMERGENCY EVACUATION!
Just letting all of you know that we have to leave town for a couple of days - wait for things to simmer down with the rumored uprisings. We will be in e-contact when possible but can't promise anything...
April Fool's!
Sorry, I couldn't help it.
April Fool's!
Sorry, I couldn't help it.
It Tastes Like...
...well, like dirt!
Spring is coming in like a lion in Guyuan! The dust storms are picking up steam. Today we couldn't really see the sun. In China this isn't so unusual, but out here it is because of the dust and not that big city "haze". The kids have been a little depressed because of the weather, because of poor test results, because of boyfriends/girlfriends, blah, blah, blah. So tough being a teenager in the spring.
I have seen quite a few inventive plastic bag hats because of the blowing dirt. Also, there have been fewer street vendors out. I have taken up the practice of holding my breath and hoping that I won't get caught in a big gust of wind whenever I pass the pee nook. Tasting the gritty, earthy Guyuan air is one thing, but tasting very well used gritty, earthy Guyuan air is quite another.
They have decided to postpone the English competition because it was supposed to start tomorrow, but as of 4 PM this afternoon they still did not have a definite time or location yet. Planning. I won't comment anymore on this because it enrages my Excel Spreadsheet type of mentality.
Matt and I were talking about Chinese etiquette, or the lack there of. This conversation was sparked as we were walking out of the mall directly behind a couple of women. The mall had heavy plastic strips hanging in the door frames to block the wind/cold. We normally hold the strips back long enough for the next person to reach out and block them before getting hit in the face. However, this practice is not regarded by the general population. They just hold it open enough for them to pass through and don't care if you get hit in the face with the strips or poked in the eye by their hand.
So, this incident inspired a little conversation about etiquette. We have found that we are a little more rude than we were in the states. I consider the pushing more of a sport now (not exactly a fun sport though), and I don't feel guilty about not clearing my tray at the fast food places (we do it for kicks though, we are usually chased down by restaurant employees). Out here we have noticed that the key etiquette practice is not to show anger or discontentment. We got to thinking that all of this repressed anger and frustration might be fueling other behavior, mainly all of the damn pushing. An outlet to get out all of that internal rage. Just a theory.
Spring is coming in like a lion in Guyuan! The dust storms are picking up steam. Today we couldn't really see the sun. In China this isn't so unusual, but out here it is because of the dust and not that big city "haze". The kids have been a little depressed because of the weather, because of poor test results, because of boyfriends/girlfriends, blah, blah, blah. So tough being a teenager in the spring.
I have seen quite a few inventive plastic bag hats because of the blowing dirt. Also, there have been fewer street vendors out. I have taken up the practice of holding my breath and hoping that I won't get caught in a big gust of wind whenever I pass the pee nook. Tasting the gritty, earthy Guyuan air is one thing, but tasting very well used gritty, earthy Guyuan air is quite another.
They have decided to postpone the English competition because it was supposed to start tomorrow, but as of 4 PM this afternoon they still did not have a definite time or location yet. Planning. I won't comment anymore on this because it enrages my Excel Spreadsheet type of mentality.
Matt and I were talking about Chinese etiquette, or the lack there of. This conversation was sparked as we were walking out of the mall directly behind a couple of women. The mall had heavy plastic strips hanging in the door frames to block the wind/cold. We normally hold the strips back long enough for the next person to reach out and block them before getting hit in the face. However, this practice is not regarded by the general population. They just hold it open enough for them to pass through and don't care if you get hit in the face with the strips or poked in the eye by their hand.
So, this incident inspired a little conversation about etiquette. We have found that we are a little more rude than we were in the states. I consider the pushing more of a sport now (not exactly a fun sport though), and I don't feel guilty about not clearing my tray at the fast food places (we do it for kicks though, we are usually chased down by restaurant employees). Out here we have noticed that the key etiquette practice is not to show anger or discontentment. We got to thinking that all of this repressed anger and frustration might be fueling other behavior, mainly all of the damn pushing. An outlet to get out all of that internal rage. Just a theory.
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