Tuesday, July 22, 2003
My life in China is basically this: eat, sleep, teach, prepare to teach... That's it right now. We're so busy with the summer holidays. I'm teaching young kids, older kids, teenagers, and adults. I'm teaching from six different books, and I don't have a day off (mind you, on Wednesdays I only teach at night, so I'm free all day). I'm very tired. I'm looking forward to the holidays being over and the heat dying down, so I can start to explore China a little bit.
All that being said, things are going fairly well. My classes are good, and the students are nice and fun to teach.
I hope to get some photos up soon - I'll post the link when that's ready. I still can't view this blog, however, and it's irritating the hell out of me.
Time to hang the laundry out the window and drink some more tea!
zA
All that being said, things are going fairly well. My classes are good, and the students are nice and fun to teach.
I hope to get some photos up soon - I'll post the link when that's ready. I still can't view this blog, however, and it's irritating the hell out of me.
Time to hang the laundry out the window and drink some more tea!
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
I can't seem to connect to my blog. I don't know if anyone else can, either... I am trying to figure out what the problem is. When I do, I have many tales to entertain/bore you with!
zA
Tuesday, July 01, 2003
Happy Canada Day!
Still having a hard time getting time to post - but now we have unlimited Internet access here at the apartment, so I won't feel too guilty about spending a lot of time online.
Until I get time to post for real, here are a few general comments about my first week in China:
1. The heat in INSANE. I cannot believe how hot it is. As soon as I leave the apartment, my face starts to glisten. Ick.
2. Everywhere Denice and I go, people stare. Sometimes they even point and giggle and whisper behind their hands. It's a little disconcerting sometimes. (Usually if they're young people, they're giggling because they want to practice their English but are shy. Sometimes, though, the people look hostile - especially older people.) Sometimes the staring turns into following - we were followed around Wal-Mart the other day, and last night on the walking street crowds would gather wherever we stopped. I smile and say hello (either in English or Chinese, depending on the situation) - sometimes they respond, sometimes they don't. I suppose I'll get used to it - but one day I fear that someone is going to get on my last nerve and I'll be a little rude... (I wonder if there's a Chinese translation for "bite me...")
3. Did I mention the heat??
4. The food so far has been fantastic - nothing too scary or gross. Lots of vegetables and rice. The meals don't seem to last too long for me, though - I guess the portions aren't designed for giant Canadian women.
5. The driving here scares me to death. I cannot see any rhyme or reason to the driving - cars, motorcycles (more like scooters), bikes, bikes with trailers, people - they all just do what they like. Lanes and traffic lights are only suggestions, I think. However, that being said, I have yet to see a traffic accident...
In other news, today is my first day of teaching! I have one class, at 8 p.m., with the adults from Kodak. It's not really my first class, though, because they're having a contest with one of the other classes. My first real class, alone, is on Sunday. I start teaching kids a little later, when summer holidays start. I'm very excited!
Again, Happy Canada Day! I will post again soon...
zA
Still having a hard time getting time to post - but now we have unlimited Internet access here at the apartment, so I won't feel too guilty about spending a lot of time online.
Until I get time to post for real, here are a few general comments about my first week in China:
1. The heat in INSANE. I cannot believe how hot it is. As soon as I leave the apartment, my face starts to glisten. Ick.
2. Everywhere Denice and I go, people stare. Sometimes they even point and giggle and whisper behind their hands. It's a little disconcerting sometimes. (Usually if they're young people, they're giggling because they want to practice their English but are shy. Sometimes, though, the people look hostile - especially older people.) Sometimes the staring turns into following - we were followed around Wal-Mart the other day, and last night on the walking street crowds would gather wherever we stopped. I smile and say hello (either in English or Chinese, depending on the situation) - sometimes they respond, sometimes they don't. I suppose I'll get used to it - but one day I fear that someone is going to get on my last nerve and I'll be a little rude... (I wonder if there's a Chinese translation for "bite me...")
3. Did I mention the heat??
4. The food so far has been fantastic - nothing too scary or gross. Lots of vegetables and rice. The meals don't seem to last too long for me, though - I guess the portions aren't designed for giant Canadian women.
5. The driving here scares me to death. I cannot see any rhyme or reason to the driving - cars, motorcycles (more like scooters), bikes, bikes with trailers, people - they all just do what they like. Lanes and traffic lights are only suggestions, I think. However, that being said, I have yet to see a traffic accident...
In other news, today is my first day of teaching! I have one class, at 8 p.m., with the adults from Kodak. It's not really my first class, though, because they're having a contest with one of the other classes. My first real class, alone, is on Sunday. I start teaching kids a little later, when summer holidays start. I'm very excited!
Again, Happy Canada Day! I will post again soon...
