Friday, April 15, 2005
Tian Ma
We took a bus to Temple City, a major shopping area in Shanghai. There wasn't much L. and I were interested in looking for (since we could get it in GZ), so we bought some Starbucks and stayed at the food court. We went home for a short rest before heading out to Uncle G's country club. The club is quite a swanky, high-class facility, rivaling anything you'd find in the States, even better than most, probably (not that we've been to many). But it's amazing to have a relative who is privy to all this. Some of us went swimming, others played tennis, or went on walks, L. and I, with a few others went to the driving range and hit some golf balls. It was a bit breezy and cold, so we headed back to the clubhouse pretty soon. I dressed to go swimming later, but everyone was gone, so I soaked myself in the hot tub for a few minutes. After activities, we joined Uncle G. for dinner, where we were entertained with stories about his sons and his life in general.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Shanghai
We got up at 6:00 am and got ready to go to the airport. Only until we were downstairs waiting for the shuttle, we thought to check for the tickets....and didn't have them. But since we had agreed to meet our ride at the main campus, we took the shuttle anyway, and asked if we could drive back to our flat to get our tickets. Not too long after beginning our search, we found them, and raced to the airport. The expressway ended at the airport, about 20 km from us, but our ride made good time, getting us there in about 10 minutes.
We raced through the checkout (had to go to "M" counter to pick up the tickets, then go to the "D" counter to check our bags in). L. stood at the "D" counter line, while I went to the "M" counter to get our tickets, which was a good way to do it, even tho' we didn't plan it that way. We were at the security checkpoint in less than 10 minutes....by 8:14 am. They wouldn't have checked us in if we came in after 8:15 am. Whew!
The new Guangzhou airport was completed just last August. It is a huge airport, with the highest and widest ceilings I'd ever seen. It is one of the more spectacular airports I've been in, rivaling Denver and HK. The plane we rode was cramped and they still used the old, 2-prong headphones. The seats reclined more than the usual seats. Things seemed a little old, even tho' it was a 777.
Mom came to pick us up at the airport. (Shanghai's airport is kind of small, almost like Hyderabad’s airport. However, it’s domestic-only....I'm sure their international airport is a lot more impressive.) It was a very short taxi ride to Uncle G's apartment. We met the whole family (Dad, A. J. J. and D. and the kids, Uncle N. and Auntie E. and Uncle L. and Auntie C.) We then went upstairs to the penthouse (13th floor) to enjoy a light lunch, watch TV (hey, HBO, Cinemax, and CNN! Satellite TV?), take a snooze, and catch up with each other. It was lovely seeing the family again.
After lunch, we took the bus to Mom, Aunt C. and Uncle N's old home where they were born and spent a bit of their childhood. It was pretty much the same on the outside as it was when Mom and her sibs were born. Their cousin and her husband currently live there. It's on the second level, shared with other rooms of the same size occupied by other family members. Each room served as its own bedroom/living room. The bathroom and kitchen were in other rooms by the hallway. We took several pictures and had tea. Much of the one room they were occupying had been renovated. The narrow stairways outside the room seemed older, perhaps original. It was a special time to share a piece of our family history with our family, never before seen by me or the sibs.
Mom, Dad, Uncle and Auntie L. and C. and Uncle and Auntie N. and E. stayed at the penthouse apartment. The rest of us stayed at a nice, multi-bedroom house about 1 km away. Both places had servants to fix meals, make up the rooms, and clean up. Shanghai's first impressions were quite posh ones.
We raced through the checkout (had to go to "M" counter to pick up the tickets, then go to the "D" counter to check our bags in). L. stood at the "D" counter line, while I went to the "M" counter to get our tickets, which was a good way to do it, even tho' we didn't plan it that way. We were at the security checkpoint in less than 10 minutes....by 8:14 am. They wouldn't have checked us in if we came in after 8:15 am. Whew!
The new Guangzhou airport was completed just last August. It is a huge airport, with the highest and widest ceilings I'd ever seen. It is one of the more spectacular airports I've been in, rivaling Denver and HK. The plane we rode was cramped and they still used the old, 2-prong headphones. The seats reclined more than the usual seats. Things seemed a little old, even tho' it was a 777.
Mom came to pick us up at the airport. (Shanghai's airport is kind of small, almost like Hyderabad’s airport. However, it’s domestic-only....I'm sure their international airport is a lot more impressive.) It was a very short taxi ride to Uncle G's apartment. We met the whole family (Dad, A. J. J. and D. and the kids, Uncle N. and Auntie E. and Uncle L. and Auntie C.) We then went upstairs to the penthouse (13th floor) to enjoy a light lunch, watch TV (hey, HBO, Cinemax, and CNN! Satellite TV?), take a snooze, and catch up with each other. It was lovely seeing the family again.
After lunch, we took the bus to Mom, Aunt C. and Uncle N's old home where they were born and spent a bit of their childhood. It was pretty much the same on the outside as it was when Mom and her sibs were born. Their cousin and her husband currently live there. It's on the second level, shared with other rooms of the same size occupied by other family members. Each room served as its own bedroom/living room. The bathroom and kitchen were in other rooms by the hallway. We took several pictures and had tea. Much of the one room they were occupying had been renovated. The narrow stairways outside the room seemed older, perhaps original. It was a special time to share a piece of our family history with our family, never before seen by me or the sibs.
Mom, Dad, Uncle and Auntie L. and C. and Uncle and Auntie N. and E. stayed at the penthouse apartment. The rest of us stayed at a nice, multi-bedroom house about 1 km away. Both places had servants to fix meals, make up the rooms, and clean up. Shanghai's first impressions were quite posh ones.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
drama...
My two piano students had good lessons today. The older was fine, tho' it seemed he needed to practice more. Later, I learned from their mom that he practices harder than his younger bro. He needs more structure and may have been a bit traumatized by a previous teacher who didn't have patience with him, making him gun-shy and uncertain about himself. She said both of them really look forward to the piano time, which was good to hear.
We did more of our laundry and left some in the dryer before heading back to XM. We picked up some fruit and crackers before heading home. L. went to class (make up classes for the ones she'll miss during our trip to Shanghai), while I went home to drop off and rearrange laundry and pick up my computer adaptor. I stopped by to pick up some onion pancakes (chung you bing) and talked with the waitresses there. I asked one of them if they'd ever thought about going to college. She said she thinks about it all the time. She so wants to go, but right now, her life at home isn't going so well. She almost started to cry when talking about it.
On my way back, "G" the Japanese teacher on our campus was the bus as well. She was at the international office in a meeting with other Japanese teachers. There's been an increase in ill-feelings towards Japanese lately, because of the refusal of the Japanese gov't to admit in their curriculum and society to atrocities against China during the WW2 years (e.g. Nanjing massacre). China holds a vote to allow Japan into the UN security council and this is a roadblock towards approving them, it seems. So it's been getting attention in the news. GW is asking Japanese teachers to be wary of the current conditions that might make it difficult for them to live here. So far, "G" says there hasn't been any backlash on our campus or the main campus. I asked her about her hometown, and their sentiments towards us, Americans. She feels there isn't any bad feelings at all among the Japanese towards Americans. Her grandparents survived the atomic bombing because they were in another city at the time, but their home was damaged.
ATV (Hong Kong) advertised a Pope John Paul II special at 10:05 pm tonight. However, some nature special on crocodiles aired instead. Outside of Catholics, there seems to be few admirers of the pope here.
We did more of our laundry and left some in the dryer before heading back to XM. We picked up some fruit and crackers before heading home. L. went to class (make up classes for the ones she'll miss during our trip to Shanghai), while I went home to drop off and rearrange laundry and pick up my computer adaptor. I stopped by to pick up some onion pancakes (chung you bing) and talked with the waitresses there. I asked one of them if they'd ever thought about going to college. She said she thinks about it all the time. She so wants to go, but right now, her life at home isn't going so well. She almost started to cry when talking about it.
On my way back, "G" the Japanese teacher on our campus was the bus as well. She was at the international office in a meeting with other Japanese teachers. There's been an increase in ill-feelings towards Japanese lately, because of the refusal of the Japanese gov't to admit in their curriculum and society to atrocities against China during the WW2 years (e.g. Nanjing massacre). China holds a vote to allow Japan into the UN security council and this is a roadblock towards approving them, it seems. So it's been getting attention in the news. GW is asking Japanese teachers to be wary of the current conditions that might make it difficult for them to live here. So far, "G" says there hasn't been any backlash on our campus or the main campus. I asked her about her hometown, and their sentiments towards us, Americans. She feels there isn't any bad feelings at all among the Japanese towards Americans. Her grandparents survived the atomic bombing because they were in another city at the time, but their home was damaged.
ATV (Hong Kong) advertised a Pope John Paul II special at 10:05 pm tonight. However, some nature special on crocodiles aired instead. Outside of Catholics, there seems to be few admirers of the pope here.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Learning English by CD
Class today went quite well. About 25 students were present. It was really warm and the fans were acting erratically. Got some positive feedback from some students. Playing the CD has been a really good thing. I figured out on my own how to get the classroom computer to work, which made it possible to play the CD over the classroom speakers (better than using my puny laptop speakers). I think the class got into it as well and appreciated having the learning tool. I'm feeling more relaxed today about the class.
I called Mr. "O" to tell him we'll accept the teaching position at his middle school.
I called Mr. "O" to tell him we'll accept the teaching position at his middle school.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
just shopping...
On our way back from church, we stopped by a store for some groceries, but it was closing for some reason. Riot police (most of them very young-looking) were stationed on the 1st and 2nd floors. The displays were being covered with canvas. Police chattered on walkie-talkies. I asked different folks, but no one knew or admitted to anything going on. It wouldn't be re-opening that day. We had no idea what was going on, but it was fascinating and unnerving all at the same time.
Life can be rather exciting here...just an ordinary shopping trip can be fraught with mystery.
Life can be rather exciting here...just an ordinary shopping trip can be fraught with mystery.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Aiaiaiaiyo
And in this flat, they found some mold, ai-ai-ai-ai-yo
With some mold, mold here, and some mold, mold there
Here a mold, there a mold, everywhere MOLD, MOLD
Young C. household found some mold, AI-AI-AI-AI-YO!!!
To our dismay, we discovered mold covering most of our clothes cabinets (and clothes), probably from the previous days rains and humidity. We did loads of laundry as well as scrubbed the cabinets with vinegar-laced water. L. boiled some diluted vinegar and steamed areas that might gather mold. I went to one of the stores below to get some more white vinegar to wash our clothes. We spent the rest of the day scrubbing, disinfecting, and washing. We need more vinegar....this is going to take more than a day.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Taking on middle-schoolers?
I was asked to teach English to high school students on this campus, which I graciously declined. One of our friends mentioned this to me earlier. She'd taught a couple classes last year and didn't like it. The kids were pretty misbehaved and uninterested in learning. That was strike 1. Another strike was that whoever taught, needed to grade and test the students, which I didn't want to do. Ms. C. and her assistant G. tried hard to persuade me (in some ways, being a bit uncouth about it), but I just told them I wouldn't do it because of those strikes. They were trying to convince me to take the job rather than interview me to see if I was qualified, which wasn't a good sign to begin with. No doubt they were desperate, but I wasn't, so I ended up politely declining their offer.
We were taken on a tour of a middle school that has asked us to teach once a week, for ten weeks. The school is quite large, about 1200 students and 90 teachers. It had an Olympic-size swimming pool that was empty (to be filled in 10 days). Mr. O showed us a room that we’d be teaching in (seats 200), with multimedia. A lot of this foreign teacher stuff seems to hinge on prestige. More foreign teachers = more prestige = more $$$$ from people willing to pay for it (and apparently, there are plenty) = more revenue for the school. We talked about pay a bit, then went to dinner at a nearby restaurant. To clinch the deal?
We have a great deal of pull with this stint, if we take it, seems decent enough...
We were taken on a tour of a middle school that has asked us to teach once a week, for ten weeks. The school is quite large, about 1200 students and 90 teachers. It had an Olympic-size swimming pool that was empty (to be filled in 10 days). Mr. O showed us a room that we’d be teaching in (seats 200), with multimedia. A lot of this foreign teacher stuff seems to hinge on prestige. More foreign teachers = more prestige = more $$$$ from people willing to pay for it (and apparently, there are plenty) = more revenue for the school. We talked about pay a bit, then went to dinner at a nearby restaurant. To clinch the deal?
We have a great deal of pull with this stint, if we take it, seems decent enough...
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
BIG WEDNESDAY
Better sit down for this one...
I attended L's classes today. Each class is having a fashion show this week. I went 20 minutes after the first class started, only to find L. dismissing them. She said none of them were prepared for their presentation and was noticeably disappointed by this. The students, however, didn't leave. While L. left to get some textbooks, the students talked to me, saying they had indeed prepared, but were too scared to present. L. came back and I explained the situation to them. They ended up doing the fashion show afterwards. But were done over an hour before the end of class, so L. dismissed them early.
The second class responded the same way. They seem easily intimidated. Part of the face-based culture in play, I'm guessing. They're probably not used to L's teaching style, which can be demanding. Speaking out personal analysis in class seems to be a new thing to them. But I suspect that classes L's taught in the past may not have had this kind of problem. After much threatening to dismiss class, eventually the groups started to loosen up and do their presentations, although they didn't do the actual fashion show. L. just interviewed them. They had an uneven number of commentators and models. Apparently, only a third of the class showed up. Again, this class was dismissed early.
From L.: I got called in by the assistant to the dean of her department, about the early dismissal of my classes. Apparently, they took issue with it. Later on, we were actually visited by the "assistant", for a face-to-face, to discuss the matter. I felt that there was nothing else I could do if students didn't or refused to do their homework. And if they did do it but refused to speak up, that was not the teacher's problem either. It was their responsibility to do homework and inform the teacher that they actually did it. It was a rather animated conversation, with the other "teacher" asking me to stay in class whether students did their homework or not and me asking whether I was hired to teach or babysit. (My entire class today was based on oral presentations which weren't ready due to the non-preparation or absence of most students. So, instead of wasting time just sitting in the class room, I made her point by dismissing the class.) I was growing weary and frustrated with the rigidity of the university rules and expectations and the "disregard for actual education" (her words). Well, I don't think anyone "won," but I do know that some of my vigor for teaching left today. Not only disappointed with my students, but also with the administration that catered to this irresponsibility.
Soon, after the "teacher" left, we got a belated birthday call from my brother. We talked about Dad & Mom and their work in India, especially about helping them out with it. It seemed at the end of their conversation that there wouldn't be a way for us to do so for at least a couple of years, until after our stint in China and securing a green card for me, which would take up about another year as well..
Next, the International Office (the folks who hired us) called, asking me to submit in writing my intent to teach next semester. It was then that we learned my contract was not for a year, but only until the end of this semester. In other words, I'm not obligated contractually to teach next semester, as we'd thought.
Back to S.: All that transpired today gave L. thoughts about making this semester her last in China. Disappointment with the students and school administration, frustration with the rigid expectations, the talk with her brother about her parents work, and realizing that we weren't bound contractually for a whole year spurred ideas about this. We talked about possibly going back to India during the summer and staying through the year to help our her parents and perhaps improving it administratively, as well as spend the holidays there. We spent some time lifting these things up. L. was leaning strongly towards leaving China after this semester.
We went to "E's" café at 7 pm for the English corner. About 10-12 people showed up, mainly from L's classes. One girl who talked a lot has only been studying English for a year. She seemed to know quite a bit in spite of her limited exposure to it. She talked of her interest in books and philosophy over going to dances, unlike most kids her age. The others, all girls, talked about school, relationships, Charles/Camilla, politics, and games.
As we left around 10 pm, "E" dropped a bombshell --- he sold his café two days ago and is finalizing its transfer tomorrow. That means there won't be anymore English corner at his place, since it won't be his anymore. All our plans to have a weekly English corner and helping boost "E's" business, as well as possibly start up a mini-try there, vanished. Was this yet another confirmation for us to leave China? It was hard not to see it that way. Much has happened in just the past 12 hours to cause us to consider such drastic changes to our original plans. It was exciting as well as worrisome about the logistics of it all.
Please keep this decision in your thoughts...it's a bit one and we're not sure if this is what we are being led to do.
I attended L's classes today. Each class is having a fashion show this week. I went 20 minutes after the first class started, only to find L. dismissing them. She said none of them were prepared for their presentation and was noticeably disappointed by this. The students, however, didn't leave. While L. left to get some textbooks, the students talked to me, saying they had indeed prepared, but were too scared to present. L. came back and I explained the situation to them. They ended up doing the fashion show afterwards. But were done over an hour before the end of class, so L. dismissed them early.
The second class responded the same way. They seem easily intimidated. Part of the face-based culture in play, I'm guessing. They're probably not used to L's teaching style, which can be demanding. Speaking out personal analysis in class seems to be a new thing to them. But I suspect that classes L's taught in the past may not have had this kind of problem. After much threatening to dismiss class, eventually the groups started to loosen up and do their presentations, although they didn't do the actual fashion show. L. just interviewed them. They had an uneven number of commentators and models. Apparently, only a third of the class showed up. Again, this class was dismissed early.
From L.: I got called in by the assistant to the dean of her department, about the early dismissal of my classes. Apparently, they took issue with it. Later on, we were actually visited by the "assistant", for a face-to-face, to discuss the matter. I felt that there was nothing else I could do if students didn't or refused to do their homework. And if they did do it but refused to speak up, that was not the teacher's problem either. It was their responsibility to do homework and inform the teacher that they actually did it. It was a rather animated conversation, with the other "teacher" asking me to stay in class whether students did their homework or not and me asking whether I was hired to teach or babysit. (My entire class today was based on oral presentations which weren't ready due to the non-preparation or absence of most students. So, instead of wasting time just sitting in the class room, I made her point by dismissing the class.) I was growing weary and frustrated with the rigidity of the university rules and expectations and the "disregard for actual education" (her words). Well, I don't think anyone "won," but I do know that some of my vigor for teaching left today. Not only disappointed with my students, but also with the administration that catered to this irresponsibility.
Soon, after the "teacher" left, we got a belated birthday call from my brother. We talked about Dad & Mom and their work in India, especially about helping them out with it. It seemed at the end of their conversation that there wouldn't be a way for us to do so for at least a couple of years, until after our stint in China and securing a green card for me, which would take up about another year as well..
Next, the International Office (the folks who hired us) called, asking me to submit in writing my intent to teach next semester. It was then that we learned my contract was not for a year, but only until the end of this semester. In other words, I'm not obligated contractually to teach next semester, as we'd thought.
Back to S.: All that transpired today gave L. thoughts about making this semester her last in China. Disappointment with the students and school administration, frustration with the rigid expectations, the talk with her brother about her parents work, and realizing that we weren't bound contractually for a whole year spurred ideas about this. We talked about possibly going back to India during the summer and staying through the year to help our her parents and perhaps improving it administratively, as well as spend the holidays there. We spent some time lifting these things up. L. was leaning strongly towards leaving China after this semester.
We went to "E's" café at 7 pm for the English corner. About 10-12 people showed up, mainly from L's classes. One girl who talked a lot has only been studying English for a year. She seemed to know quite a bit in spite of her limited exposure to it. She talked of her interest in books and philosophy over going to dances, unlike most kids her age. The others, all girls, talked about school, relationships, Charles/Camilla, politics, and games.
As we left around 10 pm, "E" dropped a bombshell --- he sold his café two days ago and is finalizing its transfer tomorrow. That means there won't be anymore English corner at his place, since it won't be his anymore. All our plans to have a weekly English corner and helping boost "E's" business, as well as possibly start up a mini-try there, vanished. Was this yet another confirmation for us to leave China? It was hard not to see it that way. Much has happened in just the past 12 hours to cause us to consider such drastic changes to our original plans. It was exciting as well as worrisome about the logistics of it all.
Please keep this decision in your thoughts...it's a bit one and we're not sure if this is what we are being led to do.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
first official dinner
The morning was spent giving piano lessons to the two kids at GW. Later, we went home to do some laundry and work on homework while watching MTVchina (or something like it) and their "tributes" to black actors like Will Smith, Halle Berry, and Denzel Washington. A Chinese guy in a do-rag and a Boston Celtics baggy shirt hosted the program (wow, talk about your wannabes). A "tribute" to Jennifer Lopez and her accomplishments followed.
We invited all the foreign teachers on our campus, which amounted to 5 including us, to dinner. We were preparing finishing touches when the three of them came by at 6:30 pm. The food turned out great and we had plenty. We watched TV (a biography of John Paul II and a documentary on the "dark side of Mt. Everest"), looked through our DVDs, and chit-chatted. It was an enjoyable evening with hopes of being repeated.
This was L's first official dinner as a "wife" so she was a bit nervous how the food would turn out and she made loads of it...but it turned out really well and we had leftovers, yum!
We invited all the foreign teachers on our campus, which amounted to 5 including us, to dinner. We were preparing finishing touches when the three of them came by at 6:30 pm. The food turned out great and we had plenty. We watched TV (a biography of John Paul II and a documentary on the "dark side of Mt. Everest"), looked through our DVDs, and chit-chatted. It was an enjoyable evening with hopes of being repeated.
This was L's first official dinner as a "wife" so she was a bit nervous how the food would turn out and she made loads of it...but it turned out really well and we had leftovers, yum!
Monday, April 04, 2005
bum...or victim?
On our way to the main campus for lunch, we saw a man laying on the sidewalk surrounded by garbage and a bicycle leaning against the curb. It looked like he'd been hit and was knocked unconscious. A teacher we knew on the shuttle, walked with us to the man. He was still breathing, but we weren't sure if he was hurt. We couldn't wake him up. Others around him figured he was sleeping. We walked back to inform a policeman, who went to check it out. On our way back, we saw that the man and his mess was no longer there. Whether he was taken away in an ambulance or a police car or left on his own, we don't know.
L. got a strange phone call from someone saying the police wanted to see her passport and visa. The school still has our passports, so we couldn't show them. They said they would come Thursday to check it out. We have no idea what this is all about.
About 20 students were at my class tonight. We went through lessons 6-8 (only the top part of 8). I played the CD I made of the ESL Gold mp3 and wma files for the class, which they liked a lot. One of the students got blank CDs and sold them to her classmates for 2 kuai a piece. 19 of them altogether, which I'll make copies and bring back next week. They wanted to pay me for the trouble of copying, but I told them it wasn't necessary. We then played Bingo for the last half hour, using words we had during the week. L. got some candy prizes to give away. The game was well received, even tho' a few of them (the older students) couldn't spell the words.
A man named Mr. Li asked me if I would be interested in teaching middle-school students oral English at 150 kuai/hour. A friend of his, Mr. O, is the one of the headmasters of this school. I'll have to think about it....
L. got a strange phone call from someone saying the police wanted to see her passport and visa. The school still has our passports, so we couldn't show them. They said they would come Thursday to check it out. We have no idea what this is all about.
About 20 students were at my class tonight. We went through lessons 6-8 (only the top part of 8). I played the CD I made of the ESL Gold mp3 and wma files for the class, which they liked a lot. One of the students got blank CDs and sold them to her classmates for 2 kuai a piece. 19 of them altogether, which I'll make copies and bring back next week. They wanted to pay me for the trouble of copying, but I told them it wasn't necessary. We then played Bingo for the last half hour, using words we had during the week. L. got some candy prizes to give away. The game was well received, even tho' a few of them (the older students) couldn't spell the words.
A man named Mr. Li asked me if I would be interested in teaching middle-school students oral English at 150 kuai/hour. A friend of his, Mr. O, is the one of the headmasters of this school. I'll have to think about it....
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