I really should blog more. I have lots of free time at work in front of a computer. But then there's always the fear of getting caught blogging at work. Not that they could blame me, I do ask for more and more things to do - telling them I'm bored! Ah, just over 1 and a half months left before China.
In preparations for returning to China, I've been reading heaps of blogs - mostly all Americans currently teaching in China. It gets awfully strange when you begin to read the blogs of people who are all friends with each other - I've started to feel like I know them and am actually part of their friendship circle. Does that make me a creeper? I've gotten in touch with one girl, since I will be living in her city come February. Haha, yes I'm back to that - using the internet to find my friends. There's no shame in not wanting to be alone in China!
I'm thinking of starting a new blog actually, or doing a major layout-overhaul on this one. I'd like to start labeling each entry with themes and organizing the whole thing a little better. Also, I want to make it more personalized. Hmmm... I wish I was better with computers!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
you always go a-changin'
Much has changed since my last post. I've been a slacker, I know. [if its any consolation, I still haven't changed the clock in my car and daylight savings started 3 weeks ago] Well, I never did hear back from the school board about working as a supply EA, in fact I pretty much forgot about it the second I handed in my application. that's how I know it wasn't meant to be.
Since 20 September, I've somehow kept myself quite busy. Working full-time at the yoga studio helps with that. Been practicing a lot of yoga too! Every Tuesday I spend volunteering at my old elementary school - I feel proud walking by my grad photo in the main hallway. Though, someone should have told my grade-8-self to wash my hair more and avoid caramel-coloured lipstick, better yet, lipstick in general. Teacher's college applications have been taking over my November. Have taken my sweet sweet time, and a few teacher friends have proof-read them for me - adding in key teacher's college words like, "accommodations and modifications" and "equity" ... terms that I wish to express but don't have the correct wording in my head - YET. I'm sure I'll get in, and after 3 awesome years of freedom I'll morph back into the student role next September.
I've found that it's almost too easy to live at home again. I'm used to novelty, challenge and things just being really hard. Here, I wake up, drink my coffee, drive to work, rock at my job, come home, etc... My biggest challenge is trying to shake things up. Now that I've basically mastered my gluten-freedom and I'm feeling healthy again, I'm looking for more! Especially before a year of school! This is where I announce that I'm going back to CHINA!
Yes, I know: Asia-phile. This time around I'll be living for 4 months in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. It's actually only under 2 hours away from Kaifeng where I lived last year - and it's a much bigger city. This part I'm excited about, especially with my gluten-free diet and my largely incomprehensible Chinese. I'll be teaching at Henan College of Finance and Taxation.... there are going to be some great stories in the China Blog, I can feel it already! I don't leave until mid-Feb so I hope to write about my preparations in here and stop being such a slacker.
Monday, September 20, 2010
apply 4 supply
Finally, I have handed in the application that has been eating all my time and thought for the last couple weeks! Now time to keep those fingers crossed and do a dance. It would be sweet to work in the school board this year, living sweet experiences, meeting sweet kids.
On Saturday I drove to Brantford to meet up with Jay who I hadn't seen in Canada yet, ever! We met through friends in Australia. Such a meaningful reunion, Jay gives perfect hugs too. We picked up my cousins and went first to a farmer's market and then to Saint George's Applefest. We're pictured on the right with the giant hay man - and matching horizontals. It was refreshing to get out of Oakville and see my family and friends in Brantford (we went to my cousin's house for dinner after our excursions). These are the bonuses of living in Canada again.
Talking to some folks at the farmer's market who farm their property, I started remembering some of the dreams I've got that seem so impossible here right now. James and I visited his friends who live in Wollongong, NSW, Australia last year and they've got an almost entirely sustainable home; roof solar panels, rainwater basins, biodegradable soaps used entirely so all wastewater (other than the toilet?) is led into the garden for nourishment, the whole sh-bang. Of course, this is Wollongong where weather is pretty moderate year-round. After seeing their property and all the amazing foods they grow, James and I decided we wanted that too! Even though James and I aren't together anymore, I'm still so keen. I'm craving some friends that have similar dreams and interests. I'm finding less and less in common with suburbia now that I'm home and I'm yearning for somewhere I can live alternatively with other people that want that too! Is it going to take moving back to Australia!?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
meet my dreads
I've opted for the slower process for many reasons. One, because it's a journey I'm embarking on, not a quick-fix hairstyle that the salon will undo in a month or two. The pace that I take to form my dreads reflects the pace that I'm taking these days - with everything. Another reason? because I'm using an all-natural, crochet method which takes a lot of time and lovin'. No nasty waxes, peanut butter or just plain neglect. I'm keeping 'em clean, healthy and full of love. These dreadies have been forming more than 2 years in my head, what's the rush now? The last reason, which is one I don't really love, is because where I (and most people) live, dreads come with a lot of mis- and pre-conceptions. I'm in the process of getting a job that's important to me and I fear the school board wont be too happy with the full head. At this point, I can tie my hair up and it's quite nice - even for the grandmas.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
my grade 6 box
Have you ever come across something that was yours many many years ago? Perhaps it was something you wrote (diary), something you made (half knitted mitten) or something you absolutely loved (a baby blanket). What was that feeling like when you found it? Nostalgia, longing to be back, denial of what was?
My parents sorted through all our basement boxes today. When I got home from work I was informed that 14 boxes were mine. 2 for each of my brothers. What can I say... I'm a keeper. I only had enough energy to skim the tops of a few. Old report cards, classic. Little albums of photos taken back in the day when pictures were a surprise until they came back from the photo lab in envelopes of 24. My old school agendas containing far more gossip than homework instruction. A note written to my mum (with my new calligraphy set) asking for permission to go with my crush to Second Cup, but it wasn't a date... how embarrassing.
Oh grade 6 box, I don't know who filled you with these things because that girl can't possibly have been me. Not the world-traveling, dread-sporting, organic/gluten-free/vegetarian-eating, yoga-practicing, facebook-updating me. Who was that girl in grade 6? Do we all feel this disconnected from our once-selves? It's unnerving and yet, inspiring to take a glimpse back. There's a lot that I could teach that poor girl today.
Maybe there's a lot that girl can teach me.
New Leaf
Here I am, the morning of day 2: sugar detox. Yesterday wasn't too bad, except for the nagging headache that started in the afternoon and dragged on until I fell asleep. I used to get headaches often, but ever since I stopped eating gluten (4 months ago) I've basically been headache free! I get the feeling today will be more difficult - but I'm ready for it. I'm more-so energized and excited by the fact that I'm freeing myself from sugar! It sounds crazy, but it's an extremely powerful addiction with nothing but negative side-effects. Turning over a new leaf right before the leaves change their colors outside. This will be my first autumn in Canada in 3 years!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Sugar Addict
Right, so I'm addicted to sugar. I guess everyone is sorta addicted to sugar; but I literally crave it all the time, have headaches when I haven't had my daily fix and have sugar hangovers when I've had too much. It's gross.
Now that I'm writing it down, it's official - sugar detox starts tomorrow.
I'm already off all alcohol for September and so this is my next step. I know, I'm hard on myself - but it's because I can't stand feeling dependent on something as nasty as sugar. Plus, I'm all about health these days, so I'm just moving on to the next level. The next few entries might be quite negative... blogging through sugar withdrawal...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Start blogging again...
this is my resolution. I'm not going to email the blog to everyone anymore, unless of course I start traveling again, but for now I just want to get writing more. So here I am, back in Canada. In fact, I've been home for over 2 months now! I arrived home a right mess - we went straight from the airport to the doctor's office. My body was just so torn up from all the moving around and the 3 day journey home, delayed in Abu Dhabi of all places. It's so great to be home with my family and friends again, but it's taking me a long time to digest the last 2 years. Every so often I get overwhelmed with all the memories of places, people and experiences and at other times, overcome with nostalgia. It seems that no matter what I do or how I'm feeling, I'm always missing someone or somewhere. While I try to digest all these things, I'm busying myself with work and my new exciting interest in living organically. More to come, not sure what will be the new focus of this blog - but it'll be awesome no matter what.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
"Momma I'm comin' home!"
Greetings all from Australia! Melbourne – to be more specific. I've found myself back in one of my favourite cities, only to realize that in fact, the only place I truly want to be right now is home. Canada-home that is. It's getting confusing these days – where is home exactly? I've been told that “home is where the heart is;” unfortunately, I've left my heart in so many places that I bet it's even been found lying in an alleyway in Latvia by now. People say they travel to “find themselves” but for me, I feel sometimes like through traveling I've lost myself, so to speak. I decided last week - while waiting for a bus that never showed – that it's time I go home. I'm feeling very “world weary” these days and just need some time to recharge. So - I've dropped the China contract and I'm flying to Toronto on June 28th!
That being said, I'm very excited for new opportunities that settling in one place will bring me. I am looking forward to practicing regular yoga again and especially eager to enjoy a warm Canadian summer again! If anyone knows of a job opening (in the GTA) that might suit me – I'm all ears! Also, I'm looking to purchase a used car – under $5,000.
I can't wait to see everyone again, especially if we didn't get a chance to connect when I was home at Christmas!
That being said, I'm very excited for new opportunities that settling in one place will bring me. I am looking forward to practicing regular yoga again and especially eager to enjoy a warm Canadian summer again! If anyone knows of a job opening (in the GTA) that might suit me – I'm all ears! Also, I'm looking to purchase a used car – under $5,000.
I can't wait to see everyone again, especially if we didn't get a chance to connect when I was home at Christmas!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Thailand is hot, hot, HOT!
I've been receiving lots of emails asking for an update - no worries, I haven't disappeared in Thailand (though sometimes I do feel like I could just melt away). The truth is, it's so hot here these days that I find it difficult to gather enough motivation to do anything beyond the essential.
With only 9 days left in the country, I am now reflecting on the time I've spent here. Upon arrival, I thought I had my whole 10 weeks planned out - teaching at a daycare in the mornings, helping out at the orphanage in the afternoons. I was really looking forward to James' arrival and our return back to Australia together. Crash, bam! An unexpected school summer vacation, a break-up and a change in job description later... here I am.
Thailand has sat me down, shut me up and taught me a great deal in the school of life, especially the part dealing with "unexpected change."
While it's simply impossible to relay all the events that have impacted my time here, I will say that what I have gained in character is far more valuable than anything I could have foreseen. Living among children and adults who have experienced loss far greater than anything I can imagine - I have learned much about the value and importance of human connections. Children here are without mothers, fathers, siblings or family homes, and they carry with them memories that no child should ever be burdened with – but they are some of the happiest children in the world. The reason is because they are still loved by the incredible staff here and they have found new homes and families in each other.
“Thai time” is an aspect of living here that has frustrated me to no ends. If you've been to Thailand, you likely have an idea of what I mean by, “Thai time.” In the West, we are obsessed with efficient use of time; in Thailand, things always get done 'tomorrow.' Since my role here has changed from being a teacher to being a Victoria University liaison (working with neighbouring schools and colleges and setting up programs for future volunteer teachers) – I have experienced 'Thai time' in the deepest sense of the meaning. I've had business meetings delayed by hours because someone was having a nap. I've arrived at schools for a pre-scheduled 'observation day' only to find out that, in fact, it's a Nation-wide holiday and no one bothered to tell me! This Thai mentality of time has forced me to become more patient and flexible as a person and as a professional.
One of my favourite roles while here, has been tutoring a woman who works at the orphanage named “Nong.” Nong is being sponsored to visit Australia for 3 months and she'll be living in Melbourne and studying English. We've been preparing together and as things turn out – I'll be in Melbourne for the duration of her stay! Nong is such a special woman – at 43, she's so vibrant and energetic that I had assumed she was in her early 30s. In the tsunami, Nong lost her husband (who was a fisherman out to sea that day) and her 3 children. She was planning a day out with her kids and had only left to fill her motorbike with gas. When she came back to pick them up, everything and everyone was gone. Nong has reclaimed her life but is still left with everyday reminders of what she and her entire community has lost. We were studying at the beach just last night and she told me she can't swim anymore because water holds such heavy memories.
I will be picking Nong up from the airport in Melbourne and I can't wait to see her first impressions of Australia! She's never left Thailand before! She has shared her culture and language with me and I'm so honored that I get to do the same.
What's the plan now? I'm flying back to Melbourne on May 22 and I'm planning to stay there until late September. I've accepted another teaching contract in China – this time in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province – and I'll be home to Canada before Christmas! I'm feeling very traveled-out and so I'm hoping I can stay put somewhere in Canada for a while – I'm considering Vancouver. The next time I write will likely be from Melbourne – Cheers all!
With only 9 days left in the country, I am now reflecting on the time I've spent here. Upon arrival, I thought I had my whole 10 weeks planned out - teaching at a daycare in the mornings, helping out at the orphanage in the afternoons. I was really looking forward to James' arrival and our return back to Australia together. Crash, bam! An unexpected school summer vacation, a break-up and a change in job description later... here I am.
Thailand has sat me down, shut me up and taught me a great deal in the school of life, especially the part dealing with "unexpected change."
While it's simply impossible to relay all the events that have impacted my time here, I will say that what I have gained in character is far more valuable than anything I could have foreseen. Living among children and adults who have experienced loss far greater than anything I can imagine - I have learned much about the value and importance of human connections. Children here are without mothers, fathers, siblings or family homes, and they carry with them memories that no child should ever be burdened with – but they are some of the happiest children in the world. The reason is because they are still loved by the incredible staff here and they have found new homes and families in each other.
“Thai time” is an aspect of living here that has frustrated me to no ends. If you've been to Thailand, you likely have an idea of what I mean by, “Thai time.” In the West, we are obsessed with efficient use of time; in Thailand, things always get done 'tomorrow.' Since my role here has changed from being a teacher to being a Victoria University liaison (working with neighbouring schools and colleges and setting up programs for future volunteer teachers) – I have experienced 'Thai time' in the deepest sense of the meaning. I've had business meetings delayed by hours because someone was having a nap. I've arrived at schools for a pre-scheduled 'observation day' only to find out that, in fact, it's a Nation-wide holiday and no one bothered to tell me! This Thai mentality of time has forced me to become more patient and flexible as a person and as a professional.
One of my favourite roles while here, has been tutoring a woman who works at the orphanage named “Nong.” Nong is being sponsored to visit Australia for 3 months and she'll be living in Melbourne and studying English. We've been preparing together and as things turn out – I'll be in Melbourne for the duration of her stay! Nong is such a special woman – at 43, she's so vibrant and energetic that I had assumed she was in her early 30s. In the tsunami, Nong lost her husband (who was a fisherman out to sea that day) and her 3 children. She was planning a day out with her kids and had only left to fill her motorbike with gas. When she came back to pick them up, everything and everyone was gone. Nong has reclaimed her life but is still left with everyday reminders of what she and her entire community has lost. We were studying at the beach just last night and she told me she can't swim anymore because water holds such heavy memories.
I will be picking Nong up from the airport in Melbourne and I can't wait to see her first impressions of Australia! She's never left Thailand before! She has shared her culture and language with me and I'm so honored that I get to do the same.
What's the plan now? I'm flying back to Melbourne on May 22 and I'm planning to stay there until late September. I've accepted another teaching contract in China – this time in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province – and I'll be home to Canada before Christmas! I'm feeling very traveled-out and so I'm hoping I can stay put somewhere in Canada for a while – I'm considering Vancouver. The next time I write will likely be from Melbourne – Cheers all!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Snippets of my life in Thailand
I'm going onto four weeks now in the same spot! It feels good to have a sense of home again, only this time home is an orphanage in Thailand. Funny how quickly I can set up a “home” nowadays. Since I initially left Canada almost 2 years ago, I've made a home in Taiwan, Australia, China and now Thailand (with lots of 'mini-homes' in between). Who knows where home will be next!? So here I am in Thailand – sweating like its my job. It's hard to believe that less than a month ago I was complaining about how cold I was! The fan is sending hot air my way and I'm ready to update everyone on my life here!
I've been meaning to give an update for a while now, but there's simply so much to say that it's been too daunting a task to start writing! Instead of giving a general sweep-over of my life here, I'm just going to write a couple of interesting snippets to make you smile.
Tags
“Game” is one of the older boys here at the orphanage - he's 17 years old. It's 'summer' vacation now in Thailand and Game has got a job at Le Meridian Hotel cleaning rooms. His English is great and he's hoping that if he pays his dues now he can get a job later on as a desk clerk or driver. Now that he's making some money, he can afford to buy a few things that he wouldn't normally get. A few days ago, Game was wearing a spiffy looking shirt and a crisp pair of trousers. He looked so well-dressed that I had a double-take. On second glace, I noticed that the price tags for both his shirt and trousers were still attached – hanging there in plain view. I shouted at him as he walked away from me, “Game! You've still got the tags on your clothing!” He gave me a massive grin and kept on walking. Puzzled, I asked one of the older kids nearby, “Why doesn't he care?” I could tell she wasn't as confused as I – as if this is an everyday occurrence. She replied, “because he's making sure that everyone can see they are new clothes.”
Rainy Season
Our entertainment for the night used to involve watching geckos run around and catch their dinners on our front porch – we usually sat silently, transfixed by the sport and occasionally yelled, “c'mon! Get'm! You can do it! He's a big one!” However, now that rainy season has come upon us, sitting on the porch at night is completely out of the question. The “Gecko” programming has been replaced by “Massive Termites and How They'll Drive You Insane.” This show is not one of my favorites, but it's on at prime time and there's really no avoiding it. It seems that the tropical storms have caused a mass-hatching of FLYING TERMITES. Even though we try to avoid these insect beasts by hiding inside and placing towels at the bottom of the front door, they still manage to weasel their way in. Thus, instead of cheering geckos on as they feast on mosquitoes and other small insects, we've resorted to carefully watching the bottom of the front door and killing any successful intruders with my running shoe. We even leave the dead bodies to warn the hopefuls, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.
Do not 'dine-out' after a big rainfall
Fiona and I learned this important lesson the hard way. It had rained quite hard that day and we were fully unimpressed by the dining hall conditions. Termites were flying everywhere, into people's dishes and even worse: hair. These insect beasts are out of control and seem to have one mission and one mission only for their short 24-hour lives: mate. They fly around in circles until they crash-land on the floor. Once landed, they can no longer fly and so they resort to walking around on the ground until they find a mate. After making the decision to brave the outdoors (armed with umbrellas and deet), we headed off into the night (to walk the 200 metres to the nearest restaurant). We carefully avoided frogs along the way and soon arrived at the place which I've personally come to know as “Pad Thai Heaven.” We sat strategically in front of a fan and placed our orders. It took a mere 30 seconds for us to realize that in fact, on this particular night, this was not a good alternative to the dining hall. There were termites flying everywhere and those that had crash landed were crawling towards our feet at a rapid pace! Fiona was quick to take action and pulled an insect spray out of her purse. We immediately sprayed a circle around our table, making a “safety shield” from the impending threat. Unfortunately, the termites were not easily deterred and so I had to do the unspeakable: ask the waitress for a broom to sweep them away (whilst trying not to offend her or the cleanliness of the restaurant). The staff quickly realized that we were terrified of the termites and so they set up 2 guards for us (it was a slow night anyways): 2 waitresses sitting on either side of the table armed with brooms and dustpans – patrolling the area carefully for termite-invasion.
Mortified, we ate our Pad Thai quickly so as to end the uncomfortable situation that we found ourselves in. However, the flying termites started to become a nuisance, swooping down on our table, flying around our heads and even crash landing on our bodies! It was when I felt a termite fly down my shirt that I stood up, ran from the restaurant, and ripped off my tank top to shake it in the street. After I calmed down, I returned (even more embarrassed than before) and we moved tables (as did our body guards). Finally, when it was time to pay, we left a massive tip – promising that we would never ever return after the rain.
I've been meaning to give an update for a while now, but there's simply so much to say that it's been too daunting a task to start writing! Instead of giving a general sweep-over of my life here, I'm just going to write a couple of interesting snippets to make you smile.
Tags
“Game” is one of the older boys here at the orphanage - he's 17 years old. It's 'summer' vacation now in Thailand and Game has got a job at Le Meridian Hotel cleaning rooms. His English is great and he's hoping that if he pays his dues now he can get a job later on as a desk clerk or driver. Now that he's making some money, he can afford to buy a few things that he wouldn't normally get. A few days ago, Game was wearing a spiffy looking shirt and a crisp pair of trousers. He looked so well-dressed that I had a double-take. On second glace, I noticed that the price tags for both his shirt and trousers were still attached – hanging there in plain view. I shouted at him as he walked away from me, “Game! You've still got the tags on your clothing!” He gave me a massive grin and kept on walking. Puzzled, I asked one of the older kids nearby, “Why doesn't he care?” I could tell she wasn't as confused as I – as if this is an everyday occurrence. She replied, “because he's making sure that everyone can see they are new clothes.”
Rainy Season
Our entertainment for the night used to involve watching geckos run around and catch their dinners on our front porch – we usually sat silently, transfixed by the sport and occasionally yelled, “c'mon! Get'm! You can do it! He's a big one!” However, now that rainy season has come upon us, sitting on the porch at night is completely out of the question. The “Gecko” programming has been replaced by “Massive Termites and How They'll Drive You Insane.” This show is not one of my favorites, but it's on at prime time and there's really no avoiding it. It seems that the tropical storms have caused a mass-hatching of FLYING TERMITES. Even though we try to avoid these insect beasts by hiding inside and placing towels at the bottom of the front door, they still manage to weasel their way in. Thus, instead of cheering geckos on as they feast on mosquitoes and other small insects, we've resorted to carefully watching the bottom of the front door and killing any successful intruders with my running shoe. We even leave the dead bodies to warn the hopefuls, but it doesn't seem to make much difference.
Do not 'dine-out' after a big rainfall
Fiona and I learned this important lesson the hard way. It had rained quite hard that day and we were fully unimpressed by the dining hall conditions. Termites were flying everywhere, into people's dishes and even worse: hair. These insect beasts are out of control and seem to have one mission and one mission only for their short 24-hour lives: mate. They fly around in circles until they crash-land on the floor. Once landed, they can no longer fly and so they resort to walking around on the ground until they find a mate. After making the decision to brave the outdoors (armed with umbrellas and deet), we headed off into the night (to walk the 200 metres to the nearest restaurant). We carefully avoided frogs along the way and soon arrived at the place which I've personally come to know as “Pad Thai Heaven.” We sat strategically in front of a fan and placed our orders. It took a mere 30 seconds for us to realize that in fact, on this particular night, this was not a good alternative to the dining hall. There were termites flying everywhere and those that had crash landed were crawling towards our feet at a rapid pace! Fiona was quick to take action and pulled an insect spray out of her purse. We immediately sprayed a circle around our table, making a “safety shield” from the impending threat. Unfortunately, the termites were not easily deterred and so I had to do the unspeakable: ask the waitress for a broom to sweep them away (whilst trying not to offend her or the cleanliness of the restaurant). The staff quickly realized that we were terrified of the termites and so they set up 2 guards for us (it was a slow night anyways): 2 waitresses sitting on either side of the table armed with brooms and dustpans – patrolling the area carefully for termite-invasion.
Mortified, we ate our Pad Thai quickly so as to end the uncomfortable situation that we found ourselves in. However, the flying termites started to become a nuisance, swooping down on our table, flying around our heads and even crash landing on our bodies! It was when I felt a termite fly down my shirt that I stood up, ran from the restaurant, and ripped off my tank top to shake it in the street. After I calmed down, I returned (even more embarrassed than before) and we moved tables (as did our body guards). Finally, when it was time to pay, we left a massive tip – promising that we would never ever return after the rain.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Beautiful Thailand
So I'm finally staying put for a while - in Thailand! After spending a lovely 10 days in Southern Germany with James, I headed from Frankfurt to Bangkok and Bangkok to Phuket. There was a driver waiting at the airport to take me the 1.5 hours North to Takua Pa where the orphanage Baan Tharn Namchai is located. Once I opened the car door at the orphanage, I got my first real blast of Thailand air – now after more than a week here, I like to describe the air as “blow-drying your hair in the same bathroom that you just had a hot shower in.” It doesn't sound nice, but its actually brilliant after coming from a long haul of dry winter! I never need to use moisturizer!
The Thai people are incredibly hospitable – I eat very well (and they respect my vegetarianism as they are a Buddhist orphanage), everyone is always smiling and the children absolutely adore me and so I get to play games and sing songs whenever I want! I once heard a great quote, “Only in childhood is insanity not only permitted, but expected.” This also rings true for those who teach children! It's great! I live in a 2 bedroom bungalow on the orphanage grounds and in the afternoons I open my front door to at least 30 kids playing in the park on my front “lawn.” This is my favorite time of day because the sun has shifted in the sky so it's not too hot and all of the neighborhood families come out to use the park as well! There's dozens of adorable Thai babies bumbling around just waiting to be held and kissed!
Each morning I teach at a day care about 20 minute scooter ride away from where I live (good thing I learned to ride a scooter in Taiwan! - except here I'm getting used to driving on the left hand side of the road). There is a volunteer, Fiona, who will be here for 2 months and she has offered to come with me each day as well. This has turned out to be a godsend as there are 45 children all under the age of 5! We're a very strong teaching team and have more or less got them under 'control.' We also have lots of fun together while teaching – it's so wonderful to have another foreigner here and we're becoming good friends quickly! There are so many funny things that happen each day and having someone else to laugh with really helps keep me sane!
In the afternoons I do some English tutoring with some of the staff here (only a few speak some English) and some children as well. There's a handful of kids from the orphanage who are sponsored to go to England in May and so I'm teaching them key phrases that they can use while there. There's a building contractor who wants tutoring as well and he's giving me some Thai lessons in exchange. I'd like to think I'm grasping the language fairly well! Any free time (which isn't much!) is spent either playing around with the kids here at the orphanage or in the computer room trying to maintain some contact with the outside world! It's easy to get lost in time here – I had to buy a clock for my house yesterday so that I know when to actually leave for work – not just when the kids start eating breakfast.
I won't make this update too long, but there will be many more – likely hilarious – coming your way. In short, I live in a tropical paradise surrounded by good food and the happiest children I've ever met. Even though most of them lost 1 or both parents (and siblings, family and friends) in the tsunami (we're about 10 minutes from where the wave first hit land), they've got incredible endurance and now embrace the fact that they've got 50 new brothers and sisters. I want to share as much as possible with everyone and so here is the link to my facebook photo album:
The Thai people are incredibly hospitable – I eat very well (and they respect my vegetarianism as they are a Buddhist orphanage), everyone is always smiling and the children absolutely adore me and so I get to play games and sing songs whenever I want! I once heard a great quote, “Only in childhood is insanity not only permitted, but expected.” This also rings true for those who teach children! It's great! I live in a 2 bedroom bungalow on the orphanage grounds and in the afternoons I open my front door to at least 30 kids playing in the park on my front “lawn.” This is my favorite time of day because the sun has shifted in the sky so it's not too hot and all of the neighborhood families come out to use the park as well! There's dozens of adorable Thai babies bumbling around just waiting to be held and kissed!
Each morning I teach at a day care about 20 minute scooter ride away from where I live (good thing I learned to ride a scooter in Taiwan! - except here I'm getting used to driving on the left hand side of the road). There is a volunteer, Fiona, who will be here for 2 months and she has offered to come with me each day as well. This has turned out to be a godsend as there are 45 children all under the age of 5! We're a very strong teaching team and have more or less got them under 'control.' We also have lots of fun together while teaching – it's so wonderful to have another foreigner here and we're becoming good friends quickly! There are so many funny things that happen each day and having someone else to laugh with really helps keep me sane!
In the afternoons I do some English tutoring with some of the staff here (only a few speak some English) and some children as well. There's a handful of kids from the orphanage who are sponsored to go to England in May and so I'm teaching them key phrases that they can use while there. There's a building contractor who wants tutoring as well and he's giving me some Thai lessons in exchange. I'd like to think I'm grasping the language fairly well! Any free time (which isn't much!) is spent either playing around with the kids here at the orphanage or in the computer room trying to maintain some contact with the outside world! It's easy to get lost in time here – I had to buy a clock for my house yesterday so that I know when to actually leave for work – not just when the kids start eating breakfast.
I won't make this update too long, but there will be many more – likely hilarious – coming your way. In short, I live in a tropical paradise surrounded by good food and the happiest children I've ever met. Even though most of them lost 1 or both parents (and siblings, family and friends) in the tsunami (we're about 10 minutes from where the wave first hit land), they've got incredible endurance and now embrace the fact that they've got 50 new brothers and sisters. I want to share as much as possible with everyone and so here is the link to my facebook photo album:
Thailand Photos!
and I've opened a YouTube account to show off my wonderful videos! Click below to see a video of my students greeting Fiona and I in the morning! It's only a little over a minute and it will bring a smile to your face!
and I've opened a YouTube account to show off my wonderful videos! Click below to see a video of my students greeting Fiona and I in the morning! It's only a little over a minute and it will bring a smile to your face!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
In Frankfurt - en route to Thailand!
Well the time has come to settle down! At least for 3 or so months... I'm flying to Thailand tonight! James and I have spent the last 10 days exploring a few places in southern Germany. We met up in Nuremberg and stayed with his family friends for 3 nights. From there we took a train to a small town called Fuessen – it's only 1 km away from the Austrian border and nestled cozily in the alps. After spending a wonderful few days drinking delicious Germany beer and eating rich German food, we journeyed to Frankfurt. I say 'journeyed' because it ended up being a tiring 9-hour affair involving 6 different trains and 1 bus. It could have been simple and under 5 hours, but we were trying to save money with cheap trains. At one point we got on the wrong train and had to pay 25 Euro (around $40 Canadian) to get off at the next stop! Expensive 15 minutes! We've been taking it really easy in Frankfurt. Neither of us are very interested in seeing the city (largely preferring German towns) and so we've found some good coffee spots and have been catching up with some work. We also visited a girl (Alex) who I couch-surfed with in London last month (she was home in Germany to have her wisdom teeth removed).
After Estonia and Latvia, Germany has been such a breath of fresh air for me! People here are so much friendlier and happy to be walking around during the day instead of just popping over to the store to pick up some vodka (though, the climate has a lot to do with this). All of the small towns are simply gorgeous! In Fuessen, it didn't matter where I pointed the camera, every shot was like a postcard! You can see the photos by following the links I post at the bottom of this update. James and I both feel so comfortable in the small German towns, we'd love to live here for a while! Taking the train was the best way to get a feel for how Germany (at least Bavaria) is laid out. There are very few places that would constitute as 'cities' and the rest are these lovely small villages surrounding a church steeple. All of the villages are separated by miles and miles of farmland – its all very picturesque (I can't stress this enough!)
Today I'm moving on to Asia and to my job. I'm excited to be heading towards another contract – this 3 month stretch is the longest I've gone (since I was 14) without working! I have no idea what to expect – all that I've been told is that I'm living on the grounds of the orphanage and teaching in the town at a day care facility. My employer doesn't even really know what I'll be doing. I'm to 'assess' the abilities of the children there and report back to Australia with suggestions for what I can do during my 10 week contract. I'm excited for another challenge and also for a stable place to live for a while! As for James, he's going to spend a week now in Berlin and then he's flying to Iceland for 3 weeks to visit friends. After that, he'll be joining me in Thailand and he'll start working on a contract that he's got with the Australian government – developing tsunami prediction software (good spot to do it!)
After Estonia and Latvia, Germany has been such a breath of fresh air for me! People here are so much friendlier and happy to be walking around during the day instead of just popping over to the store to pick up some vodka (though, the climate has a lot to do with this). All of the small towns are simply gorgeous! In Fuessen, it didn't matter where I pointed the camera, every shot was like a postcard! You can see the photos by following the links I post at the bottom of this update. James and I both feel so comfortable in the small German towns, we'd love to live here for a while! Taking the train was the best way to get a feel for how Germany (at least Bavaria) is laid out. There are very few places that would constitute as 'cities' and the rest are these lovely small villages surrounding a church steeple. All of the villages are separated by miles and miles of farmland – its all very picturesque (I can't stress this enough!)
Today I'm moving on to Asia and to my job. I'm excited to be heading towards another contract – this 3 month stretch is the longest I've gone (since I was 14) without working! I have no idea what to expect – all that I've been told is that I'm living on the grounds of the orphanage and teaching in the town at a day care facility. My employer doesn't even really know what I'll be doing. I'm to 'assess' the abilities of the children there and report back to Australia with suggestions for what I can do during my 10 week contract. I'm excited for another challenge and also for a stable place to live for a while! As for James, he's going to spend a week now in Berlin and then he's flying to Iceland for 3 weeks to visit friends. After that, he'll be joining me in Thailand and he'll start working on a contract that he's got with the Australian government – developing tsunami prediction software (good spot to do it!)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Laura in Latvia
Thank goodness I'm only in Riga for a week. I can already feel the pounds I've gained from all the amazing pastries and chocolates here! I don't understand how everyone walking around is so slim! I guess they all have better self control then me! I'm leaving Riga on Monday and flying to Nuremberg, Germany where I'll reunite with James and along with discovering the city, we hope to spend some time in the alps close to the Austrian border.
My spirits have risen from the low I found myself in at the beginning of the week. I've been spending a lot of time in cafes, eating at a few favorite spots and walking around discovering the amazing Art Nouveau buildings that this city has to offer. Everywhere I look, there are incredible buildings faced with intricate decals and facades – even in the most obscure alleyways. I never knew that Riga was such an artistic center in the early 20th century. From what I understand, most of the city was bombed out during the Second World War and has been more or less rebuilt to what it was before. Because of all the Art Nouveau, the 'old town' area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. If there's anything I've learned during this time in Estonia and Latvia, it's about the remarkable come-back that these countries have made after being completely obliterated during the 20th century. Latvia has only recently (in the last 20 years) come away from Soviet control and even though their economy is suffering quite severely, there's a lot to be said for the endurance and determination of Latvian people. Having grown up when and where I did in Canada, I have never witnessed anything like what people my age and older have seen in Eastern Europe. I feel so incredibly lucky that my biggest worry these days is where to find the cheapest flight and which cafe has both wireless internet and good coffee. At the same time, a very guilty feeling hits home when I realize that most people in this country have lost one or many loved ones at the hands of human cruelty.
Moving on to lighter things, there's more to Latvia than just its pastries. Disco music is still alive and happening. Even just now in this cafe, a song called “Disco Lady” is playing – I can't help but bob along. In fact, I'm tempted to use my 'disco dancing' techniques learned from that Finnish video I included in a previous update. Most night clubs sport the name “discoteck” (spelled in a variety of hilarious ways) on their signs and I can hear pumping disco beats from the club downstairs when I'm trying to fall asleep at night. This brings me to my next subject: living in a hostel.
One day I will write a full article about living in hostels, but for now I will gloss over a few things to give the reader a mere glance inside hostel living conditions. Now, don't get me wrong, this hostel is great when compared to those in say, the Ukraine, where guests are lied to regarding pre-paid reservations, taken advantage of and told to pay for broken items that they did not in fact break (I've heard horror stories even worse than these!) The transient atmosphere of a hostel allows one long-term guest to meet up to 100 people in the course of one week. You can imagine how tiring this can be and so a hostel is generally split into a few subgroups of guests. I will profile a few that I've encountered this past week though there are far more varieties than the 3 that follow:
The short-term die-hard party animals – these travelers come in packs of 2 to 4 people and usually travel from their homes to the destination and then back again – they only spend up to 4 days on the vacation itself and are usually dreading returning to work in a few days. The party animals' only goal is to drink as much as possible and take in a good portion of the city's 'rockin' party scene' before returning home. The 'tourist' portion of their vacation includes asking other travelers for suggestions on which local cafe serves the best hangover breakfast and where they can get the cheapest beer. They generally only come out at night and can be seen on their departure date slogging out of the hostel with a backpack and a large bottle of water in tow.
The worn-out solo world traveler – This variety of guest usually comes alone or in pairs (however, by this point they're usually so sick of each other that they are both wishing they were alone). She has been traveling for at least over 6 months now and has been in so many hostels that she quite frankly isn't surprised by anything. Most solo world travelers have incredible stories to tell, but are so tired of relaying them over and over again that they just sit quietly in the common room and write in their travel journals. These guests are not interested in partying because they're on a budget and have resumed an 8 hour sleep schedule by now that helps to build some routine into their traveling lives. If you can get into the solo world traveler's bubble, you'll be inspired and awed by what they've done – but good luck getting in.
The awkward lost soul – this guest is likely to be found in the common room listening to everyone's conversations (regardless if they understand the language or not) and laughing along when the conversation calls for it. You can identify the awkward lost soul very quickly, just look for the person who everyone is avoiding talking to and making eye contact with. It's not that they are dangerous – they simply have too much of a story to tell. You can never get a straight answer out of the lost soul, mostly because they don't have one. Their story (and even personality) changes daily, and even hourly. This guest has probably been staying at the hostel long enough to manage it and they've got quite the set-up around their bottom-bunk bed. It's doubtful that you can help the lost soul “find themselves” and so it's best to be polite but don't accept their invitation to play that game of chess.
Riga Coffee Update: Coffee here is delicious! Drip is rare and espresso-drinks are all of very high-quality. A latte can run you from anywhere between $2 and $4.50 Canadian, but it's worth it!
My spirits have risen from the low I found myself in at the beginning of the week. I've been spending a lot of time in cafes, eating at a few favorite spots and walking around discovering the amazing Art Nouveau buildings that this city has to offer. Everywhere I look, there are incredible buildings faced with intricate decals and facades – even in the most obscure alleyways. I never knew that Riga was such an artistic center in the early 20th century. From what I understand, most of the city was bombed out during the Second World War and has been more or less rebuilt to what it was before. Because of all the Art Nouveau, the 'old town' area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. If there's anything I've learned during this time in Estonia and Latvia, it's about the remarkable come-back that these countries have made after being completely obliterated during the 20th century. Latvia has only recently (in the last 20 years) come away from Soviet control and even though their economy is suffering quite severely, there's a lot to be said for the endurance and determination of Latvian people. Having grown up when and where I did in Canada, I have never witnessed anything like what people my age and older have seen in Eastern Europe. I feel so incredibly lucky that my biggest worry these days is where to find the cheapest flight and which cafe has both wireless internet and good coffee. At the same time, a very guilty feeling hits home when I realize that most people in this country have lost one or many loved ones at the hands of human cruelty.
Moving on to lighter things, there's more to Latvia than just its pastries. Disco music is still alive and happening. Even just now in this cafe, a song called “Disco Lady” is playing – I can't help but bob along. In fact, I'm tempted to use my 'disco dancing' techniques learned from that Finnish video I included in a previous update. Most night clubs sport the name “discoteck” (spelled in a variety of hilarious ways) on their signs and I can hear pumping disco beats from the club downstairs when I'm trying to fall asleep at night. This brings me to my next subject: living in a hostel.
One day I will write a full article about living in hostels, but for now I will gloss over a few things to give the reader a mere glance inside hostel living conditions. Now, don't get me wrong, this hostel is great when compared to those in say, the Ukraine, where guests are lied to regarding pre-paid reservations, taken advantage of and told to pay for broken items that they did not in fact break (I've heard horror stories even worse than these!) The transient atmosphere of a hostel allows one long-term guest to meet up to 100 people in the course of one week. You can imagine how tiring this can be and so a hostel is generally split into a few subgroups of guests. I will profile a few that I've encountered this past week though there are far more varieties than the 3 that follow:
The short-term die-hard party animals – these travelers come in packs of 2 to 4 people and usually travel from their homes to the destination and then back again – they only spend up to 4 days on the vacation itself and are usually dreading returning to work in a few days. The party animals' only goal is to drink as much as possible and take in a good portion of the city's 'rockin' party scene' before returning home. The 'tourist' portion of their vacation includes asking other travelers for suggestions on which local cafe serves the best hangover breakfast and where they can get the cheapest beer. They generally only come out at night and can be seen on their departure date slogging out of the hostel with a backpack and a large bottle of water in tow.
The worn-out solo world traveler – This variety of guest usually comes alone or in pairs (however, by this point they're usually so sick of each other that they are both wishing they were alone). She has been traveling for at least over 6 months now and has been in so many hostels that she quite frankly isn't surprised by anything. Most solo world travelers have incredible stories to tell, but are so tired of relaying them over and over again that they just sit quietly in the common room and write in their travel journals. These guests are not interested in partying because they're on a budget and have resumed an 8 hour sleep schedule by now that helps to build some routine into their traveling lives. If you can get into the solo world traveler's bubble, you'll be inspired and awed by what they've done – but good luck getting in.
The awkward lost soul – this guest is likely to be found in the common room listening to everyone's conversations (regardless if they understand the language or not) and laughing along when the conversation calls for it. You can identify the awkward lost soul very quickly, just look for the person who everyone is avoiding talking to and making eye contact with. It's not that they are dangerous – they simply have too much of a story to tell. You can never get a straight answer out of the lost soul, mostly because they don't have one. Their story (and even personality) changes daily, and even hourly. This guest has probably been staying at the hostel long enough to manage it and they've got quite the set-up around their bottom-bunk bed. It's doubtful that you can help the lost soul “find themselves” and so it's best to be polite but don't accept their invitation to play that game of chess.
Riga Coffee Update: Coffee here is delicious! Drip is rare and espresso-drinks are all of very high-quality. A latte can run you from anywhere between $2 and $4.50 Canadian, but it's worth it!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
brrr - what am I doing traveling through WINTER?
* To view my pictures from Tallinn, Estonia please click here: Tallinn, Estonia
or copy and paste: (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2511005&id=58004131&l=60716b132dhttp://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2511005&id=58004131&l=60716b132d)
James and I left Finland on a ferry last Wednesday. We planned to spend some time in Tallinn (capital of Estonia) together and then go our separate ways for a while. Mostly, I wanted to try my hand at solo-backpacking. James went back to Finland to spend some more time with his sister Sarah (who lives in Helsinki) and after one more day in Tallinn, I took a bus to Riga, Latvia (only 4.5 hours). We had an interesting time in Tallinn together. I really loved the buildings (you can see lots of them in the photo album linked above) and the beer was very cheap and delicious! The downside is that it was VERY VERY cold! I keep thinking about how silly it is for me to be in the Nordic countries during the winter! As a result, we spent a lot of time in cafes. Which brings me to my Tallinn coffee update: much like Helsinki - hit and miss. Many lattes were made by a silly machine and tasted watery. We smartened up after a while and bought tea if the coffee wasn't guaranteed to be good.
As I mentioned before, I left Tallinn by bus on Sunday and rode to Riga (Latvia's capital city). I was off to a rocky start in Riga. I had been hit with a bout of traveler's diarrhea (one of the things you don't think of when dreaming about your traveling adventures - but a stark reality unfortunately!) and I forgot to book a hostel before arriving. To make matters worse, Riga was having a mild day and so the city was literally melting. I walked around the city with puddles in both of my boots, trying to find wireless internet somewhere so that I could book a hostel. After a very trying 2 hours, I arrived at a hostel and got a chance to catch my breath. Here I was thinking - why did I think traveling alone would be so fantastic!? I instantly missed James!
I've been hanging out in Riga for 3 days now and it did take a while to start enjoying it - I must admit. Traveling is full of high points, but people tend to skim over the low ones. Especially when alone, it's easy to get stuck inside your head and start questioning what you're doing. I find when I'm in these spots that I start comparing myself to other travelers - and that's when the danger starts because everyone is on their own journeys, it doesn't make sense to make comparisons. Upon the advice of some well-traveled friends, I've been taking a good break here and doing normal things - I've seen a movie in the theatre, been going to coffee shops, etc... It seems to have done the trick! In the mornings I've still been doing lots of sight-seeing and I've got some great photos to show for it! (I'll post them once I leave Riga).
Next Monday, I fly to Nuremberg, Germany where I'll reunite with James again and we'll spend some time together before I'm off to Thailand to start my job! I'm really looking forward to having a normal living situation for almost 3 months. I'm getting tired of moving all the time and I'm sure that working in an orphanage with tsunami survivors is just the dose of reality that I need!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Finland
To view my pictures in Finland check out this link: Finland
Sadly, my time in Finland is coming to an end. Despite the cold temperatures and the huge amounts of snow, we've done well with keeping ourselves busy. James and his sister have many friends here and so not only have we had free accommodation the whole time but we've had instant friends to meet up with and go out with. On Saturday night we went with a couple friends to a tango club. This was my first experience with tango (James started dancing tango last August) and I'm told I did alright. My feet got mixed up quite often and James did a lot of improvisation followed by a “that'll do.” Since it was the day before Valentine's Day, the tango bar/restaurant was packed with couples and around 11pm there was a tango lesson on the dance floor. James and I couldn't stop laughing during the lesson (in Finnish of course) because it reminded us far too much of the tacky video we watched months ago on Finnish disco dancing. Click here to see the video on YouTube: Finnish Disco Dancing Lesson. The bartender at the club was also Canadian – he has been living here for 10 years! I couldn't understand why he'd move to small Helsinki until he told me where he's from: Winnipeg.
Sunday was a special Finnish traditional day called 'Laskianen.' The tradition involves sledding down a big hill and then eating a special cake at the bottom. In the spirit of Laskianen, James and I headed to a big hill in the city and watched hundreds of people toboggan down. We talked to a lovely Finnish woman who said that her family was using the day as a reunion. They were all from different parts of Finland and had come together in the city to celebrate the snow. It's apparently been 5 years since Finland has had this much snow (that hasn't melted quickly after) and 20 years since Helsinki itself has been this white. James and I have great timing! The special cakes were delicious – a bun pastry filled with jam and cream. Needless to say, we did a lot more eating of buns than sledding.
I've had 2 trips to the sauna so far and hopefully one more tonight – my last night in Finland! In Helsinki, people generally seem to live in flats and use a common sauna in the basement. You book it out and then get charged a nominal fee like 3 Euro at the end of the month. Naked sweating time sounds far too personal to use a communal sauna – but everyone takes such good care of the thing that it's not dirty or anything. I hear that out in the suburbs and small towns families have their own family saunas. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the traditional way of using the sauna (guys first, then girls after – no clothes) but everyone is so relaxed about the whole naked thing that it would be awkward if one was wearing clothes.
I haven't been able to get to know that many Finns, but the ones that I have spent time with are so genuine and warm. They seems to have a rough exterior and are kind of hard to approach – but being the awkward foreigner always helps with this. Absolutely everyone speaks English here (and very well too!) so it's really easy to travel around even when the signs are in Finnish and Swedish only. One thing that I find surprising is the fact that Finland has only 12 or so days in the whole year where you are permitted to fly your Finnish flag ('flag days' – i.e., a poet's day, Finland Day, etc..) Someone told me about a share house filled with mostly foreigners who were actually asked to take down the Finnish flag they were flying. I suppose this instills pride in the flag itself and prevents trashy, ripped flags from being flown from every window.
Before I go, I've decided to give a coffee update from each place I visit. Since I spend most of my money on coffee anyways, I think this will make a good edition to the blog.
Finland Coffee Update: Finns mostly drink drip coffee (up to 2 Euros/cup) but espresso drinks are also available at most places (3 to 5 Euros/cup). Drip is drip. Lattes, cappuccinos, etc... they all depend on the places you're getting them at. It seems that the best latte I've had here came from a chain coffee place. One great thing is that most places carry soy milk (my favorite milk in a latte), which is more than I can say for London (“Soy milk? Why would you want that?”)
Sadly, my time in Finland is coming to an end. Despite the cold temperatures and the huge amounts of snow, we've done well with keeping ourselves busy. James and his sister have many friends here and so not only have we had free accommodation the whole time but we've had instant friends to meet up with and go out with. On Saturday night we went with a couple friends to a tango club. This was my first experience with tango (James started dancing tango last August) and I'm told I did alright. My feet got mixed up quite often and James did a lot of improvisation followed by a “that'll do.” Since it was the day before Valentine's Day, the tango bar/restaurant was packed with couples and around 11pm there was a tango lesson on the dance floor. James and I couldn't stop laughing during the lesson (in Finnish of course) because it reminded us far too much of the tacky video we watched months ago on Finnish disco dancing. Click here to see the video on YouTube: Finnish Disco Dancing Lesson. The bartender at the club was also Canadian – he has been living here for 10 years! I couldn't understand why he'd move to small Helsinki until he told me where he's from: Winnipeg.
Sunday was a special Finnish traditional day called 'Laskianen.' The tradition involves sledding down a big hill and then eating a special cake at the bottom. In the spirit of Laskianen, James and I headed to a big hill in the city and watched hundreds of people toboggan down. We talked to a lovely Finnish woman who said that her family was using the day as a reunion. They were all from different parts of Finland and had come together in the city to celebrate the snow. It's apparently been 5 years since Finland has had this much snow (that hasn't melted quickly after) and 20 years since Helsinki itself has been this white. James and I have great timing! The special cakes were delicious – a bun pastry filled with jam and cream. Needless to say, we did a lot more eating of buns than sledding.
I've had 2 trips to the sauna so far and hopefully one more tonight – my last night in Finland! In Helsinki, people generally seem to live in flats and use a common sauna in the basement. You book it out and then get charged a nominal fee like 3 Euro at the end of the month. Naked sweating time sounds far too personal to use a communal sauna – but everyone takes such good care of the thing that it's not dirty or anything. I hear that out in the suburbs and small towns families have their own family saunas. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the traditional way of using the sauna (guys first, then girls after – no clothes) but everyone is so relaxed about the whole naked thing that it would be awkward if one was wearing clothes.
I haven't been able to get to know that many Finns, but the ones that I have spent time with are so genuine and warm. They seems to have a rough exterior and are kind of hard to approach – but being the awkward foreigner always helps with this. Absolutely everyone speaks English here (and very well too!) so it's really easy to travel around even when the signs are in Finnish and Swedish only. One thing that I find surprising is the fact that Finland has only 12 or so days in the whole year where you are permitted to fly your Finnish flag ('flag days' – i.e., a poet's day, Finland Day, etc..) Someone told me about a share house filled with mostly foreigners who were actually asked to take down the Finnish flag they were flying. I suppose this instills pride in the flag itself and prevents trashy, ripped flags from being flown from every window.
Before I go, I've decided to give a coffee update from each place I visit. Since I spend most of my money on coffee anyways, I think this will make a good edition to the blog.
Finland Coffee Update: Finns mostly drink drip coffee (up to 2 Euros/cup) but espresso drinks are also available at most places (3 to 5 Euros/cup). Drip is drip. Lattes, cappuccinos, etc... they all depend on the places you're getting them at. It seems that the best latte I've had here came from a chain coffee place. One great thing is that most places carry soy milk (my favorite milk in a latte), which is more than I can say for London (“Soy milk? Why would you want that?”)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
London Town - day 2
originally written - Feb 3, 2010
It might be because I have barely eaten in the last 24 hours or because my body is in shock from traveling still – but I'm completely knackered!! I just sat down for the first time and it's almost 5pm. I spent all of today walking around bits of London. This city is so riddled with history, there's simply too much to see! The weather is just like yesterday, almost always sort of raining. It's very cold, but it's a nice change from the dry cold in Canada.
I began by taking a bus across Vauxhall Bridge and getting off near Victoria Station. I walked up Buckingham Palace Road until I came to the palace itself. The palace is very impressive and I had a great time watching the guards walk to and fro. I left the palace and walked through St. James's Park towards the Churchill Museum. I took lots of pictures of the birds – some I haven't seen before, others I have like the white swan and then there were the Canadian geese and pigeons. As I walked along I couldn't help but sing, “Feed The Birds.” The music from Mary Poppins is dominating my stay here in London.
I walked down to Parliament Square and admired Westminster Abbey and a beautiful church right beside it (the name escapes me) with sundials on it's steeple. It's touted “the church of the House of Commons” - I'm assuming it's not Catholic! Just there is also the Houses of Parliament and “Big Ben” the famous clock tower. Exhausted with walking by now I hopped on the the underground train and got off a few stops to the North. Here was Trafalgar Square! Right beside the square is the National Galleries and so I decided to have a look. The galleries are jammed-full of amazing paintings and exhibits – I can't believe it's all free!
Now I'm filling up on latte and soup of the day in an Italian restaurant so I can see maybe one or two more things before heading back to my couch surfing host's house tonight. I've brought homemade (by mom!) pancake mix and Canadian maple syrup and so we're going to have a feast for dinner! The hosts I've got are great! They brought me across the city to their friend's house last night and though I was tired, it was good to get out on my first night here. After one more good sleep I'll be back to normal.
It might be because I have barely eaten in the last 24 hours or because my body is in shock from traveling still – but I'm completely knackered!! I just sat down for the first time and it's almost 5pm. I spent all of today walking around bits of London. This city is so riddled with history, there's simply too much to see! The weather is just like yesterday, almost always sort of raining. It's very cold, but it's a nice change from the dry cold in Canada.
I began by taking a bus across Vauxhall Bridge and getting off near Victoria Station. I walked up Buckingham Palace Road until I came to the palace itself. The palace is very impressive and I had a great time watching the guards walk to and fro. I left the palace and walked through St. James's Park towards the Churchill Museum. I took lots of pictures of the birds – some I haven't seen before, others I have like the white swan and then there were the Canadian geese and pigeons. As I walked along I couldn't help but sing, “Feed The Birds.” The music from Mary Poppins is dominating my stay here in London.
I walked down to Parliament Square and admired Westminster Abbey and a beautiful church right beside it (the name escapes me) with sundials on it's steeple. It's touted “the church of the House of Commons” - I'm assuming it's not Catholic! Just there is also the Houses of Parliament and “Big Ben” the famous clock tower. Exhausted with walking by now I hopped on the the underground train and got off a few stops to the North. Here was Trafalgar Square! Right beside the square is the National Galleries and so I decided to have a look. The galleries are jammed-full of amazing paintings and exhibits – I can't believe it's all free!
Now I'm filling up on latte and soup of the day in an Italian restaurant so I can see maybe one or two more things before heading back to my couch surfing host's house tonight. I've brought homemade (by mom!) pancake mix and Canadian maple syrup and so we're going to have a feast for dinner! The hosts I've got are great! They brought me across the city to their friend's house last night and though I was tired, it was good to get out on my first night here. After one more good sleep I'll be back to normal.
London Town - hazy first impressions
originally written - Feb 2, 2010
I must write now or I simply wont believe all I've just done after I have a sleep. Mind the poor grammar - I'm exhausted. The coffee I'm enjoying is my saving grace right now as well as my first in London town. I've just arrived a few hours ago after an overnight plane ride from Toronto. My sinus infection wasn't quite cleared up and so I got to enjoy an ear and headache throughout the flight despite the sprays and pills recommended. I'm stuck now with my left ear that refuses to pop, a broken suitcase that is far too heavy for my purposes and this coffee. I'm quite dehydrated and really should be drinking water – but coffee is less offensive to put on a visa card. I have yet to visit a bank machine.
Alas, my single achievement so far in London has been arriving at my couch surfing host's house – though too early; hence, the coffee shop. To get here, I hopped on the “tube” at the airport and rode 3 different trains for a solid 2 hours until I finally arrived at the desired stop. From there, I had to catch a bus (given the oversized and overweight luggage, this was a pain in the butt) to an obscure stop about 30 minutes away. Finally, I arrived at Alex's house and tried the buzzer, even though I knew she wouldn't be home for another hour.
London is having a very dreary day. From what I hear, this all looks about right. Passing London Bridge on the bus was pretty special. As the train zipped past the rooftops of passing suburbs, I couldn't help but sing “Chim Chiminny” to myself. One thing worth noting: not once have I cried to myself since arriving in London – I must be getting tougher! It's quite funny having to tell people to talk only into my right ear. This must be what it's like to be 78. I imagine that 78 is the age where my body will begin to turn on me – in all likeliness it'll be sooner than that, but I'm an optimist.
It's hard for me to make judgments just yet, but I imagine I'm going to like this place. It's nice to be in humidity after all those dry weeks in Canada. It's 6 degrees Celsius but feels glorious to me after -12 back home.
Buses are indeed red, and many are double-decker. Traffic is on the “other” side as in Australia. People generally look, well, English. I know, that's a huge stereotype and I don't even know what it entails, but I'd say that most of them, I could pick out of a crowd as an English person. Though, it might just be the accent that makes them more English to me. And the bad teeth. Oh, and black jackets. Just like Melbourne.
I must write now or I simply wont believe all I've just done after I have a sleep. Mind the poor grammar - I'm exhausted. The coffee I'm enjoying is my saving grace right now as well as my first in London town. I've just arrived a few hours ago after an overnight plane ride from Toronto. My sinus infection wasn't quite cleared up and so I got to enjoy an ear and headache throughout the flight despite the sprays and pills recommended. I'm stuck now with my left ear that refuses to pop, a broken suitcase that is far too heavy for my purposes and this coffee. I'm quite dehydrated and really should be drinking water – but coffee is less offensive to put on a visa card. I have yet to visit a bank machine.
Alas, my single achievement so far in London has been arriving at my couch surfing host's house – though too early; hence, the coffee shop. To get here, I hopped on the “tube” at the airport and rode 3 different trains for a solid 2 hours until I finally arrived at the desired stop. From there, I had to catch a bus (given the oversized and overweight luggage, this was a pain in the butt) to an obscure stop about 30 minutes away. Finally, I arrived at Alex's house and tried the buzzer, even though I knew she wouldn't be home for another hour.
London is having a very dreary day. From what I hear, this all looks about right. Passing London Bridge on the bus was pretty special. As the train zipped past the rooftops of passing suburbs, I couldn't help but sing “Chim Chiminny” to myself. One thing worth noting: not once have I cried to myself since arriving in London – I must be getting tougher! It's quite funny having to tell people to talk only into my right ear. This must be what it's like to be 78. I imagine that 78 is the age where my body will begin to turn on me – in all likeliness it'll be sooner than that, but I'm an optimist.
It's hard for me to make judgments just yet, but I imagine I'm going to like this place. It's nice to be in humidity after all those dry weeks in Canada. It's 6 degrees Celsius but feels glorious to me after -12 back home.
Buses are indeed red, and many are double-decker. Traffic is on the “other” side as in Australia. People generally look, well, English. I know, that's a huge stereotype and I don't even know what it entails, but I'd say that most of them, I could pick out of a crowd as an English person. Though, it might just be the accent that makes them more English to me. And the bad teeth. Oh, and black jackets. Just like Melbourne.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The China Challenge
Well I've just bombarded my blog with 28 posts written during my 6 weeks in China. I couldn't post them on blogger as I wrote them because the website (along with many, many others) was blocked. So, here they all are together!
Day 28 - The China Challenge
originally written: Saturday, December 19, 2009
(The Goodbye Book)
The time has come for me to say goodbye to Kaifeng and to FINALLY say hello to Canada! I fly out of ZhongZhou tomorrow morning and after a 6 hour layover in Beijing, I’ll be on my merry way to Toronto! Merry indeed, just in time for Christmas! I received the loveliest parting gift from one of my classes yesterday, a book in which they all wrote a page just for me. It’s a lovely gift, but like most things in China, it’s filled with hilarious Chinglish. So as my final parting gift to all of you who have been diligently reading my 6-week China Challenge, here’s some of “the best of” my goodbye book:
“Hey Laura. We may not get along with each other for a long time, but…” (meaning: we didn’t get a long time together.. I hope!)
“Hoping that we can still get touched though we are in different country!”
“I still feel very lucky meeting you for predestination!”
“Wish you a beautiful forever!”
“Every class you gave us was full of happiness!!”
“I love Yoga, You love Yoga, therefore I love You”
“Nice girl like you must have a nice life”
“I hope you will become more and more beautiful.”
“May you be happy everyday”
“Laura, I hope you will marry soon!” (haha, as if this is the life goal)
“May happiness follow you everywhere… just like we do” (lol, they don’t)
“I wish your lover will love you forever”
“I have told you that I can play table tennis, but it looked like you were not interested in it (In fact, I don’t want to play with someone who has bad skills)” - hahaha ouch!
“Live a colorful life!”
These are of course the silly bits, but the book was also filled with the most heartfelt and sweet things students have ever said to me! I have loved the whole experience in China and I am sad now to leave the students and the other teachers.
I am, however, pleased to announce that I won’t be unemployed for long! I’ve been offered a job teaching in Vinh, Vietnam! It’s through the same university in Melbourne and I’ll be teaching at Vinh University. This is a new partnership so there will be 4 of us pioneering the new English program there. If all goes well, I’ll be living there for just under 5 months starting in March!
Merry Christmas Everyone and I hope to see most of you when I’m home!
The time has come for me to say goodbye to Kaifeng and to FINALLY say hello to Canada! I fly out of ZhongZhou tomorrow morning and after a 6 hour layover in Beijing, I’ll be on my merry way to Toronto! Merry indeed, just in time for Christmas! I received the loveliest parting gift from one of my classes yesterday, a book in which they all wrote a page just for me. It’s a lovely gift, but like most things in China, it’s filled with hilarious Chinglish. So as my final parting gift to all of you who have been diligently reading my 6-week China Challenge, here’s some of “the best of” my goodbye book:
“Hey Laura. We may not get along with each other for a long time, but…” (meaning: we didn’t get a long time together.. I hope!)
“Hoping that we can still get touched though we are in different country!”
“I still feel very lucky meeting you for predestination!”
“Wish you a beautiful forever!”
“Every class you gave us was full of happiness!!”
“I love Yoga, You love Yoga, therefore I love You”
“Nice girl like you must have a nice life”
“I hope you will become more and more beautiful.”
“May you be happy everyday”
“Laura, I hope you will marry soon!” (haha, as if this is the life goal)
“May happiness follow you everywhere… just like we do” (lol, they don’t)
“I wish your lover will love you forever”
“I have told you that I can play table tennis, but it looked like you were not interested in it (In fact, I don’t want to play with someone who has bad skills)” - hahaha ouch!
“Live a colorful life!”
These are of course the silly bits, but the book was also filled with the most heartfelt and sweet things students have ever said to me! I have loved the whole experience in China and I am sad now to leave the students and the other teachers.
I am, however, pleased to announce that I won’t be unemployed for long! I’ve been offered a job teaching in Vinh, Vietnam! It’s through the same university in Melbourne and I’ll be teaching at Vinh University. This is a new partnership so there will be 4 of us pioneering the new English program there. If all goes well, I’ll be living there for just under 5 months starting in March!
Merry Christmas Everyone and I hope to see most of you when I’m home!
Day 27 - The China Challenge
originally written: Thursday, December 17, 2009
(Toilet Situation)
Today’s update is not for the faint of heart. Today I’m going to describe the university campus toilet situation. I’ve consulted with my students and they’ve assured me that this is the situation campus-wide (dorms included). Here we go.
Six weeks ago, I visited a campus toilet for the first time. I walked confidently, prepared with tissue (never provided in China) and knowing full well that it would be a squatter. I had no idea what I was in for. After entering the loo, I took a look around, froze and then bolted back to the classroom. I just stood and stared at Donna (my co-teacher at the time), not knowing how to express the horror I felt. “You’ve just seen the toilets then?” she asked with a big smile.
It’s very hard to describe in words (since you simply can’t imagine something like this even existing) so I’ve provided some photos in this email as points of reference, proof and a future “look what I did” bragging right. The campus ‘toilets’ consist of a trough that runs below 4 separated stalls. On one end of the trough, water is flushed every 20 minutes or so and on the other end, there is hole where waste exits during this flushing process. Each ‘stall’ is completely open, allowing for no privacy (door, curtain, anything). When you stand up in this stall, you can see over the separating wall, into the stall beside you. In order to do your business, you must squat over the trough (which is only flushed every so often, but sees a lot of traffic).
I feel sick even explaining it. However, when you teach four hours every morning and drink lots of tea to wake up, visiting the loo is inevitable. I’ve gotten quite accustomed to it, though I try my best to go while my class is doing seat work and I avoid break time. Why? Well, let’s just say you’ve never been completed humiliated until you’ve had a conversation with your students while using an open-squat-trough-toilet.
(Toilet Situation)
Today’s update is not for the faint of heart. Today I’m going to describe the university campus toilet situation. I’ve consulted with my students and they’ve assured me that this is the situation campus-wide (dorms included). Here we go.
Six weeks ago, I visited a campus toilet for the first time. I walked confidently, prepared with tissue (never provided in China) and knowing full well that it would be a squatter. I had no idea what I was in for. After entering the loo, I took a look around, froze and then bolted back to the classroom. I just stood and stared at Donna (my co-teacher at the time), not knowing how to express the horror I felt. “You’ve just seen the toilets then?” she asked with a big smile.
It’s very hard to describe in words (since you simply can’t imagine something like this even existing) so I’ve provided some photos in this email as points of reference, proof and a future “look what I did” bragging right. The campus ‘toilets’ consist of a trough that runs below 4 separated stalls. On one end of the trough, water is flushed every 20 minutes or so and on the other end, there is hole where waste exits during this flushing process. Each ‘stall’ is completely open, allowing for no privacy (door, curtain, anything). When you stand up in this stall, you can see over the separating wall, into the stall beside you. In order to do your business, you must squat over the trough (which is only flushed every so often, but sees a lot of traffic).
I feel sick even explaining it. However, when you teach four hours every morning and drink lots of tea to wake up, visiting the loo is inevitable. I’ve gotten quite accustomed to it, though I try my best to go while my class is doing seat work and I avoid break time. Why? Well, let’s just say you’ve never been completed humiliated until you’ve had a conversation with your students while using an open-squat-trough-toilet.
Day 26 - The China Challenge
originally written: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
(Laura the Canadian?)
With only 4 days to go until my Toronto touch-down, I’m beginning to ponder exactly how much I’ve changed since I left Canada in September 2008. Having spent so much time in China and Taiwan, I know for a fact that I’m finally as thrifty as my father always hoped I’d be. After all, isn’t $2 what you’d expect to pay for a haircut? I haven’t necessarily ‘become Chinese’ but I can certainly tolerate a whole lot more than I used to. China in summary means noise, dirt and inefficiency and you’ve got to build up immunity to last here.
So far, I’ve only spent 3 months in Australia, but I’m dating an Australian and I live and work in China with all Aussie teachers. It’s frightening when I stop and think about how Aussie I’m becoming. Phrases like, “I reckon’,” “sweet as” and “doing the washing” now come as naturally to me as saying “eh” at the end of a sentence. Parts of my job require me to teach my students about Melbourne (life, culture, costs, etc…) and I think to myself… could I even teach about Toronto? I don’t reckon’ I remember enough!
To really drive the point home, I share an office with a woman named June who is very alert to different accents and pronunciation. She reckons that I’ve got an accidental Australian twang going on in most of my vowels and heaps of specific words. I’ve even learned the legendary Aussie bush-ballad and ‘unofficial national anthem:’ Waltzing Matilda, and I’m singing it in front of a whole theatre full of Chinese municipal government and university administration tomorrow night. Where’s Canadian Laura gone?! Does the fact that I’m madly craving Tim Hortons make all of this okay?
Collus - dressed as a girl for his drama presentation
(Laura the Canadian?)
With only 4 days to go until my Toronto touch-down, I’m beginning to ponder exactly how much I’ve changed since I left Canada in September 2008. Having spent so much time in China and Taiwan, I know for a fact that I’m finally as thrifty as my father always hoped I’d be. After all, isn’t $2 what you’d expect to pay for a haircut? I haven’t necessarily ‘become Chinese’ but I can certainly tolerate a whole lot more than I used to. China in summary means noise, dirt and inefficiency and you’ve got to build up immunity to last here.
So far, I’ve only spent 3 months in Australia, but I’m dating an Australian and I live and work in China with all Aussie teachers. It’s frightening when I stop and think about how Aussie I’m becoming. Phrases like, “I reckon’,” “sweet as” and “doing the washing” now come as naturally to me as saying “eh” at the end of a sentence. Parts of my job require me to teach my students about Melbourne (life, culture, costs, etc…) and I think to myself… could I even teach about Toronto? I don’t reckon’ I remember enough!
To really drive the point home, I share an office with a woman named June who is very alert to different accents and pronunciation. She reckons that I’ve got an accidental Australian twang going on in most of my vowels and heaps of specific words. I’ve even learned the legendary Aussie bush-ballad and ‘unofficial national anthem:’ Waltzing Matilda, and I’m singing it in front of a whole theatre full of Chinese municipal government and university administration tomorrow night. Where’s Canadian Laura gone?! Does the fact that I’m madly craving Tim Hortons make all of this okay?
Collus - dressed as a girl for his drama presentation
Day 25 - The China Challenge
originally written: Monday, December 14, 2009
(Westerners are…)
Today I wrote, ‘Westerners are…’ on the blackboard. I turned to the class and said, “fat? Selfish? Lazy?” They all gave me puzzled looks. I explained, “these are some of the stereotypes of Western people that I’ve heard while living in China. What do you think we are like? What do your parents think?” I asked them to finish the sentence and reassured them that I wouldn’t be offended.
After everyone was finished writing, they stood up one by one and read their stereotypes to the class. Here are some:
“Westerners are rich, they get to travel all around the world”
“Westerners are very independent but are also very selfish”
“Westerners are all tall and strong”
“Westerners eat sandwiches all the time”
“Westerners don’t care about their families as much as Chinese people do”
“Westerners are energetic and enthusiastic”
“Westerners tell 100% of the truth, Chinese people only tell 70%”
I didn’t want to start any debates (they take an English debating class next year) so I just asked them to explain some of their stereotypes a little further. Here’s some of what I got:
Independent, but selfish - we live our own lives, but in the process we forget about people around us: family and friends
Tall & Strong - why? Because we drink more milk. Haha
Eat a lot of sandwiches - they couldn’t explain this one
Don’t care about our families - because we don’t live with our grandparents and we pay people to take care of our children… we also leave our families and move to far away places when we finish school - ahem… personal attack?…
Energetic & Enthusiastic - mostly just because of the way I teach
Take what you will out of this. It’s so interesting to compare the East and West; the teachers here are always doing so with each other. Some of the stereotypes are funny, others are quite serious and could spark up a really great debate. Still, others are untouchables and its best to just leave them be.
Today I wrote, ‘Westerners are…’ on the blackboard. I turned to the class and said, “fat? Selfish? Lazy?” They all gave me puzzled looks. I explained, “these are some of the stereotypes of Western people that I’ve heard while living in China. What do you think we are like? What do your parents think?” I asked them to finish the sentence and reassured them that I wouldn’t be offended.
After everyone was finished writing, they stood up one by one and read their stereotypes to the class. Here are some:
“Westerners are rich, they get to travel all around the world”
“Westerners are very independent but are also very selfish”
“Westerners are all tall and strong”
“Westerners eat sandwiches all the time”
“Westerners don’t care about their families as much as Chinese people do”
“Westerners are energetic and enthusiastic”
“Westerners tell 100% of the truth, Chinese people only tell 70%”
I didn’t want to start any debates (they take an English debating class next year) so I just asked them to explain some of their stereotypes a little further. Here’s some of what I got:
Independent, but selfish - we live our own lives, but in the process we forget about people around us: family and friends
Tall & Strong - why? Because we drink more milk. Haha
Eat a lot of sandwiches - they couldn’t explain this one
Don’t care about our families - because we don’t live with our grandparents and we pay people to take care of our children… we also leave our families and move to far away places when we finish school - ahem… personal attack?…
Energetic & Enthusiastic - mostly just because of the way I teach
Take what you will out of this. It’s so interesting to compare the East and West; the teachers here are always doing so with each other. Some of the stereotypes are funny, others are quite serious and could spark up a really great debate. Still, others are untouchables and its best to just leave them be.
Day 24 - The China Challenge
originally written: Saturday, December 12, 2009
(Big Day Out, Part 2)
Continued…
As KTV was coming to an end and I was gearing up to go home to my quiet hotel room, one student turned to me and said, “so, are you ready for hot pot?!”
HOT POT? NO! I don’t want to have dinner with all of you now! It’s already been 5 hours of torturous singing!!
But, of course I couldn’t say this. As the polite guest of honor, I swallowed my annoyance and as I was led to the next destination, I couldn’t help thinking… There better be beer.
3 hours and lots of beer later, I was in a much better mood. The students had ordered an awful lot of food and we had a great time cooking it in the hot pot and sharing stories. A couple students in particular, the class clowns, had drank a little (or a lot) more than the rest and were hilarious. Eric kept coming over and cheers-ing me:
Eric - Dear Teacher, we love you!
Laura - Oh, that’s very nice Eric, Cheers!
Eric - To “Happy Forever!”
Laura, Everyone - Happy Forever!
This was what we cheers-ed to all night, Happy Forever! I think it’s a direct translation from what they say in Chinese when making toasts. Eric also got a little overly excited when talking to his best friend, Collus (I know… horrid name, I tried to talk him into choosing a better one - no dice).
Eric - Collus, dear Collus. No matter where you go, I’ll stay with you. My spring and you’re my winter in my eyes. I love you, baby!
Other students - laughing uncontrollably
Collus - calls after Eric, I like girls!
It’s pretty funny on video, I think Eric was trying to use the lyrics to some English love song, but was obviously unsuccessful.
The dinner came to a close and my students were headed to the night market. I put my foot down and told them it was time for me to go home. It’s so exhausting spending time with the students, it was like teaching for a whole 8 hours, straining to understand their less-than-perfect English. All in all, it was a big day and while I learned a whole lot more about my students, I learned a valuable lesson: In China, if you’re the guest of honor, make sure it’s a night-time event so that it won’t drag on for hours and hours!
(Big Day Out, Part 2)
Continued…
As KTV was coming to an end and I was gearing up to go home to my quiet hotel room, one student turned to me and said, “so, are you ready for hot pot?!”
HOT POT? NO! I don’t want to have dinner with all of you now! It’s already been 5 hours of torturous singing!!
But, of course I couldn’t say this. As the polite guest of honor, I swallowed my annoyance and as I was led to the next destination, I couldn’t help thinking… There better be beer.
3 hours and lots of beer later, I was in a much better mood. The students had ordered an awful lot of food and we had a great time cooking it in the hot pot and sharing stories. A couple students in particular, the class clowns, had drank a little (or a lot) more than the rest and were hilarious. Eric kept coming over and cheers-ing me:
Eric - Dear Teacher, we love you!
Laura - Oh, that’s very nice Eric, Cheers!
Eric - To “Happy Forever!”
Laura, Everyone - Happy Forever!
This was what we cheers-ed to all night, Happy Forever! I think it’s a direct translation from what they say in Chinese when making toasts. Eric also got a little overly excited when talking to his best friend, Collus (I know… horrid name, I tried to talk him into choosing a better one - no dice).
Eric - Collus, dear Collus. No matter where you go, I’ll stay with you. My spring and you’re my winter in my eyes. I love you, baby!
Other students - laughing uncontrollably
Collus - calls after Eric, I like girls!
It’s pretty funny on video, I think Eric was trying to use the lyrics to some English love song, but was obviously unsuccessful.
The dinner came to a close and my students were headed to the night market. I put my foot down and told them it was time for me to go home. It’s so exhausting spending time with the students, it was like teaching for a whole 8 hours, straining to understand their less-than-perfect English. All in all, it was a big day and while I learned a whole lot more about my students, I learned a valuable lesson: In China, if you’re the guest of honor, make sure it’s a night-time event so that it won’t drag on for hours and hours!
Day 23 - The China Challenge
originally written: Thursday, December 10, 2009
(Big Day Out, Part 1)
I’ve been busy marking 70 essays for the past few days, so I haven’t done an update in nearly a week. But, I’m happy to say that I’m finished marking and the students have done incredibly well! I’d like to take credit for that… While I could go on and on about school, I’m going to talk about something more interesting today: KTV (Karaoke Television). KTV is a huge phenomenon in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. At bigger establishments, you enter through the lobby of a karaoke ‘hotel,’ so to speak. I say hotel because once you’ve received your room number, you literally ride the elevator to floor where your private karaoke room is located. Depending on the size of your party, your room will comfortably seat anywhere between 4 and 50 people and is equip with at least 1 plasma TV, 2 microphones, a computer screen on which to make music selections and sometimes even your own bathroom. All rooms have room service, some will have buffets located on the floor and sometimes you can even control the lighting effects in the room (strobe, flashing, etc…)
The idea is that you line up song selections and as each comes on you pass the microphones to whoever wants to sing. As the music video plays on the screen, the words to the song appear at the bottom. KTV was one of my favourite things to do in Taiwan and now I’ve experienced it in China too. It can be a great time, but it also has the potential to be a very painful night out. In every crowd you usually end up with one or two people who think they can carry a tune and hog the mic all night while everyone else politely listens (with Kleenex stuffed in their ears).
Last Saturday, one of my classes took me out to KTV. I couldn’t believe the turn-out, 30 out of 35 of them showed up! We got to our room at about 1pm (they got the afternoon time slot because it’s much cheaper). Luckily, the English song selection was alright but every time one came on, the microphone was shoved my way. Two hours and a hoarse voice later the excitement started wearing down and I became tired of sitting and listening to tone-deaf students sing random Chinese pop-love-ballads. I looked around and saw many students using their mobile phones; I found myself wishing that I had brought mine to send a “get me outta here” text to my friend. I turned to the girl in charge and nonchalantly asked, “when do we have the room until?” She answered, “until 6pm.” - oh save me.
After another torturous 3 hours (filled with more Backstreet Boys than I care to say), our time in the room had come to an end. I would have made an exit earlier, but being the guest of honor, that would have been very rude of me to do in China. Some girls were even sleeping in corners of the couches by then, I so wished that I was. Excited to go home and sit down with a cup of cha (tea) and start my marking, I soon learned that that was not going to be the end of my night.
To Be Continued.
(Big Day Out, Part 1)
I’ve been busy marking 70 essays for the past few days, so I haven’t done an update in nearly a week. But, I’m happy to say that I’m finished marking and the students have done incredibly well! I’d like to take credit for that… While I could go on and on about school, I’m going to talk about something more interesting today: KTV (Karaoke Television). KTV is a huge phenomenon in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. At bigger establishments, you enter through the lobby of a karaoke ‘hotel,’ so to speak. I say hotel because once you’ve received your room number, you literally ride the elevator to floor where your private karaoke room is located. Depending on the size of your party, your room will comfortably seat anywhere between 4 and 50 people and is equip with at least 1 plasma TV, 2 microphones, a computer screen on which to make music selections and sometimes even your own bathroom. All rooms have room service, some will have buffets located on the floor and sometimes you can even control the lighting effects in the room (strobe, flashing, etc…)
The idea is that you line up song selections and as each comes on you pass the microphones to whoever wants to sing. As the music video plays on the screen, the words to the song appear at the bottom. KTV was one of my favourite things to do in Taiwan and now I’ve experienced it in China too. It can be a great time, but it also has the potential to be a very painful night out. In every crowd you usually end up with one or two people who think they can carry a tune and hog the mic all night while everyone else politely listens (with Kleenex stuffed in their ears).
Last Saturday, one of my classes took me out to KTV. I couldn’t believe the turn-out, 30 out of 35 of them showed up! We got to our room at about 1pm (they got the afternoon time slot because it’s much cheaper). Luckily, the English song selection was alright but every time one came on, the microphone was shoved my way. Two hours and a hoarse voice later the excitement started wearing down and I became tired of sitting and listening to tone-deaf students sing random Chinese pop-love-ballads. I looked around and saw many students using their mobile phones; I found myself wishing that I had brought mine to send a “get me outta here” text to my friend. I turned to the girl in charge and nonchalantly asked, “when do we have the room until?” She answered, “until 6pm.” - oh save me.
After another torturous 3 hours (filled with more Backstreet Boys than I care to say), our time in the room had come to an end. I would have made an exit earlier, but being the guest of honor, that would have been very rude of me to do in China. Some girls were even sleeping in corners of the couches by then, I so wished that I was. Excited to go home and sit down with a cup of cha (tea) and start my marking, I soon learned that that was not going to be the end of my night.
To Be Continued.
Day 22 - The China Challenge
originally written: Friday, December 4, 2009
(The Dating Game)
Today I played a game with my students called, “The Dating Game.” The purpose was for the students to practice getting up and speaking in front of each other (they’ve got Oral Presentations next week). For having just thought of it last night on a whim, this game proved to be hilarious.
By pulling names out of a hat, I chose one girl and three guys to get up in front of the class. I had them choose fake names in order to really get into the role playing mode. The girl chose “Princess” and the boys? “Ladies Man,” “Superman” and “Argument” (I know…) The premise? A dating TV show where Princess interviews the three ‘eligible bachelors’ in order to make a decision on which one she should date. (I had to keep assuring my students that this was JUST FOR FUN, MAKE BELIEVE!!)
Princess had the opportunity to ask the guys three questions and they took turns answering. Here I’ll only provide “The Best Of…”
Princess - If me and your mother both fell into a lake, who would you save?
Argument - Well I can’t swim, so I would watch you both drown.
Princess - If I got sick, what would you do to make me feel better?
Superman - I would get myself more sick than you, so that you don’t have it so bad.
Princess - What’s your favorite kind of food?
Ladies Man - Whatever you like the best.
Princess - If my dog died and I was very sad, what would you do to cheer me up?
Argument - I would cook it for you.
Today I played a game with my students called, “The Dating Game.” The purpose was for the students to practice getting up and speaking in front of each other (they’ve got Oral Presentations next week). For having just thought of it last night on a whim, this game proved to be hilarious.
By pulling names out of a hat, I chose one girl and three guys to get up in front of the class. I had them choose fake names in order to really get into the role playing mode. The girl chose “Princess” and the boys? “Ladies Man,” “Superman” and “Argument” (I know…) The premise? A dating TV show where Princess interviews the three ‘eligible bachelors’ in order to make a decision on which one she should date. (I had to keep assuring my students that this was JUST FOR FUN, MAKE BELIEVE!!)
Princess had the opportunity to ask the guys three questions and they took turns answering. Here I’ll only provide “The Best Of…”
Princess - If me and your mother both fell into a lake, who would you save?
Argument - Well I can’t swim, so I would watch you both drown.
Princess - If I got sick, what would you do to make me feel better?
Superman - I would get myself more sick than you, so that you don’t have it so bad.
Princess - What’s your favorite kind of food?
Ladies Man - Whatever you like the best.
Princess - If my dog died and I was very sad, what would you do to cheer me up?
Argument - I would cook it for you.
Day 21 - The China Challenge
originally written: Thursday, December 4, 2009
Jhania - mmm, let’s get one hot bread to share. Hopefully we can communicate this…
Laura - Wo men yeow iga… gigah (points to a piece of hot bread)
Translation: We want one…. That (I think)
Old Vendor Man - starts giggling to himself and rambling in Chinese.
Laura - Okay, I’ll try again - Tsing gay woah men iga
Translation: Please give us one (I think)
Old Vendor Man - continues chuckling and begins to spin some bread around (on this oven-stick thing).
Jhania - Right, maybe we should just give up.
Laura - Nah, I think he wants to give us a freshly baked one…
Old Vendor Man - begins to say the same thing in Chinese over and over… and he’s still laughing - he starts patting his stomach.
Jhania and I join in with the laughing… because, what else can you do? We start patting our tummies and saying, “Yeah, it will be yummy!”
Old Vendor Man - he’s probably thinking you stupid foreigners, I just got you to pat your bellies.
He then takes a freshly baked bread and puts it on the pile with the rest. He hands us a bag.
Jhania - score! Grab the fresh one!
Laura - doh shao tcien?
Translation: How much is it?
Old Vendor Man - e quai
Translation: 1 dollar (RMB)
Jhania hands over the money and says, Xie Xie
Translation: Thank you
We both walk away with our bread feeling a little more confident with our Chinese abilities. The Old Vendor man is left with an even sillier opinion (than he likely had before we came along) of foreigners.
(Foreigners on Parade)
On any given day in China I will have interactions with a variety of local Chinese people, mostly street vendors and shop keepers. As long as I keep a sense of humor about the whole thing, these conversations tend to be both ridiculous and hilarious for both parties.
As promised, today I will attempt to write what a typical conversation between me and a local Chinese person sounds like:
Picture me and my friend Jhania approaching a street vendor who is selling hot bread.
On any given day in China I will have interactions with a variety of local Chinese people, mostly street vendors and shop keepers. As long as I keep a sense of humor about the whole thing, these conversations tend to be both ridiculous and hilarious for both parties.
As promised, today I will attempt to write what a typical conversation between me and a local Chinese person sounds like:
Picture me and my friend Jhania approaching a street vendor who is selling hot bread.
Jhania - mmm, let’s get one hot bread to share. Hopefully we can communicate this…
Laura - Wo men yeow iga… gigah (points to a piece of hot bread)
Translation: We want one…. That (I think)
Old Vendor Man - starts giggling to himself and rambling in Chinese.
Laura - Okay, I’ll try again - Tsing gay woah men iga
Translation: Please give us one (I think)
Old Vendor Man - continues chuckling and begins to spin some bread around (on this oven-stick thing).
Jhania - Right, maybe we should just give up.
Laura - Nah, I think he wants to give us a freshly baked one…
Old Vendor Man - begins to say the same thing in Chinese over and over… and he’s still laughing - he starts patting his stomach.
Jhania and I join in with the laughing… because, what else can you do? We start patting our tummies and saying, “Yeah, it will be yummy!”
Old Vendor Man - he’s probably thinking you stupid foreigners, I just got you to pat your bellies.
He then takes a freshly baked bread and puts it on the pile with the rest. He hands us a bag.
Jhania - score! Grab the fresh one!
Laura - doh shao tcien?
Translation: How much is it?
Old Vendor Man - e quai
Translation: 1 dollar (RMB)
Jhania hands over the money and says, Xie Xie
Translation: Thank you
We both walk away with our bread feeling a little more confident with our Chinese abilities. The Old Vendor man is left with an even sillier opinion (than he likely had before we came along) of foreigners.
Day 20 - The China Challenge
originally written: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
(Talking with Charlie)
Most of my students are very good with English - speaking and writing. Then there are others who are quite obviously in the program merely because their parents have enough money to put them there. One of these students is named Charlie.
Laura - Charlie, you’ve been sick for 5 days - are you feeling okay?
Charlie - Yeah, okay.
Laura - Alright, well you’ve missed heaps of work. Are you ready to write Task 3 today?
Charlie - Yeah, okay.
Laura - So, you’ve prepared for it?
Charlie - Okay.
Laura - So, you’re prepared?
Charlie - prepared.
Laura - Right, well get your pen and we’ll put you at the back of the class then to write it.
Five minutes later, Charlie is sitting at his desk, talking to friends. I walk over.
Laura - Charlie, are you going to write Task 3 then?
Charlie - Okay.
Charlie’s friends start laughing
Laura - Charlie, do you understand what I’ve asked you?
Charlie - understand.
I turn to his friends.
Laura - Right, guys can you please ask Charlie if he’s ready to write Task 3 today?
Chinese, Chinese, Chinese….
Charlie’s friends - No, Charlie isn’t ready today. He wants to write it tomorrow.
Of course, there’s another side to this coin. Tomorrow I’ll relate what a typical conversation between myself and a local Chinese person sounds like.
Most of my students are very good with English - speaking and writing. Then there are others who are quite obviously in the program merely because their parents have enough money to put them there. One of these students is named Charlie.
Laura - Charlie, you’ve been sick for 5 days - are you feeling okay?
Charlie - Yeah, okay.
Laura - Alright, well you’ve missed heaps of work. Are you ready to write Task 3 today?
Charlie - Yeah, okay.
Laura - So, you’ve prepared for it?
Charlie - Okay.
Laura - So, you’re prepared?
Charlie - prepared.
Laura - Right, well get your pen and we’ll put you at the back of the class then to write it.
Five minutes later, Charlie is sitting at his desk, talking to friends. I walk over.
Laura - Charlie, are you going to write Task 3 then?
Charlie - Okay.
Charlie’s friends start laughing
Laura - Charlie, do you understand what I’ve asked you?
Charlie - understand.
I turn to his friends.
Laura - Right, guys can you please ask Charlie if he’s ready to write Task 3 today?
Chinese, Chinese, Chinese….
Charlie’s friends - No, Charlie isn’t ready today. He wants to write it tomorrow.
Of course, there’s another side to this coin. Tomorrow I’ll relate what a typical conversation between myself and a local Chinese person sounds like.
Day 19 - The China Challenge
originally written: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
(Reasons I Love China)
December already! Since I have nothing too exciting to talk about today, I’m going to name a few reasons why I love living in Asia:
1) It doesn’t matter what I look like, ever. This not only rings true for me, but for all the foreigners here. I stop wearing makeup from the moment I get off the plane, because it simply doesn’t matter. I’m still called beautiful everywhere I go. (Yes, it does wonders for the ego!) I hate to admit it, but I wear the exact same thing every day when teaching (mostly because it’s so damn cold and I’m not here long enough to buy more winter clothes). The thing is, so do all the other teachers! We’re not judging each other, and no one is judging us! Fantastic.
2) Almost every meal includes rice. I love rice - I don’t know why, it’s just great. Whenever we eat together, each person gets a small bowl of rice and we share the bigger plates between everyone. Of course, this isn’t so great when one person is sick and still uses their chopsticks to take food from the center plate. It usually results in everyone else getting sick too. Though, this eating style means that everyone gets to eat a little bit of everything.
3) Chinese kids are adorable. It’s partly because the kids are so bundled up in their winter-wear these days that they can barely walk (it’s so cute) and also because I can’t understand a word they are saying. Whatever it is, I think little Chinese kids are hilarious.
(Reasons I Love China)
December already! Since I have nothing too exciting to talk about today, I’m going to name a few reasons why I love living in Asia:
1) It doesn’t matter what I look like, ever. This not only rings true for me, but for all the foreigners here. I stop wearing makeup from the moment I get off the plane, because it simply doesn’t matter. I’m still called beautiful everywhere I go. (Yes, it does wonders for the ego!) I hate to admit it, but I wear the exact same thing every day when teaching (mostly because it’s so damn cold and I’m not here long enough to buy more winter clothes). The thing is, so do all the other teachers! We’re not judging each other, and no one is judging us! Fantastic.
2) Almost every meal includes rice. I love rice - I don’t know why, it’s just great. Whenever we eat together, each person gets a small bowl of rice and we share the bigger plates between everyone. Of course, this isn’t so great when one person is sick and still uses their chopsticks to take food from the center plate. It usually results in everyone else getting sick too. Though, this eating style means that everyone gets to eat a little bit of everything.
3) Chinese kids are adorable. It’s partly because the kids are so bundled up in their winter-wear these days that they can barely walk (it’s so cute) and also because I can’t understand a word they are saying. Whatever it is, I think little Chinese kids are hilarious.
Day 18 - The China Challenge
originally written: Monday, November 29, 2009
(Chinese Goody Bag)
A little over a week ago, I got back to my office desk after teaching my usual four hours in the morning to find a white bag waiting for me. Oh! A goody bag! After closer inspection, I learned that this bag was in fact a SWINE FLU goody bag - full of H1N1 prevention goodness. Yes, Swine Flu has hit Henan University, but I have no reason to worry because I’ve got enough Chinese medicine to cover this lifetime and the next. There are these vials of liquid (they smell like Rescue Remedy) that we are supposed to take as a precaution 3 times a day. Also, Chinese teas which are to drive away colds - they taste like honey and dirt mixed together with a dandelion thrown in for good measure. But it’s GOOD FOR HEALTH! Needless to say, most of the teachers here politely said thanks, took the bag home and rather than taking the medicine, we are simply writing funny emails about it to our friends and family. After all, the university already forced me to get immunized!
For the past week, the guard to our hotel has been checking everyone’s temperatures as they walk in the door (he’s using this point and shoot kind of temperature-taker, common in Asia). My question is, if I’ve got an unreasonable temperature, what will he do? Will I not be allowed to go back to my own room? I actually was quite sick this past weekend, but I’m on the upswing now. Luckily, no fever - just a silly cold. I rode through two days of a running/stuffed nose and sneezes galore before I decided to get some medicine to mask the symptoms - after all, I had to return to work Monday. This part was fun, I just walked in the pharmacy, pointed to my nose and sniffed, starting coughing a bit and let out one big sneeze - the pharmacist just passed over a box of capsules and hurried me and my virus out the door.
(Chinese Goody Bag)
A little over a week ago, I got back to my office desk after teaching my usual four hours in the morning to find a white bag waiting for me. Oh! A goody bag! After closer inspection, I learned that this bag was in fact a SWINE FLU goody bag - full of H1N1 prevention goodness. Yes, Swine Flu has hit Henan University, but I have no reason to worry because I’ve got enough Chinese medicine to cover this lifetime and the next. There are these vials of liquid (they smell like Rescue Remedy) that we are supposed to take as a precaution 3 times a day. Also, Chinese teas which are to drive away colds - they taste like honey and dirt mixed together with a dandelion thrown in for good measure. But it’s GOOD FOR HEALTH! Needless to say, most of the teachers here politely said thanks, took the bag home and rather than taking the medicine, we are simply writing funny emails about it to our friends and family. After all, the university already forced me to get immunized!
For the past week, the guard to our hotel has been checking everyone’s temperatures as they walk in the door (he’s using this point and shoot kind of temperature-taker, common in Asia). My question is, if I’ve got an unreasonable temperature, what will he do? Will I not be allowed to go back to my own room? I actually was quite sick this past weekend, but I’m on the upswing now. Luckily, no fever - just a silly cold. I rode through two days of a running/stuffed nose and sneezes galore before I decided to get some medicine to mask the symptoms - after all, I had to return to work Monday. This part was fun, I just walked in the pharmacy, pointed to my nose and sniffed, starting coughing a bit and let out one big sneeze - the pharmacist just passed over a box of capsules and hurried me and my virus out the door.
Day 17 - The China Challenge
originally written: Friday, November 27, 2009
(The not-so-Forbidden City)
Well, I’m sitting here on a Friday night, sick as a dog (I’ve got a cold) and marking essays. I must be a teacher. I’m also fighting a craving for chocolate - it’s putting up a good fight. The only real ammunition that I have is the strong desire to stay in my warm room while the cold wind whistles outside my window. I’ll take a break from marking now to tell you about the last thing I saw last weekend in Beijing: The Forbidden City.
We woke up ghastly early on Sunday morning in order to squeeze in one last site before we caught our train home at noon. The Forbidden City is situated across the road from Tiananmen Square. To enter, one must walk under the Tiananmen Gate (and the gigantic photo of Chairman Mao). I guess the Forbidden City is not-so-forbidden since they let us in! Though, to risk sounding like an ignorant tourist, it really was just one massive courtyard after another - divided of course by very significant gates. It would have been far more interesting had we either been able to read Chinese or hire an English-speaking guide, but there simply wasn’t enough time.
One thing that I never tire of is the fabulous Chinese architecture! The rooftops are usually what gets me - these were littered with ancient sculptures of dragons and other sacred figures. To draw from Wikipedia now, The Forbidden City was home for almost five centuries to the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political center of China. It was built from 1406 - 1420 and it is still home to over 980 surviving buildings. I especially enjoy the names of the most important ones: The Palace of Earthly Harmony, The Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers, The Hall of Mental Cultivation, The Palace of Tranquil Longevity, The Palace of Heavenly Purity, etc… We spotted a funny sign at the bottom of a very tall, spiky rock-type monument (that was very tempting to climb). It warned, “A single act of carelessness leads to the eternal loss of beauty.” I believe this sign is open for interpretation - is it your loss of beauty that they’re worried about as you tumble down the spiky surface or the monument’s?
There’s my report on The Forbidden City - that isn’t so forbidden. And that wraps up my Beijing tales! All in all, I was so fortunate to have gone and on such a beautiful weekend too! Saturday (at the Great Wall) provided the only blue/clear sky I’ve seen in China so far! I must say though, I still prefer Kaifeng. The hustling, bustling, messy streets of Kaifeng are really feeling like home these days. Since this weekend will be my first two days of relaxation for a while (aside from this blasted cold and all the marking) I’m going to take a two-day break from the China challenge and continue along on Monday!. Until then, Tsai Jian!
(The not-so-Forbidden City)
Well, I’m sitting here on a Friday night, sick as a dog (I’ve got a cold) and marking essays. I must be a teacher. I’m also fighting a craving for chocolate - it’s putting up a good fight. The only real ammunition that I have is the strong desire to stay in my warm room while the cold wind whistles outside my window. I’ll take a break from marking now to tell you about the last thing I saw last weekend in Beijing: The Forbidden City.
We woke up ghastly early on Sunday morning in order to squeeze in one last site before we caught our train home at noon. The Forbidden City is situated across the road from Tiananmen Square. To enter, one must walk under the Tiananmen Gate (and the gigantic photo of Chairman Mao). I guess the Forbidden City is not-so-forbidden since they let us in! Though, to risk sounding like an ignorant tourist, it really was just one massive courtyard after another - divided of course by very significant gates. It would have been far more interesting had we either been able to read Chinese or hire an English-speaking guide, but there simply wasn’t enough time.
One thing that I never tire of is the fabulous Chinese architecture! The rooftops are usually what gets me - these were littered with ancient sculptures of dragons and other sacred figures. To draw from Wikipedia now, The Forbidden City was home for almost five centuries to the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political center of China. It was built from 1406 - 1420 and it is still home to over 980 surviving buildings. I especially enjoy the names of the most important ones: The Palace of Earthly Harmony, The Pavilion of the Rain of Flowers, The Hall of Mental Cultivation, The Palace of Tranquil Longevity, The Palace of Heavenly Purity, etc… We spotted a funny sign at the bottom of a very tall, spiky rock-type monument (that was very tempting to climb). It warned, “A single act of carelessness leads to the eternal loss of beauty.” I believe this sign is open for interpretation - is it your loss of beauty that they’re worried about as you tumble down the spiky surface or the monument’s?
There’s my report on The Forbidden City - that isn’t so forbidden. And that wraps up my Beijing tales! All in all, I was so fortunate to have gone and on such a beautiful weekend too! Saturday (at the Great Wall) provided the only blue/clear sky I’ve seen in China so far! I must say though, I still prefer Kaifeng. The hustling, bustling, messy streets of Kaifeng are really feeling like home these days. Since this weekend will be my first two days of relaxation for a while (aside from this blasted cold and all the marking) I’m going to take a two-day break from the China challenge and continue along on Monday!. Until then, Tsai Jian!
Day 16 - The China Challenge
originally written: Thursday, November 26, 2009
(Chinese Bargains)
To continue my accounts of last weekend’s excursion to Beijing, today I’m going to write about our trip to The Silk Market. After spending a few hours at the Great Wall, John the driver drove us by the 2008 Olympic sites - the bird’s nest, the Olympic pool and the Dragon Hotel. I’ve included pictures in this email. He then brought us to The Silk Market - by its name you’d expect this market to sell silk alone, but it actually sells everything under the sun: knock-off clothing, electronics, silk, pearls, jewelry, skin products (though, most of these were for “whitening” or contained the word “placenta” in their names…), luggage, etc… At this point, we were so exhausted from our whirl-wind tour of Beijing that we really weren’t in the mood to shop, but we were determined to get some bargains.
The beauty of a Chinese market lies in the customer’s power over the price of the product. Nothing has price tags because cost changes constantly - depending on who is asking. Of course, for foreigners, high prices are asked. The way to respond to this is by looking absolutely shocked, say “that’s far too expensive,” drop the item and then start walking along to the next stall. The shopkeeper will call another price after you and then you can continue to bargain them down. Another strategy is to quote something absurdly low as the “only” price that you’d pay and see where that takes you. Here‘s an example:
Laura - How much is this? (holding a beautiful pashmina scarf)
Shopkeeper - 100 yuan (about $20 CDN)
Laura - That’s ridiculous (starts to walk away)
Shopkeeper - Okay, okay. You name your best price, no joking (hands me the calculator - for some reason each shopkeeper would use this line, “no joking”)
Laura - 10 yuan, that’s the most I’ll pay
Shopkeeper - no, no, no. This one best quality, 100%
Laura - I’ve seen better. The shop down there said they’d sell for 7 yuan
Shopkeeper - Okay, I give you best price, no joking (types 60 yuan into the calculator)
Laura - (starts walking away)
Shopkeeper - Okay, final price - special for you beautiful lady today only (types 45)
Laura - (pulls 25 yuan out of wallet) I’ll give you 25 yuan, nothing more.
Shopkeeper - no you joking, best quality
Laura - (walks away to the next shop)
Shopkeeper - (yells after) Okay, okay. 25 yuan, you good bargain.
Because it’s low season, the shopkeepers are very desperate to make sales. It’s not that fun to be a customer in the market, unless you’re really in the mood for it. I tried on two shirts in one shop and then decided I didn’t want to purchase anything. I was walking away when the shopkeeper grabbed my wrists tightly and said, “NO! You try on two things, you must buy now. You waste my time!” I tried pulling away, but she wouldn’t let go! I started looking around for security, but of course there was none. Jhania came storming over and pried the girl’s hands from my wrists and gave her hand a little smack before we hurried away. It was very overwhelming. The shopkeepers also grew quite grumpy as the hours drew on. One girl welcomed our friend Lynn with “Oh, hello beautiful lady! What do you like to buy?” and when Lynn walked away without purchasing anything the girl called after her, “I said you beautiful! I lie! You ugly, very ugly!”
They must be so used to ignorant and rude foreigners at these markets in Beijing, I can’t really blame them for the way they acted towards us. After all, we are buying these really great products for ridiculously cheap prices!
(Chinese Bargains)
To continue my accounts of last weekend’s excursion to Beijing, today I’m going to write about our trip to The Silk Market. After spending a few hours at the Great Wall, John the driver drove us by the 2008 Olympic sites - the bird’s nest, the Olympic pool and the Dragon Hotel. I’ve included pictures in this email. He then brought us to The Silk Market - by its name you’d expect this market to sell silk alone, but it actually sells everything under the sun: knock-off clothing, electronics, silk, pearls, jewelry, skin products (though, most of these were for “whitening” or contained the word “placenta” in their names…), luggage, etc… At this point, we were so exhausted from our whirl-wind tour of Beijing that we really weren’t in the mood to shop, but we were determined to get some bargains.
The beauty of a Chinese market lies in the customer’s power over the price of the product. Nothing has price tags because cost changes constantly - depending on who is asking. Of course, for foreigners, high prices are asked. The way to respond to this is by looking absolutely shocked, say “that’s far too expensive,” drop the item and then start walking along to the next stall. The shopkeeper will call another price after you and then you can continue to bargain them down. Another strategy is to quote something absurdly low as the “only” price that you’d pay and see where that takes you. Here‘s an example:
Laura - How much is this? (holding a beautiful pashmina scarf)
Shopkeeper - 100 yuan (about $20 CDN)
Laura - That’s ridiculous (starts to walk away)
Shopkeeper - Okay, okay. You name your best price, no joking (hands me the calculator - for some reason each shopkeeper would use this line, “no joking”)
Laura - 10 yuan, that’s the most I’ll pay
Shopkeeper - no, no, no. This one best quality, 100%
Laura - I’ve seen better. The shop down there said they’d sell for 7 yuan
Shopkeeper - Okay, I give you best price, no joking (types 60 yuan into the calculator)
Laura - (starts walking away)
Shopkeeper - Okay, final price - special for you beautiful lady today only (types 45)
Laura - (pulls 25 yuan out of wallet) I’ll give you 25 yuan, nothing more.
Shopkeeper - no you joking, best quality
Laura - (walks away to the next shop)
Shopkeeper - (yells after) Okay, okay. 25 yuan, you good bargain.
Because it’s low season, the shopkeepers are very desperate to make sales. It’s not that fun to be a customer in the market, unless you’re really in the mood for it. I tried on two shirts in one shop and then decided I didn’t want to purchase anything. I was walking away when the shopkeeper grabbed my wrists tightly and said, “NO! You try on two things, you must buy now. You waste my time!” I tried pulling away, but she wouldn’t let go! I started looking around for security, but of course there was none. Jhania came storming over and pried the girl’s hands from my wrists and gave her hand a little smack before we hurried away. It was very overwhelming. The shopkeepers also grew quite grumpy as the hours drew on. One girl welcomed our friend Lynn with “Oh, hello beautiful lady! What do you like to buy?” and when Lynn walked away without purchasing anything the girl called after her, “I said you beautiful! I lie! You ugly, very ugly!”
They must be so used to ignorant and rude foreigners at these markets in Beijing, I can’t really blame them for the way they acted towards us. After all, we are buying these really great products for ridiculously cheap prices!
Day 15 - The China Challenge
originally written: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
(Chinese Aerobics)
I’m going to interrupt the reports on Beijing for today and instead, I’ll write about my experience this evening at a Chinese gym. Jhania and I were invited to join our friend Marta, an American teacher here, at the local gym - there was a boxing/aerobics class at 6:30. Marta has been going there for about a month now. I will probably take a picture one of these days, but I’ll let you build a mental picture first. The gym is located near the center of town. It’s down a very dark alley and the entrance is also not lit. It didn’t look promising upon arrival. While we walked up a few flights of stairs, we gazed at the large gym ads on the wall - lots of Chinese writing paired with tacky 80s shots of fitness buffs.
We could hear the music pumping as we reached the top of the staircase - 90s techo, my favourite. When we opened the door the entire gym literally froze. Three blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners here to work out? Unheard of! Once the boys got on with their weights, we took a minute to look around. The gym is equipped with four treadmills (2 of which work), a few stationary bikes and a couple weight sets. Score! There’s also a stage and area for fitness classes - this is where the aerobics class was already in progress - we were a little late.
We assumed our positions among the other attendees, there was about 10 of us in total. The fitness instructor looked like he came straight out of a Japanese anime film (except that he’s Chinese) - all bulked up and everything. My favourite part about him was that he kept checking himself out in the mirror as he was teaching (I would too if I looked like that). The workout itself was pretty simple - a lot of punching, jabbing and jogging on the spot. The instructor was really into it and kept adding in special high kick-jumps that made us all look like samurai - he seemed to do it in slow motion. The music was so perfectly timed to this workout that each time we punched or kicked the air a noise would sound as if we had really hit something. I felt like I was playing a video game - or in one of those old superhero movies.
When the class was over, Jhania and I decided that we definitely wanted to join the gym for the rest of the time that we’re here - only 1 month. For $20, you can’t go wrong. Even if it’s just to participate in the blast from the 80s workouts each week.
I’m going to interrupt the reports on Beijing for today and instead, I’ll write about my experience this evening at a Chinese gym. Jhania and I were invited to join our friend Marta, an American teacher here, at the local gym - there was a boxing/aerobics class at 6:30. Marta has been going there for about a month now. I will probably take a picture one of these days, but I’ll let you build a mental picture first. The gym is located near the center of town. It’s down a very dark alley and the entrance is also not lit. It didn’t look promising upon arrival. While we walked up a few flights of stairs, we gazed at the large gym ads on the wall - lots of Chinese writing paired with tacky 80s shots of fitness buffs.
We could hear the music pumping as we reached the top of the staircase - 90s techo, my favourite. When we opened the door the entire gym literally froze. Three blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners here to work out? Unheard of! Once the boys got on with their weights, we took a minute to look around. The gym is equipped with four treadmills (2 of which work), a few stationary bikes and a couple weight sets. Score! There’s also a stage and area for fitness classes - this is where the aerobics class was already in progress - we were a little late.
We assumed our positions among the other attendees, there was about 10 of us in total. The fitness instructor looked like he came straight out of a Japanese anime film (except that he’s Chinese) - all bulked up and everything. My favourite part about him was that he kept checking himself out in the mirror as he was teaching (I would too if I looked like that). The workout itself was pretty simple - a lot of punching, jabbing and jogging on the spot. The instructor was really into it and kept adding in special high kick-jumps that made us all look like samurai - he seemed to do it in slow motion. The music was so perfectly timed to this workout that each time we punched or kicked the air a noise would sound as if we had really hit something. I felt like I was playing a video game - or in one of those old superhero movies.
When the class was over, Jhania and I decided that we definitely wanted to join the gym for the rest of the time that we’re here - only 1 month. For $20, you can’t go wrong. Even if it’s just to participate in the blast from the 80s workouts each week.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day 14 - The China Challenge
originally written: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
(The Great Wall of China)
There’s another Chinese opera going on outside my window tonight. A fitting soundtrack for writing about my experiences at The Great Wall of China this past weekend. On Saturday, after our time in Tiananmen Square, we met with our driver for the day, John. He was quite a character! John spoke pretty good conversational English (having mostly learned from his foreign customers) and provided us with great entertainment all day long. He also knew the ins and outs of the tourist hot spots in Beijing and even helped us bargain with shopkeepers to get the best deals. John drove us to the Mutianyu site of the Great Wall, about 1.5 hours from Beijing City. On the way we inevitably had to stop for a potty break (there were four female passengers) and John brought us to the sketchiest squat toilets I’ve seen in China (so far). I couldn’t help myself and just had to take a photo, I’ve included it in this email. Yes, it’s the one that looks like three graves ready to be filled!
We arrived at The Great Wall at around 10:30am and John showed us where to purchase tickets, etc… We took a gondola up to the top of the cliffs where the wall was. It’s hard to communicate in words how I felt while walking along the wall. The history behind it is so dense and just the magnificence of it all was a lot to take in. Photos cannot truly capture what it’s like, but they can give you some idea. Just to imagine people hundreds of years ago standing at the bottom of those cliffs looking up and saying, “Yeup, just at the top of those cliffs there, we’re going to build a massive wall.” And all those thousands of lives that were lost during its construction - you can’t help but feel emotional while walking along.
After our walk, we took toboggans down the cliff. It was quite surreal actually - something so child-like following such an emotional moment. Once we’d reached the bottom, we joined John in a game of Chinese hacky-sack (similar to the one we play in North America). A great ending to our visit to the Great Wall!
(The Great Wall of China)
There’s another Chinese opera going on outside my window tonight. A fitting soundtrack for writing about my experiences at The Great Wall of China this past weekend. On Saturday, after our time in Tiananmen Square, we met with our driver for the day, John. He was quite a character! John spoke pretty good conversational English (having mostly learned from his foreign customers) and provided us with great entertainment all day long. He also knew the ins and outs of the tourist hot spots in Beijing and even helped us bargain with shopkeepers to get the best deals. John drove us to the Mutianyu site of the Great Wall, about 1.5 hours from Beijing City. On the way we inevitably had to stop for a potty break (there were four female passengers) and John brought us to the sketchiest squat toilets I’ve seen in China (so far). I couldn’t help myself and just had to take a photo, I’ve included it in this email. Yes, it’s the one that looks like three graves ready to be filled!
We arrived at The Great Wall at around 10:30am and John showed us where to purchase tickets, etc… We took a gondola up to the top of the cliffs where the wall was. It’s hard to communicate in words how I felt while walking along the wall. The history behind it is so dense and just the magnificence of it all was a lot to take in. Photos cannot truly capture what it’s like, but they can give you some idea. Just to imagine people hundreds of years ago standing at the bottom of those cliffs looking up and saying, “Yeup, just at the top of those cliffs there, we’re going to build a massive wall.” And all those thousands of lives that were lost during its construction - you can’t help but feel emotional while walking along.
After our walk, we took toboggans down the cliff. It was quite surreal actually - something so child-like following such an emotional moment. Once we’d reached the bottom, we joined John in a game of Chinese hacky-sack (similar to the one we play in North America). A great ending to our visit to the Great Wall!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
