Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas in China : The Beginning
Been busy working two jobs lately and forgot that I need to blog every
now and then so people know I'm alive. Christmas is coming soon, and I
decided to decorate for the impending visit of the family.
Just finished putting up my first Christmas tree - in China, in the real
world, or otherwise - and I have some requests for any of you that would
like to participate. First, I would like more pictures for my wall of
friends and family pictures. Second, if you would like to send an
ornament to put on my tree you can mail and/or give them to my mom or
other family headed for the China. It'd be great to have ornaments to
throw on the tree come Christmas time.
And here, for your viewing pleasure, are the first pictures from China.
There are pictures of my Christmas team (Rita, Zoey, and Weiguang)
setting up our Christmas tree, along with pictures of the last time Bob
and I went KTV-ing. I sang so well that I didn't even need a mic at
times (evidenced by the pictures), and Bob for some reason decided that
Zhang Keke and him really really really needed to wrestle as soon as
they got outside into the rain. Really.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING TO CHINAAAAAAAAAA
Friday, November 13, 2009
Translator Extraordinaire
Let me start off by saying that riding a bike in the rain isn't as glorious as a Nike commercial makes it seem, especially not in 50 degree weather, but I must admit that it's still pretty fun. I slowly rode two blocks with an umbrella in my hand before the "I'M A STRONG AMERICAN MAN" side of me took over, causing me to put away my umbrella and ride at maximum danger speed. It was pretty great.
The last few days I've been playing interpreter for the visiting kindergarten teachers from Canada. They are also from a college sponsored school that does many research projects, so I've played translator at many meals and events so far.
The first event, before all the dignitaries that had met me knew I was capable, the biggest boss had brought a teacher from her branch to act as translator. I knew without being told to let her try and translate first, and fill in the gaps if there were any. It was cute watching the Chinese woman with decent English try and translate at first, and I was more than willing to let her to the greetings, but as the gloves came off and phrases like "meta cognitive development" and "sophisticated curriculum design" began to pop up I started taking over the translating. It ended with me being full time translator, and me being involved with every event so far this week. They've been cancelling classes, moving classes, doing whatever they need to in order to have me present. It's been pretty fun. I've also noted that my Chinese has gotten even better than it was before, and the fact that even the foreign professors are impressed reflects how good it must appear to be even to people who don't speak the language.
The culmination of the translator gig was today when the two professors gave lectures. I was, needless to say, a bit nervous to translate a one hour lecture given by two professors with Ph.D's into Chinese for an audience of 70 people. The whole ordeal was, unbeknownst to me, caught on tape as well as documented in pictures, so I'll be sure to get a hold of that media.
An interesting side note, there was a big flu outbreak in one of my classes overnight. There were 26 kids in class E yesterday, and today only 6 showed up. A seventh came late, then left an hour later with flu symptoms. As a result, they are doing a big disinfecting of the classroom and all the kids in the class have been given the week off, leaving me with only two classes to teach for the next week. We'll see what creative ideas they come up with for this newfound free time to keep me busy. Now that the heads of the other 5 branches now what a great translator they have on staff, they are all considering treating more and more foreign guests to come give lectures on education. What have I gotten myself into.
The last few days I've been playing interpreter for the visiting kindergarten teachers from Canada. They are also from a college sponsored school that does many research projects, so I've played translator at many meals and events so far.
The first event, before all the dignitaries that had met me knew I was capable, the biggest boss had brought a teacher from her branch to act as translator. I knew without being told to let her try and translate first, and fill in the gaps if there were any. It was cute watching the Chinese woman with decent English try and translate at first, and I was more than willing to let her to the greetings, but as the gloves came off and phrases like "meta cognitive development" and "sophisticated curriculum design" began to pop up I started taking over the translating. It ended with me being full time translator, and me being involved with every event so far this week. They've been cancelling classes, moving classes, doing whatever they need to in order to have me present. It's been pretty fun. I've also noted that my Chinese has gotten even better than it was before, and the fact that even the foreign professors are impressed reflects how good it must appear to be even to people who don't speak the language.
The culmination of the translator gig was today when the two professors gave lectures. I was, needless to say, a bit nervous to translate a one hour lecture given by two professors with Ph.D's into Chinese for an audience of 70 people. The whole ordeal was, unbeknownst to me, caught on tape as well as documented in pictures, so I'll be sure to get a hold of that media.
An interesting side note, there was a big flu outbreak in one of my classes overnight. There were 26 kids in class E yesterday, and today only 6 showed up. A seventh came late, then left an hour later with flu symptoms. As a result, they are doing a big disinfecting of the classroom and all the kids in the class have been given the week off, leaving me with only two classes to teach for the next week. We'll see what creative ideas they come up with for this newfound free time to keep me busy. Now that the heads of the other 5 branches now what a great translator they have on staff, they are all considering treating more and more foreign guests to come give lectures on education. What have I gotten myself into.
Monday, November 9, 2009
It Smells Like Fall
It's a great day outside today. Just enough wind blowing to throw red and orange leaves around, and there is that distinct smell in the air that winter is almost here. I am really craving some chili right now.
Today we had two teachers from a school in Canada come to visit, and my job was to play tour guide and interpreter. Apparently our kindergarten has a sister school in Canada, and every February we do a teacher exchange. It gives our teachers a chance to see other methods, and it gives the Canadian kindergarten (which is also sponsored by a college) a chance to send Graduate students and PhD candidates over to do research and help out our curriculum. It's a pretty good feeling when even the white people are blown away by how good my Chinese is. They are really excited knowing now that I will be here in February, and I am too since they want to include me in helping their research projects. I get to pretend I'm a graduate student for 2 weeks when they come at the end of February/March.
In addition to that, I've started spending a lot of time previewing restaurants and locations around me. I've been getting prices on hotels, parks, and setting up daily itineraries for when the five-some comes to visit for Christmas. Pretty excited. If anyone wants to try and stow away in their suitcase they are certainly welcomed.
That's my short update for today.
Today we had two teachers from a school in Canada come to visit, and my job was to play tour guide and interpreter. Apparently our kindergarten has a sister school in Canada, and every February we do a teacher exchange. It gives our teachers a chance to see other methods, and it gives the Canadian kindergarten (which is also sponsored by a college) a chance to send Graduate students and PhD candidates over to do research and help out our curriculum. It's a pretty good feeling when even the white people are blown away by how good my Chinese is. They are really excited knowing now that I will be here in February, and I am too since they want to include me in helping their research projects. I get to pretend I'm a graduate student for 2 weeks when they come at the end of February/March.
In addition to that, I've started spending a lot of time previewing restaurants and locations around me. I've been getting prices on hotels, parks, and setting up daily itineraries for when the five-some comes to visit for Christmas. Pretty excited. If anyone wants to try and stow away in their suitcase they are certainly welcomed.
That's my short update for today.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Much needed update
JJ has come and gone. He was here for only five days, but it was an awesome five days. Being back together with the big man was so fantastic, I got to really unwind and unleash my American culture for a good portion of time. Him being gone means that instead of asking off work I'm going to double up on it. Gotta make some money to get ready for treating other visitors! All are welcome!
Getting ready for the Halloween parties at the moment. The last two weeks of class have been really fun, giving out different types of candy and building up to the best this week. I've been put in charge of the Haunted House for our kindergarten, and I am also to be one of the MC's for the Halloween show, so I am excited for both jobs. I have to be a pirate, the costume I wore needed to match the other MC, and she wanted to be a pirate. Aside from that, Halloween should be fun. I am participating in the parties at both my kindergartens, so I've got a good amount of extra work and planning to do.
To reward myself, tonight I went and bought a special Nintendo DS card that allows for downloading and playing of games. No, it isn't quite legal, but it's the Chinese way of doing things. After looking for a long time for Pokemon in Chinese, I discovered that the only way to find any DS games in China is to do it this way. I bought the card, got a bunch of different Chinese language versions of Pokemon games, and am looking forward to practicing my reading speed as I play through them in my free time. If this works, I'm totally buying these as gifts for JJ and Patrick. I thought about getting one for Anita, but she would be so frustrated by the challenge of reading Chinese.
Getting ready for the Halloween parties at the moment. The last two weeks of class have been really fun, giving out different types of candy and building up to the best this week. I've been put in charge of the Haunted House for our kindergarten, and I am also to be one of the MC's for the Halloween show, so I am excited for both jobs. I have to be a pirate, the costume I wore needed to match the other MC, and she wanted to be a pirate. Aside from that, Halloween should be fun. I am participating in the parties at both my kindergartens, so I've got a good amount of extra work and planning to do.
To reward myself, tonight I went and bought a special Nintendo DS card that allows for downloading and playing of games. No, it isn't quite legal, but it's the Chinese way of doing things. After looking for a long time for Pokemon in Chinese, I discovered that the only way to find any DS games in China is to do it this way. I bought the card, got a bunch of different Chinese language versions of Pokemon games, and am looking forward to practicing my reading speed as I play through them in my free time. If this works, I'm totally buying these as gifts for JJ and Patrick. I thought about getting one for Anita, but she would be so frustrated by the challenge of reading Chinese.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Beijing Trip
The trip in Beijing has been epic fun. I've really enjoyed my time here with Gloria and Bob, it's been a refreshing infusion of American culture into my life. I didn't bring a computer, so I haven't been blogging regularly. I hope that after I get back I'll sit down and document some of the weirder stories.
As it is, I will try and write some stories now, though my focus is lacking. I am currently sitting in a cafe with Gloria and we are both painfully hung over. We had the option of having a quiet night at home last night or going out to exlore the Houhai bar district. We chose the bar district, and what a night we had.
We started out in a bar called "Sex In Da City", I'd seen it a few times before and always wanted to go. We took turns buying each other rounds and bar hopping. There was lots of live music and performances going on at each bar, so we made sure to walk around the lake and check all of them out. Gloria video documented our trip around the lake bar district along with many other parts of the trip, once she gets those online somewhere I'll link to them. We eventually had some other friends meet up with us, though when they got to us we were tipsy and "China Crazy".
China Crazy has been the ongoing theme of the trip, it's the word Bob and I have been using to describe the change of behavior that occurs when you get abroad and into a new culture. Gloria has been going China Crazy, and it's rubbing off on Bob and me. Much more on me, since I'm staying with her. We just do some strange, strange things with no fear of embarassment. She brought Metamucil with her, and both of us are now addicted to it. We discovered the preventative cure for unhappy stomaches and bowel movements caused by spicier than death food is Metamucil, and we are taking so much it's crazy. SO MUCH FIBER.
China Crazy is so intense. We stole the little decorative shams off our beds this morning. We aren't really sure why. It just needed to be done.
Back to the story, we ended up spending so much money in the bar district. We spent the equivalent of about 200 dollars American each, but that means we spent 4000 in Chinese money. Each. People thought we were rich, it would be like seeing someone in America spending 4000 bar hopping. It was the one-time-only type of drinking experience that can only be done with friends, and despite how terrible I feel now I definitely am happy that we did it last night.
Yesterday I went to buy a jacket at the mall. After buying the jacket at the mall, the people at the counter told me I needed to go upstairs to the customer service center. Apparently since I'd spent so much money on the nice jacket they wanted me to get a membership card, it was free so I said okay. After filling out the card, they gave me a complimentary gift. The choice was a pillow or a wine set complete with two nice bottles of wine and two wine glasses in a display case. I was like "What the HELL who chooses the pillow?" then watched in amazement as the other woman getting a card chose the pillow. That's like a 300 dollar value in wine and glasses and display case she is passing up. Also I have no idea why they give such nice gifts, but I took it.
As it is, I will try and write some stories now, though my focus is lacking. I am currently sitting in a cafe with Gloria and we are both painfully hung over. We had the option of having a quiet night at home last night or going out to exlore the Houhai bar district. We chose the bar district, and what a night we had.
We started out in a bar called "Sex In Da City", I'd seen it a few times before and always wanted to go. We took turns buying each other rounds and bar hopping. There was lots of live music and performances going on at each bar, so we made sure to walk around the lake and check all of them out. Gloria video documented our trip around the lake bar district along with many other parts of the trip, once she gets those online somewhere I'll link to them. We eventually had some other friends meet up with us, though when they got to us we were tipsy and "China Crazy".
China Crazy has been the ongoing theme of the trip, it's the word Bob and I have been using to describe the change of behavior that occurs when you get abroad and into a new culture. Gloria has been going China Crazy, and it's rubbing off on Bob and me. Much more on me, since I'm staying with her. We just do some strange, strange things with no fear of embarassment. She brought Metamucil with her, and both of us are now addicted to it. We discovered the preventative cure for unhappy stomaches and bowel movements caused by spicier than death food is Metamucil, and we are taking so much it's crazy. SO MUCH FIBER.
China Crazy is so intense. We stole the little decorative shams off our beds this morning. We aren't really sure why. It just needed to be done.
Back to the story, we ended up spending so much money in the bar district. We spent the equivalent of about 200 dollars American each, but that means we spent 4000 in Chinese money. Each. People thought we were rich, it would be like seeing someone in America spending 4000 bar hopping. It was the one-time-only type of drinking experience that can only be done with friends, and despite how terrible I feel now I definitely am happy that we did it last night.
Yesterday I went to buy a jacket at the mall. After buying the jacket at the mall, the people at the counter told me I needed to go upstairs to the customer service center. Apparently since I'd spent so much money on the nice jacket they wanted me to get a membership card, it was free so I said okay. After filling out the card, they gave me a complimentary gift. The choice was a pillow or a wine set complete with two nice bottles of wine and two wine glasses in a display case. I was like "What the HELL who chooses the pillow?" then watched in amazement as the other woman getting a card chose the pillow. That's like a 300 dollar value in wine and glasses and display case she is passing up. Also I have no idea why they give such nice gifts, but I took it.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
SNAKES
So busy lately. Because of the upcoming holiday we are working on
Sunday, and I forgot how important a rest on the weekend was. I've now
been working 7 straight days with a night of karaoke thrown in there on
Friday, and I'm starting to feel the pain.
I wanted to mention this but I kept forgetting. I had a moment in our
"English Meeting" last Thursday that caused me to laugh for 5 minutes
straight. No one else got it. There was an excellent typo on our
"Common Phrases to Use With Kids" handout one of the teachers had typed
up. The English teacher (Chinese girl) had typed it up, and then during
our English meeting (10 Chinese teachers trying to speak English with me
to practice their English) I was supposed to read it out loud for
pronunciation checking for mistakes as I went. The mistake I found, the
one that made me laugh, was: "Okay kids! Time for breakfast / lunch /
snakes / dinner!" I read them one by one. "Okay kids time for
breakfast!" "Time for lunch!" "Time for snakes!"
When I yelled "Okay kids, time for snakes!" I instantly lost it. I
realized it was meant to be snacks, but after yelling it I just lost
it. I'm giggling it typing it. I have a mental picture of me walking
into the classroom an hour after lunch with a basket of snakes and
yelling "TIME FOR SNAKES EVERYONE!"
I love my imagination. It's what keeps me going.
Sunday, and I forgot how important a rest on the weekend was. I've now
been working 7 straight days with a night of karaoke thrown in there on
Friday, and I'm starting to feel the pain.
I wanted to mention this but I kept forgetting. I had a moment in our
"English Meeting" last Thursday that caused me to laugh for 5 minutes
straight. No one else got it. There was an excellent typo on our
"Common Phrases to Use With Kids" handout one of the teachers had typed
up. The English teacher (Chinese girl) had typed it up, and then during
our English meeting (10 Chinese teachers trying to speak English with me
to practice their English) I was supposed to read it out loud for
pronunciation checking for mistakes as I went. The mistake I found, the
one that made me laugh, was: "Okay kids! Time for breakfast / lunch /
snakes / dinner!" I read them one by one. "Okay kids time for
breakfast!" "Time for lunch!" "Time for snakes!"
When I yelled "Okay kids, time for snakes!" I instantly lost it. I
realized it was meant to be snacks, but after yelling it I just lost
it. I'm giggling it typing it. I have a mental picture of me walking
into the classroom an hour after lunch with a basket of snakes and
yelling "TIME FOR SNAKES EVERYONE!"
I love my imagination. It's what keeps me going.
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