A Random Discovery...

So I gave my phone number out in class today. (I haven't been called yet. What does that mean?) As I was finishing the last 4 digits of my number, the class burst out laughing. I didn't know why at first but one of my students was willing to explain it after class.

You see, the last 4 digits are "7454". Apparently, they are bad luck. The chinese words for these numbers can mean different things depending on the tone. 7 is said "chi." If I don't use the right tone it could also mean wife. 4 is said "si." If I say this wrong, it could also mean death. 5 is said "wu." Again, if I say this one wrong, it could mean I.

So the last four digits mean (if mis-said) "Wife dead, I dead."

Why did they laugh?

Me and Bus #4...

There is no better way to start the day off than a good ol' fashioned breakfast - American style.

After having a nice breakfast with my friends, I set off on my journey. I explored Yichang by bus. I kind of felt like Mary Tyler Moore.

Just as there is an alley for everything else, there is also a Bar Alley. Here I also found the drink that makes Tennessee world renown - Jack Daniels.

I stayed on the bus all the way to one end of the route. Instead of making a U-turn and following the route back the other way, the bus driver and his friend looked at me strangely and got off. They went to have a drink, however, not at the place above. I found another #4 bus and got on it going the other way. I went all the way the other end. I saw this on the way:



The Yangtze River is beautiful and dirty. The Riverfront is neat. It had several parks. I walked through there and saw a set of parents let their little boy pee in public. Oh, the Chinese. They have no shame. And yet, they do. They don't like to "lose face" and yet letting little kids parade around and "mess" in the street isn't considered losing face. Hmm.

Well, what happened to me earlier happened again. I got to the end of the route and the guy kicked me off. But this time, he pulled ahead 10 feet and picked up another passenger. Why didn't he just tell me to pay another yuan.

I finally returned to my apartment and had a snack. There is no better way to end a day than by eating a mooncake and drinking a can of cold Pepsi. The guy on the can has it all: a mask, a pair of leather boots, fake leather clothes, and a whip.

Pepsi - the official sponsor of dungeon masters?

First Class Ever...

Today, I taught my first university class ever. It was such a neat experience. I had 28 students this morning. All of them French majors. This, of course, would pose no problem except that I am teaching Oral English!!! Actually, it wasn't too much of a problem. Most of them spoke English very well. English would be their 3rd language right after Chinese and French. Amazing. I wish language learning was stressed in America.

The students really enjoyed my dramatic reenactment of speechmakers who don't know how to give speeches. My first example was the really shaky speechmaker. My second example was the one who comes in and looks straight down at his notes. I didn't know that I could make people laugh that hard. I won't let it go to my head though. They were probably laughing out of embarrassment for me. That is why the classroom picture above has no students in it. They left after the first class period and never came back.

Just kidding. Class is two 45 minute periods with a 10 minute break. After the break, I had each one stand up and tell the class about themselves. They did pretty well. The students talked about everything from relationships and sports to dream jobs and summer vacations. This generation of Chinese is very open and talkative. I am glad. It makes my job a lot easier.

Until next time, long live San Xia Da Xue! Really? No, not really.

A What Massage?!?!?!

So, the gang and I went to get back massages at the Peninsula Hotel last Friday. That was quite an experience. For one, we didn't bring a translator. That was our first mistake. And two, we didn't heed the warnings from Shelly, the other experienced English teacher.

We walked in and Brad and I pointed at what we wanted (the back massage) and from that point on it was all a blur. All of a sudden, Brad and I were whisked away to the men's lockerroom. Before we knew it we were in a giant hot tub waiting for what we thought was going to be our back massages.

After our insides were boiled from the temp of the hot tub, some guy came and grabbed Brad for his "back massage." It turned out to be a back scrub. After they noticed that I was dousing my head with the ice water they were bringing me to drink, they came and got me.

This back massage turned out to be a full body scrub. So I am laying there in all my glory and this guy takes a scrub sponge to my whole body. Things that only I, my future wife, and my doctor can touch were touched and SCRUBBED. It was so weird! Then he flips me over and is scrubbing the other side of me. Let me tell you, the only thing you can do when someone else wipes your butt is giggle.

Soon, the artist was through. I was then forced to fill out some paperwork and give the artist his tip. Mind you, I am still naked. Could they not wait? Then 2 guys come and get me and throw me in the shower. It is so uncomfortable standing there showering while 2 people are watching. What is even more uncomfortable is standing there while they dry you off and then dress you.

I don't think I have ever been naked that long in front of that many people.

Next time I want a massage, I am going to the blind community. I hear it is cheap and good AND less embarrassing.

New Apartment!!!

So here is the new pad. Besides being on the 5th floor it is better than the previous one. Look at the size of that bathroom. The previous apartment's bathroom was about the size of that toilet. Oh and the ladder is not a permanent fixture. Brad vetoed that.

Old Apartment...

This apartment was little. It was livable though. It just wasn't conducive to social life.

End of Week 1....yeah?

3 showers in 7 days. Or maybe 3 showers in 9 days if you count the travelling days. Or 4 showers in 7 or 9 days depending on if I count that weird shower at the massage place where the guy dried me off. Yep, the servant dude took the towel to my naked body and dried most of me off. I will recount the massage story in a later blog.

Until then, Xyie Engineey Limieed. Huh?