Thursday, November 08, 2007
Oh and my costume...
I was Quail Man! 3 days after the party one of my favorite students ran up to me and said, "I still remember you wore your underwear on the outside of your shorts." I just laughed, I would be concerned if someone forgot that after 3 days. Even I am still chuckling inside about how ridiculous that was. Boy am I glad I wore underwear that I bought for that day. And FYI, I don't wear that kind of underwear in case you were wondering. Oh, and I wasn't the only one wearing underwear on the wrong side of his clothes. One boy showed up with Mr. Bananaman written on the front and Hello Kitty on the back. Katie dressed up as Hello Kitty. Anyway, I loved my costume mostly because I got that stupid belt to stand up on my forehead. You try it!
Halloween Pics...
Finally.
Halloween this year was different from last year in the sense that the students did better dressing up. Besides all of the foreigners rocking out in China Creativity, the students came up with some pretty neat stuff to. You can check out the pics below.
The night began with most everyone freakin' out over whether or not their costumes were up to par. Every student who appeared needed more assistance with get dressed or make-up than I imagined. Of course, they should be cut some slack. Halloween is the foreigners' holiday not theirs. After several students experienced Brad's dead body on the ground, he was resurrected in time for a costume competition. What was really funny about this was the fact that all the students were up on stage to show off their costumes and there were maybe 10 foreigners out in the audience. I can't imagine being a model and showing up to walk the runway for an empty house. Oh well, it was funny to me. My friend Felix does scary-black-clothes-and-white-bloody-face-monster really well. One of Brad's old students looked fabulous in a traditional Chinese outfit. Of course, my old and new English majors were a delight to see. There pirates, monkeys, superheroes, and "who-knows?" among them. My personal favorite was the milk carton. The costume was good but the student is even more hilarious. 3 of Brad's students showed up, one of them being Brad #2. All of them dressed up as Super Bush - Super George W. Bush. Brad #2 (who was the main Super Bush) is just out of control. The night concluded with a "Dead Witch Project". Brad narrated the project while all the students touch different party parts of the dead witch. These parts, thankfully, were made of food. So no worries. We didn't find a dead witch to dissect in China. Enjoy the achievement of making costumes in China!
Halloween this year was different from last year in the sense that the students did better dressing up. Besides all of the foreigners rocking out in China Creativity, the students came up with some pretty neat stuff to. You can check out the pics below.
The night began with most everyone freakin' out over whether or not their costumes were up to par. Every student who appeared needed more assistance with get dressed or make-up than I imagined. Of course, they should be cut some slack. Halloween is the foreigners' holiday not theirs. After several students experienced Brad's dead body on the ground, he was resurrected in time for a costume competition. What was really funny about this was the fact that all the students were up on stage to show off their costumes and there were maybe 10 foreigners out in the audience. I can't imagine being a model and showing up to walk the runway for an empty house. Oh well, it was funny to me. My friend Felix does scary-black-clothes-and-white-bloody-face-monster really well. One of Brad's old students looked fabulous in a traditional Chinese outfit. Of course, my old and new English majors were a delight to see. There pirates, monkeys, superheroes, and "who-knows?" among them. My personal favorite was the milk carton. The costume was good but the student is even more hilarious. 3 of Brad's students showed up, one of them being Brad #2. All of them dressed up as Super Bush - Super George W. Bush. Brad #2 (who was the main Super Bush) is just out of control. The night concluded with a "Dead Witch Project". Brad narrated the project while all the students touch different party parts of the dead witch. These parts, thankfully, were made of food. So no worries. We didn't find a dead witch to dissect in China. Enjoy the achievement of making costumes in China!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Day 1 & 2 of October Holiday...
A little late probably, but I know some of you are still waiting to hear about my 2nd October Holiday experience. (Grandma are you one of the "some of you"?)
Well, after a nice little train traveling experience, my friend and I arrived in Liu Zhou. It was in this town that we had to find a bus to Guilin. It wasn't difficult because I was accompanied by a Chinese friend. It was dark when we began our 2 hour journey to Guilin but the sun was up as we came upon the city. Oh how spectacular it was. The mountains in Guilin are so strange. On the main drag, you could pass building, house, store, mountain peak, and school. Put this formula on repeat and you have the drive into the center of town. These peaks are exactly like the ones you see at the Chinese restaurants in America. You know the ones that I am talking about - the pictures that have still mountains and the water is actually moving and making babbling sounds. Just like that. Not so cheesy of course. (And I have no pictures of this actually occurance.) (Oh, and I can't find the word occurance in the dictionary so I made it up. It needed to be made up anyway.)
We spent most of the day searching for travel help to get to Yangshuo (subject of one of the following posts). I paid 200 yuan as a deposit for our tickets and agreed to pay the rest the following day. I mention this only because my friend and I both forgot to pay our remaining portions. Oh well, they charged us like crazy anyway since it was Golden Week Vacation. On a side note, they tell us not to travel during 3 periods of the year. Unfortunately, those are 3 of 4 periods anyone can travel. Even more unfortunate, the 4th period of time is when I come home for the summer.
We walked around all day trying all kinds of cool things. I ate horse meat. Not bad, kind of like thin strips of crispy beef. We found Da Ma Hua. Which is a wonderful treat from another area in China. It is often rare to find and we only found it once while on vacation. I made it last for 2 weeks because of that. Guilin is nice during the day but even more gorgeous at night around the river system. Just check out the pics below. Other than that, no really interesting stories about the first 1 and a half. I did eat stomach lining but that really isn't a new experience. Oh, and that is a waterfall on the front of the hotel. It is a neat concept. Everyday at 8:30 pm or so the waterfall begins and the classical music sings out from the sides of the building. It really is a neat hotel. Just too expensive. Oh well, free entertainment.
Well, after a nice little train traveling experience, my friend and I arrived in Liu Zhou. It was in this town that we had to find a bus to Guilin. It wasn't difficult because I was accompanied by a Chinese friend. It was dark when we began our 2 hour journey to Guilin but the sun was up as we came upon the city. Oh how spectacular it was. The mountains in Guilin are so strange. On the main drag, you could pass building, house, store, mountain peak, and school. Put this formula on repeat and you have the drive into the center of town. These peaks are exactly like the ones you see at the Chinese restaurants in America. You know the ones that I am talking about - the pictures that have still mountains and the water is actually moving and making babbling sounds. Just like that. Not so cheesy of course. (And I have no pictures of this actually occurance.) (Oh, and I can't find the word occurance in the dictionary so I made it up. It needed to be made up anyway.)
We spent most of the day searching for travel help to get to Yangshuo (subject of one of the following posts). I paid 200 yuan as a deposit for our tickets and agreed to pay the rest the following day. I mention this only because my friend and I both forgot to pay our remaining portions. Oh well, they charged us like crazy anyway since it was Golden Week Vacation. On a side note, they tell us not to travel during 3 periods of the year. Unfortunately, those are 3 of 4 periods anyone can travel. Even more unfortunate, the 4th period of time is when I come home for the summer.
We walked around all day trying all kinds of cool things. I ate horse meat. Not bad, kind of like thin strips of crispy beef. We found Da Ma Hua. Which is a wonderful treat from another area in China. It is often rare to find and we only found it once while on vacation. I made it last for 2 weeks because of that. Guilin is nice during the day but even more gorgeous at night around the river system. Just check out the pics below. Other than that, no really interesting stories about the first 1 and a half. I did eat stomach lining but that really isn't a new experience. Oh, and that is a waterfall on the front of the hotel. It is a neat concept. Everyday at 8:30 pm or so the waterfall begins and the classical music sings out from the sides of the building. It really is a neat hotel. Just too expensive. Oh well, free entertainment.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Whoa!!!
Cultural discussions are always a blast with the students. Discussion outside the classroom is very good for both me and the students. The students tend to speak more; therefore, I learn more and they practice more. It is a win-win situation. However, I love discussions inside the classroom because that saying "There is power in numbers" rings very true - for my enjoyment. If we are talking in class about something that shocks them, the gasp made by 30 people is just hilarious. More about this later.
The students seem to know a lot about Western culture. Of course, many of their ideas are way off the mark. For example, at English corner last year, both Brad and I were asked if everyone had personal jets. I wish. Now, this is only one example. I am sure there are many more but you get my point. They have ideas about our culture; they just want us to shed some light on some of their confusions. Anyway, I do wish that there were more books out there on modern Chinese society so that I could understand the mainstream Chinese people. I have several good Chinese friends but the closest ones can hardly be representative of the population. (In my opinion, this is the case.)
Anyway, cultural discussions this last week included health and fitness. I let the students discuss Chinese people's obsession with health and fitness then I had them compare similarities and differences with American people's obsession. Naturally, they think American's are fatter. Probably on average our bodies have a larger size but you know that blanket statements don't paint a correct picture. So, in my intrigue I asked my students how much I should weigh. They said 60 kg. I told them I weigh 80 kg. Every single student gasped. There was no air left in the classroom. In response, I asked them if I looked fat and they said no. Now, you may think they were being polite and said no but in some weird irony, Chinese people, the people who can't say many things directly, will tell you when you are fat. So, I believe them. I don't think I look fat. "Well then, why should I weigh 60 kg?" No response.
As skinny as Chinese people are, it is amazing how obsessed they are with losing weight or staying thin. Girls especially think this way and they are especially thin. It is kind of sad that they feel like they should lose weight. I tried my best at a PSA for accepting yourself and they way you look but I don't think it will take.
My main reason for writing is that they students said there are all kinds of weight loss pills in China. As I entered a pharmacy the other day, I noticed a whole shelf of them - all natural ingredients. I wondered for just a minute if it would hurt to take some but that was soon over. English translations of titles can really change peoples minds on things. The one particular weight loss pill that caught my eye was called "Fat Incendiary Bomb". If only my Chinese friends knew enough English to really enjoy the ridiculousity of that translation. I know you do. If you want some, let me know!
The students seem to know a lot about Western culture. Of course, many of their ideas are way off the mark. For example, at English corner last year, both Brad and I were asked if everyone had personal jets. I wish. Now, this is only one example. I am sure there are many more but you get my point. They have ideas about our culture; they just want us to shed some light on some of their confusions. Anyway, I do wish that there were more books out there on modern Chinese society so that I could understand the mainstream Chinese people. I have several good Chinese friends but the closest ones can hardly be representative of the population. (In my opinion, this is the case.)
Anyway, cultural discussions this last week included health and fitness. I let the students discuss Chinese people's obsession with health and fitness then I had them compare similarities and differences with American people's obsession. Naturally, they think American's are fatter. Probably on average our bodies have a larger size but you know that blanket statements don't paint a correct picture. So, in my intrigue I asked my students how much I should weigh. They said 60 kg. I told them I weigh 80 kg. Every single student gasped. There was no air left in the classroom. In response, I asked them if I looked fat and they said no. Now, you may think they were being polite and said no but in some weird irony, Chinese people, the people who can't say many things directly, will tell you when you are fat. So, I believe them. I don't think I look fat. "Well then, why should I weigh 60 kg?" No response.
As skinny as Chinese people are, it is amazing how obsessed they are with losing weight or staying thin. Girls especially think this way and they are especially thin. It is kind of sad that they feel like they should lose weight. I tried my best at a PSA for accepting yourself and they way you look but I don't think it will take.
My main reason for writing is that they students said there are all kinds of weight loss pills in China. As I entered a pharmacy the other day, I noticed a whole shelf of them - all natural ingredients. I wondered for just a minute if it would hurt to take some but that was soon over. English translations of titles can really change peoples minds on things. The one particular weight loss pill that caught my eye was called "Fat Incendiary Bomb". If only my Chinese friends knew enough English to really enjoy the ridiculousity of that translation. I know you do. If you want some, let me know!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The October Holiday Experience...Trains
Like most holiday vacations in China, the trip to Guilin was made by train. Train rides are always interesting experiences; if not for the conditions of the experience, then for the multitudes of children that tend to find foreigners no matter where they are on the train. It never fails, children find me on the train. I dream of riding on trains relaxing in the hard sleeper cabin while reading a book as the scenes of China's countryside whiz by and the clanking of the train cars beats steadily on my ears.
Though this dream has yet to become a reality, it is hardly anything to complain about. The children that I run into on the trains are quite entertaining. It always begins with a small child passing by the berth that I occupy and seeing me in the corner of his or her eye. These children- they see, they pass, they return, I smile, they smile, and then they run away. In no less than 5 minutes, the child returns to pass by once more. He steps further into the berth as if to test the waters. I smile. He smiles and then takes off again. And so begins, a 30 minute game of him and his newfound young cohorts on the train running down the walkway, slowing down enough to look in and smile, and then take off at breakneck speed after I smile at them. The fact that I am a foreigner attracts the attention of many children on the train. At some point, the children, after discussing what to do in their huddle, get the courage to come and talk to me. Maybe they just get tired of seeing my teeth. I don't know. "We're tired of looking at his teeth, let's see if we can get him to talk." In their bravery, they overestimate the amount of Chinese I might know. They come crashing in yelling all kinds of things in Chinese. In my broken Chinese, I try to answer. My favorite thing about this is when they laugh hysterically at the things that I say. It isn't long before I figure out that the responses I provide are not even close to the correct responses to their statements. Children: "Where are you going?" Me: "I like living in China." Children: "Are you from America?" Me: I know, the time is 8:30 pm." One day, I'll get it.
Recently, I have gotten brave with these little children. 60% of the time they want to talk to me in order to practice English. I let them practice, but I can only take general greetings for so long. After my boredom sets in, I proceed to practice my Chinese. In doing so, I always get to the verb for singing. This is my favorite part. I can't have full conversations in Chinese yet, but I can make suggestions. Boy is it fun to suggest that they sing. Of course, they will do it willingly. Something about Chinese culture: people ask each other to perform all the time. When asked, students, teachers, and children will perform; circumstances not withstanding. They are shocked when foreigners don't jump at the opportunity. I wonder if they think we all love to perform because they see so many performance TV shows like American Idol or movies where young people are trying to become famous. Whatever the case may be, the children performed when I asked. "Take me to your heart" "God is a girl" "Yesterday once more" Songs they performed for me. Of course, I was asked to perform in turn. Why do they love "My heart will go on"? I won't complain, I know that song and the first part is easy to sing. It pleases them at least.
After a few hours of interacting with these children, my savior, the mandatory lights-out time arrives. It is time to sleep. I like falling asleep to the rumble of the train and the constant swaying of the train car as it races to its destination slower than we would drive on the interstate in America. Overnight trains are nice because I sleep for nearly half of the trip only to wake as we roll slowly into the station where I will alight. This is the typically train ride - an experience worth having over and over again.
Though this dream has yet to become a reality, it is hardly anything to complain about. The children that I run into on the trains are quite entertaining. It always begins with a small child passing by the berth that I occupy and seeing me in the corner of his or her eye. These children- they see, they pass, they return, I smile, they smile, and then they run away. In no less than 5 minutes, the child returns to pass by once more. He steps further into the berth as if to test the waters. I smile. He smiles and then takes off again. And so begins, a 30 minute game of him and his newfound young cohorts on the train running down the walkway, slowing down enough to look in and smile, and then take off at breakneck speed after I smile at them. The fact that I am a foreigner attracts the attention of many children on the train. At some point, the children, after discussing what to do in their huddle, get the courage to come and talk to me. Maybe they just get tired of seeing my teeth. I don't know. "We're tired of looking at his teeth, let's see if we can get him to talk." In their bravery, they overestimate the amount of Chinese I might know. They come crashing in yelling all kinds of things in Chinese. In my broken Chinese, I try to answer. My favorite thing about this is when they laugh hysterically at the things that I say. It isn't long before I figure out that the responses I provide are not even close to the correct responses to their statements. Children: "Where are you going?" Me: "I like living in China." Children: "Are you from America?" Me: I know, the time is 8:30 pm." One day, I'll get it.
Recently, I have gotten brave with these little children. 60% of the time they want to talk to me in order to practice English. I let them practice, but I can only take general greetings for so long. After my boredom sets in, I proceed to practice my Chinese. In doing so, I always get to the verb for singing. This is my favorite part. I can't have full conversations in Chinese yet, but I can make suggestions. Boy is it fun to suggest that they sing. Of course, they will do it willingly. Something about Chinese culture: people ask each other to perform all the time. When asked, students, teachers, and children will perform; circumstances not withstanding. They are shocked when foreigners don't jump at the opportunity. I wonder if they think we all love to perform because they see so many performance TV shows like American Idol or movies where young people are trying to become famous. Whatever the case may be, the children performed when I asked. "Take me to your heart" "God is a girl" "Yesterday once more" Songs they performed for me. Of course, I was asked to perform in turn. Why do they love "My heart will go on"? I won't complain, I know that song and the first part is easy to sing. It pleases them at least.
After a few hours of interacting with these children, my savior, the mandatory lights-out time arrives. It is time to sleep. I like falling asleep to the rumble of the train and the constant swaying of the train car as it races to its destination slower than we would drive on the interstate in America. Overnight trains are nice because I sleep for nearly half of the trip only to wake as we roll slowly into the station where I will alight. This is the typically train ride - an experience worth having over and over again.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Progress...(Part 2)
In my ongoing attempt to decorate my apartment, phase two has just been wrapped up. I know how pictures on the right side of my living room and pictures in my bedroom. I also have cool new speakers so I can hear my music while I am attempting to cook Chinese food. I am sure the neighbors are enjoying this amplification of my western music where I belt out my lungs singing numbers from Hairspray. Of course, all of this distracts me. It probably accounts for why I get sick every time I eat my food - the food just isn't cooked well enough. Anyway Mom, check out the pictures.
The Beginning of October Holiday...
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to go to Guilin for October Holiday. At that moment, I had not thought of the difficulties that would ensue in my attempt to travel there. In my naivety, I actually thought it would be pretty easy. It probably would have been easy if I had attempted to buy train tickets a few days earlier.
A week before my intended departure, I hiked up the mountain on top of which the train station is located. I was so proud. I thought, "Here it is. My big moment of independence. I will buy the train tickets myself." Well, I arrived after what seemed like a million steps to a line full of eager ticket buyers. My stomach sank. "I bet they all want to go to Guilin too," I thought. If I could speak more Chinese than the little I know, I would have encouraged them all to go to Wuhan. Its always hot there. And they have Metro. Who wouldn't want to go to Metro? After 10 mins in line, I got to the counter. I then attempted to buy the tickets. My heart sank as those 2 well-known syllables soared out of the ticket lady's mouth and landed on my sweaty ears, "Mei you." Oh no. No tickets! No tickets a week before! At that moment, I became more determined than ever. I was going to get tickets to Guilin.
The race was on. I had 7 days to get tickets. I called my travel agent friend. He said no problem. He called back and told me, "Problem." Hard seats for Monday to Guilin and Friday from Guilin. 3 days in Guilin? No way. I took them anyway just in case. My friend Peach had some friends in Wuhan pick me up tickets. We thought they were sleeper tickets for Saturday the day I wanted to leave. Nope. Hard seat for the day before. Seeing as I had to teach that day, I delightfully turned them down and paid for them. They said it would be hard to get tickets but I wasn't backing down. I already had emergency tickets so all was just ok. Jian Qiang looks for tickets all week for me. I am stressed because I am still not sure. I was turning down cheap airplane tickets left and right because I wanted to wait for Jian Qiang. Friday morning comes - no tickets. Friday at lunch I get a text from Jian. I have tickets for Saturday. Prayers have been answered. In the same minute (No lie!) Rufus texts me and says he can't leave on Saturday. I thought about leaving without him, but he too was already excited about going. I have to turn Jian's tickets down and embarrassingly I ask for Sunday tickets. Luck turned my way and for one second I saw that smirk on her face that said, "I love toying with you people." In her compassion, I get 2 tickets for Sunday in a sleeper train. I was ecstatic. I was going to Guilin.
My favorite thing about this whole situation is the continuing inconsistencies I run into everyday in China. Last October, my friends and I wanted to go to Beijing. At the last minute we got 6 sleeper train tickets to Beijing. That was marvelous; but the whole time people kept telling us to go early and buy tickets. We learned later that if we had gone early the ticket sellers would have left and told us to come later. Sometimes, it seems there is no right way. Luck is either for or against you. However, my friends went to Xi'an this year and bought tickets early. Smart move. I just laugh at my situation because in my search, I ended up with tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to Guilin. Even the connected people (like my travel agent friend) said there were no tickets left and that I was out of luck. Oh well, it seems that most things are possible if you just give it time. And in case you were wondering, I had to pay for 2 sets of the 4 sets of tickets. 1 set of tickets isn't too much to pay to have things work out the way you want them to.
More later.
A week before my intended departure, I hiked up the mountain on top of which the train station is located. I was so proud. I thought, "Here it is. My big moment of independence. I will buy the train tickets myself." Well, I arrived after what seemed like a million steps to a line full of eager ticket buyers. My stomach sank. "I bet they all want to go to Guilin too," I thought. If I could speak more Chinese than the little I know, I would have encouraged them all to go to Wuhan. Its always hot there. And they have Metro. Who wouldn't want to go to Metro? After 10 mins in line, I got to the counter. I then attempted to buy the tickets. My heart sank as those 2 well-known syllables soared out of the ticket lady's mouth and landed on my sweaty ears, "Mei you." Oh no. No tickets! No tickets a week before! At that moment, I became more determined than ever. I was going to get tickets to Guilin.
The race was on. I had 7 days to get tickets. I called my travel agent friend. He said no problem. He called back and told me, "Problem." Hard seats for Monday to Guilin and Friday from Guilin. 3 days in Guilin? No way. I took them anyway just in case. My friend Peach had some friends in Wuhan pick me up tickets. We thought they were sleeper tickets for Saturday the day I wanted to leave. Nope. Hard seat for the day before. Seeing as I had to teach that day, I delightfully turned them down and paid for them. They said it would be hard to get tickets but I wasn't backing down. I already had emergency tickets so all was just ok. Jian Qiang looks for tickets all week for me. I am stressed because I am still not sure. I was turning down cheap airplane tickets left and right because I wanted to wait for Jian Qiang. Friday morning comes - no tickets. Friday at lunch I get a text from Jian. I have tickets for Saturday. Prayers have been answered. In the same minute (No lie!) Rufus texts me and says he can't leave on Saturday. I thought about leaving without him, but he too was already excited about going. I have to turn Jian's tickets down and embarrassingly I ask for Sunday tickets. Luck turned my way and for one second I saw that smirk on her face that said, "I love toying with you people." In her compassion, I get 2 tickets for Sunday in a sleeper train. I was ecstatic. I was going to Guilin.
My favorite thing about this whole situation is the continuing inconsistencies I run into everyday in China. Last October, my friends and I wanted to go to Beijing. At the last minute we got 6 sleeper train tickets to Beijing. That was marvelous; but the whole time people kept telling us to go early and buy tickets. We learned later that if we had gone early the ticket sellers would have left and told us to come later. Sometimes, it seems there is no right way. Luck is either for or against you. However, my friends went to Xi'an this year and bought tickets early. Smart move. I just laugh at my situation because in my search, I ended up with tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to Guilin. Even the connected people (like my travel agent friend) said there were no tickets left and that I was out of luck. Oh well, it seems that most things are possible if you just give it time. And in case you were wondering, I had to pay for 2 sets of the 4 sets of tickets. 1 set of tickets isn't too much to pay to have things work out the way you want them to.
More later.
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