To all my family and friends back home in Australia and around the world and to my new friends here in China...
"MERRY CHRISTMAS" and all the best for the New Year!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
It's a cold Christmas !
I don't know how accurate the website is that I'm using to look at the temperatures...but it's the only one I can find for Dianjun, Yichang. If it is accurate yesterday got to -5 degrees, today -1 degree. I don't know but it feels colder than that, I have a feeling like with the Yichang summer, how it was 35 degrees but felt like 45 degrees...Well I'm getting the feeling that the same thing happens back the other way with winter also...I have never felt so cold, even when I was in England and Ireland (mind you I wasn't actually there for the worst part of winter). Everything kind of feels numb...and winters only just started.
It was a really strange feeling for me tonight...Growing up in Australia and only ever experiencing Australian Christmases, this is my first taste of Christmas in winter (just like I've always seen on the movies lol)ironically it's in China...but...shopping downtown tonight had much atmosphere. Christmas music was blaring around the square, shops all decorated, COLD, people walking around in Santa hats :-)Much more than I thought I would see. Interesting feeling! So the two countries I've had Christmas in...Australia, smack bang in the middle of scorching hot summer and China where Christmas is not usually celebrated but is now starting to commercially show itself.
It was a really strange feeling for me tonight...Growing up in Australia and only ever experiencing Australian Christmases, this is my first taste of Christmas in winter (just like I've always seen on the movies lol)ironically it's in China...but...shopping downtown tonight had much atmosphere. Christmas music was blaring around the square, shops all decorated, COLD, people walking around in Santa hats :-)Much more than I thought I would see. Interesting feeling! So the two countries I've had Christmas in...Australia, smack bang in the middle of scorching hot summer and China where Christmas is not usually celebrated but is now starting to commercially show itself.
Monday, December 22, 2008
What is it about this place?
I have recently been thinking about how an experience like living in such a different country (like China)can possibly change a person. The people you meet, the relationships you form, the change in job, the different cultural etiquette, different opinions you come across, different environment and weather, different habits, different food,drinks, different concepts of money, life etc....I could go on forever! I think it is an amazing opportunity.
Before I came here I had heard good and bad about the place...I felt quite annoyed at the people who were very quick to talk badly about China when all they were really going on was hear say, what they had seen and heard in the media etc...and also seeing as I was about to leave for China, I also felt it was rather unkind and insensitive of them to be saying such negative things... BUT...there were also the people I spoke with that had been here and experienced China first hand and from them they spoke about the wonderful, wonderful people and the beautiful countryside and you could sense a real love for China that had been planted inside of them and held a special place in their heart. In some way China had made an impact on them and their lives.
I can't quite put my finger on it but I feel there is something special here and I now know what these people meant and why they felt such an affinity with China.
Everywhere obviously has good and bad points but unless you go out for yourself and see and experience things in person...how will you really know?
Before I came here I had heard good and bad about the place...I felt quite annoyed at the people who were very quick to talk badly about China when all they were really going on was hear say, what they had seen and heard in the media etc...and also seeing as I was about to leave for China, I also felt it was rather unkind and insensitive of them to be saying such negative things... BUT...there were also the people I spoke with that had been here and experienced China first hand and from them they spoke about the wonderful, wonderful people and the beautiful countryside and you could sense a real love for China that had been planted inside of them and held a special place in their heart. In some way China had made an impact on them and their lives.
I can't quite put my finger on it but I feel there is something special here and I now know what these people meant and why they felt such an affinity with China.
Everywhere obviously has good and bad points but unless you go out for yourself and see and experience things in person...how will you really know?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Christmas Party
Last night friends arrived for a bit of a Christmas party. I'm not very domesticated and I'm certainly not great at organising parties and have never actually organised and hosted a party entirely on my own, so this was new ground for me :-)The other thing to add into the equation is that it was on my own, in China. You can't just think "oh yeah I need this or that...I'll just pop down to the supermarket and get it"...I still have trouble finding basics, so it was challenging!
As a child my Christmases were always the most exciting and wonderful times in my childhood. My parents always made them so much fun and I felt the Christmas Spirit very strongly. I guess my main aim was to try and create that kind of atmosphere for the children that were coming to the party. I think it was O.K. :-) I thought the biggest clash of cultures may occur with the Australian "help yourself" attitude and the Chinese "host and guests" attitude...but I think everyone knew they may be waiting around for me for ever so ...it was all o.k.
We played "pass the parcel" and a balloon game that I made up for my classes..which I'm quite proud of :-) Some "Twister" was also played and I had the Christmas Carols going in the background...It was certainly not a "Grand Christmas party"...but...it was A Christmas party of sorts... and I got to spend time with my friends and show them a little of the kind of things we do and eat at Christmas time. Unfortunately I did not get many photo's but Lily and her husband took quite a few...again I will see if I can get hold of some. I'm starting to slip on the taking photo's front...whoops!
Here's one of Lily and her Husband Bingo
The kids trying out their "pass the parcel" gifts.
As a child my Christmases were always the most exciting and wonderful times in my childhood. My parents always made them so much fun and I felt the Christmas Spirit very strongly. I guess my main aim was to try and create that kind of atmosphere for the children that were coming to the party. I think it was O.K. :-) I thought the biggest clash of cultures may occur with the Australian "help yourself" attitude and the Chinese "host and guests" attitude...but I think everyone knew they may be waiting around for me for ever so ...it was all o.k.
We played "pass the parcel" and a balloon game that I made up for my classes..which I'm quite proud of :-) Some "Twister" was also played and I had the Christmas Carols going in the background...It was certainly not a "Grand Christmas party"...but...it was A Christmas party of sorts... and I got to spend time with my friends and show them a little of the kind of things we do and eat at Christmas time. Unfortunately I did not get many photo's but Lily and her husband took quite a few...again I will see if I can get hold of some. I'm starting to slip on the taking photo's front...whoops!
Here's one of Lily and her Husband Bingo
The kids trying out their "pass the parcel" gifts.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Birthday Bonanza
Been a bit of a delay in blogging my birthday...but it has been crazy busy. I can't get over the generosity and kindness of the students and the staff at my school. I think in all honesty I can say I have never had such a busy birthday. When I arrived for the first class of the day I had a huge rendition of "Happy Birthday" sang to me and the blackboard was all decorated. Many students gave me gifts and cards. I then trundled off home as I did not have another class until two o'clock. When I returned for that class it had been moved to the "Multi Media room" and my class of junior two's had turned on a big birthday party. The students performed (singing and dancing), gave me more gifts and cards, sang "Happy Birthday" and then asked me to shut my eyes. When I opened them, there was a massive birthday cake.We then tried to dish it out between 60 students and some teachers (this class is taught English by Lily,who tries to teach me Chinese, but i'm not a good student (lol) and she must have done quite a bit of organisation with the kids and the cake..very kind! I did not get photo's of all this, but others did...so I will try and track them down.
Then I had the last period of the day...this class also sang "Happy Birthday" and showered me with cards and more gifts. Some of the letters and cards I received from the students throughout the day were just so beautiful..They had written things such as "although you are away from your family...it's o.k, we are all your family" :-)They are so sweet and some of them have huge aspirations and really want to improve their English to fulfil their dreams.
Straight after class I was taken out for a birthday dinner by the school...We went to a "Farmers Restaurant" and I had my 5th dinner at a restaurant within the last 6 days (pretty impressive hey)I was also presented with another cake (this time a Chocolate Mousse)and an amazing gift from the school of a special Chinese paper cut book with paper cut art pictures of Peking Opera Facial Makeup. THEN......We headed downtown and I had my first Chinese Karaoke experience...
Hey at least you're in a private room...not like in Australia where you have to do it on stage. There are even buttons on the wall you can press for applause and whistling (lol)and YES ..I did actually sing a few songs, enough to make me realise that I should definitely stick to playing Drums...but it was fun :-)
Sooooo....Many meals, 40-50 cards,3 birthday cakes, many beautiful gifts, suprises at every turn and well wishes from so many students...Anyone back home that is worried that I might be lonely...NAH....and the experience of living and teaching here in China...UNBELIEVABLE.
Then I had the last period of the day...this class also sang "Happy Birthday" and showered me with cards and more gifts. Some of the letters and cards I received from the students throughout the day were just so beautiful..They had written things such as "although you are away from your family...it's o.k, we are all your family" :-)They are so sweet and some of them have huge aspirations and really want to improve their English to fulfil their dreams.
Straight after class I was taken out for a birthday dinner by the school...We went to a "Farmers Restaurant" and I had my 5th dinner at a restaurant within the last 6 days (pretty impressive hey)I was also presented with another cake (this time a Chocolate Mousse)and an amazing gift from the school of a special Chinese paper cut book with paper cut art pictures of Peking Opera Facial Makeup. THEN......We headed downtown and I had my first Chinese Karaoke experience...
Hey at least you're in a private room...not like in Australia where you have to do it on stage. There are even buttons on the wall you can press for applause and whistling (lol)and YES ..I did actually sing a few songs, enough to make me realise that I should definitely stick to playing Drums...but it was fun :-)
Sooooo....Many meals, 40-50 cards,3 birthday cakes, many beautiful gifts, suprises at every turn and well wishes from so many students...Anyone back home that is worried that I might be lonely...NAH....and the experience of living and teaching here in China...UNBELIEVABLE.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Random Blog
I've been meaning to put this picture up...It is in Yiling square as the sun is going down. It's a great spot!
Suprise Dinner
After we had finished decorating last night...the girls suprised me with some early birthday presents...I will not see Jess or her family nor Nettie's family on my birthday this week so they suprised me early. I received a beautiful "Jade Buddha necklace" from Nettie and a very cool "Yixing Clay Cup" from Jess to brew and drink Green Tea from. These are fantastic gifts for me and I am so pleased with them :-)
Then Mr Zhang picked us up and we all headed off to the amazing restaurant with the rollerskating waiters and tropical plants. We ate dinner near the water and they had even organised a "Black Forest Cake" from my favourite bakery... I had no idea we was going out for dinner let alone a special birthday dinner!
OK the "28" candles...It's an "in" joke:-)Everyone here that asks my age guesses me at around "28" Personally I just think that they are all very polite...but I figure if that is what everyone thinks, then why not...If they want to guess me as nearly 10 years younger than I am...Maybe I should not argue the point. (lol) Of course my friends know my real age.
It is a Chinese tradition to have a special bowl of noodles on your birthday...here they are. Long Life Noodles...
What a cool night :-)A great Birthday suprise!
Then Mr Zhang picked us up and we all headed off to the amazing restaurant with the rollerskating waiters and tropical plants. We ate dinner near the water and they had even organised a "Black Forest Cake" from my favourite bakery... I had no idea we was going out for dinner let alone a special birthday dinner!
OK the "28" candles...It's an "in" joke:-)Everyone here that asks my age guesses me at around "28" Personally I just think that they are all very polite...but I figure if that is what everyone thinks, then why not...If they want to guess me as nearly 10 years younger than I am...Maybe I should not argue the point. (lol) Of course my friends know my real age.
It is a Chinese tradition to have a special bowl of noodles on your birthday...here they are. Long Life Noodles...
What a cool night :-)A great Birthday suprise!
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