Dinner and disco

Friday night I went out for a meal with the Junior 3 teachers (all subjects)and principals and vice principals from the school. I'm not really sure why :-) but I think it was a prep up the teachers to work extra hard dinner ! Junior 3's have very important exams coming up. It was good, most of the dishes were fairly spicy so I must be kind of getting used to it. For the first time, out to the table came a nice big plate of chicken feet...I would have tried them but I can't really reason what there actually is on them to eat ??? I've not mentioned it before but Chinese meals involve a lot of toasts, not just a couple at the start of the meal but many all through the meal...and...you have to stand up for each one. So again if anyone dares mention that I'm losing weight, I keep telling you the lifestyle here is full of exercise, even eating a meal gives you an aerobic workout (lol)and while I'm on that subject, have I mentioned 103(from memory)stairs up to my apartment...I do this up and and down at least three times a day and often much more, then at the school there is many floors and I am up and down again a few times a day. Then there is the fact that I don't drive in China(if you were here, you would see why :-)so I walk many places(the amount of stairs everywhere in this place is amazing) and teaching classes each day is virtually like having to put on a performance, plus socially, my friends keep me very busy...Very active lifestyle!
Back to last night...
After dinner I was given a choice. All the women teachers decided to go for a foot massage :-)???? and a group of the men teachers were going to the nightclub.
I opted for the nightclub. I was actually suprised, it was pretty cranking. Typical nightclub in the sense of smokey, flashing lights and loud music but different in that it had many private areas with couches and a table (these are pre booked for a fee and they bring you out heaps of stuff...drinks, fruit, popcorn, sweets etc) There is also much entertainment, a sax player and a singer make cameo performances and two very talented barmen doing the cocktail type bar tending complete with juggling bottles that were flaming, swallowing fire and much much more...very entertaining indeed.

A box of Christmas

Yesterday I received a parcel of Christmas cheer from home. I had been rationing out my Vegemite and the new tube arrived just in time :-)YAY! Also amongst the box of goodies a Mini tree, some Christmas decorations, a stocking full of goodies from Father Christmas (seems he was having trouble with my location so he sent it home and asked my parents to send it on to me :-)CHOCOLATE, proper Milo, Lemon and Ginger Tea, a game of Twister, a slightly early birthday present of the Mama Mia DVD(because I love the movie and I have been teaching the kids some English songs like "Dancing Queen")and because my parents are so thoughtful, even some small gifts for my little Chinese friends (my friends young children.) Lots of goodies ! How cool are my Mum and Dad !!!

Writers Blog

Sometimes It seems I get some form of writers block...or should I say blogger block :-)
It's not that nothing has happened I just don't know how to put it all in words, but it is late now and I have just come back from my first Chinese nightclub experience so...I will try and do a bit of a condensed version of this week and then blog properly..maybe tomorrow :-)Classes were good, Weather is weird..warm and cold, I just honestly don't know what to wear...it is very confusing. Went clothes shopping with Nettie (you all know just how much I looove clothes shopping...not)I told her she would be highly praised if she could help me find some clothes that would be suitable...1) I just cant make decisions and 2) the clothes here are for very petite Chinese women so finding my size is not easy. I came away with a sports top and a good idea on now how to read the discount signs in China (very confusing but definitely worthy of a blog sometime). This week I also got introduced to a very rare find in China...A waffle stall..very exciting.
AND
my parcel from home for Christmas arrived (tomorrows blog...oh hang on today's blog when I get up later :-) Love you Mum and Dad..It's really great of you to send me some Christmas cheer.

San You Dong - Three visitors Cave

Today I took an adventure opportunity and headed of to visit "San You Dong" (Three Visitors Cave)I did some detective work and found out that I needed a number 10 bus to take me there and headed of bravely into unknown territory with NO Chinese phrase book for security (lol). It is about a thirty minute bus ride (still only costs 1 yuan)
It was an interesting ride through more parts of the city I'm not familiar with and then along the river and into the spectacular scenery that this city seems surrounded by. When I arrived I stepped off the bus and immediately felt hungry...it was close to lunch time so I bought my entry ticket and then told the lady at the gate that I would like to eat something and asked where could I go to eat? She pointed to two restaurants that she obviously recommended, so I picked one and ventured inside :-) I again said I would like to eat something (lol) not too spicy (haha) and Yes that there was only me !(I can't read the Menus because they are all written in Hanzi(Chinese Characters). The girl asked if Pork was o.k....I said yes and she seated me at a table...
I'm only giving you such a run down on the situation because I'm proud of myself for negotiating all this in Chinese :-)anyway...turns out I ended up with a nice dish of Pork with Tofu, Celery, Ginger and Rice. I got the usual compliments on my chopstick skills :-) and the owner came out and asked if it was not too spicy for me....I understood all this....SO COOL !
After I had refueled I went exploring...just have a look at this beautiful spot..




Apart from a beautiful walk all around the mountain area to see all the different sights, you can also take rides on speed boats, bungee jump and other activities...








Whilst there I took quite a few photo's and have found it hard to choose which ones to put on my blog, so here is another link to them all if you wish to have a peek.All you have to do is click on the picture below.

22-11-2008 SanYouDong

Fridays Fantastic Class

Every Friday afternoon my week ends on a really good note. The last class of the week that I have is a class of "junior two" students who never fail to make me smile :-) The good thing is they are great learners, ask lots of questions about the English language, are very clever and still have a good time in the process. I wanted a picture with some of them to show you. So after we had done all the work for the lesson we took a couple of shots...This class utilizes having me around a lot by asking me questions around school and not only in class...I really appreciate that they are so keen to learn and I look forward to this class every week because I know I will always end the week with a smile :-)I guess I appreciate them even more because the class I have before them is the exact opposite...I have tried all kinds of different things to make them interested but to no avail...infact I think I could spin on my head and it wouldn't even get a reaction. To be fair there are some students in the class that do participate and want to learn...but the majority...well it's a class that makes you question yourself and whether you are doing a good enough job, but then I walk out of that class and into this class and I think...WOW. It's like "Chalk and Cheese", completely different.

What do you mean "am I afraid to get a haircut in China?

No!!!Just haven't got round to it and now I kinda like it like this :-)

School Sports Area Update

The school recreation and sporting grounds are still being given a complete makeover. It is a huge job and must seem painstakingly slow for the students who I have never heard complain. The workers basically ripped up every bit of old concrete and paving and removed the debris and rocks...then they had to bring in loads of sand and level it all, next they bit by bit laid down the new concrete pad, waited for it to set properly and then laid new bitumen (tarmac). Also paving and painting etc is being re done all around that area. Of course I'm no builder and this is just a quick indication of the main steps but much more than that has been done.
It is a very different process to Australia where we just send in the big rigs, machinery, huge trucks, diggers and men to hold up posts and signs (lol).
The grassed area that will be in the middle of the area will now be artificial turf and I guess they will lay some kind of running track base on and around the athletics areas.
I think the end result will be a very cool sports ground.

At the start of the term


Lots of sand


At the moment

A Celebration of my best friend !

A year ago today I lost my best friend. I know that there are many of you who possibly just do not understand how a dog is a best friend, but dogs are much more intelligent than people give them credit for and Bronson was extra special..He had a delinquent childhood destroying much of my house but was absolutely adorable. I could go into the time he ate a hole in my wall or the two telephones, answering machine, C.D. collection, couches etc etc that did not survive Bronson's youth, even the time he knocked over some bottles of beer onto the ground whilst I was out...coming home to a staggering, very drunk dog...BUT...he did not like me telling people these stories and would sigh and whine when I tried to do so...He sang to music, performed tricks like balancing biscuits on his nose and then tossing them in the air and catching them.....The most important thing about Bron' was his ability to live every moment to the absolute fullest potential with every bit of zest for life he could possibly muster. He learnt to behave perfectly and was one of only 13 dogs out of over 100 dogs to pass his dog training certificate. He was a star appearing in Dogs Life magazine twice...once being voted in the top 20 best looking cross breed dogs in Australia. He won First prize at our one and only attempt in the dog ring at a dog show.
He is my hero because his spirit was never once broken and he did everything from simple things such as eating his meal or having a walk with so much enthusiasm.
For 12 years I was lucky enough to have him by my side, now he still gives me his strength everyday. This post is a celebration of my friend who had no time to feel sad because he was much more interested in feeling exhilarated by life. You can learn a lot from dogs if you just take time to watch, listen and understand.

Chinese Painting and Calligraphy..Very Special.

Today I was very very spoilt...again. Jess's husband organised another very Chinese outing for us all to attend. I met Jess, Nettie,husbands and kids in the square and we headed off in the car to go and visit a very well known Chinese artist called Mr Liao and watch him at work in his shop/studio.
It is fascinating to watch such a skillful art form being performed. The paper is made specially for Chinese painting and it absorbs the paint very quickly, this also must be taken into account as the paint explodes out into different shapes as it absorbs. Mr Liao wanted to show how he can get different effects using just black paint and water...the different shades seem to bring out the perspective of the objects and make them appear close or far away.



The Chinese Characters are written in running writing which is apparently even more difficult than the normal characters...


This painting he painted in a few minutes flat as a challenge... we had to time him :-)

So today I met a very talented artist and learnt a lot about a very important art form...

and was I going to say no when his son asked to have his photo taken with me also??"Get real" He is so handsome, don't you think?...I was more than happy and handed over my camera too :-)

and...can you believe this! Mr Liao wanted me to pick a picture from the ones he painted whilst we visited today and his son will frame it and they want me to have it as a special gift...How great is that! The generosity of people here is amazing.
I picked this one...I think it is beautiful and I will treasure it very much.

Happy Birthday

How bad of me.....It was my Mums birthday yesterday and I did everything...left a voice message, sent an email and talked to her on Skype wishing her a "Happy Birthday"..but...I didn't post it on my blog.... so a day late in blogging it but

To the best Mum ever !
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
I Love you very much :-)
xxx

BIG BLOG NEWS
and really cool that you have booked your ticket to come to China next year for a visit...
Very exciting !

China Post Experience

It's hard to believe I've been here for almost three months and not had to send anything by snail mail. I have slowly been trying to find authentic style Chinese items to send back home...but to tell you the truth, it's not so easy. I have not even seen an Yichang postcard...they must exist, surely? Yesterday I was happy with the few bits I had got together and braced myself to hit the P.O. As it turns out Nettie organised to take me shopping to help me find some good moisturising cream (I think I am suddenly looking older (lol) I wanted her advice on a good brand to buy. So after checking out the cosmetics, we headed over to China Post to send my items on their way to Australia. It was so lucky I had help, I think it would have been very difficult if I had tried to send my first parcel on my own. The whole experience is very different to popping in to Australia Post. Anyway after filling in a mass of forms and handing over a mass of money...It's on it's way :-)Maybe I've found something that is more expensive in China than Australia?
I am so thankful for the internet and the ease in which we can all now keep in contact with each other...

Chinese clothes and Chrysanthemums

A while ago I decided to get a traditional Chinese top made for myself and one to send back for mum. I found a great little shop where the lady makes authentic clothes and has a huge selection of materials. Today I picked the tops up. This is a picture of me in the shop with the lady who makes the clothes...Of course as I said to Nettie, I have no idea when or where I will wear it....All my Chinese friends will be dressed normally and I will be wearing bright trad' clothes...pretty funny really:-)


After we picked up the tops we wondered back through Childrens park where an amazing display of Chrysanthemums has magically appeared. That seems to happen here, one day it is just a park, the next day it is a mass of displays and colours. Very cool.

Learning To Trust

The sun has been shining today and I decided to go and explore some more of Dianjun...When you look outside my bedroom window you can see lots of land with houses, the river, a pathway and many vegetables being grown...so today I took a country stroll along the pathway. I have not properly explored along this pathway yet and it turned out to be a much more intricate maze of countryside paths than I had expected. Meandering through the district on such a sunny day was pleasant and there was the usual shocked stares from the local farmers as I walked past. Things took an interesting turn as I walked back. At one of the houses two women said "hello" as I walked past. Very often I will say "hello" and keep walking as I hear this all day, but I stopped and asked them in Chinese if they spoke English...they laughed and said "No"...but wanted me to sit down with them anyway. They were very kind and offered me hot water, oranges and wanted me to eat with them whilst we talked the best we could :-) They had a two year old girl with them and the crowds gradually built until we had quite a lot of the neighbours also sitting down and joining us (about 10 people)...another young girl rushed to get her English picture and word book and I read it to the children as they practiced the words with me. I was there for hours and everytime I thought I should leave, they wanted me to stay longer...When I finally did actually have to go...they asked for me to return tomorrow :-) So friendly and hospitable. I experience it everywhere here in Yichang.
The thing I wanted to mention is that ...this can be difficult. I am having to learn to trust more than normal. I feel that in Australia it is so drummed into us that you can't trust people and that there is so much you should not do..."Don't talk to strangers, Don't accept anything from people you don't know, Don't do this, Don't do that,If you drink this or do this it will kill you" and that is just simple stuff...the list goes on forever. All of these things and much more are drummed into us from an early age...It is no wonder there is an epidemic of depression and anxiety in our society...
I obviously have some trust issues as I am often suspicious when people (that i don't know) are friendly...So what happens if you let down your barrier a little bit?? This is what I am having to learn...Loosen up a little, people are being very kind, accept their hospitality. I actually think in China that it is rude not to accept their hospitality, although they are very forgiving of foreigners and our lack of cultural knowledge about Chinese etiquette.
Yes...I understand that you must still have to call on your judgment every now and again...but generally I think that there is a lot more giving, sharing, caring, respect and love in China...especially between the families, I think there is a very noticeable difference.
Don't get me wrong. I love Australia, but sometimes I really think that the world can learn a lot from the Chinese people.


Even this ox/cow? seemed intrigued by the foreigner and watched me closely as I walked backward and forward on the small bridge...Of course me being me, I was having a good chat to him and I guess like most everyone else here, he also had no idea what I was saying :-)






This is one of the ladies who invited me to stay for the afternoon and chat

Oh and to round out today I went out for my second parent teacher meal :-) This time, not so uncomfortable as my first time... but I was flanked with support on either side of me, Nettie and a very sweet senior high student (who's name is also Sue) who spoke very good English. I guess a few months on, I am becoming more comfortable in these kind of situations...Lets face it, I am getting plenty of practice at eating at Chinese restaurants...I think my chopstick skills are not too bad now :-)I still need to get over my shyness and speak some Chinese....I know I can do it...so why don't I ???

Curfewed

Last night was pretty cool...I caught the ferry over at 6.00pm to the city and met up with another Australian (Peter) who's been here for three years and has now bought an apartment here in Yichang and married a Chinese girl(Coco). We went out for dinner in a really cool little restaurant in Erma Lu and then kicked on down to "The Dragon Bar"(which is recently owned and run by a couple from my home city... Perth) and met up with some of the other Aussies an Irish man and an American :-)
It's really interesting because aside from the large amount of Indians who study at the university...I think that there really is only a couple of handfuls of foreigners here....It's quite amazing!
Peter teaches at the school where Swallow now is ...she gave him my phone number and he gave me a call. I have to say ...I was so shocked when I answered my phone and heard an Australian voice saying hello...:-)
Anyway so I sat in the bar with the other expats and enjoyed speaking Australian freely and easily for a few hours. As most of my friends and family know...unlike most Australians..I don't drink...so armed with a can of Coca-Cola, I listened and enjoyed the company for a while. I knew that the last bus back to my district was supposed to be around 11.00 but I was interested to see if this was going to happen or if I would be forking out for a Taxi. I walked back to Yiling Square just in time to catch the 27 :-), feeling quite pleased with myself that I'd managed a night on the town, I was unaware of the problem that lay ahead. It seems (unbeknown to me) that the gate into our apartment building gets locked...so at 11.30 I was standing on the street wondering how to get in...I walked the perimeter looking for a way over the wall so as not to have to disturb anyone...but...not possible. I went back to the gate and looked up...I noticed that my neighbour Vivien's light was still on, so embarrassingly gave her a call. She came down to wake up the lady who works the gate and at the same time some men rocked up who had a key...so it all ended o.k.
I am going to ask my friends about this though, because even though I'm not one for going out to bars and late nights (as my friends will vouch :-) It would be nice to know that I could hang out at those Friday night get togethers that they have if I so wish. Sometimes it's just nice to hear an Australian accent :-)

Beautiful Yichang City

If I eat dinner at the school dining hall, I usually go for a walk along the river after I have eaten...It is just so beautiful. I really like to see the city lights on the other side, it's very relaxing. Tonight I decided I would take my camera and see if I could get some good shots, but they just don't capture it...I think if I could use the night time mode (need a tripod) the pictures may be better. I tried taking some from where the ferry departs but it was bobbing up and down with the water so they blurred a little and the other shots are a bit grainy...anyway, it's the best I can capture for now :-) I guess you have to be here!


This is people waiting for the ferry

Look what I found yesterday!

Was walking through the shop yesterday and look what I came across in the imports section !
On the back it says "Made in Australia, exported to the world" :-) Yay.
The only problem is that they cost 1/4 of my shopping bill :-( So it wont be very often that I decide to enjoy Maltesers. Mostly the only time I eat Maltesers back home is when I go to the movies...I guess I could enjoy them with a DVD!
As far as other Aussie stuff I have found - Tic Tacs (also in the imports section of the shop)and "Seamild" Instant oats for breakfast (in the general section)...not a brand I know but it says the Oats come from Western Australia..they actually taste really good.
Not a huge array of Australian goods ...Luckily I like Chinese food :-)