11:34 p.m. - 2005-12-30
Begging doesn't suit you
So it is that time of semester again. Time to turn in the grades. Time to recieve the numerous invitations to dinner and offers of beautiful gifts that are even more expensive and beautiful when the student is failing the class. This year I have been a little slow in turning in my grades. Last year I wouldn't tell the students their final grade at the end, because they could figure it out themselves. This year I moved a lot of things to the internet, so I had to show the students their grades on the webpage (private entry, log in required... it is all legal and follows the guidelines from the states... honest!) and the final grades have been slow going because I gave them all the opportunity for extra credit.
So now I have the letters. The ones that berate me for giving a lower grade and impolore me to raise it for fear of being beaten by a father, or ostricized by their village, or ... "because I know you like me, you said I was a good student!". and all that for a B or a C. Don't ask what the F students say. You don't want to know. Or maybe you do. They threaten, they beg, and they flood you with phone calls at 4 in the morning and 11 at night (I never give out my phone number and I have told them not to call without asking permission first...it works for the smarter and more on task ones...).
These students fill my box with notes asking for me to recheck the scores and to recalculate the grades accourding to their desires and wants, as opposed to what they earned. Because in Chinese culture everything is negotiable. Yes, everything. I have seen teachers change grades. (I have it written in my syllabus that if they bug me about the grades they will recieve a lower letter grade, but that doesn't stop them)However, I am not that kind of teacher. And unlike the other instructors at this school, I am not bound by the strictures of the administration. I can not be asked by the "boss" to alter my grades because a student's dad has taken the dean out to dinner.
It really upsets the dean that he has to tell the parents that he is not my boss. I feel for the other teachers. They turn in their grades only to find that the administration has altered the grades, or has given a make up exam to a student who never came to class. If the student works it right, the whole class grade can be based on one make up test they can take as often as they need to in order to get the grade they want. It is especially hard when the other teachers hear that I have failed students...and they stay failed.
If I give a student an F, they can't work their way out of it. I have a reputation on the campus as the teacher with the most standing F's. 13 last year. Half of those were for absences (I followed the schools policy and that is what they got!) and the rest were for cheating. There were only two who failed because they couldn't speak, read, or write in English. And my class is an American University class. I still don't understand how those students could be placed into my class in the first place! The administration must have known that they would fail!
One of the students spent the second semester studying English. He did great and when I saw him again (he is not in my class) he could hold a conversation and could write much better. I understand he is passing the other teachers class this year.. of his own merits. The second is repeating in my class (I am told this is unheard of, but I actually told my failing students that they were welcome to return, that I liked them and thought that if they tried harder they would pass. Apparently some of them listened and chose to come to my class... GOOD FOR THEM!) This student is now passing with a very high grade and I have never seen such improvement in a student, ever before.
Anyway, if you have never taught in China before, these are things that you can expect to face. It is a bit of a culture shock issue for all of the teachers. If you don't believe me, well just wait and see. It is one of the most shocking things to see in China.
Besides the split pants.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Teaching in China: Getting Burned by a Friend
4:30 p.m. - 2005-12-26
Getting Burned
Okay,
The first thing that I want to put on record is that I DID NOT recommend this guy get the position. In fact, I recommended that they NOT hire this person. I knew him from the states and I knew what he was like. He is not a people person and he is not a responsible young adult. In fact he is one of the most irresponsible people that I know. However, They did not ask me for my opinion and chose to ignore it when it was given. Then he arrives in China. He begins teaching and while he is not bad at teaching, like most teachers in China who are untrained he is an inexperienced novice who is more interested in learning Chinese and traveling than in doing the job. So when things started to go bad for him in this environment I was not unprepared for it. However, he chose to attach himself to me as a person to go to for advice. In that action, he allowed other people to believe that I was telling him to do the things he was doing. I really hate that. He never came to the seminars that I give, although he always said that he would. Worse, when he started messing up in the classroom the administration started coming to me to talk about him. I had to explain that I had nothing to do with him. And yet, because of his comments they have chosen to believe that he is a puppet for me to speak through. I hate that more!
And then he decides on the last week of classes to duck out without turning in his grades. He leaves for Beijing with the grades undone and leaves me with mud on my face for being a friend.
I am a bit livid. I had to call up the people I know in Beijing to hunt him down before he left the country to get his grades in. Worse, I had to fight with the administration to get them to get off the phone long enough for the grades to get turned in on the fax machine (now that ticked me off royally, since it was a bunch of student office workers instead of the real admin. guys).
Now I not only have to prove that everything I say is valuable, but I also have to fight against the stigma attached to this one bad apple of a teacher. Worse, I have to fight that stigma in the hopes of being able to recommend future teachers here.
I am so mad, so very mad. I could just see the administration justifying not inviting me back because I was "friends" with this guy.
I have just been burned.
Getting Burned
Okay,
The first thing that I want to put on record is that I DID NOT recommend this guy get the position. In fact, I recommended that they NOT hire this person. I knew him from the states and I knew what he was like. He is not a people person and he is not a responsible young adult. In fact he is one of the most irresponsible people that I know. However, They did not ask me for my opinion and chose to ignore it when it was given. Then he arrives in China. He begins teaching and while he is not bad at teaching, like most teachers in China who are untrained he is an inexperienced novice who is more interested in learning Chinese and traveling than in doing the job. So when things started to go bad for him in this environment I was not unprepared for it. However, he chose to attach himself to me as a person to go to for advice. In that action, he allowed other people to believe that I was telling him to do the things he was doing. I really hate that. He never came to the seminars that I give, although he always said that he would. Worse, when he started messing up in the classroom the administration started coming to me to talk about him. I had to explain that I had nothing to do with him. And yet, because of his comments they have chosen to believe that he is a puppet for me to speak through. I hate that more!
And then he decides on the last week of classes to duck out without turning in his grades. He leaves for Beijing with the grades undone and leaves me with mud on my face for being a friend.
I am a bit livid. I had to call up the people I know in Beijing to hunt him down before he left the country to get his grades in. Worse, I had to fight with the administration to get them to get off the phone long enough for the grades to get turned in on the fax machine (now that ticked me off royally, since it was a bunch of student office workers instead of the real admin. guys).
Now I not only have to prove that everything I say is valuable, but I also have to fight against the stigma attached to this one bad apple of a teacher. Worse, I have to fight that stigma in the hopes of being able to recommend future teachers here.
I am so mad, so very mad. I could just see the administration justifying not inviting me back because I was "friends" with this guy.
I have just been burned.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Teaching in China: Trying to Found PRCTESOL
11:08 a.m. - 2005-12-21
End of semester state of the union address
Ah the end of the semester. Teachers are leaving as if the building were on fire, students are pounding on doors with offers of beautiful stones and precious liquids for the hope of a passing grade. The only thing that I truly enjoy about this state of disarray is the wonderful feeling of living at home as everyone else has gone and I am in a largely unpopulated building, with the hot tub all to myself. Okay, I have to share it with my family, but almost everyone else has left.
The cafeteria is almost empty which means there is plenty of food to go around and it tends to be better quality when they are only cooking for a few people. I have had to end my seminar sessions, my in-service trainings, to reschedule them for the beginning of the following semester. Actually, so many people who did not attend this semester have asked if it will be available next semester. It seems that word has spread about the sessions being helpful, and with the end of observations here and all of the responses that people received, my classes have suddenly become the number one priority in time for some teachers. The people who have attended the lectures are delighted to learn that I will not only be offering the seminar next semester, but that I may continue to offer it next year for those who are here.
I have made a formal announcement about my China TESOL affiliate founding, and now I am working towards making it a recognized entity on the campus as well as trying to find out just who I need to talk to about making it recognized and accepted in China. I have discovered that the name will need to be changed to PRCTESOL, which is actually a little more specific anyway. I am patiently waiting for responses from certain departments.
I have put the text book on hold due to some unforeseen blocks, including a request from another teacher that I put off doing it until I can get the right kind of support from the administration. I am still working slowly (it will move more quickly now that I have finished classes up) on developing a curriculum and integrated syllabus system for the program, but that will continue to move slow until I receive some form of administrative support.
The good news is that I know who and how to talk the administration into giving me what I want, especially now that I have had the chance to talk to people who have been here a while to find out how it should be approached officially and unofficially. I have the whole summer to work on the curriculum, and I really only need three weeks to put together a comprehensive curriculum with integrated syllabi and texts. I may not have time to write a textbook this semester, but I will have time to work it out as long as I stay.
I am attending the TESOL convention in Florida this March. I have decided to see if they will let me attend the affiliate caucus to see what I can learn from people who have done this kind of thing before and to find out how I can make this a solid affiliate group. I am also working towards the certificate in Leadership which is offered at the convention. It is specially geared to affiliate and caucus leaders so it should give me an edge in understanding just how to operate this group. I am hopeful that I will be able to round up members from those people who have been long standing members of TESOL while in China especially. I know of two in Fujian, so my chances have gotten better.
End of semester state of the union address
Ah the end of the semester. Teachers are leaving as if the building were on fire, students are pounding on doors with offers of beautiful stones and precious liquids for the hope of a passing grade. The only thing that I truly enjoy about this state of disarray is the wonderful feeling of living at home as everyone else has gone and I am in a largely unpopulated building, with the hot tub all to myself. Okay, I have to share it with my family, but almost everyone else has left.
The cafeteria is almost empty which means there is plenty of food to go around and it tends to be better quality when they are only cooking for a few people. I have had to end my seminar sessions, my in-service trainings, to reschedule them for the beginning of the following semester. Actually, so many people who did not attend this semester have asked if it will be available next semester. It seems that word has spread about the sessions being helpful, and with the end of observations here and all of the responses that people received, my classes have suddenly become the number one priority in time for some teachers. The people who have attended the lectures are delighted to learn that I will not only be offering the seminar next semester, but that I may continue to offer it next year for those who are here.
I have made a formal announcement about my China TESOL affiliate founding, and now I am working towards making it a recognized entity on the campus as well as trying to find out just who I need to talk to about making it recognized and accepted in China. I have discovered that the name will need to be changed to PRCTESOL, which is actually a little more specific anyway. I am patiently waiting for responses from certain departments.
I have put the text book on hold due to some unforeseen blocks, including a request from another teacher that I put off doing it until I can get the right kind of support from the administration. I am still working slowly (it will move more quickly now that I have finished classes up) on developing a curriculum and integrated syllabus system for the program, but that will continue to move slow until I receive some form of administrative support.
The good news is that I know who and how to talk the administration into giving me what I want, especially now that I have had the chance to talk to people who have been here a while to find out how it should be approached officially and unofficially. I have the whole summer to work on the curriculum, and I really only need three weeks to put together a comprehensive curriculum with integrated syllabi and texts. I may not have time to write a textbook this semester, but I will have time to work it out as long as I stay.
I am attending the TESOL convention in Florida this March. I have decided to see if they will let me attend the affiliate caucus to see what I can learn from people who have done this kind of thing before and to find out how I can make this a solid affiliate group. I am also working towards the certificate in Leadership which is offered at the convention. It is specially geared to affiliate and caucus leaders so it should give me an edge in understanding just how to operate this group. I am hopeful that I will be able to round up members from those people who have been long standing members of TESOL while in China especially. I know of two in Fujian, so my chances have gotten better.
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Teaching in China: Learning the Chinese Way
8:06 p.m. - 2005-12-07
Know the Chinese System
I admit it. I do not know the Chinese system. I have only been here for about 18 months and I have been immersed in my classes and busy with my family, so I have not spent a great deal of time figuring out how to do business in China. I never thought it would be necessary.
I was wrong.
I have discovered that in order to get things done. Anything that you want, all you have to do is do it the Chinese way. It may not seem to be working but it is. It is just a whole new way of doing things for me.
So, I have my little project and I have taken it through the chain of command, the official line of inquiry so to speak. Now I find myself going through the unofficial chain of command, or the guanxi line. This is where I find the person who I can properly flatter into wanting me to do what I want to do and to work his way up the line to flattering those above that he "found" me and can lay claim to the ideas of what I want to do. So I know who to go to, now I just need to figure out how to word it so that I can see it through.
If I knew how, I might just be able to buy him some beer and a girl and that would be the end. But I don't know how, so I have to stumble through and step on my tongue and shove my foot in my mouth a few times while I figure this out.
I don't even know who to go to in order to ask how to properly word something in order to get what I want.
Oh well, If I don't get what I want there is always another way!
If anyone knows any good books that they could recommend on how to properly work the system I would be grateful!
Anyway, have a wonderful day.
Know the Chinese System
I admit it. I do not know the Chinese system. I have only been here for about 18 months and I have been immersed in my classes and busy with my family, so I have not spent a great deal of time figuring out how to do business in China. I never thought it would be necessary.
I was wrong.
I have discovered that in order to get things done. Anything that you want, all you have to do is do it the Chinese way. It may not seem to be working but it is. It is just a whole new way of doing things for me.
So, I have my little project and I have taken it through the chain of command, the official line of inquiry so to speak. Now I find myself going through the unofficial chain of command, or the guanxi line. This is where I find the person who I can properly flatter into wanting me to do what I want to do and to work his way up the line to flattering those above that he "found" me and can lay claim to the ideas of what I want to do. So I know who to go to, now I just need to figure out how to word it so that I can see it through.
If I knew how, I might just be able to buy him some beer and a girl and that would be the end. But I don't know how, so I have to stumble through and step on my tongue and shove my foot in my mouth a few times while I figure this out.
I don't even know who to go to in order to ask how to properly word something in order to get what I want.
Oh well, If I don't get what I want there is always another way!
If anyone knows any good books that they could recommend on how to properly work the system I would be grateful!
Anyway, have a wonderful day.
Monday, December 5, 2005
Teaching in China: Trying to start PRC TESOL
9:20 a.m. - 2005-12-05
It Begins
Okay, It took me hours to finalize the constitution and the bylaws of China Tesol, but I have it finished. Now I have been arrangeing activities and a membership drive in this area. So now I have to start finding board members for the first year of China TESOL. I need someone in the Xian, someone in Beijing, and someone in Shanghai. These people would be responsible for advertising information about China Tesol and recruiting members in their respective areas... they would be Executive Board members and considered "members at large". The good news is that I know people in each of those areas, the bad news is that I have to encourage them to join the TESOL organization before asking them to become Board members.
Well, they have the option of becoming TESOL members after they become ChinaTESOL members. The difficulty is that I am worried that people will not see the benifit of becoming a TESOL member (or for that matter a China TESOL member). This is just a baby step though. With an official organization that can be affiliated with the TESOL organization, teachers in China who are serious about ESL or about being professionals will be able to justify their time and effort. They will be in a community of like minded individuals and be able to communicate regularly with people who face the same conditions and the same problems and challenges.
Right now I am working on so many projects I have no time to do anything else. I have my regular courses that I teach, I have my seminars, I have the textbook that I am still in the process of collecting materials for, I have the curriculum that I am designing which is based firmly on a language program design that I am attempting to remodel for this location, I have my project of altering my course for online access and use in the computer lab, I have added this TESOL affiliate project and of course I have my family which takes priority over all.
The China TESOL project will officially be open for membership enrollment in February (the start of the Chinese second college semester) at which time I will be trying to reach the minimum requirements for affiliation with TESOL. Then I will apply for affiliation next september. We will hold the first elections for official offices in November of next year, so there will be board positions as well as non-voting memberships available. I have to get the word out slowly but firmly that this is now a done thing. I have two members that are TESOL members in good standing (that would be me and a friend in Beijing) and when there are three TESOL members involved and 50 other members, following the official elections in November we will be able to apply for an affiliate position, which will make membership a very good thing.
I know that there will be three people in the Fujian province that I can invite to membership in September, and I know a few more people in Shanghai and Beijing, so now it is just a matter of spreading the word and arranging a conference for next year and a newsletter. I am thinking about doing an online newsletter due to the extraordinary spread of members, but the conference I would have to arrange in one of the main cities (so not at my location). All of this and I have papers to grade. I think I will post the announcment about the group on Dave's ESL cafe or something to get the news out about it. Maybe I should set up an information web site first? Yeah, most likely that is what I will have to do.
Anyway, wish me luck.
It Begins
Okay, It took me hours to finalize the constitution and the bylaws of China Tesol, but I have it finished. Now I have been arrangeing activities and a membership drive in this area. So now I have to start finding board members for the first year of China TESOL. I need someone in the Xian, someone in Beijing, and someone in Shanghai. These people would be responsible for advertising information about China Tesol and recruiting members in their respective areas... they would be Executive Board members and considered "members at large". The good news is that I know people in each of those areas, the bad news is that I have to encourage them to join the TESOL organization before asking them to become Board members.
Well, they have the option of becoming TESOL members after they become ChinaTESOL members. The difficulty is that I am worried that people will not see the benifit of becoming a TESOL member (or for that matter a China TESOL member). This is just a baby step though. With an official organization that can be affiliated with the TESOL organization, teachers in China who are serious about ESL or about being professionals will be able to justify their time and effort. They will be in a community of like minded individuals and be able to communicate regularly with people who face the same conditions and the same problems and challenges.
Right now I am working on so many projects I have no time to do anything else. I have my regular courses that I teach, I have my seminars, I have the textbook that I am still in the process of collecting materials for, I have the curriculum that I am designing which is based firmly on a language program design that I am attempting to remodel for this location, I have my project of altering my course for online access and use in the computer lab, I have added this TESOL affiliate project and of course I have my family which takes priority over all.
The China TESOL project will officially be open for membership enrollment in February (the start of the Chinese second college semester) at which time I will be trying to reach the minimum requirements for affiliation with TESOL. Then I will apply for affiliation next september. We will hold the first elections for official offices in November of next year, so there will be board positions as well as non-voting memberships available. I have to get the word out slowly but firmly that this is now a done thing. I have two members that are TESOL members in good standing (that would be me and a friend in Beijing) and when there are three TESOL members involved and 50 other members, following the official elections in November we will be able to apply for an affiliate position, which will make membership a very good thing.
I know that there will be three people in the Fujian province that I can invite to membership in September, and I know a few more people in Shanghai and Beijing, so now it is just a matter of spreading the word and arranging a conference for next year and a newsletter. I am thinking about doing an online newsletter due to the extraordinary spread of members, but the conference I would have to arrange in one of the main cities (so not at my location). All of this and I have papers to grade. I think I will post the announcment about the group on Dave's ESL cafe or something to get the news out about it. Maybe I should set up an information web site first? Yeah, most likely that is what I will have to do.
Anyway, wish me luck.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Voice of Will: Gloating and the PSB
2005-11-30 - 2:02 p.m.
Ahhhh, our hectic life. Some days it really is difficult, and some days it makes me wish I wasn't a buddhist so I could revel in someone else's discomfort and heart ache. But I try to be a good buddhist. I try to not gloat, and say 'sucks to be you!" gleefully.
Let me explain. over the last 10 days there has been very quiet statements to some teachers to "not have students visit." Now all of these teachers happen to be christian and missionary. I have been asked by several of these teachers if I knwo what it is about because they have been told very quietly, word of mouth, but nothing official. Now I have tried to come up with plausible explainations but they sound lame to me so I have waited, and we just got the news today.
The PSB (public security bureau, ie secret police) have been going around looking for christian missionaries actively promoting religion outside the "official" locations. And sure enough many of these teachers have "informal" bible studies in their rooms. Well that has been squashed, and in fact the most zealous christian missionary here wsa the one to break the news to the "faithful." He looked so broken down, and depressed I almost felt sorry for him. almost.
So they can meet in the rooms, and can have visitors but the topic cannot turn to religion unless it is at the local offical chuch. This may not sound like much, but it is a very big deal It actually puts the religion where it is supposed to happen, not in my hallways, or out when I'm getting coffee with my students. And it actually means our school is finally trying to follow the LAWS of the country we are in. go figure.
And with the proposed changes I hear are going to be coming to the "power structure" in the foreign teachers, we may actually be trying to be a "real" school.
but it still makes me want to go stand and jump up and down and go "tee-hee" just a little bit.
Will
Ahhhh, our hectic life. Some days it really is difficult, and some days it makes me wish I wasn't a buddhist so I could revel in someone else's discomfort and heart ache. But I try to be a good buddhist. I try to not gloat, and say 'sucks to be you!" gleefully.
Let me explain. over the last 10 days there has been very quiet statements to some teachers to "not have students visit." Now all of these teachers happen to be christian and missionary. I have been asked by several of these teachers if I knwo what it is about because they have been told very quietly, word of mouth, but nothing official. Now I have tried to come up with plausible explainations but they sound lame to me so I have waited, and we just got the news today.
The PSB (public security bureau, ie secret police) have been going around looking for christian missionaries actively promoting religion outside the "official" locations. And sure enough many of these teachers have "informal" bible studies in their rooms. Well that has been squashed, and in fact the most zealous christian missionary here wsa the one to break the news to the "faithful." He looked so broken down, and depressed I almost felt sorry for him. almost.
So they can meet in the rooms, and can have visitors but the topic cannot turn to religion unless it is at the local offical chuch. This may not sound like much, but it is a very big deal It actually puts the religion where it is supposed to happen, not in my hallways, or out when I'm getting coffee with my students. And it actually means our school is finally trying to follow the LAWS of the country we are in. go figure.
And with the proposed changes I hear are going to be coming to the "power structure" in the foreign teachers, we may actually be trying to be a "real" school.
but it still makes me want to go stand and jump up and down and go "tee-hee" just a little bit.
Will
Teaching in China: Change takes time
11:35 a.m. - 2005-11-30
And I was worried!
Part of the reason I started this diary was to help me organize my thoughts and to figure out exactly where I am in regards to completing the TESOL branch here in China. Believe it or not I am further than I thought I would get, especially now that I am being exploited on tape. I started this project in January of 2005. I came to China in September of 2004, bright eyed and completely delusional.
My hopes and ideas were shattered in the very first week I spent in China. I attended the school orientation. I am happy to say that the school did make great attempts at holding an orientation that was complete with references to culture shock, references to what the oral classes and the schedules not being what we might expect, they even had an ESL person speak at an optional presentation. The culture shock presentation was the most preparing aspect of the orientation, and very well done.
The ESL person was a theoretical linguist (no offense to theoretical linguists) who did not understand the difference between theory and application, so regretably most of the lecture was useless for anyone who did not have an ESL background. For me it was a delightful review. And the oreintation to the classes and schedules consisted mostly of "be flexible" and "your class might not be there or it might be the wrong room". That was in 2004.
In 2005 the orientation got better. I am sorry to say that is not saying a lot. Many of my friends and I had worked hard to come up with more informative presentations and information packets. These were used, but they were not great. Of course they were not great, no one was available to organize the orientation. It was thrown together at the last minute just like it usually is. Last year it was suggested to me that since I had the most interest and the most experience and training, would I be interested in starting a TESOL branch in China.
This has been the most interesting and bizzare project. I hold seminars and very few people show up. I give presentations and half of the participants do not speak the same language (although I have started useing a translator who wants to be an MATESL at a school I have recommended to him) and I publish a newsletter that nobody seems to read. All in all, I pretty much have believed that this project is going to be a labor of Hercules.
That's okay. I know that if I can get this project off the ground it will benifit the teachers, the students, and the educational system of China in general. For those reasons I feel that it is worth the hassle and the heartache that is required for such a labor. All this time I have been writing in this diary (I use to have a different diary and decided to start a new one for this project alone) and really I have only been talking to myself. Or so I thought. Hearing from another ***** member has been heartening. If there are even a few people that might be either interested in what it is like to teach in China or interested in the idea of having a TESOL affiliatation in China, that makes my efforts worthwhile.
Thank you hemlokk. I am not quite nuts yet.
2011 Note- These posts were on a previous site that is no longer in use.
And I was worried!
Part of the reason I started this diary was to help me organize my thoughts and to figure out exactly where I am in regards to completing the TESOL branch here in China. Believe it or not I am further than I thought I would get, especially now that I am being exploited on tape. I started this project in January of 2005. I came to China in September of 2004, bright eyed and completely delusional.
My hopes and ideas were shattered in the very first week I spent in China. I attended the school orientation. I am happy to say that the school did make great attempts at holding an orientation that was complete with references to culture shock, references to what the oral classes and the schedules not being what we might expect, they even had an ESL person speak at an optional presentation. The culture shock presentation was the most preparing aspect of the orientation, and very well done.
The ESL person was a theoretical linguist (no offense to theoretical linguists) who did not understand the difference between theory and application, so regretably most of the lecture was useless for anyone who did not have an ESL background. For me it was a delightful review. And the oreintation to the classes and schedules consisted mostly of "be flexible" and "your class might not be there or it might be the wrong room". That was in 2004.
In 2005 the orientation got better. I am sorry to say that is not saying a lot. Many of my friends and I had worked hard to come up with more informative presentations and information packets. These were used, but they were not great. Of course they were not great, no one was available to organize the orientation. It was thrown together at the last minute just like it usually is. Last year it was suggested to me that since I had the most interest and the most experience and training, would I be interested in starting a TESOL branch in China.
This has been the most interesting and bizzare project. I hold seminars and very few people show up. I give presentations and half of the participants do not speak the same language (although I have started useing a translator who wants to be an MATESL at a school I have recommended to him) and I publish a newsletter that nobody seems to read. All in all, I pretty much have believed that this project is going to be a labor of Hercules.
That's okay. I know that if I can get this project off the ground it will benifit the teachers, the students, and the educational system of China in general. For those reasons I feel that it is worth the hassle and the heartache that is required for such a labor. All this time I have been writing in this diary (I use to have a different diary and decided to start a new one for this project alone) and really I have only been talking to myself. Or so I thought. Hearing from another ***** member has been heartening. If there are even a few people that might be either interested in what it is like to teach in China or interested in the idea of having a TESOL affiliatation in China, that makes my efforts worthwhile.
Thank you hemlokk. I am not quite nuts yet.
2011 Note- These posts were on a previous site that is no longer in use.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Teaching In China: thoughts on certification
6:39 p.m. - 2005-11-28
A thought about certification
In order to get a certificate in TESL or TESOL, you need to pay money, attend or participate in courses, and do a practicum experience. In order to recieve certification with accredidation you need to pay money, participate or attend courses, and do a practicum experience with a certified company. Although there is often a difference in quality of programs, some programs are more complete than others.
I created a training program. Useing materials from several certified programs, I have had my students, teachers every one, participate in the course volontairily. They attend a lecture (2 hours every week) in which I cover the materials that a certified program usually covers. Sometimes these lectures are actually student centered discussions where the teachers discuss how the information is related to what they are doing in the classroom. I have tried very hard to work their classroom experiences into the discussions as part of a practicum experience, but this is hard work for someone who is inexperienced as a program administrator. I realize that I am not the official program administrator, but with the TESOL program that I am working on here that is the role that I am playing.
I have to say that this is an incredible experience regardless of the outcomes. I have regular students who attend the class every week, and a few students who come and go as they can.
So my thought really is that these students deserve more than I can give them. But I do not charge for my lectures (I know I probably should). I do not charge because it is my strong belief that these teachers would benifit more from haveing this kind of training as a steady part of their experience here. I am working slowly with the administrators of the Chinese school to work my program in as a requirement for all new teachers at the school, as opposed to a volontary program.
Either way I will continue to offer a certificate of completion of this non-accredited TESOL program.
It may not be much, but they deserve to have something to show for their efforts beyond the improvements they have shown in the classroom.
A thought about certification
In order to get a certificate in TESL or TESOL, you need to pay money, attend or participate in courses, and do a practicum experience. In order to recieve certification with accredidation you need to pay money, participate or attend courses, and do a practicum experience with a certified company. Although there is often a difference in quality of programs, some programs are more complete than others.
I created a training program. Useing materials from several certified programs, I have had my students, teachers every one, participate in the course volontairily. They attend a lecture (2 hours every week) in which I cover the materials that a certified program usually covers. Sometimes these lectures are actually student centered discussions where the teachers discuss how the information is related to what they are doing in the classroom. I have tried very hard to work their classroom experiences into the discussions as part of a practicum experience, but this is hard work for someone who is inexperienced as a program administrator. I realize that I am not the official program administrator, but with the TESOL program that I am working on here that is the role that I am playing.
I have to say that this is an incredible experience regardless of the outcomes. I have regular students who attend the class every week, and a few students who come and go as they can.
So my thought really is that these students deserve more than I can give them. But I do not charge for my lectures (I know I probably should). I do not charge because it is my strong belief that these teachers would benifit more from haveing this kind of training as a steady part of their experience here. I am working slowly with the administrators of the Chinese school to work my program in as a requirement for all new teachers at the school, as opposed to a volontary program.
Either way I will continue to offer a certificate of completion of this non-accredited TESOL program.
It may not be much, but they deserve to have something to show for their efforts beyond the improvements they have shown in the classroom.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Teaching in China: Observations
11:51 a.m. - 2005-11-23
Practicum attempt
Today I had the opportunity to watch several of the teachers teach in their classrooms.
And I learned a lot.
1st. I learned that there are some incredibly well trained teachers at this school. I am very lucky to have such very good teachers and to know that they are giving the students a quality performance. These students have a great opportunity.
2nd. Many of the things that I have been talking about in my professional development seminars is just what these teachers need. All of the teachers are using techniques and methods discussed in the course.
3rd. Some people should not be in China to teach. As much as they want to help. As much as they continue to try and improve. These few teachers should be regulated to backpacking across China. These people should never be allowed into the classroom. So you might think to yourself, it can't be that bad. Yes it can. These students are paying a solid amount of money to be taught by a teacher who can not even teach them one new item in 2 hours. The entire time (while not spent singing, I'll give him that) was spent listening to the students make more and more atrocious errors without correction or guidance. The students were giving their all. The sad thing is that the teacher was giving their all too.
This has actually given me inspiration.
I have decided to design next years orientation. Whether it is used by the administration or not, I have to do what I can to make this a better place. If for not other reason than for the students. I am planning on doing a semester long orientation that begins with two intense weeks (their usual plan) but is organized with a clear set of regulations and standards, followed by the rest of the semester with weekly meetings to plan out for lessons and suggestions on how to use the book, a simple matter of a practicum experience. These teachers could use it. That should also help the teacher who is trying so hard and doing so little to be more focused and capable in the classroom.
The only thing I can do now is try.
Practicum attempt
Today I had the opportunity to watch several of the teachers teach in their classrooms.
And I learned a lot.
1st. I learned that there are some incredibly well trained teachers at this school. I am very lucky to have such very good teachers and to know that they are giving the students a quality performance. These students have a great opportunity.
2nd. Many of the things that I have been talking about in my professional development seminars is just what these teachers need. All of the teachers are using techniques and methods discussed in the course.
3rd. Some people should not be in China to teach. As much as they want to help. As much as they continue to try and improve. These few teachers should be regulated to backpacking across China. These people should never be allowed into the classroom. So you might think to yourself, it can't be that bad. Yes it can. These students are paying a solid amount of money to be taught by a teacher who can not even teach them one new item in 2 hours. The entire time (while not spent singing, I'll give him that) was spent listening to the students make more and more atrocious errors without correction or guidance. The students were giving their all. The sad thing is that the teacher was giving their all too.
This has actually given me inspiration.
I have decided to design next years orientation. Whether it is used by the administration or not, I have to do what I can to make this a better place. If for not other reason than for the students. I am planning on doing a semester long orientation that begins with two intense weeks (their usual plan) but is organized with a clear set of regulations and standards, followed by the rest of the semester with weekly meetings to plan out for lessons and suggestions on how to use the book, a simple matter of a practicum experience. These teachers could use it. That should also help the teacher who is trying so hard and doing so little to be more focused and capable in the classroom.
The only thing I can do now is try.
Teaching in China: Cheating Returns
11:44 a.m. - 2005-11-23
Plagiarism 2
Last week I made a discovery that left me feeling a little drained. I found a document, about 32 pages long, that had short essays written by famous people. In Chinese the instructions informed the students that if they memorized the essays and wrote them 100 times they would be their words. After I have spent almost 4 months telling the students that they should only give me their words, this has been sitting on half of their computers telling them to do it wrong.
In America, I had to battle briefly with plagiarism. It is there and it does happen. However, in China it is a constant battle to tell the students that plagiarism is not an acceptable form of writing. That original ideas are the preferred method.
Sometimes, especially last week when I found this document in the possession of one of my favorite students, I just feel drained.
It is an uphill battle.
But I keep trying.
Plagiarism 2
Last week I made a discovery that left me feeling a little drained. I found a document, about 32 pages long, that had short essays written by famous people. In Chinese the instructions informed the students that if they memorized the essays and wrote them 100 times they would be their words. After I have spent almost 4 months telling the students that they should only give me their words, this has been sitting on half of their computers telling them to do it wrong.
In America, I had to battle briefly with plagiarism. It is there and it does happen. However, in China it is a constant battle to tell the students that plagiarism is not an acceptable form of writing. That original ideas are the preferred method.
Sometimes, especially last week when I found this document in the possession of one of my favorite students, I just feel drained.
It is an uphill battle.
But I keep trying.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Teaching in China: Cheating
5:26 p.m. - 2005-11-16
Cheating
My students in China often think that it will take less time to find a passage on the internet than it will for them to write a piece of their own work. It doesn't matter that they should be talking about their family or if they are writing about themselves. They often feel that the internet will provide them with much better writing than what they can do themselves. This is a hard notion to dissuade. So, as instructors we spend an amazing amount of time explaining the value of a personal voice and the importance of the individual within the group. We often need to combine the notion of group think with the idea that a personal choice can be for the group as well. I spend a great deal of time teaching my students that being a part of the community does not always mean using the communities work, sometimes it means doing your own work and contributing to the community yourself. When they realize this, they become the best writers in the world. The most creative and the most motivated. Because they really can do it. But first, we have to teach them that it is wrong to take it off the internet. There is more value in their own writing.
Cheating
My students in China often think that it will take less time to find a passage on the internet than it will for them to write a piece of their own work. It doesn't matter that they should be talking about their family or if they are writing about themselves. They often feel that the internet will provide them with much better writing than what they can do themselves. This is a hard notion to dissuade. So, as instructors we spend an amazing amount of time explaining the value of a personal voice and the importance of the individual within the group. We often need to combine the notion of group think with the idea that a personal choice can be for the group as well. I spend a great deal of time teaching my students that being a part of the community does not always mean using the communities work, sometimes it means doing your own work and contributing to the community yourself. When they realize this, they become the best writers in the world. The most creative and the most motivated. Because they really can do it. But first, we have to teach them that it is wrong to take it off the internet. There is more value in their own writing.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Voice of Will: China gets weird
2005-11-12 - 12:04 a.m.
Here is why I haven't written in the last month
There was an attempted purge of the non christian teachers over the last three weeks, and I was on the list. (yes you read that right)
I was informed in the 3rd week of October that there had been complaints about my behavior, and I was told to stop lying to the new teachers, stop giving new teachers bad information and gossip about other teachers, stop being a negative influcence in peter hall. Now this warning was in chinglish from the head of ICED (our overseers) at a bbq on a saturday. When I asked for information I was given the earlier blanket statement. But no specific information on which I was to "stop." Ok.
Now to understand the power structure here, just stick your finger in a light socket, because you will never understand it because we don't. But we do have an "advisory comittee" that is made up of certain heavy christian teachers, heads of certain departments of foreign teachers, and several busy body's who have had jobs made for them to give a power block a vote. They appear to have Star chamber meetings, everything is in secret, and when you ask questions you are not answered, or you get cryptic answers.
To top that off, the pressure and tension have been mounting considerably over the last three weeks.
so I go to the comittee members I "trust" and ask them for specific information about the complaints, and I get ZERO for answers. just "Your name has come up in our meetings" but no answers to what I am supposed to have done. So instead of "stopping" I let the misfits know what is happening. They are outraged.
so last week I was told that I needed to appear at the 7th floor confrence room for a meeting with ICED. Ok. I asked a friend (and current american bar attorney) to accompany me to the meeting as a witness. We get there and I'm told, "you will have to reschedule your meeting with President Lee at some later time because he is busy right now." Now President Lee is the president of the school. WTF? Why would the president of the school want a meeting with me? So I ask, and the ICED rep (the same one from before) tells me there have been numerous complaints and I am here to answer for my behavior. I ask for information so I can defend myself and I get told, "these are private complaints, I cannot give them to you." WTF????? If they were private why am I going in front of president lee? I tell her (actually my attorney friend because I'm sooooo pissed off) that we will meet with them when I have written charges so I can defend myself.
when I get home I find out there was a meeting right before mine. a new teacher who is very open about his sexuality, who is black, and large has been asked to resign because of his stance on homosexual issues.
Now I'm worried. But I decide to sleep on it, and see what time brings. Next morning one of my best friends here is forcibly resigned (he has a sense of humor like mine, and is anti zealot (but he is christian) and pro homosexual. he was scheduled to meet after me.
Now you do the math. the person who meets before me asked to resign, the person after me forcibly resigned. Hmmmm??? So I freak out. Crissy freaks out (much better position because of her position with Fort Hays as a professor) and writes to Fort Hays stating that we are being targeted, and this pervasive attitude is creating a hostile living and working environment. within an hour there is a reply to her email. Will is not on the list to be fired. Please calm down. the liason in Fort hays called the owner of the school to demand information.
so while this is going on, I have a friend who brought me a list of the advisory commitee meeting notes. When I asked him where he got them he said he "found them." I was hoping he didn't hack into the computer system, so I asked the head computer tech if this could be done. I ask the computer tech guy if this is passowrd protected, and he says no. this is an open system so people can go into files. Ok. I go and look at the printouts that have been brought to me and notice states complaints against me since sept 16. These complaints were from the same members who I "trust." I love getting f*d in the back without even being told about it.
So I get to find out how important I am by my friends who stand up. my attorney friend is here because she was asked to be here by someone who is giving MILLIONS of dollars to the owner of the school for business. She has seen ALL of this stuff happen.
The owner of the school shows up yesterday and we have an emergency staff meeting. He tells us that there are problems, the head of ICED will be removed, thre will be sweeping changes to the advisory comittee, and to try to let the past lie.
Now, I am not saying that I brought down some "zealots" who were using the head of ICED (who is new and doesn't know better). But I was the bait who brought these people out of their hiding so they could get nailed.
My punishment (yes there is tit for tat, I bring down the administration so I got to pay) is a to get a written warning and a notice to STOP. But my attorney friend is here to write the policy about discipline so i'm not too worryed. (oh yea we also got an apology)
Will
Here is why I haven't written in the last month
There was an attempted purge of the non christian teachers over the last three weeks, and I was on the list. (yes you read that right)
I was informed in the 3rd week of October that there had been complaints about my behavior, and I was told to stop lying to the new teachers, stop giving new teachers bad information and gossip about other teachers, stop being a negative influcence in peter hall. Now this warning was in chinglish from the head of ICED (our overseers) at a bbq on a saturday. When I asked for information I was given the earlier blanket statement. But no specific information on which I was to "stop." Ok.
Now to understand the power structure here, just stick your finger in a light socket, because you will never understand it because we don't. But we do have an "advisory comittee" that is made up of certain heavy christian teachers, heads of certain departments of foreign teachers, and several busy body's who have had jobs made for them to give a power block a vote. They appear to have Star chamber meetings, everything is in secret, and when you ask questions you are not answered, or you get cryptic answers.
To top that off, the pressure and tension have been mounting considerably over the last three weeks.
so I go to the comittee members I "trust" and ask them for specific information about the complaints, and I get ZERO for answers. just "Your name has come up in our meetings" but no answers to what I am supposed to have done. So instead of "stopping" I let the misfits know what is happening. They are outraged.
so last week I was told that I needed to appear at the 7th floor confrence room for a meeting with ICED. Ok. I asked a friend (and current american bar attorney) to accompany me to the meeting as a witness. We get there and I'm told, "you will have to reschedule your meeting with President Lee at some later time because he is busy right now." Now President Lee is the president of the school. WTF? Why would the president of the school want a meeting with me? So I ask, and the ICED rep (the same one from before) tells me there have been numerous complaints and I am here to answer for my behavior. I ask for information so I can defend myself and I get told, "these are private complaints, I cannot give them to you." WTF????? If they were private why am I going in front of president lee? I tell her (actually my attorney friend because I'm sooooo pissed off) that we will meet with them when I have written charges so I can defend myself.
when I get home I find out there was a meeting right before mine. a new teacher who is very open about his sexuality, who is black, and large has been asked to resign because of his stance on homosexual issues.
Now I'm worried. But I decide to sleep on it, and see what time brings. Next morning one of my best friends here is forcibly resigned (he has a sense of humor like mine, and is anti zealot (but he is christian) and pro homosexual. he was scheduled to meet after me.
Now you do the math. the person who meets before me asked to resign, the person after me forcibly resigned. Hmmmm??? So I freak out. Crissy freaks out (much better position because of her position with Fort Hays as a professor) and writes to Fort Hays stating that we are being targeted, and this pervasive attitude is creating a hostile living and working environment. within an hour there is a reply to her email. Will is not on the list to be fired. Please calm down. the liason in Fort hays called the owner of the school to demand information.
so while this is going on, I have a friend who brought me a list of the advisory commitee meeting notes. When I asked him where he got them he said he "found them." I was hoping he didn't hack into the computer system, so I asked the head computer tech if this could be done. I ask the computer tech guy if this is passowrd protected, and he says no. this is an open system so people can go into files. Ok. I go and look at the printouts that have been brought to me and notice states complaints against me since sept 16. These complaints were from the same members who I "trust." I love getting f*d in the back without even being told about it.
So I get to find out how important I am by my friends who stand up. my attorney friend is here because she was asked to be here by someone who is giving MILLIONS of dollars to the owner of the school for business. She has seen ALL of this stuff happen.
The owner of the school shows up yesterday and we have an emergency staff meeting. He tells us that there are problems, the head of ICED will be removed, thre will be sweeping changes to the advisory comittee, and to try to let the past lie.
Now, I am not saying that I brought down some "zealots" who were using the head of ICED (who is new and doesn't know better). But I was the bait who brought these people out of their hiding so they could get nailed.
My punishment (yes there is tit for tat, I bring down the administration so I got to pay) is a to get a written warning and a notice to STOP. But my attorney friend is here to write the policy about discipline so i'm not too worryed. (oh yea we also got an apology)
Will
Voice of Will: Crissy's Take
2005-11-12 - 12:25 a.m.
Crissy's take on this (I have removed the names of the guilty)
I copied the letter I sent off to you just to show you how desperate I got... not to mention that I was making a record in case legal action needed to be taken. I was at my wits end and freaking out because nobody was talking to us STILL!
But then (our boss in fort hays) emailed Will a couple of times basically to tell us to lay off because we were really making the waves uncontroleable... basically, I lost my cool and made everyone here realize that I would be more than willing to bring it to an end over a null issue if they wanted to give me trouble, (I made stink about harassment... and it is harassment but that is the way it has always been and I never made noise before...) In the end I basically made it clear that I would talk... long and loud and clear and I would be happy to take it to a lawyer if I needed to.
They (the advisory committee )) got a lot of flak and realized that I was now pissed off enough to ruin it for everyone and shut the school down if I did not get my way. They (the committee) didn't realize that I was not afraid to walk out on my contract if I had to, and I was not going to allow my husband to be railroaded without getting royally rude. In addition, I have never thrown a fit before, so no one here thought that I could. It was a seriously rude awakening for some people. Now the wave has hit. Shawn (the owner of the school) is here and is basically saying he will deal with the problem, and he is not seeing me as the problem (I expected him to, but that is not what has happened). He sees it as... Something is wrong and it is coming from ICED.
So___ has been removed. And I think my job is now being threatened (unfortunate and I feel really bad... but I am more important to me...) and we have basically been asked to stop making our noise (stop the letter writing campaign.. and stop talking to FHSU, etc.) and they will take care of it. So I am waiting and watching like I always do. I think a lot of people were suprised at how loud I got all of a sudden. and when started saying... but it is just a few people... and 20 people were suddenly clammoring.. he stopped saying a few and started asking what went wrong. How is that for funny.
She basically said that... well I interpreted it as "you are not being tolerant enough" which is when I lost my temper and got really loud everywhere... including writing the letter of harassment. But basically said she was sorry and hoped that it would work out.. which is a much better response than blameing me for my problems... So I wrote her back to tell her I was sure it would, but that I just needed to make a little "official" noise to help things work out properly. I never expected action on Fort Hays side (although I like that Shawn (owner of the school) came in... even if it labels me a trouble maker).
About the guy the fired for being Gay... One day on one of the computer lab computers he had some pornography (it wasn't but they interpreted it as such... you know the whole I can't define it but I know it when I see it arguement)... So they have grounds for termination...
Anyway,
I am satisfied with the way things are moving right now. I have some really powerful people on my side (including the main investor from the tent makers... how is that for a power play) and they believe me because I am so rational, calm, and friendly without hideing behind a mask or a religious belief. I always knew being true to myself would lead to good things. Plus Will was being Will and made friends with the most powerful people who came to visit... so he had them on his side as soon as things started turning sour. Mark was lost because the only people he spoke to ever were me and Will and there was almost nothing that we could do for him. was lost for the same reason. They had no one to turn to and no way of fighting back because no one knows him (he is fighting back as best he can, but he is not going to win this battle) and because of the kids. Although the students are crying about the loss of Mark and AJ. They are both two of the most popular teachers on campus (will has them beat... barely) this semester.
I still can't believe____ would say I am being intolerant of others...
Crissy
Crissy's take on this (I have removed the names of the guilty)
I copied the letter I sent off to you just to show you how desperate I got... not to mention that I was making a record in case legal action needed to be taken. I was at my wits end and freaking out because nobody was talking to us STILL!
But then (our boss in fort hays) emailed Will a couple of times basically to tell us to lay off because we were really making the waves uncontroleable... basically, I lost my cool and made everyone here realize that I would be more than willing to bring it to an end over a null issue if they wanted to give me trouble, (I made stink about harassment... and it is harassment but that is the way it has always been and I never made noise before...) In the end I basically made it clear that I would talk... long and loud and clear and I would be happy to take it to a lawyer if I needed to.
They (the advisory committee )) got a lot of flak and realized that I was now pissed off enough to ruin it for everyone and shut the school down if I did not get my way. They (the committee) didn't realize that I was not afraid to walk out on my contract if I had to, and I was not going to allow my husband to be railroaded without getting royally rude. In addition, I have never thrown a fit before, so no one here thought that I could. It was a seriously rude awakening for some people. Now the wave has hit. Shawn (the owner of the school) is here and is basically saying he will deal with the problem, and he is not seeing me as the problem (I expected him to, but that is not what has happened). He sees it as... Something is wrong and it is coming from ICED.
So___ has been removed. And I think my job is now being threatened (unfortunate and I feel really bad... but I am more important to me...) and we have basically been asked to stop making our noise (stop the letter writing campaign.. and stop talking to FHSU, etc.) and they will take care of it. So I am waiting and watching like I always do. I think a lot of people were suprised at how loud I got all of a sudden. and when started saying... but it is just a few people... and 20 people were suddenly clammoring.. he stopped saying a few and started asking what went wrong. How is that for funny.
She basically said that... well I interpreted it as "you are not being tolerant enough" which is when I lost my temper and got really loud everywhere... including writing the letter of harassment. But basically said she was sorry and hoped that it would work out.. which is a much better response than blameing me for my problems... So I wrote her back to tell her I was sure it would, but that I just needed to make a little "official" noise to help things work out properly. I never expected action on Fort Hays side (although I like that Shawn (owner of the school) came in... even if it labels me a trouble maker).
About the guy the fired for being Gay... One day on one of the computer lab computers he had some pornography (it wasn't but they interpreted it as such... you know the whole I can't define it but I know it when I see it arguement)... So they have grounds for termination...
Anyway,
I am satisfied with the way things are moving right now. I have some really powerful people on my side (including the main investor from the tent makers... how is that for a power play) and they believe me because I am so rational, calm, and friendly without hideing behind a mask or a religious belief. I always knew being true to myself would lead to good things. Plus Will was being Will and made friends with the most powerful people who came to visit... so he had them on his side as soon as things started turning sour. Mark was lost because the only people he spoke to ever were me and Will and there was almost nothing that we could do for him. was lost for the same reason. They had no one to turn to and no way of fighting back because no one knows him (he is fighting back as best he can, but he is not going to win this battle) and because of the kids. Although the students are crying about the loss of Mark and AJ. They are both two of the most popular teachers on campus (will has them beat... barely) this semester.
I still can't believe____ would say I am being intolerant of others...
Crissy
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Teaching in China: Student Centred Presentation
8:21 p.m. - 2005-11-09
Next baby step for TESOL China
So now I am taking the next step. I have already held several training sessions with the foreign teachers (mostly Americans, one Belgian.) and now I have been asked to speak about Student Centered teaching to the Chinese English teachers... and to the Chinese Course teachers. They have all requested to attend the meeting. The English teachers I expected and will be discussing the latest information about Teaching English, but the course teachers would really like me to discuss methods of teaching, as in non-teacher centered methods!
That is incredible and will really provide me with the opportunity to show what I know and share what kinds of things we have learned over the years with the developments in educational theory and classroom research.
I am so excited.
And SOOOOO NERVOUS!
I represent ALL that is new and all that is different in the classroom to these teachers. I am the EXPERT on TESL as far as they are concerned and I am the person to hear it from. I may have as many as 60 teachers or more come to hear me talk about pronunciation teaching methods, listening methods, writing methods, speaking methods, and Student Centered theories. And I only have 2 hours to discuss it all.
And they told me about it YESTERDAY!!!!
Well, I will prepare all night and all day until it is time to talk and I will try to cover everything that I can in the two hours, leaving some time for questions and answers.
Did I mention that I have to bring a translator?
I am very excited but so nervous about this and I can't wait to tell you next time.
Next baby step for TESOL China
So now I am taking the next step. I have already held several training sessions with the foreign teachers (mostly Americans, one Belgian.) and now I have been asked to speak about Student Centered teaching to the Chinese English teachers... and to the Chinese Course teachers. They have all requested to attend the meeting. The English teachers I expected and will be discussing the latest information about Teaching English, but the course teachers would really like me to discuss methods of teaching, as in non-teacher centered methods!
That is incredible and will really provide me with the opportunity to show what I know and share what kinds of things we have learned over the years with the developments in educational theory and classroom research.
I am so excited.
And SOOOOO NERVOUS!
I represent ALL that is new and all that is different in the classroom to these teachers. I am the EXPERT on TESL as far as they are concerned and I am the person to hear it from. I may have as many as 60 teachers or more come to hear me talk about pronunciation teaching methods, listening methods, writing methods, speaking methods, and Student Centered theories. And I only have 2 hours to discuss it all.
And they told me about it YESTERDAY!!!!
Well, I will prepare all night and all day until it is time to talk and I will try to cover everything that I can in the two hours, leaving some time for questions and answers.
Did I mention that I have to bring a translator?
I am very excited but so nervous about this and I can't wait to tell you next time.
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Teaching In China: Cell phone and Dictionary Policy
4:59 p.m. - 2005-11-02
Cell phone and Dictionary Policy
Cell Phones and Electronic dictionaries are the bane of my existence in the ESL classroom. China has more cell phones than anywhere else I have seen. Every person from the very old to the very young has a cell phone. They may not all work, but they are there none the less. These cell phones have a tendency to go off in the middle of class and in the middle of tests and exams.
Electronic dictionaries are worse. It would not be so bad if the students were purchasing good dictionaries, but they can't always afford a good one, so I have to put a ban on ALL dictionaries that are not paper English to English dictionaries. Half of the time the cheap ones have incorrect words and poor definitions, not to mention improper pronunciation hints. It is like that old joke where the man looked it up in the dictionary and instead of asking where the bathroom is he asks to purchase the other mans wife...
Cell phones and electronic dictionaries are an interuption in the classroom. When they go off in class and half the students jump, it tells me that they are disrupting the other students. When the dictionaries speak and everyone can hear it, it is a distraction. The worst part is that sometimes the students will use a dictionary on a word I am defining... at the same time, so they miss the meaning I give them and are unsure of where I am going with the topic.
The students are also not sure that what I say is right for them, so they will ignore my warnings and use their phone or dictionary in class.
Someday they will learn.
Cell phone and Dictionary Policy
Cell Phones and Electronic dictionaries are the bane of my existence in the ESL classroom. China has more cell phones than anywhere else I have seen. Every person from the very old to the very young has a cell phone. They may not all work, but they are there none the less. These cell phones have a tendency to go off in the middle of class and in the middle of tests and exams.
Electronic dictionaries are worse. It would not be so bad if the students were purchasing good dictionaries, but they can't always afford a good one, so I have to put a ban on ALL dictionaries that are not paper English to English dictionaries. Half of the time the cheap ones have incorrect words and poor definitions, not to mention improper pronunciation hints. It is like that old joke where the man looked it up in the dictionary and instead of asking where the bathroom is he asks to purchase the other mans wife...
Cell phones and electronic dictionaries are an interuption in the classroom. When they go off in class and half the students jump, it tells me that they are disrupting the other students. When the dictionaries speak and everyone can hear it, it is a distraction. The worst part is that sometimes the students will use a dictionary on a word I am defining... at the same time, so they miss the meaning I give them and are unsure of where I am going with the topic.
The students are also not sure that what I say is right for them, so they will ignore my warnings and use their phone or dictionary in class.
Someday they will learn.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Teaching in China: Computer Plague
The Plague that is the computer
So my students are being asked to use computers in their writing course. This is revolutionary in this setting. I have my students in a lab 1 day a week (we only meet 2 days a week) and on that day I have them use MLA style formatting and type out papers for their composition submissions. Then they are expected to follow my instructions in English to turn the paper in. The first papers were attached to postings on a BB on the Blackboard system. Not a bad situation. Then I set up an account with MyDropBox and had them start submitting assignments through this plagiarism checking site. A little bit more difficult, but workable.
But I tell you, Computers and ESL students are a difficult mix. It takes a lot of work to make sure you have students who understand you and they know what you mean when you use a specific computer term. Often it is a matter of showing them what I mean and then having them mimic the action for the following assignment. Rough. The good part is that I am now trying to create a series of Web Modules that will explain exactly how to do all of the things that I want them to do, from properly writing an essay in MLA style to how to create a web page following aspects of rhetorical and compositional principles and the requirements of the State Board of Regents on composition. This series of modules is only partially finished now and I am really worried because I want them finished in the next two weeks so I can test them on the students. They are using the Beta version of the modules right now which do not have the ESL enhancements that are really needed for this setting.
In addition, the students are using the Chinese version of word with about a million programming errors (sometimes I really wonder....) and they have a difficult time finding Font or Double Space. I will need to add that kind of visual language support to the modules as well. I also hate it when the sites and servers crash, which is a regular occurrence in this remote area. I am sure that instructors in Beijing and Shanghai have far less of these difficulties, but I also know that I am offering my students a unique and valuable experience with the technology that they get to use in this class.
This campus has so many computers and other high tech equipment that it would be a shame not to use it for the intended purpose of educational enhancement. Plus, now my students have better library access. Their first library consists mostly of old copies of Readers Digest Condensed Books. Don't get me wrong, I like the RDC books, but not as research sources.
So my students are being asked to use computers in their writing course. This is revolutionary in this setting. I have my students in a lab 1 day a week (we only meet 2 days a week) and on that day I have them use MLA style formatting and type out papers for their composition submissions. Then they are expected to follow my instructions in English to turn the paper in. The first papers were attached to postings on a BB on the Blackboard system. Not a bad situation. Then I set up an account with MyDropBox and had them start submitting assignments through this plagiarism checking site. A little bit more difficult, but workable.
But I tell you, Computers and ESL students are a difficult mix. It takes a lot of work to make sure you have students who understand you and they know what you mean when you use a specific computer term. Often it is a matter of showing them what I mean and then having them mimic the action for the following assignment. Rough. The good part is that I am now trying to create a series of Web Modules that will explain exactly how to do all of the things that I want them to do, from properly writing an essay in MLA style to how to create a web page following aspects of rhetorical and compositional principles and the requirements of the State Board of Regents on composition. This series of modules is only partially finished now and I am really worried because I want them finished in the next two weeks so I can test them on the students. They are using the Beta version of the modules right now which do not have the ESL enhancements that are really needed for this setting.
In addition, the students are using the Chinese version of word with about a million programming errors (sometimes I really wonder....) and they have a difficult time finding Font or Double Space. I will need to add that kind of visual language support to the modules as well. I also hate it when the sites and servers crash, which is a regular occurrence in this remote area. I am sure that instructors in Beijing and Shanghai have far less of these difficulties, but I also know that I am offering my students a unique and valuable experience with the technology that they get to use in this class.
This campus has so many computers and other high tech equipment that it would be a shame not to use it for the intended purpose of educational enhancement. Plus, now my students have better library access. Their first library consists mostly of old copies of Readers Digest Condensed Books. Don't get me wrong, I like the RDC books, but not as research sources.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Voice of Will: Jonas's Story
2005-09-26 - 12:21 a.m.
Let me tell you a story. It began about 25 years ago.
When we first moved to Arizona, I had absolutley no friends. We were new in the area and my father had just finished his training/ apprentiship for the boilermakers.
The first real friend I made was a son of one of my dads coworkers. His name was Jonas. Now we lived 25 miles apart, and to me today that is nothing, I can drive that distance in about 20 minutes, and in fact I have had friends who lived much further away than that, but to a 7 year old, 25 miles is a world a way.
We would get together on the weekends when our parents would get together. My weeks were just a set up until the weekend when I could see my best friend. We lived at each others houses on the weekends, going on friday after class, and staying until sunday night. His mom was mine, and my mom was his. We called each other brother, and I was honored to be another of that family, and he was tickled to be a Jones. We trick or treated together (even getting mugged for candy), we rode bikes together, played football together, and played against each other on pop warner. He had the most intense blue eyes I have ever seen (until I met my children), and white blonde hair. I was the chubby kid, he was the skinny gangly one.
We went to different high schools, and so as people do in high school we drifted apart some, but 6 years of being best friends is hard to forget.
We had patched up our friendship in my senior year (his junior because he flunked a year, part of our disagreements) and I was supposed to go to a concert with him. Guns and roses, metallica, and one other big band (can't remember the name). I had a job, and I had to work. I remember him coming by my work to see if he could get me to quit and come with them. I was so close. I ached to just say "f* it" and go, but I was also trying to support myself, and I can't ever quit anything. That feels wrong. So I stayed.
That previous week it had been raining very heavily, and the location of the concert was perfect. It was at a international race way, meaning it could hold up to 100,000 people for the concert. The only problem is there are only 2 ways in, and one of them was flooded. Now this isn't a big deal in the daylight because you can see, and step your way across the river. This is what Jonas and his other friends did.
It is very different after a 4 hour long concert, in the dark with people. The girl that jonas was there with was swept into the river, and he dove in after her. He pushed her out of the river, and never came out himself.
I worked a 16 hour shift that day, and slept in the next because I was feeling sorry for myself. I had not seen the news, and did not find out until the second day of searching for his body. I went with my mom to my other mom's home in shock, and I was there when they discovered the body.
I was so racked with guilt that I did not go with, I kept thinking I could have saved him. It wasn't until his older brother gave me a bear hug and told me he was glad I didn't go because they would have fished out 2 bodies from the river that day, that I realized I would have gone in with him, after him, because I would not have let him die alone.
I bring this up today because my wife gave me a wonderful present for my birthday today. A small, skinny, white haired kitten, and she named him Jonas. In honor of my friend who I will always love, and never forget. I have tried to live my life for both of us, and at times I think I can hear his laugh, or see his cocky grin, but for now I can see his namesake, even if it is a cat. who knows, it might even be him.
Will
Let me tell you a story. It began about 25 years ago.
When we first moved to Arizona, I had absolutley no friends. We were new in the area and my father had just finished his training/ apprentiship for the boilermakers.
The first real friend I made was a son of one of my dads coworkers. His name was Jonas. Now we lived 25 miles apart, and to me today that is nothing, I can drive that distance in about 20 minutes, and in fact I have had friends who lived much further away than that, but to a 7 year old, 25 miles is a world a way.
We would get together on the weekends when our parents would get together. My weeks were just a set up until the weekend when I could see my best friend. We lived at each others houses on the weekends, going on friday after class, and staying until sunday night. His mom was mine, and my mom was his. We called each other brother, and I was honored to be another of that family, and he was tickled to be a Jones. We trick or treated together (even getting mugged for candy), we rode bikes together, played football together, and played against each other on pop warner. He had the most intense blue eyes I have ever seen (until I met my children), and white blonde hair. I was the chubby kid, he was the skinny gangly one.
We went to different high schools, and so as people do in high school we drifted apart some, but 6 years of being best friends is hard to forget.
We had patched up our friendship in my senior year (his junior because he flunked a year, part of our disagreements) and I was supposed to go to a concert with him. Guns and roses, metallica, and one other big band (can't remember the name). I had a job, and I had to work. I remember him coming by my work to see if he could get me to quit and come with them. I was so close. I ached to just say "f* it" and go, but I was also trying to support myself, and I can't ever quit anything. That feels wrong. So I stayed.
That previous week it had been raining very heavily, and the location of the concert was perfect. It was at a international race way, meaning it could hold up to 100,000 people for the concert. The only problem is there are only 2 ways in, and one of them was flooded. Now this isn't a big deal in the daylight because you can see, and step your way across the river. This is what Jonas and his other friends did.
It is very different after a 4 hour long concert, in the dark with people. The girl that jonas was there with was swept into the river, and he dove in after her. He pushed her out of the river, and never came out himself.
I worked a 16 hour shift that day, and slept in the next because I was feeling sorry for myself. I had not seen the news, and did not find out until the second day of searching for his body. I went with my mom to my other mom's home in shock, and I was there when they discovered the body.
I was so racked with guilt that I did not go with, I kept thinking I could have saved him. It wasn't until his older brother gave me a bear hug and told me he was glad I didn't go because they would have fished out 2 bodies from the river that day, that I realized I would have gone in with him, after him, because I would not have let him die alone.
I bring this up today because my wife gave me a wonderful present for my birthday today. A small, skinny, white haired kitten, and she named him Jonas. In honor of my friend who I will always love, and never forget. I have tried to live my life for both of us, and at times I think I can hear his laugh, or see his cocky grin, but for now I can see his namesake, even if it is a cat. who knows, it might even be him.
Will
Monday, September 19, 2005
Voice of Will: Back in China
2005-09-19 - 11:39 p.m.
Hello all. This is from a letter to my father.I haven't written lately things are just going very quickly. Too much to do and never enough time.
Lets see.
Seeing you was one of the few highlights in our trip. It was so bad at one point, criss and I looked at each other and stated, "I wish I was back at home, in china."
We made our flight to beijing very easily, it was smooth with only 2 or three instances of turburlence, but mostly it was very smooth, and professionally flown. The flight out of beijing the next morning was a real pain, we were shaking so badly people were spilling their drinks, and there were 40 new SIAS teachers on the plane that had not had the opportunity to rest like we did. (We landed in beijing, and had a 12 hour layover, so we went to a hotel and slept for 7 hours. we were freshly dressed, showered, and relaxed before getting on the flight to zhengzhou).
We got back to our apartment to find that there were workmen in our place while we were gone. There were actually 3 work crews so no one knows who to blame. But while replacing the showers, rebuilding larger shwers, adn replacing the door trim a whole boat load of foreign teachrs were ripped off. Missing from our home were all the double a/triple a batteries for all the remote controls, all the light bulbs. wall hangers were ripped off the walls, most of our hoarded western food was missing, my water distiller was used for making coffee and it was broken, our rug was covered in water/spill stains, and they took 100 rmb from each of the kids piggy banks. They also shoved their garbage under our couch (it appears taht most people dont' actually move their furnature ever because you find the most disgusting things under furnature in china.
We started teaching 2 weeks ago, and did 2 weeks of orientation before that. The orientation was a joke, but it was much better than last years orientation for teachers. Classes are like always, hectic. Nothing seems to be working, and classes change and get reorganized almost on a whim of the gods. Though this eyar only 6 teachers had their schedules changed, as opposed to last year when only 6 didn't have their schedules rearranged. The vast majority of our teacher have textbooks for their classes at the end of the first couple of days, and their classes had books by the end of the first week. Criss and I are lucky in that we get our schedules done first and with priority because we have kids. So her schedule is that she teaches 8 hours straight (not counting lunch) on Monday and wednesday, and I teach 6 straight hours (not counting lunch) on tuesday and thursday. We both have friday off. Not too bad all things considering.
The group of incoming teachers is the best I have seen, and I think it is the best/most professional/most qualified to ever teach here. SIAS has been a bastion for the ultra conservative born again evangelical christians for its existence. At the end of last year, only criss and I were left of the "open minded" teachers group we had. I was very scared it would be 50 new bible thumping teachers to combine with the 40 returning bible thumpers. I was incredibly surprised. Of the new teachers only 5 seem like they are missionaires, while the other 35 seem to be very agnostic, or of other religions (3 jews, 3 catholics, a bahai, someone with their personal guru, and about 15 agnostics, adn 15 or so relaxed/lapsed christians.)
Will
Hello all. This is from a letter to my father.I haven't written lately things are just going very quickly. Too much to do and never enough time.
Lets see.
Seeing you was one of the few highlights in our trip. It was so bad at one point, criss and I looked at each other and stated, "I wish I was back at home, in china."
We made our flight to beijing very easily, it was smooth with only 2 or three instances of turburlence, but mostly it was very smooth, and professionally flown. The flight out of beijing the next morning was a real pain, we were shaking so badly people were spilling their drinks, and there were 40 new SIAS teachers on the plane that had not had the opportunity to rest like we did. (We landed in beijing, and had a 12 hour layover, so we went to a hotel and slept for 7 hours. we were freshly dressed, showered, and relaxed before getting on the flight to zhengzhou).
We got back to our apartment to find that there were workmen in our place while we were gone. There were actually 3 work crews so no one knows who to blame. But while replacing the showers, rebuilding larger shwers, adn replacing the door trim a whole boat load of foreign teachrs were ripped off. Missing from our home were all the double a/triple a batteries for all the remote controls, all the light bulbs. wall hangers were ripped off the walls, most of our hoarded western food was missing, my water distiller was used for making coffee and it was broken, our rug was covered in water/spill stains, and they took 100 rmb from each of the kids piggy banks. They also shoved their garbage under our couch (it appears taht most people dont' actually move their furnature ever because you find the most disgusting things under furnature in china.
We started teaching 2 weeks ago, and did 2 weeks of orientation before that. The orientation was a joke, but it was much better than last years orientation for teachers. Classes are like always, hectic. Nothing seems to be working, and classes change and get reorganized almost on a whim of the gods. Though this eyar only 6 teachers had their schedules changed, as opposed to last year when only 6 didn't have their schedules rearranged. The vast majority of our teacher have textbooks for their classes at the end of the first couple of days, and their classes had books by the end of the first week. Criss and I are lucky in that we get our schedules done first and with priority because we have kids. So her schedule is that she teaches 8 hours straight (not counting lunch) on Monday and wednesday, and I teach 6 straight hours (not counting lunch) on tuesday and thursday. We both have friday off. Not too bad all things considering.
The group of incoming teachers is the best I have seen, and I think it is the best/most professional/most qualified to ever teach here. SIAS has been a bastion for the ultra conservative born again evangelical christians for its existence. At the end of last year, only criss and I were left of the "open minded" teachers group we had. I was very scared it would be 50 new bible thumping teachers to combine with the 40 returning bible thumpers. I was incredibly surprised. Of the new teachers only 5 seem like they are missionaires, while the other 35 seem to be very agnostic, or of other religions (3 jews, 3 catholics, a bahai, someone with their personal guru, and about 15 agnostics, adn 15 or so relaxed/lapsed christians.)
Will
Monday, August 22, 2005
Hays 3
Day Three, the flight
So, on to the airplane.
Actually, I would like to start a little earlier. You see, we had to travel by China Air or Air China or one of those lovely less than stellar airlines. It takes me back to my first flight to Tokyo and how nervous I was on that flight. It was amazing, how clean and nice that flight was. For some reason I supposed that all flights to Asia were like that flight, which by the way was on Continental. No, this is United Airlines, and it's China partner...whichever one that is.
As soon as we walked down the ramp I noticed a certain smell. However, I assumed that it was just the ramp. Then we got on the plane. It was cramped, kind of dirty feeling, and unpleasant. As we were getting seated Rita and her friend Margaret (the cinema teacher) walked by. She introduced Margaret to me and Margaret promptly offered my husband a job. Because of me! How nice. He accepted (and got the position for the last two years, which has been his favorite job ever!!!!) and then turned to ask me who that was! It was all very surreal. We settled in, I was sitting behind Will and the kids. They sat down with their Leap Pads (delightful tool) and relaxed. About 3 hours in they started dozing off. not much suprise as it was 3 AM!!!
The Stewards kept coming by as if they expected our kids to be a problem (and having seen other kids on flights, that is probably exactly what they thought) but the kids were completely well behaved and quite. others in our travel group didn't even realize they were with us.
The food was AWFUL. Before you make jokes, I have had good airline food. I have had great airline food on Continental (I always request the vegetarian and have had some very jealous passangers!)but this flight was so disgusting I was afraid that the children would be starving (and they kind of were, thank goodness I had the forsight to pack snacks in their carry ons!!!)
Anyway, we finally get to Beijing and have a pretty good laugh when we get off the plane and see the Handisapped sign. (they finally took that down this year, but it has been a laugh every time I go through the airport!). We have some difficulties getting through customs in time to get on the plane to our new home city, Zhengzhou. Okay technically we will be going to Xinzheng, but that is considered a satellite of "greater Zhengzhou" as it is only about an HOUR away. We disembark the plane from Zhengzhou feeling about ready to turn around and go back to America if something doesn't happen and lo we are met at the airport by an army of Freshman and various other students who help us gather our bags and help us push them to the waiting bus. They give us arms full of flowers and load us onto the bus. My husband and I looked at each other and agreed to give it a few more days.
They drive us to this big beautiful campus that looks just like an American university (looks can be decieving, boy I tell you) and we unload off the bus and are escorted to our new home. It is twice the size of the one we just left in America. And lovely. We settle the kids into their rooms, we make sure that we have everything we need. They have provided us with 5 coca-cola's and some rice cake things to eat as a treat and a welcome. And we all settle in and go right to sleep.
So, on to the airplane.
Actually, I would like to start a little earlier. You see, we had to travel by China Air or Air China or one of those lovely less than stellar airlines. It takes me back to my first flight to Tokyo and how nervous I was on that flight. It was amazing, how clean and nice that flight was. For some reason I supposed that all flights to Asia were like that flight, which by the way was on Continental. No, this is United Airlines, and it's China partner...whichever one that is.
As soon as we walked down the ramp I noticed a certain smell. However, I assumed that it was just the ramp. Then we got on the plane. It was cramped, kind of dirty feeling, and unpleasant. As we were getting seated Rita and her friend Margaret (the cinema teacher) walked by. She introduced Margaret to me and Margaret promptly offered my husband a job. Because of me! How nice. He accepted (and got the position for the last two years, which has been his favorite job ever!!!!) and then turned to ask me who that was! It was all very surreal. We settled in, I was sitting behind Will and the kids. They sat down with their Leap Pads (delightful tool) and relaxed. About 3 hours in they started dozing off. not much suprise as it was 3 AM!!!
The Stewards kept coming by as if they expected our kids to be a problem (and having seen other kids on flights, that is probably exactly what they thought) but the kids were completely well behaved and quite. others in our travel group didn't even realize they were with us.
The food was AWFUL. Before you make jokes, I have had good airline food. I have had great airline food on Continental (I always request the vegetarian and have had some very jealous passangers!)but this flight was so disgusting I was afraid that the children would be starving (and they kind of were, thank goodness I had the forsight to pack snacks in their carry ons!!!)
Anyway, we finally get to Beijing and have a pretty good laugh when we get off the plane and see the Handisapped sign. (they finally took that down this year, but it has been a laugh every time I go through the airport!). We have some difficulties getting through customs in time to get on the plane to our new home city, Zhengzhou. Okay technically we will be going to Xinzheng, but that is considered a satellite of "greater Zhengzhou" as it is only about an HOUR away. We disembark the plane from Zhengzhou feeling about ready to turn around and go back to America if something doesn't happen and lo we are met at the airport by an army of Freshman and various other students who help us gather our bags and help us push them to the waiting bus. They give us arms full of flowers and load us onto the bus. My husband and I looked at each other and agreed to give it a few more days.
They drive us to this big beautiful campus that looks just like an American university (looks can be decieving, boy I tell you) and we unload off the bus and are escorted to our new home. It is twice the size of the one we just left in America. And lovely. We settle the kids into their rooms, we make sure that we have everything we need. They have provided us with 5 coca-cola's and some rice cake things to eat as a treat and a welcome. And we all settle in and go right to sleep.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hays 2
Day Two of Hays
It was a wonderful way to wake up. Yes I was all alone for the first time in almost 8 years, but I woke up to the sound of my favorite song slowly getting a little louder. I was able to get into a shower, do my morning routine and get dressed in time to wander out to the lobby of the hotel. In the lobby is this crowd of people who look, well kind of like me. Each of them looked completely different and yet we were all of the same type. We all had the willingness to travel abroad, we all had that relaxed attitude of friendly people in a new location. I came in and the first thing that I noticed was the woman I had noticed at the airport was in the lobby too. So I introduced myself to her, and to all the other people there. I was shocked at how easy it was to talk to these complete strangers.
Have I mentioned that I hate public speaking, I dislike crowds and noise, I am mildly agoraphobic (worse now after two years in China... man it really does a number on you!)and I am not good at making friends. Somehow over the course of that first day I made two fast friends, one of whom I know will be a friend for life. The woman from the airport, the same woman from the plane, took me under her wing and answered all of my questions patiently and honestly. I knew what I was stepping into (a steaming pile...) and was ready for most of what happened that first year. Shocked, but prepared.
Rita is and always will be an amazing person.
Anyway, the first thing we did was tour the campus. I saw all of the sites and talked to the other professors. We met the other professors who teach distance classes and we found out all of the interesting things we needed to know. Some of the information, we didn't need to know. Other aspects were nice to learn.
Anyway, It was time to leave Kansas and head off to LA where I would meet my husband and the kids and go on to China.
We arrive at the airport, the entire delegation of teachers who are leaving for China, only to find out that four of us do not have confirmed tickets to Denver. I felt like screaming. I know that my husband will not get on a plane without me, and I had to buy his ticket seperate, non-refundable...etc,etc,etc.
However, one of the teachers who has been bumped suggests a rental car. We have 4 hours to get from Hays Kansas to Denver Colorado. The roads are fairly straight and it should be easy right? So off we go. The four of us pile into the car and drive off to Denver. We spend the whole trip chatting in the car (four hours of women talking to each other could really get annoying, but it didn't) and driving at top speeds to the airport. We get there just before the gate closes, but of course we have to go through security. Have you ever been through security at Denver? It is a joke! They purposefully make things difficult for passengers! I have been to many different airports around the U.S. I have to say that LAX is nasty, Denver is attrocious, and Try not to go through PHX if you can help it. Newark is less hastle, Houston is acceptable, San Antonio is pleasant, Tampa is quite clean and nice. I love SFO. If you get the chance to transfer or fly out of SFO, try it. It's the nicest one I have found. Hays Airport is a complete and utter joke! Don't bother! Rent a car instead, you can make it from Denver in less than four hours. Honest, I speak from experience. We made it in a little over 3. Don't ask, I won't tell you, but the corn was definately waving!
Anyway, they held the plane for us, and we made it in for our connection in LA, thank goodness. I see my husband and the children in the airport and they are all doing very well. A little sunburnt, but good. They had a wonderful time and for a while connected China with going to Disneyland. They don't feel that way anymore, but that's okay... Tokyo has its own Disneyland!
So that is the end of the next days adventures. Okay, technically the trip lasted several days, but day two covers all of the days spent at the orientation, because none of that was really all that important, except to say that I met and liked Rita and this guy named Steven Darian (awesome person!) and to mention that the English Department at Hays is a real department, whereas the virtual college is not so much!
ON to the next day.
It was a wonderful way to wake up. Yes I was all alone for the first time in almost 8 years, but I woke up to the sound of my favorite song slowly getting a little louder. I was able to get into a shower, do my morning routine and get dressed in time to wander out to the lobby of the hotel. In the lobby is this crowd of people who look, well kind of like me. Each of them looked completely different and yet we were all of the same type. We all had the willingness to travel abroad, we all had that relaxed attitude of friendly people in a new location. I came in and the first thing that I noticed was the woman I had noticed at the airport was in the lobby too. So I introduced myself to her, and to all the other people there. I was shocked at how easy it was to talk to these complete strangers.
Have I mentioned that I hate public speaking, I dislike crowds and noise, I am mildly agoraphobic (worse now after two years in China... man it really does a number on you!)and I am not good at making friends. Somehow over the course of that first day I made two fast friends, one of whom I know will be a friend for life. The woman from the airport, the same woman from the plane, took me under her wing and answered all of my questions patiently and honestly. I knew what I was stepping into (a steaming pile...) and was ready for most of what happened that first year. Shocked, but prepared.
Rita is and always will be an amazing person.
Anyway, the first thing we did was tour the campus. I saw all of the sites and talked to the other professors. We met the other professors who teach distance classes and we found out all of the interesting things we needed to know. Some of the information, we didn't need to know. Other aspects were nice to learn.
Anyway, It was time to leave Kansas and head off to LA where I would meet my husband and the kids and go on to China.
We arrive at the airport, the entire delegation of teachers who are leaving for China, only to find out that four of us do not have confirmed tickets to Denver. I felt like screaming. I know that my husband will not get on a plane without me, and I had to buy his ticket seperate, non-refundable...etc,etc,etc.
However, one of the teachers who has been bumped suggests a rental car. We have 4 hours to get from Hays Kansas to Denver Colorado. The roads are fairly straight and it should be easy right? So off we go. The four of us pile into the car and drive off to Denver. We spend the whole trip chatting in the car (four hours of women talking to each other could really get annoying, but it didn't) and driving at top speeds to the airport. We get there just before the gate closes, but of course we have to go through security. Have you ever been through security at Denver? It is a joke! They purposefully make things difficult for passengers! I have been to many different airports around the U.S. I have to say that LAX is nasty, Denver is attrocious, and Try not to go through PHX if you can help it. Newark is less hastle, Houston is acceptable, San Antonio is pleasant, Tampa is quite clean and nice. I love SFO. If you get the chance to transfer or fly out of SFO, try it. It's the nicest one I have found. Hays Airport is a complete and utter joke! Don't bother! Rent a car instead, you can make it from Denver in less than four hours. Honest, I speak from experience. We made it in a little over 3. Don't ask, I won't tell you, but the corn was definately waving!
Anyway, they held the plane for us, and we made it in for our connection in LA, thank goodness. I see my husband and the children in the airport and they are all doing very well. A little sunburnt, but good. They had a wonderful time and for a while connected China with going to Disneyland. They don't feel that way anymore, but that's okay... Tokyo has its own Disneyland!
So that is the end of the next days adventures. Okay, technically the trip lasted several days, but day two covers all of the days spent at the orientation, because none of that was really all that important, except to say that I met and liked Rita and this guy named Steven Darian (awesome person!) and to mention that the English Department at Hays is a real department, whereas the virtual college is not so much!
ON to the next day.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Hays 1
The First Step
When I first arrived in China I was exhausted. Have you ever really though about what those plane trips are like. Me, I hate flying. Despise it. Have to take medication to keep from heaving the whole way. My medication is expensive and by prescription only! So I had to rush around and pack up my family in an amazingly short amount of time. I had to wait until the semester was over and put all of my stuff in storage because we were going to China, the 5 of us, on ten suitcases. That meant clothes had to be sorted, toys had to be chosen, books had to be packed (hey, I'm not stupid!) and I had less than 3 weeks to do it in. But I did it. No, not alone. I had lots of help. The funny part is I always have help available to me, I just don't always use it. So we had two big burly men to move around our stuff and haul it all out to the storage place and come back to get more. I mopped and scrubbed and cleaned until I couldn't do any more and then I had someone else do it. (some things never change)
Then I left. I flew off to Kansas for an orientation so that I would be prepared for my trip to China. Leaving behind my husband to take a road trip to Disneyland with our three kids and one of the burly men, his friend Eric.
If you want to know about their adventures at Disneyland, yes they had them, you will have to ask them. I wasn't there and can only say I am sorry that I set him up for failure by telling the kids they needed to see the princesses and the Cinderella castle. How was I suppose to know it would be under renovation? I only knew that it was where I went both times and I had pictures of me and my mom in front.
Anyway, on to Kansas.
I arrive at the Denver airport from Phoenix and I am a little nervous because it is the first time I have been away from my husband and children for any length of time alone. I had gone other places, but always accompanied by friends or family members. It was weird to be alone.
I tried to stay cool. I strolled up to the counter after disembarking the plane, only to find that I had been counted as on the flight to Kansas and would have to wait for the next connection.
I have to admit I was annoyed. How could they count me as on the plane when I was standing right there. Worse, the flight left 20 minutes early. I was on time for my flight and still missed the connection! So I waited in this long waiting room hallway in the Denver airport and played a game of Set with myself. I have to practice so that one day I will beat Amy at it. There I saw an interesting person. She attracted my notice because she looked only slightly older than me (she was) and definitely a together kind of person (she is). She was reading a book while I was playing cards. I noticed the circular tattoo on her arm and her really long hair first. But I didn't strike up a conversation. I was still too nervous about this whole orientation thing, not to mention my first big trip alone.
After a 6 hour wait or so we all climb aboard this little piddly puddle jumper type airplane that sits 20 at the most and bucks if someone sneezes (it has to be the 100 mile hour wind coming out of my nose...honest).
Anyway, I didn't get sick. I couldn't play Set on the plane, there are too many cards. But I was able to read a little from the magazine in the back of the seat. I noticed the other lady was sitting across from me, but still I didn't feel up to talking.
We landed in Hays Kansas, this backwater puddle in Kansas, at about 9pm. I was tired. I had left at 8AM for this incredibly long trip. The layover in Denver was ridiculous. I climb aboard this shuttle to the hotel and check in at the desk, go to my room at the very back of the hotel and settle in. I set my bags on the table and bed and get out a few things for wearing tomorrow and pop a CD in the CD Alarm clock radio. I figured that waking up to Sarah M. would be pleasant on my first night totally alone.
The end of day one.
When I first arrived in China I was exhausted. Have you ever really though about what those plane trips are like. Me, I hate flying. Despise it. Have to take medication to keep from heaving the whole way. My medication is expensive and by prescription only! So I had to rush around and pack up my family in an amazingly short amount of time. I had to wait until the semester was over and put all of my stuff in storage because we were going to China, the 5 of us, on ten suitcases. That meant clothes had to be sorted, toys had to be chosen, books had to be packed (hey, I'm not stupid!) and I had less than 3 weeks to do it in. But I did it. No, not alone. I had lots of help. The funny part is I always have help available to me, I just don't always use it. So we had two big burly men to move around our stuff and haul it all out to the storage place and come back to get more. I mopped and scrubbed and cleaned until I couldn't do any more and then I had someone else do it. (some things never change)
Then I left. I flew off to Kansas for an orientation so that I would be prepared for my trip to China. Leaving behind my husband to take a road trip to Disneyland with our three kids and one of the burly men, his friend Eric.
If you want to know about their adventures at Disneyland, yes they had them, you will have to ask them. I wasn't there and can only say I am sorry that I set him up for failure by telling the kids they needed to see the princesses and the Cinderella castle. How was I suppose to know it would be under renovation? I only knew that it was where I went both times and I had pictures of me and my mom in front.
Anyway, on to Kansas.
I arrive at the Denver airport from Phoenix and I am a little nervous because it is the first time I have been away from my husband and children for any length of time alone. I had gone other places, but always accompanied by friends or family members. It was weird to be alone.
I tried to stay cool. I strolled up to the counter after disembarking the plane, only to find that I had been counted as on the flight to Kansas and would have to wait for the next connection.
I have to admit I was annoyed. How could they count me as on the plane when I was standing right there. Worse, the flight left 20 minutes early. I was on time for my flight and still missed the connection! So I waited in this long waiting room hallway in the Denver airport and played a game of Set with myself. I have to practice so that one day I will beat Amy at it. There I saw an interesting person. She attracted my notice because she looked only slightly older than me (she was) and definitely a together kind of person (she is). She was reading a book while I was playing cards. I noticed the circular tattoo on her arm and her really long hair first. But I didn't strike up a conversation. I was still too nervous about this whole orientation thing, not to mention my first big trip alone.
After a 6 hour wait or so we all climb aboard this little piddly puddle jumper type airplane that sits 20 at the most and bucks if someone sneezes (it has to be the 100 mile hour wind coming out of my nose...honest).
Anyway, I didn't get sick. I couldn't play Set on the plane, there are too many cards. But I was able to read a little from the magazine in the back of the seat. I noticed the other lady was sitting across from me, but still I didn't feel up to talking.
We landed in Hays Kansas, this backwater puddle in Kansas, at about 9pm. I was tired. I had left at 8AM for this incredibly long trip. The layover in Denver was ridiculous. I climb aboard this shuttle to the hotel and check in at the desk, go to my room at the very back of the hotel and settle in. I set my bags on the table and bed and get out a few things for wearing tomorrow and pop a CD in the CD Alarm clock radio. I figured that waking up to Sarah M. would be pleasant on my first night totally alone.
The end of day one.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Voice of Will: Long Tyme No Tipe
2005-07-16 - 9:25 p.m.
Ahhh.... long tyme no tipe.
so I have been very very busy, and have just not made those extra minutes necessary to keep up on the diary.
Ok let me sum up. I signed a contract to stay here and teach the summer session (not to be mistaken for summer camp) and they were supposed to pay me 3000 RMB for 1 months work, and give me a free round trip ticket redemable at christmas. That was a pretty good deal to teach oral english to high school seniors, and college students. In fact it was sooooo good, it was too good to be true. The deal fell through, and so we decided to stay here and work on our masters.
Here is how the deal fell through. The owner of the school promsied a friend he could deliver 20+ foreign teachers for this summer session, and his friend promised to get 400 students, adn pay for the foreign teachers. So one week before summer session is supposed to start, the owner of the school only had 7 teachers, (thats ok the friend only had 40 students). So no deal. so solly chollie. Since they told us before the offical "start" date, it is ok.
Criss and I decided to stay here and let her work on her 2nd masters class, and me to work on my first masters classes. Ok. We decide to stay. Then comes the letter from Fort Hays saying we have to be in Kansas on july 20th for orientation. Ok we change our plans, set up the airline tickets, and then find out they changed orientation to aug 15-18. Oh well. We aren't going to change them again.
Needless to say, we leave on July 18 at 1:30pm, and get to spend 26 hours either in airports, or on airplanes. Ah the fun, the wonder, the fantastically eye poppin journey. Oh well, at least we found copies of war of the worlds, hitchhikers guide, star wars 3, fantastic four, and charlie and the chocolate factory here today in zhengzhou, and lets not forget seasons 1-3 of Monk, stargate atalantis, desperate housewives (all for 7 rmb a disc). Ah the wonders of china.
Ahhh.... long tyme no tipe.
so I have been very very busy, and have just not made those extra minutes necessary to keep up on the diary.
Ok let me sum up. I signed a contract to stay here and teach the summer session (not to be mistaken for summer camp) and they were supposed to pay me 3000 RMB for 1 months work, and give me a free round trip ticket redemable at christmas. That was a pretty good deal to teach oral english to high school seniors, and college students. In fact it was sooooo good, it was too good to be true. The deal fell through, and so we decided to stay here and work on our masters.
Here is how the deal fell through. The owner of the school promsied a friend he could deliver 20+ foreign teachers for this summer session, and his friend promised to get 400 students, adn pay for the foreign teachers. So one week before summer session is supposed to start, the owner of the school only had 7 teachers, (thats ok the friend only had 40 students). So no deal. so solly chollie. Since they told us before the offical "start" date, it is ok.
Criss and I decided to stay here and let her work on her 2nd masters class, and me to work on my first masters classes. Ok. We decide to stay. Then comes the letter from Fort Hays saying we have to be in Kansas on july 20th for orientation. Ok we change our plans, set up the airline tickets, and then find out they changed orientation to aug 15-18. Oh well. We aren't going to change them again.
Needless to say, we leave on July 18 at 1:30pm, and get to spend 26 hours either in airports, or on airplanes. Ah the fun, the wonder, the fantastically eye poppin journey. Oh well, at least we found copies of war of the worlds, hitchhikers guide, star wars 3, fantastic four, and charlie and the chocolate factory here today in zhengzhou, and lets not forget seasons 1-3 of Monk, stargate atalantis, desperate housewives (all for 7 rmb a disc). Ah the wonders of china.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Voice of Will: June in China
2005-06-22 - 5:55 p.m.
The summer is going ok. It is hot here. Like phoenix (well more like camp verde. 90+ degrees, and about 20-50% humidity. Not too fun, but not too bad.
I really feel for the students who dont' have AC.
Still don't have the jacuzzi. Think it might be working when we get back in aug.
we will be coming back july 20 until aug 20th.
right now we are painting the apartment. Literally we are doing the painting.
Baby blue for our room, mint green for the kids room, light yellow for the living room, and lilac for the school room. And don't forget the "dusty rose"
(light pink) for all the doors. I feel like I'm living in mr rogers neighborhood!!!
Will
The summer is going ok. It is hot here. Like phoenix (well more like camp verde. 90+ degrees, and about 20-50% humidity. Not too fun, but not too bad.
I really feel for the students who dont' have AC.
Still don't have the jacuzzi. Think it might be working when we get back in aug.
we will be coming back july 20 until aug 20th.
right now we are painting the apartment. Literally we are doing the painting.
Baby blue for our room, mint green for the kids room, light yellow for the living room, and lilac for the school room. And don't forget the "dusty rose"
(light pink) for all the doors. I feel like I'm living in mr rogers neighborhood!!!
Will
Monday, June 6, 2005
Voice of Will: Summer hits
2005-06-06 - 11:56 a.m.
So I have been REALLLLY busy these past couple of weeks, and have not kept this diary well. I apologize, but I have been so busy it has not been easy to even sleep, let alone keep up on my writing.
Why am I so busy you ask? Well we have been having finals for the last 3 weeks. Let me splain, you see, the owner of the school came in on the 1st of may and told all the foreign teachers they could start leaving on June 1. Only one problem. They were scheduled to be in their last week of class before finals on june 1. so what happened? For all the oral english teachers it meant their class schedules had moved up 3 weeks. They had to give a final on may 20th (ish) and have grades in by may 25th. They then could start leaving to go back to the US, Canada, or South Africa anytime after june 1.
Well we were roped into helping these teachers do their finals, and have subsequently been asked to help people pack up, to help store things etc... And to top it all off. I'm not a SIAS teacher, I'm a BGS teacher (through Fort Hayes State University in Kansas) and I have a 15 week class, that cannot be cut short. So while everyone else finished may 20th, I don't get to finish until june 11. So this week I'm getting ready for my finals, trying to check grades, make sure our friends have their stuff packed, and generally try to just not pull out my hair.
And that is a real problem now. The cheating is getting so noticable it is not funny any more. I have in my hand a paper that is WORD FOR WORD plagiarized from the internet. WORD FOR WORD. What am I stupid? phuleeze. One would think that at a college level you wouldn't be so stupid as to take something word for word. H* I never even did that. Why not just write on your forhead in permanent marker, "Stupid".
gRRRrrrr. It ranks up there with this one. I'm out with a student yesterday (nwo he is one of my better students, and is very hones) he gets a phone call from another student. She tells him taht tomorrow she will be taking her final exam from 8 am until 10 am. and that she will text message him during the final to get the answers. he told her no he wouldn't do that. He then told me about it. It reallllllly bothered him, adn it realllllly pisses me off. Most of the classes here have been taught from the stand point that if you don't cheat, you should pass. How tough is that, jsut dont' cheat and you can get a d (which is passing). Try to study, and you can get an a.
If the students here just studied as hard as they cheated, they would all ahve As
Will
So I have been REALLLLY busy these past couple of weeks, and have not kept this diary well. I apologize, but I have been so busy it has not been easy to even sleep, let alone keep up on my writing.
Why am I so busy you ask? Well we have been having finals for the last 3 weeks. Let me splain, you see, the owner of the school came in on the 1st of may and told all the foreign teachers they could start leaving on June 1. Only one problem. They were scheduled to be in their last week of class before finals on june 1. so what happened? For all the oral english teachers it meant their class schedules had moved up 3 weeks. They had to give a final on may 20th (ish) and have grades in by may 25th. They then could start leaving to go back to the US, Canada, or South Africa anytime after june 1.
Well we were roped into helping these teachers do their finals, and have subsequently been asked to help people pack up, to help store things etc... And to top it all off. I'm not a SIAS teacher, I'm a BGS teacher (through Fort Hayes State University in Kansas) and I have a 15 week class, that cannot be cut short. So while everyone else finished may 20th, I don't get to finish until june 11. So this week I'm getting ready for my finals, trying to check grades, make sure our friends have their stuff packed, and generally try to just not pull out my hair.
And that is a real problem now. The cheating is getting so noticable it is not funny any more. I have in my hand a paper that is WORD FOR WORD plagiarized from the internet. WORD FOR WORD. What am I stupid? phuleeze. One would think that at a college level you wouldn't be so stupid as to take something word for word. H* I never even did that. Why not just write on your forhead in permanent marker, "Stupid".
gRRRrrrr. It ranks up there with this one. I'm out with a student yesterday (nwo he is one of my better students, and is very hones) he gets a phone call from another student. She tells him taht tomorrow she will be taking her final exam from 8 am until 10 am. and that she will text message him during the final to get the answers. he told her no he wouldn't do that. He then told me about it. It reallllllly bothered him, adn it realllllly pisses me off. Most of the classes here have been taught from the stand point that if you don't cheat, you should pass. How tough is that, jsut dont' cheat and you can get a d (which is passing). Try to study, and you can get an a.
If the students here just studied as hard as they cheated, they would all ahve As
Will
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Voice of Will: Job in Pun Tang
2005-05-17 - 12:47 a.m.
so I am walking across the lobby here and looking at our white board for important information. This is the last week of classes for the oral english instructors, and then most of them are leaving by the 1st of june.
Unfortunately for me, I am in a different department teaching for an American Univesity so I teach through June 8th.
But on the white board there is a job opening in Pun Tang (I am not joking), looking for good "oral" english instructors. They seem to want christian "missionaries", because they are welcome so they can "spread" the word. I find this highly troublesome because I didn't know the missionaries were very orally inclined, thought they only favored 1 position. Hmmm......
(p.s. I know I'm taking this out of context, but how can you not?)
Will
so I am walking across the lobby here and looking at our white board for important information. This is the last week of classes for the oral english instructors, and then most of them are leaving by the 1st of june.
Unfortunately for me, I am in a different department teaching for an American Univesity so I teach through June 8th.
But on the white board there is a job opening in Pun Tang (I am not joking), looking for good "oral" english instructors. They seem to want christian "missionaries", because they are welcome so they can "spread" the word. I find this highly troublesome because I didn't know the missionaries were very orally inclined, thought they only favored 1 position. Hmmm......
(p.s. I know I'm taking this out of context, but how can you not?)
Will
Monday, May 9, 2005
Travels with Rita-Beijing
2005-05-09 - 10:08 p.m.
My adventures on this particular journey began before we left the Zhengzhou area. I had said my goodbyes and had ridden the “schools” bus to Zhengzhou.
With me were my regular travel companion Rita (who will be leaving for a position in the states this June) and her student guide Michael, one of my husbands usual student guides, Dean, and another fellow teacher Sylvie who was meeting her brother in Beijing to camp on the great wall. We journeyed to Zhengzhou on the “teacher’s” bus. This bus usually drives the teachers who live in Zhengzhou and commute to Xinzheng to teach at SIAS. So we crowded onto the bus, me with a very large suitcase, and we rode in to Zhengzhou. My suitcase was the second largest I own. I had decided that this time I was going to have enough room for anything that I may decide to get. I will come to my purchases later (I didn’t buy them on the first day after all) but I did want to point out the size of my suitcase because it was a bit of a dog during the travel portions of our trip. My suitcase has wheels Thank goodness). So we rode in to Zhengzhou at about 6pm and our train was scheduled to leave for Beijing at 10pm. We had plenty of time so of course we were going to walk to a restaurant for dinner and then catch a taxi to the train station. So we go to dinner. It was actually quite good and not too expensive. I tried a new dish that consisted of a shredded beef in vinegar that I would pick up with the chopsticks and place inside a pita like bread with a little shredded lettuce. It was quite a treat. After dinner we decided to walk off the meal a little before we would catch the taxi.
On our walk we found a small cell phone in a hello kitty cell phone case. Cell phones are everywhere in China. Some of the students own two or three. They always update their cell phone. Some students wear the same outfit all week, but they carry the latest in cell phone technology. The cell phone was laying in the street blinking. I was about to pick it up when the student guides warned me not to. They explained that there are many rude” people who would trap a person so that they would have to “pay” for picking up someone else’s items. “If someone leaves money lying on the street, especially a large bill it is probably a trap. You find 100 and they tell you that you owe 1000 for picking it up” The guides were really worried about it being a “trap”. I told them that it did not matter. We could always tell them we were taking it to the police and do so if there were a problem. They seemed stunned by the idea and agreed that if it was a trap, taking the cell phone to the police would certainly deal with it. So we picked up the cell phone (Which had been lying in the middle of the road the whole time). I opened it up and the guides exclaimed that it was new, very new. It had the latest features, they were very impressed.
I laughed and told them to call the numbers on the phone list and see if they could find the phones owner. Again they were surprised by the idea. (they often are surprised by things I feel are common sense, but I just remind myself that there is no such thing as common sense” here or anywhere else…) And they promptly began to call down the list. The very last number allowed them to get in touch with someone and the next thing we knew a family on mopeds rode up to collect the phone. A man, a woman, and a child…Two mopeds, mom and the child rode together). They then began to invite us for dinner. We refused, they offered to take us out for drinks, and again we refused. They tried to encourage us to ask for any reward. We told them that we needed to catch our train and needed no reward for a simple good deed. Our guides decided that this action on our part would lead to a good luck filled trip. Dean parted ways just before the train station (giving us a sincere goodbye and good luck for our trip) and went on to his families’ home in Zhengzhou. We continued on to our train.
We ended up walking the entire way to the train station. As we neared the train station it got very crowded. My suitcase was large but not too bad to deal with because of the wheels but at one point I knocked over a bike (It was in the middle of the path to the entrance). The man dealing with the bikes began to yell rude things to me. I handed my suitcase to Rita and picked up the bike, returning it to its improperly parked position and simply chose to ignore the man. I figured if he wanted to have a rotten day he could keep it to himself, I was still going to have a pleasant trip.
And we got to the waiting room of the train about 4 minutes before the gates opened. We were near the front of the line and we were able to walk right to the train and get on. We got on the train with very little difficulty (I needed a little help getting my suitcase from the platform onto the train and from the seat to the overhead bin…but over all only a little difficulty), and we settled down for the 7 hour train trip. For about 5 hours we played cards. Michael had taught us a card game that is a Chinese version of poker that consists of using two decks of cards and playing certain patterns against each other.
This game is a lot like poker and war combined. I have a tendency to have a bad poker face so instead of trying to hide it I have been learning to play it up so it seems exaggerated and people never know whether I really have a good hand or I am just faking it. Soon Sylvie dozed off, so we moved to just one deck of cards (two decks for four or more people, one for three or less) and we continued to play. Then Michael dozed off so I put away the cards and Rita and I took out books and began to read. Then Rita dozed off and she dropped her books, so I put on a pair of headphones and began to listen to music while I read.
Now you are probably thinking to yourself one of two things. First, why did everyone doze off, weren’t they worried about thieves? Second, why didn’t you doze off Christine, weren’t you tired? First, yes they worry about thieves, but everyone tends to sleep lightly and it seemed that almost everyone on the train was asleep. Second, I was exhausted by the time Beijing rolled around, but I have never been able to sleep on trains or planes (at least not very well) and I tend to be very paranoid about thieves so I was wide awake until we got to Beijing. (Watch the movie "world without thieves and see why I am so paranoid" ) We had several stops on the way to Beijing, but we got there pretty quick. We got off the train okay and we walked out to the taxi queue in the hopes of getting to our hotel.
And low, the taxi driver, perpetual morons and thieves every one. I despise dishonest taxi drivers more than anything else I have found. At least purse snatchers are not dishonest about what they are doing.
Anyway, we got into a taxi and told him our destination. He hemmed and hawed and lied about not knowing how to get there (every taxi driver knows where the night market is and if they tell you they don’t they are lying and you know it). So it was a good thing we had brought a map and knew how to get there. Rita had been to Beijing before so she nipped him through our guide and got us to the hotel. It was now going on about 7am. I was tired but I figured I could make it to the hotel. So we pull up to the road the hotel is on and the driver takes us in the wrong direction. So we get out and begin the walk to the hotel. As we get closer to the hotel I am feeling more and more relieved, soon I will be able to close my eyes and rest. We find the hotel and… Yes the room is available (we did have reservations) but it will not be ready until noon. Yes, noon.
We leave our bags in the locker at the hotel while we go for a walk until noon so that the room will be ready. We walked the night market (which was closed) and onto the famous walking street. I saw the famous foreign book store (a great selection of books, if you are in China and you need books I highly recommend the bookstore off the walking street) and an incredibly mall like mall. We walked up and down the road, looking at stores that were still not open and restaurants that were just getting ready. We first walked over to see if the Starbucks was where Rita remembered it. The building was still there but she found that it had been closed because there was another one near bye. And so began the search for Starbucks. Now, I am really not a fan of coffee. I have had coffee and I find that the bitter soaked bean really has no appeal for me. I am okay with hot chocolate, and I don’t care if it comes from Starbucks or anywhere else, but since Rita was after a cup of coffee, Starbucks was our goal.
On the way down the walking street we found a chopstick store. Rita has a thing for Chopsticks (at this point I was like the walking dead…have you seen Shaun of the Dead? I really felt I must look like his mother. Looking like the walking dead without even trying to) so she stopped in a store. I walked in. Heard the slow playing music and looked at the dim lights and realized I was going to crash on my feet if I stayed still for even one minute in that dull room. It may even have been an exciting store, but I was out of it by then. So I left. I walked out the door, down the steps and right up to the little covered patio area where the workmen were getting ready to build a little service oriented store. (I think it was a drink stand, but they were still building it and sometimes you just can’t tell). So I stood there and stared at the workmen. And wouldn’t you know it, a young Chinese man walked over to me to strike up a conversation in English. We spoke slowly and quietly. He said hello, I said hello. He asked me about the shopping; I politely told him it was a lovely store. Then he told me to make sure I was back on the bus at 3. I didn’t want to miss the bus. My husband has previously worked in the mental health field and I do know the signs when I see them, but I had been so tired I didn’t even notice that he was mentally ill until he began to remind me to be back on the bus. I was just too tired. So, I agreed that we had to be back on the bus at 3 because “no, we don’t want to be left behind!”
By this time, Rita was done in the shop and Michael had come out. He spoke to the young man in Chinese and he said something about Institutions before we moved on down the walking street. It was afterwards that I realized that the mentally ill patients (who lingered throughout the walking district and for some reason thought I was one of them or one of the staff…okay, yeah, I know I looked that worn down…) spoke Chinese and Better English than most of my students in Xinzheng. Much Better English. I don’t know what kind of sign this is, but it is certainly a sign of something.
We continued to peruse the chopstick stores. I don’t understand chopsticks stores. I mean yes, the tourists are going to buy the fancy chopsticks that can’t be used for anything except display, but a whole store devoted to chopsticks that can’t be used. That would be like creating a whole store for a bunch of unusable spoons. “What do you mean its called flatware? Yeah, but you use it don’t you? Now don’t tell me you would buy a bunch of dishes just to put into a cupboard. Yes, I understand that it is worth a bunch of money but why would you want a set of dishes that you can’t use? No, never mind, I don’t need to understand. I will just keep using the plastic plates I bought at K-mart 10 years ago.”
Finally noon rolled around and we went back to the hotel. I felt like someone was trying to mold my body out of clay, with me still in it. Not a great feeling. I was so tired I just knew that there was going to be something wrong. And there was. The room was not quite ready. They still needed to clean it. So we stood there for 20 minutes while they finished cleaning up the room. Then we gathered our luggage and trudged up to the top floor. Yes the top floor, room 605, and I set down my luggage, put my head on the pillow and fell fast asleep. And I slept until 6pm. I don’t remember anything except putting my head on the pillow. When I woke up I realized that I was hungry. Rita and Michael were also hungry. So we voted to go out to eat. Oh, we could have eaten at the night market which was pretty much just outside our window, but no we wanted to drive over to where the friendship store is in Beijing to make sure that our date of arrival was not totally wasted, and while we were in that neighborhood we would be able to find some kind of restaurant. Okay okay, so we went to the friendship store. This is a giant store where a bunch of people make craft items and village items and such tourist desirables and they get together in a sort of co op and sell the items at a slightly higher price to tourists
Long story short (this story is far too long to be short), we did not exactly find what we wanted (Not at those prices…you got to be kidding me. If I want it that bad I will make it myself thanks) so we went looking for a place to eat And this is what I like to call Mrs. Jones' Wild Ride, or the hunt for the elusive meal. We found a restaurant. It was Japanese food and Michael did not want to eat Japanese food. Now this is not that surprising considering the attitude of things right now. There is a very large anti Japanese sentiment considering the problems with the Japanese history books not mentioning the rape of Nanjing. I wouldn’t mention it either before High school level. It is not a nice subject, but of course the idea is that the Chinese think the Japanese are hiding the truth from another generation of children and I don’t know how much is true and how much is the propaganda of this side and the propaganda from that side. Regardless, we did not go to the Japanese restaurant. But there in the distance we see a sign for Thai food. And we walk. And we walk. And we walk and walk and walk. And ….The door of the Thai food restaurant is chained shut. It seems that not many people in Beijing like Thai food. Okay fine, there has got to be another restaurant. There is… and I took one look at the prices and walked out. And we walked and we walked and we walked. Everywhere we went there were either no restaurants or there was nothing that we wanted to eat. Finally we found a restaurant that had good food and was open (by this time it was going on 11pm and everything was closed or closing).
Yes, we found a place to eat. And no you are not going to find this funny at all. Oh no, there is nothing funny about being in Beijing and choosing to eat dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. Oh no.
It cost the same as it would to eat in the states at the Outback Steakhouse.
And I had a steak and it was good. I also had a glass of cranberry juice. Both of these items are difficult to get or enjoy in the part of China that I live in. Steak is almost always too expensive, too small, and too unappealing. And there is no such thing as cranberry juice in China. There just isn’t. It was good. We went back to the hotel and I went back to bed, feeling very worn out and satisfied with the lovely meal. While we were eating at the outback steakhouse Jong Pong Fei (Michael’s Chinese name) wanted to “check to make sure that you are not a machine like in a sci-tech movie” (his words not mine) so he used his cell phone to see if there was an inferred port. Don’t ask.
The next day we got up and went looking for breakfast. We found the Starbucks and Rita got coffee; I got a hot chocolate and a frosted raisin cinnamon roll. That morning we went to Starbucks. At the same time there was a fancy tea ceremony going on at the mall. This is the Chinese version of the Tea Ceremony. One woman makes the tea while two other women prepare the ingredients. The women wore traditional costumes including the wigs with the intricate ornaments. Then we walked to the Forbidden City. We walked the moat of the Forbidden City. We entered the gates of the Forbidden City. We spent most of the day trying to walk from one end of the Forbidden City to the other with out food. Yes, we forgot to bring snacks with us. We enjoyed the beautiful buildings; we loved the koi fish (called Li Yu in Chinese) and the ponds. While we were at the Forbidden City, Michael wanted to play the practical joker, so every time he got ahead of us he would hide. Then he would ask Rita where’s the camera.” She tried to tell him that it was not a funny joke, but he continued throughout the day.
We delighted in the gardens and we were horrified at the price of water and food. So we walked out of the Forbidden City and went looking for food. Rita said it was a problem that we kept starving Jong Pong Fei. It felt suddenly like our entire trip was going to be a journey for food. We crossed Tiananmen Square. It was large and crowded. I took pictures. We found a famous shopping district. We finally found a restaurant and we ate well. First we went down the long alley and ate a dish called Crispy beef which I liked, Puff Fried Eggplant which motion sickness. That basically means that I can die from the condition if it is not treated. Basically I spent a 14 hour flight with a bag around my face. It is not as bad as it sounds. I never disturb my neighbors and I don’t lose control, I simply know better than to travel without one of those little baggies. (Sometimes I pack a Ziploc…they make it even more polite for my neighbors. I am really aware of the necessity of being polite when I am puking my guts out.
China) and uses more than one mode of transportation, I am prepared for all parts. (Deer does everything) but finally I found the motion sickness pills. They had one set of pills. Rather than try to pussyfoot around, I simply asked for the strongest medicine that they have. They directed me to a different counter (I was speaking through Michael at this point) and they bring out a box with two patches in it. It looks exactly like the medicine I use (except it is all in Chinese and is made by a different company and it is a slightly different color) so I decided to buy one box We left the shopping street and went back towards Tiananmen.
There we found a Baskin Robbins like store that had ice cream and coffee as well as meals. For dinner we had ice cream and waffles. At the restaurant with the Baskin Robbins logo we found waffles and Ice cream. Michael had never had waffles before and since they were served with butter and syrup we treated him to a real American meal, at 9pm. When we stood up to leave He picked up my wristwatch from the couch. I saw him pick something up but did not know what it was.
I asked him to see what he had grabbed but he refused and Rita argued with me to stop picking on Michael. Later he teased me so that I would have to guess what important item was missing. I told him that I had my camera, my video camera, my pictures of the kids, my passport and other identification cards, and a whole long list of things that were important. He held out the watch and I told him it wasn’t important. He told me that when he had stolen it from my husband he had said that it was very important and that I would kill him for losing it.
I laughed and said it was a cheap watch I had found from a friend … Cat had owned the watch many years ago and left it at our house. When she had moved away (never to contact us again) she left it behind. No offense, I like Cat a lot but it is not that important of a watch I didn’t care that much so it wasn’t fun for him tease me and he gave it back. I have dealt with bullies before, take the wind out of their sails and they just back down. He gave me the watch. So any way, we had a nice dinner, went out and took a taxi back to the hotel and went to bedThe next morning we had to leave early to make the tour bus to the great wall. We had chosen to go to the Great Wall at Simatai. Now, according to my out of date Lonely Planet guide book, and since it is 5 years out of date I don’t really lay any blame on the book, the trip to the Great Wall should take about 2 hours from the city limits. Well this is the Labor Day holiday which brings a whopping 1 BILLION people to Beijing which makes traffic alone an ample adventure. And of course the tour bus hit a taxi (Rita thinks it was planned because it meant we were stopped right at a place where some of the indigenous Tibetans were selling their wares).
The Tibetans reminded me greatly of the traditional Navajo. One girl looked just like she had stepped off of the cover of National Geographic Magazine. Baby and all. On the drive, in addition to hitting the taxi our driver almost took out a pedestrian. Of course that guy had been standing in the middle of the road waving down the bus. I think he might have intended to rob the bus. I am not sure. Regardless, we had an interesting ride. The driver also cursed continually in Chinese. Kind of like a sailor. You don’t want to know what he said about the pedestrian’s mother…I don’t want to know either. On the road to Simatai we were serenaded by a visiting minority from Tibet. He climbed on the bus after we hit the taxi and road out with us to the wall. I thought he (and the guy he was with) was a little odd. When everyone else on the bus fell asleep (again with the sleeping, what is it with these people?) I put on a little Lincoln Park and bopped along… (Lincoln Park is a little industrial and a little loud, and it helped me stay awake. For this I am grateful) While I was enjoying my music the minorities began to look around the bus.
Okay, I don’t tend to be prejudice but paranoid is paranoid and I readily admit that I am paranoid of everyone, any color, any race, any sex.If I am carrying money, I don’t want ANYONE to take it away from me, so I watch EVERYONE. So of course I notice when the minority Tibetans begin to gaze around the bus. First of all they were sitting several seats in front of me so in order to gaze around the bus they had to lift up above the seats and look back towards me.
In addition, they were some of the only non-lowai people on the bus. So of course I am going to notice when they begin to scan the bus…repeatedly. And I began to watch their hands. The person behind them was snoring (I know because he had leaned his seat back and his head was practically in my lap…not really but my knees sure thought so) And when one of them began to move his hand backwards in such a way that it looked like it was aiming for the sleeping mans pocket, I riveted my attention to it. My paranoia complete I glance up at the mirror.I notice that the two men are still scanning the bus. And they see me looking right at them.
The hand moves out in a sort of stretch and it goes back to the lap of its rightful owner. Now I am not saying that he was going to steal from the sleeping man. I don’t know that for sure. I am just saying that it sure looked like it from the angle that I was at. Later on he told the driver that he was going to sing for the foreigners and he sang songs o fhis native land. No offense, I like traditional music as much as the next guy, but it just doesn’t go well with the music I had been listening to. We took a short cut. At some point the traffic on the road to Simatai just ground to a stop, but not our bus, oh no. He drove off the road to this dirt path and through a village around the “short cut”. So we got to Simatai. And it only took 6 hours. And I knew that I was not going to be able to
make it up the wall and back down in the two hours we had before the bus was going to leave to take us back. So Rita and I discussed it over a meal at the Lonely Planet restaurant at Simatai (food isn’t bad but the hygiene leaves much to be desired…but for me every place is like that) and decided we would take the cable car up to the train, the train up to the bottom of the wall and the stairs up to the high point of Simatai. This is exactly like the pictures (which will be added to my web page later this summer…Updates in June) Anyway, we went up the wall, back down the wall, and rode the bus home. We stopped at a small restaurant down the road from the hotel in the hopes of ordering “Peiking Duck” and it was the worst meal I have ever had. It was also way too expensive. So after bad duck we went back to the hotel
to bed.
Chrissy
2011 Note- This was written by Christine and was meant to have a continuation, but it never was written.
My adventures on this particular journey began before we left the Zhengzhou area. I had said my goodbyes and had ridden the “schools” bus to Zhengzhou.
With me were my regular travel companion Rita (who will be leaving for a position in the states this June) and her student guide Michael, one of my husbands usual student guides, Dean, and another fellow teacher Sylvie who was meeting her brother in Beijing to camp on the great wall. We journeyed to Zhengzhou on the “teacher’s” bus. This bus usually drives the teachers who live in Zhengzhou and commute to Xinzheng to teach at SIAS. So we crowded onto the bus, me with a very large suitcase, and we rode in to Zhengzhou. My suitcase was the second largest I own. I had decided that this time I was going to have enough room for anything that I may decide to get. I will come to my purchases later (I didn’t buy them on the first day after all) but I did want to point out the size of my suitcase because it was a bit of a dog during the travel portions of our trip. My suitcase has wheels Thank goodness). So we rode in to Zhengzhou at about 6pm and our train was scheduled to leave for Beijing at 10pm. We had plenty of time so of course we were going to walk to a restaurant for dinner and then catch a taxi to the train station. So we go to dinner. It was actually quite good and not too expensive. I tried a new dish that consisted of a shredded beef in vinegar that I would pick up with the chopsticks and place inside a pita like bread with a little shredded lettuce. It was quite a treat. After dinner we decided to walk off the meal a little before we would catch the taxi.
On our walk we found a small cell phone in a hello kitty cell phone case. Cell phones are everywhere in China. Some of the students own two or three. They always update their cell phone. Some students wear the same outfit all week, but they carry the latest in cell phone technology. The cell phone was laying in the street blinking. I was about to pick it up when the student guides warned me not to. They explained that there are many rude” people who would trap a person so that they would have to “pay” for picking up someone else’s items. “If someone leaves money lying on the street, especially a large bill it is probably a trap. You find 100 and they tell you that you owe 1000 for picking it up” The guides were really worried about it being a “trap”. I told them that it did not matter. We could always tell them we were taking it to the police and do so if there were a problem. They seemed stunned by the idea and agreed that if it was a trap, taking the cell phone to the police would certainly deal with it. So we picked up the cell phone (Which had been lying in the middle of the road the whole time). I opened it up and the guides exclaimed that it was new, very new. It had the latest features, they were very impressed.
I laughed and told them to call the numbers on the phone list and see if they could find the phones owner. Again they were surprised by the idea. (they often are surprised by things I feel are common sense, but I just remind myself that there is no such thing as common sense” here or anywhere else…) And they promptly began to call down the list. The very last number allowed them to get in touch with someone and the next thing we knew a family on mopeds rode up to collect the phone. A man, a woman, and a child…Two mopeds, mom and the child rode together). They then began to invite us for dinner. We refused, they offered to take us out for drinks, and again we refused. They tried to encourage us to ask for any reward. We told them that we needed to catch our train and needed no reward for a simple good deed. Our guides decided that this action on our part would lead to a good luck filled trip. Dean parted ways just before the train station (giving us a sincere goodbye and good luck for our trip) and went on to his families’ home in Zhengzhou. We continued on to our train.
We ended up walking the entire way to the train station. As we neared the train station it got very crowded. My suitcase was large but not too bad to deal with because of the wheels but at one point I knocked over a bike (It was in the middle of the path to the entrance). The man dealing with the bikes began to yell rude things to me. I handed my suitcase to Rita and picked up the bike, returning it to its improperly parked position and simply chose to ignore the man. I figured if he wanted to have a rotten day he could keep it to himself, I was still going to have a pleasant trip.
And we got to the waiting room of the train about 4 minutes before the gates opened. We were near the front of the line and we were able to walk right to the train and get on. We got on the train with very little difficulty (I needed a little help getting my suitcase from the platform onto the train and from the seat to the overhead bin…but over all only a little difficulty), and we settled down for the 7 hour train trip. For about 5 hours we played cards. Michael had taught us a card game that is a Chinese version of poker that consists of using two decks of cards and playing certain patterns against each other.
This game is a lot like poker and war combined. I have a tendency to have a bad poker face so instead of trying to hide it I have been learning to play it up so it seems exaggerated and people never know whether I really have a good hand or I am just faking it. Soon Sylvie dozed off, so we moved to just one deck of cards (two decks for four or more people, one for three or less) and we continued to play. Then Michael dozed off so I put away the cards and Rita and I took out books and began to read. Then Rita dozed off and she dropped her books, so I put on a pair of headphones and began to listen to music while I read.
Now you are probably thinking to yourself one of two things. First, why did everyone doze off, weren’t they worried about thieves? Second, why didn’t you doze off Christine, weren’t you tired? First, yes they worry about thieves, but everyone tends to sleep lightly and it seemed that almost everyone on the train was asleep. Second, I was exhausted by the time Beijing rolled around, but I have never been able to sleep on trains or planes (at least not very well) and I tend to be very paranoid about thieves so I was wide awake until we got to Beijing. (Watch the movie "world without thieves and see why I am so paranoid" ) We had several stops on the way to Beijing, but we got there pretty quick. We got off the train okay and we walked out to the taxi queue in the hopes of getting to our hotel.
And low, the taxi driver, perpetual morons and thieves every one. I despise dishonest taxi drivers more than anything else I have found. At least purse snatchers are not dishonest about what they are doing.
Anyway, we got into a taxi and told him our destination. He hemmed and hawed and lied about not knowing how to get there (every taxi driver knows where the night market is and if they tell you they don’t they are lying and you know it). So it was a good thing we had brought a map and knew how to get there. Rita had been to Beijing before so she nipped him through our guide and got us to the hotel. It was now going on about 7am. I was tired but I figured I could make it to the hotel. So we pull up to the road the hotel is on and the driver takes us in the wrong direction. So we get out and begin the walk to the hotel. As we get closer to the hotel I am feeling more and more relieved, soon I will be able to close my eyes and rest. We find the hotel and… Yes the room is available (we did have reservations) but it will not be ready until noon. Yes, noon.
We leave our bags in the locker at the hotel while we go for a walk until noon so that the room will be ready. We walked the night market (which was closed) and onto the famous walking street. I saw the famous foreign book store (a great selection of books, if you are in China and you need books I highly recommend the bookstore off the walking street) and an incredibly mall like mall. We walked up and down the road, looking at stores that were still not open and restaurants that were just getting ready. We first walked over to see if the Starbucks was where Rita remembered it. The building was still there but she found that it had been closed because there was another one near bye. And so began the search for Starbucks. Now, I am really not a fan of coffee. I have had coffee and I find that the bitter soaked bean really has no appeal for me. I am okay with hot chocolate, and I don’t care if it comes from Starbucks or anywhere else, but since Rita was after a cup of coffee, Starbucks was our goal.
On the way down the walking street we found a chopstick store. Rita has a thing for Chopsticks (at this point I was like the walking dead…have you seen Shaun of the Dead? I really felt I must look like his mother. Looking like the walking dead without even trying to) so she stopped in a store. I walked in. Heard the slow playing music and looked at the dim lights and realized I was going to crash on my feet if I stayed still for even one minute in that dull room. It may even have been an exciting store, but I was out of it by then. So I left. I walked out the door, down the steps and right up to the little covered patio area where the workmen were getting ready to build a little service oriented store. (I think it was a drink stand, but they were still building it and sometimes you just can’t tell). So I stood there and stared at the workmen. And wouldn’t you know it, a young Chinese man walked over to me to strike up a conversation in English. We spoke slowly and quietly. He said hello, I said hello. He asked me about the shopping; I politely told him it was a lovely store. Then he told me to make sure I was back on the bus at 3. I didn’t want to miss the bus. My husband has previously worked in the mental health field and I do know the signs when I see them, but I had been so tired I didn’t even notice that he was mentally ill until he began to remind me to be back on the bus. I was just too tired. So, I agreed that we had to be back on the bus at 3 because “no, we don’t want to be left behind!”
By this time, Rita was done in the shop and Michael had come out. He spoke to the young man in Chinese and he said something about Institutions before we moved on down the walking street. It was afterwards that I realized that the mentally ill patients (who lingered throughout the walking district and for some reason thought I was one of them or one of the staff…okay, yeah, I know I looked that worn down…) spoke Chinese and Better English than most of my students in Xinzheng. Much Better English. I don’t know what kind of sign this is, but it is certainly a sign of something.
We continued to peruse the chopstick stores. I don’t understand chopsticks stores. I mean yes, the tourists are going to buy the fancy chopsticks that can’t be used for anything except display, but a whole store devoted to chopsticks that can’t be used. That would be like creating a whole store for a bunch of unusable spoons. “What do you mean its called flatware? Yeah, but you use it don’t you? Now don’t tell me you would buy a bunch of dishes just to put into a cupboard. Yes, I understand that it is worth a bunch of money but why would you want a set of dishes that you can’t use? No, never mind, I don’t need to understand. I will just keep using the plastic plates I bought at K-mart 10 years ago.”
Finally noon rolled around and we went back to the hotel. I felt like someone was trying to mold my body out of clay, with me still in it. Not a great feeling. I was so tired I just knew that there was going to be something wrong. And there was. The room was not quite ready. They still needed to clean it. So we stood there for 20 minutes while they finished cleaning up the room. Then we gathered our luggage and trudged up to the top floor. Yes the top floor, room 605, and I set down my luggage, put my head on the pillow and fell fast asleep. And I slept until 6pm. I don’t remember anything except putting my head on the pillow. When I woke up I realized that I was hungry. Rita and Michael were also hungry. So we voted to go out to eat. Oh, we could have eaten at the night market which was pretty much just outside our window, but no we wanted to drive over to where the friendship store is in Beijing to make sure that our date of arrival was not totally wasted, and while we were in that neighborhood we would be able to find some kind of restaurant. Okay okay, so we went to the friendship store. This is a giant store where a bunch of people make craft items and village items and such tourist desirables and they get together in a sort of co op and sell the items at a slightly higher price to tourists
Long story short (this story is far too long to be short), we did not exactly find what we wanted (Not at those prices…you got to be kidding me. If I want it that bad I will make it myself thanks) so we went looking for a place to eat And this is what I like to call Mrs. Jones' Wild Ride, or the hunt for the elusive meal. We found a restaurant. It was Japanese food and Michael did not want to eat Japanese food. Now this is not that surprising considering the attitude of things right now. There is a very large anti Japanese sentiment considering the problems with the Japanese history books not mentioning the rape of Nanjing. I wouldn’t mention it either before High school level. It is not a nice subject, but of course the idea is that the Chinese think the Japanese are hiding the truth from another generation of children and I don’t know how much is true and how much is the propaganda of this side and the propaganda from that side. Regardless, we did not go to the Japanese restaurant. But there in the distance we see a sign for Thai food. And we walk. And we walk. And we walk and walk and walk. And ….The door of the Thai food restaurant is chained shut. It seems that not many people in Beijing like Thai food. Okay fine, there has got to be another restaurant. There is… and I took one look at the prices and walked out. And we walked and we walked and we walked. Everywhere we went there were either no restaurants or there was nothing that we wanted to eat. Finally we found a restaurant that had good food and was open (by this time it was going on 11pm and everything was closed or closing).
Yes, we found a place to eat. And no you are not going to find this funny at all. Oh no, there is nothing funny about being in Beijing and choosing to eat dinner at the Outback Steakhouse. Oh no.
It cost the same as it would to eat in the states at the Outback Steakhouse.
And I had a steak and it was good. I also had a glass of cranberry juice. Both of these items are difficult to get or enjoy in the part of China that I live in. Steak is almost always too expensive, too small, and too unappealing. And there is no such thing as cranberry juice in China. There just isn’t. It was good. We went back to the hotel and I went back to bed, feeling very worn out and satisfied with the lovely meal. While we were eating at the outback steakhouse Jong Pong Fei (Michael’s Chinese name) wanted to “check to make sure that you are not a machine like in a sci-tech movie” (his words not mine) so he used his cell phone to see if there was an inferred port. Don’t ask.
The next day we got up and went looking for breakfast. We found the Starbucks and Rita got coffee; I got a hot chocolate and a frosted raisin cinnamon roll. That morning we went to Starbucks. At the same time there was a fancy tea ceremony going on at the mall. This is the Chinese version of the Tea Ceremony. One woman makes the tea while two other women prepare the ingredients. The women wore traditional costumes including the wigs with the intricate ornaments. Then we walked to the Forbidden City. We walked the moat of the Forbidden City. We entered the gates of the Forbidden City. We spent most of the day trying to walk from one end of the Forbidden City to the other with out food. Yes, we forgot to bring snacks with us. We enjoyed the beautiful buildings; we loved the koi fish (called Li Yu in Chinese) and the ponds. While we were at the Forbidden City, Michael wanted to play the practical joker, so every time he got ahead of us he would hide. Then he would ask Rita where’s the camera.” She tried to tell him that it was not a funny joke, but he continued throughout the day.
We delighted in the gardens and we were horrified at the price of water and food. So we walked out of the Forbidden City and went looking for food. Rita said it was a problem that we kept starving Jong Pong Fei. It felt suddenly like our entire trip was going to be a journey for food. We crossed Tiananmen Square. It was large and crowded. I took pictures. We found a famous shopping district. We finally found a restaurant and we ate well. First we went down the long alley and ate a dish called Crispy beef which I liked, Puff Fried Eggplant which motion sickness. That basically means that I can die from the condition if it is not treated. Basically I spent a 14 hour flight with a bag around my face. It is not as bad as it sounds. I never disturb my neighbors and I don’t lose control, I simply know better than to travel without one of those little baggies. (Sometimes I pack a Ziploc…they make it even more polite for my neighbors. I am really aware of the necessity of being polite when I am puking my guts out.
China) and uses more than one mode of transportation, I am prepared for all parts. (Deer does everything) but finally I found the motion sickness pills. They had one set of pills. Rather than try to pussyfoot around, I simply asked for the strongest medicine that they have. They directed me to a different counter (I was speaking through Michael at this point) and they bring out a box with two patches in it. It looks exactly like the medicine I use (except it is all in Chinese and is made by a different company and it is a slightly different color) so I decided to buy one box We left the shopping street and went back towards Tiananmen.
There we found a Baskin Robbins like store that had ice cream and coffee as well as meals. For dinner we had ice cream and waffles. At the restaurant with the Baskin Robbins logo we found waffles and Ice cream. Michael had never had waffles before and since they were served with butter and syrup we treated him to a real American meal, at 9pm. When we stood up to leave He picked up my wristwatch from the couch. I saw him pick something up but did not know what it was.
I asked him to see what he had grabbed but he refused and Rita argued with me to stop picking on Michael. Later he teased me so that I would have to guess what important item was missing. I told him that I had my camera, my video camera, my pictures of the kids, my passport and other identification cards, and a whole long list of things that were important. He held out the watch and I told him it wasn’t important. He told me that when he had stolen it from my husband he had said that it was very important and that I would kill him for losing it.
I laughed and said it was a cheap watch I had found from a friend … Cat had owned the watch many years ago and left it at our house. When she had moved away (never to contact us again) she left it behind. No offense, I like Cat a lot but it is not that important of a watch I didn’t care that much so it wasn’t fun for him tease me and he gave it back. I have dealt with bullies before, take the wind out of their sails and they just back down. He gave me the watch. So any way, we had a nice dinner, went out and took a taxi back to the hotel and went to bedThe next morning we had to leave early to make the tour bus to the great wall. We had chosen to go to the Great Wall at Simatai. Now, according to my out of date Lonely Planet guide book, and since it is 5 years out of date I don’t really lay any blame on the book, the trip to the Great Wall should take about 2 hours from the city limits. Well this is the Labor Day holiday which brings a whopping 1 BILLION people to Beijing which makes traffic alone an ample adventure. And of course the tour bus hit a taxi (Rita thinks it was planned because it meant we were stopped right at a place where some of the indigenous Tibetans were selling their wares).
The Tibetans reminded me greatly of the traditional Navajo. One girl looked just like she had stepped off of the cover of National Geographic Magazine. Baby and all. On the drive, in addition to hitting the taxi our driver almost took out a pedestrian. Of course that guy had been standing in the middle of the road waving down the bus. I think he might have intended to rob the bus. I am not sure. Regardless, we had an interesting ride. The driver also cursed continually in Chinese. Kind of like a sailor. You don’t want to know what he said about the pedestrian’s mother…I don’t want to know either. On the road to Simatai we were serenaded by a visiting minority from Tibet. He climbed on the bus after we hit the taxi and road out with us to the wall. I thought he (and the guy he was with) was a little odd. When everyone else on the bus fell asleep (again with the sleeping, what is it with these people?) I put on a little Lincoln Park and bopped along… (Lincoln Park is a little industrial and a little loud, and it helped me stay awake. For this I am grateful) While I was enjoying my music the minorities began to look around the bus.
Okay, I don’t tend to be prejudice but paranoid is paranoid and I readily admit that I am paranoid of everyone, any color, any race, any sex.If I am carrying money, I don’t want ANYONE to take it away from me, so I watch EVERYONE. So of course I notice when the minority Tibetans begin to gaze around the bus. First of all they were sitting several seats in front of me so in order to gaze around the bus they had to lift up above the seats and look back towards me.
In addition, they were some of the only non-lowai people on the bus. So of course I am going to notice when they begin to scan the bus…repeatedly. And I began to watch their hands. The person behind them was snoring (I know because he had leaned his seat back and his head was practically in my lap…not really but my knees sure thought so) And when one of them began to move his hand backwards in such a way that it looked like it was aiming for the sleeping mans pocket, I riveted my attention to it. My paranoia complete I glance up at the mirror.I notice that the two men are still scanning the bus. And they see me looking right at them.
The hand moves out in a sort of stretch and it goes back to the lap of its rightful owner. Now I am not saying that he was going to steal from the sleeping man. I don’t know that for sure. I am just saying that it sure looked like it from the angle that I was at. Later on he told the driver that he was going to sing for the foreigners and he sang songs o fhis native land. No offense, I like traditional music as much as the next guy, but it just doesn’t go well with the music I had been listening to. We took a short cut. At some point the traffic on the road to Simatai just ground to a stop, but not our bus, oh no. He drove off the road to this dirt path and through a village around the “short cut”. So we got to Simatai. And it only took 6 hours. And I knew that I was not going to be able to
make it up the wall and back down in the two hours we had before the bus was going to leave to take us back. So Rita and I discussed it over a meal at the Lonely Planet restaurant at Simatai (food isn’t bad but the hygiene leaves much to be desired…but for me every place is like that) and decided we would take the cable car up to the train, the train up to the bottom of the wall and the stairs up to the high point of Simatai. This is exactly like the pictures (which will be added to my web page later this summer…Updates in June) Anyway, we went up the wall, back down the wall, and rode the bus home. We stopped at a small restaurant down the road from the hotel in the hopes of ordering “Peiking Duck” and it was the worst meal I have ever had. It was also way too expensive. So after bad duck we went back to the hotel
to bed.
Chrissy
2011 Note- This was written by Christine and was meant to have a continuation, but it never was written.
Sunday, May 1, 2005
Voice of Will: Two Flat Tires
2005-05-01 - 1:57 p.m.
so what are the odds of a bus travelling from Zhengzhou to xinzheng of having 2 flat tires on the 40 mile trip? Pretty good, obviously (I bet you guessed that one eh?)
so here I am having gone to zhengzhou to pick up an "urgent" package (it was books, not sure where urgent comes from for books), and I have to be back at xinzheng by 3 pm. I get on the bus at the bus station at 1:30, no big deal. I'll make it in plenty of time. the trip usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes (especially when they stop and troll for more fares on the way), but I can make it back easily.
We have been driving for about 10 minutes when we hear and feel the "WUMP, WUMP, WUMP, WUmp, wump" as the bus slows down. The driver gets out and stares at his shredded tire for 10 minutes. Just standing there, staring at it. he leaves. No one gets off the bus, so I hang out. 30 minutes later he comes back with a jack, and a tire iron. And I think to myself, this is going to be a long day. He gets the tire off in 10 minutes, and again leaves. 30 minutes go by.
so now it is 2:45 ish, and I'm a little peeved, but no one else is complainign in chinese, and no one has left the bus, so I have been reading my book that was "urgent" (trust me, it isn't urgent). So we get another tire on the bus and we are leaving at 3 pm. Ok, so I'm an hour and a half late (we should get to xinzheng by 4:30). Ok great we are on the move again.
We get about 20 miles outside of town, right between xinzheng and zhengzhou, and you guessed it. BAMMM we just blow the back tire. WTF!!!
And of course the driver didn't keep the jack, so off he goes again to get another jack, and another tire.
Luckly for us, the used tire shop was just about a mile down the road. So they came back with a used tire, and a jack so this wait was 50 minutes, not an hour. So we stop at the used tire shop, and the driver decides to change his other two tires for two used tires taht look worse.
I start thinking to myself, I am so outta here if this bus blows another tire. Still no one has left this bus, nor are they complaining. amazing.
Well we made it to xinzheng without blowing another tire. grrrr. get on the bus at 1:30 in the afternoon, get into xinzheng at 5:30. a 1 and a half hour bus trip takes 4 hours.
Well I did see some very interesting and beatutiful things as I was waiting testing my patience.
1. A very very old man pushing his old wife in a home made wheelchair. Using bicycle wheels, and a wooden chair attached to an axle. It appeared homemade. It was so tragic, my heart went out to them, but when the wife looked up at her husband, you could see the love on her face. It was beautiful.
2. a motorcycle rally (sort of) with lots of 3 wheeled motorcycle carts. it was very colorful, and on a stretch of the road that was surrouned by green trees. Interesting, colorful.
Will
so what are the odds of a bus travelling from Zhengzhou to xinzheng of having 2 flat tires on the 40 mile trip? Pretty good, obviously (I bet you guessed that one eh?)
so here I am having gone to zhengzhou to pick up an "urgent" package (it was books, not sure where urgent comes from for books), and I have to be back at xinzheng by 3 pm. I get on the bus at the bus station at 1:30, no big deal. I'll make it in plenty of time. the trip usually takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes (especially when they stop and troll for more fares on the way), but I can make it back easily.
We have been driving for about 10 minutes when we hear and feel the "WUMP, WUMP, WUMP, WUmp, wump" as the bus slows down. The driver gets out and stares at his shredded tire for 10 minutes. Just standing there, staring at it. he leaves. No one gets off the bus, so I hang out. 30 minutes later he comes back with a jack, and a tire iron. And I think to myself, this is going to be a long day. He gets the tire off in 10 minutes, and again leaves. 30 minutes go by.
so now it is 2:45 ish, and I'm a little peeved, but no one else is complainign in chinese, and no one has left the bus, so I have been reading my book that was "urgent" (trust me, it isn't urgent). So we get another tire on the bus and we are leaving at 3 pm. Ok, so I'm an hour and a half late (we should get to xinzheng by 4:30). Ok great we are on the move again.
We get about 20 miles outside of town, right between xinzheng and zhengzhou, and you guessed it. BAMMM we just blow the back tire. WTF!!!
And of course the driver didn't keep the jack, so off he goes again to get another jack, and another tire.
Luckly for us, the used tire shop was just about a mile down the road. So they came back with a used tire, and a jack so this wait was 50 minutes, not an hour. So we stop at the used tire shop, and the driver decides to change his other two tires for two used tires taht look worse.
I start thinking to myself, I am so outta here if this bus blows another tire. Still no one has left this bus, nor are they complaining. amazing.
Well we made it to xinzheng without blowing another tire. grrrr. get on the bus at 1:30 in the afternoon, get into xinzheng at 5:30. a 1 and a half hour bus trip takes 4 hours.
Well I did see some very interesting and beatutiful things as I was waiting testing my patience.
1. A very very old man pushing his old wife in a home made wheelchair. Using bicycle wheels, and a wooden chair attached to an axle. It appeared homemade. It was so tragic, my heart went out to them, but when the wife looked up at her husband, you could see the love on her face. It was beautiful.
2. a motorcycle rally (sort of) with lots of 3 wheeled motorcycle carts. it was very colorful, and on a stretch of the road that was surrouned by green trees. Interesting, colorful.
Will
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Voice of Will: Teaching is Fun
2005-04-28 - 2:56 p.m.
lots to talk about. lets see. Teaching is really fun, and I like my class a LOT. I must admit I got this job by nepotism (isn't it wonderful!!!)
I don't know if I explained how I got my job, but I will do so again if I have.
I'm on the airplane coming to china with criss and the kids. Now I came to china with my wife to be a tourist, babysitter, and housecleaner (ours). My wife was hired at an incredible salary to teach composition. In the week before we came, my wife had to go to Fort Hayes Kansas to do her orientation.
She met a very nice woman there who is a fellow professor who was coming to SIAS. So they hit it off. During this week, (apparenlty) criss could not stop talking about me (how wonderful I am, how smart, funny, etc...) and this friend got to know me. She was also supposed to teach American Cinema for Fort Hayes. (they wanted her to teach 4 classes of composition, and then teach 3 classes of Cinma on top of it). The professor for cinema was also going to china. So the friend tells the professor about me at a Cooperative Teacher.
I'm sitting in the 747 next to the kids while people are loading. The friend is walking down the isle to her seat with the professor in the section behind us, when the professor goes "So you are Billy! I need a Cooperative Teacher for cinema, and I hear that you will be perfect, I ..... ... " (because she is still walking to her seat, so i can't hear her anymore.)
Cooperative teacher for cinema? American Cinema? You want me to teach Culture through movies? I can do that! I love that idea. So that is how I got the job. I got it because my wife is friends with someone who didn't want extra class hours, who knew the professor, who heard about me, and thought i was great. I's gots a reputation!
I must be doing things right. According to our liason between Fort Hayes and all 3 of their schools in china, I'm the in the top 2 CT's in china. That and a dollar will get me a soda (but it does bring a smile to my face).
More news.
Criss and Rita (the friend) will be going to beijing (bay j (hard j sound) ing) for a week over may holiday, leaving this afternoon, and coming back on next saturday (we hope, they don't have a return ticket yet, and won't get one until they get to beijing).
We are hiring 3 to 5 chinese students as tutors for the kids. We have the calvert home schooling stuff, but never have the time to get it all done. So we will hire tutors who have good english skills to get the time, and to focus the kids on their school work. Thank goodness we are in china, because we can afford it here.
Summer plans. we will stay here until the last week of july, and then go back to the states for about 3 weeks to a month. why? There is a summer session of intensive english, and I want to work it (they will give a months salary, and one free round trip ticket to the west coast for christmas break. Take that free round trip ticket, land in LAX, get on the train, and the next day I'm in flagstaff
Will
lots to talk about. lets see. Teaching is really fun, and I like my class a LOT. I must admit I got this job by nepotism (isn't it wonderful!!!)
I don't know if I explained how I got my job, but I will do so again if I have.
I'm on the airplane coming to china with criss and the kids. Now I came to china with my wife to be a tourist, babysitter, and housecleaner (ours). My wife was hired at an incredible salary to teach composition. In the week before we came, my wife had to go to Fort Hayes Kansas to do her orientation.
She met a very nice woman there who is a fellow professor who was coming to SIAS. So they hit it off. During this week, (apparenlty) criss could not stop talking about me (how wonderful I am, how smart, funny, etc...) and this friend got to know me. She was also supposed to teach American Cinema for Fort Hayes. (they wanted her to teach 4 classes of composition, and then teach 3 classes of Cinma on top of it). The professor for cinema was also going to china. So the friend tells the professor about me at a Cooperative Teacher.
I'm sitting in the 747 next to the kids while people are loading. The friend is walking down the isle to her seat with the professor in the section behind us, when the professor goes "So you are Billy! I need a Cooperative Teacher for cinema, and I hear that you will be perfect, I ..... ... " (because she is still walking to her seat, so i can't hear her anymore.)
Cooperative teacher for cinema? American Cinema? You want me to teach Culture through movies? I can do that! I love that idea. So that is how I got the job. I got it because my wife is friends with someone who didn't want extra class hours, who knew the professor, who heard about me, and thought i was great. I's gots a reputation!
I must be doing things right. According to our liason between Fort Hayes and all 3 of their schools in china, I'm the in the top 2 CT's in china. That and a dollar will get me a soda (but it does bring a smile to my face).
More news.
Criss and Rita (the friend) will be going to beijing (bay j (hard j sound) ing) for a week over may holiday, leaving this afternoon, and coming back on next saturday (we hope, they don't have a return ticket yet, and won't get one until they get to beijing).
We are hiring 3 to 5 chinese students as tutors for the kids. We have the calvert home schooling stuff, but never have the time to get it all done. So we will hire tutors who have good english skills to get the time, and to focus the kids on their school work. Thank goodness we are in china, because we can afford it here.
Summer plans. we will stay here until the last week of july, and then go back to the states for about 3 weeks to a month. why? There is a summer session of intensive english, and I want to work it (they will give a months salary, and one free round trip ticket to the west coast for christmas break. Take that free round trip ticket, land in LAX, get on the train, and the next day I'm in flagstaff
Will
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