New Discoveries on the other side of the world: November 2006

September 5/6, 2006

After a hectic day of last minute packing and calling people to say goodbye, I finally arrived at the airport with a heavy load of suitcases and carry-ons. It was quite cumbersome. My mom and I originally thought that the maximum weight was 70 pounds when in reality it was really supposed to be 50 pounds! Therefore, we paid an overcharge of $50 total ($25 for each suitcase). I was also mad because we waited for the UPS truck to deliver my camera but it didn't arrive in time!! (My mom had to mail it to me!) I was hungry after waiting in the humongous line and bought a sandwich before departure. However, with the frantic rushing through customs, I overlooked the sandwich still in my mom's hands! She had to call me to tell me that I left the sandwich with her! So forlorn and hungry, I waited until my flight boarded. When I finally went on the plane, I sat in the middle of an elderly lady from Shandong and a middle aged woman from Harbin. It was interesting trying to figure out the customs forms with them as we all could barely understand each other! Unfortunately, I could not see anything from the airplane window except for the really big airplane wings! I tried to sleep but couldn't find any peace as we were travelling with the sunlight for almost 24 hours! I did watch a few good movies, however, and was distracted by them. They were "Ice Age-The Meltdown" and "Take the Lead." We were served pretty good food and I was amused that we were eating at a time that I was supposed to be sleeping back in the USA! I was amused by the flight chart on the TV screen and showing the location of the plane in the world. It also made things a bit boring, though, much like a child asking "How much farther" and making the trip to the desired destination even more desirable.

Upon landing, there were many "stages" to go through. There was the customs declarations forms and immigration inspection. It took forever to get my luggage since it was "delayed." So, after an hour or so, I went out and stepped into China! I was excited yet somewhat disappointed that my first sights into Beijing was a Starbucks! Haha. Even more disappointing than that was the fact that no one was there to pick me up! I waited and waited and finally after the 2nd hour I broke down and bought a rip-off phone card! I called my mom to let me know that I arrived safely but that no one was there to pick me up! I was told belatedly that they thought I was arriving on the 7th. I was so glad that I called. After 3 hours, I was finally picked up.

Xiao Ding, which is my uncle's former driver (and someone I met on my previous visit to China), picked me up with a friend of his and we went to a restaurant. Although it was only 9PM in Bejing, it was still 6AM in California and I was really tired and couldn't really eat and just wanted to go to bed! He ordered a lot of interesting new items and I was happy to this new cultural exposure. I wish I wrote down their names! There was fish, grass jelly, soup, mooncake and few others. Xiao Ding kept on ordering food!! And asking me questions like "Do I know what edamame is? Have I ever used chopsticks?" It was around 11PM when I finally arrived at the dorms at my uncle's Zhenglin factory in Beijing. I had been up for at least 24-hours and I was feeling quite catatonic and zombie like! The dorm I am staying at is where my uncle stays, with wooden floors, a desk, and a separate bedroom. The bathrooms here, however, are very gross and the plumbing isn't very great! >_<

September 7, 2006

I spent most of the day resting and trying to adjust to life in Beijing as a visitor. Its really different just arriving in Beijing than it was as a student, when everything was already (or at least in the process of being) arranged for you. And the fact that there is no one to hang out with! No newcombers to join in on the fun! I found it frustrating that I couldn't contact anyone because I don't have access to phone or email. I went to an Old Beijing style restaurant in Beijing with Xiao Ding and one of the factory workers here and had yet another cultural experience! We had fish, this really good taro tofu paste, Zhajiang Mian (noodles) and a few others. I love Ye Zhe,which is coconut milk! I went back home to rest and took a shower and read and slept. We went to a Muslim restaurant for dinner and had more fish, shrimp, beef (which I only took a small sample of), chicken and garlic sauce broccoli! I've been having quite the Chinese dining experience and have tasted a lot of Beijing's most authentic and traditional foods in a short time. Its been fun conversing with Xiao Ding and his friends and learning about different cultural differences and thoughts of our native countries and vice versa. I even enjoyed my first "squatter." EW! I slept early because I was tired and also afraid that I would be awoken by NuNu, the black dog outside who barks really loudly!!! She belongs to Mr. Lee who is the vice president of my uncle's company. I tried to meet her but she's skittish and I got the impression that she would bite me! (Later, I realized she was one of the most hyper and friendly dogs ever!!)

September 8, 2006

This is the actual date that I am writing this log. I wish I had internet connection and phone! I miss talking and being in contact with my dear friends and family! But I also find that I am very much spoiled by the creature comforts we find in the USA and felt a bit ashamed that I felt so naked without the "clothing" of technology. I
went to Tongzhou District today to check out Beijing Wuzi Univeristy, which is the school where I will be teaching English. It is a very peaceful and clean campus with beautiful ponds, lakes and gardens! The only drawback (and perhaps cultural advantage for someone trying to improve their Chinese) is that its far away from Downtown Beijing where all the cultural attractions, Western restaurants and foreigners reside. I met my contact, Mei Zhou, and she seemed really happy to
meet me. I was happy to feel comfortable at BWU despite my issues with reverse discrimination that I faced from other schools. I think I am going to like it there! Afterwards, Xiao Ding and I went to lunch at a Miao Nationality restaurant. Once again, I had food that I never heard of!

There was this tofu skin wrapped vegetable dish (which looked like cloth around vegetables) that you dip in plum sauce,chicken feet, fish, spicy chicken and Sprite! Haha. Sprite, or Xue Bi as they call it here, tastes sweeter and less lemony here. I also learned that it isn't the fact that they don't have the means to make ice here but rather people don't prefer it and so they don't want to waste money trying to sell it or offer it here. There was a customer behind us, a grouchy old Chinese man, who complained that he shouldn't have to see bugs in a restaurant. I laughed. He also told the waitress that the fly's mom, sister and son came back for revenge.
Haha. He said that with a laugh and the waitress laughed too.

I'm back in my dorm at the moment. Trying to make an effort at making a log to keep in touch with everyone, despite the lack of phone and email. It reminds me of yesteryear (I like that word) and how loved ones only communicated via letters, that sometimes took almost 2 weeks to hear from each other at a time. Perhaps, that's why people were more fond of each other back in those times? Haha. I've been learning a lot of Beijing culture, traditions and slang from Xiao Ding and the
workers at the factory. They tend to think of life in metaphors and that the way to live life is to keep the heart happy and worry free.

There is a great respect for elders and people in a higher position than you. Speaking in reverent terms of "Master" and "Elder sister/brother" and a formal way of saying you by using "Nin" instead of "Ni." I've only been here for two days so I have yet to learn and yet to experience as I transition from visitor with no connections to the outside world to an English teacher at Beijing Wuzi University
where hopefully I will feel more settled and connected to my dearest people. I'm anxously anticipating that day. As for now, I remain wanderlust in a factory of Chinese workers who only know me as the American niece of the President of Zhenglin Company. How awkward. I feel like I am in a time-zone limbo with no real connection to the outside world. I miss the freedom to email/talk to family and friends whenever I want! And sometimes I have no clue what people are saying with Beijing slang and accents! Perhaps this is giving me a great opportunity to reflect on my life with no distractions, being able to see my life outside of it, from a different perspective entirely. Xiao Ding and his friend are both fathers to twins, a boy and girl. Leng Feng tai. Weird. That is considered really lucky here in China.

September 9, 2006

I went to Hongqiao market and The Temple of Heaven today. There were a lot of foreigners at the Hongqiao Market. Xiao Ding was able to get me a set of Panda/Great Wall snuff bottles for only 24 yuan and a Mao lighter fo 8 yuan! Now I know that I can get suff bottles for such a low price that I won't settle for anything more! The third floor of Hongqiao was all beads! I was overwhelmed by the enormous selection. Too bad I don't know how to say any of the gemstones' names in
Chinese! Afterwards, we went to a Dai restaurant to have lunch and watched Dai dancers. I think the majority of their business is foreigners and foreign tour groups.

After lunch, I went to the Temple of Heaven. It was very beautiful and the clouds were especially auspicious. I guess I fit right in the culture as I haven't gotten
any weird glances as I once did when I was hanging out with the EAP group. Except maybe for my "bigger size" which I already know was going to happen so I had already prepared myself for that sort of encounter ahead of time. Then again, I think seeing a foreigner (who doesn't look Asian) isn't such a big deal anymore. I've seen
Caucasians in various Chinese commericals and even in Chinese soap operas. There is even an English speaking channel now!

After the Temple of Heaven, I went out to dinner with one of the managers of the Tianjin Branch of Zhenglin and employees who were working overtime and enjoyed even more varieties of Chinese cusine and Beijing Duck! OMG, they love to drink Yanjing Beer here! They kept on giving some to me and I drank it just to be polite but they mistook it as me wanting to drink more! I'm not much of a beer drinker as you all
already know.

September 10, 2006

Xiao Ding and I went to Xidan to try to get me a cell phone. We went out to get some Beijing duck and had a few other native dishes! I wasn't feeling very well so after I got a cell phone number set up, I decided to stay at the dorm and sleep. I felt bad because I even missed out on a dinner that was made special for me! =( I just slept and didn't even have dinner!

September 11, 2006

I just stayed at home most of the day and slept and tried to nurse my cold. Nothing too exciting. Hoping to go to Beijing Shifan Daxue tomorrow to visit Adam as I finally got a chance to talk to him.

September 16, 2006

Just got to campus a few days ago!

I'm not in the teachers apartment yet (they're still finishing them up) but at one of the international students dorms. I hate the shower and how its connected to the rest of the bathroom will no tub! Water gets everywhere when I shower and it makes it hard to wear socks afterwards! Haha. I felt grossed out so I went to the supermarket and bought a lot of soap and started to clean EVERYTHING! I feel much better now. I think there might still be traces of microbes around though. Haha. I'm actually at a different university, Beijing Wuzi University, and haven't been back to Beijing Normal University (that's where I studied 5 years ago) yet. I didn't realize how big Beijing was. I am about 40 minutes drive away from Beishida. So needless to say, I haven't gone YET but planning to do so. I have a lot of time to do so. Haha. I still need to learn how to get around Beijing though. Since I haven't been to the teachers apartment yet, I'll have to keep you posted on my address here in Beijing.

I start teaching classes on Monday! I have to make lesson plans and a 18 week syllabus! I am teaching Survey of Western culture and Oral English. I have four classes with 29 students each! ICK! I think I'm actually only teaching two groups of students. So one group is Western Culture A and Oral English A and the other is Western Culture B and Oral English B. Maybe I only have 60 students in reality. I think most of the students are either 19 or 20, sophomores. I'm actually really nervous because I have never taught such a large class. But as with any presentations, as long as you prepare what you will do in your allotted time in advance, it should be better. So I am busy preparing! I think they didn't expect me to look so "Asian" though. Oh well. I expcted that and its not as bad as I had originally anticipated.

I met one of the other English teachers yesterday and his wife. He's from San Francisco. LOL. Small world. There are three total English teachers from abroad. I haven't met the one from the UK yet.

My China journal is on my laptop. I have no idea where or how to get it connected to the internet. I am at an internet cafe right now at the international students dorm. I might have to retype my journal though. =( No sign of my camera either. So sad! =( Hope it didn't get lost!

I got Davinci Code, Just My Luck and Silent Hill. As for the updated wrapping, they now use a movie insert that looks like the one they put in a DVD case and put the DVD in plastic inside. They they put the DVD and DVD insert in a plastic wrap, kinda like the ones they use for comics...where there's a sticky back that you can fold once the item is inside and a hole punch at the top.

That's about it. I've been going to the supermarket everyday because I have nothing better to do. I also found a "Everything is 2 Kuai store." Lol. Its a bit more lonely here as a teacher rather than student. Harder to socialize. I tried to take my textbooks to the library to write my lesson plans but I got yelled at! Well, not really, they let me go this time. I guess we're not suppsed to bring our own books and backpacks into the library. How strange. Isn't a library a place to study? I dunno. I think I will go back to the market now and get another notebook for my other class and write more lesson plans.

Oh yeah, the other day...I went with Xiao Ding and Mei to a restaurant. There were soft shelled turtles in the tank with other fish to be served! I was really sad because the turtles looked really friendly and were swimming towards me! =( The dishes were horrible. The jelly fish wasn't completely cooked (still slimy) and they served the Beijing duck frozen!!! ICK!

September 25, 2006

So I had some feedback from students today. I guess I had originally placed their English level at a higher level than I thought. They told me that not only did I speak too fast, I needed to speak more clearly and loudly! I was like..."Um, I'm yelling at you guys and speaking like a turtle! You guys are just used to listening to a Chinese person with an accent speak English!" And they said that I didn't know how to write on a blackboard?! NO ONE IN AMERICA WRITES ENGLISH IN ALL CAPS OR IN CALLIGRAPHY! That's how a student told me to write on the blackboard. Ok, its one thing to completely not know how to teach but its another thing to have to convert to Chinese ways of teaching English! So I have to write my characters a little differently now?! I might as well have a student write it for me! UGH.

From now on, its vocabulary lessons and book work. I will leave out the meaningful discussion. They told me to include some of my personal experiences in the chapters. But, how do I include personal experiences with boring topics such as American Economy and Government?

UGH.

September 26-October 7, 2006

Wow, these past three weeks have been hectic! And since I haven't had internet access in my apartment, I haven't really bothered with the whole diary thing (whichI now regret). I'll have to refind everything through emails that I have sent people!

Teaching has been a very challenging and rewarding experience. Some students are very disciplined whereas others are quite mischevious and just plain disobedient! Sometimes I feel like I am teaching kindergarten! They play hand clapping games and fiddle with each other's hair at times! Oh, I finally got my camera!! =)

Teaching Classroom (and my infamous "OMG, why does our teacher have such a big purple backpack?")!

MY NEW HOME:

Matthew in our apartment building

My Apartment

This past week was the National Holiday week and Mid-Autumn Festival. I went to the Silk Market with my students and Wangfujing (an upscaleshopping center) as well. I also went to Tianamen square with Adam and Jumping and once again with one of my students the day after National Day. I also went to a shopping center called Xidan with a few other students who were good at bargaining! I went once with my
students and once with Tony, another English teacher who is from England, and we enjoyed a rather expensive cup of Starbucks coffee together. We encountered another American there..who was very confused about Chinese language but also very determined to get to Tibet! I helped him write a few phrases but not sure if it was able to help him accomplish his goal! I also went to the Beijing first annual Comic-con! It was pretty cool but very hectic! Many people were dressed in costumes! Adam came over towards the end of the week and looked around the university where I teach. We ate this really good fish and corn bread dish. He had to take an interesting route back to Beishida and ended up taking an illegal "hei che" taxi. Fortunately, someone was also going his way so he had someone to keep him company.
I guess this person told Adam that Tongzhou is considered the "nongcun (the village)" area of Beijing! Haha. The person who helped us, Lian Hai Jun, said it was "Yuan fen (fate/destiny)" as we met from opposite sides of the world on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival!

Tiananmen Square with Jumping and Adam:

In front of Chairman Mao's Photo

Under Chairman Mao's Photo

In front of the Forbidden City...

Pictures from National Day Week off--

Trip to the Silk Market:

In front of the Silk Market! (looking for jewelry, of course!)

Tiananmen Square during National Day! SO MANY PEOPLE!!

Comic-Convention:

Some people dressed in character!

Millions of totoros...(at the Comic-con)

Happy, the turtle (I bought him at the Comicon)

BeiBei

JingJing

HuanHuan

I used to have long hair...

Potala Palace Replica

Beijing Olympics 2008 FuWa

Crowded Subway Train--Claustrophobia!!
Sightseeing in Tongzhou:

A 40 kuai lunch that included a Cappucino, salad and buffalo wings.

Downtown Tongzhou

The following day, I met up with Adam at Beishida after a long bus ride and not being able to push through a crowded bus to get off my stop, to go to Zhong Guan Cun. It is considered the Silicon Valley of China. I wanted to get an ethernet
card for my laptop to FINALLY be able to connect to the internet. I also walked around his dorm and experienced the food and surroundings of Beishida. It has changed a lot since the days I was there as a foreign exchange student...!

Adam and I ate at table "607 (the apartment where he used to stay in San Diego, CA)"...

Di san xian (potatoes, eggplant and green bell peppers)

Adam introduced me to "Di San Xian" which is a combination of three vegetables: potatoes, eggplant and green bell peppers.

October 8, 2006

As a result of the week long holiday, I had to make up last Thursday's classes today. It was really tiring and I was really pissed off after the workers rudely opened my apt. door as I was showering! And this morning my sleep was disturbed as there were wonderful sounds of drilling and hammering in the upstairs apt. Needless to say, I was pretty mad all day. They need to inform us ahead of time for scheduled tasks and respect our privacy! Kevin (a student and also friend of one of the foreign teachers, Matthew, who is also a computer major) came over to take a look at my ethernet card and connection. Unfortunately, I was sold a defective ethernet card yesterday at Zhong guan cun and have to go back and get a new one! Just when I thought I could finally get on the internet.....

Example of a showerhead with no shower stall...it takes a while to get used to but great for cleaning the floors! And you don't have to worry about getting water all over the floors! Like I do when I am in hotels! =)

Matthew, Tony and I were supposed to hold an "English Corner" tonight and, as usual, wasn't informed ahead of time that it wasn't supposed to be tonight. We waited and went to several possible meeting locations and eventually ended up at a small bakery on campus. The cakes here have no flavor and need a lot more sugar!! I miss having an oven and baking! We had a nice conversation about life in America/England and foods we craved here in China. I guess the majority of the food being Chinese here reflects the lack of multi-cultural cuisine at the time. Oh, I could sure go for a nice chicken chimichanga right now....but I just had my share of moon cakes!

November 20, 2006

OK, OK...I apologize for being lazy and not updating this thing for more than a month now! I have been enjoying my classes, meeting a lot of new friends, going to KTV and pulling an all-nighter session, going shopping, eating hot pot, celebrated Halloween at my apartment withfriends (many of whom was the first Halloween night celebration for them), watched a lot of movies, went to Beijing Art Scene , had a spaghetti night, had a cooking lesson of Chinese food from Mei and some other things. That's just a brief summary of the months of October and November. Hahaha. I've been so bad with this and I used to write in a journal all the time religiously. I also went back to Zhong Guan Cun to get a printer (it makes classes so much easier) and have Jacin's (Jacin is Kevin's roommate) turtle, Jacin. Haha. I have been playing Chinese/English Idiom language games via text messages with friends and we've been writing new things down in own notebooks (depending on which language is our second language, of course!) I should also mention my trip to the Luhe Hospital to get half of my toe nail removed (OMG, that was painful!!) and the English language competition where I was a judge! Jacin, Matthew and I also went to Walmart and I found some spaghetti sauce and garlic powder!

SHOPPING: