I'm shocked you're shocked

From my point of view, life as an expat has many advantages: fantastic travel opportunities, great career prospects, a nicer and more affordable standard of living than the U.K. offers, a diverse network of friends and colleagues – I could go on.  But for some, life as an expat holds far more cons than pros.  I’m referring again to my old friend culture shock (see ‘Culture shock’ post – Friday, 15 April 2011).  This year I haven’t experienced this at all, for me China provides enough familiarity, with an equal amount of quirky differences, for which I am appreciative.  For others, the balance just isn’t there and China seems so drastically different to ‘normality’ (whatever that may be), that Mr. C Shock comes knocking.

It’s nice to have a basis for comparison as an expat & EFL teacher.  My experiences in Vietnam have undoubtedly helped me to easily adjust to living and working in China.  As I’ve previously mentioned (see ‘Familiarity’ post – Wednesday, 21 March 2012), less travelled newcomers comment on daily challenges they find and differences they do not always appreciate about living in an Asian country.  A colleague recently mentioned they would take inspiration from me and the way I deal with situations I encounter in China, which was very humbling from someone for whom I have such great professional respect.  In short, we can all learn from one another and should strive to help each other with our demons.

These personal battles can build up inside people and should not be underestimated.  Seeing friends and co-workers seemingly ‘melt’ in front of your eyes isn’t a nice thing to experience.  Factors such as work demands, living situations, social experiences and friend/family matters back in their home countries can all tip people over the edge.

 

However, friends and colleagues who have previously lived in developing countries/second tier cities in China feel disbelief that anyone could ever find life in Shanghai a ‘culture shock’.  After my time in Vietnam I genuinely feel I could live anywhere: it’s the small things here that I appreciate so much, but without that basis for comparison others just can’t relate.

A xx

Tailor made

I’m not sure how this escaped the blog for so long, as I could easily have typed about this topic during my time in Vietnam, anyway we’re getting to it now.  Being tall and slim poses some problems, not least if you’re tall, slim and living in Asia.  Last year I could easily find tops, shorts and skirts to fit, but when it comes to leg length the Vietnamese aren’t exactly well known for being a nation with an abundance of folks with 34” inside leg measurements.  The solution was fast, easy and very cheap – go to a tailor.  Two pairs of trousers, made in five days, costing less than they would on the UK high street: genius.

Here in China, it’s much the same story.  I frequent H&M & Forever 21, but few stores stock longer leg lengths.  There’s one place that I can always rely upon – The South Bund Soft Spinning Fabric market.  Hop on a metro, enter the 3 story building and you will be overwhelmed by the number of stalls on offer.  Some specialise in leather jackets, others in suits or dresses.  I’ve been here on several occasions since my arrival and am always very pleased with their work.  Whether they are repairing a belt, lining a skirt or making something entirely from scratch they always deliver.  It’s very straightforward – first find someone whose level of English is good enough to communicate with!  Next, choose the style (or better still take something you want copied), and select the fabric, lining material, buttons etc.  Then comes the tape measure – taking and recording every possible necessary measurement in under a minute.  Hey presto, made to measure one of a kind trousers, skirts and coats for less than the price you’d pay on the high street.  Take that Savile Row!

Frequenting the fabric market also avoids having to adopt Chinese fashion trends, which look laughable on most westerners.  I mainly refer to the bubble jacket, something which I had not seen since in probably ten years, until I arrived in China.  The Chinese love these portable duvets and wear them all the time during winter months.

 

And it doesn’t stop there.  I find it very difficult to find shoes to fit here in China.  They generally stock the size smaller than mine, but few have anything that I like and find comfortable.  Ordering on Taobao (Chinese eBay) is possible, but can still be risky.  That is now a thing of the past, as I found someone who will make them for me.  Simply choose the style, leather and let them measure your tootsies.  Your one of a kind, super soft shoes are made in two days.

Yet more reasons why I love living in Asia.

A xx

Yeehaa!

It’s time again for another Regional team building event.  We hadn’t had a Regional gathering since our trip to Anji in June (see Anji antics! post - Friday, 22 June 2012), and since then another school has joined our Region.  Sure, you see people at meetings, trainings and on the social scene, but it’s always nice to have a whole group gathering.  I heard another Region in the city had recently celebrated by having a dinner and black tie award ceremony at a very swish downtown hotel, so was excited to see what was in store for us.  Having received an email asking if any of the Senior Teachers had rodeo experience, I shouldn’t have been surprised when our fun loving Aussie Production Manager’s choice of theme was revealed – COW: Cowboy or Western!

 Also held at a swish hotel in the Jing’An area of the city, this all expenses paid all you can eat & drink event was an award ceremony with a twist – the guest of honour was a mechanical bull!  Reminiscing about my backpacker antics, I clearly recall coming in second place at a mechanical bull riding competition in Kroombit Cattle Station in Biloela, Queensland!

The Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse

'Bessie'!

 

Having ordered cowboy hats and neckerchiefs for staff at our school, we all rolled up decked out in denim and checked shirts – looking fabulous!  After enjoying the buffet and award ceremony the activities began.  These included line dancing, pool shark competition and Texas hold ‘em poker.  Having a bit of nous, I’d signed up for the second round of the ‘bucking bronco’ activity, figuring fewer people would be around to stare by that point in the proceedings – I was right!  Getting a swift ‘leg up’ from a fellow Senior Teacher, I felt quite at ease on the bull’s back.  It had been about five years since I’d attempted this, but I was still quietly confident.  On my first attempt I lasted a very respectable 34 seconds, gathering more attention than I’d first anticipated. 

 A few hours later, after most of the Chinese staff had called it a night, a second attempt was on the cards.  With a slightly numb bum from my first try I still managed to hold on for 45 seconds.  Upping the stakes, some of the guys decided to see who had the bigger manhood by riding ‘Bessie’ blindfolded and backwards, needless to say they didn’t hold on for very long!  The next challenge was to see if tandem bull riding was a possibility – and it was.  A male colleague and I jumped on and did pretty well, we didn’t last a full minute, like one of the other ‘couples’, but still made it over 30.

 

Another great event, thanks EF.

A xx

Time flies

Dear reader,

I feel I owe you an apology, my recent lack of blog posts must have hit you hard, I know how my eloquently written, amusing anecdotes cheer up your day and offer an insight into the life of an expat EFL teacher… 

Seriously though, there is good reason for my infrequent postings of late: my life is literally flashing before my eyes.  It’s now already December and I genuinely have no idea where the past four months have gone!  I shouldn’t and indeed am not complaining, but I feel things are moving so quickly that I almost don’t have time to take stock and appreciate my life here.

 Since August work has been very busy, my new role as a Senior Teacher has given me far more responsibility, which I welcome and have fully embraced.  Attending Life Club events and meetings, training teachers in my school and region, as well as my regular teaching schedule has kept me very busy during work days. 

And things don’t let up there; socially I always seem to be out and about too.  The temperature may have dropped, but it’s still just about in double figures and my hibernation mode has yet to kick in.  With Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Winter course all quickly approaching, I’m looking forward to using my annual leave next week to rest, relax and reflect on just how great this year has been to date.

 

A xx

Zen & the art of compromising positions

I have no idea why it took me so long, perhaps it was the constant buzz the city has, the vast array of sightseeing spots, bars and leisure activities on offer, but I was 9 months in this great city before going for a Chinese massage.  Always airing on the side of caution when preparing to be oiled up and rubbed down by a stranger, I joined a friend as she returned to a spa she’d visited a few months earlier while her mother was visiting.

 

As you know I’m no stranger to having strangers work their magic on me (see ‘Rubbed up the right way’ post – Friday, 5 August 2011).  A trip to ‘Zen’ was, however, an altogether different experience, even for me.  For a start, my masseuse was male, which may sound perverted or creepy until I tell you that Chinese massages are traditionally done through silk pyjama style robes.  So covered in my sexy silk ensemble, I prepared for Tom to work his magic – and he did just that.  A one hour full body massage, followed by a 30 minute foot massage - bliss.  Never before have I had someone bend and shape me in such a way, or get on the massage bed themselves whilst doing so!  As a particularly flexible female who has dabbled in yoga and been prone to dislocating her joints, even I didn’t know my limbs moved in those ways! 

 

Needless to say, I spread the word and more of the girls from work have paid Tom a visit.  I’ll be back in a few weeks for more spine cracking satisfaction.

A xx

Ebb & flow

Now almost ten months in to my time here in China and there have been a lot of changes.  Our school has grown at a phenomenal rate, with a far larger team of staff than when I first joined.  Some members of staff have been with the company many years, whilst others stay only a short time.  The EFL world is a very transient industry and the passage of teachers coming and going is more evident this year as I work in a far smaller school.   

Looking back on my time in Shanghai I can almost mark the seasons by recalling whose company I kept.  Longer term friends in the city have commented how they can delete people from their phonebooks on an almost monthly basis, not due to any falling out, merely because friends have returned to their home countries, or moved on to pastures new.  As friends and colleagues leave, to be replaced by others, it’s still a little sad to know even though you’ll stay in touch via many online communication networks, they won’t be around in Shanghai to phone or text and arrange social events with.

A close friend returned home yesterday and I know I’m going to feel this loss more than most so far.  Have a wonderful time back home hun, I’m so happy for you but also sad in an utterly selfish way. Much love and thanks for the laughs and happy memories.

A xx

HK OK

Having spent 9 days sauntering around the sights of Shanghai, it was time for the family to venture further afield.  A trip to Hong Kong, before heading home provided a change of scene and allowed me to join them to explore somewhere new to us all.

Upon our arrival, it all felt a little too familiar, I could read signs, as you would imagine everything is clearly marked in English and Chinese.  Everyone (or near enough everyone) speaks some degree of English.  Both of these things were a novelty for a short time, before the realisation that 90% of written and spoken English is unnecessary drivel – advertising and gossip.  Another reason I like working in non-English speaking countries – ignorance is bliss and you can easily block out and ignore foreign chit chat.

Anyway, I digress.  Returning to familiarity – everything was very British… except the weather of course: hot & humid is far from Brit climate.  The road signs, double decker buses, street names, high street stores such as M&S, Clarkes and Hush Puppies etc.  Brands and products were the same as at home.  Prior to taking this trip, I was of course aware of the 1997 handover, but still I expected the Chinese would have made more of a mark since.

Initially venturing out of the hotel and getting our bearings led us to the Avenue of the Stars, a short walk from where we were staying in Kowloon.  I won’t lie, most of the names I didn’t recognise, but Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Jet Li were a few I did.  Posing for a photo, placing my palms in the concrete casts of one Mr J. Chan, I can tell they weren’t accurate moulds.  I’ve yet to meet an Asian man with larger hands than mine.  I doubt Jackie’s really are – he probably wobbled the cement to give the impression his hands were larger (pun intended).  The Avenue of the Stars also provided a good vantage point from which to watch the sunset on our first day.
 

Venturing out of Kowloon we got the ferry to Hong Kong Island.  Having read of the stunning views the tram to Victoria Peak viewpoint offered, we were slightly worried the heat haze would detract from the experience.  Luckily, our fears weren’t realised and the views were as impressive as we had hoped.  Spending the day in the company of a lovely Australian lady we met on the bus journey provided a reminder of how different my lifestyle and career choices are from the majority of people.  If you’re reading this Marie, thank you for your company and for making me feel so special.
 

The next day saw us walking down Nathan Road, the main street that runs north to south down Kowloon.  Being asked every 20 yards became exhausting and the monotony of replying ‘no, thank you’ gave way to my playful side.  Instead, I adopted a different tact, choosing to question them, ask if they could repair my broken watch free of charge, or just providing compliments and enquiring how a man stays in such obviously good physical shape when his job merely requires him to stand on a pavement all day every day! I’m sure it brightened their days too.

Which brings me nicely to my favourite observation about Hong Kong – the men.  Most guys in Shanghai are fairly short (compared to me anyway) and rather effeminate.  Now I like a man to be fashionable and take care of his appearance, but when his shoe/bag collection is larger than you own, you have to start wondering…  Hong Kong, however, has a multitude of tall, toned, totty!  Men of all races and backgrounds who are fashionable and firm!  Men of Shanghai, ditch the Dolce and man up!

A trip to the jade market saw me walking away with some very reasonably priced purple jade earrings and necklace - more my style than the light green stuff traditionally worn in these parts and unusual to boot.  Telling traders you live in Shanghai always gains more respect and lower ‘special prices for you’ and they know you won’t budge from your original ‘best price’ offer.

Kowloon park was next on the agenda, with a Chinese garden, sculpture park and aviary amongst other sections there was plenty to see.  The highlight for me was ‘admiring’ the oversized statues in the Avenue of Comic Stars.  None of whom I had heard of or seen before, but I had fun posing with a few of them anyhow.

 

Our final evening saw us getting dolled up to take advantage of a generous gift.  A lush buffet style dinner inside a well known International hotel chain.  Trying my best to maintain the ladylike exterior was particularly challenging once faced with so many different dishes and foods not commonly found or eaten during my time in Asia.  Gorging on everything that took my fancy and opting for a large plate upon which to place my multitude of desserts no doubt left a few onlookers asking the eternal question: “where does she put it all?”
 

 

My verdict – a nice city break for the materialistic shopaholics and an ideal place to dip your toe in an Asian experience, but not somewhere a well-travelled culture-seeking sort like myself could see herself returning to.  Back to street food, chopsticks and incomprehensible Chinese chit chat for me – I’m sooooo Asian now!

 

A xx

It's a family affair

Last year I discouraged my family from visiting Vietnam; the dirt, heat, humidity and all that comes with a developing country in the tropics didn’t seem like the kind of place they would lovingly embrace – even for a short holiday.  This year, however, I was keen to share my life here with them: selling Shanghai as ‘the New York of Asia’.  Both well travelled, worldly wise ladies, this would be Mum’s first visit to Asia and my Aunt’s second visit to China.  Nine days in Shangers, followed by four days in Hong Kong seemed a nice way to ease little Mumsy in to Chinese culture, whilst still maintaining some western familiarity.

New experiences included wandering around the French Concession, visiting the Jade Buddha Temple; taking a trip to my school to meet my fantastic colleagues, a night time tour of the Bund with Cathy; drinks in one of my favourite tipple-tastic wine bars; lunch with a friend in an English themed restaurant; exploring the alleys and lanes of Tianzifang with its many arts and crafts curio shops; shopping and taking in the scenery at the Yu garden; bartering and driving hard bargains at one of the markets; and getting up close to the towers in Pudong.

 

 

As I had to work on the Saturday, Mum & Aunt had the perfect opportunity to spend time with one of my friends, in the form of a daytrip to Hangzhou.  Once off the bullet train they mooched around the lake, gardens and pagodas offered a glimpse of a second tier city and slower pace to Chinese life.

Our final evening in Shangers offered a new cultural dining experience for the pair when we were invited to a Korean BBQ.  I’m a big fan of Korean food and always enjoy a do-it-yourself BBQ.  With four friends as company we consumed a feast of BBQ meats, kimchee and the like.  An excellent way to end the trip and another example of how wonderful and considerate my Chinese friends are.

It was wonderful to see them again after so long and great to share my new life.

A xx

Quite a reception

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending my first Chinese wedding reception.  An excellent opportunity to experience a traditional celebration and a fabulous excuse to dress up, I had been looking forward to this for quite some time. 

 

Walking into the grand room I first noticed the marble and mirrored pillars, then the chandeliers, dark drapes and marble stage.  Next I see the happy couple, waiting to greet me.  The bride wore a traditional red silk Chinese dress, with matching flat shoes; the groom - a burgundy collarless suit.

 

Upon arrival you are requested to have your photos and video taken with the bride & groom, then just with the groom, then lovingly embracing the bride, then holding the gift of a hóngbāo (red envelope) that is traditionally given at such events.  Your next task is to sign the wedding book, which got the attention of numerous onlookers as they watched me write, obviously in English using Roman alphabet.  Being led to my seat, to my surprise I found I was seated on the Chinese equivalent of the ‘top table’.  In China, this is not reserved for the bride & groom’s family, but for them to share with their closest friends: a wonderful surprise and great honour.

 

The MC announces the happy couple and they come walking down a red aisle, to a stage draped in red organza and decorated with the Chinese sign for ‘happiness’.  The bride, wearing an ornate veil over her head and face, approaches with her groom in hand, while the happy couple’s parents sit on either side of the stage to greet them.  After lots of speeches and incomprehensible Chinese chit chat, the groom lifts the bride’s veil, using something similar to a chunky chopstick, revealing her beaming smile, and all applaud.  The couple then present their parents with drinks, before themselves drinking wine from glasses whose stems are tied together by a single red ribbon.  They do this while linking arms, which strangely reminded me of many an alcohol fuelled night, drinking shots of sambuca with friends in a similar manner!  Food follows – and lots of it - fabulous food of all kinds. My favourite dishes were the duck pancakes, sweet and sour fish & the lobster. 

 

Entertainment came in the form of paper plane throwing competitions, and the children in attendance were then given balloons, stuffed and/or inflatable animal toys.  Then came the bouquet toss. Being announced in Chinese I naturally had no idea what was going to happen, until the groom’s mother took me by the hand and led me on to the stage, to join a relatively small group of unmarried girls… and guys.  Yes, it’s all about equal opportunities here in China – men too can catch the bouquet!  Needless to say, my arms stayed firmly welded to my sides as the red organza bouquet was flung through the air by the bride & groom.  For the record an overweight Chinese guy dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, sporting a ponytail caught it.

 

The lighting of the cigarettes was next on the agenda – I kid you not.  The bride and groom, armed with enough packets of matches and cigarettes to keep the most enthusiastic of chain smokers happy for years, walk around the room offering cigarettes to guests who so wish to inhale the nastiness.  It’s rather a big deal and takes quite some time.  With approximately 160 guests dotted around 16 tables the room turns in to something of a gas chamber.

 

I was one of only two western faces at the wedding reception, and was made to feel very welcome indeed.  The bride and grooms’ parents thanking me for attending and randomers offering ‘hello’s’ and trying to practice their broken English.

 

To Ronny & Jessica, may you have a long and happy married life together.  Thank you for letting me share in your special day.

Lots of love.

A xx

MAN-icures

I have considered writing about this matter since I first arrived in China.  It’s something that really troubles me and even though I once vowed to a friend I would never share this on my blog, over recent months it has been such a pet hate that I feel the need to write this.  It’s something that has also disturbed many of my fellow expats and has repeatedly been the focus of many a conversation in both public and private spaces. 

What am I referring to: Men with freakishly long, strong, witch-like fingernails.  It’s a strangely common sight here in China, usually only found on pinky fingers, but sometimes thumbs or in very rare, stomach churning cases: all ten digits.  It’s more prevalent in middle aged men, but some people of my generation still adopt the look.

Asking Chinese friends about this sheds little light on the situation.   Some say fingernails were traditionally grown in years gone by as something of a status symbol, an indication you didn’t do manual labour and were wealthy enough to pay to have such tasks done for you.  But these days this explanation seems rather redundant.  People now apparently grow them for a number of reasons.  A Chinese friend of mine grows them for superstitious reasons, believing they bring good luck, as his commission based job suffers when his nails are cut short.  During busy sales events and crucial times of the year his nails always stay long, to give him the edge over his competitors.  Others just grown them to poke and prod in any available orifice.  Yes… I’ve witnessed it during many metro journeys in full view of everyone and it’s shamelessly, stomach churningly disgusting!
 

Whatever the reasoning behind it, the sight of such claws truly shocks newcomers to the country upon first glimpse and still entirely freaks the rest of us all out.  No matter how many times you see men with nails like this, you never become accustomed to it.

Men of China, do us all a favour – invest in a pair of nail clippers and slice off those talons.

A xx

Mid-Autumn Festival

National Holiday is upon us, for most expats here in China it means a week off work and time to enjoy the last of the summer sunshine by taking short breaks around Asia.  I however am staying in sunny Shangers to explore yet more of this great city and catch up with friends.

 

There is some confusion about Mid-Autumn festival, numerous tales about it origins and how people celebrate.  The extent of my knowledge could previously have been summed up with one word ‘mooncake’.  These are round pastries filled with anything from red bean paste to salted duck eggs, which are consumed in vast amounts over this period.  I first encountered them in Vietnam, offered as gifts from my students.  It was a shame I just couldn’t bring myself to like them, choosing instead to give them to my hard-working, mooncake-loving colleagues.

 

So what is mid-Autumn festival?  It’s a lunar harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people.  The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese calendar, which falls in September or early October and was recently made a Chinese public holiday.  It is associated with the legend of the Moon Goddess of Immortality.  Celebrations include carrying brightly lit lanterns, lighting lanterns on towers, burning incense to honour deities, and Fire Dragon dances.

 

My Director of Studies has introduced a role of Cultural Mentor, one of our local teachers who will not only have the unenviable task of teaching the foreign teachers Chinese, but also educate us about life in China: traditions, celebrations and customs.  It’s a fantastic initiative, which I’m very much looking forward to beginning.

 

Happy Mid-Autumn celebrations to my friends in China & Vietnam.

A xx

Helpful & humbling

The friendships I have formed during my time in China have undoubtedly played a massive part in making my time here so enjoyable, particularly where my Chinese friends and colleagues are concerned - never failing to astound me with their generosity and selflessness. 

 

Over the past seven months I have found myself being invited to a whole host of social events by the local staff from my school.  This is especially flattering as they only invite those whom they feel particularly close to.  I pride myself on my ability to get along with a wide variety of personalities and always find it so touching when I’m accepted in new social circles.  I built similar relationships with my Teaching Assistants in Vietnam, many of whom I am still in contact with now; but working more closely alongside local teachers, sales staff and interns at my school here has opened up more opportunities for closer bonds to be made.

 

I have lost count of the number of times my Chinese friends have surprised and humbled me during my stay here.  They do all they can to make me feel welcome in their country, from bringing me home cooked local food to sample to gifts after their vacations.  Last week was Teachers' Day in China, some of my smaller students made me gifts and one of our staff members was kind enough to give me a pair of shoes.  Finding footwear big enough in Chinese shops is possible, but provides a limited number of styles.  Having a Chinese friend buy them via Taobao (China’s version of eBay), however, eliminates such problems; A wonderful and much appreciated present from a fabulous fellow.

 

I am always most grateful when my friends act as translators.  My Chinese is limited to say the least and in certain situations you just can’t get by, having a fluent Chinese speaker with you is a godsend.  At first I found it very difficult to ask them for help with translating etc, but now I know they are more than happy to help and will often feel a little disappointed if they find out you need help with a basic task and haven’t approached them for assistance.

 

The friendships the Chinese make with expats runs deep.  Friendships seem to be valued far more here than in the west.  People keep their word, put others before themselves and pride themselves on doing things for others.  No matter how much you try to return their favours you never really feel you are doing as much for them as they are for you, even though the other party never feels that way.  These are very special relationships, that I find myself valuing more and more with each passing week.

 

My single greatest moment in China to date came when a friend asked if I would be Godmother to his newborn son.  This title doesn’t carry with it the same religious significance as in the west, but is still a great honour, particularly for a laowai.  We chose to mark this, not with the typical western ceremony, but with a day spent together in the park, followed by a fabulous meal in the evening.  A perfect day, with wonderful company, making lasting memories.

 

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome in your communities, you’ve enhanced my time in China more than you could truly know.

谢谢

A xx

KTV

Something I have avoided like the plague since the year dot, I’ve recently found myself partaking in a little too often here in Shanghai.  Karaoke (KTV) is a popular pastime with the Chinese, come rain or shine, at any time of the day or night.  And it turns out it’s damn good fun, even sober!

 

Luxuriously decorated rooms, usually furnished with leather sofas, large tables, flat screen TVs, percussion instruments and more food & drink than you could wish to consume, provide all you could need for usually 6 or so hours of good, clean, wholesome fun.  Should you want more munchies during the course of your stay, the push of a button will summon a staff member to see to your every whim… well, within reason.

 

It’s a particular favourite of the local staff at our school, who have recently taken to arranging team building events and birthday celebrations at different KTV venues around the city.  After each song, the press of a button or two leads to applause, laughter or booing resonating around the room.  The various disco light settings also add to the party ambiance.  Songs can be selected in English, Chinese, Korean and a few others, depending upon the venue.  And even better, it’s only about 20RMB per person, sometimes free if your friend’s parents happen to own the KTV joint! 

To my surprise, I find I now have my own back catalogue of tunes I can contently belt out, in the company of friends and co-workers!  Fabulous fun.

A xx

Typhoon Hǎikuí

Having heard lots of bogus threats about typhoons in the area, we were all rather sceptical upon receiving company emails about Typhoon Haikui.  We were all told to shut our windows and doors and invest in a strong umbrella!  The evening of Tuesday 7th August at 9pm saw the start of the rain in Shanghai.  The strong winds and torrential rain lasted until Wednesday evening, meaning a day of classes were cancelled and we had little more to do than kill time in our apartments watching DVDs, reading and surfing the net.  Venturing outside was interesting, and reminded me of a wet, rainy day in the UK!

 

Photographs of the area showed The Bund completely flooded and pedestrians wading knee-deep through rainwater.  Metro lines to Pudong were closed and over 2,000 people were evacuated.  Luckily, our area of the city didn’t suffer too badly, but it just goes to show the power of Mother Nature.  Further warnings have been mentioned since, but luckily these latest Typhoons have by-passed Shangers.
 

Here's hoping there aren't any more on the way.

A xx

Hangzhou

With schools in my region benefitting from a two week regular production break for summer, I suddenly found myself with far more time on my hands, teaching a mere 9 hours of summer course classes, spread over 3 days of the week.  Having exhausted the majority of summer activities Shanghers has to offer, it was time to take advantage of the time off and venture further afield.  Six of us booked a weekend away to Hangzhou.  Famous for the stunning lake and beautiful scenery, we boarded the bullet and headed to Zhejiang Province.

We opted for the healthy choice and hired bicycles (at a rate of £2 for the day) to cycle around West Lake, stopping off at local sightseeing spots along the way.  The usual pagodas, temples and gardens were on the hit list.  The heat & humidity left us with rosy glows as we pedalled against the occasional inclines and joked about our resemblance to The Goonies... 10 years on!  We were also very popular with the locals and found ourselves the main focus of many of their photographs, even posing for some with those who were polite enough to ask us directly.

The Goonies!

Even losing some of our group provided us with the opportunity for further fun, ripping down the pedestrianised causeway, dodging strolling families, in order to meet our mates at the other side.

Our last day provided a slower pace, watching an elderly Chinese gentleman performing on the promenade, seeing the beautiful Musical Fountain – even if the accompanying choice of music, ‘I vow to thee my country’, seemed a little strange.  We rounded off our day with a boat trip across the lake, again attracting the attention of local tourists shouting greetings to us in their best broken English – very welcoming indeed.

A trip back on the Bullet train ended our few days away.  Hanghzhou provided a refreshingly slower pace than Shangers and is definitely somewhere I’d return to in the future.

A xx

What's in a name?

It’s a popular trend for the Chinese to adopt Western ‘names’.  All of our students and local staff have these; the majority were given to them by their parents, others have been plucked from obscurity/internet name lists.  Although some names may be weird and wonderful, I have to admit, it makes life a whole lot easier than struggling to pronounce Chinese names, and perfect the tones so you don’t unintentionally call someone something obscene.

I’ve categorised a selection below, so you can see just what we’re dealing with:

Cartoon characters – Dora, Jerry, Minnie.

Colours – Black, White.

Film stars – Angelina, Harrison.

Nonsense names – Cherney, Gogo, Kison, Ticko, Turing, Wydia, Yamor.

Random nouns – Apple, Cherry, Flower, Mountain, Queen, Spring, Tear, Tiger, Yoyo.

Stripper names– Angel, Candy, Cindy, Kitty.

Unusual/names with connotations – Ivan, Lucky, Malboro, Dick, Johnson.

A xx

Summer school… strikes again!

Yes, it’s that time of year again folks… summer school is upon us.  For the third summer running I’m spending my time educating teens who would like to be anywhere else but stuck in a classroom!  And I can’t blame them, Chinese kids never get a break in term time – the least their parents could do is cut them some slack during the summer holidays.  C'est la vie, at least in my classroom they're guaranteed to have some fun.

 

As with the summer school course I taught in Vietnam, I used a bit of nous and requested to teach an intense version of one of my regular courses, making life easier for myself, as I have soft copies of all my lessons plans and resources.  It’s a lively and interesting course, that I enjoy teaching the most, including lots of videos, audio and IWB games as well as my own competitive and creative elements thrown in for good measure and a few laughs.  It will be taught on top of my regular teaching schedule, meaning an extra 6 to 9 hours of teaching time per week over the next 2 months.

 

During teachers’ meetings and trainings over the past few months we’ve all been warned just how gruelling this period will be.  We'll be supplied with lunches, fruit, medication and throat lozenges to help along the way.  Honestly, I can’t see it being any more challenging than last year; rightly or wrongly I’m going in to this feeling it’s just a small 8 week hurdle before my well earned holiday.

A xx

Anji antics!

It’s been a few months since our last official regional team building event.  The social scene in the city is such that you quickly become acquainted with kids & teens teachers from various EF schools across the 3 regions, as well as teachers from other companies; but it’s always nice to meet new faces, and nicer still when it’s all expenses paid!

Our pre-summer school skive saw teachers and local staff from the 4 schools in our region escaping to Anji for a couple of days, taking in the fresh air, and scenery made famous by the film ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’.  The early start and 3 hour journey passed quickly thanks to good company and a stop off for lunch.  Upon our arrival, we were taken on a 2 hour walk up to Dragon waterfall.  It was quite a steep climb, which we tackled at a fairly brisk pace, aided by the help of paths and metal staircases.  Despite being an overcast day, the heat and humidity were evident.  Some of the staff opted to stay nearer the entrance on lower ground, usually puffing on cigarettes or posing for pictures.  Other Chinese tourists could be seen walking in the most inappropriate outfits, which wouldn't have looked out of place in the bars and clubs of Shanghai – slaves to fashion though they carried on regardless.

Clambering back on the bus, I’d been comfortably settled on my seat for a good while before noticing the rubber snake next to my thigh that my friends had sneakily hidden under a jacket.  Unfortunately, it didn’t have the petrifying effect they had hoped, not on me at least.  Skilfully flinging it through the air towards some of the more effeminate Chinese staff, however, was met with shrieks and panic!  Mission accomplished!

Next stop was a spot of water rafting.  I’m not a big fan of watersports – wearing glasses or contact lenses during such activities is problematic and as such I opted out, choosing to sit on the sidelines with the other warm, dry, land lovers, taking photos of my soggy colleagues as they navigated the water course and attempted to soak each other by any means necessary!  After everyone had completed the course, changed into something a little drier and got the feeling back in their limbs, we headed to a local restaurant for dinner.  As in Vietnam, meal times here are social affairs, none more so than during team building events.  Sitting with 10 others and sharing dishes has a sociable quality that is lacking in many western countries.  

A short time spent at our hotel gave us time to freshen up before heading to a nightclub.  When we arrived, there was no one else there, and as it was a Tuesday night that’s pretty much how it remained all evening.  All available space on tables was taken up by the free beer provided for our group – but at 2.5% the only foreign teachers who were intoxicated were those who had been drinking (heavily) throughout the course of the day on harder stuff.  Dice games, dancing on a springy dance floor and mingling were the order of the night.  A group of us ventured in the saloon-style bar next door, only to be greeted by the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Go West’ and lots of surprised, gesturing, tiddly Chinese clubbers.  Needless to say, we didn’t stay long.  Silly o’clock fried rice and dumplings finished off a fine day.

The following day saw the spritely members of our group take a trip to a bamboo forest.  Famous for being featured in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ we spent a couple of hours walking up the tracks, amongst the bamboo towards a viewing platform with spectacular views over the area.  On our ascent we passed a group of elderly Chinese tourists taking part in something resembling Tai chi.  A colleague translated the instructor’s directions, which apparently required participants to mirror the shape and form of the surrounding bamboo.  I’m not sure how relaxing they found the experience with over 100 tourists passing by, but we tried not to intrude too much.

Craving a bit of excitement amongst the bamboo groves, we opted to take the fast route back down to the exit - by roller coaster. We were each in single carriages and were responsible for controlling our own speed with the aid of a hand brake. Three teachers from my school had gone down in front of me and I was keen to use the brake as little as possible.  I figured nothing too bad would happen as a result: worst case scenario – the carriage flies off the rails taking me with it and I end up in the bamboo.  There was netting along the sides of the track in some places, but not in others.  So, I came bombing down at a rate of knots, managing to smile at three of our group who had strategically positioned themselves along the route to take photos of us.  It was then that I spotted the local man, shouting and waving erratically at me.  I shrugged it off, I was having fun, no need to touch the brakes quite yet – then I saw the traffic jam I was quickly approaching!  Two Chinese girls had gone down before our group and had obviously chosen to use their brakes from the off.  Time to test my brakes me thinks! Luckily they were very efficient and I slammed on, stopping just short of my friend in the carriage in front! Great fun!

After meeting up with those who had chosen not to join our morning stroll, we made our way to lunch and then on to the obligatory souvenir shops, where all kinds of bamboo related products can be found.  A sleepy headed journey home found us back in Shangers in the early evening, much fun was had by all and it can only have a positive effect on the already jovial atmosphere between staff at our school.

Roll on the next one.

A xx