Hello Winter!

It is officially Winter!  This weekend and Monday I was wearing a t-shirt as I wandered around.  Tuesday was still warm, the wind was a bit chilly.  I woke up this morning to being able to see my breath, red nose and finger tips!  It is officially winter!  What better way to greet this season then with a rousing class, disco cycling and hot soup!  I welcomed winter by moving my clothing line inside and stringing it up in my room!  I have also started making Christmas decorations!  Paper Chains are easy to make and mindless to string together!  My paper chains perfectly accent my drying laundry!

In the evening I went to disco cycling again!  Words cannot describe, the room is dark, surrounded by mirrors.  They turn on blue and red lights that flash, there are strobe lights that flicker and green lights that also flash.  Our instructor looks like he has been taking steroids for years, he is extremely huge.  His biceps are huge and only accented by the tiny v neck skin tight shirt.  It must have been about 2 sizes too small.  He was also wearing teeny tiny bicycle shorts.  He played the music very loud and continually shouted at us in Chinese!  My favorite was when he would yell "Hey Hey' and have us chant back "Hey Hey".  Very amusing!  Words cannot describe!

Thanksgiving in Changsha! Students

Truly terrible Pumpkin Pie!

I was lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving not once but twice!  Once at the fabulous Sheraton Hotel, they have a Thanksgiving buffet.  All the westerners of Changsha (at least the ones who know about it), flock to the hotel for a taste of home.  270 yuan later, we all sat making merry with all you can drink wine and beer and a none stop buffet of delicious food!  Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin, curry, sushi, and spiced frog were among the choices.  The chocolate fountain and ice cream were also delectable.  But the pumpkin pie was terrible!  Really really horrible!  It was watery and tasteless!  And the big bowl of something that looked like whipped cream was actually sour cream!  Oh China...  That being said it was wonderful to eat some comfort food and enjoy the company of my fellow World Teachers and some new friends!  After 2 plates, Maureen and I ran to the gym.  They were having some sort of party, and Maureen's gym friends invited her.  As a proud member of this gym (She says ironically).  I headed with her, we played some games and won some prizes.  I finally figured out their names.  Xionghuan (Bear something) and Zhongliang (He of course in true southern style says "zong").  Then we returned to the Sheraton to continue eating and drinking.  My friends were quite sauced and decided to have a cake race!  The chocolate fountain had a stand with spoons and mini cakes.  My friends put 5 mini cakes in a long column and had a race to the bottom.  I did not watch this, I sorta wish I had.  But at the same time I was a bit embarrassed for them.  It was the Sheraton, a really nice place!  But nonetheless when we left people were stealing plants and food.

Joey, Sarah's Friend, Sarah and Teresa

 Then on Friday after a rousing game of Uno, I managed to lose my voice just in time for Thanksgiving in Hengyan with almost all of the World Teachers!  Down to Hengyang we went, we left Yi Zhong at 9am, and arrived at 1pm.  Taking the fast train is fast, but getting to the fast train stations takes an hour on both ends!  But it was worth it when we got there, playing Ultimate Frisbee and American Football was fun!  The funnest was trying to explain it to the Chinese Students who were playing with us!  I met an interesting fellow "Lee", who taught me a game called "Feji"  it is basically Sorry!  Which was awesome!  But as happens all too often two players were not focusing so I kicked them out, much to Lee's delight!  Lee was an interesting fellow, and is one of those Senior 3s that is just hilarious!  We left at 7 and made it home by 10!  It was much shorter on the way back!  Not sure quite why!  But Hengyang was awesome!  I could see living there!

A short update on teaching!  Nothing is more hilarious that having 5th graders who are a little too into a game rip your signs up accidentally!  And nothing is more painful than having a lesson you thought would be fun fall flat!

Some of my 6th graders being naughty during morning exercises!

Birthdays in China!

Maureen's Gym Friends!

This past Saturday was a dear friend of mine's 25th birthday party!  So what do you do in China to party?  You either drink heavily, go to KTV (Karaoke), or do both!  So Maureen opted for Pizza Hut, followed by Parking Lot Bar, and then finally KTV!  KTV becomes astronomically cheaper after 11.  So we met at pizza hut, there was a huge crowd of us.  15 people:  Some world teachers, 3 English speaking Chinese teachers, a random Chinese guy from Maureen's gym and his two friends.  Dinner was awkward, language barriers with the Chinese guys who didn't speak English.

Then to Parking Lot bar.  There was much laughing and joking.  I was taught many new words, and phrases.  Including one I am too shy to use because I don't understand it completely.
"为什么你吃我豆腐？” “吃报了吗？”  “吃慢慢”
"Why are you eating my tofu?"  "Have you had enough?'  "Eat slowly"
(I think it is like " why are you making fun of me"  but I am not sure.)  The man that taught me was quite drunk, he also taught me some Changshahua (Changsha local language).  Eat is Qiu instead of Chi.  He taught me "Ni yao ogai luo"  (What do you want).  Bill was very amusing!  Then to Foosball bar!  Then finally to KTV!

This was the icing on the cake!  Somewhere in between singing "Waka Waka" and "Party in the USA"  I realized that American's have it wrong.  You should only have to listen to people you know sing off key.  Private rooms for KTV are fantastic.  One of my friends was clever, bringing booze in from outside.  Hiding beer in his pants!  When I told my fellow teachers, they marveled about how amazingly clever he was.  It was amusing.  I left at 3:30am they were still partying!

The next morning I was kicking myself for making lunch plans.  But they ended up being most enjoyable!  May and Syvia took me to Hot Pot, taught me more Changshahua.  Hot pot is delicious, but I will never understand their obsession with putting hot dogs and spam in it!  Oh well.  Walking around Buxingjie was fun.  Seeing the people, with locals made it so much better.  Their English is good, they continue to strive to learn.  I have come to learn the desire to out weighs the gift to learn.

Syvia and Me on BuXingJie

May and I on BuXingJie

Chinese Students: The good, the bad, the adorable

Teaching in China is without a doubt the most rewarding, entertaining thing I have done with my life.  If you ever get a chance to live in China I recommend it.  Like any job there are ups and downs, but the kids they are worth it.  They are so cute!  But they can be so naughty, and the ones that are naughty relish in it.  You can see it in their impish faces the few precious moments you have to head them off before they do something naughty.  Like putting toilet paper on an unsuspecting students head.

That being said, my students are pretty golden.  This is because I am spoiled.  I work at 长沙市一中学, the #1 middle school in Changsha, and I work at a primary school where I am the first foreigner ever to work there and I have a Chinese teacher in the class with me.  The presence of a Chinese teacher is usually enough to stem any naughtiness.  One of my 6th grade classes, I had a student who was drawing breasts in this book.  He refused to share it with me, but I managed to get a look.  But let it go, only to see the notebook cycling around the back of the class.  It was quite amusing.

Stone, from my practicum.  I wish I was teaching him!

My seniors on the other hand are just amusing.  They are all so different from one another.  The way they are naughty is talking in Chinese, they often forget I can understand them.  Or don't notice me, it is fun to make them jump by leaning in and saying “说英文”  "Speak English."

This weekend there was a conference, as I was waiting for my drink, I spotted a student of mine smoking.  This was not shocking for me, everyone smokes in China.  Some of my fellow volunteers tell me that cigarettes are sold in the student store.  Johnson jumped, though, and hide his cigarette.  I shrugged and turned back to my drink.  A few seconds later, here comes Johnson.  He leans on the counter, looks at me seriously and leans in.  "I am sorry Patty."  I looked at him, a bit confused.  "没关系，no problem"  I replied.  "I am really really sorry, Patty."  He says again breathy, worried.  I am pretty sure he was sweating.  "真的没关系, really no problem.  I do not think it is healthy for you to smoke."  He nodded relieved and headed off.  I thought the matter was settled, but sure enough I walk into his class on Wednesday.  Up he walks, his head hanging in shame.  "Patty, I am really sorry."  "No problem, really."  "I am really really sorry"  "It is no problem, I am just worried because it is not healthy.  I like you.  I want you to be healthy."  He perked up when I said this.  "Maybe after class I can get your phone number and then visit you in America..."

Clubs day was Tuesday, all the students were milling about being seduced by various clubs.  The English Club had a terrible location, no costumes and no music.  Alex, who speaks extremely good English, and I did our best to attract some attention.  But to no avail.  Stone, a student who was in my practicum group walked up to me and offered me a rose.  I was touched, I must have gushed "Thank you" about 100 times.  He was embarrassed and made a quick exit afterwards.  I cannot seem to get him to stick around and talk to me!  Damn I love that kid!  He was fantastic in practicum, but I do not get to teach him!  Then I spent the rest of the afternoon, walking and talking with TK.  A senior 3 that Thomas is helping.  TK and I were seen talking, I was holding a rose.  I am almost positive that all my students think we are dating.  They are really funny about dating.  If you ever want students to go crazy just mention kissing, or dating.  It really makes the whole class start giggling and tittering.  It is very amusing.

Then to English Corner, with the privileged kids.  Class 22 is special, only 22 students.  They have 2 foreign English teachers all to themselves.  An older British man named Nick, who is very nice and soft spoken, and a younger (but still older than me) Australian man named Lawrence, who is extremely abrasive.  Lawrence was in charge of the Halloween party and the English corner.  He just never seems to explain things well enough, and then yells at the kids.  I don't like him much.  But I met some really nice students, the girls and I formed a team and trashed the boys.  These kids though are such smart asses, they think they know so much.  At least my senior ones are still impressed by me!

Another student, who has already been discussed, is Challenging.  This kid makes me laugh.  He always tells me what to call the other students.  He is trying to convince me to call a student in his class "Handsome Jackson."  He argues with me about whether I am going to a man's house or a woman's house.  The latest, he told me, mostly through mime, that I should beat up Jack's girlfriend and take him.  Because I am old.  He also informed me that I am not as pretty as Eileen.  What a sweetheart, but really I love this kid.  I am almost positive he is joking with me.

This past week was Movie/Music week.  My classes were good, and they earned a music or movie day.  All the classes chose movie, except one.  Then I let them choose.  4 classes chose Malcolm in the Middle as their "movie".  They loved it, they were laughing at the family dynamics cheering when Malcolm beat up a bully.  I have never seen kids so into a show.  2 classes watched Pushing Daisies, they loved it.  They were on edge during the exciting parts, and giggling and tittering during anything vaguely romantic.  My last class of the week was hilarious.  I was sitting behind this group of girls.  Every time something slightly romantic happened this girl would start twirling her hair, with both hands on either side of her head.  It was extremely comical, after class this girl sent a messenger up to me to ask the name of the actor.  Lee Pace is apparently the epitome of attractive to Senior 1 class 19!  Music was fun, the students laughed when I showed the lyrics to a song that had the swearing left out, and the swearing was replaced by F**king.  Also I never realized that James Blunt swore in "You're Beautiful."  My students cheerfully informed me that there was a bad word in that song.

Today I went to Zhounan and watched my friend's teach their Juniors.  They warned me that their classes can be a little out of control.  Let me just say that the Juniors after lunch were little naughty monsters.  They were playing a kissing game in the back before class started.  Then they were throwing things during class, talking, putting toilet paper on each others heads.  I don't know how Courtney does it.  Let me just say I love Chinese students!

I went to an English Corner at a western style cafe called the 5th tone.  The topic was Wisdom.  "How do you define someone that is wise, foolish?"  "who is the wisest person you know? Why?"  It was interesting to hear their opinions.  Steve Jobs is apparently very wise.  And wise people share their opinions, and listen to other people.  No one said Mao, which honestly I was a little surprised by.

Shaoshan

I live in Hunan, the home province of Mao Ze Dong!  He said the spicy Hunan food gave rise to some of the reddest Chinese people in history.  And it is pretty true for China.  Many famous Chinese communists came out of Hunan, including Mao.  Anyways, his home town is only a hop, skip, and a jump from Changsha.  A mere 81km and an hour and a half bus ride, although it can be 2 if there is traffic or if the bus driver has a friend and drives out of the way to drop him or her off.  TIC

Maureen, Courtney, Kirsten, Dan and I decided to go to Shaoshan.  We met Dan at the South Bus station.  Kirsten's train from Huaihua was a little be late, a mere 2 hours, so we cut it a bit close.  But the invigorating taxi ride made up for it.  The swerving, the beeping, the near misses.  Seeing a cute little yellow car with a sticker in the back window that said "S.W.A.T.  Even cops need to dial 911."  The morning was crisp, and inside the bus station was freezing.  We got our tickets, and headed out to the bus, we were the last people on the bus, so there weren't many seats together.  Courtney got a seat next to a Chinese man, her seat would not sit up, but nor would it lock in place to remain lying back.  A nice Chinese man in the back row scooted over so Maureen and I could sit next to each other.  So we arrived in Shaoshan and were shuffled onto another bus to go to Mao's Guju.  Former residence.  It turns out it was a tour, we said we just wanted a ride and they charged us 2.5 yuan.  They took everyone to a restaurant.  We said, "We don't want a restaurant, we will walk back to the former residence."  But the bus driver insisted on driving us back to the former residence.  Somewhere in this exchange we realized that one of the people in the bus was a foreigner.  His name was Myron, we adopted him into our group.

We commenced the Mao journey, starting at his house.  A small mud house with a thatched roof.  There were tons of school groups, who were more excited about seeing us foreigners than Mao's former residence.  Choruses of children's voices saying "hello" followed us as we tried to figure out where to go.  The big line couldn't be avoided, so we got in line.  We were shuffled from room to room, the first thing we noticed was either Mao had money, or the spruced up his house a little.  There were actual bedrooms, and bedrooms for each member of his family.  There was some particularly nice Chinglish, a sign warning us not to touch or nibble anything in the house and a blurb about Mao's father "He was a hardworking crackerjack man."  Then we followed some signs towards the museum, which were actually signs towards the gift shops.  Some bargaining commenced.  I got a present for my father, the man wanted 38 originally and I managed to get it down to 18.  The trick was when he wouldn't change the price, I walked away.  He had to get my friends to come and get me back!

Mao's school was next, we were informed what a good student Mao was.  And how he shared his meager lunch with other students, his mother supported this and gave him more so he could share.  The school was honestly more interesting, it had a lot about Mao's education.  Then we walked back towards the museum, we were followed by choruses of "hello" from both school children and middle-aged men chewing betel nut.  We watched some exciting flower placing ceremony in front of the Mao statute.  But it looked like you could buy the flowers and the ceremony at a little kiosk nearby.  Which made it a bit less impressive!  Then to the free Mao museum, all in Chinese.  But really cool mementos, like the ancient style guns they were using.  Weird Wax freezes of Mao, following him from when he was young and thin to when he became the man we are used to seeing.  After that museum we went to the next one, which was newer and had English.  This was a museum of Mao's stuff.  Highlights:  Nixon's place tag and wine glass, Mao's giant swim trunks, and the tags.
"These are the accounts showing that Mao always paid for everything himself." "Mao did not like to drink except before swimming" "Mao never believed anything he read without looking into further."  "Mao's cuban friend gave him these cigars"  "Mao enjoyed watching the plums blossom."

After all that we left, trying to find the bus back.  The same bus driver pulled over for us, we asked if he was going to the bus station.  He said yes, we hopped on and he flipped a bitch and headed back towards the bus stop.  I don't know if that is really where he was headed or if he was just being nice.  But the bus was full, so I hope it was the first one.  We went and found a place to eat and ordered some Hunan food, including Mao's favorite.  Hong something chao rou.  All you need to say is Hong and they know what you are trying order!  It is literally chunks of fat and peppers, the sauce is amazing.  But the dish it's self.. I can see why Mao was so huge!

So throughout the day, we talked to Myron a little more, who is Chinese-American from Richmond.  He and his family were just in Guangzhou for 3 weeks, he speaks Cantonese but no Mandarin.  Through out the day people would address him assuming he was our guide, and he would refer them to Dan who speaks very good Chinese.  It often took a few tries to convince the person that yes, the white man speaks Chinese, and the man who looks like you does not speak Putonghua.  So Myron ended up coming back to Changsha with us.  He was staying at the hostel near the Provincial Museum.

So we took him out for Jiaozi at our favorite place, beers at Mix bar (a foos ball place).  And then back to home, before Courtney and Maureen get in trouble.  They have a curfew of 11 at their South Campus apartments.  Later that night I was adding him on facebook, only to discover we have a mutual friend!  SMALL WORLD!

Delicious Fried Jiaozi!

Courtney, Myron and Kirsten are visible!

Mountains, Car Accidents, and a Night Out

Yesterday was awesome!  Really quite awesome.  Thomas and I were invited to climb Yuelu mountain with the other teachers.  If you make it to the top then you receive 100 Yuan.  Thomas and I were told 9:30 to 11:30.  If you made it up there between 9:30 and 11:30 then you would get the money.  We left Yi Zhong at 9:30 and took a bus.  Then we climbed the mountain.  Calling another English teacher!  She kindly waited for us.  Climbing  the mountain does not take very long.  But we didn't know where to meet them.  There are enough nooks and crannies all over it is hard to figure out where someone is.  We had a lack of cellphone reception.  While we paused to get our barrings and try to call the English teacher, Thomas and I were way laid by people who wanted their pictures taken with foreigners.  This happened every time we stopped.

Eventually we found some university students.  We told them we couldn't find our friends.  We said they were at the Yuelu temple.  The students said they would show us the way.  As we walked along we asked them questions.  Most of the students were calm and in control.  Two girls were crazy energetic!  When we asked "What do you study"  They eagerly exclaimed "WE STUDY MAO ZE DONG!! MAO ZE DONG!!"  They were a little crazy.  Eventually one of them called our friend Faye, and explained where we were.  Faye came up to get us.  Then they bugged her with many questions.  Faye is cool as a cucumber, she answered their questions good naturedly and then said we had to be going.  As we waved and said goodbye to the students, the two young women bounced up and down screaming "Goodbye Goodbye!"

We made it to the top and signed the ledger at 11:29!  We received our money and took some pictures.  Then down the mountain, to Lamian (hand pulled noodles).  I went to go get a hot chocolate, and saw some people standing in the middle of the road screaming at one another.  There was a car, and a motor bike.  Then I remembered something Michaela and Teresa told me about.  People won't get off the road, they will continue to block the road and scream at one another.  I watched from a safe distance, there was no resolution, so I returned home.

A relaxing afternoon, that was not as productive as I wanted it to be.  I was falling asleep watching pokemon in Chinese.  Instead of working on my lesson for today.  I got just enough done before meeting my new friend Corra for dinner.  She met me and gave me peanuts, I gave her some hongzi (I don't know what the word is in English).  We walked around, she bought me gloves because she was worried about my hands being cold.  I bought some fried sweet dough for the two of us.  Then we went to street food, we got a hot spicy soup, fried rice, and fried food on sticks.  Then she bought more fried rice.  We were unable to finish this food, but it ended up being about 20 yuan for all the food.  Someone told us we looked like sisters!  Corra is so energetic, she kept asking me when we could hang out again!  We went shopping, she kept asking me if I wanted things.  I kept saying no, i was worried she would buy them for me!  Walking around with her was like having a girlfriend, she was hanging on me, holding my hand and my arm all evening.  The evening ended with me smiling and promising to see her again.  She is going to teach me yoga and Chinese cooking!

BEST DAY EVER!

Words cannot describe the exhilaration of today!  As I sit listening to "Wavin' Flag" by K'naan, I am reflecting on everything amazing that has happened today.  I woke up this morning and made the decision to go to the office to work on some of my papers.  I ended up having an extremely productive morning, and nearly finished my lesson plan for Monday!  Then I met up with Jack and Thomas!  I had a student come up to me and ask me some questions!

Me: "Hey Challenging (that is his name), how are you?"
Challenging:  "Hey patty, I am fine.  Is he your boyfriend" (pointing at jack)
Me:  "No, he is not."
Challenging:  "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Me:  "No I do not."
Challenging: "How old are you?"
Me:  "I am 24"
Challenging:  "Oh.. you are so.. so.. old.  You need a boyfriend." Then Thomas walks up.  "Oh is he your boyfriend?"
Me:  "No I do not have a boyfriend."
Challening:  "He has pretty eyes." etc. etc.

It was very funny, but eventually the conversation ended and we played some basketball with students.  It was fun, exhilarating, and slightly embarrassing!  The students were good, then we switched to kicking a soccer ball around!  Then delicious food!!  Caihua, qiezi, ye bailajiaochaorou.  (cauliflower, eggplant and white pepper fried meat).  A trip to the dvd store, I finally found pushing daisies but need to clean the disc, it is very very dirty.  I might need to return it tomorrow, or exchange for a new one!  But I still found it!

Then out again for dinner with Emily and Mandy.  Then we stopped into the fifth tone to use their swanky western bathroom.  We stumbled into English corner!  I was surrounded by 10 university students.  Some of whom had never seen a westerner before.  Mandy, Emily and I invited them to join us in watching the fireworks.  It was so much fun!  The best part, covering a lantern with our wishes and sending it off!

Our beautiful lanterns with our wishes!

Pharmacies and Medicine

Coming down with a cold!  Went to the pharmacy asked about a thermometer.  They gave me one, I then tried to ask how long I have to wait, they said 5 minutes, I asked what normal temp was and they said 37.5.  They said something else and I had no idea what they were trying to say.  They mimed putting the thermometer in my armpit.  We all laughed.  Then they asked if I had a cold, and I say I think I do.  They then rushed all over the store grabbing medicine for my cold. 52 kuai later I had pills for sniffles and pills for coughs.  Not sure how I feel about taking 4 pills 3 times a day!  But Chinese meds are weaker than western meds.  My sniffles are better this morning but I don't know if I can handle so many pills!

Water, Gas, Electricity.

I believe that people who have running water, gas, and electricity are lucky beyond lucky.  And you never realize just how lucky you are until you go to a place where you don't have it.  My first few months it was a little intense, not being able to drink the tap water.  The water jug was helpful, and I am getting used to it.  But I can't imagine living somewhere where there wasn't any water.
My friends water is no longer running, hopefully that is no longer the case.  But all his neighbor's have running water.  No one is quite sure what is going on.

Electricity is interesting here, the first thing I was told was to never plug in all three heaters at once or it would blow the power.  All the wires are so tenuously put together, they hang down low, and construction sites with live wires are never closed to the public.  I blew my power and was afraid to flip the circuit breaker.  I called my site mate and made him come over and help me switch the power.

Gas, my gas is no longer working.  Not sure why.  But it died in the middle of my foray into making french toast.  Delicious french toast!  Lack of gas.. leaves soggy french toast that is not so good.

TIC
This is China!

Update on gas.  A half an hour of 3 Chinese people arguing loudly in my kitchen and changing batteries.  They said they will come back tomorrow, for something... not sure for what.