Birthday Part 3 and 4

This will be a short post as I am sitting in my office and getting ready to leave for 3 weeks!  My birthday celebrations continued on Wednesday at Lunch.  Thomas my site mate and I have the same birthday.  The English teachers took us out to lunch at the Day's Inn.  A Western style sea food buffet!  It was delicious!  Sushi, Chinese food, Spaghetti, Broccoli, fish (minus the bones!!).  The teachers brought some wine and we toasted and ate way to much.  Listening to a live band play easy listening music.  Misty, Amanda, Faye, Emily, Candy, Lucy, Lydia and so many others came. Thomas was the only guy.  The entire English teacher population is all women at our school.  We ate, way too much, and enjoyed the company.

Thursday was the silver lining.  Dinner with Kaylee, cake at my house, and then late night KTV.  I rocked out to many songs, including "I just had sex!"  My favorite thing about KTV is when they do not have the video they will just film white people doing things.  Aqua's "Barbie Girl"  is to a film of white people at an amusement park.  Very funny.  Around 3am I turned around to realize I was the only still in the room!!!  Home to sleep off my stupor!  Waking up at 7am to let my friend Kirsten in!  Then back to bed.

My Birthday in Changsha! Part 1 and 2

My birthday in Changsha consists of 4 different parts, and was celebrated for nearly 4 days off and on!  The first part was with my primary school 一师二府小 (yishi erfu xiao).  I came to class with a fun Christmas lesson, that didn't go over to well!  It was a little too advanced for them!  And they seemed to think that setting the table was naughty.  Anyways.  I walk to school and walk into my office and there are two of my students with a cage for me.  I looked at it, and smiled awkwardly.  As my students proudly presented me with a cage containing two hamsters.  I do not like hamsters that much, to be honest.  But the students were so happy and proud of their gift to me.  I just stammered a thank you, which they accepted before they ran off to get the bag that had food and more bedding!  They informed me through the English teacher Mrs Yi (Lucy) that I must clean their cages every 5 days.  Then a flood of other students brought me cards, chocolates and other gifts for my birthday!  I smiled nervously as I saw my desk disappear under a pile of presents.  I went to teach my lesson, and in both of my classes the first 5 minutes of my 40 minute class were reserved for students who wanted to pile presents on my desk.  So after two classes and a long break, I could no longer see my desk under my gifts.  It was time to go home.

So I borrowed some bags and filled them up with all my gifts.  I had a backpack, a shoulder bag, a stuffed dragon under my left arm, 4 bags in my left hand and hamsters in my right.  As I walked down the street trying to keep the cage from swinging too much, Pangpang continued to stuff her face.  Pangpang means fatfat, Shoushou cowered in fear under the shavings.  I made it home and my arm was in pain.  Real legit pain.  I put my gifts down, and managed to straighten myself up a bit then it was back out for dinner with my Primary school Headmistress, deputy headmistress, the party liaison (communist party I assume), and several English teachers.  Unfortunately the two headmistresses were unable to join us as a teacher had just lost her father.  They were going to pay their respects.  So it was just some English teachers, and the party liaison.  We went to Thai food, it was their first time eating Thai food!  They shoved the menu at me, and asked me to order and then told me I wasn't ordering enough, and to order more.  So I did, we got a bottle of wine.  We toasted each other and ate delicious Thai food.  Lucy quickly became intoxicated off the 1/4 a glass of wine she had to drink.  So she kept speaking to the waiters in English, confusing them!  The evening was fantastic.  At the end of the evening I had some flowers and a giant cake to add to the pile of gifts in my house.  What can I say?  I love presents!

My pile of presents!

China's Medical System

My foot has been hurting, so I figured... lets go get it checked out.  So Michaela and I head to the hospital on Friday morning.  We went to the nicest hospital in Changsha, probably the nicest hospital in Hunan.   I knew the moment we walked in this was a nice place, there was no one smoking and no chewed up betel nut on the floor.  My second thought was that this hospital was built like a mall.  There are registration kiosks for each section.  You register, pay for whatever you need and go to the right section.  You get a booklet which is your medical record, which you are responsible for.  They don't really keep records, and they definitely don't believe in privacy.  We were waiting in a room with a doctor and like 10 other people.  They would call your number and you would sit down and explain what was going on with you, the doctor would look at you, write in your booklet where you should go and print out some tickets for you to bring to the next kiosk.  I was sitting there with my shoes off and the doctor was asking Michaela questions and asking me questions, and there were 10 Chinese people staring at me.  He gave me two tickets one for an Xray and one for something that I still don't know what it is.

People come from all over Hunan to go to this hospital.  As I stood in line to pay for my Xray at the center kiosk, the man ahead of me kept turning around to stare at me.  Then he would return to staring in front of him, then turn around to look at me again.  60 Kuai later I was standing in line at the radiology kiosk to check in.  I was sent to room 4.  Both of the rooms I visited were room 4, talk about unlucky!  In Chinese 4 is a very unlucky number, 4 in Chinese is "si", which sounds like "si" which means death.  So I got the death number twice!  On the way to room 4, we passed by a man who was staring at me wide eyed, "Hallo" he said to us.  Michaela and I smiled generously, "hello".  As we are waiting for the xray room, a woman comes up to us.  She looks really upset.  In perfect English she says "I am having a terrible day, I hit someone with my car."  Michaela and I just looked at each other.  I think one of us managed to say "Oh.."  The woman nods, as if we are being sympathetic to her.  "She is making too much of it, I think she is fine"  She says gesturing to a woman who is writhing in pain on a gurney.  "That was nice of you to take her to the hospital."  says Michaela generously.  "I am supposed to."  Michaela and I were very silent, then a Chinese man opened the door and in they wheeled the woman.  We all pushed and shoved our folders at the doctor.  Who took them all, and saw the foreign name on mine.  So when the door opened again, it was my turn.  I was xrayed, no doubt all over.  They told us to come back that afternoon, the hospital closes at Noon for anything but emergencies, then reopens at 2:30.

We came back that afternoon, picked up the xrays (which I also get to keep).  Showed them to the doctor, he said. "Oh it isn't broken"  Then he looked at my tickets.  "You didn't get this test?"  "UH?"  So we walked from kiosk to kiosk, asking where we were supposed to go.  We got to the right window.  And they said "Mingtian (tomorrow) Xiawu (afternoon)".  So we go back today, and they said "Mingtian (tomorrow) Shangwu (morning)".  Needless to say I won't be going back there unless I am bleeding.  I will wrap my ankle and wear different shoes!

Bad Day...

There is good and bad hiding everywhere.  I don't want to give the impression that this bad day occurred because of China, it didn't.  It just happened to happen in China, where I don't speak the language that well, which always makes things more difficult.  I had a fun lesson prepped.  However, I was unprepared to be challenged about Taiwan and Tibet,  have one of my favorite classes acting like jerks, and have a student throw the Japanese flag on the ground.  Needless to say I was feeling very down about my students.  I was comforted by the knowledge that I had next week for them to redeem themselves.  I get home in tears, and am comforting myself with some Back to the Future, when I get a text that I will not have any classes starting next week.  My vacation has been extended (by only one school).  So they don't get to redeem themselves.  Oh well!!

Then to the gym, I canceled my Chinese class because I was a mess.  I went to cycling, and hurt my ankle. Then to the shower, where I lost my keys and had to cut my lock.  This process was complicated because a friend of mine, who is also a foreigner had earlier that evening cut someone else's lock in a stupid misunderstanding.  They clearly thought that I was her and must have asked me like 40 times.  "this is really your stuff."  "Yes it is my stuff"  "are you sure?"  "yes".  So they cut it open,  I lost a 5kuai lock and will have to get another one.  This one I will write my name on!  But I got my stuff back.

To end on a high note!
I taught Rose today, she is a student who I am helping with her pronunciation.  Together we will learn the phonetic alphabet, and we have fun saying stupid sentences to help with pronunciation.  Spending an hour with her is a ray of sunshine for me!

I read through some interesting reports where students poured their hearts out about "Growing pains"  and "agreeing with puppy love"  whatever the hell that means.

I got Lamian and watermelon juice!  And I managed to invite some people to my birthday, in Chinese!

Overnight Hot Springs Trip for Teachers

I was speaking to the other teachers in my office, when they mentioned that this weekend there would be a hot springs trip for all the teachers.  I was invited as was Thomas.  It was a weekend for all the Senior 1 teachers (高一).  I gladly accepted, and Saturday morning I woke up, packed an overnight bag, including a swimsuit, and walked across the street and climbed on a bus.  I was sitting there alone, realizing that none of the teachers from my office were coming.  I was resigned to a slightly lonely but enjoyable weekend!  When an English teacher from another office came over and sat down.  "We were talking, they think I should sit with you so you don't get lonely!"  This is how thoughtful my fellow teachers are!  We spoke for a while, she asked me where I had been.  I asked her where she had been, she gave me some tips for where to go in China, and how to get there inexpensively!  I have to admit, probably one of the most useful conversations.

The countryside

The bus ride started in Changsha and drove for about 2 hours, for the first hour or so we were in the suburbs of Changsha.  Then we finally made it out to the country side, the bus had to pull over so people could go pee.  There was no bathroom, so all the male teachers laughing got off the bus.  Linda, the teacher next to me, saw a home just nearby.  So she got off the bus and went and asked if she could use their toilet.  After they saw her successfully get inside, the other women flooded off the bus.  Oh how I wish I had gone.  The last 20 minutes of this ride were torture!  We arrived at the place and got off the bus.  We were shuffled in for a spicy Hunan lunch.  The other English teachers sat near me to translate.  I got some of the conversation, not a whole lot.  But didn't feel left out.  I felt like I was part of the group!  I was offered wine, and said "Yes"  The whole table looked surprised, and out came the baijiu.  I blush and said.. "Oh no no.. uh Hongputaojiu"  they all looked a bit disappointed and gave me some of the wine that was going around.  Then the toasts began, the two teachers in charge toasted every table, and the men were pouring baijiu for each other, and pouring their baijiu in each others glasses.  It was very amusing.  Then we went back to the room while the Party members had a meeting.

Lisa and I watched some TV, I read about Thailand.  Then to the hot springs!  The hot springs was more like a water park.  There was a water slide, that was not in operation.  There was a heated wave pool that was extremely popular, then there were little pools.  The first pool we went in was scalding hot, as I yelped the teachers laughed.  Then I jumped in the swimming pool, which was not as heated.  I swam a quick length to the other side, when I surfaced people were staring at me.  An older man in the lane next to me said "Leng ma?"  "cold?"  "Tai leng"  I replied.  "Too cold."  Then I wandered around looking for the English teachers.  But was unable to find them.  Finally Lisa found me, and told me they had all gone to the fish room.  I stood up and followed her.  I walk in, there is a small pool where you sit, and little tiny fish eat the dead skin off your feet.  It was severely weird and ticklish!  I couldn't handle it for long.  I was then led to the salt room, where tons of white salt is lying about like sand.  You rub it all over your body, it "gets rid of germs".  Why not!  Then a rinse off and back in the hot water.  Then inside to the pool with jets for your aches and pains!  The showers were very gross, so Lisa and I decided to take a quick shower and shower again when we returned.

That evening we ate another spicy Hunan dinner, drank more wine, had more toasts.  Then headed to KTV (karaoke).  The KTV room was a small room with a projector, a screen, crazy disco lights and giant speakers.  The door didn't shut so well, so people kept slamming the door.  There was more toasting in here.  Bei Laoshi, a teacher from my office that speaks no English, toasted me.  Ganbei-ing me!  I drank my beer down and could see the respect glowing in his eyes!  When I looked at the beer, I tried not to laugh.  It was Budweiser.  They all sang old songs.  I sang Waka Waka, attemped to sing "Your Girlfriend"  and was talked into a duet of "My heart will go on."

We left early, and were getting cozy when I received a text message about the Lunar eclipse that was occurring right then!  So we bundled up again and headed outside, to watch the eclipse.  Then I saw something that I miss living in the city.  Stars!  I could see stars and planets.  On a clear day in Changsha maybe you can see Jupiter.  We were cold, so I taught them a circle dance while we waited.  Then after while we were forced to retreat indoors.

Don't know her name, me, lisa and linda

The next morning we woke to frost on the ground, we had a filling breakfast of porridge, baozi, and noodles.  Then a walk around the grounds.  Then back on the bus.  As we drove down the windy roads with our bus driver swerving around other cars blaring his horn, one of the teachers got car sick.  So the bus pulled over to take a break.  The teachers stormed off the bus and across the street to buy pork.  The area we were in is famous for pork!  Some other teachers headed to a farmers garden and bought some fresh out of the ground produce.

The farmer's fields!

Then back on the bus, and back to Yi Zhong!  Best trip ever!

Children in China

Children in China are awfully cute!  And they are so similar to American children, but in some ways they are more free than American children.  Children in China walk around the city with their friends and really don't feel any fear.  Their parents don't either.  Changsha is a pretty big town but invariably I see young children walking around by themselves 7, 8, maybe even 9 at night.  They play late at night and come up and talk to me.  But because they are so free, and some of them are the only child in the family, school can be difficult for them.  Going from being the center of attention to being 1 face in a class of 40 to 75 students.  The elementary students often act out for the bad attention they receive because at least they are receiving attention.

Anyone who has lived in China for a while will tell you that parents rarely control their children.  Children run amok, very similar to these two twins on my street.  Their parents never control them, once I walked by their house and the kids were climbing on a car that was clearly not theirs.  Part of me wanted to scream at the parents "Control your Children".  But while the parents never openly control their children when you speak to them they all know what is expected of them.  That they study hard and do well in school!

My favorite thing about the children is how strong and brave most of them are.  In America if a child had a baby tooth knocked out playing volleyball, would he keep playing?  I do not know.  In China, that is exactly what he did.  After assuring me "mei shi"  "nothing", he left the tooth on the playground and hopped back in the game!

Children in China, are really fun!  The most rewarding thing is sharing a laugh, a basketball match, a song or some sort of odd clapping game with them!

Paintings and Yoga

My dear friend Corra after two trips to Beijing to visit her boyfriend, was finally back in town.  She gently reminded me of this fact by e-mailing me, calling me twice yesterday, and then calling me again today.  Corra is a very nice, if a little over-zealous, woman I met in the park.  She is a yoga instructor, who is constantly fixing my posture.  She is very excited and energetic.  Her warm heart is evident in how she speaks to everyone and how she speaks about the people she knows.  She always reminds me she wants to help me if I need it.

She called me on my way to Starbucks to get some work done, to invite me to sing and dance in the park!  I turned her down, saying I had to work.  But invited her to lunch.  So at 11:30, I walked briskly back to Yi Zhong.  Ninja turtle hat bouncing.  I met her at the gate, and we walked off.  Hand in hand, she is really clingy.  She loves to hold my hand, hang on my arm and other things.  I don't mind, it is nice to have a friend who knows her way around Changsha!  So this time I took her to lunch.  I took her to a Hunan restaurant near my house.  The lady who owns this store was ecstatic to see me approaching with a Chinese person.  She immediately began to inform on me, I always come here and I always order the same thing: 白辣椒炒肉，茄子豆jiang（Not sure the character for that one）and 花菜！White Pepper fried meat, green beans and eggplant, and cauliflower.  With her usual sunny smile Corra cheerfully ordered some Tofu in addition to the white pepper meat and eggplant.  We sat and chatted, many people came through and asked questions about me to her.  Patiently and proudly she answered them.  Every so often when I could understand the thick Hunan accent I would answer, much to their surprise!!

Then something happened that surprised and pleased both Corra and myself.  One of the painters who owns a shop behind the restaurant asked if he could paint a picture of me!  He was going to take some pictures of me, with my permission, and paint a picture!  Corra and I agreed heartily!  We walked into their tiny shop, all three painters proudly showed off their paintings!  They were beautiful, some where oil paintings others were traditional ink and water paintings.  The kind men gave me tea, took my picture, asked me many many questions.  Then gave me a painting and a news paper clipping about them.  When the painting is done, they will e-mail me!

When people ask me, do you find China to be repressive.  I have to say no, in the day to day life you never feel the government.  It is just people living, and the people in China know how to live.  If you look foreign they are usually willing to help you out, and have such warm hearts!