I really like being in an international dorm and taking classes with other international students. Not only is it interesting to hear Chinese being spoken in Spanish, Portuguese, British, Indian and Russian accents, but to be able to meet people from different places is pretty cool. I’ve meet Chris from Poland, who is the best when he’s “slightly tipsy…tipsy is a funny word…”, and Sol from Spain who is the funniest most adorable little girl I have ever met. She’s older than me though, but still, she’s adorable.
So basically, having a great time at Zheda YuQuan campus. Not to mention they have 4.5 Y eggplant. FOUR POINT FIVE YUAN.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
New Adventures
So I have a bunch of characters waiting to be written but I just need to brain dump because I haven’t done that in a WHILE. Partly because Blogspot is blocked at the university, as is Facebook and all those other fun sites. It sucks.
I’m no longer staying at Ling Yin Si (Ling Yin Temple) and have moved to Zheda YuQuan Campus, a.k.a Zhejiang University’s YuQuan campus’ international dorm, and boy, things are hectic.
We got a new batch of students in for July, about 11, all girls. They’re really cool and it’s been fun showing them around. I’ve been delegated to navigator/direction person because I apparently have a good sense of direction? We’ve been going different places for dinner every night. I helped us get to night market and an Indian restaurant.
I don’t know where to start with night market. It was crazy. Getting there was half the fun (or pain). I figured out a new bus, the 900, but after I was on the bus I realized that the lack of a “K” in front of the number means it’s not air conditioned. Not to mention, most of our group of 9 had to stand because the bus was packed. Sweat was dripping all over the place. I was literally drenched, as were most of us. It was gross.
After ten stops most of us finally had seats and I could feel the grumpiness. One thing I forget is that I don’t really mind long bus rides, but other people sometimes have problems with them. The thing with big groups is that you have to find some sort of balance between everyone.
We sidled down a side street that got us to night market on Hefang Chie. Everything was the same; Chinese people trying to take pictures of us, lots of little booths with overpriced touristy goods, and fried goods. Chopsticks shops, umbrella shops, and three Indian shops (we had to go to all of them).
Next, we figured out that our “snack street” was actually a snack ALLEY and the REAL snack street was way back down the other way! We saw various things on sticks, including:
• Tarantulas
• Starfish
• Eels
• Grubs
• Sea horses
• Squids/octopi
• Crabs
Basically, it was cray cray up in thur. Two phones were lost and then found. Fried dough was eaten, and dumplings. I thought I ordered boba but received sprite. And we all got home safely.
note: it is now the next morning and boy do i regret not going to sleep earlier. argh!
I’m no longer staying at Ling Yin Si (Ling Yin Temple) and have moved to Zheda YuQuan Campus, a.k.a Zhejiang University’s YuQuan campus’ international dorm, and boy, things are hectic.
We got a new batch of students in for July, about 11, all girls. They’re really cool and it’s been fun showing them around. I’ve been delegated to navigator/direction person because I apparently have a good sense of direction? We’ve been going different places for dinner every night. I helped us get to night market and an Indian restaurant.
I don’t know where to start with night market. It was crazy. Getting there was half the fun (or pain). I figured out a new bus, the 900, but after I was on the bus I realized that the lack of a “K” in front of the number means it’s not air conditioned. Not to mention, most of our group of 9 had to stand because the bus was packed. Sweat was dripping all over the place. I was literally drenched, as were most of us. It was gross.
After ten stops most of us finally had seats and I could feel the grumpiness. One thing I forget is that I don’t really mind long bus rides, but other people sometimes have problems with them. The thing with big groups is that you have to find some sort of balance between everyone.
We sidled down a side street that got us to night market on Hefang Chie. Everything was the same; Chinese people trying to take pictures of us, lots of little booths with overpriced touristy goods, and fried goods. Chopsticks shops, umbrella shops, and three Indian shops (we had to go to all of them).
Next, we figured out that our “snack street” was actually a snack ALLEY and the REAL snack street was way back down the other way! We saw various things on sticks, including:
• Tarantulas
• Starfish
• Eels
• Grubs
• Sea horses
• Squids/octopi
• Crabs
Basically, it was cray cray up in thur. Two phones were lost and then found. Fried dough was eaten, and dumplings. I thought I ordered boba but received sprite. And we all got home safely.
note: it is now the next morning and boy do i regret not going to sleep earlier. argh!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Dépaysement
Dépaysement (French) is one of matadornetwork.com's 20 Untranslatable Words. They take it to mean "the feeling of not being in one's homeland."
That's what the first few weeks felt like as my jet-lagged and culture shocked self wandered the streets of China with only a few phrases under my belt (thank you, hello, goodbye). I had no idea how to navigate by using the bus system or the difference between a half kuai coin and a dime coin. Everything was so busy-people were everywhere, the streets were packed and the stares were intimidating. After time I got used to it, the rhythm of the city, the curious looks of the Chinese, and the traffic. I'm not sure what I expected, but I've discovered so much; monks on e-bikes, quiet monasteries, curious cafe baristas, and fish flavored eggplant.
And yet, Hangzhou is best in the early morning when I'm running and the only people I see are monks and tea farmers. It's really worth savoring what's left after the tumult dies down.
_____
McDonald's Runs: 6
That's what the first few weeks felt like as my jet-lagged and culture shocked self wandered the streets of China with only a few phrases under my belt (thank you, hello, goodbye). I had no idea how to navigate by using the bus system or the difference between a half kuai coin and a dime coin. Everything was so busy-people were everywhere, the streets were packed and the stares were intimidating. After time I got used to it, the rhythm of the city, the curious looks of the Chinese, and the traffic. I'm not sure what I expected, but I've discovered so much; monks on e-bikes, quiet monasteries, curious cafe baristas, and fish flavored eggplant.
And yet, Hangzhou is best in the early morning when I'm running and the only people I see are monks and tea farmers. It's really worth savoring what's left after the tumult dies down.
_____
McDonald's Runs: 6
Friday, June 17, 2011
Yu Xiang Qie Zi
Yu xiang qie zi.
I say it three times before someone understands me-I’m just glad they bring out the right dish, fish flavored eggplant. It’s really just eggplant with small pieces of pork, peppers and onions in a special sauce, which I like to eat with rice (mi fan). It’s easier to order rice than anything else.
I settle into my chair, reading River Town by Peter Hessler. The book details Hessler’s time in Fuling, China while serving in the Peace Corps. It’s interesting to read about his experiences with the staring, the language barrier and just how different everything is.
It’s been two and a half weeks, but it feels like a month. The rain has been torrential but is now familiar, I no longer cringe when rainwater hits my flip-flopped feet. I have regular haunts; the white house restaurant down the street from my apartment, the Vineyard Café in town, and McD’s for a weekly McFlurry indulgence.
Overall, China is an experience. I’m learning so much. I have 25 characters under my belt, just enough to make out one character from random business buildings around town. I know enough phrases to survive around town, I can get around on the bus, and I know my way around the lake. I’m more self-dependent, I don’t need other people to figure out my way-which is good, because asking them would be a pain.
In short, I’m loving it here so far and I hope it continues to be this sweet.
I say it three times before someone understands me-I’m just glad they bring out the right dish, fish flavored eggplant. It’s really just eggplant with small pieces of pork, peppers and onions in a special sauce, which I like to eat with rice (mi fan). It’s easier to order rice than anything else.
I settle into my chair, reading River Town by Peter Hessler. The book details Hessler’s time in Fuling, China while serving in the Peace Corps. It’s interesting to read about his experiences with the staring, the language barrier and just how different everything is.
It’s been two and a half weeks, but it feels like a month. The rain has been torrential but is now familiar, I no longer cringe when rainwater hits my flip-flopped feet. I have regular haunts; the white house restaurant down the street from my apartment, the Vineyard Café in town, and McD’s for a weekly McFlurry indulgence.
Overall, China is an experience. I’m learning so much. I have 25 characters under my belt, just enough to make out one character from random business buildings around town. I know enough phrases to survive around town, I can get around on the bus, and I know my way around the lake. I’m more self-dependent, I don’t need other people to figure out my way-which is good, because asking them would be a pain.
In short, I’m loving it here so far and I hope it continues to be this sweet.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Back in Hangzhou
Went back to Hangzhou today. The bus ride back was...interesting. We got one of those awesome busses where everyone sits on the second level, so that was cool. Unfortunately, the old lady behind me was having some serious carsickness, so that kinda but a damper on the whole 270 degree view of the highway and Chinese countryside thing.
Oh well, so it goes.
I'm back in Hangzhou, chilling in "Paris Baguette", one of the many pseudo-French bakeries which hardly have any sweet pastries...but the "pizzas" and "doughnuts" are pretty tasty. The baguettes are legitimate, especially the garlic ones. The baristas (I guess?) where black and white striped shirts and berets. Cute.
I have about an hour or two before I teach.
I'm just observing the couples who are sitting nearby...there's at least 3. Is Hangzhou a city of love or something? Everywhere I turn, there are couples-you can tell because a lot of them like to match. Chinese girls have some sweet style. I want their clothes, but
1. I don't know how Chinese sizes work but I'm pretty sure I'd have to have XL everything
2. I don't know where to get these clothes for cheap.
But I will find out!
Learned more characters yesterday. :]
Also, I saw a WHOLE GROUP OF LAO WAI today in Hangzhou. It must've been a field trip for international school kids or something. By that, I mean kids who go to an international school in Shanghai
I will start counting how many times I go to McD's. It's the best place for reliable food, where I don't have to worry about ordering the wrong thing...and McFlurries are really goooood.
McDonald's Runs:
3
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Chilling in Ningbo
So I'm sitting in the Zeal Education Group office in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. Basically, Zeal is a company that helps Chinese high school students apply to American colleges and universities. This is a booming business in China, a country where (from what i've gathered) high school students focus on testing and analytical essay writing, so when the time comes to write personal statements or narrative essays for college applications, they're pretty lost.
It was great talking to Chinese students about the differences in Chinese and American education. One girl told me she started learning math in 1st grade. There were no breaks and students were punished for answering questions wrong. Compare this to America where I had recess until 7th grade (well, it was basically a 15 minute break but still) and where math was never the focus of my education and was rather the bane of my existence. Different, right?
Not to mention, a lot of Chinese teaching revolves around dictation and reciting facts or poems or essays. America likes to discuss things (for the most part) and have seminars and the like.
These differences interest me quite a bit.
I also enjoyed answering student's questions about American colleges and universities....a lot of them are worrying about SATs already. One parent asked me what it took to get into Amherst. I couldn't just say "Get a 2400" because that's not what it takes. I believe Amherst cares about grades, but they care more about the actual student. What does the student love? Does show what he loves through the essay?
Not to mention her daughter, who is a sophomore, had a 2100 or something ALREADY. Wow.
Look up "tiger mother" on Google for an interesting article...
tests and dictation vs. discussion, success vs. acceptance of lower standards...
Oh, and I explained SATs and SAT subject tests (in Chinese) to a room full of parents and students. ACK! Pinyin saved my life.
I apologize if I cursed anyone out by accident with my horrible American tones.
Pokemon Ice Cream. It exists.
P.S Happy Graduation, Tabor-ites. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Being a Laowai
One thing you'll notice as a foreigner in China (or at least in this part of China, Hangzhou) is that the Chinese like to stare. They stare at anything remotely different, interesting, or cute. And they especially like to stare at foreigners, or Laowai. The younger Chinese people will sometimes say "Hello!" as you're walking down the street, and laugh if/when you answer back. The older ones will just stare quietly and, in my experience, are less likely to smile or greet you. These aren't rude stares, they're merely curious stares that may lead to conversation about my origins (meiguoren (American), I say, pointing to myself).
It's interesting, coming from a place where so many different people live and work together to Hangzhou, where I usually don't see more than 10 foreigners in a single day of walking about, unless I head to an ex-pat cafe or bar like the vineyard.
...
You know you've been in Hangzhou for two weeks when:
-You’re still surprised everytime you see a laowai (foreigner)
-You’re used to the staring
-You’ve find your way past the Great Firewall
-If you have bad Chinese, you stick to ordering street food by pointing or going to Starbucks or McDonald’
-You know which busses take you home and which take you where you need to go (for the most part) but when someone throws a new bus into your system you can’t figure out where to catch it
-You’ve learned bartering vocabulary
It's interesting, coming from a place where so many different people live and work together to Hangzhou, where I usually don't see more than 10 foreigners in a single day of walking about, unless I head to an ex-pat cafe or bar like the vineyard.
...
You know you've been in Hangzhou for two weeks when:
-You’re still surprised everytime you see a laowai (foreigner)
-You’re used to the staring
-You’ve find your way past the Great Firewall
-If you have bad Chinese, you stick to ordering street food by pointing or going to Starbucks or McDonald’
-You know which busses take you home and which take you where you need to go (for the most part) but when someone throws a new bus into your system you can’t figure out where to catch it
-You’ve learned bartering vocabulary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)