China Travels | Phil & Sabine's Excellent Adventure
May 2010 - Summer's on it's way (we hope!)
26 April - 3 May
Tuesday brought my weekly visit to Huang Guan Zhai school to observe lessons, feedback and deliver training to the English department - this week it was English improvement (Am I the best person to do this with my strange Northern accent?). We had our last Chinese lesson from Nana, one of our NVs on Wednesday. I say last as she and Mawan, another NV are leaving VSO at the end of the month. We'll be sorry to see them go as they've helped us no end and become good friends. |
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Later on, the driver just pulled over. It became apparent that smoke was pouring from the dashboard. The co-diver, who had instantly become the mechanic, proceeded to pour his flask of water over the apparent source of the smoke before pulling out a bunch of fuses. Hey, it solved the problem only now the door wouldn't close. Well it was sunny, so what the hell. |
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We later ventured back into the city centre to sample the nightlife. After walking around for a while we came across a small square with several men in white coats attending to people sat on chairs. It turned out that for a pound one could be treated to a public massage. After a little persuasion we also sat down and 'enjoying' the benefits of being massaged by hands, elbows and knees. We ended up walking back to the hotel as the buses and taxis were either full or didn't stop for us - Bine must change her deodorant. The next day, after a mad rush to reach the right bus station, we eventually set off on the long, dusty trail to Xifeng. |
4th – 9th May
Most of this week was spent visiting some primary schools which I will be training in the next couple of weeks. This typically involves a meeting with the Headmaster to find out what training he/she thinks his teachers need and then observing some lessons by the teachers who will attend. I then give them some feedback and ask them to complete a training questionnaire which informs me of their specific needs. When visiting the schools, as a foreigner you seem to have this sort of film star appeal and all the students are really interested in you and want to have a photograph taken with you. Without meaning to, they mob you and it can get a bit dangerous! One hundred kids all trying to get a photo with you can be a bit daunting a times!! After the visit, it is customary to get taken out for lunch. It always causes confusion as to why I don’t eat meat. It invariably becomes a topic of conversation around the table, not with me, but rather about me! |
Now that the weather is warmer, the running is picking up again. This week, I did 2 10Ks and 1 5K. If I can keep this up I will be really pleased, but we’ll see……..
The warmer weather also means that we need to get used to the water going off again. I think we would cope better if we knew how long it would go off for or when. This sort of information is rarely available, not even to those who are in the know. This is China!
At the weekend we met up with some friends and went out for dinner and a bit of a stroll around the town. The town is undergoing major redevelopment; roads are being widened, buildings are being destroyed and new ones built. At times it looks like a war zone. Due to poor town planning, buildings that have only been up a year or two are now being pulled down because they are “in the wrong place”. The cost of the projects has far exceeded spending and so every tax payer is having 200RMB deducted from their salary. No consultation!
The warmer weather also means that we need to get used to the water going off again. I think we would cope better if we knew how long it would go off for or when. This sort of information is rarely available, not even to those who are in the know. This is China!
At the weekend we met up with some friends and went out for dinner and a bit of a stroll around the town. The town is undergoing major redevelopment; roads are being widened, buildings are being destroyed and new ones built. At times it looks like a war zone. Due to poor town planning, buildings that have only been up a year or two are now being pulled down because they are “in the wrong place”. The cost of the projects has far exceeded spending and so every tax payer is having 200RMB deducted from their salary. No consultation!
10th –17th May
One of our fellow volunteers left this week and so we were cordially invited to her school to attend her leaving party in the afternoon. The event consisted of a series of performances from her colleagues and students. It was a nice afternoon. For tea we had some jaozi (dumplings) washed down with a few beers. |
This week I also concluded my primary visits and started a new round of training with some new primary teachers. 34 were invited to attend and each school received in advance the training details regarding time and venue. But as is often the case, the message was not communicated to the correct people and as a result the teachers were unaware that the course had started! Some got the message but the wrong information. I now know why the game is called “Chinese Whispers”!! Others forgot to pass on the information as it was given too early. Anything earlier than one day’s notice is considered in advance from our experience. Usually you are told something will happen at the same time that it is happening! Forward planning is not a concept here.
Once a month at the school there is a Film Club and this week the Senior 1 and 2 students saw “2012”. This film is a hot debate it seems in Xifeng. Lots of people we know are talking about it and are convinced that the end of the world as portrayed in the film is going to happen. There had to be a lot of reassurances to the students that “it is only a film”.
Once a month at the school there is a Film Club and this week the Senior 1 and 2 students saw “2012”. This film is a hot debate it seems in Xifeng. Lots of people we know are talking about it and are convinced that the end of the world as portrayed in the film is going to happen. There had to be a lot of reassurances to the students that “it is only a film”.
On Saturday, we ran a training course for the leaders at Number 4 Middle School. All went well and all leaders, except one who was in another city, attended. This meant that there were no leaders to run the school on that day……… As a thank you, we were taken out for dinner and tea by the school. For tea we went to a restaurant which is famed for its noodles and the locals have competitions with each other to see how many bowls of noodles they can eat. I think the record is eight, but nobody on my table even got close. After two bowls I was already loosening my belt!
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As a case in point for there being a general lack of planning within the workplace, this is also true socially. For example a phone call inviting you for a meal. When you ask which day and time, the answer is usually “Oh, now!” This is more or less what happened on Sunday. We were invited to our boss’s leaving do. Once invited, it is considered rude to refuse, even if you have already eaten. Thankfully, that wasn’t true for us but was for some of the others guests!
18th -23rd May
This week saw the Junior 2 students visit “Englandtown”, an imaginary town. Each class chose a scenario from a visit to a doctor’s, a restaurant, a bus station, a shop and a police station and created a group dialogue. The activity was supported by some teacher trainee students from the local university who worked with and supported different groups. Overall there was a good response from the students and some budding Othellos who enjoyed the various role playing. One of the lessons, however, was interrupted by an earthquake practice. As a teacher in England, I have taken part in many fire practices so this was a first for me!
This week saw the Junior 2 students visit “Englandtown”, an imaginary town. Each class chose a scenario from a visit to a doctor’s, a restaurant, a bus station, a shop and a police station and created a group dialogue. The activity was supported by some teacher trainee students from the local university who worked with and supported different groups. Overall there was a good response from the students and some budding Othellos who enjoyed the various role playing. One of the lessons, however, was interrupted by an earthquake practice. As a teacher in England, I have taken part in many fire practices so this was a first for me!
Unfortunately our Chinese tutor left for Beijing a few weeks ago and so our Chinese learning has come to a bit of a halt. That was, however, until we discovered “Chinese Pod”, an online learning tool. For anybody who is interested in learning Chinese or any other language for that matter, it is provides flexible subscription and interactive learning. Worth signing up for the free 7 day trail at least, and then a purchase if it suits!
At the weekend we had some friends round for tea and cooked them some salmon, something I thought I would never say in Xifeng! They had certainly not seen it before and definitely not tasted it before so it was quite a revelation for their taste buds. We even did roast potatoes which they loved. Quite different to their usual rice and noodle dishes.
At the weekend we had some friends round for tea and cooked them some salmon, something I thought I would never say in Xifeng! They had certainly not seen it before and definitely not tasted it before so it was quite a revelation for their taste buds. We even did roast potatoes which they loved. Quite different to their usual rice and noodle dishes.
On Sunday, went on a bike ride to look at the ever-changing city. From week to week, the changes are noticeable. It really is a city full of contrasts as you can see from the pictures. What was once a road, is no longer. What was once a row of residential flats, is now rubble. And they are putting up buildings as fast as they are tearing them down. Parts of the city look like a war-torn country, other parts look 21st century.The current state of redevelopment makes the city even drier and dustier - stay away if you suffer with asthma. In fact, I wonder if the locals have asthma or whether it is only a western disease…..
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24 May-29 May
We had a pretty normal week apart from a farewell dinner for our former boss on Wednesday at a local Hotpot resaurant. Saturday was a little out of the ordinary. We had a spin around the city on our trusty (or is that just rusty?) bikes and ended up at a temple towards the North of Xifeng.
It must have been a day of religious celebration as alongside the bustling market nearby, there seemed to be a ceremony of sorts in the temple itself. A boy (who happened to be the son of one of Sabine's colleagues) was knelt by a temporary arched structure of wood and tissue paper. A man, presumably with some religious standing, was waving a sword around the boy's head then a piece of burning paper. It was akin to some initiation ritual or confirmation. A few photos and we were back on the road.