clarification about the outdoor bathroom

Many people have emailed me about my bathroom. Yes, it is located outside on my patio...and yes, it faces the backside of the school.....and yes, anyone inside of the school can see me on my patio. However, my toilet and shower are enclosed in stalls....so, technically, there is nothing exciting to see. It's different....but I feel fortunate to have a Western Toilet, warm water from noon until 9 pm, and warm weather year-round.

shafted.

A current theme has arisen since we moved to Shenzhen: Gary always gets shafted. For example, when we moved into our apartments, all of Gary's appliances and cookware were dirty and used, his sheets were pink and frilly, his washing machine was filled with foul, bacteria-ridden water, and his toilet did not work. I, however, had brand new appliances, unassuming sage sheets, a clean washing machine, and a working toilet. His office chair and desk are broken, mine are perfect. We both found seats on the bus the other day; unfortunately, once he sat down, the chair in front of him fell into his lap.....he had to ride for forty minutes with a chair pressed into his knees....all the while I had extra leg room. And so the theme and my constant laughter continued.....until yesterday........

It started when I sliced my ankle on the edge of a brick. Later on that evening, I spent close to thirty minutes writing an entry for my blog.....which was magically erased. To top it all off, Gary and I decided to end the evening with an ice cream cone......mine tasted like corn-on-the-cob.

My days of feeling like Empress Cixi may be coming to an end......a new princess may be moving into the Forbidden City.......

At least my blog is better.

young bamboo grows together.......

it's a Chinese saying that I believe in wholeheartedly.

Beijing: Walking home from a long day of teaching and Chinese classes.

a few odds and ends.

There are many things I have not discussed. So, I am going to make a short list of some of the things that I feel are important to share. Sorry for the sparse detail....let me know if you want elaboration.



1) The Old Summer Palace: After a long day of classes and teaching, I headed to the Old Summer Palace (in Beijing). Please do not confuse this with THE Summer Palace. The Old Summer Palace consists of ruins and beautiful, ancient Chinese Gardens. It was nice to escape the smog of the city and meander through the beautiful, lush gardens. Moreover, I bought a beautiful Chinese painting; it is a large scroll of red chrysanthemum flowers with gold flecks and warm hints of jade. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.



2) The Karaoke Bar: No, this is not like a bar at all. You go into a little room with your friends and choose from an endless list of songs and sing the afternoon away. No alcohol is involved...just lots of food and two hours of Chinese and American pop music! Elle and Dan (two of my students from the adult class) took me to the Karaoke bar. This is where I learned why Dan kept falling asleep in my class....apparently he spent many late nights singing with his friends.

3) The Train Station: The hardest part of my 29 hour train ride was the 5 hour wait in the train station:



However, we managed to keep smiling:

4) The 29 hour Train Ride: It wasn't that bad. Well, it was wonderful until the second night when some buffoons decided to drink themselves senseless and lost all respect for the few of us who wanted to sleep. I will admit, however, the 5 am wake-up call and massive hangovers served as fitting punishments for their crimes. On a serious note, Gary and I enjoyed many card games, rest, and the beautiful Chinese countryside.

Picture 1: Our friends, Amanda and Ramone Playing Chess.

Picture 2: The countryside

note to reader:

The formatting of my blog is quite bizzare.

Neither Gary nor I can fix it.

I apologize.


love, leslie-ann

tears and panic in the wal-mart.

Today Gary and I, with the help of our friend Harry, ventured to Wal-Mart to buy some necessities. Everything was going well....we were enjoying meandering through the aisles and attempting to decipher pinyin (side note: The Chinese Wal-Mart is fascinating, clean, and consumer-friendly....oddly, an enjoyable experience). After we had found almost everything we needed, we headed to the produce section to pick up a few bananas. I chose four bananas, placed them in a plastic bag and headed to the counter where I could have my fruit weighed and priced. As I walked to the counter, I looked down at my wallet...clenched under my arm. I stood in line for about 30 seconds and then glanced down at my wallet again....it had disappeared. I frantically searched my basket and ran back to the banana stand. Panic swept over me. The only other time I felt this utter dread was when I lost Garreth at Disney World. Even though Gary, the Wal-Mart staff, and Harry were trying to help me, I resigned to disappointment and sadness....I knew my wallet, cell phone, apartment and office keys had all been stolen. Moreover, I have always understood that unless divine intervention plays to your advantage, once you are pick-pocketed in China, you must simply count your losses.

Of course, it was bad enough that I lost my cell phone, keys, and more than 300 kuai. However, as I stood crying in the center of the produce section, it seemed like every Chinese person ceased shopping and simply stared at me. After all, being blond draws enough attention....but being blond, unable to speak Mandarin, and sobbing in the middle of a Wal-Mart in China is an even greater show!

bao'an senior high school.

Yesterday (22 August 2006) was the official start to my year in China. At 9:30 am, all of the teachers gathered into the hotel conference room and met their coordinating teachers. Each teacher was greeted with a magnificent flower arrangement, smiles, and handshakes. After the contract signing ceremony, we enjoyed a traditional southern Chinese celebratory lunch in our honor. Soon afterward we were whisked away to our new schools.

The high school where Gary and I are teaching is located about forty-five minutes away from the city center. I am enjoying the school's rural setting as I am surrounded by beautiful gardens, small mountains, and blue sky. Although most teachers requested an urban setting, I am so happy to have escaped the noises and pollution of the city. I feel at home here.

My school, Bao'an Senior High, is outstanding. This public boarding schools houses about 2,000 students and more than 200 teachers. From what I have seen, its facilities are technologically up to date and the school offers almost every learning advantage a child and/or teacher could hope for (astronomical phenomena room, interactive eco-system display, endless supplies for teachers, etc.). I am reminded of a tiny college (High Point University) every time I traverse the small campus.

My accommodations have exceeded my expectations. At first, I was a bit dismayed about my living conditions as my room and bathroom were filthy. However, the school sent in a tiny

cleaning crew who meticulously scrubbed my bathroom clean. After meeting the headmaster and vice-headmaster, whom I adore, Gary and I were taken on a tour of the school and given anything we needed (cleaning supplies, towels, cups, toilet paper, etc.). This school attempts to provide anything its teachers need at any time; it is unlike anything I have ever witnessed in a public school in the states.

I have attached pictures of my apartment and bathroom (yes, my bathroom is located outside on a patio); although modest by American standards, I find it fits my needs perfectly.

Although I have experienced the different stages of culture shock, I try my best to be grateful and constantly remind myself of how blessed I am to be teaching at such a superb school in one of the world's greatest countries. Interestingly enough, before I departed from the states, I received a book from one of my professors. It is a biography of Freya Stark—an intrepid world traveler, renowned writer, and fearsome intellect. As I was reading one of the passages the evening before I was to move into my school, I came across a passage that summed up all of my feelings and denounced all of my doubts:

[Freya said] when people later asked why she undertook her difficult journeys that she sought the mastery obtained by “the disregard of hardships. The essence is whether they are voluntary or involuntary. To be given a cold bath is not a merit in itself; to take one voluntarily is quite a different matter.

I am looking forward to everything this year has to offer...its rewards and hardships. The only doubt I have is that I will want to return to the states.

baijiu, cheers, and disco.

On Sunday night, my students treated all of their teachers to dinner at a traditional Sizhuan restaurant in Ho Hai (it's a famous bar street*). The spread was beautiful. It was a feast fit for imperials. My plate was never empty and glass never drained. It seemed as though when I finished one thing my Chinese friend, Dan, would place more items on my plate. I learned on Sunday that the one thing I must get accustomed to in China is understanding the balance between respect and kindly declining a request. When attending a celebratory dinner in China, one must learn how to control his eating patterns, because once a plate is empty, another heaping portion comes along....sometimes to the utter dismay of bulging stomachs.

In my opinion, however, the food was not the most important part of dinner....it was the celebration on one another, our achievements, our friendship, and yes...the beautiful toasts and shots of baijiu. Baijiu....no need for a lengthy description; traditional Chinese rice wine speaks for itself: it is 55% proof. If you have ever sipped on grappa, you can understand the sensations this drink creates. This wine is poured in tiny shot glasses and is either delicately sipped or taken as a shot.

After our three-hour feast, our students decided that we should continue our celebrations at a local disco. The Chinese "discos" are like our dance clubs in America; however, it is important to note that the Chinese go to these clubs simply to enjoy dancing. Everyone dances together...boys with boys...girls with girls.....boys with girls....one does not have to worry that others possess ulterior motives. For example, our small group started a line-dance during the middle of pounding techno song. Although I love to dance, I can't stand the sexual atmosphere in American clubs, so this was a special treat for me. It is the most fun I have had in a long time.

*No, not drinking bars. "Bars" are restaurants.

Picture 1: The Feast

Picture 2: David, Gary, and Baijiu

Picture 3: Gary, Elle, Allen, and Leslie-Ann

Nihao!

It has been about two weeks since I first arrived in China. Unfortunately, I have not had the time or energy to invest in maintaining this blog. However, I am going to do my best to use this as a daily/weekly journal of my life in China......

China, although foreign, busy, and culturally astonishing, feels like a second home to me. The people are incredibly hospitable, kind, and generous. I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to be here. Everyday I attend Chinese language and culture classes, TEFL classes, and teach adults conversational English for three hours. My favorite part of the day is when I teach. My students are highly fluent and incredibly intelligent. I have taught everything from American history, literature, and culture to personal investment and home mortgages. It is important to note that my students invested their own money in these classes....they sit for six hours each day in a sweltering classroom, hoping to "become as knowledgeable in English" as we are. It is unlike anything I have ever encountered in my short teaching career. My students not only want to spend their short ten minute breaks between lectures talking to me about English, they also want to spend their day off with me. One student took me to the Chinese National Museum and treated me to Peking Duck. Three other students took me to church today and then to a karaoke bar. Tonight my entire class has invited me to dinner at a restaurant. Needless to say, I love every aspect of what I am doing here.

I'm doing my best to learn Chinese. Although my pronunciation is poor and knowledge limited, I love trying to use my basic Mandarin skills. I like going places by myself as it forces me to use the language. It is rewarding when I'm able to understand simple phrases and recognize characters. My father told me not to come home until I am fluent in Chinese.....looks like I will be here for several years.