Shaoxing Update

Hi all

Time for an update on Mike in Shaoxing China.

So far the Yuexiu College and the work and the teaching has all worked out really well. All is good and I might actually get paid on this Friday, which will be a bonus. Well not really cuz I havent been paid in a month.

Anyway, A couple of interesting things of note I'd like to mention. That I think every non Chinese person who reads this will appreciate. My students have clicked that I have a blog site and so I have to say all good things. Which I would anyway becuz they are all so excellent to work with and that is the truth.

I have to tell you about the students english names. Most of them make them up from english names or words they have heard. There are some really pretty and normal western names that would not be out of place for any western person. But there are also some totally outrageous names that are just words that people have heard and liked eg Happiness, Potato, Funny, Snow, Rainbow and there are plenty more. Feels strange addressing someone as Happiness. But all the stuents are just a pleasure to be around and so keen to be in class. It's been great so far and am sure will continue.

Although the "buz" word here is convenient. Things are convenient or not in some way. Sometimes they are convenient, or not convenient, or more convenient etc. It covers all territory. If an invitation or something works well for you, then you say yes thats convenient, or convenient to do and its set. If not you say it's not convenient and then there is no further discussion. Means, It's just not on, it doesnt suit me. Simple really.

And I need to tell you about my first trip to Hangzhou from here last Sunday... What a trip.

My co-teacher Dianne and I decide to go to Hangzhou. Which is a large city 45 mins away for the first time. This was just on Sunday last. So we try and get the info we need from our other freinds here re which bus, where to get off and maybe what to see etc.

We are told that we need to catch the coach to Hangzhou South bus station. Remember there is no english spoken in the ticket office. So Sat nite, I get online and find out the chinese characters for tickets, and south bus station & Hangzhou. We print it out to take and show.

We get to Shaoxing bus staion and show the sheet of paper... and get a blank look. So have we translated incorrectly or ? how do you know becuz they dont ask and we cant understand anyway. So she gives us 2 tickets and we actually get on the bus. Yes we are going to Hangzhou, becuz they know the word and we were told that No2 gate is correct and that is where we got on. And yes we travel to Hangzhou. And get let off at ? bus station. I take the map and go to the corner and check the street names. Dam, we are at the East bus station, not the South bus station. Ok we are here and we get mobbed by people wanting us to get in their taxi or bus. After making a decision(which I am sure was more costly than a taxi) we get in a shuttle to the West Lake area. Walk around a bit. Now I am hungry, had no breakfast. So we go to a place that has "great" pics of food outside but no english translations, but it looks good. in we go and try to order food. Usually that is pointing at the menu and saying this one or that one and a drink. Dianne orders some as well. We give them money to pay. next thing they are back with a small bowl of food and my drink(good service I think). Di says that can't be her food, looks nothing like the pic. and they put in front of me? Straight after they come back to me and open the menu point at the item I ordered and make a cross sign. Ah, not available. So I try to find out what it was, chicken, pork ? so I can order similar. They don't understand we neither, So they close the menu and walk off. bring back change only for my drink. Looks like I am not getting any food. Anyway Di still says that this bowl is not hers, so I eat it. And yes they did not bring anymore food for her. So it must have been hers and I ate it. Total failure so we leave unsatisfied.

This is the second incident after the bus station thing that happened that day, there are several more. I will add to this blog but not now as it is already to long. Let me say .. very interesting times... quite funny really. was when it happened and still so.

Anyway the pics above are: Top left - view of a Shaoxing canal, first spring leaves etc. top right: My(married) teacher friend Lily with first flowers on campus, Below left: Hangzhou -On West lake, island three pools mirroring the moon. and Below right: Dragon boat coming to dock on the West Lake.

Re Lily, I mentioned her in earlier blogs. She has been great to translate all sorts of stuff that we struggle with. She is great to have around and seems not to ever be bothered by us asking what this or that means.

So hope you enjoy, I will add the rest of the Hangzhou story later today or tomorrow.

zai jian

Mike T

Now, for something not so different. "the language barrier"