Saturday 28th September, 2013                     1900

Not happy.

I went to bed last night tired and well before midnight in preparation for an eight o’clock wake up for the Foreign Language Society’s “recruit the freshmen” do at ten. I never slept well and felt terrible when I got up but after showering and taking the hound out I duly set off on my bike after waking Kevin up as he had overslept. It was raining lightly and when I had told my “contact” there was a strong possibility of this happening a few days before  and questioned the sagacity of scheduling it for taking place alfresco on the basketball courts by number one canteen I was informed if that happened it would be shifted to the foreign language building. Notwithstanding this I went to the basketball ground but nobody was there and so carried on to our teaching block.

There was nobody there either.

I sent texts to Kevin to tell him things didn’t look right and also to my contact. The event was cancelled yesterday but nobody bothered to tell the three star guests. I feel sure you can imagine my feelings (and indeed Kevin’s although Ollivier didn’t count as his infant had gotten him up at 0530 anyway) as I felt awful plus I had turned down a lesson at the kids school to boot. I heard a rumour about an hour ago that this do will take place tomorrow instead - in the evening probably since tomorrow is a normal teaching day due to the upcoming break. It doesn’t take a genius to know that if they have the gall to invite me the answer will contain two, rather than three, letters.

It seems the school want all three western teachers to move to the new apartments. The time is thus rapidly approaching when I shall need to set up a meeting with Prof Fang regarding my future here. If I am to move then I would much prefer to put my stamp on the new place and don’t mind slowly buying my own furnishings and appliances if I know I am staying. Whilst initially I was against the move now (if I am staying) it makes sense. We get to choose which flat we want for starters - I said first floor (so I don’t need to climb stairs as I do now) but Cinny told me not to take the bottom places as they get damp (clearly damp courses don’t exist here!). So fine, we went to have a look at a couple of the flats seeing as we were all dressed up with nowhere to go. I fancy one of two on the second floor but could only get into one so have asked for a “viewing”. Kevin wants the 3rd, 4th or even 5th floor but we looked at the ones on the 2nd seeing as they are identical in layout. They could be nice. They are bare at the moment but they have two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and living room. In my case it will be one bedroom and a pets corner though! I can shut them in at night and never let them in my bedroom, meaning I can buy nice bedding which won’t be destroyed regularly by claws.

Cinny is even going to suggest to the uni that they may like to give me the money they would be spending on a new bed so I can buy one I want and pay the difference - that would be great. I don’t mind investing in some creature comforts if I have at least some security of tenure. It would seem the decision to shift us all to brand new pads was prompted by our comments at the “complaint” meeting and it is a welcome development.

Not such a good development was the news that it is now doubtful I will be going to Tongling to be with Qing next week. She asked her uncle what days she will have off next week and was told “none”. I suggested that it would be fine for me to come, have dinner and stay the night before leaving the next day and I didn’t need her to meet me and deposit me at the station but it transpires she has six Russian girls under her to look after and when she is working they either all eat together at the company eatery in the evenings or she takes them out to a restaurant. The thought of dining out with her and six Russian girls (provided they aren’t Olympic shot-putters) is rather tempting but somehow I don’t think she would appreciate the sentiment. I know the arrangement sounds outlandish but this is a different world - one where parents go back to work straight after a baby is born, the grandparents look after the kids and the parents support their own parents financially when they are past working. Alien concepts to westerners perhaps but the norm here, so much so that a law was passed recently compelling children to visit and care for their aged parents. There is a state pension but I think it’s about £7 a month, hence people scrimp and sacrifice to send their only permissible child for further education so they in turn can get a good salary and look after them in their dotage.

A strange country and culture but who’s to say the western way is better?