Wednesday 30th March, 2016 2120
As you may have guessed I haven’t felt much like writing of late. That was (and still is a bit) a humdinger of a cold. I lost most of my weekend sleeping, only ate half of the already small meal on Saturday and then besides a bowl of tomato soup (which I also never finished) and one slice of bread, never ate again until Tuesday evening. Fresh salmon - and half of that even ended up going to the furry fiends.
Colds at my age usually go from me feeling a bit off colour, to the runny nose to the cough. Sore throats seem to be more for the younger generation, at least in my case. This one had a new addition - a bad stomach. On Monday afternoon I came the closest I ever have here to cancelling a class because I felt unwell. I just wanted to stay in bed.
Yesterday was a little better, just as well because although I had no classes and had put any thought of going to town out of my mind, I did manage to catch Anthony to help me with this campus pass thing for the bike. What a palaver!
First he had to come to my home to fill out the form online, then we had to take the memory stick with the form on it to the library along with my passport, then take the copies to the foreign language department and the head of the CPC for his signature and then finally to the administration block to get my sticker. Feeling weak and breathless due to not having eaten and the cold being on my chest I found it a struggle made worse by the new exclusion zone in which vehicles are banned.
However my bike now looks as if it’s a contestant in a marathon because the sticker is as big as the numbers they get for their shirts. Andrei and Juliette had been to get theirs on Monday but unbeknown to me had failed in their quest. They didn’t have a purchase receipt for the bike to prove ownership. As it happens, they bought it from Richard who in turn bought it from a student, who does have the receipt so I see no reason why that plus a bill of sale signed by the boy should stop them being “campus legal”. Someone however had informed them that mopeds were to be banned completely soon, something I had not heard and indeed think is hogwash - the only difference between those and e-bikes is that they are a bit faster.
I saw on the uni website today that as of Friday unlicensed bikes are prohibited from entering the campus and presumably after a warning, any that are already on campus may be removed by the authorities. Hopefully they will try again tomorrow, if not it seems they will have to park it outside one of the gates. That will be inconvenient seeing as they get up at 0530 every day to go to town on it for Tai Chi classes. With only about 350 bikes registered as of yesterday it will be interesting to see if we end up with a sea of unregistered ones all parked up outside south and west gates! Kevin reckons it’s to hold owners responsible for accidents on campus and I reckon he is right - it gives the vehicle a number (I have gotten away with never having a number plate on all my five bikes here, (although in Shanghai the police do apparently occasionally scoop them up and destroy them) which can identify the culprit or at least the person who lent it out. Cars have no such requirement because they have number plates. Which begs the question - what about when someone gets a brand new car? They don’t come with plates and the owner has 6 months to get them, much as in some states in America. That’s how Steve Jobs never had plates on his car, he simply bought a new Mercedes every six months. Nice if you can afford it.
Qing Ming festival is upon us this weekend and due to my rota I get four days off this time, Friday to Monday. I would dearly love to go away for a couple of days but commonsense says no, unnecessary expense is foolhardy considering ere long I may be watching every yuan. Instead I will just use the time to try and kick this illness into the tall grass. If Joan can tear herself away from her books I might get to take her for dinner though. All I see of her lately is a fleeting visit for a shower, chuck her clothes in the washing machine and then bugger off and leave me to hang her laundry up to dry when it’s done.
Wednesday, 30 March 2016
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Sunday 27th March, 2016 0430
No this isn’t me being stupid, I went to bed over an hour ago but haven’t stopped coughing since. Nothing is working, not Hall’s mentholyptus nor Jing Jo. There was a time when I would simply drink my way though a cold, no matter how bad, and depending on the severity dictated the amount of brandy and port I needed to consume to be able to render myself comatose.
I think this morning it will be more a case of when exhaustion claims me.
Yesterday Dumpling came to clean. I hadn’t risen until noon and decided not to go out until we both went to town for dinner. And yes I felt rough but I had promised her. Whilst she has a sniffly nose she managed to pack away all her lamb dinner plus both portions of soup and the hideous bread, not to mention copious quantities of fresh fruit. I left half of my steak dinner, I have simply felt terrible these last few days. I felt that bad at the end that I cancelled a planned visit to RT Mart for wine and considering it is on the way from the restaurant to the bus stop that should speak volumes. I am/was hoping today I would feel a bit better to go back to shop.
At the moment I hope Andrei and Juliette are fast asleep above me and likewise those beneath me. It is not as if I am getting any respite, the coughing is continuous even with the lozenges. I know we all get them and normally I shrug them off with passing annoyance at the coughing phase but this one is a Lulu. Disruptive is not the word. I haven’t really felt up to anything and worse, my lung capacity has often been reduced so when I need a good cough I can’t.
I can’t believe I am complaining about a cold and no, I won’t call it flu because I had that once and I know, but this is really knocking me for six at present . I can handle the snotty nose and lethargy and everything else - I can’t handle the coughing!!!
End of report on my immune system packing up.
No this isn’t me being stupid, I went to bed over an hour ago but haven’t stopped coughing since. Nothing is working, not Hall’s mentholyptus nor Jing Jo. There was a time when I would simply drink my way though a cold, no matter how bad, and depending on the severity dictated the amount of brandy and port I needed to consume to be able to render myself comatose.
I think this morning it will be more a case of when exhaustion claims me.
Yesterday Dumpling came to clean. I hadn’t risen until noon and decided not to go out until we both went to town for dinner. And yes I felt rough but I had promised her. Whilst she has a sniffly nose she managed to pack away all her lamb dinner plus both portions of soup and the hideous bread, not to mention copious quantities of fresh fruit. I left half of my steak dinner, I have simply felt terrible these last few days. I felt that bad at the end that I cancelled a planned visit to RT Mart for wine and considering it is on the way from the restaurant to the bus stop that should speak volumes. I am/was hoping today I would feel a bit better to go back to shop.
At the moment I hope Andrei and Juliette are fast asleep above me and likewise those beneath me. It is not as if I am getting any respite, the coughing is continuous even with the lozenges. I know we all get them and normally I shrug them off with passing annoyance at the coughing phase but this one is a Lulu. Disruptive is not the word. I haven’t really felt up to anything and worse, my lung capacity has often been reduced so when I need a good cough I can’t.
I can’t believe I am complaining about a cold and no, I won’t call it flu because I had that once and I know, but this is really knocking me for six at present . I can handle the snotty nose and lethargy and everything else - I can’t handle the coughing!!!
End of report on my immune system packing up.
Friday, 25 March 2016
Friday 25th March, 2016 0240
Like most people; I suspect; I know when I am about to become ill with a cold or similar. I knew yesterday.
Yes I went to bed late but I don’t believe that makes you ill despite what the “experts” say. I never set my alarm because my classes never started until 1330 and the chances of me sleeping too late were nil. In fact I awoke at 0800, pumped ship and went back to bed feeling like manure. I then proceeded to doze on and off (waking only to try and moisten my mouth which was as dry as the Atacama desert) until I really had to get up at midday.
If I was a student I would have reported in sick. In fact, seeing as I am being given the bullet here anyway, I could have done so as a teacher. But no, I like to think I am better than that and so I hauled myself into the bathroom where a shower - which normally makes me feel a lot better - only made me feel clean. By the time I went to the first class I felt like death on legs.
It is of course the main hazard of working in institutions, if studentitis is doing the rounds and you haven’t had it before then you will get it. I can handle having to take extra tissues with me but this was different, normally I can make it to the 3rd floor before becoming a little breathless, today it was the 2nd and I needed to take a break then the 3rd, another break and then up to the 4th. What is pleasing though is that whilst I have dozed off in my chair three times tonight (took me three attempts to watch Newsnight) I think when I wake up later I will probably be an awful lot better. I hope so because I need to shop and then in the evening be the games master for the English Corner. It’s bad enough feeling like shit when you go to class and try to pretend you are Ok but doing likewise in your free time for a “happy” activity?
Yesterday in the business street supermarket I also tried to buy liquid laundry detergent. The familiar packages were absent but the brand I use was still there so I added a litre bag to my basket - I have a big bottle and buy the bags to top it up.
Oh no, I wasn’t allowed to buy it! In fairness the women who work there have known me for 6 years and know my habits so I asked by tugging at my shirt if this stuff was for washing clothes. They tried to explain and thankfully a student in the queue told me it was softener, not soap. Great. Ok, show me where the stuff I normally buy is because it has changed design.
They took me to a litre sachet sitting inside a large plastic washing-up bowl. They then proceeded to wrestle with a pile of bowls to separate them whilst I protested that no, I only wanted the laundry soap.
The penny dropped. The bowl was a free offer with the detergent. I wasn’t happy at the time but it now appears to be perfect for the cat litter - it is deep enough that their kicking and scratching will not see loads of wood chips thrown out onto the floor. Doubtless Dumpling will be pleased. Seeing as Joan is far too busy cramming I am taking Dumpling for a steakhouse dinner after she cleans on Saturday. It’s nothing that special, I wish it was with real steaks but I am hoping she will go for the lamb which everyone bar me likes.
And now it is 0315 so I really need to call it a day and hope that sleep will be therapeutic.
Like most people; I suspect; I know when I am about to become ill with a cold or similar. I knew yesterday.
Yes I went to bed late but I don’t believe that makes you ill despite what the “experts” say. I never set my alarm because my classes never started until 1330 and the chances of me sleeping too late were nil. In fact I awoke at 0800, pumped ship and went back to bed feeling like manure. I then proceeded to doze on and off (waking only to try and moisten my mouth which was as dry as the Atacama desert) until I really had to get up at midday.
If I was a student I would have reported in sick. In fact, seeing as I am being given the bullet here anyway, I could have done so as a teacher. But no, I like to think I am better than that and so I hauled myself into the bathroom where a shower - which normally makes me feel a lot better - only made me feel clean. By the time I went to the first class I felt like death on legs.
It is of course the main hazard of working in institutions, if studentitis is doing the rounds and you haven’t had it before then you will get it. I can handle having to take extra tissues with me but this was different, normally I can make it to the 3rd floor before becoming a little breathless, today it was the 2nd and I needed to take a break then the 3rd, another break and then up to the 4th. What is pleasing though is that whilst I have dozed off in my chair three times tonight (took me three attempts to watch Newsnight) I think when I wake up later I will probably be an awful lot better. I hope so because I need to shop and then in the evening be the games master for the English Corner. It’s bad enough feeling like shit when you go to class and try to pretend you are Ok but doing likewise in your free time for a “happy” activity?
Yesterday in the business street supermarket I also tried to buy liquid laundry detergent. The familiar packages were absent but the brand I use was still there so I added a litre bag to my basket - I have a big bottle and buy the bags to top it up.
Oh no, I wasn’t allowed to buy it! In fairness the women who work there have known me for 6 years and know my habits so I asked by tugging at my shirt if this stuff was for washing clothes. They tried to explain and thankfully a student in the queue told me it was softener, not soap. Great. Ok, show me where the stuff I normally buy is because it has changed design.
They took me to a litre sachet sitting inside a large plastic washing-up bowl. They then proceeded to wrestle with a pile of bowls to separate them whilst I protested that no, I only wanted the laundry soap.
The penny dropped. The bowl was a free offer with the detergent. I wasn’t happy at the time but it now appears to be perfect for the cat litter - it is deep enough that their kicking and scratching will not see loads of wood chips thrown out onto the floor. Doubtless Dumpling will be pleased. Seeing as Joan is far too busy cramming I am taking Dumpling for a steakhouse dinner after she cleans on Saturday. It’s nothing that special, I wish it was with real steaks but I am hoping she will go for the lamb which everyone bar me likes.
And now it is 0315 so I really need to call it a day and hope that sleep will be therapeutic.
Tuesday, 22 March 2016
Tuesday 22nd March, 2016 2110
Ok so it was a lunchtime rise again followed by a shopping trip. Repetitive I know but necessary.
After I got back and visited the office (during which time a student came looking for advice on interview techniques) I arrived home where Joan was preparing to take a shower.
As she did so I opened an email from the recruitment agency with a sample contract from the school in Xingtai. Now I am pretty sure this is the place I was offered for an April start and refused a week or so ago. Having not dismissed it out of hand, pollution aside, I had asked for further details.
Five minutes ago I emailed back to say that in its current form there was absolutely no chance of my agreeing to the terms. I have yet to see a more draconian contract or one that seems to be aimed more at convicted prisoners serving time than adult teachers. The 16 classes are stated as 18 and there is teaching of teachers involved (I have no problem with that part), medical insurance is only provided to the under 60s (again I could handle them arranging it and paying it myself) but utilities are not free. Paying for those could wipe out the pay increase.
But here’s the deal breaker:
The teacher should avoid drinking.
Are they having a laugh???
British and an ex mariner and they want me to agree not to have a beer or ten or a bottle of wine? That is never going to happen even if it is doctor’s orders. I am hardly a child and I don’t expect to be treated as one. In six years here only Joan has seen me the worse for wear and that as I said at the time, was because I knew an era was about to end and overdid it due to immense sadness. It was also in the privacy of my own home.
Oh, and they also want lesson plans drawn up. For the uninitiated, these are advance details of how the lessons will proceed. In an oral class? Utter bunkum. Five minutes into the class and the plan is blown out of the water because the class takes it in a different direction. My job is to get the students talking in English and I really don’t care what they discuss as long as it is in the target language so why would I want to waste my time preparing papers that may as well be incinerated for all the use they would be?
I shall be very interested to see what reply I receive from the agency tomorrow! You never know, if they are desperate enough then accommodation may be made for me. I don’t particularly fancy the city and it’s a polytechnic so I would be teaching non English majors presumably. Let’s see how much they want me.
Joan actually stayed awhile tonight after her shower and watched another twenty minutes of the film I started showing her a week ago. For anyone interested it is an excellent film and is on You Tube - The Children Of Huang Shi, a true story set during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing.
Ok so it was a lunchtime rise again followed by a shopping trip. Repetitive I know but necessary.
After I got back and visited the office (during which time a student came looking for advice on interview techniques) I arrived home where Joan was preparing to take a shower.
As she did so I opened an email from the recruitment agency with a sample contract from the school in Xingtai. Now I am pretty sure this is the place I was offered for an April start and refused a week or so ago. Having not dismissed it out of hand, pollution aside, I had asked for further details.
Five minutes ago I emailed back to say that in its current form there was absolutely no chance of my agreeing to the terms. I have yet to see a more draconian contract or one that seems to be aimed more at convicted prisoners serving time than adult teachers. The 16 classes are stated as 18 and there is teaching of teachers involved (I have no problem with that part), medical insurance is only provided to the under 60s (again I could handle them arranging it and paying it myself) but utilities are not free. Paying for those could wipe out the pay increase.
But here’s the deal breaker:
The teacher should avoid drinking.
Are they having a laugh???
British and an ex mariner and they want me to agree not to have a beer or ten or a bottle of wine? That is never going to happen even if it is doctor’s orders. I am hardly a child and I don’t expect to be treated as one. In six years here only Joan has seen me the worse for wear and that as I said at the time, was because I knew an era was about to end and overdid it due to immense sadness. It was also in the privacy of my own home.
Oh, and they also want lesson plans drawn up. For the uninitiated, these are advance details of how the lessons will proceed. In an oral class? Utter bunkum. Five minutes into the class and the plan is blown out of the water because the class takes it in a different direction. My job is to get the students talking in English and I really don’t care what they discuss as long as it is in the target language so why would I want to waste my time preparing papers that may as well be incinerated for all the use they would be?
I shall be very interested to see what reply I receive from the agency tomorrow! You never know, if they are desperate enough then accommodation may be made for me. I don’t particularly fancy the city and it’s a polytechnic so I would be teaching non English majors presumably. Let’s see how much they want me.
Joan actually stayed awhile tonight after her shower and watched another twenty minutes of the film I started showing her a week ago. For anyone interested it is an excellent film and is on You Tube - The Children Of Huang Shi, a true story set during the Japanese invasion of Nanjing.
Monday 21st March, 2016 1950
I met with Dumpling after class, bought her dinner for 10y and then took her back home to show her the ropes regarding cleaning. Once done, I gave her a lift as close as I could to her classroom for her homework period which started at seven.
On my return as I parked the bike, Mum appeared to come and say hello. The problem was, she was accompanied by her boyfriend and a jealous one at that. The moment I went to stroke Mum he growled, barked and made as if to bite me. He is roughly the same size as Mum and has been no problem in the past so I can only assume she is in season and he is zealously keeping her as his own. When he continued to threaten in attack mode I did what I always do with such dogs, I made myself into a bigger dog, showed my brown teeth and made more noise than he was making. It gave him pause for thought but what interested me most was the way Mum decided I think to protect me by leaving, taking him with her.
As sure as eggs are eggs there will be a new batch of pups in the near future once he has impregnated her sufficiently, after which time he will no longer be interested. And I will lay odds that she will whelp this time under the ground floor stairs in our building.
I was pleased to find an email from the recruitment agency with a job vacancy which pays 1,000y a month more than I get now. That is, until I looked up where it was, Xingtai, Hebei province. Not far south of Beijing, for sure the winters will be colder and longer but for more money I could handle the cold. However a search on the internet revealed that two years ago it was listed as China’s most polluted city. No wonder they are looking for another teacher. I am not that bothered about pollution, after all I fill my lungs with smoke most of the time anyway but the extra money still tempts. I would of course prefer somewhere further south with cleaner air! Now if they say I can stay there six years until I hit retirement age, well that would be serious inducement.
Tuesday 22nd 0415
This is getting ridiculous. Fine I have a free day today but once again this will doubtless mean I won’t be able to sleep until late tonight/tomorrow morning and accordingly I will feel like death when I have to get up at 0830.
No contact from Anthony yesterday regarding assistance for my e-bike campus pass, no surprise there unless he went and got one on my behalf.
I have been mulling Xingtai for hours now. I had my heart set on further south but the allure of more money and the fact that my age does not seem to be a barrier, coupled with the fact the agency have not listed the vacancy on their website yet are playing on my mind. It seems an altogether awful place to get to, by train from here it would take a day and flying? Well the best option I can find takes 35 hours by flying to the far south of China in Guangzhou, staying overnight and then flying to the far north! Not only that, it would cost a fortnight’s wages. I am torn asunder by the extra money and the possibility of actually working to UK retirement age and the pollution. Funny that the tourism photos show clear skies though. I must also add in the probability that Joan, Kevin, Anna et al would never come to visit either. Mind you, none of my friends or family in the UK have ever come to pay me a visit.
I really wish these agencies, who ask you to complete a lengthy questionnaire as to your preferences, would actually READ the responses before offering job interviews! The only one they seem to have grasped is that I want an increase in pay. Or of course stay here.
I met with Dumpling after class, bought her dinner for 10y and then took her back home to show her the ropes regarding cleaning. Once done, I gave her a lift as close as I could to her classroom for her homework period which started at seven.
On my return as I parked the bike, Mum appeared to come and say hello. The problem was, she was accompanied by her boyfriend and a jealous one at that. The moment I went to stroke Mum he growled, barked and made as if to bite me. He is roughly the same size as Mum and has been no problem in the past so I can only assume she is in season and he is zealously keeping her as his own. When he continued to threaten in attack mode I did what I always do with such dogs, I made myself into a bigger dog, showed my brown teeth and made more noise than he was making. It gave him pause for thought but what interested me most was the way Mum decided I think to protect me by leaving, taking him with her.
As sure as eggs are eggs there will be a new batch of pups in the near future once he has impregnated her sufficiently, after which time he will no longer be interested. And I will lay odds that she will whelp this time under the ground floor stairs in our building.
I was pleased to find an email from the recruitment agency with a job vacancy which pays 1,000y a month more than I get now. That is, until I looked up where it was, Xingtai, Hebei province. Not far south of Beijing, for sure the winters will be colder and longer but for more money I could handle the cold. However a search on the internet revealed that two years ago it was listed as China’s most polluted city. No wonder they are looking for another teacher. I am not that bothered about pollution, after all I fill my lungs with smoke most of the time anyway but the extra money still tempts. I would of course prefer somewhere further south with cleaner air! Now if they say I can stay there six years until I hit retirement age, well that would be serious inducement.
Tuesday 22nd 0415
This is getting ridiculous. Fine I have a free day today but once again this will doubtless mean I won’t be able to sleep until late tonight/tomorrow morning and accordingly I will feel like death when I have to get up at 0830.
No contact from Anthony yesterday regarding assistance for my e-bike campus pass, no surprise there unless he went and got one on my behalf.
I have been mulling Xingtai for hours now. I had my heart set on further south but the allure of more money and the fact that my age does not seem to be a barrier, coupled with the fact the agency have not listed the vacancy on their website yet are playing on my mind. It seems an altogether awful place to get to, by train from here it would take a day and flying? Well the best option I can find takes 35 hours by flying to the far south of China in Guangzhou, staying overnight and then flying to the far north! Not only that, it would cost a fortnight’s wages. I am torn asunder by the extra money and the possibility of actually working to UK retirement age and the pollution. Funny that the tourism photos show clear skies though. I must also add in the probability that Joan, Kevin, Anna et al would never come to visit either. Mind you, none of my friends or family in the UK have ever come to pay me a visit.
I really wish these agencies, who ask you to complete a lengthy questionnaire as to your preferences, would actually READ the responses before offering job interviews! The only one they seem to have grasped is that I want an increase in pay. Or of course stay here.
Monday, 21 March 2016
Monday 21st March, 2016 0340
No chance this will be posted in the next hour!
Despite my decision not to stay up for the England grand slam I did. Ergo, I didn’t see my bed until 0600. No need to get up until one in the afternoon as I had made arrangements to collect Dumpling at three. I flaming well woke up at noon and have been knackered ever since.
At the station I asked Dumpling to book us first class seats to Tongling. I could see the price on the computer (1st is 29.5y and 2nd is 18.5y) and I told her to tell the girl that we wanted 1st class. Sorry but you have to book those in advance. What?? I know this is China but that surely had to be wrong.
It was. Dumpling had no idea there were different classes of seats on Chinese trains! She has probably spent her entire life using standing tickets or hard seats on the slow trains. Incredible. Ok so we went 2nd class, not a problem and saved me 22y but once I explained to her all the different seats available if you have the money she understood,.
We went to Tesco in Tongling, it was purely supposed to be a fishing expedition for anything western and in fairness I did bag a jar of pickled gherkins but otherwise it was Tesco in name only (Dumpling tried one on the way back and declared it similar to her grandmother’s pickled carrots!). Due to the fact that she had ventured out wearing a shirt and jumper and the temperature was hardly warm once riding the bike (I had shirt, jumper and coat) I decided she needed a coat because for the 10 minute ride once we got back it would most certainly be even colder.
Yes I am kind but I did say we needed to choose a cheap one. Eventually she settled on a sleeveless affair that to my untrained and Chinese-illiterate eye cost 60y. As long as it was sub-one hundred I was happy. When we got to the checkout I couldn’t figure out how the total bill was 40y when the gherkins were over twenty. The jacket I bought Dumpling was 14y!!! If only they had them in my size………..
Immediately we went to Papa John’s pizza (after all, that was the purpose of the visit) and the manageress recognised me instantly. How many fat foreigners does she get? I ordered a pizza to take away and Dumpling and I shared a monster 50/50 with my choice of pepperoni against her seafood. Neither of us liked her choice because for some reason there was piped mustard all over it (with hindsight I think it was possibly wassabe) which spoiled it utterly. No matter, I was always going to give her enough for her dormitory mates and guess what? Yes, they got most of her side of the pizza!
We flew first class on the return journey, madness really because I paid 21y extra (50%) for a 20 minute trip but what the hell. The good thing was that Dumpling agreed to be my new cleaner - Susan quit after the holidays and now Alice has gone to Shanghai - so I am very happy. I detest any housework unless it is using the washing machine or doing the dishes. The latter I would cheerfully allow others to do but here they don’t wash them. They rinse them in cold water with no soap. Yuck. I trust Dumpling with a key and if I end up leaving I know she will char for me to the end.
The campus pass for my bike? Anthony confirmed I will need one and replied to my email to say he would help me today. Newsflash - he won’t be. It is now gone 0400 so I will not rise before noon and I have class in the afternoon. I feel no compunction to put myself out to get a pass for a campus where everyone from the street cleaners to security to students to teachers know who I am and what I ride. Certainly introduce it for the students but give the teachers a card for God‘s sake. Maybe some of the teachers stole their cars? They are losing the plot here in trying to implement sensible regimes but in an idiotic fashion.
Ok I said I wouldn’t post but it’s long enough. Now it’s bedtime!
No chance this will be posted in the next hour!
Despite my decision not to stay up for the England grand slam I did. Ergo, I didn’t see my bed until 0600. No need to get up until one in the afternoon as I had made arrangements to collect Dumpling at three. I flaming well woke up at noon and have been knackered ever since.
At the station I asked Dumpling to book us first class seats to Tongling. I could see the price on the computer (1st is 29.5y and 2nd is 18.5y) and I told her to tell the girl that we wanted 1st class. Sorry but you have to book those in advance. What?? I know this is China but that surely had to be wrong.
It was. Dumpling had no idea there were different classes of seats on Chinese trains! She has probably spent her entire life using standing tickets or hard seats on the slow trains. Incredible. Ok so we went 2nd class, not a problem and saved me 22y but once I explained to her all the different seats available if you have the money she understood,.
We went to Tesco in Tongling, it was purely supposed to be a fishing expedition for anything western and in fairness I did bag a jar of pickled gherkins but otherwise it was Tesco in name only (Dumpling tried one on the way back and declared it similar to her grandmother’s pickled carrots!). Due to the fact that she had ventured out wearing a shirt and jumper and the temperature was hardly warm once riding the bike (I had shirt, jumper and coat) I decided she needed a coat because for the 10 minute ride once we got back it would most certainly be even colder.
Yes I am kind but I did say we needed to choose a cheap one. Eventually she settled on a sleeveless affair that to my untrained and Chinese-illiterate eye cost 60y. As long as it was sub-one hundred I was happy. When we got to the checkout I couldn’t figure out how the total bill was 40y when the gherkins were over twenty. The jacket I bought Dumpling was 14y!!! If only they had them in my size………..
Immediately we went to Papa John’s pizza (after all, that was the purpose of the visit) and the manageress recognised me instantly. How many fat foreigners does she get? I ordered a pizza to take away and Dumpling and I shared a monster 50/50 with my choice of pepperoni against her seafood. Neither of us liked her choice because for some reason there was piped mustard all over it (with hindsight I think it was possibly wassabe) which spoiled it utterly. No matter, I was always going to give her enough for her dormitory mates and guess what? Yes, they got most of her side of the pizza!
We flew first class on the return journey, madness really because I paid 21y extra (50%) for a 20 minute trip but what the hell. The good thing was that Dumpling agreed to be my new cleaner - Susan quit after the holidays and now Alice has gone to Shanghai - so I am very happy. I detest any housework unless it is using the washing machine or doing the dishes. The latter I would cheerfully allow others to do but here they don’t wash them. They rinse them in cold water with no soap. Yuck. I trust Dumpling with a key and if I end up leaving I know she will char for me to the end.
The campus pass for my bike? Anthony confirmed I will need one and replied to my email to say he would help me today. Newsflash - he won’t be. It is now gone 0400 so I will not rise before noon and I have class in the afternoon. I feel no compunction to put myself out to get a pass for a campus where everyone from the street cleaners to security to students to teachers know who I am and what I ride. Certainly introduce it for the students but give the teachers a card for God‘s sake. Maybe some of the teachers stole their cars? They are losing the plot here in trying to implement sensible regimes but in an idiotic fashion.
Ok I said I wouldn’t post but it’s long enough. Now it’s bedtime!
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Sunday 20th March, 2016 0050
Well the English Corner was one of the more boring variety. It was the class’s first attempt at putting on an event so I won’t be too critical but nobody asked me until on the night to do anything and then to put a bit of spice into it I was expected to come up with games and the like! Great, thanks guys! I did my best.
I was the only foreigner there. Richard clutters off to Changsha every weekend and I have now learnt Andrei and Juliette have Mandarin classes on Friday evenings. I have absolutely no problem with that of course.
However, during the party I was informed that there will be one EVERY Friday until all the classes have had one! There go my Friday nights for at least another month and of course they will all expect games from me and I am not a bottomless pit of ideas - AND I will be the only foreigner! Why are they having one every week instead of perhaps each fortnight? Because the school told them to. Jesus. The only one that is going to these things is probably getting the sack because he is an old fart. You have to laugh.
During the party (at least they provided pijou) I invited Judy (a new wife) to Tongling for pizza. It was a struggle due to her part time jobs but eventually we agreed I would meet her at noon today and I would have her back by five this evening.
I stayed up late into the night and surfaced at midday (later than I thought I would sleep) and went to take the bus. Being a weekend it was always going to be a terminus to terminus to terminus round trip and so I exited south gate. Right where the bus stop is, close to the gate and the business street there had been a collision between two e-bikes. Two bodies on the deck, one male, one female, the latter clearly in considerable pain. A group of students waiting for the bus standing around gawping and so I slowed, thinking perhaps I might be of some assistance.
Then I spotted one of our security chaps there on a walkie-talkie and decided I would probably be more of a hindrance than a help, given the language problem and rode on. They must have collided at a hell of a clip because the bodywork of the man’s bike was badly damaged with pieces of plastic everywhere. No idea whose fault it was but to be doing the speed they both must have been was foolhardy in that particular location. I saw the ambulance arrive as my bus passed south gate ten minutes later.
After I shopped I did something I said I wouldn’t and went into KFC for a very early dinner/late lunch. The idea was that I wanted to be hungry for the pizza at lunchtime today and if I ate early I wouldn’t need anything tonight and I would actually be able to eat. I just knew something was going to go wrong and I knew exactly what it would be. Judy sent me a message at 2200 tonight to say she couldn’t come because her father had got angry with her for agreeing to go alone with the foreign monster. It seriously did not come as a surprise, it has happened so many times in the past but what annoys me is why they accept the invites in the first place if they have to get permission (as adults!) from mum and dad?
Luckily Dumpling has now agreed to come (she has changed her name now to Daisy but to me she will always be Dumpling) and we can go a bit later which is better for me. I will pick her up at three and I am confident I will have her back by seven. I bumped into her when I left the office this evening, first time I have seen her this term.
She said her class all miss me and I said to her that they have Richard now. To my astonishment she told me they don’t have a foreign teacher now! I have no idea what the school is playing at but I have one class twice a week plus three others once, which is the equivalent of five classes. My contract is for a maximum of eight classes - why the hell couldn’t they give me the classes they haven’t given to Richard? I often wonder if anyone here has any idea about administration rather than simply spying online for pictures posted of foreign teachers they think are up to no good.
Oh and the campus passes for vehicles? Joan informed me when I got her to read the website that yes I will need one before April Fool’s Day. As if not only I stole my bike (you have to provide documentation to prove you own whatever it is) but also they need to prove my identity. How many old, fat foreigners do they have that anyone here doesn’t know who I am????
Well the English Corner was one of the more boring variety. It was the class’s first attempt at putting on an event so I won’t be too critical but nobody asked me until on the night to do anything and then to put a bit of spice into it I was expected to come up with games and the like! Great, thanks guys! I did my best.
I was the only foreigner there. Richard clutters off to Changsha every weekend and I have now learnt Andrei and Juliette have Mandarin classes on Friday evenings. I have absolutely no problem with that of course.
However, during the party I was informed that there will be one EVERY Friday until all the classes have had one! There go my Friday nights for at least another month and of course they will all expect games from me and I am not a bottomless pit of ideas - AND I will be the only foreigner! Why are they having one every week instead of perhaps each fortnight? Because the school told them to. Jesus. The only one that is going to these things is probably getting the sack because he is an old fart. You have to laugh.
During the party (at least they provided pijou) I invited Judy (a new wife) to Tongling for pizza. It was a struggle due to her part time jobs but eventually we agreed I would meet her at noon today and I would have her back by five this evening.
I stayed up late into the night and surfaced at midday (later than I thought I would sleep) and went to take the bus. Being a weekend it was always going to be a terminus to terminus to terminus round trip and so I exited south gate. Right where the bus stop is, close to the gate and the business street there had been a collision between two e-bikes. Two bodies on the deck, one male, one female, the latter clearly in considerable pain. A group of students waiting for the bus standing around gawping and so I slowed, thinking perhaps I might be of some assistance.
Then I spotted one of our security chaps there on a walkie-talkie and decided I would probably be more of a hindrance than a help, given the language problem and rode on. They must have collided at a hell of a clip because the bodywork of the man’s bike was badly damaged with pieces of plastic everywhere. No idea whose fault it was but to be doing the speed they both must have been was foolhardy in that particular location. I saw the ambulance arrive as my bus passed south gate ten minutes later.
After I shopped I did something I said I wouldn’t and went into KFC for a very early dinner/late lunch. The idea was that I wanted to be hungry for the pizza at lunchtime today and if I ate early I wouldn’t need anything tonight and I would actually be able to eat. I just knew something was going to go wrong and I knew exactly what it would be. Judy sent me a message at 2200 tonight to say she couldn’t come because her father had got angry with her for agreeing to go alone with the foreign monster. It seriously did not come as a surprise, it has happened so many times in the past but what annoys me is why they accept the invites in the first place if they have to get permission (as adults!) from mum and dad?
Luckily Dumpling has now agreed to come (she has changed her name now to Daisy but to me she will always be Dumpling) and we can go a bit later which is better for me. I will pick her up at three and I am confident I will have her back by seven. I bumped into her when I left the office this evening, first time I have seen her this term.
She said her class all miss me and I said to her that they have Richard now. To my astonishment she told me they don’t have a foreign teacher now! I have no idea what the school is playing at but I have one class twice a week plus three others once, which is the equivalent of five classes. My contract is for a maximum of eight classes - why the hell couldn’t they give me the classes they haven’t given to Richard? I often wonder if anyone here has any idea about administration rather than simply spying online for pictures posted of foreign teachers they think are up to no good.
Oh and the campus passes for vehicles? Joan informed me when I got her to read the website that yes I will need one before April Fool’s Day. As if not only I stole my bike (you have to provide documentation to prove you own whatever it is) but also they need to prove my identity. How many old, fat foreigners do they have that anyone here doesn’t know who I am????
Friday, 18 March 2016
Friday 18th March, 2016 0240
Late again but no classes today, just a shopping run and an English Corner in the evening - unpaid of course, just for the students.
Being English (and I hope this also applies to British), if I make arrangements to do something then if a later request comes in I refuse it or ask the previous people their opinion and depending on what they say, that’s what I will do. Long-term readers will recall the infamous day the university demanded our presence for a grand meal with all the leaders at two hours’ notice and all three foreign teachers refused because we had arranged a western Wednesday. Mind you, we were never invited out again! But the principle was there and it is important.
Anyway, and this has annoyed me greatly, as I think I mentioned, Alice has been cleaning for me gratis. The deal was I would cook for her and her roommates on Tuesday and Friday. Of course as you know I cooked on Tuesday. I then received a request to attend an English Corner on Friday between 1800 and 2000. Whoa! I am supposed to cook enchiladas for Alice and Co! Dilemma.
I explained to Alice that I had been invited to the student party but as I already had arrangements with them they took priority, however if I cooked a little later (I thought perhaps I could spend an hour at the student do and leave) would that be ok? No, go to the Corner, Saturday is fine.
Great. I can keep everyone happy.
Tonight she told me she can’t make it on Saturday because the class is having a last get-together before they all leave prior to returning to graduate! Well that’s all well and good but they decided it TWO days in advance? I am now in the position of having asked and been told to agree to the Corner and although I know the girls involved in the Enchilada Episode will be free tomorrow I can’t now renege (having agreed) on the Corner.
It really is most frustrating here in that the culture is (I almost wrote “seems to be” but no. it IS) dump previous arrangements at will if you prefer something else - a bit like when people in the UK used to book tables at six restaurants and cancel five once they had decided where they were going to eat. It really is an abominable attitude, had they said they could only do Friday then I would have turned down the Corner because previous arrangements took precedence.
Yes, sure, I will host them for enchiladas after Alice gets back from Shanghai but that’s not the point. They need to get a sense of social values. It’s not just the youngsters because since we all refused a grand banquet due to prior arrangements and two hours bloody notice (I had been cooking half the day and spent 300y on the food) and even after the senior faculty members were apprised of the reason why (everyone else bar the foreigners knew about it days before and we could have rescheduled had we known).
Westerners do not simply drop everything at the drop of a hat unless they truly have no engagements and feel like going out and stupidly I adhere to that and expect my students to do likewise. I can’t blame Alice and her mates, of course not, the dinner after that for most of them will be the last time they ever see their classmates, I fully understand that.
I can only be thankful that I was going to buy the ingredients later today.
I cooked myself a simple dinner of pasta, peas, tuna and Linghams chilli sauce tonight. However when I pulled out the pack of frozen peas from the freezer I could feel they weren’t particularly frozen. Oh Jesus! Don’t tell me the bloody freezer has packed up!
No it hadn’t. The sodding cats had trodden on the extension button and cut off the power. By the softness of the stuff at the top I would say it happened at least two days ago. And people in the UK worry about power cuts wasting their freezer food….
Kevin’s bill for his car when he went to collect it last night was 2,700y (for the tow, something else and a new ECU shipped from Nanjing). When he arrived they fitted the ECU, turned the key and …………nothing. The problem? A loose fuse holder! They fixed that, removed the new ECU and refitted the old one, refunded him 1,700y and he was on his way so apart from an hotel stay the episode cost him 1,000y plus the inconvenience and bus fares but he is back on the road.
I was rather hoping to take Joan to Wuhu during Qing Ming but she has declined, in fact she declined even a short visit to Tongling for pizza which I have to say saddened me. Too much studying is counter-productive but try telling a Chinese student that! I only wanted about three hours all up. She assured me after her April exams she will see me more - at present this place is a shower room and place to dump off laundry for her - and I really hope that will be the case. I miss her and it may be that we have a few short months left together and anyone who has been at sea or moved home any distance knows it is never the same again after.
Late again but no classes today, just a shopping run and an English Corner in the evening - unpaid of course, just for the students.
Being English (and I hope this also applies to British), if I make arrangements to do something then if a later request comes in I refuse it or ask the previous people their opinion and depending on what they say, that’s what I will do. Long-term readers will recall the infamous day the university demanded our presence for a grand meal with all the leaders at two hours’ notice and all three foreign teachers refused because we had arranged a western Wednesday. Mind you, we were never invited out again! But the principle was there and it is important.
Anyway, and this has annoyed me greatly, as I think I mentioned, Alice has been cleaning for me gratis. The deal was I would cook for her and her roommates on Tuesday and Friday. Of course as you know I cooked on Tuesday. I then received a request to attend an English Corner on Friday between 1800 and 2000. Whoa! I am supposed to cook enchiladas for Alice and Co! Dilemma.
I explained to Alice that I had been invited to the student party but as I already had arrangements with them they took priority, however if I cooked a little later (I thought perhaps I could spend an hour at the student do and leave) would that be ok? No, go to the Corner, Saturday is fine.
Great. I can keep everyone happy.
Tonight she told me she can’t make it on Saturday because the class is having a last get-together before they all leave prior to returning to graduate! Well that’s all well and good but they decided it TWO days in advance? I am now in the position of having asked and been told to agree to the Corner and although I know the girls involved in the Enchilada Episode will be free tomorrow I can’t now renege (having agreed) on the Corner.
It really is most frustrating here in that the culture is (I almost wrote “seems to be” but no. it IS) dump previous arrangements at will if you prefer something else - a bit like when people in the UK used to book tables at six restaurants and cancel five once they had decided where they were going to eat. It really is an abominable attitude, had they said they could only do Friday then I would have turned down the Corner because previous arrangements took precedence.
Yes, sure, I will host them for enchiladas after Alice gets back from Shanghai but that’s not the point. They need to get a sense of social values. It’s not just the youngsters because since we all refused a grand banquet due to prior arrangements and two hours bloody notice (I had been cooking half the day and spent 300y on the food) and even after the senior faculty members were apprised of the reason why (everyone else bar the foreigners knew about it days before and we could have rescheduled had we known).
Westerners do not simply drop everything at the drop of a hat unless they truly have no engagements and feel like going out and stupidly I adhere to that and expect my students to do likewise. I can’t blame Alice and her mates, of course not, the dinner after that for most of them will be the last time they ever see their classmates, I fully understand that.
I can only be thankful that I was going to buy the ingredients later today.
I cooked myself a simple dinner of pasta, peas, tuna and Linghams chilli sauce tonight. However when I pulled out the pack of frozen peas from the freezer I could feel they weren’t particularly frozen. Oh Jesus! Don’t tell me the bloody freezer has packed up!
No it hadn’t. The sodding cats had trodden on the extension button and cut off the power. By the softness of the stuff at the top I would say it happened at least two days ago. And people in the UK worry about power cuts wasting their freezer food….
Kevin’s bill for his car when he went to collect it last night was 2,700y (for the tow, something else and a new ECU shipped from Nanjing). When he arrived they fitted the ECU, turned the key and …………nothing. The problem? A loose fuse holder! They fixed that, removed the new ECU and refitted the old one, refunded him 1,700y and he was on his way so apart from an hotel stay the episode cost him 1,000y plus the inconvenience and bus fares but he is back on the road.
I was rather hoping to take Joan to Wuhu during Qing Ming but she has declined, in fact she declined even a short visit to Tongling for pizza which I have to say saddened me. Too much studying is counter-productive but try telling a Chinese student that! I only wanted about three hours all up. She assured me after her April exams she will see me more - at present this place is a shower room and place to dump off laundry for her - and I really hope that will be the case. I miss her and it may be that we have a few short months left together and anyone who has been at sea or moved home any distance knows it is never the same again after.
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
Tuesday 15th March, 2016 2030
I went to get the bus to go to town this morning. Knowing I had to collect my monthly cigar supply and also shop for ingredients for tonight’s frittata, I wanted to be a little early because the cigars are near the inbound bus stop, while RT Mart is on the opposite side of the road, as is the restaurant.
Sod’s law had it that just as I walked out of south gate there was a bus picking up the students. I can’t remember the last time I ran for a bus and today was certainly going to be no exception. I started walking briskly but knowing I would never make it I resigned myself to not being early enough to buy my cigars before going for lunch.
I watched as the doors of the vehicle closed and then to my very pleasant surprise the driver detoured to pick me up! It really does pay to be friendly sometimes!
I collected my cigars and as I crossed the road I bumped into Balance, one of my first ever students and whom I have not seen since she graduated two years ago at the same time as Joanna. When she was a freshman she wanted to marry me but even though she is now single she doesn’t want to any more! It was good to see her after two years and she has threatened to come to school to visit me soon.
Then Anthony phoned, he had spotted me when he was parking his car nearby and he didn’t know where the restaurant was. Chinese, been here as long as me and he didn’t know! Where are you? he asked. Bit silly really considering he had just seen me from his car but I agreed to wait and show him the way.
We had a nice lunch (so much so that I never ate the dinner I made tonight) and considering it was just Anthony, me, John and his wife I was taken aback when at no point was I asked for something in return. Anthony told me after we left that the lunch was purely so John could try to help me stay here in Chizhou and he and Anthony have been friends for years. I was quite touched by the gesture.
Anthony did tell me that after I had visited Prof Wang to reiterate my desire to stay, she spoke to Director Xu and Miss Yin. Apparently Director Xu told Anthony he and I were friends and soon he would take me to dinner. In the meantime he is considering whether to allow me to stay on. I am not going to pin my hopes on that but you never know. I gather that Richard will not be signing for a second year, which may boost my chances, he is not happy being somewhere where it takes seven hours each way to go and visit his girlfriend. I suspected he might not stay more than one year and he is clearly very much besotted.
After I bought the food I came straight home on the bus (and again managed a smile from the miseryguts woman driver!) and grabbed an hour’s sleep before Alice arrived to clean. It took me half an hour to prepare the dinner for the oven (my chopping is notoriously slow) and once it was cooking her roommates arrived. I showed them one of the Ice Age films and half an hour later served up the frittata. They really enjoyed it, especially with the addition of some Linghams chilli sauce - Alice even went back for seconds and I had given them huge portions to start with! There is a bit left if Joan is peckish when she comes later for a shower.
The enchiladas meanwhile have been delayed until Saturday afternoon so I can go to the English Corner on Friday. Alice’s train to Shanghai is not until 2000 so if they come at four we can watch a film, dine and she will still have plenty of time to get to the station.
Kevin’s problems meanwhile mount. Today the new fuel pump arrived, was fitted and the car still wouldn’t go. Petrol is not arriving at the engine and so now the consensus is that the computer is also at fault. They hope to have it fixed on Thursday but in the meantime Kevin had to take a bus back to his school and abandon the car at the garage. Good job he has a little money behind him. I have no desire to buy a car simply because I know I couldn’t afford one even if it didn’t break down. I have though thought of getting a motorised scooter but although their range is only limited by the petrol stations, they too suffer mechanical failure where e-bikes (limited though they are) only suffer from the occasional puncture.
Quite possibly my driving days are now over.
I went to get the bus to go to town this morning. Knowing I had to collect my monthly cigar supply and also shop for ingredients for tonight’s frittata, I wanted to be a little early because the cigars are near the inbound bus stop, while RT Mart is on the opposite side of the road, as is the restaurant.
Sod’s law had it that just as I walked out of south gate there was a bus picking up the students. I can’t remember the last time I ran for a bus and today was certainly going to be no exception. I started walking briskly but knowing I would never make it I resigned myself to not being early enough to buy my cigars before going for lunch.
I watched as the doors of the vehicle closed and then to my very pleasant surprise the driver detoured to pick me up! It really does pay to be friendly sometimes!
I collected my cigars and as I crossed the road I bumped into Balance, one of my first ever students and whom I have not seen since she graduated two years ago at the same time as Joanna. When she was a freshman she wanted to marry me but even though she is now single she doesn’t want to any more! It was good to see her after two years and she has threatened to come to school to visit me soon.
Then Anthony phoned, he had spotted me when he was parking his car nearby and he didn’t know where the restaurant was. Chinese, been here as long as me and he didn’t know! Where are you? he asked. Bit silly really considering he had just seen me from his car but I agreed to wait and show him the way.
We had a nice lunch (so much so that I never ate the dinner I made tonight) and considering it was just Anthony, me, John and his wife I was taken aback when at no point was I asked for something in return. Anthony told me after we left that the lunch was purely so John could try to help me stay here in Chizhou and he and Anthony have been friends for years. I was quite touched by the gesture.
Anthony did tell me that after I had visited Prof Wang to reiterate my desire to stay, she spoke to Director Xu and Miss Yin. Apparently Director Xu told Anthony he and I were friends and soon he would take me to dinner. In the meantime he is considering whether to allow me to stay on. I am not going to pin my hopes on that but you never know. I gather that Richard will not be signing for a second year, which may boost my chances, he is not happy being somewhere where it takes seven hours each way to go and visit his girlfriend. I suspected he might not stay more than one year and he is clearly very much besotted.
After I bought the food I came straight home on the bus (and again managed a smile from the miseryguts woman driver!) and grabbed an hour’s sleep before Alice arrived to clean. It took me half an hour to prepare the dinner for the oven (my chopping is notoriously slow) and once it was cooking her roommates arrived. I showed them one of the Ice Age films and half an hour later served up the frittata. They really enjoyed it, especially with the addition of some Linghams chilli sauce - Alice even went back for seconds and I had given them huge portions to start with! There is a bit left if Joan is peckish when she comes later for a shower.
The enchiladas meanwhile have been delayed until Saturday afternoon so I can go to the English Corner on Friday. Alice’s train to Shanghai is not until 2000 so if they come at four we can watch a film, dine and she will still have plenty of time to get to the station.
Kevin’s problems meanwhile mount. Today the new fuel pump arrived, was fitted and the car still wouldn’t go. Petrol is not arriving at the engine and so now the consensus is that the computer is also at fault. They hope to have it fixed on Thursday but in the meantime Kevin had to take a bus back to his school and abandon the car at the garage. Good job he has a little money behind him. I have no desire to buy a car simply because I know I couldn’t afford one even if it didn’t break down. I have though thought of getting a motorised scooter but although their range is only limited by the petrol stations, they too suffer mechanical failure where e-bikes (limited though they are) only suffer from the occasional puncture.
Quite possibly my driving days are now over.
Tuesday 15th March, 2016 0220
Hmmm…..yesterday was a nothing day really. One double lesson late afternoon with the class of “major changers”. A student who came to chat with me last week arranged to come to the office for a chat again this evening and also brought a friend. I think they will be regular “chatters” for the rest of this term.
John from the little school has invited Anthony and me for lunch at Love In Town this afternoon, great because I was going shopping anyway and it is a short walk from the supermarket although I am suspicious as to the motive because he tried to invite us both for Women’s Day. Time will tell. This evening I have to cook the fritatta for Alice and her dormitory mates in return for her cleaning services yet now I find Friday’s planned chilli enchiladas under threat because in typical Chinese fashion one of my classes is having an English corner between 1800-2000 and have invited me as well, naturally. To be fair to them, it’s a lot more notice than I am normally given and it is a pity that I already made arrangements last week. However, tonight I will ask if those attending my dinner can wait until possibly 2045 before eating in order that I don’t disappoint my class. I can prepare everything previously so all I need is to turn on the oven when I get back. I am guessing the food and the prospect of a film might be enough to sway things. I can’t alter it to another day because on Saturday Alice is off to Shanghai.
Juliette told me today she has been asked if she will stay for another year. Whilst I am pleased for her I somehow think I will be getting no such request this year! I have no idea whether Richard will sign up again, perhaps the time it takes to commute to Changsha will prove the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, in other news, Kevin is currently stranded.
He left here on Sunday night and his car broke down in a small town. Well, actually on a highway. The police turned up, organised a tow truck and by all accounts were most helpful. They had the car taken to a garage (closed at night of course) and then took him to an hotel where they proceeded to negotiate a 75% discount on the price of the room for him.
He contacted his Dean to have his classes deferred, expecting to return there today. Maybe tomorrow though because his fuel pump has packed in and the garage has to get one shipped from Nanjing which should arrive this morning. I am no expert but I would hope by mid-afternoon at the latest he should be on his way again albeit with a considerably lighter wallet. The problem is, where he teaches is only a couple of hours or so by car but by train involves travelling in a V with a change of trains and from memory it takes between five and seven hours that way. Ergo, using his car is so much quicker and more convenient. It may though deplete his cash enough so that he doesn’t come and visit during the Qing Ming holiday (tomb sweeping festival).
And no, despite his uni wanting him to sign up again for another year, he is still in what he termed a “shithole” of an apartment. Students here have suggested I go and work there to be with him and whilst it would be great to be close by (he’s bloody handy when the computer goes wrong or you need some DIY) there is no way I am taking a pay cut AND being put in substandard accommodation. I had that when I first came here and thought nothing of it but now with this flat I know what can be provided.
Life is never dull here even if nothing is happening…..
Hmmm…..yesterday was a nothing day really. One double lesson late afternoon with the class of “major changers”. A student who came to chat with me last week arranged to come to the office for a chat again this evening and also brought a friend. I think they will be regular “chatters” for the rest of this term.
John from the little school has invited Anthony and me for lunch at Love In Town this afternoon, great because I was going shopping anyway and it is a short walk from the supermarket although I am suspicious as to the motive because he tried to invite us both for Women’s Day. Time will tell. This evening I have to cook the fritatta for Alice and her dormitory mates in return for her cleaning services yet now I find Friday’s planned chilli enchiladas under threat because in typical Chinese fashion one of my classes is having an English corner between 1800-2000 and have invited me as well, naturally. To be fair to them, it’s a lot more notice than I am normally given and it is a pity that I already made arrangements last week. However, tonight I will ask if those attending my dinner can wait until possibly 2045 before eating in order that I don’t disappoint my class. I can prepare everything previously so all I need is to turn on the oven when I get back. I am guessing the food and the prospect of a film might be enough to sway things. I can’t alter it to another day because on Saturday Alice is off to Shanghai.
Juliette told me today she has been asked if she will stay for another year. Whilst I am pleased for her I somehow think I will be getting no such request this year! I have no idea whether Richard will sign up again, perhaps the time it takes to commute to Changsha will prove the deciding factor.
Meanwhile, in other news, Kevin is currently stranded.
He left here on Sunday night and his car broke down in a small town. Well, actually on a highway. The police turned up, organised a tow truck and by all accounts were most helpful. They had the car taken to a garage (closed at night of course) and then took him to an hotel where they proceeded to negotiate a 75% discount on the price of the room for him.
He contacted his Dean to have his classes deferred, expecting to return there today. Maybe tomorrow though because his fuel pump has packed in and the garage has to get one shipped from Nanjing which should arrive this morning. I am no expert but I would hope by mid-afternoon at the latest he should be on his way again albeit with a considerably lighter wallet. The problem is, where he teaches is only a couple of hours or so by car but by train involves travelling in a V with a change of trains and from memory it takes between five and seven hours that way. Ergo, using his car is so much quicker and more convenient. It may though deplete his cash enough so that he doesn’t come and visit during the Qing Ming holiday (tomb sweeping festival).
And no, despite his uni wanting him to sign up again for another year, he is still in what he termed a “shithole” of an apartment. Students here have suggested I go and work there to be with him and whilst it would be great to be close by (he’s bloody handy when the computer goes wrong or you need some DIY) there is no way I am taking a pay cut AND being put in substandard accommodation. I had that when I first came here and thought nothing of it but now with this flat I know what can be provided.
Life is never dull here even if nothing is happening…..
Sunday, 13 March 2016
Sunday 13th March, 2016 1800
When will spring actually arrive? Aside from a couple of days past, I am still having to wear a fleece and a coat over the top of it, gloves to boot. The temperature readout on the bus to town was telling me ambient temperature was 17C but if it was then I am a Dutchman.
Having stayed up late naturally I slept late. Well, woke early and tried to doze until midday and then as always, just when you are ready for another couple of hours the alarm goes off. Were it not for Kevin I would simply have cancelled the alarm and carried on trying to sleep.
However, despite visiting me to sort something on my laptop yesterday, he forgot to ask me for his credit card statement that I had collected for him from the office. I also forgot to give it to him. So we made arrangements to meet today after he checked out of the Dong Rong at 1400.
On the way to the bus I had a first. I went to the cash point and checked my balance before withdrawing money. When I checked on Friday (pay date fell on Saturday) we hadn’t been paid early so I assumed as always we would have to wait until Monday. We have never been paid on a weekend in 6 years that I know of. We have this month.
Then I had another first when I went to the terminus to catch the bus. All the 29 drivers know me ever since I stopped using the bike to go to town. Today I got the only one who never, ever smiles, a woman. I have been determined to get a smile by way of acknowledgement from her before I leave here if it’s the last thing I do. There’s nothing worse than saying ni hao as you board, give a smile and get blanked. Today her face cracked! Thinking back I am wondering if she was the driver on her break ages ago when it was freezing up by the Yangtse and I pressed the button to open the doors so we could shelter from the biting wind. But then she never smiles for anyone.
I met up with Kevin, did a quick shop and then we parted company because he was going to pick Vivi up. Being Sunday my return involved the double run. Now Kevin had eaten lunch in KFC and complained about the beggars harassing him while he ate (management never discouraged them and I was quite prepared to do something about it but by the time I got there they had gone) but I experienced something similar.
When I got on the bus to the Yangtze a broth of a boy also got on and it became apparent quite early on that he had some mental health problems. He didn’t bother with me at first, presumably because he never spotted me but he rode all the way to the end, as I did. Stone me if he didn’t then come and queue for the bus back, the same as me. Where they came from I have no idea as it is an isolated spot, but eventually there were a dozen other people waiting for the bus. Matey boy kept trying to chat with me, I kept telling him I couldn’t understand and then a woman told me he was asking where I came from. I told him and he insisted on giving me 1y for my bus fare.
We all boarded the bus, I took a geriatric seat and boyo stood right beside me even though there were spare seats, trying to have a conversation with me, to which I could only keep repeating timbudong (I don’t understand). Undeterred, he persisted. I wondered why he was emulating my little cheat to get a seat but finally reached the conclusion that perhaps he spends his days simply riding around on buses.
When we got back to RT Mart he got off, I said bye bye and waved at him from the window. He was harmless (just as well given his size) and it seemed rude not to. But all he did was got off the back and then go and queue at the front to get back on again! Now I started to worry about how I would deal with him were he to stay on the bus until the college terminus! Thankfully he got off at the train station, possibly to take another bus going in the opposite direction and at least he wasn’t like the other character I have seen a few times who goes up and down the bus asking for money. The Chinese tend to simply ignore these types but I find it difficult, I either treat them politely as I did today or I give them short shrift. Body language usually works a treat with the latter.
On my way home after a quick trip to the office I encountered Joan and her boyfriend. She told me he was such even though I already knew, having seen them together the other day. I did what I always have done with my female students and told her he was really ugly. I think she was a trifle upset by that so when I got home I sent her a text explaining that I have always done that. Actually my first impression is that he is a pleasant young chap and I hope that maybe they can be very happy together one day.
I on the other hand will be happy when it gets warmer!
When will spring actually arrive? Aside from a couple of days past, I am still having to wear a fleece and a coat over the top of it, gloves to boot. The temperature readout on the bus to town was telling me ambient temperature was 17C but if it was then I am a Dutchman.
Having stayed up late naturally I slept late. Well, woke early and tried to doze until midday and then as always, just when you are ready for another couple of hours the alarm goes off. Were it not for Kevin I would simply have cancelled the alarm and carried on trying to sleep.
However, despite visiting me to sort something on my laptop yesterday, he forgot to ask me for his credit card statement that I had collected for him from the office. I also forgot to give it to him. So we made arrangements to meet today after he checked out of the Dong Rong at 1400.
On the way to the bus I had a first. I went to the cash point and checked my balance before withdrawing money. When I checked on Friday (pay date fell on Saturday) we hadn’t been paid early so I assumed as always we would have to wait until Monday. We have never been paid on a weekend in 6 years that I know of. We have this month.
Then I had another first when I went to the terminus to catch the bus. All the 29 drivers know me ever since I stopped using the bike to go to town. Today I got the only one who never, ever smiles, a woman. I have been determined to get a smile by way of acknowledgement from her before I leave here if it’s the last thing I do. There’s nothing worse than saying ni hao as you board, give a smile and get blanked. Today her face cracked! Thinking back I am wondering if she was the driver on her break ages ago when it was freezing up by the Yangtse and I pressed the button to open the doors so we could shelter from the biting wind. But then she never smiles for anyone.
I met up with Kevin, did a quick shop and then we parted company because he was going to pick Vivi up. Being Sunday my return involved the double run. Now Kevin had eaten lunch in KFC and complained about the beggars harassing him while he ate (management never discouraged them and I was quite prepared to do something about it but by the time I got there they had gone) but I experienced something similar.
When I got on the bus to the Yangtze a broth of a boy also got on and it became apparent quite early on that he had some mental health problems. He didn’t bother with me at first, presumably because he never spotted me but he rode all the way to the end, as I did. Stone me if he didn’t then come and queue for the bus back, the same as me. Where they came from I have no idea as it is an isolated spot, but eventually there were a dozen other people waiting for the bus. Matey boy kept trying to chat with me, I kept telling him I couldn’t understand and then a woman told me he was asking where I came from. I told him and he insisted on giving me 1y for my bus fare.
We all boarded the bus, I took a geriatric seat and boyo stood right beside me even though there were spare seats, trying to have a conversation with me, to which I could only keep repeating timbudong (I don’t understand). Undeterred, he persisted. I wondered why he was emulating my little cheat to get a seat but finally reached the conclusion that perhaps he spends his days simply riding around on buses.
When we got back to RT Mart he got off, I said bye bye and waved at him from the window. He was harmless (just as well given his size) and it seemed rude not to. But all he did was got off the back and then go and queue at the front to get back on again! Now I started to worry about how I would deal with him were he to stay on the bus until the college terminus! Thankfully he got off at the train station, possibly to take another bus going in the opposite direction and at least he wasn’t like the other character I have seen a few times who goes up and down the bus asking for money. The Chinese tend to simply ignore these types but I find it difficult, I either treat them politely as I did today or I give them short shrift. Body language usually works a treat with the latter.
On my way home after a quick trip to the office I encountered Joan and her boyfriend. She told me he was such even though I already knew, having seen them together the other day. I did what I always have done with my female students and told her he was really ugly. I think she was a trifle upset by that so when I got home I sent her a text explaining that I have always done that. Actually my first impression is that he is a pleasant young chap and I hope that maybe they can be very happy together one day.
I on the other hand will be happy when it gets warmer!
Sunday 13th March, 2016 0330
Yes again it’s late but of course you all knew I would be staying up late to watch England win the 6 Nations. Admittedly it was a stuttering feed because of course when I need it to be fast the sodding internet here slows to a crawl.
Earlier though I had taken Alice (Joan was busy teaching and then studying) to town to make up a foursome for a steak dinner with Kevin and Vivi. Initially (and before we arrived) Vivi had decided she wanted a change of venue because she wanted either fish or a hotpot. When we arrived I said to Kevin that I had gotten Alice all fired up for the lamb on the bone. Personally I think hotpots are boring and I am not a great fish eater and anyway where we were they do fish and hotpots. We stayed.
Vivi had her tripe hotpot (God the things people eat here!), Alice her lamb, Kevin a T-bone and me an Angus steak that never even saw Glasgow in its life. However, a decent meal and a nice catch up with Kevin. It was notable that the two westerners at the table never once touched their mobile phones, instead chatting because it was a social occasion, whilst the Chinese contingent were messaging and lord only knows what. Dinners with Chinese seem to be affairs where the food comes, gets eaten and nobody speaks because they are too busy on social media.
Anyway, at the end I went up to settle the bill.
A most odd thing happened.
I had remembered I had a plastic discount card for 20 yuan from the last time so dug it out of my wallet card slot on the bus in order to put it in front of the money so I wouldn't forget to use it.
When I looked at it the value was 10 yuan. I showed it to the Alice and remarked that I was sure it had been 20. Ah well, 10 is better than nothing.
When we finished the meal (Kevin and I always pay for half each) I produced the discount card and to my astonishment, where on the bus it had said 10, this time it said 20!
After I had paid and gone back to the table I related this. Not unsurprisingly Kevin accused me of being doolally but when I asked my witness (Alice) how much it had said on the card when I showed her on the bus she confirmed it said 10.
Did I have more than one card she asked? No that was the first time I have spent over 200 yuan there to be given one - check my wallet.
Because we spent over 200y again they gave me the same card back for re-use. It said 20y when I put it in my wallet tonight and now I am wondering what it will say when I next take it out.
I KNEW it was 20y because I haven't lost my marbles and I commented on the value the last time I had dinner with Kevin and his lady friend and was given the damned thing.
To this though I have a witness who has neither been certified insane, does not suffer from Alzheimers and was wearing her glasses when I showed her.
As the Mercans would say, it's the damnedest thang.
Actually, it’s bloody weird.
Yes again it’s late but of course you all knew I would be staying up late to watch England win the 6 Nations. Admittedly it was a stuttering feed because of course when I need it to be fast the sodding internet here slows to a crawl.
Earlier though I had taken Alice (Joan was busy teaching and then studying) to town to make up a foursome for a steak dinner with Kevin and Vivi. Initially (and before we arrived) Vivi had decided she wanted a change of venue because she wanted either fish or a hotpot. When we arrived I said to Kevin that I had gotten Alice all fired up for the lamb on the bone. Personally I think hotpots are boring and I am not a great fish eater and anyway where we were they do fish and hotpots. We stayed.
Vivi had her tripe hotpot (God the things people eat here!), Alice her lamb, Kevin a T-bone and me an Angus steak that never even saw Glasgow in its life. However, a decent meal and a nice catch up with Kevin. It was notable that the two westerners at the table never once touched their mobile phones, instead chatting because it was a social occasion, whilst the Chinese contingent were messaging and lord only knows what. Dinners with Chinese seem to be affairs where the food comes, gets eaten and nobody speaks because they are too busy on social media.
Anyway, at the end I went up to settle the bill.
A most odd thing happened.
I had remembered I had a plastic discount card for 20 yuan from the last time so dug it out of my wallet card slot on the bus in order to put it in front of the money so I wouldn't forget to use it.
When I looked at it the value was 10 yuan. I showed it to the Alice and remarked that I was sure it had been 20. Ah well, 10 is better than nothing.
When we finished the meal (Kevin and I always pay for half each) I produced the discount card and to my astonishment, where on the bus it had said 10, this time it said 20!
After I had paid and gone back to the table I related this. Not unsurprisingly Kevin accused me of being doolally but when I asked my witness (Alice) how much it had said on the card when I showed her on the bus she confirmed it said 10.
Did I have more than one card she asked? No that was the first time I have spent over 200 yuan there to be given one - check my wallet.
Because we spent over 200y again they gave me the same card back for re-use. It said 20y when I put it in my wallet tonight and now I am wondering what it will say when I next take it out.
I KNEW it was 20y because I haven't lost my marbles and I commented on the value the last time I had dinner with Kevin and his lady friend and was given the damned thing.
To this though I have a witness who has neither been certified insane, does not suffer from Alzheimers and was wearing her glasses when I showed her.
As the Mercans would say, it's the damnedest thang.
Actually, it’s bloody weird.
Friday, 11 March 2016
Friday 11th March, 2016 0500
Oh yes, very, very late but there is a reason - 6 nations is on this weekend and if the internet is fast enough I will stay awake to watch the games. I can’t wait for China to make it 7 nations and then it will be at a sensible time once in a while!
Chinese whispers.
As a westerner I couldn’t give a monkey’s droppings for them; something that seemed to shock Anthony a month ago because as a Chinese he saw it as career-threatening were it to happen to him; but my view is different. Ask me if the rumours are true (and God knows there have been some hilarious ones about me that have circulated on campus over the past 6 years) and I will either laugh at their absurdity or say they are true. None as yet have had a grain of truth.
The problem is that the people who should be taking some salt to work - the senior faculty (who should really have their faculties examined) - sometimes hear the rumours and concern themselves and call me to account for my actions. Well I say actions but of course I have no idea what they are talking about. The riding my bike every day to pay prostitutes in west street is one risible instance, the taking of wives in classes another.
Now though it has become a little uncomfortable. One of my new freshman students (I have had them for two weeks precisely) has told Joan that everyone thinks she is shacking up with me in hotels, together with all the implications that has of course.
To me it is yet another Chinese whisper to be endured but for her of course the inference is that she has had sexual relations with me. Well I am fair game because I know how to defend myself but I now find myself incensed that her reputation is being sullied simply because of her friendship with me. She is a student and I am a teacher and there are lines not to be crossed. Whilst it is flattering that people think a fat bloke shortly to be sixty is capable of seducing a 20 year old girl when he is not wealthy, it pains me that she has been put in this position when nothing untoward has occurred.
Perhaps this latest rumour - and yes, I was young once and believed rumours about my teachers at HMS Conway which were patently false - will reach the powers and perhaps I will be called to explain. Fine. It won’t be the first time that people who should know me better after 6 years have half believed a student murmur. If it does the ones I will blame will be the senior faculty for still being children in their forties and fifties and for not having trust in my integrity.
And this is just when I was coming to terms with having to leave. Nothing has been said officially yet of course but if it is then by God I will be ready with a 64 gun broadside.
I just feel guilty that Joan has been dragged into something innocent and an alleged scandal has been invented. That is what makes me angry, not MY reputation. If it is dragged through the mud then so be it but as long as I know it is flawless that is all that matters. Joan on the other hand is young and of course it has affected her.
This rumour is different in that it affects another and not just me. That’s why I am angry. Yes, pick on me, for God’s sake, my shoulders are wider than most but leave my friends alone. Joan is a special friend and I have had four among the students here - Kiki, Joanna, Yvonne and Joan. That’s a crime? We are up to no good?
Maybe, just maybe, my having to leave here is for the best.
Oh yes, very, very late but there is a reason - 6 nations is on this weekend and if the internet is fast enough I will stay awake to watch the games. I can’t wait for China to make it 7 nations and then it will be at a sensible time once in a while!
Chinese whispers.
As a westerner I couldn’t give a monkey’s droppings for them; something that seemed to shock Anthony a month ago because as a Chinese he saw it as career-threatening were it to happen to him; but my view is different. Ask me if the rumours are true (and God knows there have been some hilarious ones about me that have circulated on campus over the past 6 years) and I will either laugh at their absurdity or say they are true. None as yet have had a grain of truth.
The problem is that the people who should be taking some salt to work - the senior faculty (who should really have their faculties examined) - sometimes hear the rumours and concern themselves and call me to account for my actions. Well I say actions but of course I have no idea what they are talking about. The riding my bike every day to pay prostitutes in west street is one risible instance, the taking of wives in classes another.
Now though it has become a little uncomfortable. One of my new freshman students (I have had them for two weeks precisely) has told Joan that everyone thinks she is shacking up with me in hotels, together with all the implications that has of course.
To me it is yet another Chinese whisper to be endured but for her of course the inference is that she has had sexual relations with me. Well I am fair game because I know how to defend myself but I now find myself incensed that her reputation is being sullied simply because of her friendship with me. She is a student and I am a teacher and there are lines not to be crossed. Whilst it is flattering that people think a fat bloke shortly to be sixty is capable of seducing a 20 year old girl when he is not wealthy, it pains me that she has been put in this position when nothing untoward has occurred.
Perhaps this latest rumour - and yes, I was young once and believed rumours about my teachers at HMS Conway which were patently false - will reach the powers and perhaps I will be called to explain. Fine. It won’t be the first time that people who should know me better after 6 years have half believed a student murmur. If it does the ones I will blame will be the senior faculty for still being children in their forties and fifties and for not having trust in my integrity.
And this is just when I was coming to terms with having to leave. Nothing has been said officially yet of course but if it is then by God I will be ready with a 64 gun broadside.
I just feel guilty that Joan has been dragged into something innocent and an alleged scandal has been invented. That is what makes me angry, not MY reputation. If it is dragged through the mud then so be it but as long as I know it is flawless that is all that matters. Joan on the other hand is young and of course it has affected her.
This rumour is different in that it affects another and not just me. That’s why I am angry. Yes, pick on me, for God’s sake, my shoulders are wider than most but leave my friends alone. Joan is a special friend and I have had four among the students here - Kiki, Joanna, Yvonne and Joan. That’s a crime? We are up to no good?
Maybe, just maybe, my having to leave here is for the best.
Thursday, 10 March 2016
Thursday 10th March, 2016 1930
You wouldn’t believe it was the middle of March. It is so cold and despite what the forecast says, it has been only a few degrees above freezing even during the day. Hopefully the predictions are right and from here the mercury climbs. Global warming? Don’t make me laugh.
As 80% of my working week takes place on Wednesdays and Thursdays this term, I have done nothing adventurous such as going to town. I haven’t even cooked the steak I bought, instead I heated a frozen pizza last night - really not pleasant and I only keep them for when I can’t be bothered cooking. This morning I took what I thought was mince’n’spuds out of the freezer only to find tonight it is actually Bolognese. Doesn’t matter, it’s quick enough to boil some pasta. Since Joan has immersed herself in swotting for her exams I hardly ever see her of late and so the impetus I need to shift myself and find new dishes or old favourites for us both is missing. I still have the makings for sausage rolls but haven’t even thought about trying my hand at them.
I am surprising myself by being humorous in my classes even though I will be leaving. Naturally that must be due to the fact I have resigned myself and at least now am doing something about it. Sitting like a rabbit transfixed by car headlights is not in my nature.
Kevin may well be in town this evening, he threatened to come today (presumably driving here after his lessons finished today) and stay until Sunday so doubtless sometime this weekend I will be going for a dinner with him and Vivi.
I went onto the new HMRC Gateway website on Wednesday out of curiosity, just to check I will qualify for the full state pension under the new system. I never knew they had increased the NI contribution qualifying period from 30 to 35 years. I did know I had 30 (in fact the site informed me I have 31.5) so I wasn’t concerned. I am now! Instead of the £155 a week it told me I would get £141. So now I have been ascertaining how I can make up the deficit from abroad. I think I can pay class 2 at about £10 a month for the required time although I am not absolutely certain. Frustratingly, you can’t email HMRC but have to print off a form, fill it out and post it off. With the mail system here that will take forever - or never. Which reminds me, I must call my UK bank and ask them to send out my replacement debit card (expires in June) early. The last one arrived 3 months after the old one conked out. It wouldn’t be that important if I was staying but now it is, even though I can withdraw any monies in it just before the end of June, for I will need all I can get when I relocate. The good news is that I have a £50 cheque coming and with luck another one before then from another firm for doing online surveys. Amazon e-vouchers aren’t much help unless someone buys them from me!
I have today just found out that Andrei and Juliette are complete nutters. I knew they occasionally went to Tai Chi classes; hence they bought the moped from Richard; but Andrei told me when I met him as he was waiting for Juliette to finish her class that they go every day in the early mornings! Oh what it is to be young!
Anthony said yesterday he wanted to come for a chat (no I’m not in trouble again and anyway what can they do, fire me??) and would I send him a message when I got home tonight. Well I did so an hour ago and the bugger hasn’t replied. I even swept up the cat litter the mogs kicked out of the bowl in preparation. I was delaying my dinner until after he’d been but seeing as he hasn’t responded I am going to make it now and God help him if he turns up in the middle of it!
You wouldn’t believe it was the middle of March. It is so cold and despite what the forecast says, it has been only a few degrees above freezing even during the day. Hopefully the predictions are right and from here the mercury climbs. Global warming? Don’t make me laugh.
As 80% of my working week takes place on Wednesdays and Thursdays this term, I have done nothing adventurous such as going to town. I haven’t even cooked the steak I bought, instead I heated a frozen pizza last night - really not pleasant and I only keep them for when I can’t be bothered cooking. This morning I took what I thought was mince’n’spuds out of the freezer only to find tonight it is actually Bolognese. Doesn’t matter, it’s quick enough to boil some pasta. Since Joan has immersed herself in swotting for her exams I hardly ever see her of late and so the impetus I need to shift myself and find new dishes or old favourites for us both is missing. I still have the makings for sausage rolls but haven’t even thought about trying my hand at them.
I am surprising myself by being humorous in my classes even though I will be leaving. Naturally that must be due to the fact I have resigned myself and at least now am doing something about it. Sitting like a rabbit transfixed by car headlights is not in my nature.
Kevin may well be in town this evening, he threatened to come today (presumably driving here after his lessons finished today) and stay until Sunday so doubtless sometime this weekend I will be going for a dinner with him and Vivi.
I went onto the new HMRC Gateway website on Wednesday out of curiosity, just to check I will qualify for the full state pension under the new system. I never knew they had increased the NI contribution qualifying period from 30 to 35 years. I did know I had 30 (in fact the site informed me I have 31.5) so I wasn’t concerned. I am now! Instead of the £155 a week it told me I would get £141. So now I have been ascertaining how I can make up the deficit from abroad. I think I can pay class 2 at about £10 a month for the required time although I am not absolutely certain. Frustratingly, you can’t email HMRC but have to print off a form, fill it out and post it off. With the mail system here that will take forever - or never. Which reminds me, I must call my UK bank and ask them to send out my replacement debit card (expires in June) early. The last one arrived 3 months after the old one conked out. It wouldn’t be that important if I was staying but now it is, even though I can withdraw any monies in it just before the end of June, for I will need all I can get when I relocate. The good news is that I have a £50 cheque coming and with luck another one before then from another firm for doing online surveys. Amazon e-vouchers aren’t much help unless someone buys them from me!
I have today just found out that Andrei and Juliette are complete nutters. I knew they occasionally went to Tai Chi classes; hence they bought the moped from Richard; but Andrei told me when I met him as he was waiting for Juliette to finish her class that they go every day in the early mornings! Oh what it is to be young!
Anthony said yesterday he wanted to come for a chat (no I’m not in trouble again and anyway what can they do, fire me??) and would I send him a message when I got home tonight. Well I did so an hour ago and the bugger hasn’t replied. I even swept up the cat litter the mogs kicked out of the bowl in preparation. I was delaying my dinner until after he’d been but seeing as he hasn’t responded I am going to make it now and God help him if he turns up in the middle of it!
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
Tuesday 8th March, 2016 1800
Yesterday was a glorious day and one where had I not been having to ride home after sunset, would have been fine for simply wearing shirtsleeves. It was also “girls day”. As I sat at my desk in class shortly before commencement I started organising my materials and was somewhat taken aback when shortly thereafter there was a ripple of applause from the class. I looked up nonplussed to see one of the boys approaching me and he then proceeded to put some sucky sweets on my desk and offer me a red rose.
Thinking this all rather odd, I waited as he gave a short speech. I knew today was Womens Day but knew nothing of yesterday. Quite why I as a GOM merited a gift on girls day is beyond me but the gesture was much appreciated nonetheless. There is however no boys day or bachelors day which I find most unfair! This is the class who all switched majors over the holiday. I can see them developing into my best class as it happens.
I had my salmon fillet for dinner last night. Well, a bit of it, the cats had the rest. I poached it in milk but I think my poaching skills are best left to eggs. After I had eaten the thin parts of the fish and started on the fleshier portion it tasted strange. It wasn’t cooked enough and was slimy in the middle. Rather than let everything else go cold while I rectified it I simply continued to eat the vegetables and salad, hoping I hadn’t poisoned myself. I hadn’t and the cats were grateful for an unexpected bonus once I had finished.
Today in contrast has been a mixed bag.
We are currently in the middle of a partial solar eclipse (allegedly 40% obscured) but in comparison to yesterday being gorgeously warm, today has been overcast, gloomier due to the eclipse and with constant rain. And bloody freezing.
Having gotten nowhere with the foreign affairs dept regarding my imminent sacking, I took the bull by the horns before going downtown and went to take the matter up with the new Dean. To my surprise she was in an unusually good mood and listened to what I had to say politely. Before informing me it was not her decision.
So the foreign affairs dept say it’s not theirs it is the Dean‘s decision, the Dean says it’s not hers, so whose is it? I asked if I should speak to the President but of course he is on a 3 month course in Beijing. The Chinese have a happy knack of never actually having the cojones to simply say “No, that’s the way it is so stop asking”. They think it is more polite to fob you off. I assume it works for them but as a westerner I really would prefer the brutal truth.
So I have more or less accepted my lot and the fact that I shall be leaving in a few months. I did my shopping (one advantage of the bad weather was that the buses all had plenty of seats) and never had to take a double ride home. In fact the return bus had the same driver who had taken me to town. There were quite a few people waiting and as the bus approached they moved out into the road way before the stop but the driver spotted me, skirted the eager beavers and halted with the door right in front of me so I could be the first! I will certainly miss the preferential treatment I get from most of them simply down to the fact I always say hello when I board and thank them when I alight. People here treat bus drivers as simply part of the bus instead of human beings. As I got on he smiled at me, I said ni hao and winked at him and thanked him just so he knew his actions had not gone unnoticed. They have all at times seen me sit back down in the stop to wait for a less crowded bus when theirs has been full. Little things such as this do warm the cockles of my heart.
When I got back I went to the office at about 1630. For some insane reason they have taken the plastic strip blinds off the two doors and the cold wind was blowing through unhindered so it was a case of keeping my down jacket zipped firmly up.
Then I had a phone call.
It was the agency I had registered with late last week. Helen is my case operative. She told me I had a job offer (I never caught the location but it was a university with very low hours - 13 classes a week) which would pay 1,000y more than I receive at present. We never got as far as the fringe benefits because they want me to start work there next month.
A fool I may be but I declined the offer on the basis that I have signed a contract here which doesn’t expire until July. Quite possibly I could request to be released early but that would leave the students bereft of a native oral teacher until a replacement could be found. They after all are the customers, without whom there would be no teachers and no jobs. Not only that but I don’t wish to cultivate a reputation for being a butterfly.
It does however tell me two very important things. One that my age will not be a barrier and two that my fears regarding not actually having a university degree are completely unfounded. The latter I have to admit did worry me, especially after reading online about a supposed tightening up on qualifications. Certainly I know 6 years teaching experience carries some clout but then again this is China.
So I will end this day safe in the knowledge that I will find employment to see out my working life and who knows, maybe I will have an even better time at wherever I drop anchor next?
I will just be so sad when the day comes and I watch as my home recedes in the distance as I gaze from the bus window.
Yesterday was a glorious day and one where had I not been having to ride home after sunset, would have been fine for simply wearing shirtsleeves. It was also “girls day”. As I sat at my desk in class shortly before commencement I started organising my materials and was somewhat taken aback when shortly thereafter there was a ripple of applause from the class. I looked up nonplussed to see one of the boys approaching me and he then proceeded to put some sucky sweets on my desk and offer me a red rose.
Thinking this all rather odd, I waited as he gave a short speech. I knew today was Womens Day but knew nothing of yesterday. Quite why I as a GOM merited a gift on girls day is beyond me but the gesture was much appreciated nonetheless. There is however no boys day or bachelors day which I find most unfair! This is the class who all switched majors over the holiday. I can see them developing into my best class as it happens.
I had my salmon fillet for dinner last night. Well, a bit of it, the cats had the rest. I poached it in milk but I think my poaching skills are best left to eggs. After I had eaten the thin parts of the fish and started on the fleshier portion it tasted strange. It wasn’t cooked enough and was slimy in the middle. Rather than let everything else go cold while I rectified it I simply continued to eat the vegetables and salad, hoping I hadn’t poisoned myself. I hadn’t and the cats were grateful for an unexpected bonus once I had finished.
Today in contrast has been a mixed bag.
We are currently in the middle of a partial solar eclipse (allegedly 40% obscured) but in comparison to yesterday being gorgeously warm, today has been overcast, gloomier due to the eclipse and with constant rain. And bloody freezing.
Having gotten nowhere with the foreign affairs dept regarding my imminent sacking, I took the bull by the horns before going downtown and went to take the matter up with the new Dean. To my surprise she was in an unusually good mood and listened to what I had to say politely. Before informing me it was not her decision.
So the foreign affairs dept say it’s not theirs it is the Dean‘s decision, the Dean says it’s not hers, so whose is it? I asked if I should speak to the President but of course he is on a 3 month course in Beijing. The Chinese have a happy knack of never actually having the cojones to simply say “No, that’s the way it is so stop asking”. They think it is more polite to fob you off. I assume it works for them but as a westerner I really would prefer the brutal truth.
So I have more or less accepted my lot and the fact that I shall be leaving in a few months. I did my shopping (one advantage of the bad weather was that the buses all had plenty of seats) and never had to take a double ride home. In fact the return bus had the same driver who had taken me to town. There were quite a few people waiting and as the bus approached they moved out into the road way before the stop but the driver spotted me, skirted the eager beavers and halted with the door right in front of me so I could be the first! I will certainly miss the preferential treatment I get from most of them simply down to the fact I always say hello when I board and thank them when I alight. People here treat bus drivers as simply part of the bus instead of human beings. As I got on he smiled at me, I said ni hao and winked at him and thanked him just so he knew his actions had not gone unnoticed. They have all at times seen me sit back down in the stop to wait for a less crowded bus when theirs has been full. Little things such as this do warm the cockles of my heart.
When I got back I went to the office at about 1630. For some insane reason they have taken the plastic strip blinds off the two doors and the cold wind was blowing through unhindered so it was a case of keeping my down jacket zipped firmly up.
Then I had a phone call.
It was the agency I had registered with late last week. Helen is my case operative. She told me I had a job offer (I never caught the location but it was a university with very low hours - 13 classes a week) which would pay 1,000y more than I receive at present. We never got as far as the fringe benefits because they want me to start work there next month.
A fool I may be but I declined the offer on the basis that I have signed a contract here which doesn’t expire until July. Quite possibly I could request to be released early but that would leave the students bereft of a native oral teacher until a replacement could be found. They after all are the customers, without whom there would be no teachers and no jobs. Not only that but I don’t wish to cultivate a reputation for being a butterfly.
It does however tell me two very important things. One that my age will not be a barrier and two that my fears regarding not actually having a university degree are completely unfounded. The latter I have to admit did worry me, especially after reading online about a supposed tightening up on qualifications. Certainly I know 6 years teaching experience carries some clout but then again this is China.
So I will end this day safe in the knowledge that I will find employment to see out my working life and who knows, maybe I will have an even better time at wherever I drop anchor next?
I will just be so sad when the day comes and I watch as my home recedes in the distance as I gaze from the bus window.
Monday, 7 March 2016
Monday 7th March, 2016 0330
Late again but no class until twelve hours from now.
It was six before I went to sleep yesterday morning, getting ridiculous I know and I was horrified to have woken up to use the loo at nine, going back to bed for an hour and surfacing at a quarter to one! At least I will probably be in good shape to stay awake for next weekend’s 6 nations matches.
With mince in the fridge having been defrosted the day before but remaining unused, there was no way I was wasting it by not making something today. But I wanted to get more plonk. I really don’t miss driving and although I miss using the bike to go to town, I have nailed bus travel to a T although with a car I could of course buy in bulk, sadly I am not young and I find four bottles plus victuals quite enough to carry any distance these days.
At least RT Mart’s jing jo has now increased to 56y for 680ml so I didn’t have to buy any from them when I can buy in the business street 500ml for 38y. So I went to town just for a quick shop. En route I had a text from John at the little school asking if I had a half day on women’s day on Tuesday. Er, no, but I have no classes on Tuesdays this term anyway. He wanted to ask Anthony and me to join his staff for a luncheon. Anthony can’t so then he changed it to today which of course I can’t as I have class later. Too bad was the reply so I guess there will be no free lunch for me anyway. If it was Anthony he wanted to really invite why didn’t he just contact him rather than me?
What the hell, I bought a hugely expensive piece of salmon fillet for dinner tonight. Unbelievably costly at about £20 a kilo but I will poach it in milk and have it with spuds and salad. And no, I only bought 36y worth for me.
After a brief visit to the office on my return (when I got to the small supermarket I also bought a glass and a new rechargeable torch - I need one now to stop the cats diving into my bedroom when I switch the lights off and the old one’s battery only lasted a couple o minutes) I came home and immediately set about cooking.
No way was I making cottage pies and needing to mash potatoes so I just made mince’n’tatties. Joan turned up to collect her washing, do some more and take a shower but at least she stayed a while to watch a programme about Chinese new year. She also, despite having already eaten, had a bit of my chilli mince. She had been practising volleyball all afternoon and I am guessing she hasn’t done so in a while.
Her right forearm will be blue later but apparently there is a competition soon and she is on the team. She did nothing but complain about the pain and even asked if I had any medicine for it. For bruising? In my experience even ice packs are a waste of time and so I had to tell her that like colds, the only cure for bruises is time. Or of course not getting them in the first place. It was lovely to have her here again though apart from a fleeting hello, shower and goodbye.
Oh yes! And one of her shirts she washed in my machine. She has these thick black tops and bottoms and she has a happy knack of starting the wash and leaving it for me to hang it up to dry after she has left. Well tonight she asked me whose top this was when she took a hanger down, was it mine? Well three times the dimensions and it may have still been a tight fit but I am not really a fan of frills. Of course it wasn’t, unless she had picked up clothing from a roommate then it was of course hers.
But it was white when I brought it here she lamented. Well it isn’t now. It is white everywhere except for the front lacy patch, which is now a lovely light grey and to be honest I think it looks very stylish indeed. She disagrees vehemently and so all I could suggest was that in future she brings either her black clothes on their own or other stuff without the black gear. If that top was really white before then I sincerely think it has improved with the dyeing.
Late again but no class until twelve hours from now.
It was six before I went to sleep yesterday morning, getting ridiculous I know and I was horrified to have woken up to use the loo at nine, going back to bed for an hour and surfacing at a quarter to one! At least I will probably be in good shape to stay awake for next weekend’s 6 nations matches.
With mince in the fridge having been defrosted the day before but remaining unused, there was no way I was wasting it by not making something today. But I wanted to get more plonk. I really don’t miss driving and although I miss using the bike to go to town, I have nailed bus travel to a T although with a car I could of course buy in bulk, sadly I am not young and I find four bottles plus victuals quite enough to carry any distance these days.
At least RT Mart’s jing jo has now increased to 56y for 680ml so I didn’t have to buy any from them when I can buy in the business street 500ml for 38y. So I went to town just for a quick shop. En route I had a text from John at the little school asking if I had a half day on women’s day on Tuesday. Er, no, but I have no classes on Tuesdays this term anyway. He wanted to ask Anthony and me to join his staff for a luncheon. Anthony can’t so then he changed it to today which of course I can’t as I have class later. Too bad was the reply so I guess there will be no free lunch for me anyway. If it was Anthony he wanted to really invite why didn’t he just contact him rather than me?
What the hell, I bought a hugely expensive piece of salmon fillet for dinner tonight. Unbelievably costly at about £20 a kilo but I will poach it in milk and have it with spuds and salad. And no, I only bought 36y worth for me.
After a brief visit to the office on my return (when I got to the small supermarket I also bought a glass and a new rechargeable torch - I need one now to stop the cats diving into my bedroom when I switch the lights off and the old one’s battery only lasted a couple o minutes) I came home and immediately set about cooking.
No way was I making cottage pies and needing to mash potatoes so I just made mince’n’tatties. Joan turned up to collect her washing, do some more and take a shower but at least she stayed a while to watch a programme about Chinese new year. She also, despite having already eaten, had a bit of my chilli mince. She had been practising volleyball all afternoon and I am guessing she hasn’t done so in a while.
Her right forearm will be blue later but apparently there is a competition soon and she is on the team. She did nothing but complain about the pain and even asked if I had any medicine for it. For bruising? In my experience even ice packs are a waste of time and so I had to tell her that like colds, the only cure for bruises is time. Or of course not getting them in the first place. It was lovely to have her here again though apart from a fleeting hello, shower and goodbye.
Oh yes! And one of her shirts she washed in my machine. She has these thick black tops and bottoms and she has a happy knack of starting the wash and leaving it for me to hang it up to dry after she has left. Well tonight she asked me whose top this was when she took a hanger down, was it mine? Well three times the dimensions and it may have still been a tight fit but I am not really a fan of frills. Of course it wasn’t, unless she had picked up clothing from a roommate then it was of course hers.
But it was white when I brought it here she lamented. Well it isn’t now. It is white everywhere except for the front lacy patch, which is now a lovely light grey and to be honest I think it looks very stylish indeed. She disagrees vehemently and so all I could suggest was that in future she brings either her black clothes on their own or other stuff without the black gear. If that top was really white before then I sincerely think it has improved with the dyeing.
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Sunday 6th March, 2016 0450
This is getting ridiculous now. I got out of bed at midday yesterday yet still felt tired.
Having cleaned and shaved I received a text from an anonymous student who said they were a graduate and they would like to meet and talk with me. When? I asked. Tomorrow came the reply. So I said I would be in my office having a couple of beers after I had been to town yesterday, maybe we could meet then? Oh I am so lucky! Not me.
So I got back (only went for wine and digestive biscuits!) and sat waiting. An unexpected treat outside the “office” was an open air version of Chizhou Glastonbury which at first wasn’t bad (remember they were playing songs in Chinese and nothing at all like western music) but after an hour the singers had turned into alley cats on heat and all I wanted was a Colt 45.
However, the student (who I had suspected was male) turned up and it was a girl, Lucy. She has graduated but she is still here, her hometown is Anqing, and she passed the exam to study for an MA. And not just with any old score but enough to get her a place in Beijing Foreign Language university. You have to be pretty damned good to get anywhere in Beijing.
I didn’t know her from Eve but she has seen me out and about and quite how I have no idea but she had spoken to some of my students about me (how did she know I taught them when her major was unrelated?) and she informed me that they loved my classes. High praise indeed but I am certain that view is not held by 100% of my students, there will be some who have crossed swords with me and lost.
Anyway we spoke for nearly two hours, she very kindly but inadvisedly bought herself a bag of fried chicken at my suggestion and despite my telling her I was going to cook tonight (never did it the previous night) cottage pie or lazy mince’n’tatties, she bought a bag for me. She insisted I take it and it is still in the fridge. And no I didn’t cook, by the time I came home my appetite had gone so a few digestive biscuits have been my sustenance today.
What am I going to do tomorrow?
Well unless I want to waste all that mince it will be mince and potatoes or cottage pies as previously planned. I don’t actually need to go to town but I may anyway, you never know when you won’t be able to and will be glad of having done so.
Security are watching the bollards by the teaching areas like hawks. They pounce on me when I am dropping a student off or going to collect one, they seem to be petrified that as a foreigner (who naturally must be stupid) I am going to run the cones over and carry on as before. Nice guys that they are, it is quite apparent why they have graduated to this line of work. I am simply waiting to see if my interpretation of the Google translate turns out to be right and every means of transportation requires a permit and they try to stop me. The guards have done me no harm but others have lately and there will be hell to pay because if that happens then many people are at fault because yet again the foreigners have been ignored. And so, as a foreigner, I ignore anything I haven’t been told officially - after all, without being illegal and using a VPN we can’t translate the school website, says he with a smirk.
Oh God, by the time I post this it will be 0530. It has to stop but only after the 6 nations. Tigger never cried last night so I let him in but I am not sure if I should this morning.
This is getting ridiculous now. I got out of bed at midday yesterday yet still felt tired.
Having cleaned and shaved I received a text from an anonymous student who said they were a graduate and they would like to meet and talk with me. When? I asked. Tomorrow came the reply. So I said I would be in my office having a couple of beers after I had been to town yesterday, maybe we could meet then? Oh I am so lucky! Not me.
So I got back (only went for wine and digestive biscuits!) and sat waiting. An unexpected treat outside the “office” was an open air version of Chizhou Glastonbury which at first wasn’t bad (remember they were playing songs in Chinese and nothing at all like western music) but after an hour the singers had turned into alley cats on heat and all I wanted was a Colt 45.
However, the student (who I had suspected was male) turned up and it was a girl, Lucy. She has graduated but she is still here, her hometown is Anqing, and she passed the exam to study for an MA. And not just with any old score but enough to get her a place in Beijing Foreign Language university. You have to be pretty damned good to get anywhere in Beijing.
I didn’t know her from Eve but she has seen me out and about and quite how I have no idea but she had spoken to some of my students about me (how did she know I taught them when her major was unrelated?) and she informed me that they loved my classes. High praise indeed but I am certain that view is not held by 100% of my students, there will be some who have crossed swords with me and lost.
Anyway we spoke for nearly two hours, she very kindly but inadvisedly bought herself a bag of fried chicken at my suggestion and despite my telling her I was going to cook tonight (never did it the previous night) cottage pie or lazy mince’n’tatties, she bought a bag for me. She insisted I take it and it is still in the fridge. And no I didn’t cook, by the time I came home my appetite had gone so a few digestive biscuits have been my sustenance today.
What am I going to do tomorrow?
Well unless I want to waste all that mince it will be mince and potatoes or cottage pies as previously planned. I don’t actually need to go to town but I may anyway, you never know when you won’t be able to and will be glad of having done so.
Security are watching the bollards by the teaching areas like hawks. They pounce on me when I am dropping a student off or going to collect one, they seem to be petrified that as a foreigner (who naturally must be stupid) I am going to run the cones over and carry on as before. Nice guys that they are, it is quite apparent why they have graduated to this line of work. I am simply waiting to see if my interpretation of the Google translate turns out to be right and every means of transportation requires a permit and they try to stop me. The guards have done me no harm but others have lately and there will be hell to pay because if that happens then many people are at fault because yet again the foreigners have been ignored. And so, as a foreigner, I ignore anything I haven’t been told officially - after all, without being illegal and using a VPN we can’t translate the school website, says he with a smirk.
Oh God, by the time I post this it will be 0530. It has to stop but only after the 6 nations. Tigger never cried last night so I let him in but I am not sure if I should this morning.
Friday, 4 March 2016
Friday 4th March, 2016 0210
The meal/meeting/discussion about the chances of my staying here?
I’m not holding my breath.
I saw Prof Fang as she was walking to her car after work on Wednesday (she’s not our dean any more since moving over to be director of personnel for the entire university but I would rather have her on my side than her replacement) and I suggested a meal tonight with her, director Xu and Miss Yin, both from foreign affairs. Prof Fang has said she will tell me if she is free by lunchtime today, the other two (and I was assured that even though they can’t speak English they can read it) haven’t yet replied to my texts.
I am getting the distinct impression the matter is not up for discussion, even if only for them to listen politely and still say no. If that is indeed the case then I would be putting it mildly if I said that disappoints me.
The boy who fell asleep last Thursday in class and who glared daggers at me for the rest of the lessons? He turned up today and before class I was outside having a puff so I asked him if he was sufficiently rested. He looked it and indeed said he was fine. Good lad, I said. I think he learnt a lesson, I won’t hold it against him and I am pretty sure he won’t harbour anything other than a healthy respect for me. The new classes don’t seem a bad lot although there is the usual battle to get them to be active but that’s normal with freshmen. I will get there.
Joan reported back on Richard’s teaching. Naturally I was interested in how his style differed from mine and of course it does dramatically. He does however have activities which unlike mine are computer-based from the sound of it. Being a technophobe it’s as much as I can do to show a film, leave alone a slide show or a PPP. BUT. It would seem he is far stricter on the students than I have ever been and I thought some of my rules were verging on the draconian. I realise now I have been a complete softy and will remain so of course, I prefer a disapproving look to embarrass or simply stopping in mid sentence and staring until a culprit suddenly realises something is wrong. Kevin admitted to the odd tirade in his classes and yes, I have had one or two but mine were aimed at the entire class rather than individual miscreants and always when they were simply sitting there mute and not answering questions or taking part in the class. And these were classes in which the majority wanted to be teachers themselves!
It does take time to coax some classes out of their shells and it is not entirely their fault. The system here (until they go to college or university that is) goes like this: the teachers from primary to middle to junior high and senior high schools always insist that they shut up, listen, look, read and write and never question the teacher. They come to a foreign teacher’s class and it is so ingrained they shit themselves if they have to speak in class. Unless of course it is to have a little side conversation with their friend sitting next to them.
That does have to change because all that does is knock all the curiosity and wanting to actually understand what they are being taught right out of them.
2115
Well of course the meal never happened. Prof Fang at least texted to say sorry but she would be busy, Director Xu still hasn’t replied but Miss Yin did, albeit too late. Having now registered with a teacher’s job agency earlier today, I decided to simply say what I was after. Now, the new Dean told me the foreign affairs department set the age policy and yet Miss Yin told me to speak to her! So just who IS the one who decides - the Dean or the FA dept???
I will see the Dean either Monday or Tuesday so that I know for sure. In the meantime the agency now have all my details and I have told them my situation. This is no way to run a ship.
I did a quick (well it wasn’t that quick but not my fault) trip to town at about 1530. The queue of students for the bus was horrendous so I rode to the last stop, narrowly missing catching a bus that left as I pulled in to park up. No problems I thought, that will take most of those queuing and the next one won’t be full. How wrong can you be? We were so full when we left the driver could only sail past people hailing from later bus stops as there was no more room, and continued to do so until some people got off at the train station. Needless to say I also had to take the two bus option to come back but at least the fares are back to 1y. I may venture in again tomorrow but I would like to make some cottage pies in the evening for freezing. If I am leaving I really need to start watching the pennies.
The meal/meeting/discussion about the chances of my staying here?
I’m not holding my breath.
I saw Prof Fang as she was walking to her car after work on Wednesday (she’s not our dean any more since moving over to be director of personnel for the entire university but I would rather have her on my side than her replacement) and I suggested a meal tonight with her, director Xu and Miss Yin, both from foreign affairs. Prof Fang has said she will tell me if she is free by lunchtime today, the other two (and I was assured that even though they can’t speak English they can read it) haven’t yet replied to my texts.
I am getting the distinct impression the matter is not up for discussion, even if only for them to listen politely and still say no. If that is indeed the case then I would be putting it mildly if I said that disappoints me.
The boy who fell asleep last Thursday in class and who glared daggers at me for the rest of the lessons? He turned up today and before class I was outside having a puff so I asked him if he was sufficiently rested. He looked it and indeed said he was fine. Good lad, I said. I think he learnt a lesson, I won’t hold it against him and I am pretty sure he won’t harbour anything other than a healthy respect for me. The new classes don’t seem a bad lot although there is the usual battle to get them to be active but that’s normal with freshmen. I will get there.
Joan reported back on Richard’s teaching. Naturally I was interested in how his style differed from mine and of course it does dramatically. He does however have activities which unlike mine are computer-based from the sound of it. Being a technophobe it’s as much as I can do to show a film, leave alone a slide show or a PPP. BUT. It would seem he is far stricter on the students than I have ever been and I thought some of my rules were verging on the draconian. I realise now I have been a complete softy and will remain so of course, I prefer a disapproving look to embarrass or simply stopping in mid sentence and staring until a culprit suddenly realises something is wrong. Kevin admitted to the odd tirade in his classes and yes, I have had one or two but mine were aimed at the entire class rather than individual miscreants and always when they were simply sitting there mute and not answering questions or taking part in the class. And these were classes in which the majority wanted to be teachers themselves!
It does take time to coax some classes out of their shells and it is not entirely their fault. The system here (until they go to college or university that is) goes like this: the teachers from primary to middle to junior high and senior high schools always insist that they shut up, listen, look, read and write and never question the teacher. They come to a foreign teacher’s class and it is so ingrained they shit themselves if they have to speak in class. Unless of course it is to have a little side conversation with their friend sitting next to them.
That does have to change because all that does is knock all the curiosity and wanting to actually understand what they are being taught right out of them.
2115
Well of course the meal never happened. Prof Fang at least texted to say sorry but she would be busy, Director Xu still hasn’t replied but Miss Yin did, albeit too late. Having now registered with a teacher’s job agency earlier today, I decided to simply say what I was after. Now, the new Dean told me the foreign affairs department set the age policy and yet Miss Yin told me to speak to her! So just who IS the one who decides - the Dean or the FA dept???
I will see the Dean either Monday or Tuesday so that I know for sure. In the meantime the agency now have all my details and I have told them my situation. This is no way to run a ship.
I did a quick (well it wasn’t that quick but not my fault) trip to town at about 1530. The queue of students for the bus was horrendous so I rode to the last stop, narrowly missing catching a bus that left as I pulled in to park up. No problems I thought, that will take most of those queuing and the next one won’t be full. How wrong can you be? We were so full when we left the driver could only sail past people hailing from later bus stops as there was no more room, and continued to do so until some people got off at the train station. Needless to say I also had to take the two bus option to come back but at least the fares are back to 1y. I may venture in again tomorrow but I would like to make some cottage pies in the evening for freezing. If I am leaving I really need to start watching the pennies.
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