Tuesday 12th November, 2013             1845

I would say the warm weather has well and truly departed for a while. Today was flipping cold at 12C with light rain and looking at the ten day prognosis there won’t be anything above twenty before next spring.

Not much to report other than the fact we are supposed to be getting the keys to our new homes on Friday. I went to have a look at mine after class this afternoon. Still no bed yet but mock wood flooring throughout with tiles on the balcony and in the bathroom. I tried out the shower for hot water and failed dismally. At present I have a large tank with heating element so I have scalding hot water which is great except you can’t spend long under the shower as when it runs out it goes cold. The new places have electric water heaters that heat on demand but I’m not sure how warm it will get. They have put some rather nifty ceiling lights in the bathroom which can double up as heaters for the winter. Importantly, they have also at my request put hasps on the outside of the room doors so they can be locked from both sides, ensuring my bedroom can stay animal free!

Kevin’s electric drill and toolkit set arrived yesterday, which means he can now put up any shelves we want (one in the bathroom for sure) and any other little jobs that need doing. I have given him the money to order my washing machine and later this week I will go to town to buy a chest freezer. I have quite warmed to the idea of moving now and although I have no idea how much longer my time here will be, I did have a chat yesterday, spoke my thoughts and hopefully persuaded the dean to fight my corner for at least another year here.

Wednesday 13th           2015

And once again everyone has been paid except the foreigners. Unbelievable. While in some areas they are bending over backwards, in others we seem not to rate even a passing thought.

Today was rather different. I had been asked a few days ago  to do a twenty minute presentation on my teaching methods for this term’s book to “several” teachers and to prepare a PPP (they call it PPT here, presumably some Americanism). I had to tell Cinny to forget the PPP, not only have I no idea how to make one but I don’t recollect ever seeing one. No problem thought I, a blackboard will do me just fine.

This morning I had notification it was to take place this afternoon and accordingly I had to cancel my own class - much to their delight. However, as with most things in China, what you are told and what actually happens are often two completely different things. Several teachers became virtually the entire teaching staff of the foreign languages department (about fifty!), including Prof Fang. No classroom, ergo no blackboard, it took place in the big conference room in which the Chinese staff have their Wednesday weekly meetings.

All I had was a handwritten sheet with some bullet points, the rest being in my head. And who was the first one to give their talk? I wasn’t even sure what I was about to deliver was what was wanted (thankfully it was) but I did my best. I don’t perform as well when I am seated and much prefer to pace about using body language as I do in my classes.

Afterwards I endured about another ten Chinese teachers - most with PPPs and most speaking in Chinese so I had no idea of what was going on. Whilst I was free to leave the moment I had finished my bit I thought perhaps I should show willing and stay. Eventually Prof Fang came to me and said all the remaining talks would be in Chinese so it was fine for me to leave. I did, not least of all because after two hours I was in dire need of the loo and a cigar - in that order! I did find it odd that none of the other laowei were invited though.

Day off tomorrow and I had thought about taking the bus to town to look at freezers but I may have to give that a miss if we haven’t been paid by then - I won’t want to spend 1,000y and leave myself with nothing to live on, having already given Kevin the money for the washing machine.

That’s it from here - ravioli on toast beckons.