Today was the first day of break and so Geoff and I went to McDonalds for lunch. The place looked like the New York Stock Exchange. The Chinese haven't really got the concept of waiting in a line yet, so imagine a crazy lunch hour rush at McDonald's with no lines and you have something similar. Once we got our food, there was no place to sit and so we finally had the good fortune to spot two businessmen right when they were about to get up from a table that sat four, so we went and sat down. A few things to keep in mind here. This place is cramped and crowded, standing room only. There are two of us, and four seats at our table. We waited to see if anyone would come and sit next to the foreigners for nearly twenty minutes. Several people looked like they might, but then quickly turned away. Others simply ate standing up. When we left, it was a mad dash to our table. Afterward, we walked down to the Lotus Center which is a rather large department store. Inside the Lotus Center is well decorated with all the Christmas spirit of anywhere in America. Still can't quite figure that one out, but it took me record time to get annoyed with Christmas carols this year. Geoff and I bought a small Christmas tree and a few decorations (think Charlie Brown)and when we came back to campus decorated a little bit. A little later on, all the staff had a belated Thanksgiving dinner that, even though was lacking in the traditional elements, certainly was not lacking in spirit. As always, Geoff had his camera there and took a few hundred pictures then whittled them down to these.
Geoff's PicasaWeb
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving
Want to know how they celebrate Thanksgiving in China?
OK, I'll tell you.
It's just like any other day. Thanksgiving is a strictly American holiday so the vast majority of the sutdents weren't even aware of the holiday. It's kind of like Americans and Boxing Day. You are aware it exists, and it's even on some calendars but you have no ideas on the specifics besides the fact that its celebrated in some other country. As far as the American staff here, there was really nothing special to commemorate the day. On Sunday, however, there is talk of a pot luck. Certain things are pretty hard to get such as turkey, cranberry sauce, real gravy, and stuffing but we'll see how it turns out.
OK, I'll tell you.
It's just like any other day. Thanksgiving is a strictly American holiday so the vast majority of the sutdents weren't even aware of the holiday. It's kind of like Americans and Boxing Day. You are aware it exists, and it's even on some calendars but you have no ideas on the specifics besides the fact that its celebrated in some other country. As far as the American staff here, there was really nothing special to commemorate the day. On Sunday, however, there is talk of a pot luck. Certain things are pretty hard to get such as turkey, cranberry sauce, real gravy, and stuffing but we'll see how it turns out.
Monday, November 23, 2009
For Once, the Rich White Man Has All The Power :)
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep."At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out." 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut."Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13
The Internet died here this morning and it's looking like it won't be repaired for a solid ten days to two weeks. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth on this morning, but it barely affects me. I have had my own internet, DanNet, for a few months now. Yesterday, it was TIP Net, ChinaNet and DanNet. Now it's only DanNet. Effective this morning, I own a full monopoly on Internet services for this campus.
People soon realized that I had nternet, so they were saved! Of course I was happy to help them...for a nominal fee. I may not have a master's in international economics but there is a few things I have learned...among them being Supply and Demand. Since this break in service occurs on Thanksgiving Week, I am giving people one free hour during ideal American calling hours to contact home. It got so bad that earlier the Dean of the entire campus was in my room, asking (and paying) to use DanNet. However, most people can't seem to understand why I don't just set up my router for everyone to use. After all, be a nice person and all that. The answer comes from the Gospel According to Dan:
"At that time, TIP will be like ten facilitators who turned on their computers and went out to check their email. Nine of them were foolish and one of them was wise. The foolish ones depended on the campus for their Internet, the one who was wise bought his own equipment. The email was a long time in loading, and they all became impatient and did other things. At noon, the cry rang out: “Here is the proxy to load your email, come out and install it!”Then all the facilitators got back to their computers. The foolish ones said to the wise “Give us some of your bandwidth, for ours is really slow.”“No” he replied, “there may not be enough for both you and me. Instead, go to those who sell wi-fi and buy some for yourselves.”But while they were off campus, the router broke. And the one who was wise, turned on his own equipment and checked his email, and updated his blog. And the internet was password protected.Later, the others also came. “Sir! Sir!” they said, “Unlock the internet for us!” But he replied, “I tell you the truth, I will not.”Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour when the router shall break."
The Internet died here this morning and it's looking like it won't be repaired for a solid ten days to two weeks. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth on this morning, but it barely affects me. I have had my own internet, DanNet, for a few months now. Yesterday, it was TIP Net, ChinaNet and DanNet. Now it's only DanNet. Effective this morning, I own a full monopoly on Internet services for this campus.
"Excellent...."
People soon realized that I had nternet, so they were saved! Of course I was happy to help them...for a nominal fee. I may not have a master's in international economics but there is a few things I have learned...among them being Supply and Demand. Since this break in service occurs on Thanksgiving Week, I am giving people one free hour during ideal American calling hours to contact home. It got so bad that earlier the Dean of the entire campus was in my room, asking (and paying) to use DanNet. However, most people can't seem to understand why I don't just set up my router for everyone to use. After all, be a nice person and all that. The answer comes from the Gospel According to Dan:
"At that time, TIP will be like ten facilitators who turned on their computers and went out to check their email. Nine of them were foolish and one of them was wise. The foolish ones depended on the campus for their Internet, the one who was wise bought his own equipment. The email was a long time in loading, and they all became impatient and did other things. At noon, the cry rang out: “Here is the proxy to load your email, come out and install it!”Then all the facilitators got back to their computers. The foolish ones said to the wise “Give us some of your bandwidth, for ours is really slow.”“No” he replied, “there may not be enough for both you and me. Instead, go to those who sell wi-fi and buy some for yourselves.”But while they were off campus, the router broke. And the one who was wise, turned on his own equipment and checked his email, and updated his blog. And the internet was password protected.Later, the others also came. “Sir! Sir!” they said, “Unlock the internet for us!” But he replied, “I tell you the truth, I will not.”Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour when the router shall break."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Roomie's a Shutterbug
So not only is my new roommate the cat's pajamas (goes with the retro theme ;) but he is a pretty avid photographer and has some great equipment. He put together an album that you can see here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/geoffrey.hill/First17Days#
you can get some good shots of our campus as well as our students here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/geoffrey.hill/First17Days#
you can get some good shots of our campus as well as our students here.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How To Lose Guan Xi...in Color!
The past few days at meal times, our program director Julia has been eating with my class to get to know the students. This has been pretty good because the students have a new target to ask a million questions a day. That is, until yesterday when one of the lower students couldn't remember the particular vocab for his question, so he just asked it in Chinese. We like to keep an English-only environment, so Julia gave him a citation.
It looked something like this...
A citation is pretty much just a reminder to use English and a warning that if you get enough of them, you're in trouble. The first citation is practically meaningless, but the students didn't see it that way and were quite upset with Julia for giving him one since it was only a few words. Well rules are rules so Julia didn't bend on it, and seeing as though she is my boss, I didn't either. So today, the students sat on the complete opposite ends of the table crowding each other so not as to have to sit near Julia.
Hey, at least it built class unity. :)
It looked something like this...
A citation is pretty much just a reminder to use English and a warning that if you get enough of them, you're in trouble. The first citation is practically meaningless, but the students didn't see it that way and were quite upset with Julia for giving him one since it was only a few words. Well rules are rules so Julia didn't bend on it, and seeing as though she is my boss, I didn't either. So today, the students sat on the complete opposite ends of the table crowding each other so not as to have to sit near Julia.
Hey, at least it built class unity. :)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Snow Problems
This is from the China Daily in an article from yesterdays paper.
Heavy snowstorms in northern China have killed at least 32 people today, according to officials. More than 15,000 buildings had collapsed due to large amounts of snow and 300,000 hectares of winter crops were destroyed, according to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The ministry estimated that 9.6 million people were affected in some way by the snows, and a further 166,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Most of the deaths were caused by traffic accidents, the ministry said.
Heavy snowfall started on Monday in central and northern parts of China, including the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Shandong. The capital of Beijing was struck by three successive snowfalls, and dozens of flights at airports were canceled or delayed. Beijing and the surrounding area is not very well equipped to handle the snows, as they have few de-icing supplies or snowploughs.
The snowfalls are the heaviest in China since records started being kept in 1949, according to the civil affairs ministry. State media suggested some of the snowfall was started artificially, by cloud seeding.
Heavy snowstorms in northern China have killed at least 32 people today, according to officials. More than 15,000 buildings had collapsed due to large amounts of snow and 300,000 hectares of winter crops were destroyed, according to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The ministry estimated that 9.6 million people were affected in some way by the snows, and a further 166,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Most of the deaths were caused by traffic accidents, the ministry said.
Heavy snowfall started on Monday in central and northern parts of China, including the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Shandong. The capital of Beijing was struck by three successive snowfalls, and dozens of flights at airports were canceled or delayed. Beijing and the surrounding area is not very well equipped to handle the snows, as they have few de-icing supplies or snowploughs.
The snowfalls are the heaviest in China since records started being kept in 1949, according to the civil affairs ministry. State media suggested some of the snowfall was started artificially, by cloud seeding.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
This Just Isn't Right....
So all the press is covering obama's every movement since he slithered into China last night, including his travels to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, (locking down dang near the entire city as well) and I have just one question....
How come he didn't have to go through seven days of isolated quarantine like every other foreigner in the country?
How come he didn't have to go through seven days of isolated quarantine like every other foreigner in the country?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
