It's December 31 in China right now. And, only about 45 minutes until the year changes, so here's a quick Happy New Year! for everyone.
It's obvious from the fact that I am posting this at 11:15 pm on the 31st, that I am not out getting drunk at a bar or a party right now.
I haven't actually done that in years. But, this year I have a pretty good excuse for not being out and about at midnight.
I've been invited to a wedding tomorrow. A driver will be picking me up at around 8:30am.
I actually got the invite on Xmas Day, but I didn't mention it because I wanted to have something to write about ;)
From what I understand, it will be a "traditional" Chinese wedding. Not sure what that means yet. More details as they become available. I suspect I may be expected to actually say something at this shindig. More details as they become available.
--
On a different, but vaguely related note...
I'm invited to this wedding because the happy couple is the best friends of one of my bosses. Today, we (my boss and I) were talking about what time I had to be ready, suit and tie, and all those details. At one point, I flippantly said, "Cool. It's a date."
Ummm.. Potential trouble. This reacted to WAY more seriously than I meant it. Of course, my boss is hot and single, and reasonably close to my age, so it might have been a subconscious thing on my part. (Two other bosses... One married, and hot. Other lives with boyfriend, and hot.)
I honestly was not trying to make a move at that moment. But she reacted like she accepted it as one. She made a comment that because it is New Years Eve, she has to take what I said seriously. Ummmm.... This could be really bad. Or good. Or it could mean nothing.
More details as they become available.
2005-12-30
On a completely different note....
I mentioned what my Christmas was like...
I also realized that I haven't put much in the way of pictures up here...
So, I thought I would post a really cool Xmas related picture.
It's not me. And it's not China. But, bear with me for a moment. I like this picture, and it's my blog, so I get to post it if I want.
[ i'm very sensitive about posting pictures of people on the internet. That's why you haven't seen any pictures of my roommates, my students, or my co-workers. But, this one has been edited a little, and I think Mr and Mrs Claus will approve... ]
I also realized that I haven't put much in the way of pictures up here...
So, I thought I would post a really cool Xmas related picture.
It's not me. And it's not China. But, bear with me for a moment. I like this picture, and it's my blog, so I get to post it if I want.
[ i'm very sensitive about posting pictures of people on the internet. That's why you haven't seen any pictures of my roommates, my students, or my co-workers. But, this one has been edited a little, and I think Mr and Mrs Claus will approve... ]
Magores Eats Chinese Food
Okay.... Here's yet ANOTHER post I typed well in advance of internet access... Wrote this over two weeks ago...
====
The title of this post will pretty make much you say "Duh", if you know that I am IN China.
Before I came to Beijing, a lot of people asked me, "Do you like Chinese food?" Ummm. Yes. Who doesn't?
Of course, the next thing people seemed to say was, "You know... Chinese food is different in China." You know what? They were right.
Let me admit, right now, that I am afraid of restaraunts in China. My very first night here in China (37 days ago, or so), I was taken to a "local" restaraunt.
It was explained to me that it was a Chinese-Muslim place. I got no problem with that. I did have a problem with the food though.
I'm a big fan of pasta. I like grain-based foods. Noodles make me say "Yay". Bread gets a "Whoopie AND STUFF!" from me. But, the "chinese noodles" that night turned my stomach. It wasn't the noodles. It was the broth. Can you say dirty dishwater?
Okay, not a good start to my culinary adventures in China. But, thats okay. I got my shots before I came. And, maybe it was an anomaly.
And, thankfully, things have gotten much better since that that first night.
Part of the deal for me being here is that the school I work at feeds me. Essentially, this means they provide lunch on the days I work.
There is a regualr schedule that I haven't taken the time to figure out yet, but basically it works like this...
--Today-Noodles with a beef gravy thing plus cabbage, and an onion soup type thing after. I look forward to this. Very tasty grub.
--Other days...
----Chinese Noodle Day - I don't like this day. Dirty Dishwater. It turns out that the first night was NOT an anomoly. That's the way it is suppossed to taste. Ummmmmm..... Ugh. But, there is usually another part to the meal that is worthwhile.
----Pork Day - I like pig flesh as food. Pig fat is another story.
----Order Out Day - Our cook doesn't work on weekends, so we usually "order out" on Saturdays. This is the day where I am most likely to have the type of Chinese food that I am used to. Sweet and Sour this, Kung Pao that... I like this day.
----Rice - Rice is a staple part of many meals... Except when noodles and/or bread is involved. Believe it or not, not all Chinese people eat rice every day. In some parts of the country, bread based meals are more common. I like rice. I like these days.
----Bread - Bread is a staple of the days when rice and/or noodles isn't. From what I am told, in some parts of China, bread is far more prevalent than rice. It's not Wonder bread. And to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of whatever this bread is. It's not made of wheat. I think its made from sorghum. (I'm serious.) It's not bad, but I would much rather have rice.
So... That's lunch. That leaves two other meals a day. What do I do for them?
Breakfast...
I LOVE breakfast food. Eggs, bacon, omlets, sausage, pancakes, toast, cold cereal, hot cereal, OJ, you name it... I just don't like them at "breakfast time". I don't do breakfast. Coffee and/or a Coca-cola is breakfast.
I have discovered somthing that I like though. Across the the street from my tenement there is usually a street vendor selling these fried things... Fried bread, with an egg inside/on top of/within the bread, and a chunk of lettuce, with some spicy bean paste. This is good food. Costs 1RMB. Another morning vendor sells a thing with the same fried bread and beef(?) with green peppers. A little more expensive (3RMB), but totally worth it.
Lunch... I mentioned that.
Dinner... This is a crapshoot everyday.
-Some days I make "American food". Denver Omlets, for example. (I told you I like the food, just not at breakfast time).
-I have a "source" for fresh garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. I just need the garlic press (more on that later), and I will be making a huge batch of spagetti. My roommates don't even understand the concept. All the more reason to make it. My source for veggies is the market across the street. (More on that later.)
-Other days I do Convenience Noodles - This is an area where America got it wrong. "Convenience Noodles" in the US means... Cup O'Noodles? Top Ramen? PShaw! China got this one right. It's sort of hard to explain. Let me just say... If you want noodles for a meal, go Chinese.
-As I mentioned above, I like rice. I ate it as a meal in the US, and I do it here too.
-Street Food - I love the street food. One of the best peices of advice I ever got about China was from a guy who I don't know, that responded to my first post. He said, (and I paraphrase)..."Eat the street food. You can see the flame, you can see the utensils, you can see what is going on in the "kitchen"". This little piece of advice has proably been the best thing I could have ever learned before I got here. The street food is the way to go.
Speaking of street food....
There is a guy. I don't know his name. He sells little shishkabob thingies. 6 'bobs and a beer for 5 RMB. I don't care what the 'bobs are made of (my roommates sniffed carefully the one time I bought some for them), or what the locals pay. All I know is I walk away from him happy. (Actually, the coolest part is that I am a "regular". I know what to order, how much it will cost, and how long I might have to wait. And, unless he is busy, we chat a little.)
[ special note: I'm actually writing this section the day I'm posting this. The 'bob situation has gotten even better than the day I wrote the comments above. I think I mentioned the 'bob guy and the magazine guy in the Sheng Dan post.
This has gotten to be a regular little event in my day. Almost every day around 9pm or so, I wander outside and hang with the 'bob guy and the magazine guy. Sometimes 2 'bobs. Sometimes 4 or 6. Sometimes I go for the beer to wash down the 'bobs. It has become a little "practice session" for me. I get to practice the Chinese I learned that day. They correct me on my pronunciation. The other customers laugh at the laowei's (me) bad pronunciation (ch: shou de bu hao), and help me out too. It's a nice little excuse to get out of the house. Street food! Gotta love it! ]
Yawn....
I just realized that I'm tired.
A discussion of what I do when I'm desparate for something to eat that isn't street food will have to wait until another time..... aka "Chickn McNuggets and KFC. We don't do bird flu!"
So, for now, there you go....
I'm in China, and I eat... Shishkabobs!
====
The title of this post will pretty make much you say "Duh", if you know that I am IN China.
Before I came to Beijing, a lot of people asked me, "Do you like Chinese food?" Ummm. Yes. Who doesn't?
Of course, the next thing people seemed to say was, "You know... Chinese food is different in China." You know what? They were right.
Let me admit, right now, that I am afraid of restaraunts in China. My very first night here in China (37 days ago, or so), I was taken to a "local" restaraunt.
It was explained to me that it was a Chinese-Muslim place. I got no problem with that. I did have a problem with the food though.
I'm a big fan of pasta. I like grain-based foods. Noodles make me say "Yay". Bread gets a "Whoopie AND STUFF!" from me. But, the "chinese noodles" that night turned my stomach. It wasn't the noodles. It was the broth. Can you say dirty dishwater?
Okay, not a good start to my culinary adventures in China. But, thats okay. I got my shots before I came. And, maybe it was an anomaly.
And, thankfully, things have gotten much better since that that first night.
Part of the deal for me being here is that the school I work at feeds me. Essentially, this means they provide lunch on the days I work.
There is a regualr schedule that I haven't taken the time to figure out yet, but basically it works like this...
--Today-Noodles with a beef gravy thing plus cabbage, and an onion soup type thing after. I look forward to this. Very tasty grub.
--Other days...
----Chinese Noodle Day - I don't like this day. Dirty Dishwater. It turns out that the first night was NOT an anomoly. That's the way it is suppossed to taste. Ummmmmm..... Ugh. But, there is usually another part to the meal that is worthwhile.
----Pork Day - I like pig flesh as food. Pig fat is another story.
----Order Out Day - Our cook doesn't work on weekends, so we usually "order out" on Saturdays. This is the day where I am most likely to have the type of Chinese food that I am used to. Sweet and Sour this, Kung Pao that... I like this day.
----Rice - Rice is a staple part of many meals... Except when noodles and/or bread is involved. Believe it or not, not all Chinese people eat rice every day. In some parts of the country, bread based meals are more common. I like rice. I like these days.
----Bread - Bread is a staple of the days when rice and/or noodles isn't. From what I am told, in some parts of China, bread is far more prevalent than rice. It's not Wonder bread. And to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of whatever this bread is. It's not made of wheat. I think its made from sorghum. (I'm serious.) It's not bad, but I would much rather have rice.
So... That's lunch. That leaves two other meals a day. What do I do for them?
Breakfast...
I LOVE breakfast food. Eggs, bacon, omlets, sausage, pancakes, toast, cold cereal, hot cereal, OJ, you name it... I just don't like them at "breakfast time". I don't do breakfast. Coffee and/or a Coca-cola is breakfast.
I have discovered somthing that I like though. Across the the street from my tenement there is usually a street vendor selling these fried things... Fried bread, with an egg inside/on top of/within the bread, and a chunk of lettuce, with some spicy bean paste. This is good food. Costs 1RMB. Another morning vendor sells a thing with the same fried bread and beef(?) with green peppers. A little more expensive (3RMB), but totally worth it.
Lunch... I mentioned that.
Dinner... This is a crapshoot everyday.
-Some days I make "American food". Denver Omlets, for example. (I told you I like the food, just not at breakfast time).
-I have a "source" for fresh garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. I just need the garlic press (more on that later), and I will be making a huge batch of spagetti. My roommates don't even understand the concept. All the more reason to make it. My source for veggies is the market across the street. (More on that later.)
-Other days I do Convenience Noodles - This is an area where America got it wrong. "Convenience Noodles" in the US means... Cup O'Noodles? Top Ramen? PShaw! China got this one right. It's sort of hard to explain. Let me just say... If you want noodles for a meal, go Chinese.
-As I mentioned above, I like rice. I ate it as a meal in the US, and I do it here too.
-Street Food - I love the street food. One of the best peices of advice I ever got about China was from a guy who I don't know, that responded to my first post. He said, (and I paraphrase)..."Eat the street food. You can see the flame, you can see the utensils, you can see what is going on in the "kitchen"". This little piece of advice has proably been the best thing I could have ever learned before I got here. The street food is the way to go.
Speaking of street food....
There is a guy. I don't know his name. He sells little shishkabob thingies. 6 'bobs and a beer for 5 RMB. I don't care what the 'bobs are made of (my roommates sniffed carefully the one time I bought some for them), or what the locals pay. All I know is I walk away from him happy. (Actually, the coolest part is that I am a "regular". I know what to order, how much it will cost, and how long I might have to wait. And, unless he is busy, we chat a little.)
[ special note: I'm actually writing this section the day I'm posting this. The 'bob situation has gotten even better than the day I wrote the comments above. I think I mentioned the 'bob guy and the magazine guy in the Sheng Dan post.
This has gotten to be a regular little event in my day. Almost every day around 9pm or so, I wander outside and hang with the 'bob guy and the magazine guy. Sometimes 2 'bobs. Sometimes 4 or 6. Sometimes I go for the beer to wash down the 'bobs. It has become a little "practice session" for me. I get to practice the Chinese I learned that day. They correct me on my pronunciation. The other customers laugh at the laowei's (me) bad pronunciation (ch: shou de bu hao), and help me out too. It's a nice little excuse to get out of the house. Street food! Gotta love it! ]
Yawn....
I just realized that I'm tired.
A discussion of what I do when I'm desparate for something to eat that isn't street food will have to wait until another time..... aka "Chickn McNuggets and KFC. We don't do bird flu!"
So, for now, there you go....
I'm in China, and I eat... Shishkabobs!
Magores Goes to New Orleans
Okay... Here is another post that I typed in advance of the internet access... The events descrived here happened 2 weeks before the date I am posting this...
====
There is a place in Beijing that I heard about even before I came here.
I heard about a club/bar that is geared more for the "over-30" crowd. I fit that description. So, I made a point of trying to find the place once I got here. From what I could tell from maps on the internet, I thought I was about 3 or 4 blocks away from the place. And, I knew the park that it is near.
Well, as it turns out, it wasn't as easy to find as I expected.
First of all, the place is actually about 7 or 8 blocks away from where I live. Still not too bad, you say? Well, let me explain about the concept of "blocks" in Beijing.
Blocks in Beijing are huge.
-For those of you familiar with SF, think about it this way... One block can be as large as going from the south edge of GG Park to Geary Blvd. A small block is like going from Fulton to Geary or Clement.
-For those of you familiar with a certain city in Washington state, here's another example... From 72nd to 64th is a short block. From 72nd past 56th is a "regular" block. And they can get bigger than that.
Keeping in mind that the daytime temprature here is below 0 (and nighttime is worse), you can understand why it's not an "easy walk".
Also, keep in mind that the park the place is near is about 2 Beijing blocks wide, by 4 Beijing blocks tall.
All I knew is that the place I was looking for was near this park.
After a lot of research, I finally figured out more or less where I needed to go. "Taxi Time!"
Cab driver was kind of pissed at me. I knew basically where to go, and I was pretty sure that taking the 3rd Ring (aka freeway) was not what I wanted to do. Driver wanted to take the 3rd Ring. He lives here, he speaks the language. And here is some random MeiGuoRen (American) telling him NOT to do what he expected. Oh well.
It worked out good. I got to see more of the neighborhood I live in. I saw some really nice apartment complexes. I saw a Starbucks. Haven't been there, but from what I hear, one small cup of coffee is $20 RMB. (RMB is the abbreviation for Chinese dollars. USD is US dollars.) For comparison sake, an Egg McMuffin+HashBrowns+Coffee at MacDonalds costs $25 RMB. A fried bread + egg + lettuce thing on the street costs $1 RMB.
Eventually, we arrived where I wanted to go.
"The Big Easy" is a place that was opened by an American living here in Beijing. The basic concept is simple. Take a New Orleans restaraunt/bar and open it in Beijing. Give it the food, the drinks, and the decour. I can see how this would work. Especially, since the place is reasonably close to the US Embassy. I talked to the manager a bit. Apparently the guy died, but his Chinese widow keeps the place open.
The night I was there was a Sunday, so it was fairly slow, as you might expect. Apparently, I missed out on the good singer they have. She is from St. Louis, and is there on Tuesday-Saturday. But that was okay. It gave me a chance to check out the place, and to talk to the bartender, manager, etc.
My impression of the place? Overall, very nice. It was more restaraunt than bar, which was a little disappointing for me and my purposes. It looks just as what I expect a restaraunt/bar of this type to look like as if it were actually in New Orleans. Two levels, with an open floor so the 2nd floor can see the band on the first level. The stairs leading up/down are circular. Don't get too drunk and attempt these. The food? I didn't do a full meal ($100 RMB +), but I did order the spicy chicken wings ($42 RMB). They were quite tasty and spicy. And, I saw a few other things on the menu (chinese = cai dan) that looked pretty good. Reasonably decent selection of beer. Budweiser bottle was $40 RMB. I skipped that. The Grolsch was around $40 RMB also. I decided for the pints of Carlsberg draft (draught) beer ($35 RMB).
Don't ask me how much I spent that night. It was a lot. That's all I know.
And the next morning, I felt like hell.
So, there we go...
Spent too much money. Felt like hell the next day. Had a good time. I guess that's what visting New Orleans is all about. Even if you do it while in Beijing
====
There is a place in Beijing that I heard about even before I came here.
I heard about a club/bar that is geared more for the "over-30" crowd. I fit that description. So, I made a point of trying to find the place once I got here. From what I could tell from maps on the internet, I thought I was about 3 or 4 blocks away from the place. And, I knew the park that it is near.
Well, as it turns out, it wasn't as easy to find as I expected.
First of all, the place is actually about 7 or 8 blocks away from where I live. Still not too bad, you say? Well, let me explain about the concept of "blocks" in Beijing.
Blocks in Beijing are huge.
-For those of you familiar with SF, think about it this way... One block can be as large as going from the south edge of GG Park to Geary Blvd. A small block is like going from Fulton to Geary or Clement.
-For those of you familiar with a certain city in Washington state, here's another example... From 72nd to 64th is a short block. From 72nd past 56th is a "regular" block. And they can get bigger than that.
Keeping in mind that the daytime temprature here is below 0 (and nighttime is worse), you can understand why it's not an "easy walk".
Also, keep in mind that the park the place is near is about 2 Beijing blocks wide, by 4 Beijing blocks tall.
All I knew is that the place I was looking for was near this park.
After a lot of research, I finally figured out more or less where I needed to go. "Taxi Time!"
Cab driver was kind of pissed at me. I knew basically where to go, and I was pretty sure that taking the 3rd Ring (aka freeway) was not what I wanted to do. Driver wanted to take the 3rd Ring. He lives here, he speaks the language. And here is some random MeiGuoRen (American) telling him NOT to do what he expected. Oh well.
It worked out good. I got to see more of the neighborhood I live in. I saw some really nice apartment complexes. I saw a Starbucks. Haven't been there, but from what I hear, one small cup of coffee is $20 RMB. (RMB is the abbreviation for Chinese dollars. USD is US dollars.) For comparison sake, an Egg McMuffin+HashBrowns+Coffee at MacDonalds costs $25 RMB. A fried bread + egg + lettuce thing on the street costs $1 RMB.
Eventually, we arrived where I wanted to go.
"The Big Easy" is a place that was opened by an American living here in Beijing. The basic concept is simple. Take a New Orleans restaraunt/bar and open it in Beijing. Give it the food, the drinks, and the decour. I can see how this would work. Especially, since the place is reasonably close to the US Embassy. I talked to the manager a bit. Apparently the guy died, but his Chinese widow keeps the place open.
The night I was there was a Sunday, so it was fairly slow, as you might expect. Apparently, I missed out on the good singer they have. She is from St. Louis, and is there on Tuesday-Saturday. But that was okay. It gave me a chance to check out the place, and to talk to the bartender, manager, etc.
My impression of the place? Overall, very nice. It was more restaraunt than bar, which was a little disappointing for me and my purposes. It looks just as what I expect a restaraunt/bar of this type to look like as if it were actually in New Orleans. Two levels, with an open floor so the 2nd floor can see the band on the first level. The stairs leading up/down are circular. Don't get too drunk and attempt these. The food? I didn't do a full meal ($100 RMB +), but I did order the spicy chicken wings ($42 RMB). They were quite tasty and spicy. And, I saw a few other things on the menu (chinese = cai dan) that looked pretty good. Reasonably decent selection of beer. Budweiser bottle was $40 RMB. I skipped that. The Grolsch was around $40 RMB also. I decided for the pints of Carlsberg draft (draught) beer ($35 RMB).
Don't ask me how much I spent that night. It was a lot. That's all I know.
And the next morning, I felt like hell.
So, there we go...
Spent too much money. Felt like hell the next day. Had a good time. I guess that's what visting New Orleans is all about. Even if you do it while in Beijing
2005-12-26
Magores the &(^&T%@&^%$#%& !!!!
Here's another post that I wrote in advance of internet access... The date references make more sense if you keep in mind that I wrote this 9 days or so before I posted it.
------------
Okay, so I didn't get internet installed on Friday like I expected. Basically, my fault. I had to go out and buy a NIC. In between Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, I broke the one I had. Long story.
Even longer story is one about China's version of customer service. I'm not going to tell that story right now. I'll do that later. For the moment, let me just say that US retailers/customer service reps should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, if the US version of service is what you are used to, then the VERY helpful version of things can be quite frustrating. But, as I said, that's a story for another time.
At the time I'm typing this, I still don't have internet installed, but I thought I would type this in advance. That way, I can post some stuff once I do have internet installed.
So, anyway... Two days ago, I was leaving the kindergarten I work at on Wednesdays and Fridays. I was walking up the street looking to hail a cab. (Which is actually fairly easy in this town.) Just minding my own business, thinking about what had happened, and what was next... The normal thing. Out of the corner of my ear, I hear someone shout...
"LAOWEI!"
Now, I don't know alot of Chinese, but I know this one. Someone had just called me a bad name. And, it was the first time I had heard it directed at me.
Some people will tell you that "Laowei" is not a bad name. And, in many circumstances, I would agree. For example... One American in China meets another, "Yo. Laowei, whats up?" This is not bad. Two Germans in China see each other. In passing each other, with a smile, each says to the other "Laowei". This is not bad. An Australian meets a Chinese friend for lunch. As they walk near each other, the Chinese friend says, "What do you want to eat today Laowei?" Once again, this is not bad.
What happened to me was a bit different. A random guy peddling his 3 wheeled bicycle contraption SHOUTED from across the street... "LAOWEI!"
This is bad.
Since this was the first time I had heard this in China, especially since it was the first time it was directed at me, I really couldn't react. It actually took another couple seconds before I realized what had just happened.
It's probably a good thing it took me a moment to translate things in my head. Had I realized what had happened as it happened, I might have shouted a suitable response in Chinese. (Yes, I can say bad things in Chinese. I learned most of them before I came here. And, No. I have never used any of them.) Of course, its never a good idea to curse at a construction worker, no matter where you are, or what your native language is.
Anyway... Being the sensitve soul that I am (cough, cough), I was quite shocked. Shocked I say! What do you want from me? Here I am, doing my part to teach English to children in China. I'm trying my best to learn Chinese (Only fair after all... Come to America, speak English. Come to China, speak Mandarin.) I gave up one life to start another, and what is my reward? Random dude calls me a "Laowei!"???!!
Not right at all. It actually effected me for a good solid 4 hours or so. (Thick skin.)
By now, I suppose you are wondering what "Laowei" means.
It means "foreigner".
------------
Okay, so I didn't get internet installed on Friday like I expected. Basically, my fault. I had to go out and buy a NIC. In between Thursday afternoon and Thursday night, I broke the one I had. Long story.
Even longer story is one about China's version of customer service. I'm not going to tell that story right now. I'll do that later. For the moment, let me just say that US retailers/customer service reps should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, if the US version of service is what you are used to, then the VERY helpful version of things can be quite frustrating. But, as I said, that's a story for another time.
At the time I'm typing this, I still don't have internet installed, but I thought I would type this in advance. That way, I can post some stuff once I do have internet installed.
So, anyway... Two days ago, I was leaving the kindergarten I work at on Wednesdays and Fridays. I was walking up the street looking to hail a cab. (Which is actually fairly easy in this town.) Just minding my own business, thinking about what had happened, and what was next... The normal thing. Out of the corner of my ear, I hear someone shout...
"LAOWEI!"
Now, I don't know alot of Chinese, but I know this one. Someone had just called me a bad name. And, it was the first time I had heard it directed at me.
Some people will tell you that "Laowei" is not a bad name. And, in many circumstances, I would agree. For example... One American in China meets another, "Yo. Laowei, whats up?" This is not bad. Two Germans in China see each other. In passing each other, with a smile, each says to the other "Laowei". This is not bad. An Australian meets a Chinese friend for lunch. As they walk near each other, the Chinese friend says, "What do you want to eat today Laowei?" Once again, this is not bad.
What happened to me was a bit different. A random guy peddling his 3 wheeled bicycle contraption SHOUTED from across the street... "LAOWEI!"
This is bad.
Since this was the first time I had heard this in China, especially since it was the first time it was directed at me, I really couldn't react. It actually took another couple seconds before I realized what had just happened.
It's probably a good thing it took me a moment to translate things in my head. Had I realized what had happened as it happened, I might have shouted a suitable response in Chinese. (Yes, I can say bad things in Chinese. I learned most of them before I came here. And, No. I have never used any of them.) Of course, its never a good idea to curse at a construction worker, no matter where you are, or what your native language is.
Anyway... Being the sensitve soul that I am (cough, cough), I was quite shocked. Shocked I say! What do you want from me? Here I am, doing my part to teach English to children in China. I'm trying my best to learn Chinese (Only fair after all... Come to America, speak English. Come to China, speak Mandarin.) I gave up one life to start another, and what is my reward? Random dude calls me a "Laowei!"???!!
Not right at all. It actually effected me for a good solid 4 hours or so. (Thick skin.)
By now, I suppose you are wondering what "Laowei" means.
It means "foreigner".
Magores Works for a Living
I wrote this post over a week ago, when I thought I was going to have internet that very same day. I didn't get it that day. But, I do now.
So, here we go....
Here is a post that people have actually asked for.
This is what I do...
-----
...I did mention my job, so I guess that's a good a place to start as any. (Plus, Nealo has asked a couple times for me to describe the situation, so here we go...)
My job...
Techincally, I be a Educashunal Consultent. Reelisklee, dis meens I be teechin' gud Englich skillz to the yoot of Chynr.
Seriously, though... I am an English Teacher. Or, to be even more specific, I am a Foreign Teacher of English. This is kind of a big deal. Even bigger of a deal is the fact that I am a native speaker of English. There seems to be quite a few Foreign Teachers here that are not native English speakers. For whatever reason, I've noticed the German accent/language more than any other so far.
So, what do I do?
Well, it depends on the day.
A couple days a week, I travel to a different district of Beijing and teach at a kindergarten. (District = Neighborhood. I live in the PanJiaYuan area of the ChaoYang District. The kindergarten is in the FengTai District.) Depending on traffic, it is a 30-45 minute cab ride to get there. I teach 6 classes in the morning. Smallest class is 12 kids, largest is 25.
Kindergarten is a little different here, than it is in the US. Basically, kindergarten contains 4 year olds in groups(s) and 5 year olds in another group(s). I teach the younger and the older groups.
How does the class work? Well, I have a really nice assistant, that takes care of most of the details. She is more than an assistant actually. She is a Teacher, who happens to be Chinese, and who happens to speak English. But, because I am the Foreign Teacher, she automatically becomes the assistant. She has been the disciplinarian. So far, she has been the one to decide upon the particular material/vocabulary, and I just reinforce what the kids have learned from her. I use flashcards, toys, singing, dancing and plain old goofiness to make the kids have fun... and learn at the same time. We've done "I like...", "I want...", Starting next week, this changes a bit. I will be deciding on material (within the confines of the books/goals, of course.)
In case you missed it... Yes, in the previous paragraph I did say that I sing, dance, play with toys, and act goofy. I guess that makes me a "prop comic for 5 year olds". (CarrotTop without the carrot and without the top?) But, thats only two days a week.
One day a week, I also work with three 13 year old girls. Their penmanship is excellent. Their grammar skills are almost what you would expect from girls of the same age in the US. As you might expect, their speaking skills need a little work. Same with their vocabulary. Likewise, their reading skill is behind a native English reader. But, thats where I come in. For the most part, I'm working with them on pronunciation and basic (real-life) conversation. Vocab is a bonus.
(On a side note... As a native English speaker, did you ever notice how much you/we "slide" sounds together when speaking? For example, say "I may go to the park tomorrow". Now say, "I'm a park ranger." Ever notice how "I may" and "I'm a" sound pretty much exactly the same in normal speech? Ever notice that some people say "a" for "a" and some people say "uh"? Ever notice how some people change it around all the time? No problem for natives, but for ESL (English as Second Language) students, it can be frustrating.)
I also teach a class to seven 4/5 year olds. Content is equivalent to the kindergarten classes, but with different vocab. And, I have done a couple of "review classes" with another teachers class. She is "foreign", but non-native English. I have done some pronunciation corrections, etc.
Also, I do regular "assessments". Basically, I test random children to assess their English level. I developed a "rubric" that I use when testing the kids. I determine what they know. I assign a score to what they know. I compare what they know to what they should know (vs other ESL students and native speakers), and I summarize my findings.
As a native English speaker, I also get to be "the public face" for parents of potential students. I work at public and private schools, so "Native English Speaking Foriegn Teacher" carries some weight. Do you want a native speaking teacher or one who was ESL themself? As you might imagine, I'm constantly on display.
AND...
Every day, I work with a group of seven toddlers. Age range is 1.5 years to 2 years. I mentioned my roommates previously. These are their students. But, I do my thing every day with them. The staples so far are "Hello", "Bye-Bye", "Happy Happy!", "1-2-3 Go!", "High-Five!" and "Happy Feet!" (Remember the Steve Martin skit?)
So, there you go, after one month....
That's what I do.
I work at playing for living.
So, here we go....
Here is a post that people have actually asked for.
This is what I do...
-----
...I did mention my job, so I guess that's a good a place to start as any. (Plus, Nealo has asked a couple times for me to describe the situation, so here we go...)
My job...
Techincally, I be a Educashunal Consultent. Reelisklee, dis meens I be teechin' gud Englich skillz to the yoot of Chynr.
Seriously, though... I am an English Teacher. Or, to be even more specific, I am a Foreign Teacher of English. This is kind of a big deal. Even bigger of a deal is the fact that I am a native speaker of English. There seems to be quite a few Foreign Teachers here that are not native English speakers. For whatever reason, I've noticed the German accent/language more than any other so far.
So, what do I do?
Well, it depends on the day.
A couple days a week, I travel to a different district of Beijing and teach at a kindergarten. (District = Neighborhood. I live in the PanJiaYuan area of the ChaoYang District. The kindergarten is in the FengTai District.) Depending on traffic, it is a 30-45 minute cab ride to get there. I teach 6 classes in the morning. Smallest class is 12 kids, largest is 25.
Kindergarten is a little different here, than it is in the US. Basically, kindergarten contains 4 year olds in groups(s) and 5 year olds in another group(s). I teach the younger and the older groups.
How does the class work? Well, I have a really nice assistant, that takes care of most of the details. She is more than an assistant actually. She is a Teacher, who happens to be Chinese, and who happens to speak English. But, because I am the Foreign Teacher, she automatically becomes the assistant. She has been the disciplinarian. So far, she has been the one to decide upon the particular material/vocabulary, and I just reinforce what the kids have learned from her. I use flashcards, toys, singing, dancing and plain old goofiness to make the kids have fun... and learn at the same time. We've done "I like...", "I want...", Starting next week, this changes a bit. I will be deciding on material (within the confines of the books/goals, of course.)
In case you missed it... Yes, in the previous paragraph I did say that I sing, dance, play with toys, and act goofy. I guess that makes me a "prop comic for 5 year olds". (CarrotTop without the carrot and without the top?) But, thats only two days a week.
One day a week, I also work with three 13 year old girls. Their penmanship is excellent. Their grammar skills are almost what you would expect from girls of the same age in the US. As you might expect, their speaking skills need a little work. Same with their vocabulary. Likewise, their reading skill is behind a native English reader. But, thats where I come in. For the most part, I'm working with them on pronunciation and basic (real-life) conversation. Vocab is a bonus.
(On a side note... As a native English speaker, did you ever notice how much you/we "slide" sounds together when speaking? For example, say "I may go to the park tomorrow". Now say, "I'm a park ranger." Ever notice how "I may" and "I'm a" sound pretty much exactly the same in normal speech? Ever notice that some people say "a" for "a" and some people say "uh"? Ever notice how some people change it around all the time? No problem for natives, but for ESL (English as Second Language) students, it can be frustrating.)
I also teach a class to seven 4/5 year olds. Content is equivalent to the kindergarten classes, but with different vocab. And, I have done a couple of "review classes" with another teachers class. She is "foreign", but non-native English. I have done some pronunciation corrections, etc.
Also, I do regular "assessments". Basically, I test random children to assess their English level. I developed a "rubric" that I use when testing the kids. I determine what they know. I assign a score to what they know. I compare what they know to what they should know (vs other ESL students and native speakers), and I summarize my findings.
As a native English speaker, I also get to be "the public face" for parents of potential students. I work at public and private schools, so "Native English Speaking Foriegn Teacher" carries some weight. Do you want a native speaking teacher or one who was ESL themself? As you might imagine, I'm constantly on display.
AND...
Every day, I work with a group of seven toddlers. Age range is 1.5 years to 2 years. I mentioned my roommates previously. These are their students. But, I do my thing every day with them. The staples so far are "Hello", "Bye-Bye", "Happy Happy!", "1-2-3 Go!", "High-Five!" and "Happy Feet!" (Remember the Steve Martin skit?)
So, there you go, after one month....
That's what I do.
I work at playing for living.
Magores gives a Sheng Dan follow up....
It's still Christmas here in Beijing. Only for another 62 minutes or so though.
I thought I would do a quick follow up on how Xmas has gone...
------
The pageant/party/presentation thing went pretty well. I didn't embarass myself anymore than I do an a normal basis. I said my lines in Chinese well enough to be understood. My kids did their part really well. I thought they did a great job considering only 2 practice sessions of 15 minutes each.
Of course, not everything went perfect. I wanted to shoot the A/V guy. In rehersal, he assured us he knew the cue, and where to start the music. When the time came...? Yep, he screwed it up. It confused my kids, but it meant I got to do a quick improv... I sang the first section of Jingle Bells solo... "Dashing thru the snow..."
I think I actually made a decent impression on people that I hadn't meant before, and some I see everyday. I did the "suit and tie and shiny black shoes" thing. I clean up well, if I do say so myself.
There were many more people than I expected. Over 300 parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles, etc. And, about 150 rugrats. One thing that I liked, and that I think the parents noticed, is that the kids know me. Everywhere I turned, I heard, "Lao Shi Michael!" That's me. "Lao Shi" is "Teacher". (It's pronounced - Lao Sure - more or less.) I'm "Michael" in China, not "Mike". (Chinese doesn't have a sound that ends in a "k" sound, so Mike is a little harder than the "l" sound in Michael.)
More cool stuff... A few more Christmas cards from the kids. Now, I admit to being a cynic, and an occasional Scrooge, perhaps even a Grinch at times. But its hard to frown when you get a card from a 5 year old that says you are her Best Friend. I'm telling you, even the coldest heart melts at times like that. Moments like that rival the moments when the child "gets it".
"Gets it"?
Example, Heather is one of my kids. (That's her English name.) First day of class, you couldn't hear a word she said (in Chinese or English). In todays thing? She clearly and confidently said her lines in well pronounced English. She "gets it". David? He's a beast. He is the kid that is always acting out. I'm constantly having to grab him, and sit him down. Today? Awesome! All of them. Great job! I'm PROUD of all my kids.
Potential coolness... Two days a week, I travel to a public kindergarten in a different (bu tong de = different) district of Beijing. (I live in ChaoYang, and my school is also in ChaoYang. The other district is "FengTai") I teach 6 classes a day there. Thats 12 different groups of kids each week. I have a great assistant there. Ellie is a native Chinese speaker, she speaks English well, and she is a good teacher. Today, after all the festivities were over, and we were cleaning up, she asked me if I knew the principal/director of the FengTai Kindergarten. Since she was the once who introduced us, what could I say but... "Yes. We've met a few times." Apparently, the principal wants to "get to know" me.
"Ummmm...." I say... "I would like that very much." Being the dense fool that I am, I'm not sure what I may have just got myself into. As we talked, Ellie asked me about my work situation... Am I a part time teacher for the main school? (Full-time) What do I do when I'm not at FengTai? (Other classes, lesson plans) She also asked if I have any kids of my own. (Never married, no girlfriend, THESE are my kids.)
Not sure what her main question was. I've been wrong before. So, I'm not going to worry one way or the other right now.
-----
Oh... And I learned (actually LEARNED) some Chinese during Christmas dinner. Since THIS was my first Xmas Dinner in China, I think I may have to make it into a new tradition...
-Sweet & Sour Pork (Just like in the US)
-Fish (Very Good, except for the bones. It was better than the attention we gave to it.)
-Roast Duck (I like the duck, not the sauce.)
-Hot Celery (Interesting. Take it or leave it. Seems to be an "in-between" thing.)
-Tofu balls (These were great. Best when hot.)
-Pig instestines (I won't eat this, don't even care how you say it in Chinese, but the garlic cloves marinated in vinegar that it comes with are really good.)
-Eggplant w/ potatoes (I really like this. Especially, when the eggplant is hot.)
-Barbecued Lamb - (I really like this. I could munch on this all day. It's kinda like popcorn chicken from Popeye's, except it not chicken, and it actuallly tastes good.)
-Fried Rice (This comes last, like dessert)
---
So... That was my "sheng dan" (Christmas) and my "sheng dan cai" (Christmas Meal).
How was YOUR sheng dan?
I thought I would do a quick follow up on how Xmas has gone...
------
The pageant/party/presentation thing went pretty well. I didn't embarass myself anymore than I do an a normal basis. I said my lines in Chinese well enough to be understood. My kids did their part really well. I thought they did a great job considering only 2 practice sessions of 15 minutes each.
Of course, not everything went perfect. I wanted to shoot the A/V guy. In rehersal, he assured us he knew the cue, and where to start the music. When the time came...? Yep, he screwed it up. It confused my kids, but it meant I got to do a quick improv... I sang the first section of Jingle Bells solo... "Dashing thru the snow..."
I think I actually made a decent impression on people that I hadn't meant before, and some I see everyday. I did the "suit and tie and shiny black shoes" thing. I clean up well, if I do say so myself.
There were many more people than I expected. Over 300 parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles, etc. And, about 150 rugrats. One thing that I liked, and that I think the parents noticed, is that the kids know me. Everywhere I turned, I heard, "Lao Shi Michael!" That's me. "Lao Shi" is "Teacher". (It's pronounced - Lao Sure - more or less.) I'm "Michael" in China, not "Mike". (Chinese doesn't have a sound that ends in a "k" sound, so Mike is a little harder than the "l" sound in Michael.)
More cool stuff... A few more Christmas cards from the kids. Now, I admit to being a cynic, and an occasional Scrooge, perhaps even a Grinch at times. But its hard to frown when you get a card from a 5 year old that says you are her Best Friend. I'm telling you, even the coldest heart melts at times like that. Moments like that rival the moments when the child "gets it".
"Gets it"?
Example, Heather is one of my kids. (That's her English name.) First day of class, you couldn't hear a word she said (in Chinese or English). In todays thing? She clearly and confidently said her lines in well pronounced English. She "gets it". David? He's a beast. He is the kid that is always acting out. I'm constantly having to grab him, and sit him down. Today? Awesome! All of them. Great job! I'm PROUD of all my kids.
Potential coolness... Two days a week, I travel to a public kindergarten in a different (bu tong de = different) district of Beijing. (I live in ChaoYang, and my school is also in ChaoYang. The other district is "FengTai") I teach 6 classes a day there. Thats 12 different groups of kids each week. I have a great assistant there. Ellie is a native Chinese speaker, she speaks English well, and she is a good teacher. Today, after all the festivities were over, and we were cleaning up, she asked me if I knew the principal/director of the FengTai Kindergarten. Since she was the once who introduced us, what could I say but... "Yes. We've met a few times." Apparently, the principal wants to "get to know" me.
"Ummmm...." I say... "I would like that very much." Being the dense fool that I am, I'm not sure what I may have just got myself into. As we talked, Ellie asked me about my work situation... Am I a part time teacher for the main school? (Full-time) What do I do when I'm not at FengTai? (Other classes, lesson plans) She also asked if I have any kids of my own. (Never married, no girlfriend, THESE are my kids.)
Not sure what her main question was. I've been wrong before. So, I'm not going to worry one way or the other right now.
-----
Oh... And I learned (actually LEARNED) some Chinese during Christmas dinner. Since THIS was my first Xmas Dinner in China, I think I may have to make it into a new tradition...
-Sweet & Sour Pork (Just like in the US)
-Fish (Very Good, except for the bones. It was better than the attention we gave to it.)
-Roast Duck (I like the duck, not the sauce.)
-Hot Celery (Interesting. Take it or leave it. Seems to be an "in-between" thing.)
-Tofu balls (These were great. Best when hot.)
-Pig instestines (I won't eat this, don't even care how you say it in Chinese, but the garlic cloves marinated in vinegar that it comes with are really good.)
-Eggplant w/ potatoes (I really like this. Especially, when the eggplant is hot.)
-Barbecued Lamb - (I really like this. I could munch on this all day. It's kinda like popcorn chicken from Popeye's, except it not chicken, and it actuallly tastes good.)
-Fried Rice (This comes last, like dessert)
---
So... That was my "sheng dan" (Christmas) and my "sheng dan cai" (Christmas Meal).
How was YOUR sheng dan?
Magores says "Sheng Dan Kuai Lua"
Magores Says "Sheng Dan Kuai La"
At the time I am writing this, it is December 24th in Beijing. That's right. Christmas Eve.
By the time I post this, it won't be Christmas in Beijing, but it should be Christmas Day in the US. I don't expect anyone to see this on Xmas Day, but for once I thought I would be sort of on time. And, now is a good time as any, so...
I thought that right now would be a good moment to say a few things. In no particular order...
-My Parents Rock
-Happy Birthday Neal
-Happy Birthday Z
-Merry Christmas to Everyone
--------
So... You might be wondering what Christmas is like in China. Well, let me tell you.
From what I gather, Christmas has become a big deal here. Not as big as in the US, of course, but still pretty big. Of course, China does it a bit different than the US does.
One difference is that Christmas seems to be an "urban" celebration, more than a "national" one. And, it seems to be more popular with young people than older ones. By young, I mean teenagers and 20+ year olds. Basically, its an excuse to party. Of course, the little ones really like Xmas. Free Goodies!
No matter how old you are, you can't avoid Christmas in China. Stores like it, encourage it, and promote it. Santa Claus, Xmas trees, and all that are plastered throughout the city. Not as crazy as in the US, of course. I suspect the government likes it. Xmas promotes spending. Spending is good.
One big difference in the whole Xmas deal is that Xmas Eve is a much bigger deal here than Christmas Day itself. I suspect this is because Xmas Eve is at night, while Xmas Day is during the day. People can "do stuff" at night. During the day, they work. Therefore, celebrate at night. This is just my observation. I haven't asked any locals what the truth might be.
-------
So what did I do on Christmas Eve?
Well...
-I went to work at 9am. Worked on lesson plans.
-Gobbled down a late lunch right before class started.
-Taught English to three 13 year olds
-Short Break
-Taught English to seven 5 year olds.
-Practiced with the 5 year olds for the Xmas pageant to be held on Xmas Day.
-NO BREAK! :(
-Played with a 4 year old, and tried to teach him something.
-Left work at 6pm
-Bought an iron, 2 beers, and a DVD.
-Learned a couple of written Chinese words from the elevator lady.
-Watched fireworks from my window.
-Listened to a couple live bootlegs that I brought with me from the US - Elvis (1970) and Iron Maiden (1976) - While I ironed a shirt.
-Went and bought a couple shish-kabob things. Said "Merry Xmas" to the shish-kabob guy, and the magazine guy.
-Typed this.
Darn exciting, huh?
--------
One really cool thing did happen today. The 13 year olds gave me an Xmas Card. It might have been "canned language", but I don't care. It was still really cool.
--------
My plans for Christmas Day?
-Work at 9am
-Prepare for the pageant/presentation. Lynn and I are the co-hosts/emcees/masters of cermonies. (I'm the Foreign Guy. I get to be a "public face". Insert Sarcasm here: You know how much I LOVE being the center of attention :End Sarcasm)
-Do the pageant. (Among other things, I get to lead ALL the teachers, from a few different schools, most of whom I have never met, in singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".)
-Leave the pageant
-Sleep
---------
So, there we go. That's my Christmas in Beijing.
Oh, and by the way... "Sheng Dan Kuai Lua"? It means, "Merry Christmas"
Sheng Dan Kuai Lua!!!!!!!
At the time I am writing this, it is December 24th in Beijing. That's right. Christmas Eve.
By the time I post this, it won't be Christmas in Beijing, but it should be Christmas Day in the US. I don't expect anyone to see this on Xmas Day, but for once I thought I would be sort of on time. And, now is a good time as any, so...
I thought that right now would be a good moment to say a few things. In no particular order...
-My Parents Rock
-Happy Birthday Neal
-Happy Birthday Z
-Merry Christmas to Everyone
--------
So... You might be wondering what Christmas is like in China. Well, let me tell you.
From what I gather, Christmas has become a big deal here. Not as big as in the US, of course, but still pretty big. Of course, China does it a bit different than the US does.
One difference is that Christmas seems to be an "urban" celebration, more than a "national" one. And, it seems to be more popular with young people than older ones. By young, I mean teenagers and 20+ year olds. Basically, its an excuse to party. Of course, the little ones really like Xmas. Free Goodies!
No matter how old you are, you can't avoid Christmas in China. Stores like it, encourage it, and promote it. Santa Claus, Xmas trees, and all that are plastered throughout the city. Not as crazy as in the US, of course. I suspect the government likes it. Xmas promotes spending. Spending is good.
One big difference in the whole Xmas deal is that Xmas Eve is a much bigger deal here than Christmas Day itself. I suspect this is because Xmas Eve is at night, while Xmas Day is during the day. People can "do stuff" at night. During the day, they work. Therefore, celebrate at night. This is just my observation. I haven't asked any locals what the truth might be.
-------
So what did I do on Christmas Eve?
Well...
-I went to work at 9am. Worked on lesson plans.
-Gobbled down a late lunch right before class started.
-Taught English to three 13 year olds
-Short Break
-Taught English to seven 5 year olds.
-Practiced with the 5 year olds for the Xmas pageant to be held on Xmas Day.
-NO BREAK! :(
-Played with a 4 year old, and tried to teach him something.
-Left work at 6pm
-Bought an iron, 2 beers, and a DVD.
-Learned a couple of written Chinese words from the elevator lady.
-Watched fireworks from my window.
-Listened to a couple live bootlegs that I brought with me from the US - Elvis (1970) and Iron Maiden (1976) - While I ironed a shirt.
-Went and bought a couple shish-kabob things. Said "Merry Xmas" to the shish-kabob guy, and the magazine guy.
-Typed this.
Darn exciting, huh?
--------
One really cool thing did happen today. The 13 year olds gave me an Xmas Card. It might have been "canned language", but I don't care. It was still really cool.
--------
My plans for Christmas Day?
-Work at 9am
-Prepare for the pageant/presentation. Lynn and I are the co-hosts/emcees/masters of cermonies. (I'm the Foreign Guy. I get to be a "public face". Insert Sarcasm here: You know how much I LOVE being the center of attention :End Sarcasm)
-Do the pageant. (Among other things, I get to lead ALL the teachers, from a few different schools, most of whom I have never met, in singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".)
-Leave the pageant
-Sleep
---------
So, there we go. That's my Christmas in Beijing.
Oh, and by the way... "Sheng Dan Kuai Lua"? It means, "Merry Christmas"
Sheng Dan Kuai Lua!!!!!!!
Magores is Connected!!!!
Finally, I have internet access from home. It just got turned on today.
It was suppossed to happen over a week ago, but China's version of Customer Service is almost too good in some ways.
Had they let me connect when I was satisfied, you would have seen this message 5 days ago. But, the ISP wasn't satisfied, so I had to wait until now.
Well, now that I have the internet, I can start posting for real.
In anticipation for today, I've actually been pretty good about writing some posts, you guys just don't know it yet. My internet access from work has been minimal, so I have been able to do or say anything. But, now I can.
So.... In no particular order, and with a minimum over editorial oversight, here is what you can read in the immediate Future...
-Magores goes to New Orleans
-Magores gets cursed at
-Magores listens to the radio
-Magores eats Chinese food
-Magores can't speak Chinese
-Magores does Christmas - The Chinese Way
-Magores follows up on the Christmas thing
-Magores does stuff every day.
I suppose I should start with the Xmas post, since that is the most "topical".
Read on if you are interested...
It was suppossed to happen over a week ago, but China's version of Customer Service is almost too good in some ways.
Had they let me connect when I was satisfied, you would have seen this message 5 days ago. But, the ISP wasn't satisfied, so I had to wait until now.
Well, now that I have the internet, I can start posting for real.
In anticipation for today, I've actually been pretty good about writing some posts, you guys just don't know it yet. My internet access from work has been minimal, so I have been able to do or say anything. But, now I can.
So.... In no particular order, and with a minimum over editorial oversight, here is what you can read in the immediate Future...
-Magores goes to New Orleans
-Magores gets cursed at
-Magores listens to the radio
-Magores eats Chinese food
-Magores can't speak Chinese
-Magores does Christmas - The Chinese Way
-Magores follows up on the Christmas thing
-Magores does stuff every day.
I suppose I should start with the Xmas post, since that is the most "topical".
Read on if you are interested...
2005-12-11
Aha!
I found out why I can't view my own blog.
The story in a nutshell is...
1) For the past few years, the blogspot.com domain was unavailable in this particular country.
2) Shortly before coming here, the domain became viewable here.
3) Shortly after coming here, the domain became unavailable again.
Hope I didn't have anything to do with that.
For the time being, I'll continue to post here. Maybe things will change again soon, and I'll be able to see the comments, etc.
The story in a nutshell is...
1) For the past few years, the blogspot.com domain was unavailable in this particular country.
2) Shortly before coming here, the domain became viewable here.
3) Shortly after coming here, the domain became unavailable again.
Hope I didn't have anything to do with that.
For the time being, I'll continue to post here. Maybe things will change again soon, and I'll be able to see the comments, etc.
2005-12-10
Magores the Traffic Cone
First， let me apologize for the troubles I seem to be having。 I can create posts on this blog， but I cannot view the blog itself， nor can I see comments or respond to them。 Not sure what the trouble is。 Hopefully， it will resolve itself when I get my own computer installed in my office， and I can actually use English language software。
So for now， let me just tell you about Magores the Traffic Cone。
First， a little background info。。。
Traffic in this city is a nightmare。 You could not pay me enough for me to actually try to drive a car in this town。
Red lights mean that 5 more cars should go， even though the traffic with the green has already started coming。
Yellow lights last about 1 second。
Right turn on red？ Yes。 That‘s allowed here。 But， here， people do not stop at the red before turning。 They just continue as if it were a green， with no pedestrians。
Speaking of turning。。。 The way I learned it， when you turn， you are suppossed to turn into the closest lane。 Not here。 People will make the turn， and cross 8 lanes of traffic to get to whatever lane they want。
And the bicycles。。。 Bicycles， mopeds， scooters， and every combination imaginable of these things share the road with the cars。 They follow their own traffic rule。。 That rule seems to be Do not stop for anyone or anything。 Bicycles in the middle of traffic will make left turns， right turns， and u-turns no matter what the signals say， or other people are doing。
Pedestrians？ Jaywalking is the rule， not the exception。 Go ahead and stand on the lines dividing the lanes。 The cars and bicycles will （probably） miss you。 When there is a lot of traffic coming， and no gap for people to cross， the general concept seems to be。。。 Wait until there are 6 or more people that want to cross at the same spot。 Then， everyone step into traffic at the same time。 The cars can’t hit everyone can they？
So。。。 I think now you can understand a little of what traffic is like here。 The amazing part of all this？ It seems to work。
The newspaper mentioned the other day that China has a large number of accidents per capita， but。。。 I haven‘t seen it。 I did see one bike bump a car， but that’s it。 It‘s almost like a dance。 Each of the people， cars， bicycles， etc。 is a dancer in a finely choreographed ballet。 Well， about a week ago， either I， or the driver of a truck， forgot the steps of the dance。
I was walking to work。 There is one resonably major intersection （2 lanes each way） that I have to cross in order to get there。 I waited for the green light， waited for the 5 cars， that insisted on going through， and started to cross。 I was across 1 lane of traffic when all of the sudden a big truck （not pickup truck， more like construction area truck）decided to take a right turn into the lane in front of me。 I bounced off the truck， and then waited in the middle of the traffic for the signals to cycle around before attempting the other half of the crossing。
So now you know where the title of this post comes from。
I honestly wasn’t too shaken up by this whole thing。 After all， I got my training wheels for dealing with this kind of traffic in San Francisco。 Been there， done that。 A dancer stumbles， but the dance continues。
So for now， let me just tell you about Magores the Traffic Cone。
First， a little background info。。。
Traffic in this city is a nightmare。 You could not pay me enough for me to actually try to drive a car in this town。
Red lights mean that 5 more cars should go， even though the traffic with the green has already started coming。
Yellow lights last about 1 second。
Right turn on red？ Yes。 That‘s allowed here。 But， here， people do not stop at the red before turning。 They just continue as if it were a green， with no pedestrians。
Speaking of turning。。。 The way I learned it， when you turn， you are suppossed to turn into the closest lane。 Not here。 People will make the turn， and cross 8 lanes of traffic to get to whatever lane they want。
And the bicycles。。。 Bicycles， mopeds， scooters， and every combination imaginable of these things share the road with the cars。 They follow their own traffic rule。。 That rule seems to be Do not stop for anyone or anything。 Bicycles in the middle of traffic will make left turns， right turns， and u-turns no matter what the signals say， or other people are doing。
Pedestrians？ Jaywalking is the rule， not the exception。 Go ahead and stand on the lines dividing the lanes。 The cars and bicycles will （probably） miss you。 When there is a lot of traffic coming， and no gap for people to cross， the general concept seems to be。。。 Wait until there are 6 or more people that want to cross at the same spot。 Then， everyone step into traffic at the same time。 The cars can’t hit everyone can they？
So。。。 I think now you can understand a little of what traffic is like here。 The amazing part of all this？ It seems to work。
The newspaper mentioned the other day that China has a large number of accidents per capita， but。。。 I haven‘t seen it。 I did see one bike bump a car， but that’s it。 It‘s almost like a dance。 Each of the people， cars， bicycles， etc。 is a dancer in a finely choreographed ballet。 Well， about a week ago， either I， or the driver of a truck， forgot the steps of the dance。
I was walking to work。 There is one resonably major intersection （2 lanes each way） that I have to cross in order to get there。 I waited for the green light， waited for the 5 cars， that insisted on going through， and started to cross。 I was across 1 lane of traffic when all of the sudden a big truck （not pickup truck， more like construction area truck）decided to take a right turn into the lane in front of me。 I bounced off the truck， and then waited in the middle of the traffic for the signals to cycle around before attempting the other half of the crossing。
So now you know where the title of this post comes from。
I honestly wasn’t too shaken up by this whole thing。 After all， I got my training wheels for dealing with this kind of traffic in San Francisco。 Been there， done that。 A dancer stumbles， but the dance continues。
2005-12-08
I seem to be having some trouble...
I can't seem to view my own blog. I can fill in posts, but I can't see the actual site itself. Can someone do me a favor and send me an email telling me that you CAN see this.
Thanks
Thanks
2005-12-07
It's COLD here!!
Just a quick post this time....
How's this for luck?
I was reading the paper yesterday (the English language one). Apparently, November (when I arrived here), was the worst month for air pollution in over a decade.
And this month, (December) is colder than it has been for years. Apparently, December 4th here was -9.1 degrees F. (Thats about 16 degrees F.) The coldest 12/4 in Beijing in 50 years.
Air pollution, cold, whats next? Floods?
How's this for luck?
I was reading the paper yesterday (the English language one). Apparently, November (when I arrived here), was the worst month for air pollution in over a decade.
And this month, (December) is colder than it has been for years. Apparently, December 4th here was -9.1 degrees F. (Thats about 16 degrees F.) The coldest 12/4 in Beijing in 50 years.
Air pollution, cold, whats next? Floods?
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