Here and there

My friend, Cassie, and I went shopping and walking around Baoding for almost 3 hours on Monday. It was a beautiful day-about 75 degrees and sunny. It was the the Tomb Sweeping holiday in China, so we didn't have class. Baoding isn't the most beautiful, but it's definitely a fun place to shop. Cassie is all about bargaining-I buy a bracelet or something for $1 and she think I paid too much. Even for costume jewelry in the States at most stores, I would pay $5 or $6, so a buck is a steal!

I'm seriously loving on the fresh fruit selections. Fruit is one of the few food groups that I'm actually brave and will try new ones-even if they look odd. It's mango season, I have had mango before, but I didn't know what it looked like on the outside. They're good, but kind of a pain to eat. I also tried yellow watermelon-it tastes just like the red, but a different color. It's delicious!

My juniors are doing their individual poster presentations. I did something very similar when I was an undergrad at WSU, so I thought it would be a fun change. However, I wonder how often they do "creative" projects. After I explained the assignment (slowly and detailed), I had 28 pairs of blank expressions staring at me. Anyway, the first five did awesome-they just worried me a bit in the beginning.

This is just down for the university-lots of places to shop


The cutest little truck ever!

Lil' van

Restaurant in Baoding-I like the building.

They are redoing the road in front of the university-it's much more quiet without all the traffic.

My yellow watermelon

Jack

Henry

Gilda (hiding behind her poster)

April

Felice

67 days...

Yep, I have a countdown going. I'm ready to head back for awhile. I miss everyone and the U.S. on a whole. I really miss chicken! I can count on one hand how many times I've had chicken in the last 6 weeks (it's four). Plus, I've been sick a lot lately. I wasn't really sick last semester, but I caught a cold and ran out of American medicine. I still have a lingering cough, but it's mostly gone. Then, a long time ago my dentist told me that I might have room for my Wisdom teeth (I only have 2, both on the right). At the time, I didn't want surgery, so I decided to risk it. Well...I don't have room and they have been causing excruciating pain, but I haven't had time to have them taken out. I will do that sometime this summer. Anyway, 2 weeks after the cold, major toothaches. So, I wasn't sleeping, eating, and actually in tears because of the pain. I will take a cold for a month rather than a toothache for 24 hours. Anyway, it's better, but I'm careful when I eat. So...due to illness, I've been holed up in my apartment and that was starting to bug.

The weather is finally warming up (in China, I actually prefer warm, not hot, weather). I love going on walks-it's not as much fun here as home or England, but it'll do. Normally, I don't like taking walks here because everyone stares too much. Today, however, people still stared, but were much more friendly. Usually, if I notice them staring, I smile and say hello (in Chinese). Today, people actually smiled back or even said hello (in English). Plus, they blocked off parts of the road in front of the university-making it much more quiet and easier to walk without having to risk being hit by a car.

I'm still really loving my classes this semester-they're fun to teach and I can finally use all that knowledge from my undergraduate degree. We covered the British Romantics this week and I didn't even need to look up any research about Byron, Shelley, Wordsworth, or Keats-I have it memorized-dates and everything. I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of-basically just marks me as a nerd. As a little present to my sophomores (I already gave some to my juniors), my mom sent American quarters. The Chinese seem to be fascinated with foreign money. Anyway, it was really fun to watch them pick their new quarter.

Everything is blooming on campus, which is a welcome.


Giant strawberries-I got a large bag full for about $1.50. They were delicious!

Little of this, little of that

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been busy. I have less classes this half and only teach four days a week. However, I seem to be much more busy with lesson plans. History of the English language is time consuming, but it's getting better. I love both of my classes (I teach them each 2 days a week). Out of 30 juniors, 28 of them signed up for my elective class, which makes me happy. I have 25 sophomores and they're just as sweet. They draw little pictures for me on their essays-it's cute.

I had a good, but quiet birthday. I didn't tell most of my students because I worried they would invite me out to dinner and I've vowed not to eat anymore Chinese food...ever. Plus, I gave up almost all the foods I love (pop, fried foods, and chocolate) for Lent, so we waited to celebrate the Sunday after. It was a dessert and pop party-I had been craving my chocolate chip/peanut butter bars with ice cream and they were yummy. I invited the American teachers and some of my IELTS students. I, somehow, didn't get any pictures of the people, but I've posted pictures of the gorgeous birthday cake the university gave me and my teapot. Katie and Curtis took me about to Outback Steakhouse (in Beijing)-it was delicious. Thanks to the "Chicken on the Barbie," I amazingly have learned to love pepper. Josh and Justin know me well-Josh bought me Louis Vuitton bag and Justin a clutch. JinJing gave me a beautiful plaque and Lindsey made yummy brownies that Garfield and I ate after the party.

I'm getting to that point that I love my students/friends, I love the university I work for, and I love the fresh fruit selections, but that's pretty much all I love, especially regarding Baoding. I'm very, very, very tired of being stared at every time I leave my apartment. It's so annoying!! The other day, I was walking to the copy place and this man (probably in his 50s), rode his bike right beside me just so he could stare at me. I said hello and how are you (in Chinese) and smiled, but he wouldn't respond and just kept constantly staring. How rude is that? It took ALL that I had NOT to push him over. I did tell him to stop it (in Chinese) and cut him off, so he had to stop riding or fall over. Sadly, that's just one instance, on a daily basis I'm laughed at, pointed at, followed, and constantly stared at just because I'm white. It drives me absolutely insane! I was talking to my friend, Garfield (that's her English name :) and she's from North China and Katie has been to South China and both have said people don't stare there and they don't stare in Beijing. Garfield called people in Baoding "uncivilized." I agree, but it makes me curious as to why they stare more in Baoding?

I'm also tired of the "egg line." I'm not a big fan of eggs in general, but they're pretty much my only source of protein here, so I eat them. Anyway, at the grocery store, you have to stand in the "egg line," which can usually be pretty long unless you go during nap time. After lunch, many Chinese take naps, which is the time I like to go out-less people to stare at me. Anyway, I went Friday at 1pm and the egg line was massive! Why weren't they all napping? I can't depend on them to do anything they're supposed to, so I didn't get eggs. Every time I buy them off the streets, I get at least one bloody egg, which freaks me out and I can't eat eggs for a week. So, what this boils down to is that I miss Dillons and Walmart, where I can walk up to the cooler and pick up a dozen eggs.

Even with the "annoyances"-my time is going by fast, I can't believe I've already been back over a month. A few weeks ago, I made the announcement to my IELTS students that I was only back for about 3 months and I could see Peter calculating in his head and he said "Three months, that's not long enough"- it just broke my heart. I'm really going to miss all of them. I'm hoping my IELTS students will be going to graduate school in England next year and I can go visit them.

My birthday cake-I'm not sure why they put glasses on it-maybe because I'm a teacher? They were made of chocolate, so I ate them.



The beautiful flowers my IELTS students gave me.

I technically collect teapots, but I only have four since I'm so picky about the ones I like. This is a gift from Shannon and Steven and it's a cool teapot-it is painted with the Terracotta Warriors from Xi'an.

Back home in Baoding

I made it back to Baoding without any problems. I'm really glad I broke up my domestic and international flights-I stayed in Seattle Tuesday night and then flew to Beijing on Wednesday. The flight wasn't full, so I had 2 seats to myself. Even so, it was still too long of a flight. I'm glad I brought my own food (turkey, cheese, crackers, and applesauce) or I would have been starving and grouchy. Plane food is horrible and Chinese plane food is even worse. I stayed in Beijing for a couple of nights and Curtis and Katie came to pick me up and help me haul my suitcases back to Baoding.

For entertainment, there was a fight at the train station in Beijing. Fighting is rare in China because they're so into "saving face" and losing your temper causes you to lose face. The only 2 fights I've seen have both been at train stations. I think it's because they're so disorganized-it's like herding cattle. The trains were full and it took us forever to hail a cab in Baoding. Everyone is coming back to university, so it was chaos at the train station here too, but we made it. I'm unpacked, but have junk strewn out everywhere-I'll work on that tomorrow.

I think I'm really going to like my class schedule this semester. The first half I have sophomores Writing I two days a week and History of the English language with juniors two days a week, which means 3 day weekends. The second half of the semester, I'm really spoiled. I only have Newspaper and Magazines with juniors on Tuesday and Thursday, which means 4 day weekends-I plan to do some traveling-Shanghai and the Three Gorges Dam are on the list and I may go visit Peter's hometown.

Thanks again for everyone hanging out with me while I was back-it was so good to see everyone!

Whirlwind

So much as happened since my last blog post. My mom made it safely to and from China. We had a great time-I'm so happy she was here for the holidays and was able to meet all of my students. They all loved her and visa versa. She's hoping to come back this summer for graduation and see everyone again.

I finally made it the Great Wall!! It was gorgeous, although the climb up almost did us in. It's so steep! It was worth the effort though. We also toured the Forbidden City, went to the National Centre of the Arts, Lao She Teahouse, Olympic Stadiums, Ming Tombs, and numerous other places. While in Baoding, we were super busy with numerous Christmas dinners and spending time with my students and the other American teachers.

My mom arrived on Thursday the 18th and Friday was my last class for junior writing and our Christmas party. So, my poor mom had to help bake many treats to take to
class that afternoon. It took all morning, but we got everything baked. It sure went fast-for such little people-they can really pack it in. The following evening Zoe, Iris, Jacqueline, Rodin, and Summer took mom and I to dinner at the Honey Bee. Sunday night we went to dinner at Tannry's house. Tannry is the 15 year old that I tutor on Sundays. Monday night Cassie and Felice took us to my favorite Chinese restaurant. I'm using the word favorite loosely. It's the only Chinese restaurant in Baoding that I actually eat at. Tuesday we made a traditional American Christmas dinner for my IELTS students. In my opinion the food was delicious-I think some of them agreed with me, but not all. Sunny made a sandwich out of a dinner roll and waldorf salad-to me that is gross, but she seemed to like it. Christmas eve the university took us out to dinner and bowling. Christmas morning we had a breakfast brunch at my place and that evening we had TURKEY with the other American teachers. Turkeys are hard to find and super pricey, but worth it! The next day, mom and I headed to Beijing for a busy 4 day weekend of sightseeing.

I will be in the States on Monday! I'm so ready for an American holiday and, hopefully, Twilight will still be at the Warren. Fingers crossed!

We took some of ladies from my writing class to Sandy's


Great Wall


Mom and I at the Great Wall (it was very cold that day, even for me)


Forbidden City


National Centre of the Arts (aka The Egg)


Government Building


Catholic Church in Baoding


The Engineers: Bruce, Peter, and Vincent


My lil' Christmas tree


IELTS guys: Philip, Peter, Bruce, and Vincent


IELTS ladies: Viola, Vicky, Sabrina, Sunny, and Della


Tannry and his parents


Mom and Jacqueline at the Honey Bee


Writing Class: Felice, Stefanie, Athena, Henry, and Jacqueline are up front


Writing Class: Gilda, Cassie, Dolphin, Celia, and Miles

One more day!

I will pick up my mom in Beijing tomorrow!!! I'm so excited to see her and to be able to show her where I've been living the past 3 1/2 months. She's been all over Europe, so China is a new experience. I'm so happy that she will be here for Christmas-it wouldn't have felt right without her. Plus, I've missed going shopping with her and out to lunch and doing lots of girlie things.

Last Saturday-Katie, Curtis, Josh, Justin, JinJing, Sabrina, and I went to Beijing for the day. We visited 3 different American eating establishments-all were delicious. I had orange sherbet at Baskin Robbins-it was fantastic. I love sherbet and hadn't had any in many months. The ladies went to the Silk Market, while the gentlemen stayed at a giant mall and shopped. I love the Silk Market-there's so much to buy, but it's exhausting constantly bartering for prices. And, since I'm obviously a foreigner-they really try to take advantage. I think I got good prices for my purchases. It was very good day!

Grateful

Recently, I was showing some students pictures from home. They wanted to see my "live" Christmas tree from last year. In the same photo album were pictures of my apartment in Wichita. They were amazed that my apartment was just for me. They thought it was so beautiful and that I was so lucky to live there. Granted, I love my apartment, but it is an apartment and just a one-bedroom one at that. However, that's the American mind-set. We're very spoiled. Don't get me wrong, I love my country. I think this is one reason why I enjoy moving abroad. I love experiencing new cultures-even though adapting takes time, but it makes me much more grateful for my own country. Remembering being an American is a privilege and something I should not take for granted so easily. Anyway, I think this China experience is very beneficial for me and reminds me to keep things in perspective.

Being away from home also makes me grateful for all of you in Kansas. I'm very thankful for my mom and grandma who always support me on all my random journeys. They may not understand why, but support me nonetheless. My mom is even flying all the way to China (in less than 2 weeks!) to spend Christmas here. We had planned to go to Paris this year for Christmas, so China was quite the change, but she's looking forward to a new adventure.

It's about 5 weeks before my American holiday and I'm looking forward to it. I'll be back January 12-February 17. It will be nice to have a Western shower (I think that has been my worse living adaption), excited about eating turkey, driving, shopping at Dillard's and Target, blending in, and seeing everyone!