China is Awesome

Just had to sit down and write a quick blog about the generosity of Chinese people on this particular day. Before today starts, the school is already planning to throw a Christmas party for me tomorrow. They will also give me a gift of anything I want up to $200 Yuan ($30), which may not seem like a lot to you, but it goes a long way over here. I asked for a ping pong paddle which I had planned to buy tomorrow.

I woke up this morning practically still full from the dinner I was treated to the night before by a couple I met randomly on the subway.

7:50 am - I am with all the students and teachers at my school out on the basketball courts. The Chinese national anthem and flag raising has just finished, and I am wondering what the man on stage is talking about, as I do every Monday morning. A lady that I recognize as someone important (and therefore unable to speak English) comes up to me and hands me a slip of paper. after a bit of translating from a nearby English teacher, I understand that the school is giving me, and all the teachers, 350 Yuan (about $55) to spend on items at a nearby mall.

10:00 am - I return from teaching class and start trying to book plane flights to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand for the 5 PAID WEEKS OF VACATION I HAVE COMING UP. This is quite difficult given the amount of Chinese characters you must understand to even deal with my bank. I have two different teachers helping me, Laura and Susan. they spend the morning checking different flights, calling my bank to ask questions, and calling friends for advice. I have to leave in the middle to go to the school's recording booth to tape a dialogue which will be used on an upcoming test for the junior 3s. "What does your sister make those beautiful kites for?" "On the weekends I like to spend time with my friends."...after working on my travel arrangements all morning, Susan even takes me to the bank during lunchtime to help me hook up online banking.

1:00 pm - After lunch I continue trying to book flights (I eventually had to use my US credit card, which WAMU decided to cancel after the first transaction for my security. After an unnecessarily long international phone conversation my card was back up and I was able to book my flights). Laura comes to my desk and tells me that one of the girls in her class thought today was my birthday (I’m not sure why). She then hands me a Tupperware full of sushi that the girl made me and brought to school! At that point I start feeling guilty because I don’t even know the student's name and I have never liked sushi. But it turned out to be delicious, and I thanked the girl profusely. I guess I like Sushi after all.

4pm - I return to my desk from the second batch of classes to find a brand new, creme-colored trench coat sitting on my desk. Apparently our school ordered these for all of the teachers (men and women) at my school, because winter is here. Being XXXL size as are most things that have a chance of fitting me in China, it is a bit wide for me, but it’s really nice. While I could see it invoking columbine/flasher emotions in Americans, it is a pretty common style in china. I wear this around for the rest of the day and receive praises of "ooh you so cool" and "oh so handsome" from the majority of people I pass (students and teachers).

4:30 pm - I am still trying to figure out how I will get to Laos for the beginning of my vacation, because the plane flights aren't working out. Laura is still helping me, and asks one of the PE teachers, Simon, to come help because he knows Yunnan province (the one from which I will enter Laos). I meet Simon for the first time, and after Laura explains to him what I hope to do, he tells Laura he will write out detailed instructions and give them to me tomorrow (Simon speaks almost no English). Pretty sweet guy. Then for some reason Laura tells Simon that the school is giving me a 200 Yuan ping pong paddle. Before I know what is happening, Simon has decided that this is not enough money for a really quality ping pong paddle, and he is going to give me one instead! I mean, are you kidding me?

6pm - My friend Alice, another English teacher, gives me a box of fancy chocolates and a very sweet Christmas card.

Needless to say, it was a pretty great day. And a much needed one to power me through the holidays with no family around.

Much love,

Danny

You gotta love Globalization sometimes

The little fruit shop by my school is currently selling apples from the beautiful State of Washington. Yes indeed, they have Gala and Red Delicious. I would recognize that Washington sticker anywhere. They are a bit pricey compared with the rest of the fruit, about $.60 per apple, but worth every penny.