Author Archives: susan

Afternoon at Qingliangshan park

Posted on by
6

August 29, 2010 Saturday was a busy day. Met up with my American friends and my new British colleague for breakfast at a place called S.I.T = Sculpting in Time! Looks just like a 1950’s British cafe, very quaint. Another latte and pizza…. with corn kernels on it? But tasty! Then a walk around the area, found a place to buy pirated DVD’s. Thought I’d wait on that, not knowing it they would work on my Laptop.

Found a teapot art shop that sold one of a kind maybe antique Chinese teapots. They sold for over $1000. Just gorgeous. Stopped at the grocery and got some yogurt that doesn’t need refrigeration, with a fork, spoon, wash cloth and toilet paper!

Speaking of toilets, let me tell you more in my quest for the western lou, as my British friends are calling it! As we departed S.I.T., I found a hallway with sliding doors, ah they have men/women symbols on them, went to slid the womens door open and low and behold a Chinese guy was sitting on the toilet reading a newspaper. Did I squeal! So I just went to the Mens next door and used that one! Today I am carrying toilet paper.

The afternoon I spent at Qingliangshan Park, about two blocks away, across the street from the “Brain Hospital,” yes that was the name on the sign! Lots of men in their Chinese patterned Pajamas were walking around the hospital and in the park. I just figured they were airing out their brains! The park was old Chinese in style, with ponds and lily’s coming out of the mucky water. (Linda Giordono you need to know I thought of your Buddhist advice on life in the muck and the lily blooming from it! Alais I am in the land of the blooming lily’s! You know Susan means lily!) There was Calligraphy stones with characters on them around the ponds, and some locked buildings with sample Calligraphy on the walls. I think I saw a statue of Kwan Yin. Old men were playing cards, checkers and chatting while their bamboo caged birds sang little songs hanging in the trees next to them. How very charming that was to see.

Last night I went out on the town! Took me 25 minutes to hail a cab. Need to figure out what corner to stand on and how to jump out there without getting run over by hundreds of mopeds and bikes, ching-ching. Met up with Michael, the British Econ teacher and his two friends, John and Sue for a tea. Mine was a loose leaf, maybe a Darjeeling or Oolong but whatever it was defiantly a new experience. Came in a glass coffee mug, with a ton of leaves floating on top and would not sink down. Humm, trying to be the world traveler with my expert Brit tea drinkers I proceeded to drink this straining with my teeth. I think Micheal noticed I was not the seasoned tea drinker and advised me to add water to sink the leaves. Need to read up on teas! Next we are off to a Japanese restaurant for a Vegetarian dinner. These Brits were so sweet they all ordered vegetarian food so I would have plenty. The noodle bowl was tasty, great mushrooms and the broth was scrumptious. There was potato curry and a sliced cucumber dish. Sue had sake and the guys had Kiren beer I believe. I stayed with the hot water they bring you when you sit down. No booze till I get more comfortable, or maybe never with my past husband experience!

Just prior to leaving, tried another lou! Ok got to learn this squatting thing! (Patti remember you told me, squatting brings wealth. Now I know why the Chinese are fiscally viable.) Sue warned me not to lean back or I might fall in the hole! Geez that is not good, so keep my head forward and down. Thanks Sue. Then off for a coffee. Latte please! And another glass of hot water. We had a great conversation about politics, me and my Texas issues with these worldly Brits. Sue did show me where the western toilet was in the Costa coffee house so I would at least know my way around.

Homeward bound, asleep by 11pm and up for a new day. Did laundry in my shower and have it all dripping around the bathroom. By the way my hotel room has a western lou.

High School

Posted on by
3

August 28, 2010 I like the school, even though it was raining when I arrived. The Taxi cost about $1.50 to take about 4 mile, can you believe? And I thought I would walk, not! Gated and two or three guards at the entrance, very secure. There are many buildings, including a fine arts performance hall and sculpture in the garden. The IB area is housed with one of the public school buildings. I have an office overlooking a grassed roof, go figure. The Art room greeted me with really bad graffiti on the walls, needs a mural to cover it. (Thinking of you Keleigh Brill) The art teacher that left, forgot to clean up! What a mess, looks like I will be pitching stuff on Tuesday and setting up the room for Wednesday first day. The room will be cool when it is straightened, only problem, no AC! (That was an oxy-moron) They are getting me a secondary art room with AC for those sultry days. There is a couple computer labs and a lecture hall. Quite up to snuff, I would say. Some of the hall ways, ours happens to be on the 5th floor, are open air. It is lovely, after you have puffed up the five flights.

I met my western colleagues, an American, Brit and Aussie! We all have such accents. I answered someone in Spanish and that was funny, they thought it was a dialect of English. My Chinese is just 2 words at this point. Have much to learn and it is mind boggling. I am going for latte with the western teachers today and looking forward to chatting.

My back is really sore, could use my inversion table or a good massage! (Where is Susan Cline when you need her?) Casey said to buy an egg crate, hope they have those here.

My space bags worked great but now that I am opening them, everything is so wrinkled, need to buy an iron next. And I need about 100 hangers, I have 6 in my closet.

For those of you interested in my bathroom findings…. The high school facilities are a lovely Prussian blue tiled hole in the floor, at least each hole has a door. I inquired about faculty restrooms and a regular toilet, and since I am the only female western teacher they may accommodate me with something. Maybe a five gallon bucket with a lid! Culture Update #1: Always carry toilet paper on you, as there is none in any of the bathrooms!

Need to take some pictures today. The university has historical architecture and some being renovated. They are using scaffolding made of bamboo that goes up maybe ten stories. It looks like an accident waiting to happen. I was told there is a Buddhist Temple behind the campus, that might be my first photo excursion.

Latte found!

Posted on by
5

August 27, 2010 6:50 am

Up early! That what happens when you are in the future. Found a Cafe yesterday that serves the best Latte’s ever! Three blocks to a real western coffee/bakery shop. Yes better than Starbucks. I do admit the teas here are lovely.

Got a hair dryer for less than $4, what a deal. The grocery store and I are becoming good friends. They have everything, even M&M’s. Paula, my new friend pointed out the Dorian fruit which has the worse smell ever, will stay away from that one. Smells like that trench I visited a couple days ago.

Now I need an umbrella, next purchase! It is so tropical right now and raining. Will rain all week. Temps 69-80ish….. much cooler than Texas. Although I notice it is not in the 100’s in Dallas.

Today was to be the health check up, but it is postponed, which is nice so I can lounge in, write and drink tea. But later must get a taxi to school to check out my room and attend inservice. School is pretty much year round, starting September 1st and ending July 15th. We do have a three week break in February for Chinese New Year.

World Traveler

Posted on by
4

August 26, 2010
I’m here!  I am ok, jet lag was not too bad.  up early thou….. it is 7:20 am and I think it is 6:20 pm in Houston.

The motel is nice, some quirky things, no clock….! and toilet paper is minimal.  I’m on the second tiny roll.  Had to have our driver pull over from airport, had the runs!  Went to a public pot, hovered over a trench!  Ha that was interesting! Do have internet… not YouTube or Facebook at all.  Skype is up.   Send your Skype addresses to me.  Really glad to have the internet back.  This is such a treat.  No Starbucks, bummer.  Did see a Tea/Coffee bar a couple blocks.  The town is gray, square and dank.  But lots of tall interesting looking trees. Motel room has 2 twin hard as a rock beds, nice shower, but no refrig or cook-stove!  TV is all in Chinese– same type of stuff like in the US.  Looks like 1950 in places around the university.

People are nice, many do not speak English but are somewhat friendly.  I have met an IB Physics teacher from the DC area moved here 5 days ago with wife and kiddo, they are nice. Hope to pal around with them some.

Food is ok, not great.  Like I said I already have travelers poop!   Weather is foggy or smoggy, can’t really tell.  Huge skyscrapers, and lots of them.  2 million plus in the city.   Flying in the landscape is beautiful in the suburbs, with square homes-kinda minimal European looking,  very quaint.  I am in town, large and like downtown Mexico city. Lots of action, accidentally bumped into a parked motorcycle walking down the street and set off an alarm!  Lots of bikes and mopeds and no one watches for pedestrians.  Will need to be real careful walking.  Streets in town are 4-6 lanes and a huge mess navigating. Vendors selling cool looking food.  Ate at the Canteen on campus, the Nanshan Motel is on the University campus.  Lots of college kids, refreshing!  Had tofu/green beans, cabbage, and eggs with something green like spinach, but not!  All tasted rather the same and greasy, rice sucks!  Tea is good, drinking it now.  Had to boil my water for it.  Hope that helps (boiled twice!– no more poop!)  ate with chop sticks alot…. need to invest in a fork.

No specific smells yet….  I remember Mexico city smelt like chicken and bus diesel.  Haven’t smelt that yet.  The flight was long!  I am thinking with layovers and all about 28 hours. Hong Kong airport was sheik, wish I had bought a hair dryer and iron there.  Now I need to go find one today.

Laundry is interesting, kinda like yours, Sarah in Sacramento–except the washers are strange, small and old.  It is on campus too.

Tomorrow I will be taken to the health doctor for a check up for my “Expert Certificate”  —  And in-service is tomorrow.  Wish me luck.

Next thing is the bus system…. oh my that should be fun!