for Millana - Days of Our Lives

[Ruth]

On another thread Millana asked for details of our daily lives. This is pretty boring stuff, but here goes...

Up at 7:10. Heat previously brewed coffee in microwave. Eat a bowl of cereal (last of what I brought from Beijing). Wash dishes from last night (too lazy then - actually I had private students from 6-9:30 last night) and this morning. The good news is that I have a new water heater and did not have to heat the water on the stove like I did for 3 weeks back a month or so ago.

Phoned a friend in the States. I don't usually make long distance phone calls, but her husband is dying of cancer and I had her on my mind a lot lately. She doesn't have email.

8:50 - head for school. The commute is down four flights of stairs, through the apartment complex, out the back gate, down the alley, across the front of the bank, and into the school gates. I share an office with about 18 other teachers, 6 of whom are Chinese English teachers and I can actually converse with. I haven't been at school since April 29th due to the holiday and then 3 days of exams, which I don't proctor, so this was my first morning back. Caught up on vacations with 2 of the teachers. Headed to the VP's office (she speaks English) to see if my new class had been formed yet. No. I'm still off the hook for teaching. At the beginning of April my 2 grade 3 classes were cancelled so the kids could have more study alone time. The only class I have now is a grade 2 class twice a week (Wed and Fri). They are trying to pull together another class of interested students, but this hasn't happened yet. Maybe next week... I really don't care, except I'm very bored. They continue to pay me my full salary.

Read a novel at my desk until 11:20. Headed out for lunch so I could beat the students to the food vendors in the alley. The students are dismissed at 11:40 and there's no fighting the crowd at that time.

Home for lunch and to check emails and the saloon. Make another pot of coffee. I should head back to school now (just after 1) although I am not required to be there unless I am teaching. I have my lessons planned for the next several weeks (my schedule is so demanding ), so I'll likely sit at my desk and read my novel. At least I am there if anyone wants to ask me which answer is correct on their English Coaching papers (usually none or all are).

I think I'll hang out at school for about an hour this afternoon and then come home since I don't have to teach. I'll do a Chinese language lesson by CD while I iron and fold clothes. The clothes are currently hanging in my glassed in balcony area to dry.

Not sure what I will do about dinner yet. This is usually my most difficult decision of the day. I could cook something, convince my husband to cook something, or order food from a restaurant. He and I both have private students tonight from 6-8. I use the spare bedroom cum classroom and he uses the living room. Between us we make about another full salary in private work.

Maybe we will watch a DVD movie after our students are gone. Maybe he will play on the computer and I will read. Maybe I'll check out the saloon and emails again. Quite the social lives we lead.

We did have friends over for dinner and Yahtzee on Tuesday night.

Some mornings I leave school and walk to the local indoor swimming pool where I swim for exercise. Leaving school is a privilege that the Chinese teachers do not have.

[Jollyjunklass]

Lol,

Thanx Ruth, I really DO love this soap digest. I just noticed the thread and had a good chuckle. I hope Lotus, Woza and others will join in. Since, I'm not there yet, it's cool to get a daily dose of China. Makes it all seem a little more real, more normal like.

Why didn't you go somewhere on your break, seems like you had a bit of time to do something substantial. And how do advertise for those extra students?

Your day sounded, to be, not to shabby. I love the " walk to school" description. I get to visualize the real goods, lol.

You guys still need to name your scoop. "THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE GONE MAD"

[George61]

"THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE GONE MAD"

No, Millana, this is not mad. This is NORMAL!

[Lotus Eater]

And a hell of a lot more fun than my previous life of working 10-12 hours per day, with 30+ minutes commute in traffic each end.

I am on a weekend trip to Hebi at the moemnt to attend a friend's wedding. Having a great time. Approx 10 hours by train, but interesting country to look at. Friends are great and am busy making new ones.

"Normal" life will resume maybe Tuesday or Wed. - depending on when I return from wedding to work. Will then do a 'This is MY life" for you.

But as George said - this is ALL normal. Serendip is always happening in China.

[Jollyjunklass]

Hey Lotus,

Hope you have a great time at your wedding, is it a Chinese or Western type wedding?

[woza17]

This is a good thread, Ruth what brand of cereal and what novel are you reading. Details darling we need details.

[woza17]

O.K Millana you have inspired me to get off my arse and go out into the frey. After writing a couple of posts, it was about 5.30pm and a thick sea fog was coming in so I caught a taxi to Xinhai Park and it was magical, the fog was so thick it was ethereal. I got ripped off by 2 of those carnival type people. I shot 50 rounds from a gun and didn't miss one and then they charged me 50 kwai and I won an incredibly large bright yellow bear, was overcharged for a squeeky. crocodile that the dog took a liking too. Walked around for an hour or so got back in the taxi and came home. Dalian is such a lovely city really.

[George61]

This is a good thread, Ruth what brand of cereal and what novel are you reading. Details darling we need details.O.K Millana you have inspired me to get off my arse and go out into the frey. After writing a couple of posts, it was about 5.30pm and a thick sea fog was coming in so I caught a taxi to Xinhai Park and it was magical, the fog was so thick it was ethereal. I got ripped off by 2 of those carnival type people. I shot 50 rounds from a gun and didn't miss one and then they charged me 50 kwai and I won an incredibly large bright yellow bear, was overcharged for a squeeky. crocodile that the dog took a liking too. Walked around for an hour or so got back in the taxi and came home. Dalian is such a lovely city really.

I'll never understand women!
An ethereal,magical fog, and some BERK is shooting a gun!

[hankuh]

Bloody damn good I say! Put 'nother shrimp on da barbie mates!

[Mr Nobody]

hankuh said:

Bloody damn good I say! Put 'nother shrimp on da barbie mates!

Chinese shrimps are err shrimpy. I reckon we need to throw a couple a dozen to make it worth lighting the coals.

Those mantis shrimp on the other hand, are huge mf and damn tasty. Pity the meat to shell ratio is unfavourable.

But somehow, "throw another one o' them huge ugly prawn killer bastards on the barbie" doesn't quite have the same ring, does it? Then the struggle with the beast as it tries to wriggle out of the grasp of the cook . . . .

[Jollyjunklass]

Woza, I realize how bored you are, but couldn't you have chosen an activity that was a little more positive, with a little less violence. I mean hanging out with the carny boys, like come on girl.

Target shooting, in a thick sea of fog. Earlier I posted a message which stated, that you should see if there are any vacancies in Lotus's building. I have changed my mind.

I had a chance to review the weekend party photos. This, along with your desire to shoot off bullet rounds, leads me to believe you may have some control-type, anger issues. I think it's best we keep you away from Lotus and send you elsewhere, where you will have more use.

Babe, has not really gone to a conference, she has left, as we suggested, and is in hiding. This is your opportunity to put your great skills to work. You know what I mean, you know where he is, complete your objective. We will be waiting on pins and needles.

Don't forget to make it hurt.

[George61]

Hoo Boy! So this is starting to turn into a script conference.
" Ok, fellas, next week the story goes like this. The Babe is divorcing George, Woza seeks revenge, buys a gun and starts taking lessons, Millana, the snoopy neighbour, tells Lotus that George and Woza are having an affair. George , meanwhile, innocently offers a cute student a ride home on his bike.
At least the Norse Rubbish thread kinds makes sense!

[Jollyjunklass]

Rauol,
Do you think there is any possible way to get a lock for this thread. I think it needs to be "a female only room", to keep eavesdroppers like George in his place. Slamming our soap opera digest, the nerve of him. How dare he insinuate that the daily journals of these femme fatales compare anything, close to the likes, of that ancient, macho, rubbish he/she thread with the pin up poster of Calisto. I mean, give me a break.

[Lotus Eater]

Chinese - and I get to be 'bridesmaid' and tossed into the air by strong handsome men! >)))

[Dr. Gonzo]

Girls only thread? Screw that.
Millana, my "typical" working day in Australia involves:
5.00 Get up, quick cofee, go for one hour walk, buy newspaper.
6.30
Start to organise school lunches, make breakfast for son and I.
7.00 Wife surfaces, organises, heads off to college.
7.30 Take son to before school care, go to my own school.
8.00-5..0 Teach, prepare, do yard supervision, after school meetings.
5.00 Collect son from after school care, cook evening meal. Relax!

A typical Chinese day.
6.00 Check email, Raoul's, news.
7.00 Head to the breakfast stalls.
7.30 Take son to pickup point for the driver to take him to kinder.
8.00-11.30 Teaching.
12.00 Collect son from kinder and lunch from staff dining room. Do some work on the TESOL course I was on. Walk to the market and/or supermarket.
Have a nap. Drink a beer. Check the forum and email. Decide whether to eat out or in. Have some beers.

So it goes.
See why people prefer China?

[Jollyjunklass]

For sure,
Time to move back, don't you think?

[Jollyjunklass]

FEMALES ONLY,

You may already be familiar with this website, however, if your not it has some pretty cool stuff. www.journeywoman.com/index.html

[Dr. Gonzo]

I'd love to move back. A 6 year old who loves his school here, not to mention a few mortgages, are why we won't be back to work for a while.
Work?? What am I saying? China is a paid vacation. What a life. Here we can't afford a maid or driver, or even getting my shirts ironed. Its all DIYS. Enjoy it while you can.

[woza17]

What a great hubby you are. I am envious of your wife.
Do you have a cold beer ready when she walks in the door and dinner on the table?
Cheers Woza

[woza17]

Millana I was only shooting balloons.
Today it's been raining steadily since last night stayed in bed reading to 8 am. Got up had toast and honey and instant coffee. Worked on lesson plans for 2 hours sitting close to the oil heater, quite cozy really. One of the students just rang wanting to cancel the class because of the rain ;D. Who am I to argue. Computer teacher has cancelled. My neighbour has cancelled our shopping spree.
I wonder if it's worth going out and trying to buy a pair of gumboots and some wet weather gear?

[Ruth]

This is the driest place I have ever lived. Until last night that is. It started raining about 6 p.m. and hasn't stopped since. Almost 24 hours. We haven't had this much rain in the 18 months we've lived here. Really.

The weather turned damp yesterday afternoon which caused me some difficulty with the laundry. The flat only has one set of sheets (I could buy more, but it hasn't been a problem until last night). In the winter they dry just fine in a couple of hours, draped over the hotwater radiators. In the summer, the glassed in sunroom/balcony/not-sure-what-to-call-it space where I hang the laundry to dry provides enough heat to dry them in a couple of hours. On a sunny day in spring and fall, likewise no problem. They were still damp at 6 p.m. last night and obviously weren't going to dry by bedtime on their own, given nightfall and the rain outside. The brilliant one in the family (me) decided to put the fan blowing on them and it worked. I did have to get the fan out of the box it had been stored in since last fall and put it together. Just including all the boring details for those who care.

Yesterday - not having to teach, as usual - I did go to school for a couple of hours, where I chatted with co-workers and hung around. Then I came home and tackled a major project. Our storage space is minimal, especially since our second bedroom is now a classroom. Under the bed is major storage where I keep off-season clothes. The only difficulty is access. The mattress and box springs have to be removed and wooden boards lifted before I can get to our stuff. Not sure why they just didn't build drawers under the bed, but it's built on a wooden box affair and accessible only from under the mattress. I hauled all the summer stuff out and put all the winter stuff away. Good afternoon's work.

The easy commute to work wasn't so easy today. Last year the alley was dug up and big pipes put under it. That messed with the drainage and the alley becomes one huge puddle, or pond. My childhood years spent skipping from stone to stone across streams and balancing on fence rails served me well today. Part of the walk was accomplished balancing on the curb between mud and water. Some kind soul had laid bricks through the deepest of the water, but I think they had longer legs than me. I arrived at school with wet feet. My poncho (which I unpacked for the first time since arriving in China) kept the rest of me dry. I had to go to school this morning to confirm that the schedule we were told yesterday was still on. These things can change, you know.

Here's the schedule this week. Keep in mind that last week was 3 days of exams after the week long holiday and regular classes starting Thursday. Today (Tues) is Wed's schedule, but tonight is Tues's. Tomorrow (Wed) is Tuesday's schedule, but the grade 1 and 2 students get off at noon. They get their monthly 2 1/2 day holiday this week. Why do they need a break after just having had one, you might ask? TIFC as others on this forum would say. The reason is that the grade 3 students are having mock exams Thurs and Fri in preparation for their all-important university entrance exams which are only a few short weeks away. Sat will be Thurs and Sun will be Friday, which means I have to work on the weekend, which messes somewhat with my private students. I wonder why they don't let the grade 1 and 2 students keep their normal schedule and have the weekend off and let the grade 3's do their exams on the weekend. Nobody asked me for advice, though.

I waded back through the pond to have lunch at home (I cooked - bacon from Beijing, eggs, toast), took a Chinese CD lesson while I ironed and then back to school where I taught my ONE lesson for the week. The rain has let up some, but it's too windy to use the umbrella without risk of it flying inside out. At least the wind has moved some of the water out of the alley.

Now it is close to dinner time. I guess I'll put my wet shoes back on (I don't have rubber boots and no sense getting a dry pair wet) and go out to order dinner. Sure wish I could do it over the phone but I'm language impaired. I have a menu from our favorite restaurant and we've had it translated for us. Now I can order what I want all by myself by pointing. I take the bowls, order the food and pay, then come home. They bring the food to my flat - no extra charge. If I could communicate, I could phone and save myself the trip out. Must keep working on those Chinese lessons. If I didn't take my own bowls, they'd bring the food on plates and leave the plates, but then I'd have to return them and it's less trouble for me to take the bowls to start with.

This is the one week night my hubby and I have kept free for ourselves - no private students. Dinner and a movie (DVD) and the rest is nobody's business

Dr. G. has it right - this is a paid vacation. It rains even on the best vacations!

[Lotus Eater]

Today: 7:00am returned from wedding on overnight train. Conductor gave me hot milk for free (only foreigner on train). Arrived back at university, tossed bags in room, hit the computer to check on emails and Raowwwls. Talked to next-door neighbour (OK - woke her up!)
11:00 Chinese teacher rang me to go for lunch. Ate at noodle/jiaozi place 5 minutes walk up the street.
12:30 electricity off - no notice.
1:30 jumped on deadly treadly and rode over to previous university with other foreign teacher from here for lunch at one of my favourite restaurants and then went shopping at the DVD shop - spent 360Y on DVD's (mostly for my daughter who has sent me an extensive list!) Visited friend at previous university, ended up meeting a number of friends there, including students and Chinese teachers.
6:30 peddled back becoming more Chinese by the minute - riding up the street the wrong way, crossing the road in front of on-coming traffic, ignoring red lights.

7:00 arrived at computer and logged in - electricity back on. Will prepare material for class for tomorrow, have a long hot shower after my travels, and maybe at 8:30pm join the other foreign teacher in a Chinese class - although she is also teaching the teacher Chinese. But he invited me and said that since he is bad at Japanese and she isn't good at Chinese they mostly explain to each other in English, so that works for me! Otherwise will watch DVD or read.

Another tough day at the ranch. But I have a legitimate winge - my derriere hurts - not used to riding my bike yet - convincing myself it will be helpful for my planned 1-2 weeks horse riding adventure in the summer holidays.

[Ruth]

6:45 - up and dressed because I was expecting drinking water delivery. Two students showed up at 7:00 with water (they deliver before school starts. I request it when we are close to running out.)
7:15 - back to bed. I stayed up late last night watching DVDs. Due to half day holiday today and no classes for me, I'm not expected at school.
8:15 - enough time in bed, already. Cup of tea and my version of rice pudding for breakfast. I mix an egg, milk, sugar, raisins (all of which I can get here), and a little vanilla (sent from Canada, although I did see some in Carrefour in Beijing) with leftover rice. Microwave on med-high for 3 minutes. Add some more milk and enjoy. My husband won't even try the stuff, but I like it. The Muesli we got in Beijing for about 30 kuai is gone. He's eating puffed rice (purchased from a street vendor for 1 yuan a bag) with milk and sugar. It's not bad, but not very filling. Usually I cook eggs and toast for breakfast, but we're on a cereal kick lately.
morning - pretty much spent on the computer checking emails and hanging out at the saloon.
11:15 Walk to the local swimming pool. Indoor. Olympic sized. At the swanky hotel in town. It's fed from a natural hot spring. Three hours of swim time costs 30 yuan. That's really steep for the locals, but keeps the riff raff out. I have a 3 month membership for 400 yuan. Today there were 8 people in the pool. Usually there are about 15-20 swimming laps. On May 2nd there were lots of people, I guess because of the holiday, and they weren't serious swimmers. More the fool around with floats and balls crowd. It wasn't easy to do laps that day.
It's about a 20 minute walk to the pool from my flat. The weather today is gorgeous. I had on a windbreaker, but soon removed it. Lovely T-shirt weather. Quite a contrast from yesterday's rain. Most of the water and mud in our alley has dried up, although I still had to be careful where I stepped.
I swam 800 meters today. That's 100 more than I've ever done and 300 more than my usual. Pat on the back for me! (Caveat: I'm very out of shape and not an exercise nut, but I'm trying, hence the swimming.)
The showers are hot with lots of pressure. Makes the torture of swimming almost worthwhile.
1:00 arrived home. Cheese, crackers, banana and yogurt for lunch. Just opened the last brick of cheese Might have to go back to Beijing soon...
afternoon - enough time at the saloon today, I think. Must do another Chinese CD lesson. I'm also working on my 'book'. It's really just a personal scrapbook of my life here in China, complete with pictures. I email friends and family regularly and then print a hard copy of my adventures. Last year I took home two such books and left them with my mom. She doesn't have email.
tonight - 6 p.m. I have my munchkin class. Cutest kids, but they wear me out. A 5-year old and two 4-year olds. They come twice a week. They know lots of English words now. I've started working on sentences with them. ('The boy drives the car. The car is red.' comes out 'Boy drives car. Car red' - but I think that's wonderful.) They know lots of songs. 7 p.m. Two kids in grade 6. They aren't much ahead of my munchkins, but I've only had them for a month. They come 3 times a week. 8 p.m. I should have five kids in what equals grade 10 in Canada, but due to the school holiday in the middle of this week they have gone home to their villages. So - a break for me tonight after 8:00 !

[Lotus Eater]

2:30am - Go to bed after Chinese lesson (finished 10:30 pm) and chatting with other foreign teacher and Chinese teacher, plus stuffing around at the saloon and (shame ) playing a really dumb computer game (but I did get high scores!!)
7:30am Woke up, checked emails and Saloon, shower and collected material for classes.
8:30 - 12:00 teaching (2 x 2nd year Oral English classes). During xuixi time gave students ideas for developing their speech for the CCTV speaking competition.
12:00-1:30 Coached student for CCTV speaking competition
1:30-2:30 above student took me to lunch, touch more coaching but mostly just chatting.
2:20 - 4:00 Checked saloon, considered what I needed for tomorrows classes.
4:00-6:30 - Coached student for CBET test in 10 days time. Agreed to another session tomorrow. Nearly beat him to death when he suggested paying me - have agreed to play pool with him after the exam instead. He has now decided that I am OK to talk to about his relationships, as well as helping with his English.
6:30 - 7:30 - right now - on Saloon. You mob are writing a lot these days and it takes plenty of time to keep track!!!
7:30 - 10:00 Masseur will come - other foreign teacher and I will have massage each at my place. I haven't done my legs for a little while - maybe I should whip in now, before he comes???
10:00 Chinese teacher friend will return from other campus - will we have a late dinner together.
Bed - whenever!

[woza17]

4 am got up prepared lesson plan.
5am housework
5.30
walk dog
6.30 breakfast
played with computer
7.30 cycle to class
8.00 begin class evertone late except 2 boys
tell boys off for smoking in class.
12.00 go out for lunch with an ft drink lots of beers come home nap
go down to the beach with the dog and ft The dog gets into a fight. Sit on the each and watch the sunset
Dinner then bed