Hectic Holidays

The weekend of December 8^th Courtney and I went to Xiasha District for a retreat with the other American teachers. Xiasha is technically still in Hangzhou but is a 2 hour taxi ride away. We spent the weekend there and finally got to meet the rest of the Americans that came to China at the same time we did. It was nice to see a quieter, less busy part of town, and the hotel some of the other teachers live in was heaven compared to our apartment. We heard some more experienced teachers’ thoughts on spending time in China long term.

While their talk highlighted many positives about this country, there are still its drawbacks. The day we got back from Xiasha, Courtney got sick. We’re still not quite sure what it was, (the hospitals are, in a word, terrifying) but it was probably some bacteria from the sink water she used to brush her teeth. The level of caution required to keep your health up in China is much higher than in the states; our first few weeks here we had to tape our sink faucet down to remind us “tap water = bad.”

Then the great American holiday of Christmas loomed its head. Surprisingly for me, I actually missed the Christmas atmosphere. Normally the sheer amount of Christmas spirit pouring into every facet of my daily life borders on annoyance. But here, having very few signs that the biggest holiday in the states was even approaching, I craved any hint I could get. Starbucks had holiday themed drinks, a few restaurants decorated their doors with a small Santa face cutout, and I cherished those more than I would have at home. The worst part wasn’t missing all of the decorations and music but missing our families. We had a quiet Christmas morning, one that I will remember all of my life.

Because this is China, the day after Christmas I learned that finals had to occur the very next week. This is typical of the amount of planning one is given here, but the extra problem was that the next week would also be New Year’s break from Monday to Thursday. They decided to tell us that a few days later, however. Oh, and did they mention that you have to make up those classes the next few Saturdays and Sundays? In China, when you have a break, those days aren’t already scheduled out of the calendar; you have to make them up, cramming the weekends before and after with classes.

So on top of learning about the finals schedule, the break, and how the two coincide, I then had to change the rest of my classes for the week to prepare the students for the test. The only problem was that the Monday classes I had were cancelled for Christmas; the next week they’d have off for New Years, so I wouldn’t see them until test day, which they had no idea would be coming. Instead of letting the school control our schedule in its own hectic way, we made our own. From other teachers we’ve talked to, American and Chinese, this is a normal thing to do. There is often little organization; Courtney even had two classes scheduled for the same timeslot, which she found out about in the middle of said class.

So we decided to hold the Final preparation last week, have off this week, and give the final the next. I have never had as confusing of a week in any job I’ve ever had. So what better way to relieve all of the stress of confusion through language and culture barriers than by singing some Elvis? Last Friday Courtney and I were able to perform at one of the school’s shows. We sang “Hound Dog” by the king, and while we’re definitely not getting approached by any record companies, we had a lot of fun. Of course, it wouldn’t be China without some performances involving nunchakus, tea history, sappy love songs, and boy/girl dances. Did I mention the Japanese cosplay? Males cross dressing? How about the fact that there was another performance we were supposed to be at, scheduled for the exact same time? Our waiban decided to text us about when we were performing on stage.

This week off from teaching before finals is nice, if a bit nonsensical. It wouldn’t be China without it. This country has its own quirks and eccentricities, but don’t we all?

3 Wheels on the Tut Tut Go Clink, Clank, BUMP

As many of you know, it was Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago.  We were so blessed to be able to have not only one real Thanksgiving meal with American and Chinese friends, but TWO Thanksgiving meals.  Thursday was the actual day of Thanksgiving, on which we ate a feast with the OrderWithMe gang.  Saturday was a Thanksgiving feast with all the Americans in Hangzhou (well, all the Americans connected to the program in some way).  Needless to say, we ate mighty well on those days.  We had almost forgotten how 'American full' feels.  Yuck.  In our classes, we showed A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and had everyone stand up and tell us one thing they were thankful for.  This school is a bit different from my last school in Wuhan, China, so I wasn't able to take them to the cafeteria and sit around the table for 'Thanksgiving'.  Sad day. 

What else has gone on in the past few weeks?

This past weekend, we got wireless internet in our apartment, thanks to our Chinese friends Coral and David.  David is an IT man, who is the boyfriend of a Chinese girl named Kathryn that comes to studies on Wednesdays and Sundays.  Coral and Kathryn have been the steady Chinese girls to come on Wednesdays and Sundays.  They are not believers, but they are interested and have become some of our good Chinese friends here. 

So, back on track - we now have wireless internet at the apartment!  We can now both get on the internet, and we can now connect to the VPN in our apartment. 

After Coral and David helped us, we then proceeded to go to Coral's apartment to make dinner.  Davis left with David on a 3-wheel (tut tut) to get the groceries, and I left with Coral on a 3-wheel to her apartment.  She lives about 5 minutes from us.  To give you an idea, and although you haggle the price, it cost us 8 RMB to travel 5 minutes to her apartment.  That is roughly a dollar and a half, US currency.  When Davis and David returned to Coral's apartment with groceries, we began making...  dumplings!  I should have taken pictures, but I did not. :(  The dough that's used to put the filling in and is folded over, is already pre-cut into circles, so it was super easy to make them.  Davis and I just helped with the filling and folding part.  David did the chopping of the chicken meat, beef, and pork.  He also did the frying and boiling of the dumplings.  They. Were. Delicious!!!

The following morning was Sunday morning.  We were so blessed to have Ronald and his wife and daughter come join us.  Please pray that they continue to come meet with us.  He works at our school, and he is a believer.  He says he has been studying for 8 years, and became a believer 6 years ago.  He is a part of the three self church in Hangzhou.  This is the government sanctioned church in China. 

Yep.  That's about it.  Again, we appreciate all of the prayers and thoughts!