November

Friday morning exercise

Well December is upon us and even the Chinese are infected by the Christmas virus.  The weather is getting colder here and I've been using the AC in my room to blow hot air, and its pretty good so my rooms are warm. We had a bit of a hiccup with the shower. There was never any hot water in the morning and Stephen and I have had been complaining for about 2 months. We were told to shower in the evening, because the water was being heated by solar power, but we insisted we wanted showers in the morning, plus on the dull days the water was barley tepid.  They eventually fixed it. They did have elec trice heaters, but first they just were not working properly and second they had to change the timer so the water heated for us in the morning.  So now we have nice hot water. Its actually a local law. The local government is involved in our contracts and they stipulate what schools have to provide for foreign teachers, so we had them over a barrel a little bit.


So whats been happening in my part of the world? Early on in the month we all visited Teppenyaki again. About 10 of us and I met some people that I had briefly met the last time I was here, they were still working for the same agency that I had bailed out on.

  Steve and Nikki, Tom and Peggy

 AJ

 I can't remember their names

 Its a lot of meat!

 These are the bananas being sautéed

 Tom and Peggy, my good friends.

As I mentioned Christmas is coming to China, this is my Saturday job school, already putting the trimmings up around mid-november!

The last few weeks or so have been a bit tough Ive had a cold, I fell over again and really need to have a massage as my little finger is a little numb, I may have trapped a nerve or something and this last week Ive had a cough and a bad chest but life goes on.

We had an office get together, a office hotpot.  This was strictly illegal as far as school policy goes, but the teachers blamed it on us, by telling the boss it was Stephens birthday.  As usual it didn't kick off until after 9pm which is when the Chinese teachers finish work.

Jerry and Sheri filling the pot

Ann and Cosmo chopping, Stephen stirring...

Towards the end of November I was asked to give a guest lecture to about 120 students at Southeast University which is a pretty good university in these parts. Obviously it was Sociology and I got paid.  I think it went well and I hope to be asked back.

And then Thanksgiving was upon us. So the usual bash had been organised by Tom and Peggy our two most favourite Americans at the Blue Marlin in Xianlin  and a good time was had by all.

AJ turned out as expected!

Stephen with his Turkey dinner!

Stuart and his wife Joanna

Joanna and Ricks girlfriend

 Me and Joanna (Stuarts wife remember!)

 Snooks in bed with my new settee cover!

 We also finally got the right sized (well maybe a bit big) clothes for Snooky She'll be warm when it gets very cold here!

Now the weather has got a bit chilly, people have now started wearing their pyjamas out to the shops!

Over the past week or so the pollution levels here in Nanjing have shot sky high, at times the scale has been over 300 times the normal reading.  The whole landscape has been blanked by a white smog/fog. The advice has been to wear protection. This hasn't helped my bad chest a lot and Ive stayed in as much as possible. So no running. But even staying in can't help that much, I mean you still have air in your rooms.  And the classrooms are not sealed at all and open out onto the outside, not internal corridors. 

But hey the acers are set off nicely against the foggy background.

This Sunday we were told to be in the office at 9:30 am as we were going to have a 'Party' and some 'Fun' - well as you can imagine we begrudgingly said OK. Both Stephen and I feel we have to keep our end up, and show willing. This is a good school and they treat us very week so it behoves us to fit in with their plans. But they often don't tell us until the last minute about something that is happening. And 9:30 on a Sunday seemed a bit much, especially for Stephen who is younger and Saturday night is his party night.

Anyway at 9:30 we were herded into a coach and taken to this sort of country park about an hour away.  The pollution was so bad we couldn't see any of the countryside we travelled through.

Then of course the 'fun' started. This consisted of a series of speeches delivered by our bosses in Chinese.  You can see how much my colleagues were enjoying it. The teacher in the foreground had to get up at 6 to make it back to school on her day off.

Then we had a walk around the grounds in the pollution

 We saw a boat

And walked some more

Then we saw some nice deer in pens. Plus some horses in the stables

And then Lunch.

These formal banquet style lunches are an experience. Here we have arrayed before us the main big bosses of the School including in the white shirt the owner. So these guys are connected. Probably members of the Party.  There is a lot of cock swinging when it comes to these dinners. Lots of alcohol is consumed in toasts. Im more and more quantities. Notably a fiery sprit called Bijou. Which in the style of Vodka is swilled back in one. Although the glasses are very small. But you are served it in little jugs, and soon the jugs become the drinking vessel. Along with the cry of 'Gambay' which means down in one! And to save face everyone has to keep up.  Fortunatly we foreigners don't give a f%$& about face so we don't really get involved. Just drinking enough to be respectful. 

Im not a great fan of the food either at these banquets. A lot of offal, and intestines and fat. Roosters claws are popular. One has to pick carefully.  Rice or Noodles often come to the table very late in the proceedings as a filler. I can't say that I enjoyed much of this banquet, i had some prawns, some chicken soup, some vegetables and some noodles.

 So of course back on the coach most of the teachers were pretty tipsy!

It sort of turned out to be a nice trip. I took some great photos which I'll upload later. The country park place was pretty good, it was a nice walk despite the pollution and the meal was fun! 

And as ever the school was pretty generous with another big gift of fruit and nuts.

National Day Holidays in China.

First day back at work today. We've had a week off because its been the National Day Holidays in China and the school has been closed for a week.  Most people who have the time off (regrettably not the builders outside my window) take the opportunity to go home to visit with family and relatives so public transport and the roads become horrendous.

On Tuesday of the holiday AJ came to get me as we were off for a bit of a jaunt. But he was late because, as we saw on the journey back to his place, the roads were pretty much at a stand still, especially the toll motorways, which during the holidays are free, so everyone uses them.

Anyway we were off, first to pick up a british couple who were hoping to teach at the new school AJ is at.  We picked them up at a big park place by a lake. This is Snooks looking out for them (she's in the drivers seat while AJ is outside)

Then we went off to AJ's place, which is about an hours drive with the british couple and their baby. This is the accommodation block which is still being built, but includes a five star hotel with all the amenities which the teachers can use. We also went up the road to look at the school which is still being built, but is open for business. Apparently its owned by the richest man in China so will be a top notch school. Families are already snapping up the flats so their kids can go there. (rich families btw)

This is heading back to AJ's place

The couple from Leicester (I forget their names) who are hoping to teach at the school. AJ is working as the schools 'pimp' finding good foreign teachers.

Snooks was more interested in their new hamster

The outdoor swimming pool

Then once we had done that we were off to xianlin where we had a beer in the Blue Marlin meeting up with Tom and Peggy, then we went for lunch.  This is called a 'dry pot'.  And it was delicious, we had two bowls between five of us, one was slightly spicy, the other was spicy.

Then back to the Marlin with Tom and Peggy, AJ had to shoot off

 Snooks with Ryan

 Then me and Snooks got a taxi home

On Wednesday, I went 'exploring' on my own. I was also looking to purchase a Juicer. So I got the bus to Herdingqiou (or River Bridge as Ive just discovered) where Auchan is. 

I got off the bus when I saw this big appliance store. I went in and checked out the prices of the juicers.

 Then I walked on towards Auchan taking in some of the sites, the buildings, this guy mediating by the 'River Bridge'

Fortunately at Auchan theres a Starbucks so I treated myself to a coffee and scone!

 Then took the Metro and a taxi to Metro which is like a big cash and carry. You have to get a card using your passport. But they usually have a good selection of western food and the drinks are cheaper than most places.

I was a bit dissapointed though. The juicer was only 1yuan (10p) cheaper than the appliance store and there was not much stuff I wanted to buy. I got two tins of Heinz baked beans and some pasta  with sauce.

 Then back to Herdingqiou and walked back towards the appliance store

I did buy the Juicer there. I tried to do a deal and buy a juicer and a blender to get a discount. But I didnt manage to get a discount on either and they pointed out to me that the juicer was already discounted by 300 yuan (£30) Its a Phillips so I splashed out on it - 799 yuan (about £80) which is 1 days work at my Saturday job!

 Later that evening, energised by my first juice (above) and my day of exploring I decided to have a walk around my local area. I took the bus a couple of stops and jumped off at the first strip of shops and stuff.  There was this street food market

 And fruit and vegetable sellers - this is the sugar cane guy.

 On Thursday I was taken swimming by a family of one of my students (Angel) that have befriended me. Well it was just Afeng - the mum, and Angel. I think I mentioned that Afeng had taken me swimming before and she just ploughed lengths for 1 hour having been a professional swimmer. This time both she and Angel (aged 13) ploughed lengths for an hour. I managed 22 lengths of the Olymipic sized pool - Phew.

Then I was taken to their home as we were going out later to someones birthday party. 

This is Afeng and her husband.

And with Angel who is in my Junior A class.

I had a great time and ate most of everything on the table - including chicken, scallops, fish, crab, 'something like frog whispered Angel', beef, 'meat', a small bird that a little girl next to me enjoyed scooping the brains out of the head - pigeon I think, smoked eel and prawns, I turned my nose up at the shredded pigs ear, some stuff in a sauce that looked like innards, fish soup that looked a bit too gloopy for me and other stuff. There are often very few vegetable options at these meals.

Me and Angel

It was a 50th birthday, held in a big room. It seems that all the guests turn up, the food is served, the birthday boy sang a karaoke , then everyone goes home!  I was home by 8:30 having drank most of the 1 bottle of wine on the table and was just getting ready to party!

I think this is lotus root - it could be white radish - it was delicious

The start of the banquet

The table soon begins to fill

Notice the Pigeon heads (which were much enjoyed by a little girl next to me)

The girls from my table - no idea who they were apart from Angel of course.  Fortunately I had taken the precaution of buying some bags of M&Ms in the expectation that some kids would be at the party. I also had some lollipops (I know it sounds like a peado kit - but when you become a source of fascination by kids who have never been in contact with a foreigner sweets break the ice)

Friday I went into Nanjing and met up with AJ, Tom and Peggy for lunch. They went back to Xianlin so I had a wander around Nanjing and then went home. 

Saturday I had my Saturday Job, so I picked up breakfast enroute - its a sort of flaky pasty called Shaobin,  with sesame seeds and some green chilli inside - very nice, just made in an oven on the street.

My Saturday desk. I met an new foreign teacher - Hudson from Washington DC, he'll be working there  full time.  It was a bit annoying as I had a 9 am class for 2 hours , then nothing until 3:45, but we had to be sat in the office and I got told off for 'napping' outside of the official napping hours of lunch time (11-13) But hey I was being paid!

In my last class I only had two girls as everyone was still on holiday

The after school, me and Hudson hot footed it over to a Japanese restuarant called Teppanyaki in the Xinjiekou area of town, which is the main shopping area. We met with AJ and other foreign teachers. Stuart who I haven't seen since I was last here, Ryan who is Tom and Peggys son (They have another here also - Matt) The two next to AJ who Ive not met before and of course Tom and Peggy, Oh and Ryans girlfriend.

We had the all you can eat buffet for 180yuan each, a bit
pricey but you get your own chef, the pick of the menu as many times as you want. So for example, I pick something and everyone gets some. Plus unlimited beer, plum wine and sake all in a private room.

 These are the bananas being flambéed before being covered in Mango ice-cream - we all had 2 servings!

Then we went to a club called The Basement

I was home by 11:30 though and that included getting the taxi home - about 40 minutes. 

Sunday, I took Snooks out on her normal exercise in the morning with her two balls and she seemed OK, but about an hour later she couldn't walk, she'd seized up completely.

I went shopping leaving her in her bed.  I bought her some cooked chicken as a treat, she managed to get up for that and got looser throughout the day - I was a bit worried, but I have found the whereabouts of two vets and have chinese friends with dogs I could turn to with a problem

Soon she was enjoying the attention

The rest of my holiday, Sunday and Monday I spent doing marking and preparation for teaching and just watching some stuff I've downloaded from the BBC. Teaching started on Tuesday. Its Wednesday now, I started writing the blog on Monday.

And now for the funny bit at the end of the news - this was in the Gents Toilet at the Mystical Healthy Swimming Club