Ruined for Life

Beijing again?

2009-11-11T05:29:00.000+08:00

A former student from Sogang is visiting a friend in Beijing and wondered if I could visit her. She is a dear student and has become a friend, but it's really cold and walking around Beijing won't be fun. Also her time is limited and we'd just be able to have coffee or a quick lunch. Seems it may not be worth a three hour each way trip. I have been to Beijing twice in October so it's not like I'm dying to get back. I feel satisfied with my Beijing experiences. So I'm leaning towards no. Then I think I could do a cooking course on Saturday afternoon

Is That So?

2009-11-11T05:28:00.000+08:00

Genevieve who's got a sore throat asked about getting heat before the November 15th sanctioned date and was told no. Evidently, it's good for our health to get used to the cold. Is there any proof of that?

I'm dubious. Aren't I always? It's been exceptionally cold for this time of year so it's not like the nanny state really has planned to let us get adjusted, it just happened because usually it doesn't get cold till late November when the heat is allowed.

The poor students have no heat. Then right now I don't as the heater is wheezing and in it's resting mode, when not even the few blows of hot air are emitted.

Food for Thought

2009-11-06T22:18:00.000+08:00

I Like This Idea

2009-11-06T20:57:00.000+08:00

Thom Hartmann suggests that representatives wear patches that identify the corporations that contribute to their campaigns. He says it can be fashionable and suggests a kind of robe of office like judges wear and that they'd just wear them while in session. (Though I think we mainly see them on the news so I'd like them to don the robes then too.)

So these patches would have the logos of their backers. I'd add that they should be proportionate to the contributions. Big patches for Big PAC money. Yes, they might look rather like NASCAR drivers, but it's honest and they can use subdued hues.

Troublemaker

2009-11-04T06:01:00.001+08:00

A student was sick for the midterm and was sent home so I let him take the exam. I'd had trouble getting help reserving rooms so I first suggested he come to my apartment thinking he could work on the test in the living room while I was on my computer working in the bedroom. I'd proctor and confiscate any electronic devices. He was a bit put off about that. I considered reserving a classroom, but it's taken three weeks to get a room to watch the second half of a movie.

Then I thought, I can do this in the library. I had popped into the library a month ago out of curiosity. Our requests in the spring for a tour were all passively aggressively denied. I just looked around the periodicals room briefly before the sentry figured out how to get me out.

So I met my student in front of the library and casually sauntered past the sentry, who did stop my student to find out what was going on. The student apparently explained and I did hear the sentry use the word for foreigner. We breezed into the periodicals room and I told Hector to sit at a table. I gave him the test and began to catch up on my reading with one eye on my student. Soon the sentry reappeared and talked with the woman whose job it is to sit by the door to the periodicals room and watch students read. Much of the time she seemed away from her post.

I have no idea what they decided, but the guard then stood outside the periodicals room and glared at me. Eventually, he went back to the entrance. You know, if I were working with the other foreigners they could have all sneaked into the library and gotten up to the books on the third floor. Anyway, Hector finished the test 90 minutes later. Though he's usually good student and he could choose the day to take this, he did very poorly. Still a 71% sure beats 0% and by the end of the term, he can improve.

I remind myself that this guard has a mind-numbing job and this kerfuffle with the foreigner gave him something to converse about with his pals.

On Debate

2009-11-04T04:46:00.000+08:00

I'm beginning to teach my students to debate. They choose the topics (safe I'm sure, which is fine) and I'll teach the techniques. It's turning out to be harder than I thought. I knew it would be hard, but after reading their essay answers, I think this will be a semi-fiasco.

In preparation, I found this video of The Festival Dangerous Ideas. I do love that title. I've got to get myself to one of these festivals.

As I work on this, I do see that debate is so helpful in developing one's ability to think well.

Grading Degrading

2009-10-31T20:29:00.001+08:00

Reading 150 some students' generalities and vague musing about the book they didn't read is not much fun. Some students are on the money and pay attention, but many are just so vague. In part, I think it's their education, which doesn't require much beyond superficialities of them. That criticism can be said of so many countries - including the US where so much depends on what your school is like. On the one hand, multiple choice tests would be so quick to grade, but I want to see how they use the language, what they've learned. So I'm wading though banal paragraphs and illogical sentences and my head is spinning.

I may have to break this cleanse and get some reward chocolate.

What's that gurgling?

2009-10-31T20:29:00.000+08:00

I am embarking on a cleanse for a couple weeks, maybe. I've heard of these diets where for two weeks you clean out your digestive system by drinking lots of water, eating lots of healthy veggies and no processed foods. Also, you take herbal supplements.

I tried this before hoping for the regenerative, invigorating results that I've heard about. I did have one friend who did this in Japan. Well, I was so weakened and so tied to the bathroom that it just wasn't worth it. I gave up after a few days.

Yet I feel like such a quitter and I do want to see if this is a good thing. Can't hurt to eat more fruits and vegetables, right? So I've started today. I may eat some bread. I may cheat a little, but I'm going to try to follow this plan for two weeks or till the supplements are gone.

A good job but not for me

2009-10-30T18:43:00.001+08:00

The Detroit Tigers are looking for a bilingual Chinese-Taiwanese/English candidate to be the personal translator/teacher for a minor league Taiwanese professional baseball player. The position will start in late February. 2010, and continue throughout the end of August, 2010.

The ideal candidate is fully bilingual with excellent spoken English, is active, enthusiastic and must be able to work flexible hours and be willing to travel. Someone in the sports/health/training field would be ideal. An ability to teach ESL is also a desired quality.

Please send resume and cover letter to:

Sharon P. Lockwood, MA

Coordinator, International Player Programs

Detroit Tigers at Tigertown

2125 North Lake Avenue

Lakeland, FL 33805

Getting To Know You

2009-10-30T18:43:00.000+08:00

Here Is What You Are Supposed To Do...And Please Do Not Spoil The Fun!

1. Hit Forward

2. Delete My Answers

3. Type In Your Answers

4. Then Send This To A Whole Bunch Of People That You Know... And Send It Back To Me So I Can See Your Answers

The theory is that your friends will learn a lot of little known facts about you.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My mom has a cousin who's also "Susan Marie" I wasn't named after her, but I think my mom just liked the sound of this.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Watching a movie, maybe Emma.

3. Do you like your handwriting?

I do

4 . WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

rare roast beef

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

No.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU

I think so.

7. Do you use sarcasm?

When necessary. Getting over that . . . slowly, at my own convenience

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Yes, but don't give them much thought.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Granola

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

If there are laces and so that's just for gym shoes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

Yes.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Depends on my mood and what's available. Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia is a favorite, so is anything with dark chocolate. Starbucks new mocha is good, but it kept me up all night when I tried it.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

They don't say.

15. Red or Pink?

red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU?

my grumpiness

17. WHAT DO YOU MISS?

good deep dish pizza

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?

Only if they want to.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

blue and purple flip flops

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Dark chocolate raisins, the last of my stash from Trader Joe's. Luckily there's Dove Dark chocolate here.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW

A dog's barking

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Midnight blue

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

cinnamon, rosemary. coffee, baking bread, rain

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOUTALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

A reservation agent at China's Northwest Airlines.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS?

yes.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Diving,

27. HAIR COLOR ?

Gray, God knows how much, covered by strawberry blonde or light brown or whatever I've bought

28. EYE COLOR?

blue

29. Do you wear contacts

Yes

30. FAVORITE FOODS?

fried eggplant, dumplings, fried cabbage, ratatouille, mashed potatoes, asparagus goat cheese, and sundried tomato pasta salad

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

The September Issue

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

maroon

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

summer, although winter's here are pretty awesome.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

Depends on who's involved

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

chocolate mousse - yes, I agree (copying Bridget's answer)

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND

39. What books are you reading now?

Sea Change, Three Cups of Tea, The Guernsey Literary Society and Potato Peel Pie Club or some such thing, which I'm weary of but plugging through

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE Pad?

A Chinese print

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V.. LAST NIGHT?

nothing - I went out and later graded tests. I did watch some Daily Show on the computer

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

Rain on the roof

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

China

45. Any new news in your life?

What qualifies as news?

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Chicago

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Any and all

I miss facebook's regular features like this. Trivial, yet revealing.

Back to Beijing

2009-10-27T08:14:00.013+08:00

Friday I returned to Beijing because I had to speak at a teachers' conference. Normally, I wouldn't go back so soon, but the last two weeks schedules were out of my hands.

I returned to the Far East Hostel, which has become my Beijing home. It was a perfect location since the conference hotel (special price of $66/night compared with $9.90) was just down the main drag 5 minutes south. I got the same room so this does feel like "home."

Friday I wasn't so lucky with the roommates as I got someone who came in at 2am or something. So she woke me, but wasn't rambunctious about it. Saturday I got an Aussie woman who just finished a practicum in acupuncture in South China. She had good tales to tell. Then there was a more quiet Swiss woman. No one noisy.

The conference didn't start till Sunday so on Saturday, I got up, treated myself to a Western breakfast - scone and cappuccino and headed for the Forbidden City. I wanted to see the post-Olympics renovation and get some pictures. The sky wasn't all that blue, but I have no idea when I'll be back so carpe diem.

On the weekends one expects crowds at any sight in Beijing and there were hordes of people, lots of groups on Saturday, but it wasn't horrible till the end.

This time I went to the Picture and Calligraphy Gallery out through a gate on the left once you enter the first courtyard. That was a smart choice. The gallery has been renovated and has lots of bilingual multimedia explaining the various works. It's beautifully displayed and it wasn't crowded so you could leisurely enjoy the art work. It's just one floor and three main galleries so it doesn't add that much time to your trip. Oh, it's free, or no extra charge.

I then spent hours taking pictures (soon to be posted here) and wandering around the magnificent Imperial Palace.

I did long for the Starbucks that Bridget and I never found. They have a few cafes, but they weren't the same, close but not the same. Too generic. I would say they could use an upscale tea place for visitors to relish some tea in real porcelain cups, not paper and something to nibble on like petite dumplings.

There are some new gift shops, very nice and so expensive. For example, they had T-shirts for 168 rmb at various shops, which is about 100 rmb more than you'd normally pay. I did find the Red China Mao playing cards that Genevieve admired at a good price though.

After the Forbidden City, I trekked over to the Hilton for a leisurely lunch. It's hard for one person to find a meal since so many restaurants cater to groups. Chynna at the Hilton was a lucky choice for a good lunch set at 108 rmb for several courses.

Afterwards I went up to the Olympic grounds to get some photos of the Bird's Nest and the Cube since the one's I took in May were lost.

Then I tried to find the electronics part of town to buy an adapter for my laptop, but it was 6-ish and too dark to search a new part of town. I wandered a bit and went to the conference site to register.

If you need a laugh

2009-10-22T11:23:00.000+08:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

You've Got Fail

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Nanluoguxiang - My New Favorite Beijing Street

2009-10-19T09:43:00.000+08:00

I found it on savourasia.com, a treasure trove of hints.

Highlights of my Beijing Weekend

2009-10-19T07:42:00.000+08:00

Good, Cheap Beijing Accommodations

2009-10-19T07:16:00.000+08:00

Last weekend I stayed at the Far East International Youth Hostel when I went to Beijing. My main aim was to save money. The hostel in Qingdao had been nice so I'd give this a try. I chose this hostel since they had single sex dorm rooms. I figured in a coed dorm room I could be stuck with a bunch of unruly college age drinkers. I thought with the single sex option I still might be, but it would be easier to deal with all women.

It turned out to be a terrific choice. It's one metro station away from Qiananmen, which I walked to on the first morning. The areas got lots of restaurants, music shops, book stores, and calligraphy shops. It's very picturesque.

It's a bit tricky to find. I tried to avoid any problems by calling to ask them which exit I should use to exit. Though they spoke good English, they just couldn't fathom why I needed to know whether I should take exit, A, B, C or D. (Answer: Because if you take the wrong one you're going north instead of south and probably won't know for 10-15 minutes. A Chinese woman who worked for an international company, noticed my difficulty and stepped in to clear things up. By the way exit through C and go right.)

The hostel is in a hutong neighborhood surrounded by several tea shops, fruit shops, laundries, and tourist agencies offering bookings for hikes and Peking opera and other shows. They've got a computer room, restaurant, coffee shop and the staff is helpful.

The real bonus, which merits its own post, is that I lucked out with the roommates. One, whose name I've forgotten, was finishing a long bike trip from Bangkok to Mongolia and she was now in China working on getting a visa to go to India. Then she'd return to Alaska, where she's done some creative work with indigenous people to curtail suicide, drug use, etc. So my fears of getting stuck with obnoxious roommates was unfounded.

I didn't avail myself of the restaurant since I'd been set on two Starbucks breakfasts and would be rambling around the city during the day. I have to go back to Beijing next weekend for a conference and have booked myself back at this hostel. What's cool is that most of the people there now aren't youth anyway, just people who do want to save on travel. I will say the showers and toilets down the hall could be in better shape. I'm fussy about that. The rooms though were nice. I'll try to remember to get a photo myself next week.

Biographical Poems

2009-10-15T08:25:00.001+08:00

Here are a few poems my Chinese students wrote recently.

Jane

Serious, careful, ambitious, talkative

Daughter of Weidian Yang and Xia Zhang

Lover of books, watching soap operas

Who feels happy when buying delicious food

Who needs confidence when meeting trouble

Who gives help to friends in need

Who fears dangerous animals

Who would like to see the beautiful scenery of the world

Resident to Zoucheng

Yang

Sheila

Kind hearted, outgoing, humorous, open-minded

Daughter of Yang Cui ping and Chen Hong guang

Lover of classical music, taking photos

Who feels everyone should respect old people

Who needs love from parents and friends

Who gives help when friends need some

Who fears darkness when she is alone

Who would like to see the peace of this world

Resident of Dong Ying

Chen

Zhi song a.k.a. Hawking

Strong, direct, brave, sleepy

Son of Wu Xianghai and Li Mengyun

Lover of WOW and music

Who needs more knowledge to improve himself

Who fears staying in a strange place alone

Who would like to drive a fast car

Resident of Dong Ying

Wu

Jenny

Optimistic, indefatigable, thoughtful, dedicated

Daughter of Ren Jianxiang and Ge Xueling

Lover of Jang Woo Hyuk

Who feels happy to stay with her family

Who needs ice cream when upset

Who gives all she has to help her friends

Who would like to see old movies from day to night

Who fears being alone in a new place

Resident of Qingdao

Maizi

Dong

Emotional, eccentric, active, kind

Son of Su Wei and Wang Qing

Lover of the World of Warcraft

Who feels lonely

Who needs rage

Who gives light

Who fears misunderstanding

Who would like to see freedom

Resident of happiness

Su

Happiness is a Warm Gun, I Guess

2009-10-15T05:43:00.000+08:00

I had my new students give short presentations on their favorite things at the start of this semester. Most describe the usual pop stars, vacation spots, snack foods and films. Some are surprising. Shocking really. On the last day in one class I had a young man (the second at this school) state that Hitler was his favorite man. He couldn't explain why, he just liked him.

Not to be outdone, a young, petite woman listed violent movie after violent movie as her favorites. Not my cup of tea, but I know others like some blood shed. Then she had some slides of snipers and sniper weapons. She said that she admired snipers because they were patient, calm and accurate. She also rattled off her favorite sniper weapons. Whoa

Can We Check the Numbers?

2009-10-15T03:31:00.000+08:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

CNN Leaves It There

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Ron Paul Interview

Foiled Again

2009-10-13T12:23:00.000+08:00

Eager to get some access to favorite blogs and maybe even facebook, I found a fee-based proxy. I suspected that it might not work so I was careful to see about being able to cancel my subscription. I printed out those procedures before signing up for Xorum. Once I set up the account with a free trial, I tried to browse. No luck at all. Later I found a message on the Xorum forum asking about China. They said their service wouldn't work here. So I went back to PayPal and cancelled the subscription. Ugh. Time to just surrender.

11th National Games of the PRC

2009-10-12T08:21:00.000+08:00

Jinan is hosting the 11th National Games for the People's Republic of China and I got to go to see some of the diving with Genevieve and a Chinese family.

The event was housed in a beautiful new natatorium designed by the same team that created the Bird's Nest for the Olympics. It's gorgeous.

When we got past the ticket taker, we had to have our temperature taken so as not to spread swine flu. Then we had to leave any food in a special tent. I didn't bring food, but the Chinese family gave me some when they heard I hadn't eaten dinner already. (Then picked me up at 4:10pm and I figured they'd be selling food.) You also could check any knives, scissors, nail cutters, lighters, etc. in the tent. We then proceeded through security and every person had to be padded down. I wondered if the metal detector was anything other than decorative.

We had opted for the pricier tickets at $15 rather than $7.50 thinking they'd be better, but we were in the nose bleeds, second from the last row. I have no idea how they price tickets here. I did ask Nancy Feng, who got them for us, if she thought we'd have better seats if we paid more and she agreed. I still can't tell if "yes" is the default answer to all my questions.

Still we had a great time. The women divers looked like they were all about 12 years old, the men a bit older. They were fabulous. We saw some amazing diving.

Another cool thing was we didn't have to pay for parking. They didn't have any lots because not that many people own cars -- yet so people could just park along the perimeter of the sports complex. That won't last forever.

Sharifa

2009-10-11T08:22:00.000+08:00

I have just started tutoring a high school student in Kandahar. It's through an online volunteer program. Via Skype I've talked with Sharifa three times. There are several constraints due to Afghani culture and Muslim beliefs. I was going to send her some of the photos I took at the diving then I remembered we can't let the girls see us if we're in short sleeve shirts. Clearly, men and women in swimsuits would be taboo. Yet for us, they're non-sexual. So I stopped myself.

I don't want to get kicked out of the program already.

Sharifa's got excellent pronunciation, but her listening, vocabulary, etc. needs work. It doesn't help that Skype can have poor sound quality.

I'm not sure if she has seven brothers or two. At first she said seven, I thought. Then after determining that she was the oldest child, I asked how old her youngest brother was she said 16. Now Sharifa's 18 so unless her brother is a multiple or the middle children are, we've failed to communicate.

I figure, in time, these things will shake themselves out.

Wedding Party, Jinan

2009-10-10T21:46:00.000+08:00

Mascot for the Chinese National Sports Competition in Jinan

2009-10-10T21:43:00.000+08:00

In October with as much fanfare as it can muster, Jinan is hosting the Chinese National Games. They've built a couple new stadiums, which were designed by the same team that designed the famed Beijing Bird's Nest.

Genevieve and I will go to the diving. I'm quite excited as China won some gold medals in diving during the '08 Olympics.

Jinan's Little Tienanmen Square

2009-10-10T21:39:00.000+08:00

My Very Own Bar Code

2009-10-09T07:49:00.000+08:00

by Barcodes Inc