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Published: December 12th 2006
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Painting at a nightclub
A frog jumping on some man's bare buttocks?
China is sometimes oh-so-strange. I have discovered that there exists one piece of music that could be used as a soundtrack to absolutely any situation or witnessed scene in China. I absolutely recommend finding this piece of music on the internet and listening to it. Imagine watching the traffic whizzing around the streets of Beijing, people hurrying to and fro, taxis honking, bicycles swerving in between the cars and busses, babies crying, children being held over garbage bins to urinate freely due to their split-seat pants, construction workers dangling on bare wires to hand lumber to a colleague, old women doing tai qi in the early morning hours.... This piece of music works for absolutely anything. What is it, you ask? It is called "Toreadors" from the "Carmen" opera by Bizet. It is amazing.
Beijing is now in full Christmas mode. I've posted several pictures from around the city to illustrate my point. There is no doubt that we are in the midst of the holiday season. Unfortunately, we have to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but we do get New Year's Day off, as it is a public holiday (Christmas is not). The school I am working for as a relationship
Ikea in Beijing
Becoming more international every day with a migrant school about 45 minutes away from the central business district (CBD) where we are located. The children who attend this school all have parents who have come from poor backgrounds and rural areas to the city to find work. The school previously lacked even doors or windows; it is not recognized by the government as a legitimate school and so lacks government funding. However, with the help of fundraising from our school, enough money was raised to buy new doors and windows for the school. The difference is substantial; the kids can now take off their coats, hats and mittens while in class! Even more outstanding is that a Dutch reporter heard about our school's pledge to help the migrant children and wrote a big, front-page article in the Netherlands about it, whlch has resulted in a Dutch bank donating 100,000 EUROS (!!) to the school! This means that the school will become an official school and will have full-time teachers (our own staff has been volunteering their time to go out and teach the kids). This was wonderful and much-needed news at our school. The politics of the school bureaucracy have become quite tense and there
Clear, blue Beijing sky
This blue sky is due to the seeding of the clouds. The Beijing government is trying to clear away much of the pollution before the 2008 Olympics. Many factories that used to be in the city have been moved to the city outskirts and chemicals are shot into the clouds via high-flying planes in order to make the clouds dissapate or weaken enough to be blown away by any wind that is produced, therefore providing us with this beautiful blue sky. has been a major changing of the staff roster recently. Bonuses that were promised to the teachers have failed to appear, requests for certain teaching materials are denied, and everyone has been a bit down lately. However, the teaching team really is like a big family and we have been supporting one another and helping each other out in sticky situations.
On Christmas Eve Day, we will be journeying out to the migrant school to celebrate the holiday with the kids. As my musical background is well-known, I have been put in charge of the music program for the day. We will be having a sing-a-long with the kids, as well as a quintet performing 2-3 carols. I hope my 7 years in choir pay off!
On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, the school is treating all the teachers to a nice dinner out. We are very much looking forward to that.
I am still in the process of finding and buying a nice digital piano for my apartment. The loss of dexterity in my hands is amazing and a little frightening for me. I haven't touched a piano in almost 2 months, which must be
Mug at Chinese store
Read it carefully. It says "I wish you easy crapulence". Seriously. an all-time record in the 14 years I've studied piano. Mom and Dad have been wonderful enough to pledge their help in my purchase, so I am excited to find my one perfect piano.
I'd like to close with a list of some of the things I've learned since moving to Beijing. Although this is the third time I've lived in China, I am constantly learning new things.
1.) When blowing one's nose, it is advised not to look directly at the kleenex afterwards, as one will be dismayed to note all the pollution and dust that is displayed in the rejected nostril mucus.
2.) Beijing is not similiar to Madison in the regard that cars will not stop for you, even if you are in the middle of the pedestrian crosswalk and have the right of way. Instead, they will blow their horns and give you an angry look.
3.) When telling somone I am vegetarian, they will assume that being vegetarian means that I still eat fish, shrimp, lobster, clams, oysters, eels, scorpions, shark, and chicken. I now tell someone that I eat only vegetables. It's safer that way.
4.) My students are constantly surprising me
Piano #1
One of the digital pianos I am looking at possibly purchasing. with what they already know and the types of topics they wish to discuss. During teacher training, we were warned to never bring up the "Three T's" : Tiananmen Square, Tibet and Taiwan. However, the students often wish to know what our opinions are over these matters. We often just feign ignorance or say we have no opinion.
5.) Spittle on the street really does freeze and become an icy hazard.
6.) Despite the days that are harder than others, I love China and am so happy to be here.
Thanks for reading.
merritt.wilsongmail.com
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