#35 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College, China (Walking the streets of Taizhou)

The rain is a pleasant relieve in Taizhou, and everyone and everything is enjoying a needed washing. The many open vehicles are quickly storm-ready, boasting colorful "panchos" and plastic tarps. Pedestrians seek shelter or share their umbrellas, as taxis are in high demand.

On my 8th floor apartment, one of the tallest buildings in the area, the lightning flashes are less bright, and the clapping of thunder is less loud than the frequent, elaborate fire-works, honoring the nightly flotilla of brides and grooms in the city of Taizhou, located in a booming area of Jiangsu Province.

Each day I take some hours to explore the city on my own. The surroundings and the sights are more familiar, and my sense of direction is failing me less. But since the city is flat, and the hot summer- haze often prevents taller structures from being visible as points of reference, Taizhou's two- to three- story business-streets still pass as too similar.

The city is in obvious transition and expansion. Updating their infra-structure, building new bridges and roads, and erecting huge concrete complexes for every kind of use, is fueling work opportunities and prosperity all around the city. The capitalist style of "trickle-down-economy" is boiling, with the investment from home and abroad, and is supported through-out the population by "conspicuous"-consumption.

The extra income, if not spent on the education and opportunities for their child or on expensive health-care, provides new opportunities to improve home and enjoy life. Stores, large and small, lure their customers, with wares not so possible 30 years ago. Photographs of displays in larger stores, would show little difference from our K-Mart or Wal-Mart stores, at prices more competative then ever, yet for many still not quite affordable. One can see it in their eyes, they know it to be soon, if only they continue to work "harder" days, or study "longer" hours.

The semester for the students and teachers at the college is coming to an end, and most are beginning to make plans for a summer with their families. Many have greated me very personally and welcomed me to their school. Arriving earlier than I expected is easing the adjustment, and Arthur is always on the look-out for something special to do and wonderful people to meet.

High School graduates continue to take their entrance examinations at the many institutions around the city, with parents, by the hundreds, praying for their child's success. I see them pacing in the heat and rain, in front of the prohibitive school gates, morning after morning. Talking about parent involvement !

In a few weeks I'll be off to Beijing, to attend an international college fair with Arthur. Not having visited last time, I'm looking forward with exitement to visiting the capitol and location of the 2008 Olympics, and for good measure experience the famous Terracotta Warriors in the city of Xuan. We are travelling by overnight train, my first in China. There are two classes for sleeper travel, "hard sleeper" (usually 6 to a compartment and little privacy) and "soft sleeper" (more comfortable, 4 to a cabin with private bathroom!!) Guess which I will encourage to my friend.??

I do need to make ONE CORRECTION re. my college address, in case you might wish to donate and send some books and supplies to the English Dept. of our small College. The street is NOT #1 Chunhui Rd. It is #100 Chunhui Rd. Below is the complete and correct address: (sorry about the mistake)

Mr. Hans Schneider,
c/o Arthur Lee
Taizhou Normal College
#100 Chunhui Rd.
Taizhou, Jiangsu Province
P.R. China 225300

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