Blogs from Shanghai, China, Asia - page 259

Well, I have been living at the other end of the hole we dug as children for a few months shy of a year now. I am a teacher, or laoshi as my nickname denotes, at a Chinese International school in Shanghai. I wish I had found this website when I first arrived in August 2005, but alas I did not. I considered doing back journals, but I am too lazy at this point (and tired from writing exams) and looking forward to future adventures. I will say that during my time in China I have visited the following places, in chronological order: Guilin and Yangshuo, China; Hainan, China; Hong Kong; Bangkok, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Samui, Thailand; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Hangzhou, China; and Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, China. Not to mention traveling around the ... read more

The Quest I’m writing today from the train, on the way to Shanghai, the start of yet another transition. I’ve been offered a job as director of the Y+ teacher training academy and I’m traveling with a suitcase full of books and all my ‘winter’ gear. The job offer came two weeks ago when I was visiting with the current director, Rachel Hull. She’s an Australian teacher whom I met during my year in Byron Bay. She taught part of the teacher training that I took back in 2003 and has been here since last March. She got the program started and now is moving on. We were having a drink in the Element Fresh café attached to the new Xintiandi (new sky and earth) studio in Shanghai. I knew she was leaving and wanted her ... read more

Although far away from home, we still celebrated Mike's bday in true Mike fashion: lazy morning...didn't head out from the hostel until noon, then walked around the French Concession for a bit, and then we happened into an Irish pub to celebrate with a pint of Guinness (or three). While we love Tsingtao, the national Chinese beer, Mike's bday definitely called for Guinness! After spending the afternoon at the pub, chatting up a guy from County Mayo who works for Westinghouse and has lived in Shanghai for 4 years (he was at the pub before going BACK to work at 11pm to consult to the Chinese on the Shanghai subway...sure, we feel safe now), we decided to head on. A bit of walking later we landed at meat heaven...the Brasil Steak House, where for $9.50 it ... read more

Shanghai's mornings come early. Before 6:00 am the hullabaloo of traffic has already alarmed me up from a good night sleep. I am observing the modernity of Shanghai from Jason's fabulous 19th - floor - apartment in the upscale residential quarter. The dedicated man-made gardens and lakes have really make this place a paradise to live in. Even though overpowered by the surrounding noises and pollution. People from all over the country rush into this metropolis, competing with the local Shanghainese for jobs, they have contributed so much to this city's prosperity. With an average salary of about 1800 yuans/month, Chinese people work maybe for their whole life just for a comfortable home like this. Do the math, a house in Shanghai costs about 15000-18000 yuans/square meter. Whereas a caucasian like Jason, applies for an English ... read more

......... The answer it would seem lays in the region of ten or so. We don't know why this is, however it's certainly a fact that there are a LOT of people here all joining in to undertake jobs of work that to our mind could be done by one or two people. Some examples: 1) Today we walked along the road and saw 9 men (NINE!!!) replanting a 6 foot tree. None of them were standing around either - they were ALL involved, passing the 2 spades between them and walking round the stump advising each other. 2) We have never seen so many waiting staff in restaurants and shops, however none of them are that busy (the employees that is). We reckon there might be as much as a three customers to every member ... read more