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Published: October 28th 2011
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We realize we haven't been blogging as much as we had the past 2 years living in China. I think part of it is the novelty of living here has worn off and things just aren't as shocking anymore. Don't get me wrong though everyday is still an adventure living here.
For example, when we returned from our trip to Singapore and Malaysia and started teaching again we found out on Day 1 of being back that we would have the following 2 days off of work due to the 8th National Disabled Games being held in Hangzhou from October 10-19th. I highly doubt the officials planned this event over the National Day break but that is how information is kept on the totem pole. Higher ranked officials now the plan and the lowest ranked (foreign teachers) find out the day before.
In China, having a Tuesday and Wednesday off usually comes with working the following weekend to make up for those days off. Yep, sure enough Tuesday's classes would be taught on Saturday and Wednesday's classes would be taught on Sunday. During this time we had multiple students out of class as they were volunteers at the games.
The wheelchair basketball event was held on our campus so the students got to see this event during their PE class each week even if they weren't a volunteer.
None of us foreign teachers saw any of the games as our campus is a 45-60 minute bus ride from our apartment depending on the bus route and traffic. So if you don't teach class, then you don't want to spend up to 2 hours on a bus going to and from.
I took the photos of our campus during the Saturday I had to work as the skies were so blue and I had extra time before my classes started. It truly is mind blowing when there is a National or International event going on in China somehow the skies are no longer polluted and have bright blue skies. I wish it was this way everyday😊)
That same afternoon 5 of us foreign teachers took part in the 1st Annual Hangzhou Alleycat Bike Race. The route was 20 kms long with 7 Pit Stops at local businesses which gave you a colored wristband to show you completed the stop. It was quite fun as we didn't know
exactly how to get to all the places but asked directions along the way to the locals and caught up with others who knew where to go. One pit stop even made the guys do 30 pushups before they could get their wristbands and the women had to do none.
There were over 150 bikers and some even came from Shanghai to compete. Some bikers rode fixed gear bikes which don't use brakes, CRAZY, especially in Chinese traffic. We witnessed a few accidents but nothing major and had an AMAZING time. The guy who coordinated the race is an American from DC who studied abroad here in Hangzhou and now works here teaching English. He is already planning another one for the Spring so we have that to look forward to.
As for teaching, Pete and I are both looking forward to the day we don't due this anymore. It is a means to an end, with that end hopefully closer in sight. Next week, we don't have class on Thursday or Friday due to the "Sports Meeting" what we would call Track & Field day in the US but we haven't been told about this officially, my
TA told me about it and I asked my students. When I asked the Teaching Office on Thursday this week they said not official yet we have to wait for the Administration to tell us. Oh CHINA!!! Then the following week is Mid Terms already. It has been a crazy 8 weeks already in China.
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