Hilarious! Ok where to start! Your student tried to make a fool of you by correcting your grammatical errors! I would have cursed her out! (just kidding :) That was funny though. Remember to use spell check before printing out your lesson plans. Why are all of these people asking for your photo??! Didn't you say there were many faces of color in China? That is so bizarre but on the flip side guess its fun for you to get treated like a superstar lol. WHY do people LOVE OBAMA? New WORLD ORDER is OFFICIALLY in place now. Obama is simply stirring the wheel! My sister-in-law thought I was KIDDING when I told her Obama is PLACING MORE troops in Afganistan and Pakistan. She's like "Oh no Really.. How is that possible"? (rolling my eyes). That cricket story had me ROFLMAO!!!!!! I was in tears of laughter over that invinsible Cricket who just wouldnt seem to die. I envisioned the story while I read that! Hilarious! I hope nothing is seriously wrong with your ear. Garlic never worked for my ear-infection so I went to the doctor because the ear infection might be a pre-symptom of a more serious illness such as the flu or serious cough. So I would check with a physician. Email me at Sandra.bashir@yahoo.com. I emailed you TWICE and after NO response about the twins I was sure you weren't receiving my emails via my hotmail account. Take care.. MISS YOU LOADS!!!! LOVE KIYA
Simple I see you were freaked out about nothing in anticipation of teaching your first class. I WORTE you twice once during Ramadan and the second time about the twins but I don't think you are receiving my emails so email me at sandra.bashir@yahoo.com. What type of writing class do you teach? Is it English composition or English literature? Alhumdudilha it is a blessing to teach such as small class. I'm sure your class will learn basic communication skills in no time! English is an easy language to learn.
You Freaky Princess! Next time use your boobs to intimidate the insubordinate females! Get right up in their faces! Also, just fucking grab the cricket and throw him out the window! They don't bite, you dumbass. :-P
Ear Take a clove of garlic and rap it inside a handkerchief or some other type of thin cloth. Stick the garlic clove into your ear. Leave it for a while. You should begin to feel the garlic working against the virus. Also be sure to do a spell check when preparing your lesson plans.
Love ya,
Daddy
Thanks Hi Latifa,
Love your blog and all your stories. So glad to hear you are doing well. I hope your ear gets better soon. Your Dad and I did a walk around Stanley Park yesterday. It has been gorgeous here and Vancouver is looking amazing!You would have loved the day.
Take care.
sue
Engrish! Wow! You seem to be having one hell of an adventure! It's got me seriously thinking about saving up money and vacation time to come visit or something lol :)
I miss you bunches, life here is somehow just not the same without you! I'm gonna have to figure out a way to get in on this engrish teaching racket of yours lol cause it seems to be the way to live. Don't worry about the stalkerazzi, they just know who the coolest people are! But you're right, don't leave the house looking anything but devine lmao
Sucks about the ear infection, I've had them before and they do hurt really really really bad, but hopefully it clears up soon and you'll be back to normal, msg aside, and running around nanchang carefree again :)
email! email! email! email!!!! Love you! Miss you! Stay safe!!!
Dena
woooooow That sounds so intense, probably more so than anything we experienced in class....hah, but It sounds like an adventure, indeed. This is exciting, and like Lia, I'm interested in hearing about your first day/week of class! You've already made the hardest step, keep up the good work!
Cody
Skype? Beautiful...
English Corner sounds awesome! So students just chose who they wanted to talk to at random on a stairwell? I have a mental image... and it's quite hilarious to say the least. I'm so excited to hear about your first day and your first week!! My vacation is coming up: my last day of the semester is on the 18th - I can't believe it! But it is definitely time for a much-needed break. I have some plans that are materializing, and they involve a slow boat into Laos and an orphanage by the Myanmar border. My sister is coming in mid-October, and we're going to head down south to Phuket, Krabi (the beautiful, paradise beaches of Thailand). ... CAn't wait to travel with you somewhere!!! Vietnam (it's in between us both).
Are you on skype yet? What's your time there? Or, rather, what's the time difference to Eastern US, and then I can figure it out from there.
Sounds like you are going to make some great friends.. still waiting for pictures galore!!
Love Lia
DEATH TO ALL BUGS!!! Oh, and I forgot to add: DEATH TO ALL BUGS!!! In total agreeance... I concur. Let's start a revolution!
My daily morning routine has become lathering on bug repellant lotion, then a spray-down after I get to school, an afternoon spray-down, and one at night for dinner. If the bugs don't kill me, the DEET certainly will!
Mosquitoes are just simply the worst, and for every one that you murder.. I will owe you a hug and kiss! Strength to our bodies!!
There was an article on Yahoo the other day about what attracts mosquitoes to some and not others. The studies showed that it is not that mosquitoes are overly attracted or unattracted to some, but that they just can't sense a blood meal in front of them for many people - those people with a higher level of stress pheramones!! So... just think.. even though we are slowly being eaten to death, we have lower stress levels. Huh. The stress pheramone apparently blocks the smell of blood for mosquitoes, so they simply just can't even smell a bloodbath when it's right in front of them, but they sure as hell smell us!!
DEATH TO ALL BUGS!! (maybe just mosquitoes, gnats and flies, oh and bedbugs, scabies, fleas too)
Oh my god... I just wrote you the longest comment ever!! And then I submitted it and my internet cut out - and now its all lost!! Ughhhhhh... Okay, here's my attempt at a second try.
Honesty and Advice: Well, I completely agree with your dad in handling the staring. Remember where you are! From the sound of it - Nanchang does not seem like a place where they encounter too many foreigners, other than the teachers. It is common in Asia, where the countries are homogenous and they have eons of history to top us. It is hard for them to understand that America is full of different peoples, cultures, races and religions, and in such homogeneous countries - it is hard to deal with differences. Plus, staring is truly a part of Asian culture. I completely understand, albeit I'm Asian and living in Asia - but... imagine what it's like for me when I open my mouth, and Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and now Thais just can't believe that I don't speak their language. Then, imagine that I have to explain how I don't speak any Korean even though I am of Korean blood descent, and then imagine me trying to explain that my family is not Korean either... and it goes on and on and on.
I suppose the one bit of advice that I'd like to add is when you just can't stand walking on and ignoring all the stares, try the complete opposite and be over-friendly. Those that stare have to deal with conversing with those they stare at. Stop, smile, say hello, and speak horrible Chinese. I remember when I was in a small Afrikaans town in South Africa, and being an Asian American there was very difficult. I stopped traffic for heaven's sake! People froze in stores when they had to deal with me, because they didn't know what they were dealing with! So... I started to take on a mental identity of a "fairy princess" and everywhere I went, I told myself that I am a fairy princess with god-like stature, and that is why they are all staring at me.
I, too am concerned about your feet.. but, it could also be due to the intense heat. Me and many other teachers had the same problem here for about a month after we arrived. The heat and humidity just brought on massive swelling attacks and we were limited to wearing flip-flops (though, not like we actually wanted to wear any other types of shoes). Keep an eye on it, but don't stress over it (stress will only make matters worse). Have you tried simple icing?
Your schedule sounds wonderful, and I am so jealous! Imagine all the travelling you will get to do with 3 day weekends! Wow. Do you have any inkling of what amount, if any, side-work you will have to do (i.e. grading, preparation, lesson planning, etc.)? Do you have private tutoring options? What is your salary as compared to the standard of living there?
Another piece of advice: GET OUT THERE!! The more friendly you become with market women, store-owners, restaurant owners, local people, Chinese teachers, the more easily you will immerse into their culture and word will spread, and the stares might turn to friendly 'hello's' instead. It is definitely hard at first, especially with language barriers, but hand motions, face expressions and body actions go a long way. Once they realize that you are a friendly human being who just wants to learn more about them and their culture, they will go a long way out of their way to make sure you are happy. You will have an advantage over those other teachers that stay with their own (that is like travelling, but never really leaving home).
Also.. I don't understand your struggle about getting to know other teachers. You are an outstanding friendly and outgoing person - and I just don't get what you mean! I think you have one of the most friendly, engaging, funny personalities out there. So, just be you! And anyone that doesn't want to get to know you more from you just being you is absolutely CRAZY!
You are having one of the most amazing cultural experiences of a lifetime already ... keep it up. And every downfall or negative will and can only lead to something better and further enlightenment.
Love you much!!! XOXO
Lia
Congratulations on your schedule. Your business oral english course and especially the writing course you will be teaching sounds like it is tailor made for your skills. The freshman class should flourish from your gift of expressive writing:)) I truly mean that. You mentioned the bugs, and I have two mosquito nettings for the bed that I had bought for the trip to Ghana that I could have given you if I had thought about it.. Perhaps you should get away from the flip flops when doing all the walking. It does not give you enough support.. Please drink lots of water, stay away from all red meat and as your dad points out pastries as well. By all means stay off webmd.com, It will have you thinking that you have every type of illness on the planet. Do you think that it is wise for you at this point to travel alone to Hangshu? Hopefully, you will not stay overnight? I read that the Silk Museum and the National Tea Museum were in this city.
Whatever was in that aerosol that made you go like that? You know the Chinese are very much into the holistic, alternative medicine route. Something we Black Americans were into in my grandparents time. All the cures for diseases are grown in the earth. This is very true, but what has happened is that in contemporary society, due to the pharmaceutical companies, FDA and MDs in bed together, the healthfield has become a business, instead of a place that cares and cures people.
Regarding the staring, keep in mind that you are different, unique, stand out and are very beautiful.")) Many of the working class people have never ventured from their surrounding. I'm sure you will run into many of the Chinese college students who have ventured and will get a totally different vibe from them.
You mentioned that you start Sept 21 ( truly God Is Merciful), that is the day of the Eid... How wonderful... R u able to purchase dates there..to break fast.
Take care of yourself honey and sending lots of love to you.
Missing U
Umm Latifa
Foot Action Hi There Sweetie,
Sounds like you're getting settled in a bit more. As time progresses it will become more comfortable and the stares will become more tolerable and less intrusive. I know the stares got to be troublesome but the best remedy for you is to totally ignore them. In other words tune them TOTALLY out. Otherwise you'll be confronted with a loosing battle. As you know staring has some cultural ingredients and there's no way to roll back thousands of years of culture. And for sure you've already seen and experienced your share of starers.
To tune them out and not confront them in any way is a sign of self confidence and dignity. A strong display of dignity is the best method to disarm even the most vicious of those who stare. I know it is easier said than done but you must begin to use what you already know. It also applies to the Chinese. Remember, to judge a person or a thing will have no effect on the person or the thing itself, it only reflects the quality of the person from which the judgment comes. In other words, you know who you are and whatever they might say unto themselves should have no affect on you. I am sure you can disarm them.
My most concern is your foot. Keep a close eye of the swelling. Eat raw cucumbers, carrots and parsley and drink ginger tea. MSG is not a great source of seasoning especially for us African-Americans. It is also the main source of seasoning in traditional Chinese cooking. It is more hassle and time consuming but to eat fresh cooked food daily or as often as possible will be certainly better for you. Bake your meat and steam your vegetables. Do not consume red meat it is also not a good source of protein for most African-Americans. You’ll have to become more predictable in your eating habits like your daddy and add a little more boredom in your food consumption. Make chicken and fish your sources of proteins. Also do not go for the noodles, I know there are quick and easy but there is little if any nutritional value in them. There is a lot of starch in them which you should also try to avoid as much as possible. I have always told you about being serious about your diet. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said “the source of all disease can be found in the pit of the stomach”. It comes down to a simple diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken and fish. Eat as much raw fruit and vegetables as you can. Things like carrots and cucumbers can easily be eaten raw for snacks. You can even get use to eating parsley raw it’s not as bad as you might think. Most important is to stay away from the sweets and bread, it can be worse than the MSG. Get acquainted with the gym and get a schedule and routine in your time for walking on a tread mill and begin to run as time and fitness progresses. Your energy level will soar, you’ll loose even more weight and Insha Allah the swelling in your foot will be eliminated.
I hope you have a great trip to Hangzhou but by all means give your trusted colleagues the itinerary of your trip. And above all be careful and mindful of where you are at all times. Al-Humdulillah, you have a great teaching schedule and a lot of time for yourself, use it wisely.
Love ya,
Daddy
MMMMM ?????????? The campus grounds seem to be quite a spread. There is lots of space for more growth. Everything looks so new. You definitely have to ask someone who is MMMMM :) maybe its Confucius or Lao Tsu would be my guest. It would be great to know. Alternative medicine is on another level I see. You know how I feel about alternative medicine. Alternative medicines seek to cure disease rather than contain it. There is more profit in pharmaceutical and many other medical practices in containment rather than cure. The capitalist has destroyed the practice of medicine in the west. Almost everything in life here in the west is dictated by an unquenchable motive to obtain profit. I know the Chinese love profit too but it’s great to see a vibrant alternative medicine display. There is so much knowledge that has been gained from hundred if not thousands of years of alternative medicine practices. It would be a shame to see it lost from chasing paper. Your Travel Blog is simply fantastic Tifa. I can’t wait to see even more pictures. Love ya - Daddy
Crazy Wow! What a culture shock! I cannot believe in a PHarmacy they would sell alternative medicines.. Not only are the medications alternative, but they display it such an uncoth fashion. Sea Urchins laying out on the counter like that?? I always thought they couldn't survive in air. Maybe I'm wrong. Those ducks on a row was HILARIOUS!! Who ever thought the ducks in Nanchang were MUSCULAR?! LOL.. Those ducks got some serious leg muscles and 6-pack going on. They look delicious too. I'm craving one right now :) Poor cat and dog. Po' thangs. Posing for your picture today, FOOD for tomorrow! Its nice that you have Shelley with you since she's been there awhile. Its also cool that you have stores of some U.S familiarity Walmart and Metro. Anyway keep us posted! Your blogs are interesting. Keep in touch!
Sea Urchins My My, that must have been tripping you out big time. Imagine shopping and seeing sea urchins and eels and turtles in the meat aisle. You better brush up more on the Chinese, you know that once its known you are westerner the prices automatically go up, or perhaps you should talk with a little Nigerian accent. That could work in your favor regarding lower prices:)) The pictures are really nice. Be careful about what you eat now.. After being there a while and adjusting then try the exotics. Whats up with the Ferris WHeel ... Is there a carnival there or is it just an art peice.
Your writing skills are truly excellent. Until the next blog.. Love you and Miss you
Um Latifa
zaijian Hey Lia. Yes Zaijian means goodbye in Mandarin. I have met a few of the other foreign teachers. There is Shelly and English teacher from Miami, Sophie a French Teacher and George another English teacher from LA and also another German teacher and his wife. More teachers are coming this week, as they knew what time to come back.
I have adjusted to the time schdule and the last few days have been splendid and not overly humid.
I have a big break from the end of Dec to middle of Feb. I would love to plan a trip to see you then if possible.
Also, facebook doesn't work here and neither does blogspot so I have been cut off from your world Lia. If it wouldn't be too much trouble to e-mail me your new additions I would love that!
I am working on getting a firewall blocker so that I can access these sites in the near future.
Thanks for keeping up with me! It really means a lot to me!
Latifa
comment STupid comment titles - is that really necessary? LOL. Poor John... that really sucks, but your right, I suppose his trip won't be all for nothing, if he is going to join some herbal wellness center. I think you should go for it - that is - eating something totally not in our western norms. Can't wait to hear about it, and when you come and visit me here, you can eat cockroaches!! While I take pictures of you eating the cockroaches! (haha, I won't try that for anything!) Miss you, love the writing!
zaijian I'm assuming Zaijian means goodbye or see you later... Have you met any other new teachers yet besides poor John and Helen?.. Did you manage to exchange rooms with him? You never told me what was in your view of the room..
Has your body ajusted to the time yet? Hopefully, the rains brought some much needed relief for you.. When will you be getting the phone squared...
U mentioned that you do not stand in front of a class until the 9th of September..In the meantime are they training or what...
Love
Umm
Oh my... Wow, Latifa, poor John. I am a bit speechless after reading that - but I suppose in the end he got the license, and all of our travelling mishaps are all part of the big experience and adventure, and only add to the whole of it. How many English teachers are there in total? Are other languages taught there as well? Do all the teachers live on the campus? Do you think it will drive you a bit insane after a while?
I know about this crazy driving (it's like that all over Asia!). You have an awesome attitude so far and your a great writer! I look forward to your next post, and want to see more photos!!!! And I really want to see what your accommodation looks like. Have they told you anything in regards to your classes yet? Do you have materials provided? Syllabus?
What is Zaijian?
And that's really gross, by the way, about the pregnant woman dripping their way in to give birth. Yuck... thakns for the details!
Miss you and love you - soak it all in... and share!
WOW!! Wow, your campus looks amazingly modern and beautiful... especially the School of Foreign Languages building. I want to see pictures of your accommodations! It's awesome to have bodies of water so near by... is the water clean? What's around the campus area, outside?
Loving reading your posts thus far... so glad you're there! :o)
Zakiya
non-member comment
Tifa when you getting a phone
Tifa when are you getting a phone???