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Published: March 2nd 2008
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Nanjing
Just so I don't get lost.... I’ve been living in a city called Xuzhou for the last four days, and I will continue to stay here for the next six months. I have an apartment with two other teachers near the heart of the city. The school I work at is only a ten minute walk through street vendors, men playing strange title games and women sweeping the streets with branches. The city is not glamorous or clean in anyway, but what it lacks in hygiene it makes up in delicious food and wonderful people. This city in particular is known for their spicy menu, and I can rightfully give them that credit. I now bring a roll of T.P with me when I head out to eat. I’ve taken to being looked at and I prefer not to have a running nose when people stare at me. The toilet paper also comes in handy for those public washrooms. I won’t say much more about that except I’ve included a picture of what most washrooms look like.
My classes have been wonderfully insane, intense and unforgettable. The story leading up to my first class is probably one worth sharing, so let me begin from there. After
Nanjing
On a walk in Nanjing arriving in the city Sunday night, Monday afternoon at 2 pm was my first class. Another foreign teacher had told me she would come over and meet me at noon to let me know what is going on and help me out for my first couple of lessons. At 1:15 I figured she was a no show and decided I needed to work on finding the school myself. Having the school’s address written in Mandarin I walked to a near by hotel and attempted to ask for directions. I pointed to myself and said in mandarin the word for ‘teacher’. That resulted in one of the hotel’s employees to get a taxi for me, and take me to the school and then refuse my money. It was very strange how they just dropped everything and helped me out so quickly. I later found out the reason for their actions comes from their high respect of teachers. Something useful to remember in case I need to get out of some situation. Once at the school, I found my way to my first class and waited till break was over. Kids would come up and say hello and just stare at me.
Nanjing
One of the many Pagodas on the near by mountain side. If you asked them how they are, they always say ‘I’m fine thank you, and you?” That is all they know how to answer that simple question. So I decided to start with teaching them some other answers. For instance, ‘I’m good’, ‘I’m great’ and so far their favorite one is ‘I’m awesome’. When I get really excited and show some emotions in class they students think it’s really funny and cool, I believe it’s something foreign to them.
I bought a bike the other day, its white and folds up. I put some Canadian flag stickers on it. All I need now is to name it. I found that riding a bike in China is actually easier than walking. The traffic is so different from Canada, that is takes something to get used to. Something I’m still working on, and slowly getting better. I’ll try and take a picture of the crazyness of roundabouts and lack of crossing lights. Hopefully I won’t get hit while snapping a photo. That is another thing I’ve noticed, not very many people are cool with you taking pictures, I’m going to need to work fast and in secret to take photos.
Nanjing
Chinese kids are so cute! Usually they walk around with a hole in their pants so they can just go to the washroom whenever and wherever. But, that\'s not why I think their cute... While I was buying my bike, I saw some ladies signing. I went over and attempted to sign with them. My friend Dustin had to interpreter Chinese for me when they would write something down, and then I would sign back to them. Sometimes they would get what I was signing, other times it was a total lost. Dustin and I met up with them at a MacDonald’s yesterday for an intense 5 hours of signing, writing and learning. So turns out there are some signs between ASL and Chinese sign that are the same; however the meaning might be different. We’re going to keep meeting up and learning each others’ sign language. It’s so exciting, I love it!
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Jen Nicholson
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MANDARIN SIGN :O
WOAH!!!!!!!! You actually met people who sign!!?!?!? that is SO cool... I knew you would! Toby the pictures are beautiful and it's so cool that you're there.. Keep blogging, i'm loving following you on this adventure!