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Published: September 25th 2010
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Proud Grandparents
We are really happy to have Jada in our family and just wish we could hold her more. Well, at last I am back on track… It has been quite a 3 month ride since I last turned my hand to the blog. There seemed to be a technical problem with the publishing of this entry to I am trying to republish it. Sorry if you got notice of it twice.
While I was in Canada Dianne went to Qingdao, the former German Concession from the early 1900s. I wanted her to write a blog about it but the excitement of the end of the school year and travelling home without me was just too great a challenge. She had such a great time and the area was so beautiful that we will be going back for another weekend in the spring. It will be the source of a then-and-now blog when we get back.
There were two reasons for my return to Canada in May. We thought we were expecting our 6th grandchild in June but there was a change in plan and Jada Marie arrived on July 6th. Of course, she is the cutest little girl in the world. Dianne was really hoping to get home before the Big Day and just made
Glad to be here
Dianne was really hoping to be home before Jada was born and she just made it! Good thing the fog finally cleared up in Dalian it. Russ, Heather and Kyle are very pleased with the addition to their family.
Dianne was supposed to fly home on July 1st but was fogged into Dalian so badly that she couldn’t get out until July 3rd. There were many teachers who had quite a time getting home. Going home in May, I missed all that.
The second reason was that I had to start the clean-up around our Pender home to get ready for the renovations we plan to have done before we return permanently to Canada. Dianne’s brother, Dale, came through to “help” me build a new shed to hold our outdoor stuff so we can build in under the cottage. He did the building. I cooked the meals. At a coffee gathering I was telling a friend that I was building a shed. In a semi-related conversation I mentioned that Dale was here to build a shed. The first friend jumped on that and said “I thought you said YOU were building the shed!?!?” I tried to explain that when I say "I am flying to China on Friday" I don’t mean I am actually flying the plane. They were not convinced.
One
Ho hum
We always have to have a Big Yawn picture. Jada was happy to oblige. of the most exciting events that happened when Dianne got home was our having the five grandchildren on Pender without their parents. It was a fantastic time although I was a bit sceptical at the beginning. Lise and Claire were a great help. We hope to be able to do more of this when we get home. I think we hit every beach on Pender at least once. Next year we hope to introduce at least the older ones to kayaking.
Most of the holiday was spent on Pender or visiting family and friends in BC and Alberta. We didn’t get to spend as much time in Victoria as we would have liked, but the Winter Holiday is not far away.
On the road again It seemed like no time until we were back on the plane for China. We did the usual overnight stop at Tokyo’s Narita airport. This time Dianne coerced me into taking the shuttle into the town of Narita and doing some sightseeing rather than collapsing in the hotel. It was worth it. We visited a temple that was quite different from what we have been seeing. Dinner was in an Irish style
What the ?????
Insert tab A into Slot B???? Oh yeah, that's why Dale is here. pub which was actually quite nice. The shock came when the Visa bill arrived and we saw what the meal cost. Being used to Chinese prices, we decided we must have REALLY enjoyed our visit.
A new school year The new school year brought lots of interesting challenges. The school restructured its ESL and Grade 10 programs as well as moved to a semester system. As not all courses can be taught in half a calendar year, the effort of the administration team to get everything in place was enormous. Things seem to have settled down and the first interim report cards are going out. Things move a lot faster in a semester system.
And things worked faster for me this year as well. When the dust settled around the enrolment and placement of students, Dianne and her boss had one class of Communication Skills without a teacher. As I was “available”, I was pressed into service teaching what we used to call Listening and Speaking to a group of boys at the entry level. Some really nice kids but it was quite challenging due to their level of English. As it happened, Dianne and her
The Master Craftsman
Dale surveys his handiwork. We did have a lot of fun as well as completing the task Dianne set for us. boss needed to split a couple of other classes at the same time a teacher who had been here last year returned unexpectedly. He needed another class to make him full time so I offered to let him have mine. So I am back to being a stay-at-home spouse. I miss the daily interaction with the boys but don’t miss having to wear a shirt and tie every day, especially with the heat and humidity of early September.
Around town The building around Jinshitan continues at an unbelievable pace. The Head office portion of the combined campus was well underway when I left, as was the middle school. The middle school opened for the first day of school with about a thousand additional students, and today Head Office moved from downtown Dalian to the new HO building. Apartment buildings are springing up everywhere. What were vacant fields when we arrived just over two years ago are now filled with six-story apartment buildings. And this is seen in block after block around here. “Roads” that were basically dirt tracks are now four to six lane paved streets.
We have been included on a list of expats invited
Tough day on the home front
While Dale and I were slogging away building the shed on Pender, Dianne enjoyed a quiet few minutes outside the apartment. Spring in Dalian can be pleasant every once in a while to a posh hotel in KaiFaQu for a “party”. Fabulous buffet with beer, wine and entertainment. They are usually on Tuesday evening and make a nice break for the teachers. Also a night out for those of us who are stuck at home! Although I don’t seem to be exactly stuck at home. Today I made a trip to the boys’ campus, three trips to the girls’ campus and two trips into Manjiatan.
Tonight we went for supper at a new café opened across the street from the campus. One of the Grade 12 students decided to go into business rather than go to university next year. He acquired a couple of units and turned it into a very nice dinner spot. He has incredible business sense for one so young (he says he was born in 1996!). He only spent 3 years in elementary school and had such high marks that they moved him ahead in school! His English is excellent and he really understands marketing. We are sure he will do well.
National Holiday Week 2010 We are about to go on our first inside-China trip of our third year.
Lunch time
Having the five grandchildren was much easier with helpers like Lise and Claire. This year we are travelling to Lijiang and Dali in Yunnan province. Lijiang is a world heritage site and should be fabulous. More to come soon.
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