Advertisement
Published: June 17th 2010
And the fun catches up with me… Had a wicked cough starting this weekend. Too much fun, too much work, not enough sleep, too much second-hand smoke.
Monday I canceled my morning class at the primary school. I did not feel up to the challenge of trying to talk to naughty Chinese youngsters with a bad cough and a sore throat.
I joined some friends for lunch (was invited so I didin’t pay- I must invite them sometime). Then I went to a pharmacy to buy some cough medicine and pills (21RMB) and then bought some vitamin-c-laden pineapple (1RMB) and some post-lunch baozi (1RMB).
The day before I had dropped off some clothes to be mended by a lady with a small sewing shop. The tear in my pants and my shirt were repaired for a mere 2RMB! Happy times.
I bought some 5RMB peanut butter and headed to class.
After class I grabbed another 1RMB pineapple-on-a-stick and some 4RMB jidan ramien- egg ramen.
Now I knew I was sick. A friend stopped by to watch a movie and I was coughing alot. Additionally there was some pain on my left
side when I coughed. Don’t worry Mom everything turned out well keep reading….
Daily Expenditure -35RMB
Total Expenditure (Fourteen days) 1151RMB Monday night was rough- lots of coughing and side pain. This time when I awoke I decided it prudent to cancel all my classes and head to everyone’s favorite hang-out: the hospital!
Jessie (who speaks Chinese well) and John (who speaks Chinese almost perfectly, seeing as he is our Chinese colleague) joined me on a 14RMB taxi ride to the hospital downtown.
After a 5RMB fee, I was allowed to talk to a doctor. He inspired great confidence in me for some reason. After asking me some questions through my friend and interpreter, he sent me to get an x-ray and then a blood test. These procedures cost 126RMB.
Looks like nothing too terrible. The doctor prescribed three medicines- total cost of 67.6RMB. I then took the 14RMB taxi home, and bought some 23.9RMB topical anesthetic.
Two different Chinese friends recommended pears in hot water for nasty coughs, so I went to the supermarket and bought three pears (and a loaf of bread) for 5.1RMB.
I felt better enough
today (Wednesday) to teach. No more horrible pain and bad coughing- just annoying pain and occasional phleminess. Thanks to my friends and the Chinese medical system!
During this day I ate peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches along with couscous and cheese.
Additional note- I should get the costs of my hospital visit and prescription meds reimbursed by the University. I will see about doing so either tomorrow or Friday. If I do I will blog about it and subtract the cost from my running total.
Daily Expenditure- 255.6 RMB (maybe)
Total Expenditure (fifteen days)- 1406.6 RMB
We-covery Wednesday Wednesday I felt well enough to teach at 8AM. Even after a day, I missed the attention and sense of accomplishment.
For lunch I had the 2.5RMB egg pancake and 2RMB of sesame flatbread. Both were “bu lade”- not spicy as per doctor’s orders.
For dinner I treated a Chinese friend to the standard Muslim noodles at a non-standard location. 10RMB for the both of us. I also bought a 1.5RMB ice tea, and 1.5RMB gum.
I took the 1RMB bus downtown to meet a friend for a massage, figuring it
would be good for my health. He had a card for a place which we found by hopping in a 5RMB taxi. The body massage cost 58RMB and was not entirely pleasant. However, I did feel much better afterwards.
I splurged on a 19RMB taxi ride home. Pricey yes, but I did get to practice my Chinese. I know enough to say things such as
Zai Meiguo, nuren she tai pang le. (In America, women are too fat)
and
Nuren de Faguo bu hao. Tamen jidao tamen shi piaoliang. Ni jidao, wo ke yi kan ni jidao wo shou shenme! (Women from France are no good. They know they are beautiful. You know, I can see you know what I am saying!)
Loads of fun. And educational too!
Daily Expenditure 90.5
Total Expenditure (Sixteen days) 1497.1
Using my degree Thursday was a busy day.
I had my three standard hour-and-a-half Oral English classes, and then a new assignment- teaching Economics to sophomores for 45 minutes.
It was surpsringly fun. I tried to make the subject of Financial Institutions engaging by using examples of hilarious surgeries
covered by insurance companies. Also, I spoke of the mistakes which led to the current international economic crisis.
I had lunch with three friends. A huge bowl of fish, along with veggies and potatoes for 50 yuan. I paid 25RMB.
For dinner I had a “peanut burrito” for 2.5RMB and two baozi for 1RMB.
For fourthmeal I had a new one- a potato pancake with sacue and lettuce. 2RMB.
I joined a friend in Freedom Bar in the evening. We needed to blow some steam off and share some stories and self-deprecating humor No class until 10AM on Fridays! I paid 10RMB for my bottomless tea.
Daily Expenditure- 40.5 RMB
Total Expenditure (Seventeen Days) 1,537.6 RMB
A Fine Friday I only had one class on Friday morning. Afterwards, I joined five coworkers (three Chinese two foreigners) for some “Chinese fun.” We dressed up in nice clothes and then went outside to take pictures of ourselves. Lots of fun.
For lunch I treated the Chinese (foreigners had to teach) to lunch. Delicious fish noodle soup, shreded potatos, peanuts, an egg soup, and rice for 50RMB.
I broke
down and treated myself to the 5RMB “capu”.
In the evening I headed downtown to join some friends for a foot massage. I bought a 1RMB snack- the pineapple chunk- and paid my 1RMB fare.
The foot massage was at the same place as the body massage on Wednesday, but about three times better. Very relaxing, and good for the overall health. At this place the foot massage comes with a simple back, shoulder, and head massage as well. Only 38RMB for about an hour and a half.
I paid a 4RMB share for the taxi back to campus. I then bought two peanut-burritos (one for myself, one for a freind).
It was poker night at Jesie’s! The first poker night, I netted about fifty yuan. The second poker night, I lost more than one hundred and vowed never to gamble again for the rest of my life. Therefore poker night is merely an enjoyable social occasion. Usually only about half of the people who show up actually play, so I get to talk with my friends and watch people get slightly angry with each other. A great evening.
Daily Expenditure- 99RMB
Total Expenditure (Eighteen Days)- 1,636.6RMB
Saturday Shopping
After sleeping in late I bought a Shandong jen bing- the snack formerly known as an “egg pancake” for the standard 2.5RMB. I then spent 1RMB on two baozi (steamed buns), and 2RMB on some fried sesame flatbread. I also got the 1.5RMB ice tea. Street food feast lunch! Yum.
I went to the grocery store and spent 13.6RMB on two bars of soap and three shaving blades. Yep, I’ve sold out to “the man” and starting shaving once a week or so. However, to my Chinese friends I am still Da Huzi- “Big Beard”. Just like some of my friends back home still call me “Baldy”.
I bought a 5RMB USB connector that allows me to use the card from my camera to upload photos to my computer. However, it does not work! I think the problem is with my computer, not the card. I’ll confirm this hypothesis later.
It was time for some Western decadence with Ben. We went to the McDonald’s next to the Walmart. For 20.5RMB (way too much) I had the filet o’ fish meal. I then spent 62.6RMB in
the “Wa Ma”. I got rye bread, socks, an inflatable punching bag, and a kite.
I paid for the 11RMB taxi ride home and had another great conversation with the driver.
In the evening we visited Freedom. I spent 10RMB on a tea, and then 15RMB on a bottle of jinjou to share with my friends. Later I had Dinner Number Two of some deep-fried tofu and potatoes for 2RMB.
Daily Expenditure- 148.7 RMB
Total Expenditure (Nineteen Days)- 1785.3 RMB
Slumberin’ Sunday I slept in late and had breakfast/lunch at home. Later in the day I went to the school gate to get the 1.5RBM ice tea, 2RMB sesame flatbread, and two baozi for 1RMB.
Later in the day I bought a pre-dinner snack for 2.5RMB - the potato pancake with egg and lettuce made by two guys from Wuhan.
I also bought the 4RMB large bottle of water and lugged it up the hill.
I had the good fortune to be invited for a home-cooked meal prepared in a friend’s house. Yum.
Daily Expenditure- 11RMB (!)
Total Expenditure (Twenty Days) 1796.3 RMB
Mournful Monday
No, nothing bad happened to me. Far from it! Monday is a holiday in China- Qingming, or “Tomb Sweeping Day”. It is a day when the Chinese remember departed relatives by cleaning their graves and setting off fireworks- thus the title of this article.
It has been an official national holiday (no work for most employees) since 2008.
I joined a Chinese friend the standard lunch of Muslim noodles, and she paid! Afterwards, I offered to buy her a stick of pineapple, but she declined. I bought one for myself (1RMB).
We enjoyed the beautiful spring day by going to a park to fly a kite. The weather was warm and sunny, if not quite windy enough.
Later I joined some Western friends downtown for a special treat- Western food. Pizza! With cheese! French-fries! 56RMB !
(Real cheese is hard to acquire in Jiujiang. If I stay here next year, I may invest in a goat).
We went to the standard foot-massage place. 30RMB of pure relaxation- and good for the health too! Not to mention the chance at practicing Chinese. I told them afterwards Nimen shi Jiujiang zui hao (you are the best in Jiujiang) to which they replied with the usual Chinese modesty- Jiande (really)?
I paid for the 16RMB taxi home and bought some 2RMB flatbread. A lovely day. I thought of my relatives who have left this world.
Daily Expenditure- 105 RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-One Days) 1901.3 RMB
Teachin’ on a Tuesday I woke up ealry to head off for my four hours at the primary school. Unfortunately, I had a tough time getting a taxi so I hopped on a motorcycle taxi for a terryfying, helmet-less 6RMB ride to the nearby school.
Humor is an essential ingredient to my teaching style. I find it helps the students and myself get through the lesson in one piece. On Tuesday I was teaching the present continuous tense, so I used the following examples:
“I am teaching.”
“You are listening.”
“We are learning everyday.”
“They are being naughty.”
“He is eating a dog.”
“She is cooking a cat.”
After class I split a taxi with some strangers (it was raining) and so saved one RMB off the standard fare. In other words, I paid 5RMB for a usually-6RMB ride.
My egg-pancake (shandong jen bing) guy had a busted grill, I so had to buy 3RMB of sesame flatbread and 1RMB of baozi before my afternoon nap.
My lesson at the University went smoothly. I was invited for dinner by Jessie, where we ate fish soup and loads of veggies with our Chinese colleagues. Afterwards I bought a “capu” for both him and myself (10RMB).
I’m tired on Mondays and Tuesdays, the kids really take alot out of me even when being good. However, working at the primary school increased my weekly income by more than 50%! (MISSING)
Our Chinese friend “Ross” helped me to buy shoes on the internet. I cannot purchase my size (13 American, 47 Chinese) here in Jiujiang. So we went on Taobao and he used his card to find me some relatively high-quality fake Timerlands. I paid him 238RMB cash (228 for the shoes, 10 for shipping).
On Wednessday I had plans to cook for the first time in seven months. I bought 10.3RMB worth of cherry tomatoes, cilantro, eggs, tofu, green onions, and what I thought was an orange.
Daily Expenditure- 273.3 RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-Two Days) 2,174.6 RMB
Cookin’ in the Kitchen I cooked a meal for my Chinese friend. I made my specialty of pan-fried macaroni and cheese, with a Chinese twist.
Ingredients:
Macaroni, cheddar cheese, two eggs, tofu, red peppers, green onion, sesame oil.
It turned out alright- nothing too great. As my Chinese friend said “I am hungry, so it is delicious.”
Later in the day I had a street food feast dinner. Two sticks of grilled tofu from a new guy on the street- 1RMB. One “peanut burrito”- 2.5RMB. One potato pancake with egg and lettuce- 2.5RMB. Two baozi- 1RMB. One pineapple chunk on a stick- 1RMB.
I went grocery shopping for my standard breakfasts. A loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a can of coconut jam for 16.3RMB.
Later in the day I joined some friends at Freedom, and drank a few glasses of tea for 10RMB.
Daily Expenditure- 34.3 RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-three Days) 2,208.9 RMB
Thirsting for a Thursday and Second Dinner As my loyal readers know, Thursday is my busy day at the university. Thus, I need to eat loads of food. I had my standard sandwich and tea before my morning classes. For lunch, I ate two veggie baozi for 1RMB, the shandong jen bing (“egg pancake”) for 2.5RMB, and 2RMB worth of seasoned sesame flatbread from a new stall.
Before my afternoon class, I put money on my electricity card. My apartment is free; I need only to pay for the electricity that I use. At the start of this study I believe my electric meter read “173″. It drained down to “3″ and started making an unpleasant sound, so I knew it was time to re-up. After putting 150RMB on my card, it read “247″. What these numbers mean I do not exactly know. All I know is much energy is spent on heating my apartment in the winer. I use a Chinese appliance that looks like a very bright fan. The actual heater eats up energy (and therefore money) at an alarming rate.
Buildings north of the Chang Jiang (literally “long river; the Yangtze to us waigouren) have central heating; structures to the south do not have this luxury. I live approximately five kilometers south of the Long River.
Some good news- I brought the recpits from my hospital visit to the Foreign Affairs Office and was reimbursed 198.5RMB! It feels good to have health insurance. Especially as an American.
Dinner was an experience. I tried to call Jessie to invite him out, but I got no answer, so I bought myself a 1.5RMB ice tea, a 1RMB portion of pineapple-on-a-stick, and then visited my favorite Hui (Chinese Muslims who speak Putonghua as their native tounge) for the usual 6RMB egg-noodles with some onion broth on the side. Towards the end of this (significant) meal, Jessie called to say he was on his way back to the university after a workout in the gym. Knowing the following facts,
I decided to invite him to dinner that night. I finished my First Dinner, and headed to another restaurant for Second Dinner. We got a huge bowl of spicy fish noodle soup, fried potatoes with deliciousness, rice, and some green veggies for 45RMB. We also had a great conversation about politics, culture, economics, and our own lives. Money well spent.
Daily Expenditure- 209RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-four Days) 2,219.4 RMB
Foreign Guest of Honor I had the wonderful experience of being selected as a token foreigner for a photography and sight-seeing expedition of northern Jiangxi province! The entire weekend I was treated to free food, free accommodation, free transport, and free entrance to various sights to behold in The Best Province in China.
After teaching my (one!) class on Friday morning, I headed off to lunch. I had been invited to the opening of a new restaurant by my bartender! It was easy to spot by the giant pile of red firework debris on the entrance. Yange joyfully lit off a spare package of Extreme Deafening Power when I arrived.
After stuffing myself silly I bought some street strawberries for 7RMB and headed home for a nap. I had a long weekend in front of me.
That evening Chad, Ben and I were invited out to a feast sponsored by the Jiangxi province government. After arriving at a fancy hotel, I paid my fair share of 1RMB on a 16RMB fare. This was the be the beginning of our whirlwind tour.
Before we could eat we all we could eat we listened to a few short speeches about how wonderful Jiangxi province is by some da tudou (literally “big potatoes). As if we didn’t know! Interestingly, no mention was made of the weather.
Two days after St. Paddy’s, it was over eighty three degrees (American, 27 degrees Terrist) during the day. Last night the temperature dropped below forty (about four and a half Terrist).
We gorged ourselves on Western and Chinese food and met a few other foreigners invited on this glorified photo opportunity (when I say “glorified photo opportunity” I am in no way complaining). There was a good mix of “honkeys” from various nations, a few Indians, an Arab guy and someone from Ghana. We were almost every one of us English teachers.
There are two engineers who work on helicopter manufacturing in Jiangxi. One is from Germany, and the other is a ‘Mer-kan who has spent much time in Seattle. Additionally, there is a family of Aussies who work on bus manufacturing and plan to spend many years here in China.
In between plate four and plate five, I urinated in the fanciest bathroom I have ever used.
I paid 11RMB for the taxi ride home.
Daily Expenditure 19RMB.
Total Expenditure (Twenty-five days) 2,238.4 RMB
Tour of Jiujiang I had to get up early on Saturday morning to head back to the hotel and begin our trip. I paid 10RMB for my share of the taxi.
Breakfast was free and delicious. Buffet-style with western food (baked beans!) and Chinese specialties (baozi and something similar to a donut).
Our first stop was historic Hukou. We saw the pagoda perched on a cliff over the Chang Jiang and took a one-hour boat tour of China’s most famous river. There were lots of funny little insects on the surface the water- they had two tails and wings, and seemed to be um….partying.
There were about a half dozen Chinese photographers taking pictures of us. I tried to look cool.
I read a depressing sign about how during the “War against Japanese aggression” the invading soldiers would bundle up prisoners and drop them into the river. A bit of a downer. Interestingly, no Japanese foreigners were invited on the trip.
We had a fancy lunch, met the mayor (?) of Hukou, and had many more photos taken. Then we were off to a “new countryside”! We had no idea what to expect. Many of us expected our organs to be harvested.
After about a two hour bus ride, the “new countryside” turned out to be a giant orange-farming cooperative. The locals were obviously quite well-off and very generous, and their oranges were delicious. They proudly displayed a picture of Wen Jiabao visiting their farm on the twentieth of April, 2007.
We headed to a “four star” hotel on Lu Shan Xi Hai lake for dinner and a rest. Not only did I get a bunch of food, free transportation, and free accommodation, I also got a towel, some soap, and two razors out of the bargain. How I love to be a token barbarian!
Daily Expenditure- 10RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-six days) 2,248.4 RMB
The next day was raining. Heavily. Our tour to the top of LuShan was canceled, but we did get a boat tour around the scenic islands in LuShan Xi Hai lake.
The “one-size-fits-all” poncho was too small for me.
After lunch we were divided into two groups. A big bus was to head back to Nanchang and a “special” small bus took my friends and I to Jiujiang. I was exhausted and the weather was rough, even by local standards. I bought a 5RMB “capu” and retreated to my room for mindless television and pasta and sandwiches.
Daily Expenditure- 5RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-seven days) 2,253.4 RMB
Just Another Manic Monday I got up bright and early to head off to my primary school job. For breakfast I supplemented a breakfast of oatmeal with peanut butter and honey (yes Mom, I have finally realized the value of oatmeal) with some 2RMB flat-bread.
After taking the 6RMB taxi, I was immersed in three hours of teaching English to often-naughty children. I can’t complain- the experience and the pay is great- but I sure want to. Sometimes I feel as though my main function at the school is a “white monkey” to showcase for the students and their parents. I try to teach the kids, (sometimes successfully) but the very young ones might be better served by a Chinese teacher who knows more of their language than an jing (be quiet) and zuo xia (sit down)!
After walking back to campus I ate two veggie baozi for 1RMB, and the Shan Dong Jen Bing (egg pancake/burrito with cilantro, green onion, Chinese barbeque sauce and a large cracker) for 2.5RMB.
I was running low on my tea supplies so I bought a small bag of green tea and two small pieces of candy from my favorite shop for 5RMB.
After my afternoon class I visited Jessie to return a book and buy some (highly addictive) coffee (10RMB for the two of us). The rain was returning, so I rested in my room, studied my Chinese audio MP3s, and cooked myself a simple dinner of fried potato with mystery vegetable and eggs. It lacked sufficient flavor, so I added some honey.
Daily Expenditre- 26.5 RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-eight days) 2,279.9 RMB
Torrential Tuesday I was off in the morning to my primary school in the standard 6RMB taxi. On Tuesdays I teach the older children (grades seven and eight) who are generally well-behaved. Indeed, some of the classes are actually enjoyable, mostly because I notice some improvement in their vocabulary and pronunciation. However, four straight hours of teaching in the morning followed by another three in the afternoon is a rather heavy load.
For lunch I wandered into a Muslim noodle place near to the school. I had been trying to find the bus back to the university, but instead ended up on the wrong side of the train tracks in unfamilar territory. At least the meal itself was good- if one yuan more expensive than usual. For 7RMB I recieved delicious egg noodles with plenty of veggies and some cinnamon-infused broth.
I had no time for my usual nap after I arrived home, so I substituted this small luxury with a 5RMB “capu” coffee and some 2RMB flat-bread.
For dinner I had a street food feast. Three sticks of grilled spicy tofu and two sticks of marinated long white mushrooms for 2.5RMB, followed by the 2.5RMB “peanut burrito”.
For desert I ate some 1RMB pineaplle on a stick followed by two steamed buns (baozi) for 1RMB.
The steady rain started to turn into a downpour. I headed home in time to listen to extensive lightning and thunder. The electricity flickered but did not falter.
Daily Expenditure- 27 RMB
Total Expenditure (Twenty-nine Days) 2,296.9 RMB
Last Day of the Study! Wednesday was just another typical working day. I had my standard delicious and healthy American breakfast (peanut butter and jelly sandwich) with green tea. Then I was off to my eight o’ clock class.
This week I am conducting mock job interviews as the student’s midterm. So far, so good. Nobody has failed, and a few have impressed. Of course, some dialouges have left me a bit disapointed, but who is to blame for this, the students or the teacher?
The students.
I went to a restaurant I have never visited before for lunch. To visit a new eatery had been my goal for the previous day, but the rain conspired to thwart such lofty ambition.
The place had the Hui-style fold-before-your-eyes noodles with the onion and cinamon broth, but the proprieters here Han Chinese. The couple running the shop complimented me on my speaking skills and served a tasty dish (hints of curry) for 5.5RMB.
Being the hungry dude that I am, I then went and got some deep-fried tofu and a deep-fried egg roll (with kale and tofu) for 2RMB.
My afternoon class was generally better than my morning one. Maybe because the students (and myself) have eaten and rested properly?
For dinner I had a cheap streat food feast. 2.5RMB for the peanut burrito, 2.5RMB for the Shandong Jen Bing, and 2RMB for sesame flatbread.
I studied my audio course (developed by Paul Pimsleur, truly an excellent resource for language learners) with a full belly. Then a Chinese friend came over to help me on my jokes and insults.
Daily Expenditure 14.5RMB
Total Expenditure (Thirty Days!) 2,310.9 RMB
Thats about $338.35 American
or 15,067 Indian rupees. (That’s alotta rupees!)
During this time, my income was
4,990RMB from Jiujiang University, plus
1,800RMB from the primary school, and
100RMB from teaching the Economics class
Total Income: 6,890 RMB Net Savings: 4,579.1 RMB, or in real terms enough money for me to live comfortably in Kolkata for about four months.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.216s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 15; qc: 66; dbt: 0.1089s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.3mb
Aunt Pat
non-member comment
So happy to read more of the Adventures of Brendan.