Meeting the students today.....

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Today, at a nice downtown bookstore, I bought myself a small coffee press, some ground coffee beans and I am hoping to make myself a real cup of coffee tonight, if my stomach settles a bit. I am back at the apartment, after having gone to meet some of our new students at the school early this morning. I am thinking working conditions at home are not so bad right now! LOL The air conditioning in the whole office tower where our school is located is off today. Inside our classrooms it was 27 degrees and I am unsure what the relative humidity is, though it has to be at least 80%, so it felt much, much, hotter to me. We did manage to get the classroom cooled down to 25 degrees, but I gotta say, I was absolutely drenched today at the start of the day just walking down to the bus stop, riding the bus, and crossing the street to our downtown building. Then, we had to walk up 3 flights of escaltor stairs, as the escalators were off for the day as well. Oh Joy. I had a few choice words when I realized that. Good thing most people do not understand English swearing, LOL! So it was all the exertion getting up the stairs that pretty much finished me off, I guess. It's a good thing I'm actually in pretty good shape, but just that little amount of exercise was enought to raise my temperature enought that my face actually burned from my own salty sweat. Sigh. I think some of the Chinese parents must wonder, why do these Canadians sweat so damn much? What is wrong with them, anyway? LOL I actually swore I would NEVER again curse winter. I would give anything for a drop of about 15-20 degrees here. At least you can dress for the cold. The heat, not so much. You have to wear clothes but are constantly melting.

So, some of the kids came to meet us and charmed us completely. I guess we will start teaching next weekend, and that is good cuz I still do not know WHAT I am teaching yet. I may end up teaching music. Surprise!! *giggle* oops, here I go again!

We went for lunch and were served by a fellow with no shirt on whatsoever. Dawna looked at me, and I looked at her, and we both raised our eyebrows and giggled and giggled. I am such an idiot, but it seems that today, my coping mechanism has been to burst into uncontrollable giggles when I can't take "it" any longer. For instance, I was trying, in vain, to do something, anything, with my hair this morning to make it look just a little bit better. I borrowed Joyce's hair dryer and when that didn't have the desired effect, I teased it and when I looked in the mirror, I just couldn't help it and I burst out laughing at myself! I looked like Side Show Bob, from the Simpsons, and you know THAT is bad!! OMG. I laughed and laughed and laughed until I actually started to cry. The Dawna joined me and we both laughed and we have been laughing until we actually cry, all day ever since!

At the bookstore, we were browsing in the music section, giggling at the titles of some of the music. The CD title that cracked me up the most was one called 'Magic Finger' to describe some musician. He just has ONE magic finger and not ten? LMAO! I think it is just the stress. As I sit here sipping my pop trying to settle my stomach, I am dreaming about a shower to get clean and fresh because I can actually smell myself, and I can safely say that I am NOT passing the sniff test right this moment. In fact, I can barely stand myself. Nice. That's nice. TMI, I'm sure, eh? GAWD. I do not think any of us will likely leave the apartment again today in this heat. And I will not be making supper. Who has the energy when it feels like you are living INSIDE the sun? We had a nice big lunch, and then bought ourselves a few staples at good old Walmart. Supper will be yogourt, surprisingly good here, and maybe a piece of "bleached" fruit. Yup, you read that right. I am going to wash and javex it on the outside and then rinse it in purified water before I eat it. I did mention that I am having a love affair with bleach since I came here, right? LOL It is going to keep me healthy. That is not ironic, at ALL! ROFL!

Oh, and you might have noticed some of the punctuation is a little wonky right now, and that is because for some reason this keyboard is not cooperating, so just know that I know, ok? LOL

Well, it is off to the shower for this stinky chick. Ewwww. *Giggle* 😊 I will post the rest of the Gulang Yu pictures tonight. I would have this morning, but, the internet was not cooperating so I had to give up. Seems to be the way it is here.

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Comments

[Suzanne]

What an experience
Wow! I read you blog and it feels like you are actually right here with me telling your stories,lol!!! What an awesome experience you're having! You make me laugh and also make me realize that we have a good life in Canada. Enjoy your journey to China to the best!! I can only imagine what an education it is to be there and how it can change the course of one's life. Take good care, Suzanne

[Spirited Northern]

Response to Suzanne
Hello mon amie, so great to get your comments and hear that you are enjoying the blog! LOL I wished you were here with me, it is certainly opening my eyes to what we take for granted as life every day, it is a miracle and precious and Canada is a golden land! THanks for stopping in. Love, C xoxox

[Jean & Greg]

I can\'t imagine humidity like what you are talking about. Would it be like in a sauna?OMG!! How can you even breath? At this time we are beginning to see the signs of Autumn. Looking forward to the crisp cool air. I am so enjoying this blog, seeing all the different pictures and descriptions that you are sending.